Citizens South Banking Corporation
                              245 West Main Avenue
                         Gastonia, North Carolina 28053
                                 (704) 868-5200

                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                        To Be Held On September 25, 2002

         Notice is hereby  given  that a Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the
"Meeting") of Citizens South Banking Corporation (the "Company") will be held at
The City Club of Gastonia, 532 South New Hope Road, Gastonia, North Carolina, at
10:30 a.m.,  North  Carolina time, on September 25, 2002. As of the date hereof,
the Company  owns 100% of the common  stock of Citizens  South Bank (the "Bank")
and is  majority-owned  by Citizens  South  Holdings,  MHC (the "Mutual  Holding
Company").

         A Proxy Statement and Proxy Card for the Meeting are enclosed.

         The Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

1.   A plan of conversion and reorganization  (the "Plan") pursuant to which the
     Mutual  Holding  Company will be merged into the Bank, and the Company will
     be  succeeded  by a new  Delaware  corporation  with the  same  name as the
     Company  which has been  established  for the  purpose  of  completing  the
     conversion.  As described in enclosed material,  the rights of stockholders
     of the new Delaware  corporation will be less than the rights  stockholders
     currently  have.  The   differences  in  stockholder   rights  include  the
     following:  (i) approval by at least 80% of the outstanding shares required
     to remove a director for cause;  (ii) the inability of stockholders to call
     special  meetings;  (iii)  greater lead time required for  stockholders  to
     submit stockholder proposals;  (iv) approval by at least 80% of outstanding
     shares required to amend the certificate of incorporation and bylaws; (v) a
     residency  requirement for directors;  and (vi) approval by at least 80% of
     outstanding shares required to approve business  combinations  involving an
     interested  stockholder.  As part  of the  conversion  and  reorganization,
     shares of common stock representing the Mutual Holding Company's  ownership
     interest in the  Company  will be offered  for sale in a  subscription  and
     community  offering.  Common stock of the Company  currently held by public
     stockholders  will be  converted  into new shares  pursuant  to an exchange
     ratio that will ensure that stockholders at the time of the conversion will
     own the same  percentage of Citizens  South Banking  Corporation  after the
     conversion as was held immediately  prior thereto,  exclusive of any shares
     purchased by the  stockholder  in the offering and cash received in lieu of
     fractional shares;

and  such  other  matters  as may  properly  come  before  the  Meeting,  or any
adjournments  thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business
to come before the Meeting.

         Any action may be taken on the foregoing proposal at the Meeting on the
date  specified  above,  or on any date or dates to which by  original  or later
adjournment the Meeting may be adjourned. Stockholders of record at the close of
business on August 1, 2002 are the stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting,
and any adjournments thereof.

         EACH  STOCKHOLDER,  WHETHER HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND THE  MEETING,  IS
REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WITHOUT DELAY IN THE
ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE.  ANY  PROXY  GIVEN BY THE  STOCKHOLDER  MAY BE
REVOKED  AT ANY TIME  BEFORE IT IS  EXERCISED.  A PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY FILING
WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY A WRITTEN  REVOCATION OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY
BEARING A LATER DATE. ANY  STOCKHOLDER  PRESENT AT THE MEETING MAY REVOKE HIS OR
HER PROXY  AND VOTE  PERSONALLY  ON EACH  MATTER  BROUGHT  BEFORE  THE  MEETING.
HOWEVER,  IF YOU ARE A STOCKHOLDER  WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT  REGISTERED IN YOUR OWN
NAME, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR RECORD HOLDER IN ORDER TO
VOTE PERSONALLY AT THE MEETING.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors

                                              /s/ Paul L. Teem, Jr.

                                              Paul L. Teem, Jr.
                                              Corporate Secretary
Gastonia, North Carolina
August 14, 2002


     IMPORTANT: A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
           NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.



