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 (Date of earliest event reported): March 24, 2005

                       ATLANTIC COAST FEDERAL CORPORATION
                       ----------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          Federal                  000-50962                  59-3764686
          --------                 ---------                  ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)           File Number)            Identification No.)

                   505 Haines Avenue, Waycross, Georgia 31501
                   ------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (800) 342-2824
                                 --------------
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former Name or former address, if changed since last report)




Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
        CFR 230.425)

|_|     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
        CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
        Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

        (b) On March 24, 2005, I. J. McGahee, Cyril M. Morris and John M. Hinson
submitted notice to the Board of Directors of Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation
and its wholly owned subsidiary, Atlantic Coast Federal, that they will retire
effective on the date of the company's annual meeting. The current terms of Mr.
Hinson, Mr. Morris and Mr. McGahee would have expired at the company's annual
meeting of shareholders in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively.



                                   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.


                                           ATLANTIC COAST FEDERAL CORPORATION


Date:  March 25, 2005                  By:  /s/ Robert J. Larison, Jr.
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Robert J. Larison, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Duly Authorized Representative)