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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ICa8jp4nPMVlgr3nnj4GuRvgn8PqSxcWJ0HmFH7Z9XBHF2a563BOTYTmYr2CDj+4
 Jkjghx0+ytRuocsNCpKKww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-05-009420.txt : 20051110
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-05-009420.hdr.sgml : 20051110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051110185736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-05-009420
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METROCORP BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001068300
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				760579161
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9600 BELLAIRE BLVD SUITE 152
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7137763876

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETERSON JOHN E JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001326508

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25141
		FILM NUMBER:		051195527

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		832-237-1040

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8555 WESTLAND WEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77041
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001068300</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METROCORP BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001326508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON JOHN E JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9600 BELLAIRE BLVD., SUITE 252</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John E. Peterson, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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