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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the registrant |X|
Filed by a party other than the registrant |_|


Check the appropriate box:
|_|     Preliminary proxy statement
|_|     Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by
        Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|X|     Definitive proxy statement
|_|     Definitive additional materials
|_|     Soliciting material pursuant to Section 240.14a-12


                        Union Financial Bancshares, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
|X|  No fee required.
|_|  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
     to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
     calculated and state how it was determined):
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)  Total fee paid:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_|   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|_|   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
      Rule 0-11 (a)(2) and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee
      was paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration
      statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)   Amount Previously Paid:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)   Filing Party:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)   Date Filed:
              N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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                                December 29, 2003





Dear Stockholder:

        You are cordially  invited to attend the annual meeting of  stockholders
of Union Financial  Bancshares,  Inc. The meeting will be held in the University
of South Carolina Auditorium,  Union Campus, 401 East Main Street,  Union, South
Carolina on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., local time.

        The  notice  of annual  meeting  and proxy  statement  appearing  on the
following  pages  describe the formal  business to be transacted at the meeting.
During  the  meeting,  we will also  report on the  operations  of the  Company.
Directors and officers of the Company,  as well as a  representative  of Elliott
Davis, LLC, the Company's  independent  auditors,  will be present to respond to
appropriate questions of stockholders.

        It is  important  that your  shares  are  represented  at this  meeting,
whether or not you attend the meeting in person and  regardless of the number of
shares  you own.  To make  sure  your  shares  are  represented,  we urge you to
complete and mail the enclosed  proxy card.  If you attend the meeting,  you may
vote in person even if you have previously mailed a proxy card.

        We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

                                          Sincerely,

                                          /s/ Carl L. Mason

                                          Carl L. Mason
                                          CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD


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                        UNION FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.
                              203 WEST MAIN STREET
                           UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA 29379
                                 (864) 427-9000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The annual meeting of stockholders of Union Financial  Bancshares,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  will be held in the University of South  Carolina  Auditorium,
Union Campus, 401 East Main Street, Union, South Carolina on Wednesday,  January
28, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., local time, for the following purposes:

        1.     To elect two directors of the Company;

        2.     To  approve  an  amendment  to  the  Company's   Certificate   of
               Incorporation  increasing  the  number  of  authorized  shares of
               common stock;

        3.     To ratify the  appointment of Elliott  Davis,  LLC as independent
               auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending  December 31,
               2004; and

        4.     To transact any other  business that may properly come before the
               meeting.

        NOTE:  The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come
before the meeting.

        Stockholders  of record at the close of business on December 9, 2003 are
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting and any  adjournment or
postponement of the meeting.

        Please complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy,  which is solicited
by the Board of Directors,  and mail it promptly in the enclosed  envelope.  The
proxy will not be used if you attend the meeting and vote in person.

                                    BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                    /s/ Wanda J. Wells

                                    Wanda J. Wells
                                    CORPORATE SECRETARY

Union, South Carolina
December 29, 2003

IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT  RETURN OF PROXIES  WILL SAVE THE  COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF
FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES TO ENSURE A QUORUM.  A  SELF-ADDRESSED  ENVELOPE IS
ENCLOSED  FOR YOUR  CONVENIENCE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES.



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                        UNION FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.

                       ----------------------------------

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                       ----------------------------------

        This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Union Financial  Bancshares,  Inc.  ("Union
Financial" or the "Company") to be used at the annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company.  The Company is the holding  company for Provident  Community Bank,
N.A.  ("Provident").  The annual meeting will be held in the University of South
Carolina Auditorium,  Union Campus, 401 East Main Street,  Union, South Carolina
on Wednesday,  January 28, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.,  local time.  This proxy statement
and the enclosed proxy card are being first mailed to  stockholders  on or about
December 29, 2003.

                           VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURE

WHO CAN VOTE AT THE MEETING

        You are  entitled  to vote  your  Union  Financial  common  stock if the
records  of the  Company  showed  that you held  your  shares as of the close of
business  on  December  9, 2003.  If your  shares are held in a stock  brokerage
account or by a bank or other nominee,  you are considered the beneficial  owner
of shares held in "street name" and these proxy materials are being forwarded to
you by your broker or nominee.  As the beneficial  owner,  you have the right to
direct your broker or nominee on how to vote your shares. Your broker or nominee
has enclosed a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker or
nominee on how to vote your shares.

        As of the close of business on  December 9, 2003,  a total of  1,969,770
shares of Union Financial  common stock were  outstanding.  Each share of common
stock has one vote. As provided in the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation,
record holders of the Company's common stock who acquire beneficial ownership in
excess of 10% of the  Company's  outstanding  shares  without  the  approval  of
two-thirds of the Board of Directors are entitled to cast only  one-hundredth of
a vote of any shares held in excess of the 10% limit.

ATTENDING THE MEETING

        If you are a  stockholder  of  record  as of the  close of  business  on
December 9, 2003, you may attend the meeting.  However,  if you hold your shares
in street name,  you will need proof of ownership to be admitted to the meeting.
A recent  brokerage  statement or a letter from a bank or broker are examples of
proof of ownership.  If you want to vote your shares of Union  Financial  common
stock  held in  street  name in person  at the  meeting,  you will have to get a
written proxy in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee who holds your
shares.

VOTE REQUIRED

        The annual meeting will be held if a majority of the outstanding  shares
of common stock entitled to vote is  represented  at the meeting.  If you return
valid proxy  instructions  or attend the meeting in person,  your shares will be
counted  for  purposes of  determining  whether  there is a quorum,  even if you
abstain  from  voting.  Broker  non-votes  also will be counted for purposes for
determining  the existence of a quorum.  A broker non-vote occurs when a broker,
bank or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not




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vote on a particular  proposal  because the nominee does not have  discretionary
voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting  instructions
from the beneficial owner.

        In voting on the  election  of  directors,  you may vote in favor of all
nominees,  withhold  votes as to all nominees,  or withhold votes as to specific
nominees. There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors. Directors
will be elected by a  plurality  of the votes cast at the annual  meeting.  This
means that the nominees  receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.
Votes that are withheld and broker non- votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the election.

