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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 noX5YKsmFMb08UeH+Upygw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-08-011239.txt : 20080506
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-08-011239.hdr.sgml : 20080506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080506153526
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-08-011239
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080502
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080506
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080506

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:			0930

	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:			Kitayama Mitchell W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001333154

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25141
		FILM NUMBER:		08806229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-776-3876

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9600 BELLAIRE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 252
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77036
</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>2008-05-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333154</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kitayama Mitchell W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9600 BELLAIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 252</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (rigth to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests 30% on each of the first and second anniversary of the grant date and 40% on the third anniversary of the grant date, which was 5-2-08.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">THere was no price associated with the stock option grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mitchell W. Kitayama</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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