<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from the consolidated
financial statements of SouthBanc Shares, Inc. for the nine months ended June
30, 2000, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                              OCT-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                       6,183,330
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       6,551,956
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 62,362,706
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    281,963,383
<ALLOWANCE>                                 (2,916,095)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             386,005,659
<DEPOSITS>                                 233,248,528
<SHORT-TERM>                                81,452,480
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0
<LONG-TERM>                                 15,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    30,291,571
<OTHER-SE>                                  20,094,642
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             386,005,659
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             16,208,996
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            4,000,947
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            20,209,943
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           7,036,603
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,249,212
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        8,960,731
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  435,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             (94,702)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              7,014,781
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              5,670,349
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   5,670,349
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,856,405
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.23
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.84
<LOANS-NON>                                  4,908,206
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               480,941
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                219,960
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             2,849,385
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  175,904
<RECOVERIES>                                    39,337
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            2,916,095
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           219,968
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      2,696,135




</TABLE>