FLORENCE, South Carolina - Richard L. Granger has joined First Reliance Bank as Vice President of Mortgage Banking, and Allen W. Griffin has joined FRB as Vice President, Business Banker.

Rick Saunders, President and CEO of the Florence-based bank, announced the additions. "These new, highly-experienced FRB associates will help us deliver on our promise of "There's More to Banking Than Money," Saunders notes. "That's more than a marketing slogan at FRB - it's our purpose. Richard and Allen will help our team enhance mortgage and business programs, convenient services, and superior customer care that back up that promise," he added.

Richard L. Granger

Bringing more than 28 years of mortgage banking experience to FRB, Granger will play a key role in expansion of the bank's fast-growing mortgage banking division. From 1984 to 1995, Granger was President and CEO of Granger-O'Hara Mortgage, Inc., a firm he co-founded. The company was sold to Coastal Federal Savings Bank in 1995, where Granger then served as President and CEO of the subsidiary, Coastal Federal Mortgage of Myrtle Beach, SC and Florence.

Immediately prior to joining First Reliance, he was president of R. Granger Development and Realty, a company specializing in acquisition and development of residential subdivisions. He also has worked as a GRI-designated real estate broker for Aiken Realty and Insurance. Granger founded and was a director of Tidelands Bank in Mount Pleasant, SC, prior to his association with First Reliance Bank.

Allen W. Griffin

Griffin will blend his extensive business and financial expertise with FRB's comprehensive portfolio of business banking tools to provide exceptional customer service for companies of all sizes, according to Saunders. Prior to joining First Reliance, Griffin served as Chief Operating Officer of Comprehensive Neurological Services, Florence, SC. His banking background includes tenure as Executive Vice President of Coastal Federal Bank, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Business Development Officer for NationsBank, Florence, SC.

Griffin has served on numerous community and civic organizations boards. He also volunteers on the varsity football coaching staff of South Florence High School.

ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANK
First Reliance Bank, founded in 1999, has assets of approximately $700 million, and employs over 150 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 BIZ. First Reliance Bank offers a unique Hometown Heroes package of benefits to serve those who are serving our communities, Check 'N Save, a community outreach program for the unbanked or under-banked, a Customer Service Guaranty, a 5 Way Mortgage Guarantee, FREE Coin Machines, and a Worldwide NO FEE ATM Network. It also offers 8-8 Extended Hours in all of their Florence, Charleston, West Columbia 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 98% (Lamothe & Associates, Inc., Research Firm) and the number one market share in its headquarters city of Florence, SC. First Reliance Bank is traded as FSRL.OB. Information about the Company is available on the company's website at www.firstreliance.com.