UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 21, 2004

                            FIDELITY BANKSHARES, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

            Delaware                    000-29040                65-0717085
- -----------------------            ------------------        -----------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction)     (Commission File No.)     (I.R.S. Employer
  of Incorporation)                                         Identification No.)


205 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, Florida                        33401
- -------------------------------------------                     ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (561) 803-9900
                                                     --------------



                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17
      CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 2.02      Financial Condition and Results of Operations
               ---------------------------------------------

               On October 19, 2004, the Company reported  earnings for the three
               and nine months ended  September  30,  2004.  A press  release is
               included as an exhibit.


Item 8.01      Other Events
               ------------

Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits
               ---------------------------------

(a)  Financial Statements of businesses acquired. Not Applicable.

(b)  Pro forma financial information. Not Applicable.

(c)  Attached as an exhibit is Fidelity Bankshares, Inc.'s (the "Company") press
     release announcing its September 30, 2004 earnings.

               The following Exhibit is attached as part of this report:


               99.1 Press  release  dated  October  19,  2004,   announcing  the
                    Company's  financial results.  The press release is included
                    as an exhibit.








                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                           FIDELITY BANKSHARES, INC.



DATE: October 21, 2004                      By:/s/ Vince A. Elhilow
                                               --------------------
                                               Vince A. Elhilow
                                               Chairman of the Board, President
                                               and Chief Executive Officer







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit No.                   Description
         ----------                    -----------

          99.2                         Press  release dated  October 19, 2004,
                                       announcing September 30, 2004 earnings.