For More Information: NEWS RELEASE

Gary F. Hoskins, CFO

(704) 884-2263

gary.hoskins@citizenssouth.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORPORATION AUTHORIZES THE REPURCHASE OF UP TO 200,000 SHARES OF OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK

GASTONIA, NC, June 16, 2008 . . . . . . Citizens South Banking Corporation (Nasdaq: CSBC) announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 200,000 shares, or approximately 2.5%, of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase program may be carried out through open market purchases, block trades, and in negotiated private transactions. The stock may be repurchased on an ongoing basis and will be subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company’s financial performance. Any repurchased shares will be held as treasury stock and will be available for general corporate purposes.

The Company has approximately 2,000 shares remaining to repurchase under the existing plan that was authorized in November 2007. In total, the Company has repurchased 3,202,083 shares, or approximately 35.3% of the 9,062,727 shares outstanding that were issued in the Company’s second-step stock offering in September 2002.

President and Chief Executive Officer Kim S. Price stated, “We remain committed to our plan to prudently manage the Company’s capital. This stock repurchase program is an important part of our overall capital management strategy.”

Citizens South Bank, headquartered in Gastonia, North Carolina, was founded in 1904. The Bank operates fifteen full-service offices located in four North Carolina counties - Gaston, Rowan, Iredell, and Union - and York County, South Carolina.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. The Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, describe some of these factors. Forward- looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of the forward-looking statements or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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