8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 8, 2004


                            Palmetto Bancshares, Inc.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


South Carolina                      0-26016                   74-2235055
- -----------------------------    ---------------        -----------------------
State or other jurisdiction    Commission File Number   IRS Employer I.D. number
of incorporation



301 Hillcrest Drive, Laurens, South Carolina                     29360
- --------------------------------------------                     -----
Address of principal executive offices                         Zip Code


                                 (864) 984-4551
                                 --------------
                          Registrant's telephone number








Item 12. Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.


On January 8, 2004 Palmetto Bancshares,  Inc. announced the results for the year
ended December 31, 2003.

For more information regarding this matter, see the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

    99   Press release dated January 8, 2004



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



PALMETTO BANCSHARES, INC.


By:

/s/ L. Leon Patterson
- -------------------------------------
L. Leon Patterson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


/s/ Paul W. Stringer
- -------------------------------------
Paul W. Stringer
President and Chief Operating Officer
(Chief Accounting Officer)

Date:   January 13, 2004

EX-99

[Palmetto Bank Logo Omitted]



   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  For More Information Contact:
   January 8, 2004                        Penny Krein, 864/984-8395
                                          kreinp@palmettobank.com

                        Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. Reports
                             Record Results for 2003

   UPSTATE, SC - L. Leon Patterson, chairman and chief executive officer of
   Palmetto Bancshares, Inc., parent company of The Palmetto Bank, reported net
   income for the year period ended December 31, 2003 of $10.9 million, up 13%
   over the previous year. Net income per diluted share reached $1.70, up 14%
   over the previous year's mark of $1.49. The excellent results for 2003 are
   attributed to a 5% positive growth in net interest income and 10% increase in
   non-interest income. Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. produced a 15.40% return on
   shareholders' equity and a 1.27% return on assets for the twelve-month period
   ended December 31, 2003.

   Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 was $2.4 million, a 3%
   increase over net income for the same three months of 2002. Net income per
   diluted share for the fourth quarter was $.38, a 3% increase over $.37 per
   share reported for the fourth quarter 2002.

   Total assets for the Company were up 9% to $898.1 million at year-end 2003,
   or $73.1 million over year-end 2002. Total loans at December 31, 2003
   increased 10% over the prior year to $699.6 million, while total deposits
   reached $801.4 million, a 7% increase over the same period. The Palmetto Bank
   also reported total assets under management (including mortgage loans
   serviced and trust and investment subsidiary assets) of $1.5 billion as
   compared to $1.4 billion reported at the close of the year 2002.

    Founded in 1906, The Palmetto Bank is an independent Upstate based financial
   institution, with 30 locations throughout the Upstate counties of Abbeville,
   Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, and Spartanburg.

                                      # # #

   (Date Reported: January 8, 2004)