U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                    
                         Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    
                               Form 12b-25
                       Notification of Late Filing
                                    
                              (Check One):
                                    
              [ ] Form 10-K   [X] Form 11-K   [ ] Form 20-F       
              [ ] Form 10-Q   [ ] Form N-SAR

                   For Period Ended: December 31, 1995

Read Attached Instruction Sheet Before Preparing Form.  Please
Print or Type. 
Nothing in this Form shall be construed to imply that the
Commission has verified any information contained herein.

If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked
above, identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates: 


Part I--Registrant Information

Full Name of Registrant  
                The First Financial Holdings, Inc.  
                Sharing Thrift Plan
Former Name if Applicable

Address of Principal Executive Office 
   (Street and Number)                         34 Broad Street 
City, State and Zip Code      Charleston, South Carolina 29401 

Part II--Rules 12b-25 (b) and (c)
If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable
effort or expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to
Rule 12b-25(b), the following should be completed.  (Check box if
appropriate) 

     (a)  The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III
          of this form could not be eliminated without           
          unreasonable effort or expense. 
[X]  (b)  The subject annual report or semi-annual report/portion
          thereof  will be filed on or before the fifteenth
          calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the  
          subject quarterly report/portion thereof will be filed
          on or before the fifth calendar day following the       
          prescribed due date; and

     (c)  The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by
          Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.


Part III--Narrative 

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the form 10-K,
11-K, 20-F, 10-Q or N-SAR or portion thereof could not be filed
within the prescribed time period. 

See Exhibit 99, attached hereto.


PART IV-- Other Information

(1)  Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to
this notification
         A. Thomas Hood        803             529-5612
          (Name)          (Area Code)     (Telephone Number)  

(2)  Have all other periodic reports 
     required under section 13 or            [X] Yes  [ ] No
     15(d) of the Securities Exchange 
     Act of 1934 or section 30 of the 
     Investment Company Act of 1940
     during the preceding 12 months or 
     for such shorter period that the 
     registrant was required to file 
     such reports(s) been filed?  If the
     answer is no, identify report(s).

(3)  Is it anticipated that any 
     significant change in results of        [ ] Yes  [X] No
     operations from the corresponding 
     period for the last fiscal year 
     will be reflected by the earnings 
     statements to be included in the 
     subject report or portion thereof?
     If so: attach an explanation of the 
     anticipated change, both 
     narratively and quantitatively, 
     and, if appropriate, state the 
     reasons why a reasonable estimate 
     of the results cannot be made.


     The First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan   
          (Name of registrant as specified in charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 

Date:  June 28, 1996                       By /s/ A. Thomas Hood
                                   Member of the First Financial
                                          Holdings, Inc. Sharing
                                                Thrift Committee

INSTRUCTION:  The form may be signed by an executive officer of
the registrant or by any other duly authorized representative. 
The name and title of the person signing the form shall be typed
or printed beneath the signature.  If the statement is signed on
behalf of the registrant by an authorized representative (other
than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's
authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with
the form.

                          Attention
Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001). 


<EX-99>
                          EXHIBIT 99
                    Letter from Accountants

Following is a replication of the letter received from our
external accountants specifying the reason for filing a Form 12B-
25 for Form 11-K.



MCLAIN, MOISE & ASSOCIATES, PC
Certified Public Accountants             Maritime Bldg. Suite 101 
                                         215 East Bay Street      
                                         Charleston, SC  29401    
                                         Tel: (803) 577-0414      
                                         Fax: (803) 577-0428  

June 15, 1996

First Financial Holdings, Inc.
2440 Mall Drive, Suite 100
Charleston, SC  29406

Dear Representative:

We were unable to complete our audit and issue our opinion on the
First Financial Holdings, Inc. Sharing Thrift Plan financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1995, due to not
receiving the necessary information in a timely manner from the
Plan Administrator. 


                                Very truly yours,

                                /s/McLain, Moise & Associates, PC 

                                McLain, Moise & Associates, PC 


                                /s/Gregory P. McLain

                                Gregory P. McLain, CPA
                                Partner