        In  voting  on the  proposal  to  amend  the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares, you may vote in favor
of the  proposal,  against the proposal or abstain from voting.  To be approved,
this matter requires the affirmative  vote of a majority of votes eligible to be
cast by stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect
as a vote against the proposal.

        In voting on the  ratification of the appointment of Elliott Davis,  LLC
as  independent  auditors,  you may vote in favor of the  proposal,  against the
proposal or abstain  from  voting.  To be  approved,  this matter  requires  the
affirmative  vote of a majority of votes cast by  stockholders.  Abstentions and
broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

VOTING BY PROXY

        This proxy  statement  is being sent to you by the Board of Directors of
Union  Financial  for the  purpose of  requesting  that you allow your shares of
Union  Financial  common stock to be  represented  at the annual  meeting by the
persons named in the enclosed proxy card. All shares of Union  Financial  common
stock  represented at the meeting by properly  executed proxies will be voted in
accordance  with the  instructions  indicated on the proxy card. If you sign and
return a proxy card  without  giving  voting  instructions,  your shares will be
voted as recommended by the Company's Board of Directors. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR  DIRECTOR,  "FOR"  AMENDMENT OF
THE COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION  INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
SHARES  AND "FOR"  RATIFICATION  OF THE  APPOINTMENT  OF ELLIOTT  DAVIS,  LLC AS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.

        If you are a participant in the Company's  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan,
the proxy  card  covers the shares in your  account  under the Plan,  as well as
shares registered in your name.

        If any  matters  not  described  in this proxy  statement  are  properly
presented at the annual  meeting,  the persons  named in the proxy card will use
their  judgment to determine how to vote your shares.  This includes a motion to
adjourn or postpone  the meeting to solicit  additional  proxies.  If the annual
meeting is  postponed or  adjourned,  your Union  Financial  common stock may be
voted by the persons  named in the proxy card on the new  meeting  date as well,
unless you have  revoked  your  proxy.  The  Company  does not know of any other
matters to be presented at the meeting.

        You may revoke  your  proxy at any time  before the vote is taken at the
meeting.  To revoke  your  proxy you must  either  advise the  Secretary  of the
Company in writing  before your  shares  have been voted at the annual  meeting,
deliver a later  dated  proxy,  or attend the  meeting  and vote your  shares in
person.  Attendance  at  the  annual  meeting  will  not  in  itself  constitute
revocation of your proxy.

        If your Union  Financial  common stock is held in street name,  you will
receive  instructions  from your  broker,  bank or other  nominee  that you must
follow to have your shares  voted.  Your broker or bank may allow you to deliver
your voting  instructions  via the  telephone  or the  Internet.  Please see the
instruction form



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that  accompanies  this  proxy  statement.  If you wish to  change  your  voting
instructions after you have returned your voting instruction form to your broker
or bank, you must contact your broker or bank.

                              CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

GENERAL

        The Company  periodically  reviews its corporate governance policies and
procedures  to ensure that the Company  meets the highest  standards  of ethical
conduct,  reports  results with accuracy and  transparency  and  maintains  full
compliance  with the laws,  rules and  regulations  that  govern  the  Company's
operations.  As part of this periodic corporate  governance review, the Board of
Directors  reviews and adopts best corporate  governance  policies and practices
for the Company.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

        The Company has adopted a Code of Business  Conduct  that is designed to
ensure that the Company's  directors,  executive officers and employees meet the
highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Business Conduct requires that
the Company's  directors,  executive  officers and employees  avoid conflicts of
interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in
an honest  and  ethical  manner  and  otherwise  act with  integrity  and in the
Company's  best  interest.  Under  the  terms of the Code of  Business  Conduct,
directors,  executive  officers and employees are required to report any conduct
that they  believe in good faith to be an actual or  apparent  violation  of the
Code of Business Conduct.

        As a  mechanism  to  encourage  compliance  with  the  Code of  Business
Conduct,  the Company has  established  procedures to receive,  retain and treat
complaints  received  regarding  accounting,  internal  accounting  controls  or
auditing  matters.  These procedures ensure that individuals may submit concerns
regarding  questionable  accounting or auditing  matters in a  confidential  and
anonymous  manner.  The Code of Business Conduct also prohibits the Company from
retaliating  against any  director,  executive  officer or employee  who reports
actual or apparent violations of the Code of Business Conduct.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

        The business of the Company and Provident is conducted  through meetings
and  activities  of their Boards of Directors and their  committees.  During the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Board of Directors of the Company held
14  meetings  and the Board of  Directors  of  Provident  held 12  meetings.  No
director  attended  fewer  than  75% of the  total  meetings  of the  Boards  of
Directors and committees on which such director served.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF UNION FINANCIAL

        AUDIT  COMMITTEE.  The Audit  Committee,  consisting of Directors Jordan
(Chairman),  Edwards and  Graham,  meets as needed to select and review the work
performed  by the  independent  auditors and to monitor the  Company's  internal
audit  function  and  internal  control  system.  The  Board  of  Directors  has
determined  that each Audit  Committee  member is independent in accordance with
the listing  standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market,  Inc. This committee met four
times during the year ended September 30, 2003. The Audit Committee acts under a
written charter  adopted by the Board of Directors,  a copy of which is attached
hereto as Appendix A.



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        COMPENSATION  COMMITTEE.   The  Compensation   Committee,   composed  of
Directors Alexander (Chairman),  Mason and Wilkins meets as needed to review the
employee  wage and  benefit  packages,  hear  employee  grievances  and  prepare
employee job  descriptions.  This  committee  met one time during the year ended
September 30, 2003.  The  Compensation  Committee  acts under a written  charter
adopted by the Board of Directors.

        CORPORATE  GOVERNANCE  COMMITTEE.  The Company's  Governance  Committee,
composed of Directors Wilkins  (Chairman),  Alexander,  Jordan,  Mason and Neese
(ex-officio)  selects  nominees  for  election  as  directors.   The  Governance
Committee  will  accept  and  consider  stockholder  nominations  that  are made
pursuant to timely  written notice to the secretary.  All  recommendations  must
include all information  necessary for the Governance  Committee to fully review
the  qualifications  and credentials of the candidate.  This committee met three
times  during  the year ended  September  30,  2003.  The  Corporate  Governance
Committee acts under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.

