Florence, SC (August 24, 2009) - First Reliance Bank celebrates its tenth year of community banking and will be hosting a free luncheon on Wednesday, August 26th at the Main Office located at 2170 W. Palmetto Street in Florence from 11a.m to 2 p.m. Customers can use a Drive Thru Lunch Pick -Up service or they can stop in and eat under the tent. The menu will include Burgers, Hot Dogs or a BBQ sandwich with chips and a drink. Customers and the public are invited to stop by to experience the hospitality and great customer service of the First Reliance Bank team.

"We're excited to reach this ten year milestone," said Rick Saunders, CEO. "Right from the beginning and through today, our board members and employees have been passionate about our purpose to make a positive difference in every person's life we touch. While we are proud to have grown our assets to over $700 million, it's really our purpose that underlies our growth."

"We also believe customers want convenience and innovative products and services and we have delivered on that with our 8am - 8pm hours of operation, our no fee worldwide ATM network and signature programs such as our Check 'N Save program, an outreach program, especially for people in our communities who have experienced trouble managing their bank accounts in the past or who may have been turned down by a bank or credit union for a checking or banking relationship. The program is designed to help customers learn to manage a checking account, encourage saving, and includes a free financial education information. Another signature program the bank offers is our Hometown Heroes program which recognizes and provides special financial products and rewards to Heroes in our community- teachers, police, firefighters, medical professionals, military, and employees of churches and not-for-profits, people who help us and protect us every day. This program is the bank's way of saying thank you, and it has been a great success."

"We know customers can bank almost anywhere. What we do differently with our service is to deliver it to customers with respect, joy and professionalism in our interactions with them. We truly want to help our customers achieve their financial goals. Our customers tell us that they like our business model as 97% of our customers are satisfied with our service and 85% of them would refer a family member or friend to our bank. We couldn't do any of this without the commitment of our employees and their passion to deliver on our purpose," said Saunders.

As part of its anniversary celebration, First Reliance also has launched a Stock The Schools program. First Reliance is asking the public to help stock our schools with supplies teachers can use in the classroom. Each year, many of our teachers spend hundreds of their own dollars to purchase much needed supplies for their students and classrooms. Classrooms often need items such as construction paper, colored pencils, pencil pouches, #2 Pencils, folders with pockets, loose leaf paper, etc. The public is encouraged to stop by a First Reliance Bank branch and drop off school supplies for the teachers. The promotion will run through Friday, September 11, 2009.

ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANK
First Reliance Bank, founded in 1999, has assets of approximately $696 million, and employs over 145 highly talented associates. The bank serves Columbia, Charleston, and Florence markets in 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, 2007, 2008, and 2009 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 a unique Hometown Heroes package of benefits to serve those who are serving our communities, a Customer Service Guaranty, Totally FREE Checking, Totally FREE Business Checking, FREE Coin Machines, a Worldwide NO FEE ATM Network, and a 5 Way Mortgage Service Promise. It also offers 8-8 Extended Hours in all of their Florence, Charleston, 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 97% (Lamothe & Associates, Inc., Research Firm). First Reliance Bank is traded as FSRL.OB. Information about the Company is available on the company's website at www.firstreliance.com.