Ben Brazell
Executive Vice President, Retail Banking
Background
Ben Brazell, was named Executive Vice President, Retail Banking in March 2022. His primary responsibilities are to oversee retail banking, the bank's efficiency initiatives and projects. He has direct leadership of Retail Banking, Deposit Operations and Loan Operations. Brazell joined First Reliance in August of 2007 where he had primary responsibilities for growing the bank’s market share and locations within the state of South Carolina, while leading sales teams throughout the state and developing strategic growth strategies.
Mr. Brazell has extensive years of banking experience, during which he has held numerous sales management and executive leadership positions coupled with experience in process management. Before assuming leadership of First Reliance Bank in South Carolina, Brazell was Senior Vice President, Market President of a large national bank in Memphis, Tennessee. In this role, Brazell provided leadership and strategic direction to all business lines and bank activities in the Memphis market.
Education
Mr. Brazell graduated from the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Mr. Brazell has also received various professional certifications. Mr. Brazell is a graduate of the Leadership Development Institute and The South Carolina Banker’s School.
Memberships
As an active member of the community, Brazell currently serves on the Small Business Council of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Advisors for the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, member of the Exchange Club of Metropolitan Charleston, Leadership Charleston Alumni Association, and Leadership Development Intensive Alumni Association. Additionally, Brazell served as past Chairman of the board of Commissioners for the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, finance chairman for the Board of Trustees of the American College of the Building Arts, and finance chairman for the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina. Past memberships include the RISE Foundation, YMCA, SC DHEC, Robert Morris Association, and the Rotary Club of the Vista Nights.
