SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------


                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                                 (Rule 13d-101)

             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
            TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
                                  RULE 13d-2(a)

                                (Amendment No. 6)



                          Cooperative Bankshares, Inc.
                          ----------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)



                     Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
                     ---------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   216844 10 0
                                ----------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)



                             Frederick Willetts, III
                                Cooperative Bank
                                201 Market Street
                                  P.O. Box 600
                      Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-0600
                                 (910) 343-0181
                             -----------------------
                  (Name, address and telephone number of person
                authorized to receive notices and communications)


                                       N/A
                -------------------------------------------------
             (Date of event which requires filing of this statement)

     If the filing  person has  previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition  which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing
this  schedule  because  of Rule  13d-1(e),  13d-1(f)  or  13d-1(g),  check  the
following box. [ ]






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 1     /    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON: FREDERICK WILLETTS, III
/       /    I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 2     /    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP *
/       /
/       /                                            (a)      /  /
/       /
/       /                                            (b)     /  /
/       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/       /
/ 3     /    SEC USE ONLY
/       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/       /
/ 4     /    SOURCE OF FUNDS
/       /
/       /                  PF, OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 5     /    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS
/       /    REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                 / /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 6     /    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
/       /
/       /    UNITED STATES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/                       /
/                       /   SOLE VOTING POWER         329,762
/      NUMBER OF        --------------------------------------------------------
/        SHARES         /   SHARED VOTING POWER       165,695
/     BENEFICIALLY      /
/       OWNED BY        --------------------------------------------------------
/         EACH          /   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    138,495
/      REPORTING        /
/       PERSON          --------------------------------------------------------
/        WITH           /   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  165,695
/                       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 11    /    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
/       /    495,457
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 12    /    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
/       /     SHARES
/       /    / /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 13    /    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
/       /    17.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 14    /    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
/       /           IN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 1     /    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON:
/       /
/       /    COOPERATIVE BANK 401(k) SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN
/       /
/       /    I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 2     /    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP *
/       /
/       /                                            (a)      /  /
/       /
/       /                                            (b)     /  /
/       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/       /
/ 3     /    SEC USE ONLY
/       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/       /
/ 4     /    SOURCE OF FUNDS
/       /
/       /                  OO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 5     /    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS
/       /    REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                 / /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 6     /    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
/       /
/       /    UNITED STATES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/                       /
/                       /   SOLE VOTING POWER               0
/      NUMBER OF        --------------------------------------------------------
/        SHARES         /   SHARED VOTING POWER             0
/     BENEFICIALLY      /
/       OWNED BY        --------------------------------------------------------
/         EACH          /   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER    208,267
/      REPORTING        /
/       PERSON          --------------------------------------------------------
/        WITH           /   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER        0
/                       /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 11    /    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
/       /    208,267
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 12    /    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
/       /     SHARES
/       /    / /
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 13    /    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
/       /    7.3%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ 14    /    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
/       /           EP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       3


     The undersigned hereby amends the Schedule 13D filing made on September 19,
1994 (the  "Schedule  13D"),  as amended by  Amendment  #1 on February 20, 1996,
Amendment #2 on September 15, 1998,  Amendment #3 on January 31, 2000, Amendment
#4 on April 11, 2002,  and  Amendment #5 on February 12, 2003,  pursuant to Rule
13d-2(a)  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  as set forth
below.  As disclosed in Amendment #4, Mr. Willetts became a named fiduciary with
respect to the Cooperative Bank 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Plan (the "401(k)
Plan") with sole power to direct the voting of shares of Cooperative Bankshares,
Inc.  common stock held by the 401(k) Plan. The 401(k) Plan  previously  filed a
Schedule 13G and various  amendments  thereto  with respect to its  ownership of
shares of Cooperative  Bankshares,  Inc. common stock.  The 401(k) Plan became a
party to Mr. Willetts Schedule 13D in Amendment No. 4.

ITEM 1.  SECURITY AND ISSUER.

     The class of equity  securities  to which  this  statement  relates  is the
common stock,  par value $1.00 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  of  Cooperative
Bankshares,  Inc. (the "Issuer").  The executive office of the Issuer is located
at 201 Market Street, P.O. Box 600, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-0600.

ITEM 2.  IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

         (a)      This Statement is filed by:

                  Name:  Frederick Willetts, III
                  Name:  Cooperative Bank 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Plan

                  Unless otherwise specified herein, Mr. Willetts and the 401(k)
                  Plan are collectively referred to herein as the Reporting
                  Persons.

