<html>
    <head>
        <title></title>
    </head>

    <body style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'" bgcolor="#ffffff">
        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font size="2">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2009</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font size="2">Registration No. 333 - ________</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="5">FORM S-8</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">UNDER</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="5">THE SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="1">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="587" align="center" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="69">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="432">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><b><font size="2">South Carolina </font></b></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><b><font size="2">57-0824914 </font></b></u></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="596" align="center" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="457">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 81%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="1">(State or other jurisdiction</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="91">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 81%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="1">(I.R.S. Employer</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600" align="center" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="453">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 81%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="1">of incorporation or organization)</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 81%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="1">Identification No.)</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">102 South Main Street</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">Greenville, South Carolina 29601</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><u><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font><b><font size="2">(864) 255-7900</font></b> <font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="1">(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant&rsquo;s principal executive offices)</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">William P. Crawford, Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">The South Financial Group, Inc.</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">104 South Main Street</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">Greenville, South Carolina 29601</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><u><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font><b><font size="2">(864) 255-4777 </font></b><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u><font size="2">&nbsp;</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="1">(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><u><b><font size="2">AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN</font></b></u></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">(Full Title of Plans) </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 6pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></b></p>

        <div align="center">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: black 2.25pt double; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid" valign="bottom" width="194">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Title of Each Class of</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Securities to be</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Registered</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: black 2.25pt double; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid" valign="bottom" width="107">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Amount</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">to be</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Registered (1)</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: black 2.25pt double; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid" valign="bottom" width="114">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Proposed Maximum</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Offering Price</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Per Share (1)</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: black 2.25pt double; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid" valign="bottom" width="120">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Proposed Maximum</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Aggregate</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Offering Price (1)</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: black 2.25pt double; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1pt solid" valign="bottom" width="119">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Amount of</font></p>

                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">Registration Fee</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>

