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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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 x7X/0KbKJXIjkhYbpP4UJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001131030-03-000086.txt : 20030814
<SEC-HEADER>0001131030-03-000086.hdr.sgml : 20030814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030814145837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001131030-03-000086
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030814

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN ROBERT WALTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215160

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15572
		FILM NUMBER:		03846726

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRST BANCORP P O BOX 508
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27371

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001215160d20030814f4f.xml
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000811589</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRST BANCORP /NC/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FBNC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001215160</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BROWN ROBERT WALTON</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>418 BLUE JAY</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LATTA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>29565</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivati
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eTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>6.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-06-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollo
wingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-01-15</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><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnershi
p></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>ROBERT W BROWN</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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