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EXHIBIT 23.6
Sandler O'Neill
CONSENT OF SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board of
Directors of SouthBanc Shares, Inc. (the "Company") as an Appendix to the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed merger of Heritage Bancorp,
Inc. with and into the Company contained in the Registration Statement on Form
S-4 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, and
to the references to our firm and such opinion in such Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder (the "Regulations"), nor do we
admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Registration
Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Act or the
Regulations.
/s/ Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.
June 13, 2000
