-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GhLCCwXkFsC81tLJ6H2XP6aI2QeCPpecPzEOaR6NsSPoWki5ehyeKHGnQ/x+QKgE
 iklDN4XXRseYjpl0XNWl+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001238045-04-000002.txt : 20040430
<SEC-HEADER>0001238045-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040430083020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001238045-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040414
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040430

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST SOUTH BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001097631
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				571086258
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			SC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1450 REIDVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29306
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8645950455

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1450 REIDVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29306

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOUSER ASHLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238045

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28037
		FILM NUMBER:		04767389

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1333 MAIN ST
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		803 407 8385

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		419 WEST PASSAGE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001097631</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST SOUTH BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSBS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238045</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOUSER ASHLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>419 WEST PASSAGE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5296</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ashley F. Houser</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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