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        EXHIBIT 10.4: FORM OF NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT


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                                     FORM OF
                NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMEN FOR THE
              FIRST SOUTH BANCORP, INC. 2008 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

         This Award Agreement is provided to _______________ (the "Participant")
by First South Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") as of _________ (the "Grant Date"),
the date the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee")
granted the Participant the right and option to purchase Shares pursuant to the
First South Bancorp, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2008 Plan"), subject
to the terms and conditions of the 2008 Plan and this Award Agreement:

         1.     OPTION GRANT:                   You have been granted a
                                                NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION
                                                (referred to in this Agreement
                                                as your "Option"). Your Option
                                                is NOT intended to qualify as an
                                                "incentive stock option" under
                                                Section 422 of the Internal
                                                Revenue Code of 1986, as
                                                amended.
         2.     NUMBER OF SHARES
                SUBJECT TO YOUR OPTION:         ________ shares of Common Stock
                                                ("Shares"), subject to
                                                adjustment as may be necessary
                                                pursuant to Article 10 of the
                                                2008 Plan.

         3.     GRANT DATE:                     ________

         4.     EXERCISE PRICE:                 You may purchase Shares covered
                                                by your Option at a price of
                                                $______ per share.

         Unless sooner vested in accordance with Section 2 of the Terms and
Conditions (attached hereto) or otherwise in the discretion of the Committee,
the Options shall vest (become exercisable) in accordance with the following
schedule:

Continuous Status
as a Participant    Percentage of Option     Number of Shares
after Grant Date        Vested             Available for Exercise   Vesting Date

                                                   ------              ------
                                                   ------              ------
                                                   ------              ------
                                                   ------              ------
                                                   ------              ------
                                                   ------              ------

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First South Bancorp, Inc., acting by and through
the Committee, has caused this Award Agreement to be executed as of the Grant
Date set forth above.

                                      FIRST SOUTH BANCORP, INC.


                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         On behalf of the Compensation Committee
ACCEPTED BY PARTICIPANT:


--------------------------
[Name]

--------------------------
Date

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.       GRANT OF OPTION. The Grant Date, Exercise Price and number of Shares
         subject to your Option are stated on page 1 of this Award Agreement.
         Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
         meanings assigned to such terms in the 2008 Plan.

2.       VESTING OF OPTIONS. The Option shall vest (become exercisable) in
         accordance with the vesting schedule shown on page 1 of this Award
         Agreement. Notwithstanding the vesting schedule on page 1, the Option
         will also vest and become exercisable:

         (a)      Upon your death or Disability during your Continuous Status as
                  a Participant; or

         (b)      Upon a Change in Control (as defined in the 2008 Plan).

3.       TERM OF OPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON RIGHT TO EXERCISE. The term of the
         Option will be for a period of ten (10) years, expiring at 5:00 p.m.,
         Eastern Time, on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (the
         "Expiration Date"). To the extent not previously exercised, the vested
         portion of your Option will lapse prior to the Expiration Date upon the
         earliest to occur of the following circumstances:

         (a)      Three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous
                  Status as a Participant for any reason other than your death
                  or Disability.

         (b)      Twelve (12) months after termination of your Continuous Status
                  as a Participant by reason of Disability.

         (c)      Twelve (12) months after the date of your death, if you die
                  while employed, or during the three-month period described in
                  subsection (a) above or during the twelve-month period
                  described in subsection (b) above and before the Option would
                  otherwise lapse. Upon your death, your beneficiary (designated
                  pursuant to the terms of the 2008 Plan) may exercise your
                  Option.

         (d)      At the end of the remaining original term of the Option if
                  your employment is involuntarily or constructively terminated
                  within twelve (12) months of a Change in Control.

