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                                 Exhibit (10C)


                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made and entered into this 1st
day of March, 2001, by and among Robert C. Redd, a resident of the State of
Alabama (the "Executive"), FIRST SOUTHERN BANCSHARES, INC., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"),
and FIRST SOUTHERN BANK, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Alabama (the "Bank");  (First Southern Bancshares, Inc. and First
Southern Bank are collectively referred to as "First Southern").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, First Southern and the Executive desire to enter into an
employment relationship with the other; and

     WHEREAS, First Southern and the Executive each deem it necessary and
desirable to execute a written document setting forth the terms and conditions
of said relationship.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the employment of the Executive by
First Southern, of the mutual covenants, promises and agreements herein made,
and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  Employment.  First Southern hereby employs Executive's full-time
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services as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of both the Company
and the Bank, commencing on the first day of employment, which shall be March 1,
2001 or at Executive's option beginning on a date not later than March 15, 2001
(the "Commencement Date").  This Agreement shall be for a term of three years,
beginning on the Commencement Date.  Executive hereby accepts such employment.
Executive shall diligently perform the duties customarily performed by such
officer, subject to the authority of the Board, and shall hold and perform all
of the responsibilities and duties prescribed by the Board and by the Bylaws of
First Southern.  During the term of this Agreement, Executive will devote his
full time and effort to his duties hereunder, to the exclusion of all other
employment or business interests other than passive personal investments,
charitable, religious or civic activities.

     2.  Base Salary.  As compensation for his services to First Southern, First
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Southern agrees to pay Executive an annual salary of One Hundred Seventy
Thousand Dollars ($170,000.00) beginning on the Commencement Date.  The annual
salary shall be paid in equal bi-weekly installments.  Payment will be in
accordance with First Southern's payroll policies in effect from time to time.
Executive's base salary may be adjusted, based on the annual performance reviews
provided for in Paragraph 5.
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     3.  Benefits.  First Southern agrees to provide Executive with the
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following benefits commencing with the Commencement Date, or as soon thereafter
as practicable, and continuing for so long as Executive is employed under this
Agreement or any extension thereof:

         (a) First Southern shall also provide for the Executive a $250.00 per
     month cafeteria plan benefit, which may be used by Executive to fund
     benefits selected by him, including major medical and hospitalization
     insurance.  First Southern shall have the right to obtain a term life
     insurance policy on the Executive for the benefit of First Southern up to
     an amount equal to twice his annual salary.

         (b) An annual paid vacation of three weeks.

         (c) Use of a leased Buick or comparable six passenger sedan automobile
     to include all operating and maintenance expenses.

         (d) Reimbursement of monthly dues and First Southern related expenses
     of Executive at Turtle Point Country Club.

         (e) Other benefits as the Board may approve from time to time.

     4.  Expenses.  Executive is authorized to incur necessary and customary
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expenses in connection with the business of First Southern, including expenses
for entertainment, trade association meetings, travel, promotion and similar
matters.  First Southern will pay or reimburse Executive, pursuant to First
Southern policy, for such expenses upon presentation by Executive of the
appropriate records which verify such expenses.

     5.  Bonus.  The Company recognizes it is important that Executive have a
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bonus incentive to encourage accomplishment of specified corporate goals, as
identified from time to time by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the
Board.  The Board shall review Executive's performance against the specified
goals at least annually.  Based on the Company's regulatory situation and
financial condition, and the Executive's new employment, the Board shall in July
2001 review Executive's performance and discuss with Executive both short-term
and long-term objectives.  Based on the level of Executive's base salary,
Executive will not be eligible for a bonus during calendar year 2001.
Executive's first annual review shall be in March 2002, and Executive will be
eligible for a bonus of up to 25% of his base salary, based on criteria to be
mutually agreed upon by the Board and the Executive by May 1, 2001.

     6.  Stock Options and Stock Incentive Award.
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         (a) The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Stock Option
     Plan, and Executive is hereby issued stock options, subject to the terms of
     the Stock Option Agreement between the Executive and the Company as
     provided in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
     reference.