                              QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
             FOR STOCKHOLDERS OF CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORPORATION

You should read this document and the accompanying  prospectus (which includes a
detailed index) for more  information  about the conversion and  reorganization.
The  plan  of  conversion   and   reorganization   described   herein  has  been
conditionally approved by our regulators.

Q.       WHAT ARE STOCKHOLDERS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE?

A.       Citizens South Banking  Corporation  stockholders  as of August 1, 2002
         are  asked  to  vote  on the  plan of  conversion  and  reorganization.
         Pursuant to the plan,  Citizens South  Holdings,  MHC will convert from
         the mutual holding company form to the stock form of organization  (the
         "Conversion")  and as part of the  Conversion,  we will  offer for sale
         Citizens South  Holdings,  MHC's  ownership  interest in Citizens South
         Banking Corporation.

Q.       WHAT ARE REASONS FOR THE MUTUAL-TO-STOCK CONVERSION AND RELATED
         OFFERING?

A.       The primary  reasons for the conversion are to facilitate  acquisitions
         of  other  financial  institutions,  support  internal  growth  through
         lending,   improve  our  overall   competitive   position  and  enhance
         stockholder  returns.  The additional  capital raised in the conversion
         will also support  increased  lending,  expansion of our retail banking
         franchise, and introduction of new products and services.

Q.       WHAT WILL STOCKHOLDERS RECEIVE FOR THEIR EXISTING CITIZENS SOUTH
         BANKING CORPORATION SHARES?

A.       As  more  fully  described  in the  prospectus  section  entitled  "The
         Conversion,"  depending  on the number of shares sold in the  offering,
         each  share  of  common  stock  that  you own  upon  completion  of the
         Conversion  will be  exchanged  for  between  1.3838  new shares at the
         minimum  and  2.1530 new shares at the  maximum of the  offering  range
         (though cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares).

Q.       WHY WILL THE SHARES THAT I RECEIVE BE BASED ON A PRICE OF $10.00 PER
         SHARE  RATHER THAN THE TRADING  PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK PRIOR TO THE
         CONVERSION?

A.       The Board of Directors of Citizens South Banking Corporation selected a
         price of $10.00 per share for the stock  offered for sale because it is
         a commonly  selected per share price for  mutual-to-stock  conversions.
         The number of new shares you receive for your existing  Citizens  South
         Banking  Corporation  shares  does not  depend on the  market  price of
         Citizens South Banking  Corporation common stock. It will depend on the
         number of shares sold in the offering, which will in turn depend on the
         final  independent  appraisal of the pro forma market value of Citizens
         South Banking  Corporation,  assuming  completion of the Conversion and
         offering.  The result will be that each existing  stockholder  will own
         the same  percentage of Citizens  South Banking  Corporation  after the
         Conversion as was held just prior thereto,  exclusive of (i) any shares
         purchased by the  stockholder in the offering and (ii) cash received in
         lieu of fractional shares.

Q.       SHOULD I SUBMIT MY STOCK CERTIFICATES NOW?

A.       No. If you hold your stock certificate(s),  instructions for exchanging
         the shares will be sent to you after  completion of the Conversion.  If
         your shares are held in "street name," rather than in certificate form,
         the share  exchange  will occur  automatically  upon  completion of the
         Conversion.

Q.       WILL MY DIVIDENDS DECREASE?

A.       No.  Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation  currently  pays a quarterly
         dividend of $0.08 per share (or $0.32 per share annualized). The number
         of new stock shares that will be issued to you will be  different  from
         the number that you currently own. However,  the per share dividend for
         these  new  shares  will be  adjusted  to ensure  that

                                       (i)



         your aggregate  dividends do not decrease.  For example,  if 1.6280 new
         shares are issued for each  Citizens  South Banking  Corporation  share
         owned at the conclusion of the Conversion,  the quarterly  dividend per
         share will be $0.05. Of course, there is no assurance that the Board of
         Directors  will  not  change  the  dividend  policy  in the  future  or
         eliminate dividends.

Q.       IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN STREET NAME, WILL MY BROKER AUTOMATICALLY VOTE
         ON MY BEHALF?