        The  Company  and  Provident   also  maintain   Loan,   Asset/Liability,
Investment and Strategic Planning Committees.

DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION

        Non-employee  members of the Board of Directors  of Provident  receive a
monthly  fee of $900.  The  Chairman  of the  Board  of  Directors  receives  an
additional monthly fee of $300. Committee members do not receive additional fees
for committee meetings attended.  Non-employee members of the Board of Directors
of Union Financial receive an annual retainer of $2,000.

                                 STOCK OWNERSHIP

        The following  table  provides  information  as of December 9, 2003 with
respect to persons known to Union Financial to be the beneficial  owners of more
than  5% of  Union  Financial's  outstanding  common  stock.  A  person  may  be
considered to  beneficially  own any shares of common stock over which he or she
has, directly or indirectly, sole or shared voting or investing power.



                                                                          PERCENT OF
                                                   NUMBER OF             COMMON STOCK
NAME AND ADDRESS                                 SHARES OWNED            OUTSTANDING
- ----------------                            -----------------------    -----------------
                                                                      
Jeffrey L. Gendell
Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.                   139,900(1)               7.10%
Tontine Management, L.L.C.
237 Park Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10017

- --------------------------------------
(1) Based on  information  filed in a Schedule 13D with the U.S.  Securities and
    Exchange Commission on January 13, 2003.



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        The  following  table  provides  information  about the  shares of Union
Financial  common stock that may be  considered  to be owned by each director or
nominee for director of the Company,  by the  executive  officers of the Company
named in the  Summary  Compensation  Table and by all  directors  and  executive
officers  of the Company as a group as of  December  9, 2003.  Unless  otherwise
indicated,  each of the  named  individuals  has  sole  voting  power  and  sole
investment power with respect to the shares shown.


                                                             NUMBER OF SHARES THAT
                                             NUMBER OF          MAY BE ACQUIRED        PERCENT OF
                                            SHARES OWNED       WITHIN 60 DAYS BY      COMMON STOCK
             NAME                       (EXCLUDING OPTIONS)   EXERCISING OPTIONS      OUTSTANDING(1)
- -------------------------------------   -------------------   --------------------   ----------------
                                                                                  
Mason G. Alexander                             13,734(2)               5,050                 *

James W. Edwards                                5,707                 10,500                 *

Richard H. Flake                               10,920(3)              45,000                2.78%

William M. Graham                              16,317                 11,500                1.40

Louis M. Jordan                                55,991(4)              11,500                3.41

Carl L. Mason                                   6,548                 10,500                 *

Dwight V. Neese                                17,000                 72,194                4.37

Lud W. Vaughn                                      --                  3,334                 *

Philip C. Wilkins                               6,107(5)               4,675                 *

All directors and executive officers
as a group (14 persons)                       154,255                188,592               15.89%

- ---------------------------------------
* Less than 1% of the shares outstanding.
(1) Based on 1,969,770  shares of Union Financial  common stock  outstanding and
    entitled to vote as of December 9, 2003,  plus the number of shares that may
    be acquired  within 60 days by each  individual (or group of individuals) by
    exercising stock options.
(2) Includes 500 shares owned by the Frances & Mason Alexander Family Foundation
    over which Mr. Alexander shares voting power.
(3) Includes 994 shares owned by Mr. Flake's spouse.
(4) Includes 16,953 shares owned by Mr. Jordan's  spouse,  3,298 shares owned by
    Mr. Jordan's spouse's  individual  retirement account and 14,789 shares held
    in a trust for which Mr. Jordan serves as trustee and shares voting power.
(5) Includes 102 shares held by Mr. Wilkins' spouse.

                       PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The Company's  Board of Directors  currently  consists of seven members.
All of the directors are independent  under the current listing standards of the
Nasdaq Stock Market,  Inc., except for Mr. Neese, who is not independent because
he is an employee of Union  Financial and  Provident.  The Board is divided into
three classes with three-year  staggered terms, with approximately  one-third of
the directors elected each year. Two directors,  Mason G. Alexander and James W.
Edwards, each of whom are currently directors of the Company and Provident, will
be nominated for election at the annual meeting to serve for a three-year  term,
or until their  respective  successors  have been  elected and  qualified.  As a
result of the age limitation  provision  contained in the Company's bylaws it is
expected  that Mr.  Alexander  will retire from the board on September  11, 2004
when he reaches 72 years of age. At that time, the Board of Directors intends to
seek a replacement to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Alexander's retirement.


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        It is intended that the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will
be voted for the election of the nominees named above.  If any nominee is unable
to serve,  the persons named in the proxy card would vote your shares to approve
the   election  of  any   substitute   proposed  by  the  Board  of   Directors.
Alternatively,  the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution to reduce the size
of the Board.  At this time,  the Board of Directors  knows of no reason why any
nominee would be unable to serve.

        THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL OF
THE NOMINEES.

        Information  regarding the nominees for election at the annual  meeting,
as well as information  regarding the continuing directors whose terms expire in
2005 and 2006, is provided below.  Unless otherwise stated,  each individual has
held his current  occupation for the last five years.  The age indicated in each
individual's  biography is as of September 30, 2003.  The  indicated  period for
service as a director includes service as a director of Provident.

                       NOMINEES FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The directors standing for election are:

        MASON G.  ALEXANDER.  Mr.  Alexander is a retired  banker and  currently
serves as a director  of Mid-South  Management  Company,  a  newspaper  holding
company, and Kanuga Episcopal Conferences, Inc. Age 71. Director since 1996.

        JAMES W.  EDWARDS.  Mr.  Edwards is the Dean at the  University of South
Carolina,  Union Campus located in Union, South Carolina. Age 66. Director since
1996.

                         DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

        The following directors have terms ending in 2005:

        CARL L. MASON. Mr. Mason is the Chairman of the Board of the Company and
Provident. He is the retired President of Carlisle Finishing, a division of Cone
Mills Corporation, a textile finishing company. Age 59. Director since 1989.