         (b) The Company hereby grants to Executive an incentive stock bonus of
     twenty thousand (20,000) shares of common stock of the Company (the "Stock
     Bonus"), which Stock Bonus is contingent and shall only be earned as set
     out below.  In the event that the per share price of the Company's common
     stock, as quoted on NASDAQ or on

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     another public market if the Company's stock is not quoted on NASDAQ,
     closes at or above $14.00 per share for ten consecutive trading days at any
     time from the date hereof to and including March 31, 2004, then the Stock
     Bonus shall be deemed to be earned by the Executive. The $14.00 per share
     target price shall be adjusted for stock dividends, stock splits, stock
     combinations, recapitalization and other similar changes as referenced in
     Paragraph 5 of the Stock Option Agreement. The ten consecutive trading days
     requirement noted above will not be met if Executive has, directly or
     indirectly, purchased any of the Company's common stock during such ten
     consecutive trading days or during the ten trading days prior to such
     period.

     7.  Severance.
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         (a) If Executive becomes disabled or dies, he or his survivors will
     receive a  severance payment in an amount equal to the Executive's annual
     salary at the time of termination payable in a lump sum upon termination,
     plus the other benefits described in paragraph 3 for a period of one year.

         (b) If Executive is terminated "for cause" as defined in paragraph
     10,  Executive will receive no severance payment, and any other benefits
     described hereunder shall also terminate as of the termination date of
     employment.

         (c) If Executive is terminated "without cause", Executive will
     receive a severance payment in an amount equal to the Executive's annual
     salary at the time of termination payable in a lump sum upon termination,
     plus the other benefits described in paragraph 3 for a one-year period.

         (d) If Executive terminates his employment as a result of a Change of
     Control or is terminated as a result of a Change of Control, he will
     receive a severance payment in an amount equal to two times the Executive's
     annual salary at the time of termination payable in a lump sum upon
     termination, plus the other benefits described in paragraph 3 for a two-
     year period.

     8.  Termination.  Except for the provisions of paragraphs 11 and 12, which
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shall continue in full force and effect, this Agreement shall terminate upon the
first to occur of the following:

         (a) The death of Executive;

         (b) The permanent disability of Executive, as defined in paragraph 9;

         (c) Termination by First Southern "for cause" as defined in paragraph
     10;

         (d) Termination by First Southern "without cause" or pursuant to a
     "Change in Control" as defined below.  First Southern reserves the right to
     terminate the Executive at any time.

         (e) Termination by Executive; provided that Executive shall give not
     less than thirty (30) days' written notice of termination.  Upon receipt of
     notice of intended

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     termination given by Executive, First Southern reserves the right to
     terminate the Executive's employment effective immediately, provided that
     in such instance, except in the event of a Change in Control, First
     Southern shall pay an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary due for the
     remainder of the thirty (30) day notice period to the termination date, or
     thirty (30) days, whichever is less.

         Subject to approval from the appropriate bank regulatory authorities,
     a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur upon the happening of any of
     the following events:

               (i)  A sale or other disposition of substantially all of the
         assets of the Company or the Bank or a sale or disposition of the
         issued and outstanding common stock of the Company or the Bank in a
         single transaction or in a series of transactions to a single person or
         entity or group of affiliated persons or entities; or

               (ii) A merger or consolidation of the Company or the Bank with or
         into any other entity, if immediately after giving effect to such
         transaction more than fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding
         common stock of the surviving entity of such transaction is held by a
         single person or entity or group of affiliated persons or entities who
         were not in control of the Company or the Bank prior to such
         transaction.

     9.  Disability.  Executive shall be considered to be permanently disabled
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in the event that (a) Executive shall suffer permanent total disability as that
term is defined under the Alabama Workers' Compensation Law as in effect at the
time of such disability, and (b) either Executive or First Southern shall have
given the other party thirty (30) days' written notice of his or its intention
to terminate Executive's employment because of such disability.  In the event
that Executive and First Southern are in material disagreement regarding
Executive's physical or mental condition, First Southern shall authorize a panel
of three (3) physicians selected by First Southern to examine Executive to
conclusively determine by a majority whether Executive is physically or mentally
incapable hereunder.