A.       No.  Your  broker  will  not  be  able  to  vote  your  shares  without
         instructions  from you.  You should  instruct  your broker to vote your
         shares, using the directions that your broker provides to you.

Q.       WHAT IF I DO NOT GIVE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS TO MY BROKER?

A.       Your vote is important. If you do not instruct your broker to vote your
         shares,  the unvoted  proxy will have the same effect as a vote against
         the plan of conversion and reorganization.

Q.       MAY I PLACE AN ORDER TO PURCHASE SHARES IN THE OFFERING, IN ADDITION TO
         THE SHARES THAT I WILL RECEIVE IN THE EXCHANGE?

A.       Yes.  Eligible  Citizens South Bank and Citizens Bank, Inc.  depositors
         have priority  subscription  rights  allowing  them to purchase  common
         stock  in  the  subscription  offering.  Shares  not  purchased  in the
         subscription  offering  may be  available  for sale to the  public in a
         community  offering,  as fully  described in the  prospectus.  Citizens
         South  Banking  Corporation  stockholders  as of  August 1, 2002 have a
         preference  in  the  community   offering.   If  you  hold  your  stock
         certificate(s),  you were  mailed a stock  order  form and order  reply
         envelope  with this  document.  If you hold your  shares in street name
         with a broker,  you must call the stock information center if you would
         like to  receive a stock  order  form.  The  telephone  number is (704)
         868-2185.




                                Other Questions?

For  answers  to other  questions,  please  read  the  Proxy  Statement  and the
prospectus,  which includes a Questions and Answers section. Questions about the
offering or voting may be directed  to the stock  information  center by calling
(704)  868-2185,  Monday  through  Friday,  from 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,  North
Carolina time.


                                      (ii)




                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       of
                       CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORPORATION
                              245 West Main Avenue
                         Gastonia, North Carolina 28053
                                 (704) 868-5200

                         SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                               September 25, 2002

         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of  proxies  on behalf of the  Board of  Directors  of  Citizens  South  Banking
Corporation (the  "Company"),  to be used at the Special Meeting of Stockholders
of the Company (the "Meeting"), which will be held at The City Club of Gastonia,
532 South New Hope Road,  Gastonia,  North  Carolina,  on September  25, 2002 at
10:30 a.m., North Carolina time, and all adjournments  thereof. The accompanying
Notice of Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  and this Proxy  Statement are first
being mailed to stockholders on or about August 23, 2002.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              REVOCATION OF PROXIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Stockholders  who execute  proxies in the form solicited  hereby retain
the right to revoke them in the manner described below.  Unless so revoked,  the
shares  represented  by  such  proxies  will be  voted  at the  Meeting  and all
adjournments  thereof.  Proxies solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of
the Company  will be voted in  accordance  with the  directions  given  thereon.
Please sign and return your Proxy in order for your vote to be counted. Where no
instructions are indicated, proxies, if signed, will be voted "FOR" the proposal
set forth in this Proxy Statement for consideration at the Meeting.

         Proxies may be revoked by sending  written  notice of revocation to the
Secretary  of the  Company,  at the  address  shown  above,  or by filing a duly
executed  proxy  bearing  a later  date.  The  presence  at the  Meeting  of any
stockholder  who had given a proxy  shall  not  revoke  such  proxy  unless  the
stockholder  delivers  his or her ballot in person at the  Meeting or delivers a
written  revocation  to the Secretary of the Company prior to the voting of such
proxy.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Holders  of  record  of the  Company's  common  stock  at the  close of
business on August 1, 2002 (the "Voting  Record  Date") are entitled to one vote
for each share held. As of the Voting Record Date,  there were 4,209,434  shares
of common stock issued and outstanding, 2,457,007 of which were held by Citizens
South Holdings, MHC (the "Mutual Holding Company"),  and 1,752,427 of which were
held  by   stockholders   other  than  the  Mutual  Holding   Company   ("Public
Stockholders"). The presence in person or by proxy of at least a majority of the
issued and  outstanding  shares of common stock entitled to vote is necessary to
constitute a quorum at the Meeting.