        WILLIAM M. GRAHAM. Mr. Graham is the sole owner and operator of Graham's
Flowers in Union, South Carolina. Age 59. Director since 1990.

        The following directors have terms ending in 2006:

        LOUIS M.  JORDAN.  Mr.  Jordan is a major  stockholder  of Jordan's  Ace
Hardware, Inc. located in Union South Carolina. Age 68. Director since 1971.

        DWIGHT V. NEESE. Mr. Neese is the President and Chief Executive  Officer
of the Company and Provident. Age 53. Director since 1995.

        PHILIP C. WILKINS,  DMD. Dr.  Wilkins is a dentist in  Winnsboro,  South
Carolina. Age 47. Director since 1999.



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               PROPOSAL 2 - AMENDMENT TO COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
            INCORPORATION INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES

        The Board of Directors  unanimously  approved,  declared advisable,  and
recommends to the  stockholders an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
to increase the number of shares of common stock  authorized  for issuance  from
2,500,000 to 5,000,000. The Board of Directors believes that this proposal is in
the best  interests of the Company and its  stockholders  and  recommends a vote
"FOR" the proposed amendment.

        The first  sentence  of  Article  VII of the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation states:

        "The  aggregate  number of shares of all classes of capital  stock which
the Corporation has authority to issue is 3,000,000 of which 2,500,000 are to be
shares of common stock,  $0.01 par value per share,  and of which 500,000 are to
be shares of serial preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share."

        The proposed amendment would change the first sentence of Article VII of
the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  to increase the total number of  authorized
shares of common stock to five million (5,000,000).  The par value of the common
stock will remain  $0.01 per share.  The  proposed  amendment  is subject to the
approval of the Company's stockholders.

PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

        The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company currently authorizes the
issuance of up to 2,500,000  shares of common stock.  As of the December 9, 2003
record  date,  the Company had  1,969,770  shares of common  stock  outstanding,
20,286  shares of common  stock  held in  treasury,  200,931  shares  subject to
outstanding  stock options and 76,121 shares subject to stock options  available
for issuance under existing option plans.  While the Company  currently does not
have any plans to issue or reserve  additional common stock (other than pursuant
to various compensation and benefit plans), the Board of Directors considers the
proposed  increase in the number of authorized shares desirable as it would give
the Board the necessary  flexibility  to issue common stock in  connection  with
possible future stock dividends and splits,  acquisitions,  financing,  employee
benefits and for other general  corporate  purposes.  Without an increase in the
number of authorized  shares of common stock, the number of available shares for
issuance  may  be   insufficient   to  consummate  one  or  more  of  the  above
transactions.

        Approving  an increase in the number of  authorized  shares at this time
will enable the Company to take  advantage of market  conditions  and  favorable
opportunities  at the  time  one of the  transactions  described  above  occurs,
without the expense and delay incidental to obtaining stockholder approval of an
amendment  to  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation   increasing  the  number  of
authorized shares,  except as may be required by applicable law for a particular
issuance. As a result, the Board is proposing an amendment of the Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock from 2,500,000 to
5,000,000,  which would increase the  authorized  and unissued  shares of common
stock  available for issuance from 232,892 to 2,732,892  shares.  Authorized and
unissued  common  stock may be issued from time to time for any purpose  without
further action of the stockholders, except as may be required by the Certificate
of  Incorporation,  applicable law, or the listing  requirements  for the Nasdaq
Stock Market, on which the common stock is listed.


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        Each share of common stock  authorized  for issuance has the same rights
as, and is identical in all respects with, each other share of common stock. The
newly  authorized  shares of common  stock will not affect the  rights,  such as
voting  and  liquidation  rights,  of  the  shares  of  common  stock  currently
outstanding.

        Stockholders   will  not  have   preemptive   rights  to  purchase   any
subsequently  issued shares of common stock. The Company  currently has no plans
to issue the newly authorized shares of common stock.

        The  ability of the Board of  Directors  to issue  additional  shares of
common stock without  additional  stockholder  approval may be deemed to have an
anti-takeover  effect because unissued shares of common stock could be issued by
the Board of  Directors in  circumstances  that may have the effect of deterring
takeover bids.  Because  stockholders  do not have  preemptive  rights under the
Certificate of Incorporation, the rights of existing stockholders may (depending
on the particular  circumstances in which the additional  shares of common stock
are issued) be diluted by any such  issuance.  The Board of  Directors  does not
intend to issue any  additional  shares of common  stock except on terms that it
deems to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  BELIEVES  THAT THE  AMENDMENT  TO THE  COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION  INCREASING  THE NUMBER OF  AUTHORIZED  SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS  STOCKHOLDERS  AND,
CONSEQUENTLY, RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.

              PROPOSAL 3 -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

        The  Board of  Directors  has  appointed  Elliott  Davis,  LLC to be its
auditors for the 2004 fiscal year,  subject to ratification by  stockholders.  A
representative  of Elliott  Davis,  LLC is  expected to be present at the annual
meeting to respond to appropriate  questions from stockholders and will have the
opportunity to make a statement should he or she desire to do so.

        If the  ratification  of the appointment of the auditors is not approved
by a majority of the votes cast by  stockholders  at the annual  meeting,  other
independent  public  auditors will be considered by the Board of Directors.  THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS THAT  STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF
THE APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS.

        The  following  table sets forth the fees  billed to the Company for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2003 by Elliott Davis, LLC:


                Audit Fees............................        $26,800

                Financial information and systems
                  design and implementation fees......             --

                All other fees*.......................          7,650

             -------------------------
             *Includes  $5,200  for  tax-related  services  and  $2,400 for
              services related to the audit of loan files.

        The Audit Committee believes that the provision of non-audit services by
Elliott  Davis,  LLC  are  compatible  with  maintaining  Elliott  Davis,  LLC's
independence.



