UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


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

Date of Report: July 16, 2004




                        The South Financial Group, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




    South Carolina                 0-15083                     57-0824914
  -------------------             -----------            ----------------------
(State of other juris-            (Commission                 (IRS Employer
diction of incorporation)         File Number)            Identification Number)


102 South Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina                        29601
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (864) 255-7900









ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

         On July 16, 2004, The South Financial Group,  Inc.  ("TSFG")  completed
its acquisition of Florida Banks, Inc. ("FLBK"). In the transaction, FLBK common
shareholders  received  0.84 shares of TSFG common  stock for each share of FLBK
common  stock.  Approximately  5,244,597  shares of TSFG common  stock are being
issued in connection  with the outstanding  FLBK common and preferred  stock. In
addition,  approximately  567,532  shares of TSFG common  stock are  issuable in
connection with outstanding FLBK options.

         FLBK had  approximately $1 billion in assets,  and operated through its
wholly owned  banking  subsidiary,  Florida Bank,  N.A.. In connection  with the
acquisition,  Florida Bank, N.A. was merged into Mercantile Bank, TSFG's Florida
banking subsidiary.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(a) Financial Statements of the Businesses Acquired. Not Applicable

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information. Not Applicable

(c) Exhibits.

          Exhibit No.

          2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger between Florida Banks,  Inc. and The
               South Financial Group, Inc.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               2.1 of The South Financial Group's Registration Statement on Form
               S-4, Registration No. 333 - 115264.







                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                         THE SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


July 20, 2004                   By:      /s/ William P. Crawford, Jr.
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         William P. Crawford, Jr.
                                         Executive Vice President