FLORENCE, South Carolina, May 6, 2011 – First Reliance Bank is pleased to announce James R. Lingle, Jr. (Jay) has joined its board of directors.

"We welcome the addition of Jay Lingle to our board and the experience he brings as CEO of a successful business that provides services to consumers and businesses. Mr. Lingle understands small business and the importance of offering exceptional customer service," said Rick Saunders, First Reliance Bank CEO.

Mr. Lingle is a licensed CPA and Property and Casualty Insurance Agent in South Carolina. He is currently the founder, President and CEO of iFinancial Holdings, Inc. which provides business consulting, property and casualty insurance coverage and other services to consumers and businesses. Prior to forming iFinancial Holdings, Inc. in 2009, he helped form a warranty finance company for Interstate National Dealer Services and from 1984 – 2008, he was President and CEO of a company founded by him and his father called Prime Rate Premium Finance Company, Inc. Under his direction, Prime Rate became the ninth largest premium finance company in America.

First Reliance is a growing bank with branches in Lexington, Charleston and the Florence markets. Its mission is ‘to make a difference in the lives of each person we touch.’ First Reliance attributes its success to the support and direction of its board, business development boards and the associates that deliver the brand of ‘There’s More To Banking Than Money©’ each and everyday.

ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANK
First Reliance Bank, founded in 1999, has assets of approximately $500 million, and employs over 135 highly talented associates. The bank serves Columbia, Charleston, and Florence markets in South Carolina. The bank was also recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina by the SC BIZ for five consecutive years and was named 2009 Lender of the Year by the South Carolina Housing Authority. First Reliance Bank offers a unique Hometown Heroes package of benefits to serve those who are serving our communities, Check 'N Save, a community outreach program for the unbanked or under-banked, a Customer Service Guaranty, a Mortgage Service Guaranty, FREE Coin Machines, and a Worldwide NO FEE ATM Network. It also offers 8-8 Extended Hours in all of their Florence, Charleston, West Columbia and Lexington locations and is open on most traditional bank holidays. Its commitment to making customers' lives better, and the idea that 'There's More to Banking Than Money©' has earned the young bank a customer satisfaction rating of 99% (2010 independent research survey.) First Reliance Bank is traded as FSRL.OB.