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In 1999, Rick Saunders founded First Reliance Bank in Florence, South Carolina. Mr. Saunders currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and sits on the Board of Directors for First Reliance Bank and First Reliance Bancshares.
Previously, Mr. Saunders was a Senior Vice President and City Executive of Florence for Pee Dee State Bank, where he was a member of the Senior Loan Committee and served on the Board of Directors of Pee Dee State Bank and Pee Dee Bancshares. Following a merger with Centura Bank, he served as a Senior Market Executive.
F. Justin Strickland joined First Reliance Bank as President in January 2021. He oversees the bank’s operations and growth as it continues expanding its footprint throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.
Mr. Strickland has worked in the South Carolina banking industry since 1985. Prior to joining First Reliance, he held executive positions at large regional banks for over 35 years, including Carolina First and Southern First.
Mr. Strickland is married and resides in West Columbia, South Carolina.
Robert Haile joined First Reliance Bank in November 2020 as Chief Financial Officer, SEVP, and is responsible for the bank’s financial and investment management and accounting. With more than 20 years in financial services, he previously served as Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer for both Carolina Financial Corp and CresCom Bank and as the Controller for Crescent Bank, predecessor to CresCom.
Brook Moore joined the bank in July 2020 and was named Chief Credit Officer, SEVP, in January 2021. Mr. Moore is responsible for the management and oversight of the bank’s credit administration function including loan portfolio risk management, governance of credit underwriting and approval processes, and coordination of regulatory examinations and audits. Bringing over two decades of banking experience to the team, Mr. Moore has demonstrated a history of success in commercial loan production, credit administration, and portfolio management. He has held various banking roles, including Market President, Commercial Banking Executive, Chief Lending Officer, and Senior Credit Administrator.
Mr. Moore has been active in his church and community and has served as a Director for the Ben Lippen School, Congaree Land Trust, and Columbia East Rotary. Additionally, he volunteers as a youth coach and scout leader.
Chuck Stuart was named President of First Reliance Mortgage in December 2020. In this role, he is responsible for the direction and oversight of all aspects of mortgage, as well as the strategic growth of First Reliance Mortgage. He provides leadership for the origination, delivery, and administration of quality first mortgage products and services consistent with the bank’s brand of delivering exceptional customer service. His leadership role has continued to expand with the growth of the bank’s mortgage division that serves both direct customers of First Reliance Bank and helps other mortgage companies and community banks serve their customers through First Reliance Bank Correspondent Mortgage Services.
Mr. Stuart joined First Reliance Bank in 2015 as Executive Vice-President of Mortgage Banking. Before joining First Reliance Bank, Mr. Stuart spent fourteen years as Senior Vice-President of Residential Lending at a large SC-based community bank, where he was responsible for residential lending activities across all channels and oversaw the capital markets and sales in the secondary markets. Mr. Stuart has worked in the mortgage banking industry in South Carolina since 1994.
He has a passion for travel and is an avid boater and enjoys shrimping. He and his wife reside in Mount Pleasant.
Mr. Groom was named Executive Vice-President of Compliance and Risk Management in December 2020. His primary responsibilities are to oversee the bank’s compliance programs, audits, and examinations. He joined First Reliance Bank in April 2001 as a credit analyst and spent several years as a business banker. Groom transitioned to oversee compliance and audits in 2008.
Mr. Groom is active in his church and, over the years, has served on various committees and boards of community/service organizations.
Ben Brazell is the Chief Experience Officer and Head of Retail Banking, SEVP. He leads retail banking, bank operations, and customer experience and manages the bank’s efficiency initiatives. Mr. Brazell has an extensive banking and process management background. He has held numerous sales management and executive leadership positions and has worked in the banking industry since 1985.
Keith Rainwater is the Chief Accounting Officer, EVP, overseeing the accounting operations and reporting functions of First Reliance Bank. Mr. Rainwater, a Certified Public Accountant (inactive), brings more than 25 years of banking experience and an extensive accounting background.
Mr. Rainwater previously was the Chief Accounting Officer of FB Financial Corporation and FirstBank in Nashville, Tennessee from March 2021 to March 2023. Before FirstBank, he served as Executive Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer for South State Corporation and South State Bank for approximately 13 years in Columbia, South Carolina.
Married to his wife for 34 years, Mr. Rainwater has two children and four grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf, pickle ball, and spending time in Blowing Rock NC.
Leslie Chaplin joined First Reliance Bank in March 2021 as the Director of Human Resources, EVP. Ms. Chaplin oversees human resource initiatives across the bank’s footprint, including managing recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, training, payroll, and compliance. She has 25 years of experience providing human resource management in the financial industry and is well-versed in employee relations, training, and benefits administration.
Ms. Chaplin enjoys spending time with her husband, two grandchildren, and her pets.
Mr. Lindley is the Director of Operations, EVP, overseeing deposit operations, loan operations, and core systems administration. He also leads digital banking efforts creating and implementing process improvements to drive operational efficiency. Mr. Lindley has over 25 years of banking experience with a proven history in developing and executing strategy, implementing efficiency improvements, and inspiring high performance in many environments.
