CITIZENS SOUTH
                               BANKING CORPORATION
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     I hereby appoint Paul L. Teem,  Jr., Gary F. Hoskins,  Roseanne W. Nichols,
or  Robert  B.  Pomerenk  to act as my true  and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  with
authority to execute on my behalf any Form 3, 4, or 5, or any amendment  thereto
required to be filed by Citizens South Banking  Corporation  under Section 16 of
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the rules and regulations
promulgated  thereunder,  with the appropriate  regulatory authorities and to do
all things  incident and necessary to that end,  until such time as I notify Mr.
Teem, Mr.  Hoskins,  Mrs.  Nichols,  or Mr.  Pomerenk in writing that his or her
authority to act on my behalf in this manner has been withdrawn.

         I have signed this power of attorney on February 3, 2003.




                                      by: /s/ Kim S. Price
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                              Kim S. Price

                      In the presence of /s/ Anillia S. Windt
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                              Anillia S. Windt



                                      at   Gastonia,        North Carolina
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                             City             State