1 Exhibit 5 June 25, 2001 Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group, Inc. 7909 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group, Inc. (the "Company") in the preparation of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering a total of 900,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), (i) 400,000 of which may be issued pursuant to the terms of the Company's Outside Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Outside Director's Plan") and (ii) 500,000 of which may be issued pursuant to the terms of the Company's Amended and Restated Omnibus Stock Award Plan, as amended (the "Omnibus Plan"). In so acting, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate in order to express the opinion hereinafter set forth and have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Common Stock, when issued in full in accordance with the terms of the Outside Directors' Plan or the Omnibus Plan, as applicable, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We hereby consent to the reference to our firm in the Registration Statement under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" and to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. By giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the general rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Very truly yours, McNAIR LAW FIRM, P.A. By: /s/ Elizabeth B. Anders ----------------------------- A Member of the Firm 10