<?xml version="1.0"?>
<edgarSubmission>

    <schemaVersion>X0603</schemaVersion>

    <submissionType>D</submissionType>

    <testOrLive>LIVE</testOrLive>

    <primaryIssuer>
        <cik>0001051871</cik>
        <entityName>CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORP</entityName>
        <issuerAddress>
            <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
            <city>Gastonia</city>
            <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
            <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerPhoneNumber>7048685200</issuerPhoneNumber>
        <jurisdictionOfInc>DELAWARE</jurisdictionOfInc>
        <issuerPreviousNameList></issuerPreviousNameList>
        <edgarPreviousNameList>
            <previousName>GASTON FEDERAL BANCORP INC</previousName>
        </edgarPreviousNameList>
        <entityType>Corporation</entityType>
        <yearOfInc>
            <overFiveYears>true</overFiveYears>
        </yearOfInc>
    </primaryIssuer>

    <relatedPersonsList>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Kim</firstName>
                <middleName>S.</middleName>
                <lastName>Price</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Eugene</firstName>
                <middleName>R.</middleName>
                <lastName>Matthews, II</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>James</firstName>
                <middleName>J.</middleName>
                <lastName>Fuller</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Charles</firstName>
                <middleName>D.</middleName>
                <lastName>Massey</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>David</firstName>
                <middleName>W.</middleName>
                <lastName>Hoyle</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Ben</firstName>
                <middleName>R.</middleName>
                <lastName>Rudisill, II</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Director</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Paul</firstName>
                <middleName>L.</middleName>
                <lastName>Teem, Jr.</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
        <relatedPersonInfo>
            <relatedPersonName>
                <firstName>Gary</firstName>
                <middleName>F.</middleName>
                <lastName>Hoskins</lastName>
            </relatedPersonName>
            <relatedPersonAddress>
                <street1>519 South New Hope Road</street1>
                <city>Gastonia</city>
                <stateOrCountry>NC</stateOrCountry>
                <zipCode>28054-4040</zipCode>
            </relatedPersonAddress>
            <relatedPersonRelationshipList>
                <relationship>Executive Officer</relationship>
            </relatedPersonRelationshipList>
        </relatedPersonInfo>
    </relatedPersonsList>

    <offeringData>
        <industryGroup>
            <industryGroupType>Other Banking and Financial Services</industryGroupType>
        </industryGroup>
        <issuerSize>
            <revenueRange>$25,000,001 - $100,000,000</revenueRange>
        </issuerSize>
        <federalExemptionsExclusions>
            <item>06</item>
        </federalExemptionsExclusions>
        <typeOfFiling>
            <newOrAmendment>
                <isAmendment>false</isAmendment>
            </newOrAmendment>
            <dateOfFirstSale>
                <value>2010-03-17</value>
            </dateOfFirstSale>
        </typeOfFiling>
        <durationOfOffering>
            <moreThanOneYear>false</moreThanOneYear>
        </durationOfOffering>
        <typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
            <isEquityType>true</isEquityType>
        </typesOfSecuritiesOffered>
        <businessCombinationTransaction>
            <isBusinessCombinationTransaction>false</isBusinessCombinationTransaction>
        </businessCombinationTransaction>
        <minimumInvestmentAccepted>0</minimumInvestmentAccepted>
        <salesCompensationList>
            <recipient>
                <recipientName>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods, Inc.</recipientName>
                <recipientCRDNumber>481</recipientCRDNumber>
                <associatedBDName>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods, Inc.</associatedBDName>
                <associatedBDCRDNumber>481</associatedBDCRDNumber>
                <recipientAddress>
                    <street1>787 7th Avenue</street1>
                    <city>New York</city>
                    <stateOrCountry>NY</stateOrCountry>
                    <zipCode>10019</zipCode>
                </recipientAddress>
                <statesOfSolicitationList>
                    <state>CT</state>
                    <state>MA</state>
                    <state>MO</state>
                    <state>NE</state>
                    <state>NY</state>
                </statesOfSolicitationList>
            </recipient>
        </salesCompensationList>
        <offeringSalesAmounts>
            <totalOfferingAmount>14986800</totalOfferingAmount>
            <totalAmountSold>14986800</totalAmountSold>
            <totalRemaining>0</totalRemaining>
        </offeringSalesAmounts>
        <investors>
            <hasNonAccreditedInvestors>false</hasNonAccreditedInvestors>
            <totalNumberAlreadyInvested>16</totalNumberAlreadyInvested>
        </investors>
        <salesCommissionsFindersFees>
            <salesCommissions>
                <dollarAmount>899208</dollarAmount>
            </salesCommissions>
            <findersFees>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </findersFees>
        </salesCommissionsFindersFees>
        <useOfProceeds>
            <grossProceedsUsed>
                <dollarAmount>0</dollarAmount>
            </grossProceedsUsed>
        </useOfProceeds>
        <signatureBlock>
            <authorizedRepresentative>true</authorizedRepresentative>
            <signature>
                <issuerName>Citizens South Banking Corporation</issuerName>
                <signatureName>/s/ Kim S. Price</signatureName>
                <nameOfSigner>Kim S. Price</nameOfSigner>
                <signatureTitle>President and Chief Executive Officer</signatureTitle>
                <signatureDate>2010-03-31</signatureDate>
            </signature>
        </signatureBlock>
    </offeringData>
</edgarSubmission>
