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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2001



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                   FORM 8 - K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                  July 10, 2001
                                  -------------


                            FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION
                            -------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


North Carolina                   0-15829                     56-1355866
--------------                   -------                     ----------
(State or other                  (Commission                 (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)                Identification No.)
incorporation)

         10200 David Taylor Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262-2373
         --------------------------------------------------------------
        (Addresses, including zip codes, of principal executive offices)

                                 (704) 688-4300
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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ITEM 5            OTHER EVENTS

         On July 10, 2001, First Charter Corporation (the "Registrant")
announced financial results for First Charter Corporation for the three month
and six month periods ended June 30, 2001. A copy of the press release is
included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 7            FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      The following exhibits are filed herewith:


                  Exhibit No.       Description
                  -----------       -----------

                      99.1          News release disseminated on July 10, 2001
                                    by First Charter Corporation.



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                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                               FIRST CHARTER CORPORATION


                                           By: /s/ Robert O. Bratton
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Robert O. Bratton
                                               EVP and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  July 10, 2001



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------

99.1              News Release disseminated on July 10, 2001 by First Charter
                  Corporation.