As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 1998



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                   FORM 8 - K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  July 6, 1998
                                  ------------


                            FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
                            -------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                                                    


North Carolina                              0-15829                    56-1355866
- ---------------                            ---------                  ------------
(State or other                             (Commission                (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                             File Number)               Identification No.)
incorporation)


           22 Union Street, North, Concord, North Carolina 28026-0228
        (Addresses, including zip codes, of principal executive offices)

                                 (704) 786-3300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)





ITEM 5            OTHER EVENTS.
- -------------------------------

         On July  6,  1998,  First  Charter  Corporation,  the  registrant  (the
"Registrant"),  announced  financial  results  for both the six and three  month
periods  ended  June 30,  1998.  A copy of the press  release  announcing  these
financial results as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 7            FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
- ---------------------------------------------------

         (c)      The following exhibits are filed herewith:


Exhibit No.       Description
- -----------------------------

         99.1     News release disseminated on July 6, 1998 by First Charter 
                  Corporation






                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                                  FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Lawrence M. Kimbrough
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Lawrence M. Kimbrough
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  July 10, 1998






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                                  


Exhibit No.                Description                                                  Sequential Page
- ------------               ------------                                                 No.
                                                                                        ---------------

99.1                       News  Release  disseminated  on July 6, 1998 by First
                           Charter Corporation.