         Pursuant to Office of Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS")  regulations and the
plan of conversion and reorganization (the "Plan"), completion of the conversion
of  Citizens  South  Holdings,  MHC  from  the  mutual  to  the  stock  form  of
organization  (the  "Conversion")  is subject to the approval of the Plan by the
OTS and by a majority of the total  votes  eligible to be cast by members of the
Mutual Holding  Company (i.e.,  depositors of Citizens South Bank (the "Bank")).
In addition,  the  transactions  incident to the Conversion and the Plan must be
approved by at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of common stock, and a
majority  of votes cast by Public  Stockholders.  With  respect to the  required
affirmative  vote of at least  two-thirds  of the  outstanding  shares of common
stock,  abstentions and broker  non-votes will have the effect of a vote against
the Plan. With respect to the required  affirmative  vote by a majority of votes
cast by stockholders  other than the Mutual Holding  Company,  broker  non-votes
will be considered as shares not voted. No


                                       1



proxy  that is voted  against  approval  of the  Plan  will be voted in favor of
adjournment  to further  solicit  proxies.  Management  believes that the Mutual
Holding Company will vote all of its shares to approve the Plan.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        PROPOSAL I--APPROVAL OF THE PLAN OF CONVERSION AND REORGANIZATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         In addition to this Proxy Statement,  you have received as part of this
mailing a Prospectus  that  describes the Company,  the  Conversion  and related
offering. The Prospectus is incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.
Therefore,  you  should  carefully  read the  Prospectus  prior to voting on the
proposal to be presented at the Meeting. Details of the Conversion are addressed
in the Prospectus sections entitled "Summary" and "The Conversion."

         Following  the  Conversion,  the Mutual  Holding  Company will cease to
exist  and  therefore  will no longer  control  a  majority  of the  issued  and
outstanding  shares of  Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation.  Existing  Public
Stockholders of the Company, a federal corporation,  will become stockholders of
Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation.  The rights of
stockholders  of the new  Delaware  corporation  will be less  than  the  rights
stockholders  currently  have. The  differences in stockholder  rights under the
Delaware  certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws are not mandated by Delaware
law but have been chosen by  management  in being in the best  interests  of the
newly-formed corporation and all of its stockholders.

         The material differences are as follows:

1.       Approval  by at Least 80% of  Outstanding  Shares  Required to Remove a
         Director for Cause.  Under the current federal bylaws, any director may
         be removed for cause by the  holders of a majority  of the  outstanding
         voting   shares.   Citizens   South  Banking   Corporation's   Delaware
         certificate of incorporation  provides that any director may be removed
         for  cause by the  holders  of at least 80% of the  outstanding  voting
         shares of Citizens South Banking Corporation.

2.       Inability of Stockholders to Call Special Meetings. Special meetings of
         the Company's current  stockholders may be called by the holders of not
         less than one-tenth of the  outstanding  capital stock entitled to vote
         at  the  meeting.   Citizens  South  Banking   Corporation's   Delaware
         certificate  of  incorporation  provides  that special  meetings of the
         stockholders  of Citizens South Banking  Corporation may be called only
         by a majority vote of the total authorized directors.

3.       Greater  Lead Time  Required  for  Stockholders  to Submit  Stockholder
         Proposals.  The Company's current  stockholders must submit nominations
         for election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders  and any
         new business to be taken up at such a meeting by filing the proposal in
         writing with  Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation  at least five days
         before  the  date  of  any  such   meeting.   Citizens   South  Banking
         Corporation's  Delaware bylaws  generally  provide,  however,  that any
         stockholder desiring to make a nomination for the election of directors
         or a proposal for new business at a meeting of stockholders must submit
         written notice to Citizens  South Banking  Corporation at least 90 days
         prior to the  anniversary  date of the  mailing of proxy  materials  in
         connection   with  the   immediately   preceding   annual   meeting  of
         stockholders.

