Exhibit 99.1

                      Press Release Dated February 18, 2004















NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT

Date:                      February 18, 2004

Contact:                   Susan J. Cooke

To:                        News Media

Release Date:              Immediate


                          COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                            ANNOUNCES STOCK DIVIDEND

Myrtle  Beach,  South  Carolina,  (February  18,  2004) . . . Coastal  Financial
Corporation  (Nasdaq/CFCP)  today  announced  that  the  Corporation's  Board of
Directors,  at a meeting held today,  declared a 10% stock  dividend.  The stock
dividend  will be payable March 24, 2004 to  Shareholders  of record as of March
10, 2004.

Michael C. Gerald,  President and Chief Executive  Officer of Coastal  Financial
Corporation  stated, "We are very pleased to continue to reward our Shareholders
for their  investment with this stock  dividend.  This action on the part of our
Board is in recognition of the  Corporation's  continued  outstanding  financial
performance as indicated by the 20.7% increase in fiscal 2004  year-to-date  net
income and 17.70%  return on average  Shareholders'  equity.  These  significant
accomplishments  pay tribute to our QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE  Operating  Philosophy,
our superb Leadership Group and Associates and reflect the continuing  emergence
of our primary market area as one of the fastest growing in the nation."

As  a  result  of  the  common  stock  dividend,  earnings  per  share  will  be
retroactively  restated for all previous periods.  Earnings per share,  adjusted
for the stock  dividend,  for the year ended  September  30,  2003 were $.79 per
share  ($.76 per share  diluted),  as compared to $.72 per share ($.70 per share
diluted) for the comparable  2002 period.  The current cash dividend policy will
be adjusted for the effect of this stock dividend.



                                     -MORE-

Coastal Financial  Corporation,  headquartered in Myrtle Beach,  South Carolina,
offers a broad range of  commercial,  consumer and mortgage  financial  services
through two subsidiaries,  Coastal Federal Bank and Coastal  Retirement,  Estate
and Tax Planners, Inc. Coastal Federal Bank, with assets over $1.2 Billion, is a
federally  chartered  and FDIC  insured  community  bank with  eighteen  offices
serving the  communities  of Horry and Georgetown  Counties,  South Carolina and
Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, North Carolina.  Coastal Retirement,  Estate
and Tax Planners offers  professional,  objective,  fee-based financial planning
services.  Additional  information about Coastal Federal is available on its web
site at www.coastalfederal.com.

Stock Trading Information

The common stock of Coastal Financial  Corporation is traded on the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the symbol "CFCP." For information, contact Raymond James Financial
Services at  1-843-918-7600,  Herzog,  Heine,  Geduld,  Inc. at  1-800-523-4936,
Knight Securities at 212-336-8690,  Spear,  Leeds & Kellogg at 1-800-526-3160 or
Trident Securities at 1-800-222-2618.

Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan

Coastal Financial  Corporation offers  Shareholders a Dividend  Reinvestment and
Direct  Stock  Purchase  Plan which  provides  existing and new  shareholders  a
convenient means for making  purchases of Coastal  Financial shares free of fees
and brokerage  commissions  and at a discount to market price.  Additional  cash
contributions,  up to $1,000 per  quarter,  can be made to  purchase  additional
shares. For more information, contact the Transfer Agent at 1-800-866-1340, Ext.
2514, or Investor Relations.

Shareholder Services

Shareholders  desiring to enroll in the Coastal Financial  Corporation  Dividend
Reinvestment  Plan,  change  the name,  address,  or  ownership  of their  stock
certificates,  report lost or stolen  certificates,  or to consolidate  accounts
should  contact the Transfer  Agent at  1-800-866-1340,  Ext.  2514, or Investor
Relations.

Investor Relations

Analysts, investors and others seeking financial information should contact:
         Susan J. Cooke - Senior Vice President and Secretary
         Coastal Financial Corporation
         2619 Oak Street
         Myrtle Beach, South Carolina  29577
         (843) 205-2676

                                     -MORE-


Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain  "forward-looking  statements"  within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  that
represent  Coastal  Financial  Corporation's  (the  "Company")  expectations  or
beliefs  concerning  future events.  Such  forward-looking  statements are about
matters that are  inherently  subject to risks and  uncertainties.  Factors that
could  influence  the matters  discussed in certain  forward-looking  statements
include the timing and amount of revenues that may be recognized by the Company,
continuation of current revenue and expense trends  (including  trends affecting
charge-offs),  absence of unforeseen changes in the Company's markets, legal and
regulatory  changes,  and general  changes in the economy  (particularly  in the
markets served by the Company).  Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent
in forward looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on them,  whether  included in this news release or made  elsewhere from time to
time by the Company or on its behalf.  The Company  disclaims any  obligation to
update such  forward-looking  statements.  In addition,  statements in this news
release  regarding  historical stock price  performance are not indicative of or
guarantees of future price performance.





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