                                        8

 12



                             AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

        The  Audit  Committee  of the  Board of  Directors  is  responsible  for
providing  independent,  objective  oversight of Union  Financial's  independent
auditors,  accounting  functions and internal  controls.  The Audit Committee is
comprised of three  directors,  each of whom is  independent  under the National
Association of Securities  Dealers' listing standards.  The Audit Committee acts
under a written  charter  adopted by the Board of Directors,  a copy of which is
attached as Appendix A.

        The  Audit  Committee   reviewed  and  discussed  the  annual  financial
statements  with  management  and  the  independent  auditors.  As  part of this
process,  management  represented  to the  Audit  Committee  that the  financial
statements  were  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.  The Audit Committee also received and reviewed written  disclosures
and a letter from the auditors  concerning their  independence as required under
applicable  standards  for  auditors of public  companies.  The Audit  Committee
discussed  with the  auditors  the  contents of such  materials,  the  auditors'
independence  and the additional  matters  required under  Statement on Auditing
Standards  No. 61.  Based on such review and  discussions,  the Audit  Committee
recommended  that the  Board  of  Directors  include  the  audited  consolidated
financial  statements in Union Financial's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
year ended  September  30,  2003 for filing  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

        The Audit  Committee's  responsibility  is to  monitor  and  review  the
Company's financial reporting process, including its system of internal controls
and the preparation of consolidated financial statements.  It is not the duty or
the  responsibility  of the Audit  Committee to conduct  auditing or  accounting
reviews. The Audit Committee's oversight does not provide it with an independent
basis to determine that  management has  maintained  appropriate  accounting and
financial reporting principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and
procedures   designed  to  assure  compliance  with  accounting   standards  and
applicable   laws  and   regulations.   Furthermore,   the   Audit   Committee's
considerations  and discussions with management and the independent  auditors do
not assure that the Company's  financial  statements are presented in accordance
with accounting  principles  generally accepted in the United States of America,
that the audit of the  Company's  financial  statements  has been carried out in
accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing  standards or that the Company's
independent auditors are in fact "independent."

                           Louis M. Jordan (Chairman)
                                James W. Edwards
                                William M. Graham




                                        9

 13



                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The following  information  is furnished  for the executive  officers of
Union  Financial  who  received  salary and bonus of $100,000 or more during the
year ended September 30, 2003.


                                                                                                  LONG-TERM
                                                                                                COMPENSATION
                                                                                        -----------------------------
                                                       ANNUAL COMPENSATION                         AWARDS
                                            ------------------------------------------  -----------------------------
                                                                            OTHER        RESTRICTED    SECURITIES
                                                                            ANNUAL         STOCK       UNDERLYING       ALL OTHER
       NAME AND PRINCIPAL          FISCAL                                COMPENSATION      AWARDS       OPTIONS        COMPENSATION
           POSITIONS               YEAR     SALARY($)     BONUS($)         ($)(1)           ($)            (#)              ($)
- --------------------------------  ------    ---------    ---------     ---------------  ------------  ------------    --------------
                                                                                                        
Dwight V. Neese                    2003      $155,320      $72,841         $  --           $--               --           $24,590(2)
   President and Chief Executive   2002       142,480       67,322            --            --            4,087            17,271
   Officer                         2001       137,000           --            --            --            5,000            18,390

Richard H. Flake                   2003      $ 94,750      $38,540         $  --           $--               --           $14,648(3)
   Executive Vice President        2002        94,000       35,532            --            --            4,052            12,549
   and Chief Financial Officer     2001        87,100           --            --            --            3,200            11,294

Lud W. Vaughn (4)                  2003      $ 90,220      $20,237         $  --           $--               --           $ 4,656(5)
   Chief Credit Officer            2002        41,250        2,880            --            --            5,000                --
   and Executive Vice President


- --------------------------------------
(1) Does not include the  aggregate  amount of  perquisites  and other  personal
    benefits,  which  was less  than 10% of the total  annual  salary  and bonus
    reported.
(2) Consists of employer  contribution to Provident's 401(k) plan of $10,000 and
    contribution to money purchase pension plan of $14,590.
(3) Consists of employer  contribution to Provident's  401(k) plan of $6,514 and
    contribution to money purchase pension plan of $8,134.
(4) Mr. Vaughn joined Provident on April 17, 2002.
(5) Consists of employee  contribution to Provident's  401(k) plan of $2,417 and
    contribution to money purchase pension plan of $2,239.

OPTION VALUE AT FISCAL YEAR END

        The following table provides  information  regarding  unexercised  stock
options for Messrs. Neese, Flake and Vaughn as of September 30, 2003.



                                                            NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                           UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                  OPTIONS                IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                            SHARES                         AT FISCAL YEAR-END (#)      AT FISCAL YEAR-END (#)(1)
                           ACQUIRED        VALUE       ---------------------------- ------------------------------
NAME                    ON EXERCISE(#)   REALIZED($)    EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                   ---------------  -------------  ------------ --------------- ------------- ---------------

                                                                                    
Dwight V. Neese.........    2,300         $17,158          73,837         1,363        $814,776       $10,754
Richard H. Flake........     --              --            43,648         1,352         474,506        10,667
Lud W. Vaughn...........     --              --             3,334         1,666          17,504         8,747

- --------------------------
(1) Value of unexercised  in-the-money  stock options equals the market value of
    shares  covered by  in-the-money  options on September  30,  2003,  less the
    option  exercise  price.  Options are  in-the-money  if the market  value of
    shares covered by the options is greater than the exercise price.




                                       10

 14



EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

        The Company and Provident maintain three-year employment agreements with
Messrs.  Neese and Flake. The terms of the agreements are extended daily, unless
written notice of  non-renewal  is given by the Board of Directors.  Mr. Neese's
current base salary is $168,000.  Mr.  Flake's  current base salary is $100,000.
The agreements may be terminated at any time by the Board of Directors for "just
cause,"  as  defined  in  the  agreements.  If  the  executive's  employment  is
terminated for just cause,  the  agreements  provide that the executive will not
receive any salary or benefits  for any period  after the  termination  for just
cause, except for vested benefits. The agreements provide for severance payments
if  employment  is  terminated  following a change in control (as defined in the
agreements),  equal to three times the sum of the executive's  then-current base
salary and the highest cash bonus paid or accrued over the past three  completed
fiscal  years.  The  executive  would also receive cash equal to the benefits he
would have received in each of the three calendar years  following the change in
control under any tax-qualified or non-tax qualified retirement program in which
he  participated.  The  sum  would  be  paid  promptly  within  ten  days  after
termination  following any change in control.  The executive also would continue
to participate in Provident's employee benefits programs for thirty-six months.

