<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                                      9
<CIK>                                                                 0000846465
<NAME>                                           CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                                            US DOLLARS

<S>                                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                     12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                               JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                        1
<CASH>                                                                        33,658,815
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                           439,352
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                  151,079,421
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                                        36,082,589
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                          34,686,254
<LOANS>                                                                      541,539,925
<ALLOWANCE>                                                                    7,662,823
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                               786,698,584
<DEPOSITS>                                                                   666,979,656
<SHORT-TERM>                                                                  50,044,927
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                            3,102,759
<LONG-TERM>                                                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                            0
<COMMON>                                                                      15,000,318
<OTHER-SE>                                                                    50,970,924
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                               786,098,584
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                               45,655,726
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                             11,486,329
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                                 412,099
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                              57,554,154
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                            21,729,784
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             1,300,634
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                                         34,523,736
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                                  1,655,200
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                              (238,976)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                               27,986,938
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                               12,905,891
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                                    12,905,891
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                   8,775,805
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                         1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                       1.45

<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                                      4.96
<LOANS-NON>                                                                    2,615,553
<LOANS-PAST>                                                                     177,739
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                                        0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                               6,723,516
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                                    857,859
<RECOVERIES>                                                                     141,966
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                              7,662,823
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                           7,662,823
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                                0




</TABLE>