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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

David Parler has joined First Reliance Bank as Residential Lending Specialist and will be in the Columbia, SC, Main Street Branch. He will assist customers with their mortgage financing needs and identify the best bank products to meet their needs. 

President of Mortgage Services Chuck Stuart shared, “We value David’s dedication to helping customers achieve the dream of homeownership. His professionalism aligns with First Reliance Bank’s purpose of improving our customers’ lives.”

First Reliance Bank’s wide variety of mortgage choices offers flexibility for customers’ mortgage loan and financial needs. The bank offers competitive rates and flexible terms and conditions, providing the best solutions. 

David is a University of South Carolina graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering. In January 2021, after spending 16 years in engineering, manufacturing, and construction, he became a Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in South Carolina. Additionally, David is licensed in North Carolina and Georgia. ...

Kevin Jones has joined First Reliance Bank as Vice President and Residential Lending Specialist and will be in the Greenville, SC, East Washington Street Branch. He will assist customers with their mortgage financing needs and identify the best bank products to meet their needs.

Rick Saunders, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Kevin is a top loan producer, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our residential lending team. His extensive career in the mortgage lending industry will be invaluable to our clients and homebuyers across the state.”

Kevin commented, “I’m very excited to join the First Reliance Bank team and bring the strength of a regional bank to the residential mortgage market in Greenville. Greenville is an emerging market. Although I’ve lived in many places, Greenville has been home for the longest.  It is such a fun and dynamic community to live and work in. It is consistently growing, ...

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Thursday, January 12, 2023 – First Reliance Bank celebrated the grand opening of its regional headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at its retail and corporate offices in downtown Columbia. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, community leaders, and the First Reliance Bank executive and banking team from Columbia were in attendance. 

“We are very appreciative of the investment First Reliance Bank has made in downtown Columbia. The bank’s investment is important as it supports the continued growth of business and retail along the Main Street corridor,” stated Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. 

The morning event celebrated the completion of construction and official opening of the bank’s new retail banking center and corporate offices. “We’ve wanted to be in downtown Columbia for many years but waited until we had the right team in place in order to grow the market. Our team is now in place, and we ...

First Reliance Bank is pleased to announce that President F. Justin Strickland has been named one of Columbia’s Top 50 Most Influential People by Columbia Business Monthly. The honorees are selected through a process of staff research and community nominations.

Rick Saunders, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Justin’s efforts to make the Midlands one of the best places to live in South Carolina is mirrored by his commitment and dedication to First Reliance’s customers and staff.”

Justin serves on many regional and statewide boards in South Carolina, including as committee chairman of the Board of Financial Institutions and on the executive committee of the Lexington Medical Foundation. A Walterboro native, Strickland graduated from the University of South Carolina and the Banking School of the South at Louisiana State University.

First Reliance Bank is pleased to announce the awardees of the 2021 CEO Award of Excellence. The following employees were recognized and honored during the Associates Meeting in Columbia, SC, on October 10, 2022.

Please join us in celebrating their commitment to excellence.

Denise Lee – Universal Banker
Matthew Lafevor – Sr System Engineer
Danielle Smith – Sr. Wholesale Specialist
Karen Carron – Mortgage Shipper
Catherine Smith – Doc Prep Team Lead
Randy Griswell – Deposit Operations Specialist
Johnny Nexsen – Residential Lending Specialist
Shanell Cook – Treasury Services Specialist
Christopher Taft Osborne – Branch Manager
Lindley Hamilton – Branch Manager and Treasury Services
Kody Stevens – Portfolio Analyst
Gabrielle Caselnova – Marketing Coordinator
Reuben Hewitt – Relationship Banker
Cindy Ellis – Customer Care Specialist
Gena White – Sr. Collections Specialist

First Reliance Bank has been recognized in the Top 100 Workplaces by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national, nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding forever families for children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States and Canada.  

The Foundation works closely with child welfare advocates and policymakers, provides free resources about foster care adoption, and raises awareness through social media campaigns, public service announcements, and events.  

Rick Saunders, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Reliance, said, “Adoption is personal to me as my wife and daughters were adopted. We are most grateful for the love that has been brought to our family. As a company, supporting our associates who seek to adopt children will remain highly important to our institution.”