        The  executive  would also be  entitled  to receive  an  additional  tax
indemnification  payment if payments under the employment agreement or any other
payments triggered liability under the Internal Revenue Code as an excise tax on
payments  constituting  "excess  parachute  payments." Under applicable law, the
excise  tax is  triggered  by the  executive's  receipt  of  payments  that  are
contingent  on a change in control (as defined in the  agreement)  that equal or
exceed three times the  executive's  average annual  compensation  over the five
years  preceding the change in control.  The excise tax equals 20% of the amount
of the payment in excess of one times the executive's average  compensation over
the  preceding  five-year  period.  The  indemnification  payment  provides  the
executive with a net amount sufficient to pay the excise tax.

        The employment agreements restrict each executive from competing against
the Company or the Bank for a period of one year from the date of termination of
the  agreement  if the  executive  is  terminated  without  just  cause or "good
reason," as defined in the agreements.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

        Union  Financial  and Provident  maintain a change in control  agreement
with Mr. Vaughn.  The term of the agreement for one year and is extended  daily,
unless written  notice of  non-renewal  is given by the Board of Directors.  The
agreement provides,  that if following a change in control of Union Financial or
Provident,  Mr. Vaughn's employment with Provident is terminated,  involuntarily
or under certain  circumstances  set forth in the  agreement,  voluntarily,  Mr.
Vaughn is entitled to receive a  severance  payment  equal to one times his base
salary as in effect on the date of the change in  control.  In  addition  to his
severance  payment,  Mr.  Vaughn is also  entitled to continued  life,  medical,
dental and disability  coverage for twelve months  following his  termination of
employment.



                                       11

 15



         OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

        Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  the
Company's executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of
any  registered  class of the Company's  equity  securities,  to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
Executive officers,  directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by
regulation  to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they
file.

        Based  solely on its review of the copies of the reports it has received
and  written  representations  provided  to the  Company  from  the  individuals
required to file the reports,  the Company  believes  that each of the Company's
executive  officers  and  directors  has  complied  with  applicable   reporting
requirements  for transactions in Union Financial common stock during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2003.

TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT

        The recently  enacted  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act generally  prohibits loans by
Provident to its executive officers and directors.  However,  the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act contains a specific  exemption from such  prohibition for loans by Provident
to its  executive  officers and  directors in  compliance  with federal  banking
regulations.  Federal regulations require that all loans or extensions of credit
to executive  officers and directors of insured  financial  institutions must be
made on substantially the same terms,  including  interest rates and collateral,
as those prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions with other persons,
except for loans made pursuant to programs generally available to all employees,
and must not involve  more than the normal risk of  repayment  or present  other
unfavorable  features.  Provident  is therefore  prohibited  from making any new
loans or extensions  of credit to executive  officers and directors at different
rates or terms than those offered to the general  public,  except for loans made
pursuant to programs  generally  available to all  employees,  and has adopted a
policy to this  effect.  In  addition,  loans  made to a director  or  executive
officer in an amount that, when aggregated with the amount of all other loans to
such  person and his or her related  interests,  are in excess of the greater of
$25,000  or 5% of the  institution's  capital  and  surplus  (up to a maximum of
$500,000) must be approved in advance by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board of  Directors.  Provident's  policy is to not make any new loans or
extensions of credit to executive  officers and directors at different  rates or
terms  than  those  offered  to the  general  public  and to have  the  Board of
Directors approve all loans to executive officers and directors.

               SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS

        Proposals that stockholders seek to have included in the proxy statement
for the Company's  next annual  meeting must be received by the Company no later
than  August  30,  2004.  However,  if the  annual  meeting is held more than 30
calendar days from January 28, 2005, a stockholder  proposal must be received by
a  reasonable  time  before  the  Company  begins  to print  and mail its  proxy
solicitation  materials.  Any such proposals will be subject to the requirements
of the proxy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        The Company's Certificate of Incorporation  provides that in order for a
stockholder to make  nominations  for the election of directors or proposals for
business to be brought  before the annual  meeting,  a stockholder  must deliver
notice of such  nominations  and/or  proposals to the Secretary not less than 30
nor more than 60 days prior to the date of the annual meeting;  provided that if
less than 31 days' notice of the



                                       12

 16



annual meeting is given to stockholders, such notice must be delivered not later
than the close of the tenth day  following the day on which notice of the annual
meeting was mailed to  stockholders.  A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation
may be obtained from the Company.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        The Company  will pay the cost of this proxy  solicitation.  The Company
will reimburse  brokerage firms and other  custodians,  nominees and fiduciaries
for  reasonable  expenses  incurred by them in sending  proxy  materials  to the
beneficial  owners of Union  Financial  common stock.  In addition to soliciting
proxies by mail,  directors,  officers and regular  employees of the Company may
solicit proxies  personally or by telephone.  None of these persons will receive
additional compensation for these activities.

        The  Company's  Annual  Report to  Stockholders  has been  mailed to all
persons who were  stockholders  as of the close of business on December 9, 2003.
Any  stockholder  who has not received a copy of the Annual  Report may obtain a
copy by writing to the Secretary of the Company.  The Annual Report is not to be
treated  as  part  of  the  proxy  solicitation   material  or  as  having  been
incorporated herein by reference.

        A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED  SEPTEMBER
30,  2003,  AS FILED  WITH  THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  WILL BE
FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ALL PERSONS WHO WERE STOCKHOLDERS AS OF THE CLOSE OF
BUSINESS ON DECEMBER 9, 2003 UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO CORPORATE SECRETARY,  UNION
FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC., 203 WEST MAIN STREET, UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA 29379.

