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        <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 face="ARIAL" size="4">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <b><font face="ARIAL" size="4">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <b><font face="ARIAL" size="3">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 face="ARIAL" size="3">FORM 8-K</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 face="ARIAL" size="2">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <b><font face="ARIAL" size="2">TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE</font></b></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <b><font face="ARIAL" size="2">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</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">
        <font face="Arial" size="2">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 3,
        2008</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">
        <u><font face="Arial" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
        South Financial Group, Inc.
        &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u>
        <font face="Arial" size="2">&nbsp;</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <font face="Arial" size="2">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
        charter)</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>

        <table style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="646" align="center" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u><font face="Arial" size="2">
                    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;South
                    Carolina&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <u><font face="Arial" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0-15083&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <u><font face="Arial" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;57-0824914&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></u></p>
                </td>

                <td width="7">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    &nbsp;</p>
                </td>
            </tr>

            <tr>
                <td width="7">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    &nbsp;</p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">(State or other jurisdiction of
                    incorporation)</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">(Commission File Number)</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap colspan="2">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">(IRS Employer Identification Number)</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>

            <tr>
                <td width="7">
                </td>

                <td width="235">
                </td>

                <td width="7">
                </td>

                <td width="175">
                </td>

                <td width="7">
                </td>

                <td width="220">
                </td>

                <td width="7">
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <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">
        <font size="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p>

        <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" align="center" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="100">
                    <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="333">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2"><u>102 South Main Street, Greenville, South
                    Carolina</u></font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="213">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2"><u>29601</u></font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>

            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="100">
                    <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="333">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="213">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">(Zip Code)</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <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">
        <font face="Arial" size="2">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including area code: (864)
        255-7900</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">
        <font face="Arial" size="2">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is
        intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
        following provisions:</font></p>

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

        <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Wingdings">o</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="650">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
                    the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.12in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
        &nbsp;</p>

        <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Wingdings">o</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="650">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
                    the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.12in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
        &nbsp;</p>

        <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Wingdings">o</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="650">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
                    14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.12in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
        &nbsp;</p>

        <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" border="0">
            <tr>
                <td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                    <font face="Wingdings">o</font></p>
                </td>

                <td valign="top" nowrap width="650">
                    <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                    <font face="Arial" size="2">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
                    13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <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="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always"></p>
        <PAGE>

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

        <div align="left">
            <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="638" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="638">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2"><b>Item
                        8.01&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events</b></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-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">On November 3, 2008, the Board of
        Directors of The South Financial Group, Inc. named John C. B. Smith, Jr. as Chairman, and
        William R. Timmons III as Vice Chairman.</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">
        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2"><b>Signature</b></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 face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">Pursuant to the requirements of the
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
        its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>

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

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 2in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE
        SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</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="638" border="0">
                <tr>
                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="322">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">November 7,
                        2008</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="31">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">By:</font></p>
                    </td>

                    <td valign="top" nowrap width="286">
                        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
                        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2"><u><i>/s/ William P.
                        Crawford, Jr.</i></u><br>
                        William P. Crawford, Jr.<br>
                        Executive Vice President and General Counsel</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: left">&nbsp;</p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" size="2">- 2 -</font></p>

        <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</p>
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{"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": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-15083", "film-number": "081169189"}, "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"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 3,
        2008
The
        South Financial Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
        charter)
South
                    Carolina
0-15083
57-0824914
(State or other jurisdiction of
                    incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
102 South Main Street, Greenville, South
                    Carolina
29601
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (864)
        255-7900
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is
        intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
        following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
                    the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
                    the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
                    14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
                    13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item
                        8.01            Other Events
On November 3, 2008, the Board of
        Directors of The South Financial Group, Inc. named John C. B. Smith, Jr. as Chairman, and
        William R. Timmons III as Vice Chairman.
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
        its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE
        SOUTH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
November 7,
                        2008
By:
/s/ William P.
                        Crawford, Jr.
William P. Crawford, Jr.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
- 2 -