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Mortgage rates are at their lowest in history. Are you asking yourself if it's a good time to shop for a home? Do you know the advantages of house hunting in November and December?

If you're considering selling your current house or buying a new one, now is a very good time. If you’re a first-time home buyer who is ready to make a down payment on your dream home by tapping into your money market account or cashing in a certificate of deposit, there's no better time to realize your dream of home ownership.

There are several advantages to house hunting in winter. Best of all, home shopping during the holiday season can translate into real cost savings for smart shoppers.

[caption id="attachment_5351" align="alignleft" width="300"]First Reliance Bank Mortgage Rates Click image to enlarge[/caption]

But there are pros and cons, so let's consider them:

Want quality time with your agent? Winter's the time to ...


Veterans Day is this Sunday. Most of us know someone who is serving or has served in our military. Maybe it's a family member or a friend. Perhaps it's a neighbor down the road or a fellow parishioner at church.

Why not reach out and thank them for their service to our country?

It only takes a moment to show your appreciation, and to let them know that they have not been forgotten.

[caption id="attachment_5329" align="alignleft" width="150"]First Reliance Bank Veteran's Day Click image to enlarge[/caption]

At First Reliance Bank, we show support for veterans everyday with special programs and fundraising efforts.

Right now, we're raising money for the Wounded Soldiers Fund by honoring those in the active or retired military, military veterans and even deceased veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Here's how you can participate through November 11.

[caption id="attachment_5328" align="alignright" width="150"]First Reliance Bank Veteran's Day Click image to enlarge[/caption]

We especially appreciate those of you who ...


The recent cyber attack on South Carolina Department of Revenue records has put more than 3 million South Carolinians and over 600,000 businesses at risk.

On October 26, the state announced that the Social Security numbers of 3.6 million people and 387,000 credit and debit card numbers have been exposed. On October 31, it was revealed that information from up to 657,000 businesses had also been stolen when the state's computers were hacked.

Any individual or business that filed a state return from 1998 through the present may be at risk.

Consumers Are Urged To Enroll In Protectmyid.com — It's Free To Use

The state is paying for a year's worth of free identity protection for each South Carolina taxpayer. Although the bill for this will be $12 million, it's an investment that must be made to protect the millions of citizens made vulnerable by the cyber attack.

First Reliance Bank Identity TheftYou can ...


Purchasing a home can be overwhelming. With lots of homes on the market across the state and historical low mortgage rates, here are some helpful tips as you get ready to buy a home.

Get pre-approved – This process helps you understand what you can afford and it helps your broker too. Ask your First Reliance Bank Residential Lender for a list of documents you’ll need to obtain a pre-approval. Call 888.543.5510 or visit our website and click on the “Apply For A Mortgage Loan” image on the bottom left hand corner of our homepage. There is plenty of information on getting your mortgage started and you can conveniently apply online.

Buy within your means – Balance what you want in a mortgage with current and future obligations. One example would be setting up a structure to pay off a home that you see yourself staying in while paying off ...


Would you like to help us honor someone who is active or retired military, a military veteran, a deceased veteran, in the Reserve Forces or the National Guard? From October 1 through Veterans Day, November 11, First Reliance Bank will be recognizing this very special segment of our Hometown Heroes program and raising money for those who protect us!

And we have three ways that you can be part of this effort and help raise up to a total of $1,000 for the Wounded Soldiers Foundation.

[caption id="attachment_5029" align="alignright" width="150"]First Reliance Bank Hometown Heroes Click image to enlarge[/caption]
1. Go to our Facebook page and post a photo or video of your personal and special military heroes. Tell us how they are related to you (Grandfather, Dad, Mom, sister, friend, etc.), and let us know which branch of the service they serve in or have served in. Be sure to list what they ...


There are those in our community who go to extraordinary lengths contributing to the safety and well-being of us all. We call them our “Hometown Heroes” and this month we are celebrating the many ways that their lives make our lives better. If you're someone who is active or retired military, or who works in the fields of fire and rescue or law enforcement, we'd like to thank you by inviting you to be part of our Hometown Heroes program. If you're a medical professional, teacher or school district employee, or work for a religious organization or a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we want to celebrate your contributions by inviting you to join our Hometown Heroes program too. Over the next several weeks, your First Reliance team will be visiting each Hometown Hero with a special thank you basket. We hope to see you then! Learn more about the Hometown Heroes program ...


As the new school year inches closer, just about every store is offering back-to-school deals for kids clothes, backpacks and school supplies. Nearly all the promotions are aimed at filling kids' needs. But what about the Moms? Focus on Moms and it could mean big sales. Once the kids are in school, Moms have more time to focus again on personal and home improvement. Here are five clever suggestions about how your small business could attract more Moms now that the kids are in school. [caption id="attachment_4829" align="alignnone" width="640"] Starfire Restaurant is a popular lunch spot for moms. Shown here (from left to right) are Sherri Elder, Jennifer King, Mary Neale Fowler and Heather Andrews.[/caption]

Join in the “Race For The Gold Olympics Scavenger Hunt” and you could win a great prize. One lucky winner will even receive the grand prize – an Apple iPad. It's easy to play. Visit each of our participating businesses or get a friend to become one of our Facebook friends. You'll be collecting gold and/or blue chips which will be entered into drawings for prizes. Discover which businesses are participating in your area through the clues we are providing. They are different for each area. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="180"] Grand Prize - Apple iPad![/caption]

The scavenger hunt will end on August 24, 2012. To learn how the gold and blue chips help you earn prizes and to get the clues to your area, just click below:
Let the games begin!

Are you the kind of mom who loves looking out her kitchen window and seeing your kids playing with their friends in your own backyard? Do you love having your yard be the playground for neighborhood kids because you enjoy the comfort of knowing where your children are? But are you frustrated to see your yard littered with footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, GI-Joes, hats, flip-flops, popsicle sticks, juice boxes and other kid stuff just lying around? With a few tools, some paint and a little work, you can turn your backyard into a “field of dreams.” Moseley Boys For example, building your own football field is easy. The kids can even help with this project. Use marking paint and rope for field markings. Quick-dry cement, pvc pipes, and couplings work great for goal posts. Get some rope and lay it out in a rectangle. Using white marking paint — and with the ...


Convinced you have an adorable dog? Show us on Facebook! Post a photo of your pooch for a chance to have $150 donated to the Humane Society in your name. Whoever receives the most votes (photo comments, one per day per person) by July 31st will also win a $100 PetSmart gift certificate. First Reliance Bank Dog Contest      First Reliance Bank Dog Contest