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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GzjdTePdB48fjKYKQit2jd+tpTvvdTBI7nd8SiAyUTa5AZWYI7/TCKTWr2rybJWA
 Ay9WZJpDdup2Vjyx9X5Dlg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001131030-03-000078.txt : 20030805
<SEC-HEADER>0001131030-03-000078.hdr.sgml : 20030805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030805101956
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001131030-03-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030425
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030805

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST BANCORP /NC/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000811589
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				561421916
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		341 NORTH MAIN ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 508
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27371-0508
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9105766171

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARNOLD JERRY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001131019

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15572
		FILM NUMBER:		03822473

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRST BANCORP
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 508
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27371
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9105766171
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001131019d20030805f4s1f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-04-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000811589</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRST BANCORP /NC/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FBNC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001131019</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ARNOLD JERRY M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>678 BISCOE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>27371</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivative
Table><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-04-25</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>L</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3.884</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>961.9077</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><se
curityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3342</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401K PLAN</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.083</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1994-06-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-12-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmoun
ts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>JERRY M ARNOLD</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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