EXHIBIT 23.1c CONSENT OF THE CARSON MEDLIN COMPANY Board of Directors January 21, 2004 First Carolina State Bank 137 North Winstead Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Members of the Board: We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the description of our opinion letter to the Board of Directors of First Carolina State Bank that is a part of this Registration Statement of Form S-4, under the caption "Opinion of First Carolina's Financial Advisor," and to the inclusion of such opinion letter as Appendix C to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that is a part of this Registration Statement. Very Truly Yours, /s/ The Carson Medlin Company The Carson Medlin Company