SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 Current Report
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

                          Date of Report: July 23, 2004

                       Citizens South Banking Corporation
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

         Delaware                         0-23971                 54-2069979
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

245 West Main Avenue, Gastonia, North Carolina                      28052
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 704-868-5200



Item 7. Exhibits

99 Additional Exhibits:

      (a)   Earnings Press Release of Citizens South Banking Corporation

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      On July 19, 2004, Citizens South Banking Corporation issued a press
release to announce its results of operations for the quarters ended June 30,
2004 and 2003. The text of the press release and related financial supplements
are included as Exhibit 99 (a) to this report. The information included in the
text and financial supplements of the press releases is considered to be
"furnished" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company will include
final financial statements and additional analyses for the quarters ended June
30, 2004, and 2003, as part of its Form 10-Q covering that period.

                                   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.

                                  CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORPORATION


DATE: July 23, 2004               By: /s/ Kim S. Price
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Kim S. Price
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  By: /s/ Gary F. Hoskins
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Gary F. Hoskins
                                      Chief Financial Officer