Exhibit 5
                          Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
                    1201 Main Street, 22nd Floor (29201-3226)
                       Post Office Box 11889 (29211-1889)
                            Columbia, South Carolina
                             Telephone 803.779.3080
                             Facsimile 803.765.1243




                               September 14, 2005

Board of Directors
Cornerstone Bancorp
1670 East Main Street
Easley, South Carolina 29640

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection  with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933
(the  "Act") of 445,000  shares of the  common  stock  (the  "Common  Stock") of
Cornerstone  Bancorp,  a South Carolina  corporation  (the  "Company"),  we have
examined such corporate  records,  certificates  and other  documents,  and such
questions  of law,  as we  have  considered  necessary  or  appropriate  for the
purposes of this opinion.

         Upon the basis of such  examination  it is our opinion  that the Common
Stock,  when issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the  Registration
Statement filed by the Company in connection with the registration of the Common
Stock, and upon receipt of the consideration  therefor,  will be legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to be named in the  Registration  Statement as attorneys who
will pass upon certain legal matters in connection  with the offering  described
in the Registration Statement, and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are in the  category of persons  whose  consent is required  under
Section 7 of the Act.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       s/Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.