<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>1998-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096638</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADVANTA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>/ADVNB)</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903359</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALTER DENNIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WELSH &amp; MCKEAN ROADS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 918</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRING HOUSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>194770918</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>1998-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1010</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1010</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1308251</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Daughter</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were gifted to the Reporting Person's spouse from Helen B. Alter, the Reporting Person's mother, on February 19, 1998 (the Acquisition).  The Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares, as has been reflected in each of the Issuer's proxy statements since the Acquisition.  However, the shares have been inadvertently omitted from the Reporting Person's Forms 4 and 5 filed since the Acquisition.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents transfer of shares to daughter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: s/ Liane Browne</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
1998-02-19
0
0000096638
ADVANTA CORP
/ADVNB)
0000903359
ALTER DENNIS
WELSH & MCKEAN ROADS
P.O. BOX 918
SPRING HOUSE
PA
194770918
1
1
1
0
Chairman of the Board
Class A Preferred Stock
1998-02-19
4
G
0
1010
0
A
1010
I
By Spouse
Class B Common Stock
2004-06-30
5
G
0
1000
0
D
1308251
D
Class B Common Stock
2004-06-30
5
G
0
1000
0
A
1000
I
By Daughter
The shares were gifted to the Reporting Person's spouse from Helen B. Alter, the Reporting Person's mother, on February 19, 1998 (the Acquisition).  The Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares, as has been reflected in each of the Issuer's proxy statements since the Acquisition.  However, the shares have been inadvertently omitted from the Reporting Person's Forms 4 and 5 filed since the Acquisition.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.
Represents transfer of shares to daughter.
By: s/ Liane Browne
2005-01-24