<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend, if applicable) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000797871 <NAME> The South Financial Group <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <CASH> 194,675 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 40,116 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 400 <TRADING-ASSETS> 3,704 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 846,491 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 67,919 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 67,472 <LOANS> 3,542,960 <ALLOWANCE> 41,742 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,086,132 <DEPOSITS> 3,705,296 <SHORT-TERM> 520,734 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 58,255 <LONG-TERM> 328,711 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 43,057 <OTHER-SE> 430,079 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 5,086,132 <INTEREST-LOAN> 156,652 <INTEREST-INVEST> 29,047 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,032 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 186,731 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 73,410 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 96,957 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 89,774 <LOAN-LOSSES> 12,427 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 163 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 95,077 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,674 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 5,674 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,453 <EPS-BASIC> .03 <EPS-DILUTED> .03 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 9.23 <LOANS-NON> 18,341 <LOANS-PAST> 7,789 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 33,756 <CHARGE-OFFS> 5,638 <RECOVERIES> 1,197 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 41,742 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 41,742 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0