<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. FOR THE SIX
MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1, 1999 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2000 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-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                       4,187,546
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       1,173,896
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 39,033,094
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    112,157,837
<ALLOWANCE>                                   (768,727)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             163,899,057
<DEPOSITS>                                 108,900,812
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         40,754,459
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,996
<OTHER-SE>                                  14,233,790
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             163,899,057
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              4,554,735
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,197,417
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                59,846
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             5,811,998
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           2,264,834
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,141,453
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        2,405,711
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        0
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                404,154
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                708,706
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   433,707
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .48
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                        766
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              1,986,515
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                              (768,727)
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  141,850
<RECOVERIES>                                    (6,191)
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0


</TABLE>