Mr. Lindley is active in the community, having served as President of the Laurens Rotary Club, a Board Member of the Laurens YMCA Board, Vice Chairman of Straight Street Teen Center and Treasurer of RMA, Upstate Chapter.
Robert Mayhue, Information Technology, EVP, is responsible for the management, strategy, and execution of IT infrastructure along with the intersection of IT and security compliance. With more than 25 years of comprehensive expertise, He supports the bank by implementing programs and strategies, streamlining bank costs, and optimizing operational efficiency.
Dr. Lusk was one of the original organizers of First Reliance Bank and has served as a Director since August 1999. He also serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is the third Board Chair in the bank’s 21-year history.
Dr. Lusk has been employed by McLeod Physician’s Associates since February 1996. From July 1993 to February 1996, he was a partner at Adams, O’Dell, Davidson, & Lusk OB/GYN PC. In November 2018, he was appointed Chief Medical Officer for both McLeod Health and the McLeod Healthcare Network (CIN). In this role, he supervises the administrative staff of Medical Services, as well as hospital personnel under the direction of departmental managers across all seven McLeod Health hospitals.
In 1999, Rick Saunders founded First Reliance Bank in Florence, South Carolina. Mr. Saunders currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and sits on the Board of Directors for First Reliance Bank and First Reliance Bancshares.
Previously, Mr. Saunders was a Senior Vice President and City Executive of Florence for Pee Dee State Bank, where he was a member of the Senior Loan Committee and served on the Board of Directors of Pee Dee State Bank and Pee Dee Bancshares. Following a merger with Centura Bank, he served as a Senior Market Executive.
Robby Hill is the CEO and President of HillSouth, a privately held technology consulting firm founded in 1999. He has more than 20 years of experience in information technology—an area that continues to evolve rapidly within the banking industry. Hill brings deep expertise in delivering digital and virtual banking services, as well as in cybersecurity.
John M. Jebaily has been active in the Florence community since childhood and has worked as a real estate broker since 1977. He is the owner and broker-in-charge of Jebaily Properties, Inc., a full-service real estate company based in Florence, South Carolina.
He is also a founder and director of First Reliance Bank.
James (Jay) R. Lingle, Jr. is a licensed CPA and holds South Carolina insurance licenses in property and casualty, as well as life and health. He also holds multiple securities licenses. He is the founder, President, and CEO of iFinancial Holdings, Inc., which provides financial and retirement planning, property and casualty insurance, and life and health insurance.
Julius (Cass) G. Parris entered the graphics and brand management industry in 1970 with Pittsburgh-based Matthews International. In 2003, Cass and two longtime associates launched their own graphics business. They sold Focus Imaging of Atlanta, GA, to Southern Graphics Systems (SGS) in 2009. SGS is a world leader in brand management and graphic solutions for consumer products companies. Cass continued to manage large national clients for SGS through 2019, retiring that year after 49 years in the business.
Senator Mike Reichenbach was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in 2022. He is the owner and president of three automotive dealerships in South Carolina: Mike Reichenbach Ford Lincoln, Mike Reichenbach Volkswagen of Florence, and Mike Reichenbach Chevrolet. After college, he worked for two Fortune 500 companies, State Farm Insurance and Owens Corning.
Paul Saunders began his career in September 1982 with US Life Credit, which was acquired by Norwest Financial in September 1983. He served as an Associate Manager until joining Pee Dee State Bank in 1986.
He was promoted to Vice President of Pee Dee State Bank in October 1987 and served in that role until March 1998, when the bank was acquired through a merger with Centura Bank. Following the merger, he became Senior Consumer and Financial Sales Officer at Centura Bank in Florence, South Carolina, where he served until November 1998.
Later that year, he began organizing First Reliance Bank, where he continues to serve as Executive Vice President and Senior Retail Banking Officer.
Mr. Saunders served in the Army National Guard from 1980 to 1986.
William Jack McElveen, Jr. (Jack) began his banking career in financial services with Bankers Trust of South Carolina/NCNB. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of credit administration roles with steadily increasing responsibility. He most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Horry County State Bank, where he led the bank’s Credit Administration function. Following his tenure there, he spent five years as Chief Credit Officer at First Reliance Bank.
Rick has extensive experience partnering with banks, public and private companies, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to develop or refine strategic plans, navigate industry change, and accelerate execution. He has also supported clients with acquisitions, major investments, capital-structure decisions, and succession planning. Prior to consulting, Rick served as Commercial Executive, State President, Division Chief Risk Officer, and Division President for a top U.S. bank. He held direct responsibility for a $3 billion P&L, 2.5 million customers, 2,000+ branches/ATMs, and more than 7,000 employees. In addition to leading high-performing businesses, Rick has driven enterprise-wide initiatives including merger integration, customer segmentation, talent management, and business redesign.
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