<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BEACH FIRST NATIONAL BANCSHARES, INC. FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         844,375
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             2,080,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 10,866,728
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     15,436,540
<ALLOWANCE>                                    169,878
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              31,585,659
<DEPOSITS>                                  24,628,372
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            308,920
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       735,868
<OTHER-SE>                                   5,912,499
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              31,585,659
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                621,850
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              329,633
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                48,768
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,000,251
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             489,219
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             496,898
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          503,353
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   65,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                614,249
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (100,514)
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                    (100,514)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (79,514)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.11)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.11)
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.68
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               169,502
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   64,623
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              169,878
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           169,878
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>