UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                 --------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 --------------


                                 April 19, 2001
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)



                               CENIT BANCORP, INC.
                              --------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          Delaware                       0-20378                  54-1592546
-------------------------------         ---------           --------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification Number)


300 E. Main Street, Suite 1350
      Norfolk, Virginia                                      23510
-------------------------------                              -----
(Address of principal executive office)                    (Zip code)


    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:     (757) 446-6600



Item 5 - Other Events

     On April 19, 2001, the Registrant issued a News Release  announcing results
for the first  quarter  ended  March 31,  2001 and other  information.  The News
Release is attached as EXHIBIT 99.1. Item 7 - Financial statements and exhibits.


Item 7 - Financial statements and exhibits.

     The exhibit  listed in the Exhibit Index is filed  herewith as part of this
Current Report on Form 8-K.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        CENIT Bancorp, Inc.


Date:   April 20, 2001                  /S/ Michael S. Ives
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Michael S. Ives
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer



Date:   April 20, 2001                  /S/ John O. Guthrie
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        John O. Guthrie
                                        Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                                      -1-
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT         DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
-------         ----------------------

99.1            News Release dated April 19, 2001

                                       -2-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENIT BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000877834", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "541592546", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-20378", "film-number": "1607526"}, "business-address": {"street1": "300 E MAIN STREET SUITE 1350", "city": "NORFOLK", "state": "VA", "zip": "23510", "phone": "7574466600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "300 E MAIN STREET SUITE 1350", "city": "NORFOLK", "state": "VA", "zip": "7574466600"}}
UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                 --------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 --------------

                                 April 19, 2001
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                               CENIT BANCORP, INC.
                              --------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                       0-20378                  54-1592546
-------------------------------         ---------           --------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification Number)

300 E. Main Street, Suite 1350
      Norfolk, Virginia                                      23510
-------------------------------                              -----
(Address of principal executive office)                    (Zip code)

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:     (757) 446-6600

Item 5 - Other Events

     On April 19, 2001, the Registrant issued a News Release  announcing results
for the first  quarter  ended  March 31,  2001 and other  information.  The News
Release is attached as EXHIBIT 99.1. Item 7 - Financial statements and exhibits.

Item 7 - Financial statements and exhibits.

     The exhibit  listed in the Exhibit Index is filed  herewith as part of this
Current Report on Form 8-K.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                        CENIT Bancorp, Inc.

Date:   April 20, 2001                  /S/ Michael S. Ives
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Michael S. Ives
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:   April 20, 2001                  /S/ John O. Guthrie
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        John O. Guthrie
                                        Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                                      -1-
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT         DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
-------         ----------------------

99.1            News Release dated April 19, 2001

                                       -2-