The Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption Honors First Reliance As One Of The Top 100 For Its Adoption Benefit Policies
 September 20, 2011, Florence, S.C. — First Reliance Bank believes it is important to find loving homes for adoptive children. The efforts of the Bank continue to attract the attention of the Dave Thomas Foundation, which has ranked First Reliance Bank as one of the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in the United States for four consecutive years.

The 2011 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list was announced by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption on September 19, 2011 and is published in the September edition of Employee Benefit News, a leading source of information for benefits decision makers.

The Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces are selected after an analysis of company adoption benefits compiled through a Dave Thomas Foundation survey of approximately 500 U.S. employers. The two determining factors considered are the provision of financial reimbursement and paid leave to employees who adopt.

"There are so many children that need a stable and loving home," said Rick Saunders, president and CEO of First Reliance Bank. “My wife, Tiffany, and I are blessed to be adoptive parents. It has given us such joy. That's why we want to encourage others to reach within their hearts and provide these children with the love they need and deserve. As a businessman and father, I realize the importance of providing benefits that encourage and assist associates to open their hearts and fulfill their lives by adopting a child. We believe that the workplace can play both an educational and support role and at First Reliance we do.”

First Reliance believes in finding loving homes for adoptive children. The bank strives to bolster adoption awareness, and devotes fundraising efforts for local adoption agencies. The launch of the First Reliance Bank Reagan’s Promise program is an example of one of the efforts we use to provide more resources and support for families wishing to adopt.

"According to the Dave Thomas Foundation, more than 107,000 children are available for adoption in U.S. foster care, and most spend nearly four years in the adoption system,” said Saunders. "These statistics and businesses supporting this cause bring awareness to the forefront and help focus attention to this issue. It is truly an honor to be a part of this special group."

More information and a list of all honorees is available at www.DaveThomasFoundation.org.

ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANK
First Reliance Bank, founded in 1999, has assets of approximately $500 million, and employs over 125 highly-talented associates. The bank serves the Columbia, Lexington, Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Florence markets in South Carolina. The bank has been recognized as “One of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by the SC BIZ for six 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 bank a customer satisfaction rating of 99% (2010 results from an outside survey firm) and the number one market share in its headquarters City of Florence, S.C. First Reliance Bank is traded as FSRL.OB.