First Reliance's Hometown Heroes Program Raises Money For Supporting Charities
FLORENCE, South Carolina, February 8, 2011 - First Reliance Bank announced today that it is making contributions to several organizations on behalf of customers who are members of the bank's signature Hometown Heroes program.

In September 2008, First Reliance Bank began offering customers a Hometown Heroes signature program which recognizes and provides special financial products and rewards to Heroes in our community- teachers, police, firefighters, medical professionals, military, and employees of churches and not-for-profits, people who help us and protect us every day. This program is the bank's way of saying thank you, and it has been a great success.

As a benefit of the program, First Reliance donates $5, for every Hometown Heroes checking account opened, to an organization which supports these Heroes. The program has been very successful for the bank. Organizations that will receive contributions include: American Red Cross of Central Carolina, Alston Wilkes Society, SC Law Enforcement Division, The Humanities Council, SC State Firefighters Association, Palmetto State Teachers Association-Foundation of Professional Development and PSTA, SC Medical Association Foundation, and the SC Association for Non Profit Organizations.

First Reliance is a growing bank with branches in Lexington, Charleston and the Florence markets. Its purpose is 'to make the lives of our customers BETTER.' The Hometown Heroes program is just one of the many unique programs the bank offers to fulfill that purpose. The bank is highly involved in each of the communities it is in and is also well known for its Reagan's Promise Program, an adoption awareness effort with the mission of helping children find forever families.

"Giving back to the community and honoring our Hometown Heroes is a winning combination and we look forward to the continued growth of this program," said Rick Saunders, CEO.

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.