UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549
				Form 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 1, 2008
			First Financial Holdings, Inc.
				(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware				0-17122		57-0866076
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation				Commission File Number	I.R.S. Employer I.D. number
34 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina  29401
				(Address of principal executive offices)
			Registrant's telephone number (including area code):  (843) 529-5933
				Not applicable
			(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4c under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 8 - Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events

First Financial Holdings, Inc. announced that it has received preliminary approval to participate in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program, to purchase $65 million of its senior preferred stock, with related warrants to purchase up to $9.75 million in common stock to the U.S. Treasury, subject to the completion of the formal agreements. The full text of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference in its entirety.

Section 9 -- Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit (99.1) Press release dated December 1, 2008.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC
	/s/ R. Wayne Hall
	R. Wayne Hall
	Executive Vice President, Finance
	and Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 1, 2008

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	First Financial Holdings, Inc. receives a $65 million commitment from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program