Sinkler & Boyd, P.A.
                                Attorneys at Law
                               The Palmetto Center
                          1426 Main Street, Suite 1200
                         Columbia, South Carolina 29201
                                 (803) 779-3080





                                January 29, 1998

Community First Bancorporation
3685 Blue Ridge Boulevard
Walhalla, South Carolina 29691


Gentlemen:

         In connection  with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933
(the  "Act") of 400,000  shares of the  common  stock  (the  "Common  Stock") of
Community First  Bancorporation,  a South Carolina  corporation (the "Company"),
for issuance  pursuant to the Community First  Bancorporation  1998 Stock Option
Plan, 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/Sinkler & Boyd, P.A.
                                Sinkler & Boyd, P.A.






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