        If you and  others  who share your  address  own your  shares in "street
name,"  your  broker or other  holder of record may be  sending  only one annual
report  and  proxy   statement  to  your  address.   This  practice,   known  as
"householding,"  is designed to reduce our printing and postage costs.  However,
if a shareholder residing at such an address wishes to receive a separate annual
report or proxy statement in the future,  he or she should contact the broker or
other  holder  of  record.  If you own your  shares  in  "street  name"  and are
receiving  multiple  copies of our annual  report and proxy  statement,  you can
request householding by contacting your broker or other holder of record.


                                      BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                      /s/ Wanda J. Wells

                                      Wanda J. Wells
                                      CORPORATE SECRETARY

Union, South Carolina
December 29, 2003




                                       13




 17


                        UNION FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                JANUARY 28, 2004
                              2:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME
                            ------------------------

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      The  undersigned  hereby  appoints Mason G.  Alexander,  James W. Edwards,
William M. Graham, Louis M. Jordan, Carl L. Mason, Dwight V. Neese and Philip C.
Wilkins,  or each of them, with full power of substitution,  to act as proxy for
the  undersigned,  and to vote all  shares  of common  stock of Union  Financial
Bancshares,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  owned of record by the  undersigned  at the
Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders,  to be held on January  28, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.,
local time, in the University of South Carolina  Auditorium,  Union Campus,  401
East  Main  Street,  Union,  South  Carolina,  and at any and  all  adjournments
thereof,  as  designated  below with  respect to the matters set forth below and
described in the accompanying Proxy Statement and, in their discretion,  for the
election  of a person to the Board of  Directors  if any  nominee  named  herein
becomes unable to serve or for good cause will not serve and with respect to any
other  business  that may properly  come before the meeting.  Any prior proxy or
voting instructions are hereby revoked.

      1. The election as directors of all nominees  listed  (except as marked to
the contrary below).

                     Mason G. Alexander and James W. Edwards

                                                            FOR ALL
            FOR               VOTE WITHHELD                 EXCEPT
            ---               -------------                 ------

            |_|                   |_|                        |_|

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold your vote for any  individual  nominee,  mark "FOR ALL
EXCEPT" and write that nominee's name in the space provided below.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      2.    The  amendment  to  the  Company's   Certificate  of   Incorporation
            increasing the number of authorized shares of common stock.

            FOR                     AGAINST                 ABSTAIN
            ---                     -------                 -------
            |_|                       |_|                     |_|

      3.    The  ratification  of  the  appointment  of  Elliott  Davis,  LLC as
            independent   auditors   for  the   Company   for  the  fiscal  year
            ending December 31, 2004.

            FOR                     AGAINST                 ABSTAIN
            ---                     -------                 -------
            |_|                       |_|                     |_|

                 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
                          EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.


 18


      THIS  PROXY  WILL  BE  VOTED  AS  DIRECTED,  BUT  IF NO  INSTRUCTIONS  ARE
SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE PROPOSALS  LISTED. IF ANY
OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING,  INCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ADJOURN
THE MEETING,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THE PROXIES IN THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. AT
THE  PRESENT  TIME,  THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  KNOWS OF NO OTHER  BUSINESS  TO BE
PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

      The  above-signed  acknowledges  receipt  from  the  Company  prior to the
execution of this proxy of a Notice of Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  a Proxy
Statement dated December 29, 2003 and an Annual Report to Stockholders.

      Please sign  exactly as your name  appears on this card.  When  signing as
attorney,  executor,  administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your full
title.  If shares are held jointly,  each holder may sign but only one signature
is required.



                                          Dated:
                                                --------------------------


                                          --------------------------------
                                          STOCKHOLDER SIGN ABOVE



                                          --------------------------------
                                          CO-HOLDER (IF ANY) SIGN ABOVE




                          -----------------------------


            PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS PROXY
                     IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.


 19



                                                                      APPENDIX A

                                 AUDIT COMMITTEE
                                     CHARTER


I. PURPOSE

      The  primary  function of the Audit  Committee  (the  Committee)  of Union
Financial  Bancshares,  Inc. (the Corporation) and Provident Community Bank (the
Bank) is to review:  the integrity of the financial  reports and other financial
information  provided by the Corporation to any governmental body or the public,
including any  certification,  report or opinion prepared by or review performed
by the Corporation's independent accountants;  the Corporation's compliance with
legal and regulatory requirements;  the independent accountants'  qualifications
and independence;  the performance of the Corporation's internal audit function,
its  independent  accountants  and the  system of  internal  controls  regarding
finance,  accounting,  legal compliance and ethics that management and the Board
have  established;  and the  Corporation's  auditing,  accounting  and financial
reporting  processes  generally.  Consistent  with this function,  the Committee
should encourage continuous  improvement of, and should foster adherence to, the
Corporation's policies,  procedures and practices at all levels. The Committee's
primary duties and responsibilities are to:

      - Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Corporation's
      financial reporting process and internal control systems.

      - Review  and assess the audit  efforts of the  Corporation's  independent
      accountants and internal audit function.

      -  Provide  an  open  avenue  of   communication   among  the  independent
      accountants,  financial personnel,  senior management,  the internal audit
      function, and the Board of Directors.

The Committee will primarily fulfill these  responsibilities by carrying out the
activities outlined in Section IV. of this Charter.

II. COMPOSITION

      The Committee  shall be comprised of three or more directors as determined
by the Board of  Directors,  each of whom  shall be  independent  as  defined by
applicable Nasdaq Listing Standards, and free from any relationship that, in the
opinion  of  the  Board,  would  interfere  with  the  exercise  of  his  or her
independent judgement as a member of the Committee. All members of the Committee
shall have a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices and
be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, at
least one member of the  Committee  shall  have past  employment  experience  in
finance or accounting,  requisite  professional  certification  in accounting or
other  comparable  experience  or background  which results in the  individual's
financial  sophistication,  including  being or  having  been a chief  executive
officer,  chief  financial  officer  or  other  senior  financial  officer  with
financial oversight responsibilities.



 20



      The  members of the  Committee  shall be elected by the Board  annually or
until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Unless a Chairperson
is elected by the full  Board,  the  members of the  Committee  may  designate a
Chairperson by majority vote of the full Committee membership.

