BROWN, MASSEY, EVANS, MCLEOD & HAYNSWORTH                  106 WILLIAMS STREET
ATTORNEYS  AT  LAW;  PA.                            TELEPHONE  (864)  271-7424
POST  OFFICE  BOX  2464                                   FAX  (864)  242-6969
GREENVILLE,  SC  29602


     October  23,  2002



Summit  Financial  Corporation
937  N.  Pleasantburg  Drive
Greenville,  SC  29607

Re:     Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8  1999 Incentive Stock Option Plan
Summit  Financial  Corporation

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

     You  have  asked  us to render certain opinions with respect to the 215,000
shares  of  common  stock  (adjusted  for stock dividends and splits), par value
$1.00  per share, ("stock"), of the Summit Financial Corporation (the "Company")
which  will  be  registered  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission by the
above-referenced  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 pursuant to the Securities
Act  of  1933, as amended, in connection with the Company's 1999 Incentive Stock
Option  Plan  (the  "Plan").  We  have  examined  the  Company's  Articles  of
Incorporation,  and  all  amendments thereto, the Company's Bylaws, and reviewed
the  records  of  the  Company's  corporate proceedings. We have made such other
investigation  of law and fact as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to  render  this  opinion.

     Based  on  the  foregoing,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that:

     1.  The  Company  has  been  duly  organized and is currently existing as a
corporation  in  good  standing  under  the laws of the State of South Carolina.

     2.  Upon  (a)  the aforesaid Registration Statement becoming effective; (b)
the  authorization  by the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors thereof
of the issuance and sale of the Stock; (c) the due execution and registration of
the  certificates  for  the  Stock;  and  (d)  the  delivery of the Stock to the
purchasers thereof against receipt of the purchase price therefor; in my opinion
the Stock will have been duly authorized and legally and validly issued and will
be  fully  paid  and  nonassessable.

     We  consent  to  the  use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement  on  Form  S-8.

Very  truly  yours,

BROWN,  MASSEY,  EVANS,  McLEOD  &  HAYNSWORTH,  PA

/s/  Stanley  E.  McLeod
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 Stanley  E.  McLeod