         (b)      Address: 201 Market Street, P.O. Box 600, Wilmington, North
                  Carolina 28402-0600 (for both Reporting Persons)

         (c)      Present Principal Occupation: Mr. Willetts: Director,
                  President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer. The
                  401(k) Plan is an employee benefit plan maintained by the
                  Issuer.

         (d)      Criminal Proceeding Convictions:  None

         (e)      Securities Law Proceedings:  None

         (f)      Citizenship:  United States


                                       4



ITEM 3.  SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

     All shares of Common  Stock shown as to which Mr.  Willetts has sole voting
and sole  dispositive  power were  purchased with Mr.  Willetts'  personal funds
except for 500 shares of Common  Stock that he received as a gift and a total of
22,597  shares  of  Common  Stock  owned by  trusts  for which he serves as sole
trustee.  Shares of Common Stock for which Mr.  Willetts has sole voting but not
dispositive  power are the 208,267 shares held by the 401(k) Plan. Mr.  Willetts
holds sole  dispositive  power (but not voting power) with respect to the 17,000
shares of Common  Stock which may be  purchased  by him  pursuant  to  currently
exercisable options.

     Beneficial  ownership  for the shares of Common Stock shown as to which Mr.
Willetts has shared  voting and shared  dispositive  power was acquired  without
payment as follows:  (i) the reporting person became  beneficial owner of 70,310
shares of Common Stock when he became  co-trustee  of the Eleanor J. H. Willetts
Irrevocable  Trust; (ii) Mr. Willetts also serves as co-trustee of the Frederick
Willetts,  III, Helen  Margaret  Willetts and Elizabeth  Messick  Willetts Trust
which holds 21,385 shares of Common Stock; and (iii) he also may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of 1,488 shares of Common Stock owned by his spouse and the
438 shares of Common Stock for which his spouse  serves as  custodian  for their
children. Due to the fact that Mr. Willetts holds general powers of attorney for
his  mother  and his two  sisters,  he may also be  deemed to share  voting  and
dispositive power with respect to: (i) 55,833 shares of Common Stock held by his
mother  and her IRA  account;  (ii)  12,590  shares of Common  Stock held by his
sister,  Helen Margaret  Willetts and 1,495 shares of Common Stock for which she
serves as custodian and trustee; and (iii) 2,156 shares of Common Stock owned by
his sister,  Elizabeth M. Willetts.  Copies of the powers of attorney were filed
as Exhibits 99.1-99.3 to Amendment #5. These powers of attorney were not entered
into in connection  with the ownership of the Common Stock nor has Mr.  Willetts
exercised voting and dispositive power with respect to these shares. As such, he
disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

     The 401(k) Plan holds  dispositive  power only with  respect to the 208,267
shares it holds in the plan.  The 401(k)  Plan was  originally  structured  as a
combined  employee stock ownership plan and 401(k) Plan. 84,374 shares of Common
Stock were  purchased  by the ESOP through a loan which has been repaid in full.
The remaining  123,536 shares held by the 401(k) Plan were purchased through the
deferral  of  participants  income  pursuant to the terms of the 401(k) Plan and
matching contributions by the Bank.

ITEM 4.  PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

     The shares of Common  Stock  covered by this  statement  are being held for
investment  purposes.  Depending upon a continuing  assessment,  and upon future
developments,  the Reporting  Person may determine,  from time to time or at any
time, to purchase additional shares of Common Stock for investment or dispose of
shares of Common Stock. As President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Issuer,
Mr. Willetts  regularly explores potential actions and transactions which may be
advantageous  to  the  Issuer,   including   possible   mergers,   acquisitions,
reorganizations or other material changes in the business,  corporate structure,
management  policies,   governing  instruments,   securities  or  regulatory  or
reporting  obligations  of the Issuer.