                <tr>
                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2.25pt double" valign="top" width="194">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2.25pt double" valign="bottom" width="107">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font size="2">300,000</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2.25pt double" valign="bottom" width="114">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">$1.365</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1pt solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2.25pt double" valign="bottom" width="120">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font size="2">$409,500</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2.25pt double" valign="bottom" width="119">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 97.2%; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font size="2">$22.85</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="24">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="24">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(1)</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1), based on the average ($1.365) of the high ($1.45) and low ($1.28) prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on July 29, 2009, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">THE EXHIBIT INDEX IS ON PAGE 3 OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">1</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">PART I: </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 1. Plan Information. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.43in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Not included in this Registration Statement but provided or to be provided to the participants in the following plans (the "Plans") of The South Financial Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"): </font></p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="400" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-TOP: 5pt" valign="top" nowrap width="96">
                        <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-TOP: 5pt" valign="top" nowrap width="304">
                        <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Not included in this Registration Statement but provided or to be provided to Plan participants pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">PART II: </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="499" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="451">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">The following documents or portions thereof are hereby incorporated by reference:</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, Commission File No. 0-15083. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2009, February 9, 2009, February 19, 2009, February 23, 2009, March 4, 2009, March 24, 2009, April 2, 2009, April 21, 2009, May 5, 2009., June 17, 2009, June 19, 2009, June 24, 2009, July 8, 2009, July 21, 2009 and July 24, 2009.</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since the end of the Company's 2008 fiscal year. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">The description of the Company's common stock contained in (the registrant's Form 8-A) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 22, 1986, Commission File No. 000-15083. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
        this Registration Statement and to be part thereof from the date of filing of such documents. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 4. Description of Securities. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Not applicable. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 5. Interests Of Named Experts And Counsel. </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.43in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the registrant, is counsel to the registrant in connection with this Registration Statement and has passed on certain aspects of the legality of the common stock covered hereby. On the date hereof, Mr. Crawford beneficially owned approximately 42,150 shares of the common stock of the registrant.
        </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 6. Indemnification of Directors And Officers </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.43in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Reference is made to Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended (attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3), which provides for indemnification of officers and directors of South Carolina corporations in certain instances in connection with legal proceedings involving any such persons because of being or having been an officer or director. Section
        5.1 of our bylaws provide that the corporation shall indemnify any individual made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director of the corporation against liability incurred in the </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">2</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law. Section 5.2 of our bylaws provide that the corporation shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law. Section 5.3 of our bylaws provide that in addition to any indemnification required by law, the corporation
        may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of the bylaws with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the corporation. We have entered into indemnification agreements
        with each of our directors, which make the above-referenced bylaws provisions the basis of a contract between us and each director. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended, also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is or was an officer or director of the corporation. We maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Reference is made to Chapter 2 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended, respecting the limitation in a corporation's articles of incorporation of the personal liability of a director for breach of the director's fiduciary duty. Reference is made to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State on March 24,
        2003 which state: "A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or any of its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not be deemed to eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or a
        knowing violation of laws, (iii) imposed under Section 33-8-330 of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1988 (improper distribution to shareholder), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit." </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described above or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
        and is, therefore, unenforceable.</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Not applicable. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 8. Exhibits </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Exhibit</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">-------</font></p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">4.1 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended: Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 of TSFG&rsquo;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2004, Exhibit 3.01 of TSFG's Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated May 8, 2008, Exhibit 3.01 of TSFG's Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated December 5, 2008, and
                        Exhibit 3.1 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 19, 2009.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">4.2 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3(ii) of TSFG's Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K dated November 3, 2008 and Exhibit. 3.1 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 8, 2009.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">5.1 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Opinion of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esquire regarding legality of shares of The South Financial Group, Inc.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">23.1</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">23.2 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Consent of William P. Crawford, Jr.: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">24.1 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">The Power of Attorney: Contained on the signature page of this Registration Statement.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">99.1</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="66">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">99.2</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of The South Financial Group, Inc. filed on September 4, 2002 Commission File No. 333-99159.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><font size="2">Item 9. Undertakings </font></b></p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="323" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-TOP: 5pt" valign="top" nowrap width="48">
                        <p>&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-TOP: 5pt" valign="top" nowrap width="275">
                        <p><font size="2">(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement; </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">3</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
        (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
        registration statement; and </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
        incorporated by reference in the registration statement. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.46in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
        of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.46in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
        and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
        settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">4</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenville, State of South Carolina, on the 31st day of July,
        2009.</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="587" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="336">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="251">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">THE SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="488" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="336">
                        <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="152">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">By: </font><u><font size="2">/s/ James R. Gordon</font></u></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 3in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">James R. Gordon, Executive Vice President </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">POWER OF ATTORNEY</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William P. Crawford, Jr. and James R. Gordon, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all
        amendments to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s) full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
        all that said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), or their substitute(s), may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="491" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Signature</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="253">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Title</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="45">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Date</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ H. Lynn Harton</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">President, and Chief</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="304" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">H. Lynn Harton</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="112">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Executive Officer</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(Principal Executive Officer) </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ James R. Gordon</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Sr. Executive Vice President</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="441" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">James R. Gordon</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="249">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ John C. B. Smith, Jr.</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Chairman, Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">John C. B. Smith, Jr. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ William R. Timmons III</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Vice Chairman, Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">William R. Timmons, III. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="256" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">_____________________</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">William P. Brant </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ J. W. Davis</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">J. W. Davis</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="256" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">_____________________</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">M. Dexter Hagy </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="255" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">_____________________</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="63">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Donald T. Heroman</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="256" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">_____________________</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">William S. Hummers III</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">5</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ Challis M. Lowe</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Challis M. Lowe</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ Darla D. Moore</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Darla D. Moore</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="256" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">_____________________</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="64">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Jon W. Pritchett</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ H. Earle Russell, Jr.</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">H. Earle Russell, Jr. </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ Edward J. Sebastian</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Edward J. Sebastian </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="517" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="192">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><u><font size="2">/s/ David C. Wakefield III</font></u></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="240">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Director</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="85">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">July 31, 2009</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">David C. Wakefield III </font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">6</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><font size="2">INDEX TO EXHIBITS </font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Exhibit</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">-------</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">5.1 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Opinion of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq., regarding legality of shares of The South Financial Group, Inc.</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">23.1</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">23.2 </font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">Consent of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq.: Contained in Exhibit 5.1</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">24.1</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">The Power of Attorney: Contained on the signature page of this Registration Statement</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&nbsp;</p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" width="48">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font size="2">99.1</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font size="2">Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan</font></p>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </table>
        </div>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <div title="EE+ Page Footer">
            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a name="PAGENUM"><font size="2">7</font></a></p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>

            <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
        </div>

        <div title="EE+ Page Break" style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 1px">
            <hr align="center" width="100%" noshade size="2">
        </div>

