-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UAIsJZY9Tn4AxBFU1swryotME7OTADVAiXhJ/o+jKFc9zBPvrfU0AEnoYqDqpJEF
 SHbf23HwQ2zTYmvPi4+PSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000943374-03-000529.txt : 20031105
<SEC-HEADER>0000943374-03-000529.hdr.sgml : 20031105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031105140547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000943374-03-000529
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEARSON JOSEPH PLATO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23971
		FILM NUMBER:		03978937

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORP
		STREET 2:		245 WEST MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			GASTONIA
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28053-2249
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7048685200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051871
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				542069979
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		245 WEST MAIN AVENUE
		CITY:			GASTONIA
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28052-4140
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7048685200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 2249
		CITY:			GASTONIA
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28053-2249

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GASTON FEDERAL BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971222
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051871</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CSBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264031</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEARSON JOSEPH PLATO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>900 CLOISTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GASTONIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Director of Subsidiary</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-11-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting is over a five-year period, commencing on the initial date of appointment to the Board of Directors of the subsidiary, Citizens South Bank, at a rate of 20% per year.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul L. Teem, Jr., pursuant to power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----