Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
JAMES ROBERT E JR
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST CHARTER CORP /NC/ [FCTR]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President FCB
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

10200 DAVID TAYLOR DRIVE
3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2004
(Street)


CHARLOTTE, NC 28262-2373
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 11/11/2004   G 200 D $ 27.13 10,716 D  
Common Stock 01/15/2004   J(1) 1.01 A $ 19.8222 109.2432 I Daughter - Caroline
Common Stock 04/15/2004   J(1) 0.9811 A $ 20.6 110.2243 I Daughter - Caroline
Common Stock 07/15/2004   J(1) 0.9166 A $ 22.2451 111.1409 I Daughter - Caroline
Common Stock 10/18/2004   J(1) 0.8318 A $ 25.391 111.9727 I Daughter - Caroline
Common Stock 11/11/2004   G 100 A $ 27.13 211.9727 I Daughter - Caroline
Common Stock 01/15/2004   J(1) 1.01 A $ 19.8222 109.2432 I Son - Phillip
Common Stock 04/15/2004   J(1) 0.9811 A $ 20.6 110.2243 I Son - Phillip
Common Stock 07/15/2004   J(1) 0.9166 A $ 22.2451 111.1409 I Son - Phillip
Common Stock 10/18/2004   J(1) 0.8318 A $ 25.391 111.9727 I Son - Phillip
Common Stock 11/11/2004   G 100 A $ 27.13 211.9727 I Son - Phillip

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 14.5             (2) 01/20/2010 Common Stock
19,791
  19,791
D
 
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 15.75             (2) 01/17/2011 Common Stock
23,296
  23,296
D
 
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 17.37             (3) 01/16/2012 Common Stock
21,985
  21,985
D
 
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 18.375             (2) 01/29/2009 Common Stock
35,000
  35,000
D
 
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 18.39             (4) 01/15/2013 Common Stock
21,597
  21,597
D
 
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 23.66             (5) 01/19/2015 Common Stock
18,448
  18,448
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
JAMES ROBERT E JR
10200 DAVID TAYLOR DRIVE
CHARLOTTE, NC 28262-2373
      President FCB  

Signatures

Jan H Hollar 02/11/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares aquired under the First Charter Corporation dividend reinvestment plan since the date of the reporting person's last report.
(5) Options are exercisable in 5 yearly installments beginning one year after grant date.
(3) 5,928 Incentive become exercisable as follows, 1,531 are currently exercisable and 4,397 become exercisable on 01/16/2006
(4) 8,638 shares of 11,674 Non-Qualified are currently exercisable. The remaining shares become exercisable as follows, 3,036 shares become exercisable on 01/15/2006. 9,923 Incentive shares become exercisable as follows: 1,284 shares become exercisable on 01/15/2006, 4,319 shares become exercisable on 01/15/2007, and 4,320 shares become exercisable on 01/15/2008.
(2) All Options are currently exercisable

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