-----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,
 OlCI53s2q4ZSpF9n7GpvBNlVeBWeTQNoAOZNi97GEm4cW2Jo2w1/TVMBsGfP46Wf
 Cs/cka8OoEeRmPwy4I4olg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909654-04-003140.txt : 20041230
<SEC-HEADER>0000909654-04-003140.hdr.sgml : 20041230
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041230172843
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909654-04-003140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041229
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041230
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041230

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILLETTS FREDERICK III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000930305

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24626
		FILM NUMBER:		041234983

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9193430181

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MARKET ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 600
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPERATIVE BANKSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000923529
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				561886527
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MARKET ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9103430181

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 600
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wil13.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000923529</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPERATIVE BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000930305</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLETTS FREDERICK III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 MARKET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres., CEO &amp; Chairman of Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Willetts, III, Frederick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----