<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from the consolidated
financial statements of SouthBanc Shares, Inc. for the year ended September 30,
2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                       7,122,770
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      14,661,883
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 87,317,673
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    516,338,740
<ALLOWANCE>                                  6,616,143
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             672,524,571
<DEPOSITS>                                 451,913,200
<SHORT-TERM>                                38,756,430
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         21,744,401
<LONG-TERM>                                 80,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    59,068,914
<OTHER-SE>                                  21,041,626
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             672,524,571
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             25,574,844
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            6,208,954
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            31,783,798
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          11,713,897
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          18,374,356
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       13,409,442
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                2,719,982
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                         (3,081,814)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             13,787,758
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (733,866)
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   (733,866)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (942,972)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.29)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.29)
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.93
<LOANS-NON>                                 12,331,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                             1,091,609
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              2,256,501
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             2,916,095
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  435,142
<RECOVERIES>                                    11,085
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            6,616,143
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         2,916,501
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      3,699,642