<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. FOR THE
NINE-MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                       5,644,266
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       1,211,151
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 38,970,506
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    112,007,536
<ALLOWANCE>                                   (697,063)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             164,943,761
<DEPOSITS>                                 106,300,339
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         44,222,222
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,996
<OTHER-SE>                                  14,411,204
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             164,943,761
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              6,951,951
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,813,410
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                96,093
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             8,861,454
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           3,354,016
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,882,241
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        3,625,197
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,572
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,937
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                599,089
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,174,590
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   718,597
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .79
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                        436
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              2,293,882
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                              (697,063)
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  188,492
<RECOVERIES>                                   (28,068)
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0


</TABLE>