         The Committee may, prior to the lapse of your Option under the
         circumstances described in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) above,
         extend the time to exercise your Option as determined by the Committee
         in writing and subject to federal regulations. If you return to
         employment with the Company during the designated post-termination
         exercise period, then you will be restored to the status as a
         Participant you held prior to such termination, but no vesting credit
         will be earned for any period you were not in Continuous Status as a
         Participant. If you or your beneficiary exercises an Option after your
         termination of service, the Option may be exercised only with respect
         to the Shares that were otherwise vested on the date of your
         termination of service.

4.       EXERCISE OF OPTION. You may exercise your Option by providing:

         (a)      a written notice of intent to exercise to [NAME] at the
                  address and in the form specified by the Committee from time
                  to time; and

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         (b)      payment to the Company in full for the Shares subject to the
                  exercise (unless the exercise is a cashless exercise). Payment
                  for the Shares can be made in cash, Company common stock
                  ("stock swap"), a combination of cash and Company common stock
                  or by means of a cashless exercise (if permitted by the
                  Committee).

5.       BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION. You may, in a manner determined by the
         Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise your rights under the
         2008 Plan and to receive any distribution with respect to this Option
         upon your death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative,
         or other person claiming any rights under the 2008 Plan is subject to
         all terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the 2008 Plan, and
         to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the
         Committee. If you have not designated a beneficiary or none survives
         you, the Option may be exercised by the legal representative of your
         estate, and payment shall be made to your estate. You may change or
         revoke a beneficiary designation at any time provided the change or
         revocation is filed with the Company.

6.       WITHHOLDING. The Company or any employer Affiliate has the authority
         and the right to deduct or withhold, or require you to remit to the
         Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local (if
         any) withholding taxes and employment taxes (I.E., FICA and FUTA).
         OUTSIDE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ARE SELF-EMPLOYED AND ARE NOT SUBJECT
         TO TAX WITHHOLDING.

7.       LIMITATION OF RIGHTS. This Option does not confer on you or your
         beneficiary designated pursuant to Paragraph 5 any rights as a
         shareholder of the Company unless and until the Shares are in fact
         issued in connection with the exercise of the Option. Nothing in this
         Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of
         the Company or any Affiliate to terminate your employment at any time,
         nor confer upon you any right to continue in the service of the Company
         or any Affiliate.

8.       RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND PLEDGE. You may not pledge, encumber, or
         hypothecate your right or interest in this Option to or in favor of any
         party other than the Company or an Affiliate, and this Option shall not
         be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of the Participant to
         any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. You may not
         assign or transfer this Option other than by will or the laws of
         descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order that
         would satisfy Section 414(p)(1)(A) of the Code if such Section applied
         to an Option under the 2008 Plan; provided, however, that the Committee
         may (but need not) permit other requested transfers. Only you or any
         permitted transferee may exercise this Option during your lifetime.

9.       PLAN CONTROLS. The terms contained in the 2008 Plan are incorporated
         into and made a part of this Award Agreement and this Award Agreement
         shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the 2008 Plan. In
         the event of any actual or alleged conflict between the provisions of
         the 2008 Plan and the provisions of this Award Agreement, the
         provisions of the 2008 Plan will control.

10.      SUCCESSORS. This Award Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of
         the Company, in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement and
         the 2008 Plan.

11.      SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this
         Award Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the other
         provisions of this Award Agreement will be construed and enforced as if
         the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been included
         in this Award Agreement.

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12.      NOTICE. Notices and communications under this Award Agreement must be
         in writing and either personally delivered or sent by registered or
         certified United States mail, return receipt requested, postage
         prepaid. Notices to the Company must be addressed to:

                           First South Bancorp, Inc.
                           1311 Carolina Avenue
                           Washington, North Carolina 27889
                           Attn:   Compensation Committee

         or any other address designated by the Company in a written notice to
         the Participant. Notices to you will be directed to your address, as
         then currently on file with the Company, or to any other address that
         you provide in a written notice to the Company.

13.      STOCK RESERVE. The Company shall at all times during the term of this
         Agreement reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares to
         satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.