SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 27, 2011

BANK OF THE CAROLINAS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (336) 751-5755

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Bank of the Carolinas (the “Bank”), the wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of the Carolinas Corporation (the “Company”), has entered into a Stipulation to the Issuance of a Consent Order (the “Stipulation”) with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (the “Commissioner”) and the FDIC and the Commissioner have issued the related Consent Order (the “Order”), effective April 27, 2011. The description of the Stipulation and the Order set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Stipulation and the Order, copies of which are included herewith as exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Management. The Order requires that the Bank have and retain qualified management, including a chief executive officer, senior lending officer, and chief operating officer with qualifications and experience commensurate with their assigned duties and responsibilities within 60 days from the effective date of the Order. Within 30 days of the effective date of the Order, the board of directors must retain a bank consultant to develop a written analysis and assessment of the Bank’s management needs. Within 60 days from receipt of the consultant’s management report, the Bank must formulate a written management plan that incorporates the findings of the management report, a plan of action in response to each recommendation contained in the management report, and a time frame for completing each action.

Capital Requirements. While the Order is in effect, the Bank must maintain a leverage ratio (the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets) of at least 8% and a total risk-based capital ratio (the ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-weighted assets) of at least 10%. If the Bank’s capital ratios are below these levels as of the date of any call report or regulatory examination, the Bank must, within 30 days from receipt of a written notice of capital deficiency from its regulators, present a plan to increase capital to meet the requirements of the Order.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses and Call Report. Upon issuance of the Order, the Bank must make a provision to replenish the allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”). Within 30 days of the effective date of the Order, the Bank must review its call reports filed with its regulators on or after December 31, 2010, and must amend those reports if necessary to accurately reflect the financial condition of the Bank. Within 60 days of the effective date of the Order, the Bank must submit a comprehensive policy for determining the adequacy of the ALLL.

Concentrations of Credit. Within 60 days of the issuance of the Order, the Bank must perform a risk segmentation analysis with respect to its concentrations of credit and must develop a written plan for systematically reducing and monitoring the Bank’s commercial real estate and acquisition, construction, and development loans to an amount commensurate with the Bank’s business strategy, management expertise, size, and location.

Charge-Offs, Credits. The Order requires that the Bank eliminate from its books, by charge-off or collection, all assets or portions of assets classified “loss” and 50% of those assets classified “doubtful.” If an asset is classified “doubtful,” the Bank may alternatively charge off the amount that is considered uncollectible in accordance with the Bank’s written analysis of loan or lease impairment. The Order also prevents the Bank from extending, directly or indirectly, any additional credit to, or for the benefit of, any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been charged off or classified, on whole or in part, “loss” or “doubtful” and is uncollected. The Bank may not extend, directly or indirectly, any additional credit to any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit from the Bank that has been classified “substandard.” These limitations do not apply if the Bank’s failure to extend further credit to a particular borrower would be detrimental to the best interests of the Bank.

Asset Growth. While the Order is in effect, the Bank must notify its regulators at least 60 days prior to undertaking asset growth that exceeds 10% or more per year or initiating material changes in

asset or liability composition. The Bank’s asset growth cannot result in noncompliance with the capital maintenance provisions of the Order unless the Bank receives prior written approval from its regulators.

Restriction on Dividends and Other Payments. While the Order is in effect, the Bank cannot declare or pay dividends, pay bonuses, or pay any form of payment outside the ordinary course of business resulting in a reduction of capital without the prior written approval of its regulators. In addition, the Bank cannot make any distributions of interest, principal, or other sums on subordinated debentures without prior regulatory approval.

Brokered Deposits. The Order provides that the Bank may not accept, renew, or roll over any brokered deposits unless it is in compliance with the requirements of the FDIC regulations governing brokered deposits. These regulations prohibit undercapitalized institutions from accepting, renewing, or rolling over any brokered deposits and also prohibit undercapitalized institutions from soliciting deposits by offering an effective yield that exceeds by more than 75 basis points the prevailing effective yields on insured deposits of comparable maturity in the institution’s market area. An “adequately capitalized” institution may not accept, renew, or roll over brokered deposits unless it has applied for and been granted a waiver by the FDIC.

Written Plans and Other Material Terms. Under the terms of the Order, the Bank is required to prepare and submit the following written plans or reports to the FDIC and the Commissioner:

Under the Order, the Bank’s board of directors has agreed to increase its participation in the affairs of the Bank, including assuming full responsibility for the approval of policies and objectives for the supervision of all of the Bank’s activities. The Bank must also establish a board committee to monitor and coordinate compliance with the Order.

The Order will remain in effect until modified or terminated by the FDIC and the Commissioner.

Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K (including information included or incorporated by reference herein) may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, (i) statements regarding certain of Registrant’s goals and expectations with respect to earnings, income per share, revenue, expenses and the growth rate in such items, as well as other measures of economic performance, including statements relating to estimates of credit quality trends, and (ii) statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current belief and expectations of Registrant’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond Registrant’s control).

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 3, 2011

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