<PAGE>
 
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 1998
                                               Registration No. ________________
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-8

                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                               KS BANCORP, INC.
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        North Carolina                                         56-1842707
 (State or other jurisdiction                               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)


                              Post Office Box 219
                            207 West Second Street
                          Kenly, North Carolina 27542
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                  KS BANCORP, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               KS BANCORP, INC.
                 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS

                           (Full title of the Plans)

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

                           HAROLD T. KEEN, President
                               KS Bancorp, Inc.
                              Post Office Box 219
                            207 West Second Street
                          Kenly, North Carolina 27542
                                (919) 284-4157
  (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                          code, of agent for service)

                                  Copies to:
                             RANDALL A. UNDERWOOD
                           Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,
                          Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P.
                             Post Office Box 26000
                            2000 Renaissance Plaza
                             230 North Elm Street
                       Greensboro, North Carolina 27420


                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

================================================================================================
    Title of Securities       Amount to be   Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum     Amount of
      to be Registered        Registered/1/   Offering Price   Aggregate Offering   Registration
                                                 Per Unit           Price/4/            Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>            <C>               <C>                  <C> 
Common Stock, no par value     161,789/2/        $7.50/3/        $1,213,418.00        $357.96
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>

                           (Footnotes on Next Page)

This Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance
with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 17 C.F.R.
                                  (S)230.462.
<PAGE>
 
     /1/ Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
the KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan ("Employee Stock Option Plan")
and KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Directors ("Director
Stock Option Plan") as a result of a reclassification, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend or similar occurrence which makes
an adjustment of shares just and appropriate.

     /2/ Represents the total number of shares which may be issued pursuant to
options granted under the Employee Stock Option Plan and Director Stock Option
Plan.

     /3/ For purposes of calculating the registration fee, the proposed maximum
offering price per unit is the exercise price for options to purchase 161,789
shares which have been granted under the Employee Stock Option Plan and Director
Stock Option Plan.

     /4/ Estimated total for the purposes of calculating the registration fee
in accordance with Rule 457(h).

================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                                     Part I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item I.  Plan Information.

     This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to the registration of up
to 107,861 shares of common stock, no par value, of KS Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Registrant") which are reserved for issuance pursuant to options which have
been or may be granted under the KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan
("Employee Stock Option Plan") and up to 53,928 shares of common stock, no par
value, of the Registrant which are reserved for issuance pursuant to options
which have been or may be granted under the KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan for Directors ("Director Stock Option Plan"). The Employee Stock
Option Plan and Director Stock Option Plan are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Stock Option Plans".   This Registration Statement also
relates to an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary
to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Stock
Option Plans as a result of a reclassification, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend or similar occurrence which makes
an adjustment of shares just and appropriate. Documents containing the
information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to the
participants in the Stock Option Plans as specified by Rule 428(b)(1).  Such
documents are not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses
or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

Item 2.  Registration Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

     The required statement is contained in the prospectus to be delivered
pursuant to Part I of this Registration Statement as specified by Rule
428(b)(1).

                                    Part II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated herein
by reference:

     (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1996.

     (b)  All reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
          "Exchange Act") since the end of the fiscal year covered by the
          Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in clause (a)
          above.
 
     (c)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-
          69522, filed by the Registrant with the Commission on September 28,
          1993, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
          updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, 
<PAGE>
 
shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in this
Registration Statement, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document which is also
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provide that to the fullest
extent permitted by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the "NCBCA"),
no person who serves as a director shall be personally liable to the Registrant
or any of its stockholders or otherwise for monetary damages for breach of any
duty as director.  The Registrant's Bylaws state that any person who at any time
serves or has served as a director or officer of the Registrant, or who, while
serving as a director or officer of the Registrant, serves or has served at the
request of the Registrant as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, or as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan,
shall have a right to be indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent
permitted by law against liability and litigation expense arising out of such
status or activities in such capacity.  "Liability and litigation expense" is
defined in the Bylaws as including costs and expenses of litigation (including
reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
which are actually and reasonably incurred in connection with or as a
consequence of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including appeals.

     Litigation expense, as described above, may be paid by the Registrant in
advance of the final disposition or termination of the litigation matter, if the
Registrant receives an undertaking, dated, in writing and signed by the person
to be indemnified, to repay all such sums unless such person is ultimately
determined to be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as provided in the
Registrant's Bylaws.

     Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the NCBCA contain provisions
prescribing the extent to which directors and officers shall or may be
indemnified. Section 55-8-51 of the NCBCA permits a corporation, with certain
exceptions, to indemnify a present or former director against liability if (i)
the director conducted himself in good faith, (ii) the director reasonably
believed (x) that the director's conduct in the director's official capacity
with the corporation was in its best interests and (y) in all other cases the
director's conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests,
and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had no reasonable
cause to believe the director's conduct

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
was unlawful. A corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with a
proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was
adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with a proceeding charging
improper personal benefit to the director. The above standard of conduct is
determined by the board of directors, or a committee or special legal counsel or
the shareholders as prescribed in Section 55-8-55.

     Sections 55-8-52 and 55-8-56 of the NCBCA require a corporation to
indemnify a director or officer in the defense of any proceeding to which the
director or officer was a party against reasonable expenses when the director or
officer is wholly successful in the director's or officer's defense, unless the
articles of incorporation provide otherwise.  Upon application, the court may
order indemnification of the director or officer if the director or officer is
adjudged fairly and reasonably so entitled under Section 55-8-54.

     In addition, Section 55-8-57 permits a corporation to provide for
indemnification of directors, officers, employees or agents, in its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or by contract or resolution, against liability in
various proceedings and to purchase and maintain insurance policies on behalf of
these individuals.

     The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of North
Carolina law dealing with indemnification of directors and officers and does not
purport to be complete.  It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
relevant statutes, which contain detailed specific provisions regarding the
circumstances under which, and the persons for whose benefit, indemnification
shall or may be made.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
 
     Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

     The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-B):

          Exhibit No.                    Description of Document
          -----------                    -----------------------

              3.1            The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              3.2            The Registrant's Bylaws (incorporated by reference
                             to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Annual Report on
                             Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                             1994)

              4.0            Specimen Stock Certificate for the Registrant
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
              5.0            Opinion of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey &
                             Leonard, L.L.P. as to the legality of securities
                             being registered

              10.1           KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              10.2           KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for
                             Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             10.9 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
                             the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              23.1           Consent of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey &
                             Leonard, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.0) 

              23.2           Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP


Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to:

          (i)   Include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

          (ii)  Reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising which,
                individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                in the information 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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price
                set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                Registration Statement;

          (iii) 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 (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if
     --------  -------                                                          
the information required 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 Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     (2) For determining liability under the Securities Act,  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 that remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
     (4) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or
section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act) 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.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions discussed in Item 6 hereof, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                   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, on February 5, 1998.


                                      KS BANCORP, INC.
                                      Registrant


                                      By: /s/ Harold T. Keen
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Harold T. Keen, President

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby makes,
constitutes and appoints Harold T. Keen to sign for such person and in such
person's name and capacity indicated below, any and all amendments to this
Registration Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.


Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Harold T. Keen
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Harold T. Keen, President and Director 
                                        (Principal Executive Officer)


Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Helen B. Pollock
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Helen B. Pollock,
                                        Treasurer
                                        (Principal Financial Officer and
                                        Principal Accounting Officer)


Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Robert E. Fields
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert E. Fields, Director


Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ R. Harold Hinnant
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        R. Harold Hinnant, Director


Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ James C. Parker
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        James C. Parker, Director
 

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ R. Elton Parrish
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        R. Elton Parrish, Director

 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Ralph Edward Scott
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Ralph Edward Scott, Jr., Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ H. Elwin Watson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        H. Elwin Watson, Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ J. Hayden Wiggs
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        J. Hayden Wiggs, Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ James C. Woodard
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        James C. Woodard, Director

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

 
                                                                 Method of
Exhibit No.                    Description                        Filing
-----------                    -----------                       ---------    

   3.1           The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation    Incorporated by
                                                               Reference

   3.2           The Registrant's Bylaws                       Incorporated by
                                                               Reference
   4.0           Specimen Stock Certificate for the            Incorporated by
                 Registrant                                    Reference

   5.0           Opinion of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,          Filed Herewith
                 Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P. as to legality 
                 of securities being registered

   10.1          KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan   Incorporated by
                                                               Reference

   10.2          KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option    Incorporated by
                 Plan for Directors                            Reference

   23.1          Consent of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,          Filed Herewith
                 Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P. (included in
                 Exhibit 5.0)

   23.2          Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP            Filed Herewith

                                       8
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 24799}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KS BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000912764", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "561842707", "state-of-incorporation": "NC", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-46287", "film-number": "98539051"}, "business-address": {"street1": "207 W SECOND ST", "street2": "PO BOX 219", "city": "KENLEY", "state": "NC", "zip": "27542", "phone": "9192844157"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "207 W SECOND ST", "street2": "P O BOX 219", "city": "KENLY", "state": "NC", "zip": "27542"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 1998
                                               Registration No. ________________
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM S-8

