INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
The South Financial Group, Inc.


We consent to incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements (Nos.
33-25424,  33-79668,  33-80822,   33-82668,  33-82670,   333-31948,   333-53170,
333-53172,  333-67745,  333-83519 and  333-96141)  on Form S-8 and  registration
statements  (No.  333-06975,  333-49078 and  333-66264) on Form S-3 of The South
Financial  Group,  Inc.  of our report  dated  June 21,  2002,  relating  to the
statements  of net assets  available  for plan  benefits of the  Carolina  First
401(k)  Plan (the  "Plan") as of  December  15,  2001 and 2000,  and the related
statements  of changes in net assets  available  for benefits for the years then
ended,  which report appears in the December 15, 2001 annual report on Form 11-K
of the Plan.




Greenville, South Carolina                                    /s/KPMG LLP
June 28, 2002











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