1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-A


                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                        GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



            South Carolina                                  58-2459561
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)
          1805 Laurens Road
      Greenville, South Carolina                              29607
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)



If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ]

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange  Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]



 Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
                                                                      333-83851


        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                      None


        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                  Common Stock
                                (Title of class)


   2



ITEM 1.  DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

         For information with respect to the common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Greenville First Bancshares, Inc., a South
Carolina corporation (the "Registrant"), see the information under the captions
"Description of Capital Stock" and "Dividend Policy" contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 on July 27, 1999, as
amended on September 23 and October 13, 1999, as such Registration Statement may
be amended further from time to time (as so amended, the "Form SB-2"). The
Registration Statement is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 2.  EXHIBITS.

         The following exhibits are filed as a part of the Registration
Statement:




Exhibit
  No.             Description
- -------           -----------
               
3.1               Articles of Incorporation and any Amendments thereto, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
                  Registration Statement on Form SB-2, Registration No. 333-83851).

3.2               Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Registration Statement on Form SB-2,
                  Registration No. 333-83851).

4.1               Specimen common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration
                  Statement on Form SB-2, Registration No. 333-83851).

4.2               See Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 for provisions of the Articles of
                  Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company defining rights of
                  holders of the Company's Common Stock (incorporated herein by
                  reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to the Registrant's Form
                  SB-2 Registration Statement File No. 333-83851).




   3



                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                                       GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
                                       (Registrant)







                                       By: /s/ R. Arthur Seaver
                                          ----------------------------------
                                           R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.


Date:  October 18, 1999