April 24, 2008- Florence, SC - First Reliance Bank recently announced at its annual associate meeting that Amanda Todd, Assistant Vice President and Business Banker, is the First Reliance Associate of the Year for 2007.

Each year, as part of the bank's associate rewards and recognition program, all associates have the opportunity to nominate an outstanding associate and submit a detailed reason of why the chosen associate deserves the award. A committee then carefully reviews the nominations and selects the associate who goes above and beyond performance expectations and who is the best role model for living the values of First Reliance Bank. Ms. Todd was selected from among the bank's over 145 associates.

With over 4 years of service with First Reliance Bank, Todd has earned a reputation as one of First Reliance Bank's most highly regarded associates. Trustworthiness, commitment to excellence, and positive attitude are just a few characteristics used to describe Todd during the nomination process.

Todd was also described as someone who "always makes us smile with her smile." As one of the bank's top performing Business Bankers, Ms. Todd well exceeded all of her 2007 performance goals.

Outside of her role as Business Banker, Ms. Todd actively participates in not only First Reliance sponsored community events, but she also volunteers much of her free time with civic and charitable organizations within the Florence community. During the year of 2007 Ms. Todd donated 236 hours of her personal time in her efforts to give back to the community. "As a top performer and highly active community volunteer, Mandy was the clear choice for associate of the year," stated Rick Saunders, President and CEO of First Reliance Bank. "She consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities to ensure the success of our customers and the bank. Mandy's dedication to growing the community through financial literacy and developing small businesses to achieve their goals is directly inline with the bank's purpose and mission."

Mandy graduated from Francis Marion University in 2004 where she earned a Masters in Business Administration degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Francis Marion University. Mandy currently resides in Florence County with her husband, Kevin, and their son.

As the 2007 Associate of the Year, Todd receives an all expense paid trip to Aruba along with FRB associates who are President's Club winners, 1,000 shares of First Reliance Bank stock, one week of additional vacation, and her own VIP parking spot. President's Club winners for 2007 were: Chase Colbert, Vice President, Business Banker in Lexington; Ashley Peavy, Personal Banker in Lexington; Ashley Hewitt, Personal Banker in Florence; Melinda McLamb, Mortgage Loan Specialist in Florence; Frank Hanna, Vice President, Mortgage Market Manager in Charleston; Richard McIntyre, Lexington Market President; Nancy Yonce, Loan Assistant in Lexington; Lafreda Doctor, Manager, Talent Management and HR Services. First Reliance Bank, one of the Best Places to Work in SC, encourages associate growth and development through benefits and incentive programs such as the Associate of the Year Award and President's Club Award.

First Reliance Bank, founded in 1999, has assets of approximately $598 million, and employs over 145 highly talented associates. The bank serves the Upstate, Midlands, Piedmont, Low Country, Grand Strand, and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina. The bank has been recognized for its success including being the only company ever to be named to The Top 25 Fastest Growing Companies™ in South Carolina four times including 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (SC Chamber/Elliott Davis). In June 2007, the bank was added to the Palmetto 25, a list of S.C.'s largest publicly held companies. In 2006 and 2007, the bank was also recognized as One of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina by the SC Chamber of Commerce. . First Reliance Bank offers Totally FREE Checking, Totally FREE Business Checkning, FREE Coin Machines, a Nationwide NO FEE ATM Network, and a 5 Way Mortgage Service Promise. It also offers 8-8 Extended Hours in all of their Florence, Mt. Pleasant, and Lexington locations and is open on most traditional bank holidays. Its Easy to Do Business With™ standard has earned the young bank a customer satisfaction rating of 94.7% (Performance Solutions-December 2007-Audited). First Reliance Bank is traded as FSRL.OB.