4.       Approval by at Least 80% of Outstanding Shares to Amend the Certificate
         of Incorporation  and Bylaws. No amendment of the current federal stock
         charter  may be made  unless  it is  first  proposed  by the  Board  of
         Directors of the Company,  then preliminarily  approved by the OTS, and
         thereafter  approved  by the  holders of a majority  of the total votes
         eligible  to  be  cast  at a  legal  meeting.  Citizens  South  Banking
         Corporation's  Delaware  certificate of incorporation may be amended by
         the vote of the  holders of a  majority  of the  outstanding  shares of
         Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation  common  stock,  except  that the
         provisions of the certificate of incorporation governing the calling of
         meetings  of  stockholders  and the  prohibition  of action by  written
         consent  of  stockholders,   stockholder   nominations  and  proposals,
         limitations  on  voting  rights of 10%  stockholders,  the  number  and
         staggered  terms of directors,  vacancies on the Board of Directors and
         removal  of  directors,  approval  of  certain  business  combinations,
         indemnification  of officers and directors,  and the manner of amending
         the  certificate  of  incorporation  and bylaws,  may not be  repealed,
         altered,  amended or rescinded

                                       2


         except by the vote of the  holders  of at least 80% of the  outstanding
         shares of Citizens South Banking Corporation.

         The Company's federal bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the
         full Board of Directors of the Company or by a majority vote of the
         votes cast by the stockholders of the Company at any legal meeting.
         Citizens South Banking Corporation's Delaware bylaws may only be
         amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of Citizens South
         Banking Corporation or by the holders of at least 80% of the
         outstanding stock of Citizens South Banking Corporation.

5.       Residency Requirement for Directors. Citizens South Banking
         Corporation's Delaware bylaws provide that only persons who reside or
         work in a county in which Citizens South Bank maintains an office or in
         a county contiguous to a county in which Citizens South Bank maintains
         an office will be qualified to be appointed or elected to the Board of
         Directors of Citizens South Banking Corporation. The Company's federal
         bylaws have no similar provision.

6.       Approval  by at Least 80% of  Outstanding  Shares  Will be  Required to
         Approve  Business  Combinations  Involving an  Interested  Stockholder.
         Citizens   South  Banking   Corporation's   Delaware   certificate   of
         incorporation  requires  the approval of the holders of at least 80% of
         Citizens South Banking Corporation's outstanding shares of voting stock
         to approve  certain  "Business  Combinations"  involving an "Interested
         Stockholder"  except  where  (i)  the  proposed  transaction  has  been
         approved by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors who are
         unaffiliated  with the  Interested  Stockholder  and who were directors
         prior to the time when the Interested  Stockholder became an Interested
         Stockholder, or (ii) certain "fair price" provisions are complied with.
         The term "Interested Stockholder" includes any individual, corporation,
         partnership  or  other  entity,   other  than  Citizens  South  Banking
         Corporation or its  subsidiary,  which owns  beneficially  or controls,
         directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding shares of voting
         stock of Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation  or an affiliate of such
         person  or  entity.  The  Company's  federal  bylaws  have  no  similar
         provision.

         The Company's Board of Directors believes that the provisions described
above are prudent and will reduce its  vulnerability  to takeover  attempts  and
certain other  transactions  that have not been  negotiated with and approved by
its Board of Directors. These provisions will also assist Citizens South Banking
Corporation in the orderly deployment of the Conversion proceeds into productive
assets during the initial  period after the  Conversion.  The Board of Directors
believes  these  provisions  are in the best  interests  of the  Company and its
stockholders.  The  Board  of  Directors  believes  that it will be in the  best
position to determine the true value of Citizens South Banking  Corporation  and
to  negotiate  more  effectively  for what may be in the best  interests  of its
stockholders.  Accordingly,  the Board of Directors  believes  that it is in the
best interests of Citizens South Banking  Corporation  and its  stockholders  to
encourage  potential acquirers to negotiate directly with the Board of Directors
of Citizens South Banking  Corporation and that these  provisions will encourage
such negotiations and discourage hostile takeover attempts.  It is also the view
of the Board of Directors that these  provisions  should not discourage  persons
from proposing a merger or other  transaction at a price  reflective of the true
value of Citizens South Banking Corporation and that is in the best interests of
all stockholders.

