<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000846465
<NAME> CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                      13,334,197
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         383,493
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 31,179,908
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      48,812,004
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        48,790,289
<LOANS>                                    288,104,526
<ALLOWANCE>                                  4,042,346
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             394,601,998
<DEPOSITS>                                 354,661,658
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          7,112,817
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     4,096,923
<OTHER-SE>                                  28,730,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             394,601,998
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              6,716,202
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,302,964
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                30,074
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             8,049,240
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           3,423,766
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              82,845
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        4,542,629
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  306,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (870)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              3,377,407
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,910,171
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   1,910,171
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,213,208
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.73
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.91
<LOANS-NON>                                    570,615
<LOANS-PAST>                                    15,690
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             3,588,488
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  127,483
<RECOVERIES>                                    44,341
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            4,042,346
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0