<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SOUTHBANC SHARES, INC. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH
31, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                       6,587,610
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       7,728,508
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                100,905,676
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    231,760,584
<ALLOWANCE>                                (2,507,049)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             371,842,839
<DEPOSITS>                                 223,688,704
<SHORT-TERM>                                71,366,481
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          3,332,913
<LONG-TERM>                                 20,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    34,734,578
<OTHER-SE>                                  18,720,163
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             371,842,839
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              9,338,789
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            3,674,036
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            13,012,825
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           4,481,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           6,777,005
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        6,235,820
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  160,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             297,306
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              4,285,664
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              4,501,247
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   4,501,247
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,026,689
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.79
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.44
<LOANS-NON>                                  1,989,996
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               145,862
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 66,002
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             2,374,044
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   56,799
<RECOVERIES>                                    29,804
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            2,507,049
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            66,002
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      2,441,047
        

</TABLE>