         Takeover  attempts that have not been  negotiated  with and approved by
the Board of Directors  present the risk of a takeover on terms that may be less
favorable than might  otherwise be available.  A transaction  that is negotiated
and  approved by the Board of  Directors,  on the other hand,  can be  carefully
planned and  undertaken at an opportune time in order to obtain maximum value of
Citizens South Banking Corporation for its stockholders,  with due consideration
given  to  matters  such  as  the  management  and  business  of  the  acquiring
corporation  and  maximum  strategic   development  of  Citizens  South  Banking
Corporation's assets.

         Although  a tender  offer or other  takeover  attempt  may be made at a
price  substantially  above the current market price,  such offers are sometimes
made for less  than all of the  outstanding  shares  of a target  company.  As a
result,  stockholders  may  be  presented  with  the  alternative  of  partially
liquidating their investment at a time that may be disadvantageous, or retaining
their  investment in an enterprise that is under different  management and whose
objectives may not be similar to those of the remaining stockholders.

         Despite  the  Board  of  Directors'   belief  as  to  the  benefits  to
stockholders  of  these  provisions  of  Citizens  South  Banking  Corporation's
Delaware certificate of incorporation and bylaws, these provisions may also have
the effect of discouraging a future takeover  attempt that would not be approved
by the Board of  Directors,  but  pursuant to which  stockholders  may receive a
substantial  premium for their  shares over then  current  market  prices.  As a
result,  stockholders  who might desire to participate in such a transaction may
not have any  opportunity  to do so.  Such  provisions  will  also  make it more
difficult  to  remove  our  Board of  Directors  and  management.  The  Board of
Directors,  however,  has  concluded  that the potential  benefits  outweigh the
possible disadvantages.

         See "Comparison Of Stockholders'  Rights," beginning on page 103 of the
enclosed  Prospectus,  for a complete discussion of the material  differences to
stockholders.

                                       3



                        DISSENTERS' AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS

         Under OTS regulations,  Public  Stockholders  will not have dissenters'
rights or appraisal rights in connection with the exchange of their common stock
for shares of common stock of Citizens South Banking Corporation pursuant to the
exchange ratio described in the Prospectus.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of  Directors is not aware of any business to come before the
Meeting other than the matters described above in this Proxy Statement. However,
if any matters  should  properly  come before the Meeting,  it is intended  that
holders  of the  proxies  will act as  directed  by a  majority  of the Board of
Directors, except for matters related to the conduct of the Meeting, as to which
they shall act in accordance with their best judgment.

         The Plan sets  forth  the  terms,  conditions,  and  provisions  of the
proposed  Conversion.  The  Certificate of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the new
Delaware  corporation  are exhibits to the Plan. If you would like to receive an
additional copy of the Prospectus,  or a copy of the Plan and the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the new Delaware corporation,  you must request such
materials in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the new Delaware corporation
at the address  given above.  Such  requests  must be received by the Company no
later than  September  13, 2002. If the Company does not receive your request by
such date, you will not be entitled to have such materials mailed to you.

         To the extent necessary to permit approval of the Plan,  proxies may be
solicited by officers, directors, or regular employees of the Company and/or the
Bank, in person, by telephone,  or through other forms of communication  and, if
necessary,  the Meeting may be adjourned  to a later date.  Such persons will be
reimbursed  by the Company  and/or the Bank for their  reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses, including, but not limited to, telephone and postage expenses incurred
in  connection  with such  solicitation.  The  Company  and/or the Bank have not
retained a proxy  solicitation  firm to provide advisory  services in connection
with the  solicitation  of proxies.  The cost of solicitation of proxies will be
borne by the  Company.  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 common stock.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
PLAN.

THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY SHARES IN THE OFFERING. THE OFFER IS MADE ONLY BY THE PROSPECTUS.

                                          BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                          /s/ Paul L. Teem, Jr.

                                          Paul L. Teem, Jr.
                                          Corporate Secretary
Gastonia, North Carolina
August 14, 2002

                                       4





                                 REVOCABLE PROXY



                       CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORPORATION
                         SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               September __, 2002

         The undersigned hereby appoints the full Board of Directors, with full
powers of substitution to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to
vote all shares of Common Stock of Citizens South Banking Corporation (the
"Company") which the undersigned is entitled to vote at a Special Meeting of
Stockholders ("Meeting") to be held at the City Club of Gastonia, Gastonia,
North Carolina, at __:__ _.m., North Carolina Time, on September __, 2002. The
official proxy committee is authorized to cast all votes to which the
undersigned is entitled as follows:

                                                     FOR     AGAINST    ABSTAIN

1.    A  plan  of  conversion  and  reorganization   |_|       |_|        |_|
      pursuant to which Citizens  South  Holdings,
      MHC will be merged into Citizens South Bank,
      and the Company  will be  succeeded by a new
      Delaware  corporation  with the same name as
      the Company which has been  established  for
      the purpose of completing the conversion and
      reorganization. As described in the enclosed
      material,  the rights of stockholders of the
      new Delaware  corporation  will be less than
      the rights stockholders  currently have. The
      differences  in  stockholder  rights include
      the following:  (i) approval by at least 80%
      of outstanding  shares  required to remove a
      director  for cause;  (ii) the  inability of
      stockholders to call special meetings; (iii)
      greater lead time required for  stockholders
      to  submit   stockholder   proposals;   (iv)
      approval  by at  least  80%  of  outstanding
      shares   to   amend   the   Certificate   of
      Incorporation  and  Bylaws;  (v) a residency
      requirement for directors;  (vi) approval by
      at  least  80%  of  outstanding   shares  to
      approve business  combinations  involving an
      interested  stockholder.   As  part  of  the
      conversion,    shares   of   common    stock
      representing  the Citizens  South  Holdings,
      MHC's ownership interest in the Company will
      be offered  for sale in a  subscription  and
      community  offering.  Common  stock  of  the
      Company    currently    held    by    public
      stockholders  will  be  converted  into  new
      shares  pursuant to an  exchange  ratio that
      will ensure that stockholders at the time of
      the conversion  will own the same percentage
      of Citizens South Banking  Corporation after
      the conversion as was held immediately prior
      thereto,  exclusive of any shares  purchased
      by the  stockholder in the offering and cash
      received in lieu of fractional shares.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the listed proposal.

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IF SIGNED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS  DIRECTED,  BUT IF NO  INSTRUCTIONS  ARE
SPECIFIED,  THIS  PROXY,  IF SIGNED,  WILL BE VOTED FOR THE  PROPOSITION  STATED
ABOVE.  IF ANY OTHER  BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT SUCH MEETING,  THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED BY THE ABOVE-NAMED  PROXIES AT THE DIRECTION OF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.  AT THE  PRESENT  TIME,  THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  KNOWS OF NO OTHER
BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
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                THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


         Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the Meeting or
at any adjournment thereof and after notification to the Secretary of the
Company at the Meeting of the stockholder's decision to terminate this proxy,
then the power of said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of
no further force and effect. This proxy may also be revoked by sending written
notice to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the Notice of
Special Meeting of Stockholders, or by the filing of a later-dated proxy prior
to a vote being taken on a particular proposal at the Meeting.



Dated: _________________, 2002


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PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER                    PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER


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SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER                     SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER


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 should sign.


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        Please complete, date and sign this proxy and return it promptly
                     in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
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