WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information from the consolidated financial
statements of SouthBanc Shares, Inc. for the three months ended December 31,
1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.

</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          30-SEP-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             01-OCT-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               31-DEC-1999
<CASH>                                      10,774,984
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       5,401,768
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 63,071,790
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    267,302,568
<ALLOWANCE>                                (2,744,405)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             373,667,038
<DEPOSITS>                                 219,197,587
<SHORT-TERM>                                86,453,489
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          3,964,071
<LONG-TERM>                                 13,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    32,833,306
<OTHER-SE>                                  18,218,585
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             373,667,038
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              5,223,922
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,439,261
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             6,663,183
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           2,178,592
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,504,277
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        3,158,906
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  150,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                            (94,702)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              2,318,781
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,999,819
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   1,999,819
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,346,577
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.41
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.83
<LOANS-NON>                                  2,489,301
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               208,150
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 86,076
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             2,617,663
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   34,110
<RECOVERIES>                                    10,852
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            2,744,405
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            86,076
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      2,658,329


</TABLE>