III. MEETINGS

      The Committee shall meet at least four times annually,  or more frequently
as circumstances  dictate. As part of its job to foster open communication,  the
Committee  should  meet at  least  annually  with  management  and the  external
auditors to discuss the  internal  and external  audit  functions  and any other
matters that the Committee or each of these groups  believe  should be discussed
privately.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

      To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee shall:

Documents/Reports Review
- ------------------------

1.    Review and update this Charter periodically,  but not  less than annually,
      and as  conditions  dictate.
2.    Review the regular internal reports to management prepared by the internal
      audit function and management's response.
3.    Review the  Corporation's  audited  annual  financial  statements  and the
      independent  accountants'  opinion rendered with respect to such financial
      statements,  including  reviewing the nature and extent of any significant
      changes in accounting principles or the application therein.
4.    Review and approve requests for any management consulting engagement to be
      performed by the Corporation's  independent  auditor and be advised of any
      other study  undertaken  at the request of  management  that is beyond the
      scope of the audit engagement letter.
5.    Review with financial  management  interim  financial reports prior to the
      release of earnings.  The  Chairperson  of the Committee may represent the
      entire Committee for the purposes of this review.
6.    Generally  discuss  earnings press  releases and financial  information as
      well as earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.

Independent Accountants
- -----------------------

7.    Appoint  the  independent   accountants,   considering   independence  and
      effectiveness  and  be  ultimately  responsible  for  their  compensation,
      retention and oversight  (including  resolution of  disagreements  between
      management  and the  accountant  regarding  financial  reporting)  for the
      purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work,  and each
      such accounting  firm shall report directly to the Committee.  On a annual
      basis,  the Committee  should review and discuss with the  accountants all
      significant  relationships  the  accountants  have with the Corporation to
      determine the accountants' independence.
8.    Review the  performance  of the  independent  accountants  and approve any
      proposed  discharge  of the  independent  accountants  when  circumstances
      warrant.
9.    Monitor the rotation of the lead audit partner or the audit partner having
      primary responsibility for reviewing the audit as required by law.
10.   Periodically consult with the independent  accountants out of the presence
      of management about internal controls and the fullness and accuracy of the
      organization's financial statements.



                                       A-2

 21



11.   Approve, in advance, all permissible non-audit services to be completed by
      the independent  accountants and all audit,  review or attest  engagements
      required under the federal  securities  laws.  Such approval  process will
      ensure that the  independent  accountant  does not  provide any  non-audit
      services  to the  Corporation  or the Bank that are  prohibited  by law or
      regulation.
12.   Obtain  and  review,  at  least  annually,  a  report  by the  independent
      accountants   describing  (A)  the  auditor's   internal  quality  control
      procedures,  (B) any material  issues  raised by its most recent  internal
      quality control review,  or peer review,  of the firm or by any inquiry or
      investigation by governmental or professional authorities in the preceding
      five (5) years relating to an independent  audit conducted by the firm and
      any steps taken to deal with such issues.
13.   Set  clear  policies  for  hiring  employees  or former  employees  of the
      independent accountants.

Financial Reporting Process
- ---------------------------

14.   In consultation  with the  independent  accountants and the internal audit
      function,  review the integrity of the organization's  financial reporting
      processes, both internal and external.
15.   Consider  the  independent  accountants'  judgement  about the quality and
      appropriateness of the Corporation's  accounting  principles as applied in
      its financial reporting.
16.   Consider and approve,  if appropriate,  major changes to the Corporation's
      auditing  and  accounting  principles  and  practices  as suggested by the
      independent accountants, management, or the internal audit function.
17.   Prepare  a  report  for  inclusion  in  the  Corporation's   annual  proxy
      statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Process Improvement
- -------------------

18.   Establish  regular and separate  systems of reporting to the  Committee by
      each of management,  the  independent  accountants  and the internal audit
      function  regarding  any  significant   judgements  made  in  management's
      preparation  of the  financial  statements  and  the  view  of  each as to
      appropriateness of such judgements.
19.   Following  completion of the annual audit,  review separately with each of
      management,  the independent accountants,  and the internal audit function
      any significant  difficulties  encountered during the course of the audit,
      including  any  restrictions  on the scope of work or  access to  required
      information.
20.   Review and resolve any significant  disagreement  among management and the
      independent  accountants or the internal audit function in connection with
      the preparation of the financial statements.
21.   Review with the independent  accountants,  the internal audit function and
      management  the extent to which  changes or  improvements  in financial or
      accounting practices, as approved by the Committee, have been implemented.
22.   Periodically  consult with the internal accountants out of the presence of
      management and the independent accountants about internal controls and the
      fullness and accuracy of the organization's financial statements.
23.   Have in place  procedures for (A) the receipt,  retention and treatment of
      complaints regarding accounting,  internal accounting controls or auditing
      matters and (B) the  confidential,  anonymous  submission  by employees of
      concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
24.   Report  regularly  to the Board of  Directors,  which such  report  should
      include a review on issues  relating  to the quality or  integrity  of the
      Corporation's  financial  statements,  the  Corporation's  compliance with
      legal or  regulatory  requirements,  the  performance  of the  independent
      accountants, or the performance of the internal audit function.




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 22


Ethical and Legal Compliance
- ----------------------------

25.   Review  activities, organizational structure,  and  qualifications  of the
      internal audit function.
26.   Review all legal compliance matters as they occur.
27.   Review and approve all related-party transactions.
28.   Review any legal  matter  that  could  have a  significant  impact on  the
      organization's  financial  statements.
29.   Be authorized to retain independent counsel and other advisors as it deems
      necessary  to carry out its duties and to assist it in the  conduct of any
      investigation.  In  connection  therewith,  the audit  committee  shall be
      provided  appropriate  funding as  determined  by the audit  committee for
      payment  to  accountants  and  advisors  and for  ordinary  administrative
      expense that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
30.   Perform  any  other   activities   consistent   with  this  Charter,   the
      Corporation's  Bylaws and governing  law, as the Committee or the Board of
      Directors deems necessary or appropriate.
31.   Review and update periodically a Code of Business Conduct.




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