    </body>
</html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8-espp.htm", "description": "EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN", "secsgml_size_bytes": 77830}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0000797871", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "570824914", "state-of-incorporation": "SC", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-160959", "film-number": "09977980"}, "business-address": {"street1": "102 S MAIN ST", "city": "GREENVILLE", "state": "SC", "zip": "29601", "phone": "8642557900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "102 S MAIN STREET", "city": "GREENVILLE", "state": "SC", "zip": "29601"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CAROLINA FIRST CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2009
Registration No. 333 - ________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THE SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
South Carolina
57-0824914
(State or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
102 South Main Street
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
(864) 255-7900
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
William P. Crawford, Jr., Executive Vice President and General Counsel
The South Financial Group, Inc.
104 South Main Street
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
(864) 255-4777
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full Title of Plans)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be
Registered
Amount
to be
Registered (1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share (1)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (1)
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
300,000
$1.365
$409,500
$22.85
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1), based on the average ($1.365) of the high ($1.45) and low ($1.28) prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on July 29, 2009, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
THE EXHIBIT INDEX IS ON PAGE 3 OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
1
PART I:
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.
Not included in this Registration Statement but provided or to be provided to the participants in the following plans (the "Plans") of The South Financial Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"):
Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
Not included in this Registration Statement but provided or to be provided to Plan participants pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act.
PART II:
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents or portions thereof are hereby incorporated by reference:
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, Commission File No. 0-15083.
The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2009, February 9, 2009, February 19, 2009, February 23, 2009, March 4, 2009, March 24, 2009, April 2, 2009, April 21, 2009, May 5, 2009., June 17, 2009, June 19, 2009, June 24, 2009, July 8, 2009, July 21, 2009 and July 24, 2009.
All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since the end of the Company's 2008 fiscal year.
The description of the Company's common stock contained in (the registrant's Form 8-A) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 22, 1986, Commission File No. 000-15083.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
        this Registration Statement and to be part thereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests Of Named Experts And Counsel.
William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the registrant, is counsel to the registrant in connection with this Registration Statement and has passed on certain aspects of the legality of the common stock covered hereby. On the date hereof, Mr. Crawford beneficially owned approximately 42,150 shares of the common stock of the registrant.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors And Officers
Reference is made to Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended (attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3), which provides for indemnification of officers and directors of South Carolina corporations in certain instances in connection with legal proceedings involving any such persons because of being or having been an officer or director. Section
        5.1 of our bylaws provide that the corporation shall indemnify any individual made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director of the corporation against liability incurred in the
2
proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law. Section 5.2 of our bylaws provide that the corporation shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law. Section 5.3 of our bylaws provide that in addition to any indemnification required by law, the corporation
        may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of the bylaws with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the corporation. We have entered into indemnification agreements
        with each of our directors, which make the above-referenced bylaws provisions the basis of a contract between us and each director.
Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended, also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is or was an officer or director of the corporation. We maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance.
Reference is made to Chapter 2 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended, respecting the limitation in a corporation's articles of incorporation of the personal liability of a director for breach of the director's fiduciary duty. Reference is made to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State on March 24,
        2003 which state: "A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or any of its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not be deemed to eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or a
        knowing violation of laws, (iii) imposed under Section 33-8-330 of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1988 (improper distribution to shareholder), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit."
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described above or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
        and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
Exhibit
-------
4.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended: Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 of TSFG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2004, Exhibit 3.01 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 8, 2008, Exhibit 3.01 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 5, 2008, and
                        Exhibit 3.1 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 19, 2009.
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 3, 2008 and Exhibit. 3.1 of TSFG's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 8, 2009.
5.1
Opinion of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esquire regarding legality of shares of The South Financial Group, Inc.
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of William P. Crawford, Jr.: Contained in Exhibit 5.1.
24.1
The Power of Attorney: Contained on the signature page of this Registration Statement.
99.1
Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
99.2
Chapter 8, Article 5 of Title 33 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of The South Financial Group, Inc. filed on September 4, 2002 Commission File No. 333-99159.
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
3
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
        (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
        registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
        incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
        of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
        and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
        settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenville, State of South Carolina, on the 31st day of July,
        2009.
THE SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By:
/s/ James R. Gordon
James R. Gordon, Executive Vice President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William P. Crawford, Jr. and James R. Gordon, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all
        amendments to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s) full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
        all that said attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s), or their substitute(s), may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ H. Lynn Harton
President, and Chief
July 31, 2009
H. Lynn Harton
Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ James R. Gordon
Sr. Executive Vice President
July 31, 2009
James R. Gordon
(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
/s/ John C. B. Smith, Jr.
Chairman, Director
July 31, 2009
John C. B. Smith, Jr.
/s/ William R. Timmons III
Vice Chairman, Director
July 31, 2009
William R. Timmons, III.
_____________________
Director
William P. Brant
/s/ J. W. Davis
Director
July 31, 2009
J. W. Davis
_____________________
Director
M. Dexter Hagy
_____________________
Director
Donald T. Heroman
_____________________
Director
William S. Hummers III
5
/s/ Challis M. Lowe
Director
July 31, 2009
Challis M. Lowe
/s/ Darla D. Moore
Director
July 31, 2009
Darla D. Moore
_____________________
Director
Jon W. Pritchett
/s/ H. Earle Russell, Jr.
Director
July 31, 2009
H. Earle Russell, Jr.
/s/ Edward J. Sebastian
Director
July 31, 2009
Edward J. Sebastian
/s/ David C. Wakefield III
Director
July 31, 2009
David C. Wakefield III
6
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
-------
5.1
Opinion of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq., regarding legality of shares of The South Financial Group, Inc.
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2
Consent of William P. Crawford, Jr., Esq.: Contained in Exhibit 5.1
24.1
The Power of Attorney: Contained on the signature page of this Registration Statement
99.1
Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
7