The South Financial Group Announces Retirement of Mack Whittle as Chairman, President...

The South Financial Group Announces Retirement of Mack Whittle as Chairman, President and CEO

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(Business Wire)--
The South Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSFG) today announced that
Mack Whittle, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer,
will retire by the end of the year. Following his retirement, Whittle
will continue to serve on TSFG's Board of Directors through the
duration of his current elected term, which expires in 2011.

Whittle founded the Company in 1986 with one office and 11
employees in Greenville. Under his leadership, TSFG has grown into one
of the leading financial services companies in the Southeast and now
ranks as the 35th largest commercial bank holding company by assets,
headquartered in the United States. It has nearly $14 billion in total
assets and an extensive commercial and retail customer base with 180
branch offices in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

"It has been my honor and my privilege to work with the many fine
professionals at TSFG as well as our many customers and shareholders
over the past two decades," said Whittle. "I am confident that our
strong management team is fully capable of moving our company
forward."

The Board has appointed a Succession Committee to oversee a
nationwide search for a replacement for Whittle.

John C.B. Smith, the Lead Independent Director of the Board, said,
"The Board is grateful for Mack's dedication and his many
contributions to this Company and the communities that it serves."

General Information

The South Financial Group is the largest publicly-traded bank
holding company headquartered in South Carolina and ranks among the
top 50 U.S. commercial bank holding companies in total assets. At June
30, 3008, it had approximately $14 billion in total assets and 180
branch offices in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. TSFG
operates Carolina First Bank, which conducts banking operations in
North Carolina and South Carolina (as Carolina First Bank), in Florida
(as Mercantile Bank), and on the Internet (as Bank CaroLine). At June
30, 2008, approximately 45% of TSFG's total customer deposits were in
South Carolina, 40% were in Florida, and 15% were in North Carolina.
Investor information is available at www.thesouthgroup.com.

The South Financial Group
James R. Gordon, Senior EVP & Chief Financial Officer,
864-552-9050
Mary M. Gentry, EVP - Investor Relations, 864-421-1068

Copyright Business Wire 2008