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David Renaker, Senior Vice President, Relationship Banker
David Renaker, Senior Vice President, Relationship Banker

 

First Reliance Bank announces that David Renaker has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Relationship Banker for the Columbia branch. He is responsible for business development, bringing new business and personal loan and deposit customers to the bank. In addition, he manages the existing loan and deposit relationship for business clients and the owners/stakeholders of those companies.

President of First Reliance Justin Strickland said, “I am pleased to see David promoted to Senior Vice President. His trusted banking expertise is impressive as he serves the greater Columbia market’s business development.”

David is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, having earned a BS in Business Finance in 1986. He is also a graduate of the South Carolina Bankers School. He serves on the Finance Committee as Vice Chairman of the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce. He is also Vice Chair of the Union United Methodist finance committee, a Diplomat ...

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Melissa Fowble, Assistant Vice President Branch Manager, Myrtle Beach
Melissa Fowble, Assistant Vice President Branch Manager, Myrtle Beach

 

First Reliance Bank announces that Melissa Fowble has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Branch Manager for the Myrtle Beach branch. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the branch, business development, and branch market growth.

President of First Reliance Justin Strickland said, “Melissa’s community involvement demonstrates her dedication to growing the bank’s footprint in Myrtle Beach and attracting businesses to the area. Her support of the Chamber of Commerce is notable.”

Melissa works with the Myrtle Beach Chamber providing membership mentoring to new and existing chamber investors while engaging and connecting existing and future young professionals through the Chamber’s Grand Strand Young Professionals. She is also involved with the Myrtle Beach Area Regional Economic Development and serves as Executive Director for the Oceanside Chapter GBN (Great Business Networking). She is also on the United Way Vision Council.

 

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Are You Searching for a Great Credit Card Rate?

 

If you said yes, we have an attractive 0% interest rate offer you may be interested in. But first, please pause a moment and think about how you use credit. You may even want to ask yourself these questions. 

- Do you pay it off every month?

- Do you use it for travel?

- How high do you need your spending limit to be?

- Do you prefer a low rate, cash back, or rewards points?  

First Reliance will always encourage our customers to be savvy when it comes to having a credit card. For a limited time, we are offering an attractive introductory 0% interest rate for the first 12 months on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances from the date of opening (see flyer for details). If you're looking for a new credit card, you can contact one of our customer service representatives. At First ...

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Scurry Tharpe, Vice President, Relationship Banker
Scurry Tharpe, Vice President, Relationship Banker



First Reliance Bank announces that Scurry Tharpe has joined the company as Vice President, Relationship Banker and will work out of the Greenville office. He has over 12 years of industry experience in the commercial credit risk background and in wealth and retail. 

Scurry is a 2009 graduate of The Citadel, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and, in 2018, an MBA from Anderson University. A native of Greenwood, S.C., he moved to Greenville in 2011. In his free time, Scurry enjoys spending time outdoors with his children and coaching youth sports on the weekends.

Market President Chris Laughridge shared, “We are pleased to welcome Scurry to the Greenville team, where he will focus on developing and building relationships with community-area business owners and professionals. He is a talented banker who brings significant credit experience with him to his new role.”

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Marci Williams, Vice President Account Executive / Residential Lending Specialist
Marci Williams, Vice President Account Executive / Residential Lending Specialist


Marci Williams has joined First Reliance Bank as Vice President Account Executive / Residential Lending Specialist and will work out of the Charleston, SC, Mount Pleasant branch. She will assist customers with their mortgage financing needs and identify partner opportunities throughout the Southeast. She is a well-respected industry-recognized leader and will be responsible for sales in Retail and the Correspondent/Wholesale partner channels.

"We are happy to have Marci as part of our company growth initiative and are very fortunate to have her as part of our team,” said First Reliance Mortgage President Chuck Stuart. Her extensive experience and innovative approach will be instrumental in elevating our brand awareness and invaluable to our clients and homebuyers in the southeast. We are confident that Marci will play a key role in First Reliance Mortgage’s growth and success in the coming years.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Marci to the team. Marci’s knowledge and ...

