EXHIBIT 5.1




                            MOORE & VAN ALLEN, PLLC
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW


                                                  March 10, 1996





Board of Directors
Triangle Bancorp, Inc.
4300 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612

         Re:      REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Triangle Bancorp, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
of an aggregate of 75,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock,
no par value per share, which are reserved for issuance under the Company's
Directors Fee Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

As counsel for the Company, we have examined the proceedings taken and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken in connection with the
issuance of the Shares under the Plan. Further, in connection with the
Registration Statement, we have examined the originals or photocopies or
certified copies of such records of the Company, certificates of officers of the
Company and public officials and other documents as we have deemed relevant and
appropriate as the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity
of all original documents submitted to us, the conformity to the originals of
all documents submitted to us as certified copies or photocopies and the
authenticity of the originals of such documents.

Based upon such examination, and relying upon statements of fact contained in
the documents which we have examined, we are of the opinion that the Shares have
been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and sold as contemplated by
the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 MOORE & VAN ALLEN, PLLC



                                 By:  Alexander M. Donaldson