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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001210227</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BNC BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNCN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001494275</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>535 MADISON AVENUE, 24TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>892799</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1804566</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities are owned directly by Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC.  The reported securities are owned indirectly by Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P., as member of Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC; Aquiline Financial Services Fund (Offshore) L.P., as member of Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC; Aquiline Capital Partners GP (Offshore) Ltd., as general partner of Aquiline Financial Services Fund (Offshore) L.P.; Aquiline Holdings (Offshore) L.P., as member of Aquiline Capital Partners GP (Offshore) Ltd.; Aquiline Holdings GP (Offshore) Ltd. as general partner of Aquiline Holdings (Offshore) L.P.; Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, as investment advisor to Aquiline Financial Services Fund (Offshore) L.P and as investment advisor to Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P;. (continued in next footnote)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(continued from previous footnote) Aquiline Holdings LLC as member of Aquiline Capital Partners LLC; Aquiline Capital Partners GP LLC as general partner of Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P.; Aquiline Holdings LP as member of Aquiline Holdings LLC; Aquiline Holdings GP Inc., as general partner of Aquiline Holdings LP; Aquiline Holdings II LLC as member of Aquiline Capital Partners GP LLC; and Jeffrey Greenberg as member of Aquiline Holdings II LLC, as the controlling shareholder of Aquiline Holdings GP Inc., as the controlling shareholder of Aquiline Holdings GP (Offshore) Ltd. and as limited partner of Aquiline Holdings LP, each of which disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is mandatorily convertible into one share of Common Stock without consideration, but only if sold to unaffiliated third parties in a widely dispersed offering. Aquiline BNC Holding LLC's holdings of Series B Preferred Stock are not redeemable and will never be convertible in the hands of Aquiline BNC Holding LLC or its affiliates.  The Series B Preferred Stock has no expiration date</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>R. Mark Graf serves as Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC's representative on the board of directors of BNC Bancorp.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Aquiline BNC Holdings LLC by Jeffrey Greenberg as Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