                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                               KS BANCORP, INC.
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        North Carolina                                         56-1842707
 (State or other jurisdiction                               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

                              Post Office Box 219
                            207 West Second Street
                          Kenly, North Carolina 27542
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                  KS BANCORP, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                               KS BANCORP, INC.
                 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS

                           (Full title of the Plans)

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

                           HAROLD T. KEEN, President
                               KS Bancorp, Inc.
                              Post Office Box 219
                            207 West Second Street
                          Kenly, North Carolina 27542
                                (919) 284-4157
  (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                          code, of agent for service)

                                  Copies to:
                             RANDALL A. UNDERWOOD
                           Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,
                          Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P.
                             Post Office Box 26000
                            2000 Renaissance Plaza
                             230 North Elm Street
                       Greensboro, North Carolina 27420

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================================
    Title of Securities       Amount to be   Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum     Amount of
      to be Registered        Registered/1/   Offering Price   Aggregate Offering   Registration
                                                 Per Unit           Price/4/            Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, no par value     161,789/2/        $7.50/3/        $1,213,418.00        $357.96
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Footnotes on Next Page)

This Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance
with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 17 C.F.R.
                                  (S)230.462.
/1/ Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
the KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan ("Employee Stock Option Plan")
and KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Directors ("Director
Stock Option Plan") as a result of a reclassification, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend or similar occurrence which makes
an adjustment of shares just and appropriate.

     /2/ Represents the total number of shares which may be issued pursuant to
options granted under the Employee Stock Option Plan and Director Stock Option
Plan.

     /3/ For purposes of calculating the registration fee, the proposed maximum
offering price per unit is the exercise price for options to purchase 161,789
shares which have been granted under the Employee Stock Option Plan and Director
Stock Option Plan.

     /4/ Estimated total for the purposes of calculating the registration fee
in accordance with Rule 457(h).

================================================================================
Part I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item I.  Plan Information.

     This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to the registration of up
to 107,861 shares of common stock, no par value, of KS Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Registrant") which are reserved for issuance pursuant to options which have
been or may be granted under the KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan
("Employee Stock Option Plan") and up to 53,928 shares of common stock, no par
value, of the Registrant which are reserved for issuance pursuant to options
which have been or may be granted under the KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan for Directors ("Director Stock Option Plan"). The Employee Stock
Option Plan and Director Stock Option Plan are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Stock Option Plans".   This Registration Statement also
relates to an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be necessary
to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Stock
Option Plans as a result of a reclassification, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend or similar occurrence which makes
an adjustment of shares just and appropriate. Documents containing the
information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to the
participants in the Stock Option Plans as specified by Rule 428(b)(1).  Such
documents are not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses
or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 in reliance on Rule 428.

Item 2.  Registration Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

     The required statement is contained in the prospectus to be delivered
pursuant to Part I of this Registration Statement as specified by Rule
428(b)(1).

                                    Part II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated herein
by reference:

     (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1996.

     (b)  All reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
          "Exchange Act") since the end of the fiscal year covered by the
          Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in clause (a)
          above.
 
     (c)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-
          69522, filed by the Registrant with the Commission on September 28,
          1993, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
          updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,
shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in this
Registration Statement, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document which is also
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provide that to the fullest
extent permitted by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the "NCBCA"),
no person who serves as a director shall be personally liable to the Registrant
or any of its stockholders or otherwise for monetary damages for breach of any
duty as director.  The Registrant's Bylaws state that any person who at any time
serves or has served as a director or officer of the Registrant, or who, while
serving as a director or officer of the Registrant, serves or has served at the
request of the Registrant as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, or as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan,
shall have a right to be indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent
permitted by law against liability and litigation expense arising out of such
status or activities in such capacity.  "Liability and litigation expense" is
defined in the Bylaws as including costs and expenses of litigation (including
reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
which are actually and reasonably incurred in connection with or as a
consequence of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including appeals.

     Litigation expense, as described above, may be paid by the Registrant in
advance of the final disposition or termination of the litigation matter, if the
Registrant receives an undertaking, dated, in writing and signed by the person
to be indemnified, to repay all such sums unless such person is ultimately
determined to be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as provided in the
Registrant's Bylaws.

     Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the NCBCA contain provisions
prescribing the extent to which directors and officers shall or may be
indemnified. Section 55-8-51 of the NCBCA permits a corporation, with certain
exceptions, to indemnify a present or former director against liability if (i)
the director conducted himself in good faith, (ii) the director reasonably
believed (x) that the director's conduct in the director's official capacity
with the corporation was in its best interests and (y) in all other cases the
director's conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests,
and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had no reasonable
cause to believe the director's conduct

                                       2
was unlawful. A corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with a
proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was
adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with a proceeding charging
improper personal benefit to the director. The above standard of conduct is
determined by the board of directors, or a committee or special legal counsel or
the shareholders as prescribed in Section 55-8-55.

     Sections 55-8-52 and 55-8-56 of the NCBCA require a corporation to
indemnify a director or officer in the defense of any proceeding to which the
director or officer was a party against reasonable expenses when the director or
officer is wholly successful in the director's or officer's defense, unless the
articles of incorporation provide otherwise.  Upon application, the court may
order indemnification of the director or officer if the director or officer is
adjudged fairly and reasonably so entitled under Section 55-8-54.

     In addition, Section 55-8-57 permits a corporation to provide for
indemnification of directors, officers, employees or agents, in its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or by contract or resolution, against liability in
various proceedings and to purchase and maintain insurance policies on behalf of
these individuals.

     The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of North
Carolina law dealing with indemnification of directors and officers and does not
purport to be complete.  It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
relevant statutes, which contain detailed specific provisions regarding the
circumstances under which, and the persons for whose benefit, indemnification
shall or may be made.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
 
     Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

     The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-B):

          Exhibit No.                    Description of Document
          -----------                    -----------------------

              3.1            The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              3.2            The Registrant's Bylaws (incorporated by reference
                             to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Annual Report on
                             Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                             1994)

              4.0            Specimen Stock Certificate for the Registrant
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

                                       3
5.0            Opinion of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey &
                             Leonard, L.L.P. as to the legality of securities
                             being registered

              10.1           KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan
                             (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of
                             Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                             fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              10.2           KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for
                             Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                             10.9 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
                             the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994)

              23.1           Consent of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey &
                             Leonard, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.0) 

              23.2           Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to:

          (i)   Include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
                Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

          (ii)  Reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising which,
                individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                in the information 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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price
                set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                Registration Statement;

          (iii) 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 (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if
     --------  -------                                                          
the information required 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 Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                                       4
(2) For determining liability under the Securities Act,  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 that remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
     (4) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or
section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act) 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.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions discussed in Item 6 hereof, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
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, on February 5, 1998.

                                      KS BANCORP, INC.
                                      Registrant

                                      By: /s/ Harold T. Keen
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Harold T. Keen, President

                                       6
Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby makes,
constitutes and appoints Harold T. Keen to sign for such person and in such
person's name and capacity indicated below, any and all amendments to this
Registration Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Harold T. Keen
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Harold T. Keen, President and Director 
                                        (Principal Executive Officer)

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Helen B. Pollock
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Helen B. Pollock,
                                        Treasurer
                                        (Principal Financial Officer and
                                        Principal Accounting Officer)

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Robert E. Fields
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert E. Fields, Director

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ R. Harold Hinnant
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        R. Harold Hinnant, Director

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ James C. Parker
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        James C. Parker, Director
 

Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ R. Elton Parrish
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        R. Elton Parrish, Director

 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ Ralph Edward Scott
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Ralph Edward Scott, Jr., Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ H. Elwin Watson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        H. Elwin Watson, Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ J. Hayden Wiggs
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        J. Hayden Wiggs, Director
 
Date:  February 5, 1998             By: /s/ James C. Woodard
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        James C. Woodard, Director

                                       7
EXHIBIT INDEX

 
                                                                 Method of
Exhibit No.                    Description                        Filing
-----------                    -----------                       ---------    

   3.1           The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation    Incorporated by
                                                               Reference

   3.2           The Registrant's Bylaws                       Incorporated by
                                                               Reference
   4.0           Specimen Stock Certificate for the            Incorporated by
                 Registrant                                    Reference

   5.0           Opinion of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,          Filed Herewith
                 Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P. as to legality 
                 of securities being registered

   10.1          KS Bancorp, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan   Incorporated by
                                                               Reference

   10.2          KS Bancorp, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option    Incorporated by
                 Plan for Directors                            Reference

   23.1          Consent of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,          Filed Herewith
                 Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P. (included in
                 Exhibit 5.0)

   23.2          Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP            Filed Herewith

                                       8