                                       5


As a member of the board of  directors  of the Issuer,  Mr.  Willetts  regularly
reviews the Issuer's capital management strategies.  Mr. Willetts, as trustee of
his sister's trust, his father's trust and his childrens'  trust, may dispose of
shares in accordance with his role as trustee.  In accordance with the rules and
regulations  of the Federal  Reserve Board under the Change in Bank Control Act,
Mr. Willetts, together with shares held by family members and the 401(k) Plan is
deemed to own in excess of 10% of the  outstanding  shares the Common  Stock and
was required to obtain the prior  approval of the Federal  Reserve  Board before
becoming the named  fiduciary with respect to the 401(k) Plan. Such approval was
obtained from the Federal Reserve Board on April 1, 2002.  Except as noted above
with respect to Mr. Willetts'  activities on behalf of the Issuer,  Mr. Willetts
has no plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:

     (a)  the acquisition by any person of additional  securities of the Issuer,
          or the  disposition  of securities of the Issuer,  except as described
          above;

     (b)  an   extraordinary   corporate   transaction,   such   as  a   merger,
          reorganization  or  liquidation,  involving  the  Issuer or any of its
          subsidiaries;

     (c)  a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Issuer or any
          of its subsidiaries;

     (d)  any change in the present  board of  directors  or  management  of the
          Issuer,  including any plans or proposals to change the number or term
          of directors;

     (e)  any material change in the present  capitalization  or dividend policy
          of the Issuer;

     (f)  any  other  material  change in the  Issuer's  business  or  corporate
          structure;

     (g)  changes in the Issuer's  Articles of  Incorporation or Bylaws or other
          actions which may impede the  acquisition  of control of the Issuer by
          any person;

     (h)  causing a class of  securities  of the  Issuer to be  delisted  from a
          national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted
          in  an  inter-dealer   quotation  system  of  a  registered   national
          securities association;

     (i)  a class of equity  securities  of the  Issuer  becoming  eligible  for
          termination  of  registration  pursuant  to  Section  12(g)(4)  of the
          Securities Exchange Act; or

     (j)  any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

     The Reporting  Person  reserves the right to change his investment  purpose
with respect to any and all shares of the Common Stock beneficially owned and to
take any and all lawful action with respect to such shares.

                                       6



ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

     (a)  The  aggregate  number of shares  beneficially  owned by the Reporting
          Persons are 495,457,  constituting  17.4% of the outstanding shares of
          Common  Stock.  Included  in this  amount are 17,000  shares of Common
          Stock  which Mr.  Willetts  has the right to  acquire  under the stock
          option plan of the Issuer.

     (b)  Mr.  Willetts  has sole voting and  dispositive  power over the 98,871
          shares he holds  directly,  the 3,924  shares  held in his  childrens'
          trust,  over which he serves as sole  trustee,  and the 18,700  shares
          held in the Elizabeth  Messick Willetts  Medical Trust,  over which he
          serves as sole trustee.  Mr. Willetts has sole dispositive  power with
          respect to the 17,000  shares  which he may  acquire  pursuant  to the
          exercise of options.  Mr.  Willetts has sole voting power with respect
          to the 208,267  shares held by the 401(k) Plan.  He shares  voting and
          dispositive  power over the 91,695 shares held in two trusts for which
          he  serves  as  co-trustee  and may be  deemed  to  share  voting  and
          dispositive  power with  respect to: (i) the 1,488  shares held by his
          spouse;  (ii) the 438 shares for which his spouse  serves as custodian
          for the benefit of their children; (iii) the 55,833 shares held by his
          mother  and her IRA  account;  (iv) the  12,590  shares  held by Helen
          Margaret  Willetts;  (v) the 1,495  shares  for which  Helen  Margaret
          Willetts  serves as custodian  and trustee;  and (vi) the 2,156 shares
          owned by Elizabeth M. Willetts.

               The 401(k) Plan has sole  dispositive  power with  respect to the
          208,267 shares it holds.

     (c)  The Reporting Persons' beneficial  ownership increased during the past
          60 days as a result of the following transactions:



Name                       Date                      # of Shares                Price            Method
----                       ----                      -----------                -----            ------
                                                                                      
Spouse                     1/17/04                            2.78              $26.76           Dividend reinv.
Spouse as cust.
  for children             1/17/04                             .82              $26.76           Dividend Reinv.
Children's Trust           1/17/04                            7.33              $26.76           Dividend Reinv.

401 (k) Plan               12/17/03                           542               $25.48           Open Market
401 (k) Plan               1/15/04                            563               $26.40           Open Market
401 (k) Plan               2/4/04                             330               $27.20           Open Market


     (d)  Not applicable.

     (e)  Not applicable.

                                       7



ITEM 6.  CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDING OR RELATIONSHIPS
                  WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 7.  MATERIALS TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

                  None.




                                       8


                                    SIGNATURE



     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.



Date: February 9, 2004             /s/ Frederick Willetts, III
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Frederick Willetts, III

Date: February 9, 2004            Cooperative Bank 401(k) Supplemental
                                     Retirement Plan


                                   By:/s/ Frederick Willetts, III
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                       9