     10. Termination for Cause.  As used in paragraph 8(c), termination "for
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cause" shall include, termination for Executive's use of illegal non-
prescription drugs or drug or alcohol addiction; acts of dishonesty or
infidelity; conviction of a felony; habitual neglect of duty; objectionable acts
or conduct as determined by First Southern's banking regulators; or willful or
gross negligence in carrying out the activities for which employed.

     11. Disclosure of Confidential Information.  Executive acknowledges that
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First Southern possesses certain methods of operation and information concerning
its business affairs, including customer lists and other customer information,
which are valuable, special and unique assets of its business.  Without prior
Board approval, Executive agrees not to disclose, during or after the term of
his employment, any such information, or any part thereof to any bank, person,
firm, corporation, association or other entity for any reason or purpose
whatsoever.


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     12. Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation.
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         (a) It is understood and agreed by parties to this Agreement that
     under the following conditions, Executive hereby agrees not to directly or
     indirectly (1) compete with First Southern nor (2) solicit its employees:

             (i)   If Executive voluntarily resigns his position;
             (ii)  If there is a Change of Control in the ownership of First
                   Southern; or
             (iii) If Executive is terminated "without cause."

         (b) Executive hereby agrees that in the event of termination pursuant
     to paragraph 12(a)(i) or (ii), he will not solicit First Southern's
     employees to leave the services of First Southern, or compete with First
     Southern within the areas of Lauderdale and Colbert counties in Alabama
     (the "Non-Compete Area")  for a period of two years from the date of
     termination.  If the Executive is terminated under paragraph 12(a)(iii),
     then Executive hereby agrees not to solicit First Southern's employees or
     compete within the Non-Compete Area for a period of one year from the date
     of termination.  The nonsolicitation provision shall apply to any First
     Southern employee during the period of such employee's employment with
     First Southern and for a period of 30 days after an employee's termination
     of employment with First Southern.  Executive can and may invest or
     purchase stock in any financial institution.  However, Executive may not
     serve on the Board of Directors of any financial institution other than
     First Southern or act as a consultant or otherwise influence employees to
     join said institution during the term of this Agreement and for a period of
     two (2) years from the date of termination as provided in paragraph
     12(a)(i) or (ii) above or for a period of one (1) year from the date of
     termination as provide in paragraph 12(a)(iii) above.

     13. Assignment.  The rights and obligations of First Southern and
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Executive (except the Executive's obligations to perform services) under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon their
respective successors, if any.  The rights and obligations of Executive under
this Agreement shall inure only to the benefit of Executive and are not
assignable by Executive to any other person or entity by virtue of the unique
and personal nature of Executive's services.  It is agreed among the parties
that there shall be no third-party beneficiaries with standing to enforce this
Agreement.

     14. Execution of Agreement.  The execution of this Agreement by First
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Southern is subject to authorization and ratification by its Board of Directors
at the next scheduled meeting.

     15. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement
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between the parties and supersedes all prior discussion, understanding and
commitments, whether oral or written.  This Agreement cannot be amended or
modified except by subsequent written agreement signed by all parties hereto.

     16. Attorney's Fees and Costs.  If an action at law or in equity is
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necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and necessary
disbursements in addition to any other relief to which he may be entitled.

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     17. Controlling Law.  This Agreement is being executed in and will be
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performed in the State of Alabama and shall be construed, controlled and
interpreted according to the laws of Alabama.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

                                          THE BANK:



                                          FIRST SOUTHERN BANK




                                          By:_________________________________


                                          THE COMPANY:


                                          FIRST SOUTHERN BANCSHARES, INC.


                                          By:_________________________________


                                          EXECUTIVE:





                                          ____________________________________
                                          ROBERT C. REDD

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                                   Exhibit A
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                                 See Attached.