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It’s Almost Vacation Time!

Are you dreaming of a vacation or getaway? If you are beginning to plan or are ready to book airline tickets, here are some travel tips to avoid overspending. Airfare savings with cut-rate travel is possible!

When to book a plane ticket

Book in advance: Generally, booking flights well in advance can help you save money. Airline prices tend to go up as you get closer to the travel date, so book your flights as early as possible if you know your travel plans well in advance. Book 49 days in advance, or seven weeks for the best airfare.  Studies show that is when the fares tend to be the lowest.

Be flexible with your travel dates: If you are flexible with your travel dates, you can save a lot of money. Try to avoid flying during peak travel periods like holidays or weekends, as prices are usually higher during ...

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Sarah Baldwin, Senior Vice President, Retail Mortgage Sales
Sarah Baldwin, Senior Vice President, Retail Mortgage Sales

April 18, 2023 – Columbia, S.C. —  First Reliance Bank announces that Sarah Baldwin has been promoted to SVP Retail Mortgage Sales at FRB Mortgage, a division of First Reliance Bank. She is responsible for developing and managing relationships with referral partners and working with a team of mortgage loan officers.

President of First Reliance Justin Strickland said, “I have had the privilege of working with Sarah since she began her career as a Mortgage Executive Originator in 2009. She has performed at a level that ranks her as the best mortgage executive I have worked with in my 38 years of banking.

Chuck Stuart, President of FRB Mortgage Division, shared, “We are very pleased to make this announcement. Sarah’s proven industry knowledge and extensive experience will help the bank expand its reach and deliver value for our clients. She has built strong, trusted relationships with our FRB customers, and driven ...

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Keith Rainwater, Chief Accounting Officer
Keith Rainwater, Chief Accounting Officer

First Reliance Bank announces that Keith Rainwater has been named Chief Accounting Officer. Rainwater, a Certified Public Accountant, brings more than 25 years of banking experience and an extensive accounting background to the bank’s team. At First Reliance, he will oversee the accounting operations and reporting functions.

Robert Haile, Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of First Reliance, said, “We are pleased to welcome Keith to our team. His years of experience and leadership in the banking industry will continue to guide First Reliance as we become one of the best community banks in the Southeast.”

Keith previously served as the Chief Accounting Officer of FB Financial Corporation and FirstBank for the past two years in Nashville, Tennessee, after nearly 14 years at the SouthState Corp., which operates more than 280 offices in six Southeastern states. While there, he served as an executive vice president and its designated principal ...

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How to Prevent Fake Check Scams

Fake check scams are occurring more than ever, and scammers are becoming increasingly clever with their tactics. Here's how a fake check scam typically works.

Someone you don't know sends you a check. It could be from any company. The person will ask you to deposit the check and send some of the money to them or another person in return. The scammer always has a reason to explain why you received the check and why you cannot keep all the money. If you deposit a fake check and send money to the scammer, you will be responsible for that money, which can sometimes amount to thousands of dollars!

No matter how convincing the scammer is or how legitimate the check looks, people don't send money to others without reason.  

Types of Fake Check Scams

Fake checks come in many forms. Business or personal checks, cashier's checks, and money orders ...

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Rick Redden, First Reliance Bank Board Member
Rick Redden, First Reliance Bank Board Member

March 29, 2023 - Florence, S.C. — Rick Redden has been named to the First Reliance Bank Board of Directors. Rick has extensive experience working with banks, public and private companies, non-profits, and higher educational institutions to establish or enhance strategic plans, navigate industry change, and accelerate execution. He has assisted clients with acquisitions, major investments, capital structure decisions, and succession strategies.

Rick Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of First Reliance Bank, shared, “When searching for a board member, I always look for talented professionals with similar values about life, leadership, and business success. I am fortunate to have known Rick for quite some time, and he certainly meets every standard to be found in a successful bank board member. I look forward to working closely with Rick as we pursue “changing lives” across the Carolinas.”

Prior to consulting, Rick served as Commercial Executive, State President, Division Chief Risk Officer, and ...