SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                     Washington, D.C.  20549

                            FORM 8-A

        FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
             PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                  Gaston Federal Bancorp, Inc.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Federal                                         To Be Applied For
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                              Identification No.)


245 West Main Avenue, Gastonia, North Carolina              28053
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(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.


             None                              N/A
        (Title of Class)          (Name of each exchange on which
                                  each class is to be registered)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


              Common Stock par value $1.00 per share
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Title of Class)



Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

     For a description of the Registrant's securities, reference
is made to "Description of Capital Stock", "Dividend Policy" and
"Market for Common Stock" in the Registrant's Prospectus filed
pursuant to the Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933
(File No. 333-42951) which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
For a description of the provisions of the Registrant's Stock
Holding Company Charter and Bylaws that may render a change in
control of the Registrant more difficult, reference is made to
"Restrictions on Acquisitions of the Stock Company" in the
Registrant's Prospectus  referenced above.


Item 2.  Exhibits.

     1.   Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement
on Form SB-2 (Registration Number 333-42951) dated February 11,
1998 is hereby incorporated by reference.

     2.   Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933 (File No. 333-42951) filed February 25,
1998 is hereby incorporated by reference.

     3.   Stock Holding Company Charter (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 as filed on December 22, 1997) 

     4.   Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as filed on December 22,
1997) 
 
     5.   Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4 of the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as filed
on December 22, 1997) 



                            SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                              GASTON FEDERAL BANCORP, INC.



Date:   March 26, 1998        By:  \s\ Kim S. Price
                                   ------------------------------
                                   Kim S. Price
                                   President and Chief Executive
                                    Officer