Do you know how much you make and where your money goes? Do you have any idea how much you can afford to spend this holiday shopping season?

Before you head for the mall, why not take a quick snapshot of your finances and create a holiday spending budget? When you better understand how your money flows, you can better manage your finances and keep your holiday spending under control.

Check out our easy-to-use free budgeting tools for personal and family budgets. You'll discover a variety of tools like financial calculators, videos and budgeting worksheets that will help you manage your money better.

You can avoid the shock of bills that could rock your finances in 2013.

Now is also a great time to begin planning for the 2013 holiday season. Our tools show you how to easily track what you spend on holiday gifts this year. Divide that total ...

Active and Retired Military Are A Segment Supported In The Bank’s Unique Hometown Heroes Program

[caption id="attachment_5451" align="alignright" width="300"] The Citadel Lacrosse Team, in conjunction with the Virginia Military Institute and First Reliance Bank presented a check to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.[/caption] November 28, 2012, Charleston, S.C. —   The Citadel Lacrosse Team, in conjunction with the Virginia Military Institute and First Reliance Bank presented a check to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation in the amount of $3,000.  The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides full four- year scholarships to children of deceased special operations veterans from all services. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation in the past year has provided over $4,000,000 in financial assistance to the children of fallen soldiers.  The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is only one of 5% of all charities in the country to continually receive a 4 star rating for financial efficiency. Michael Grimm, the head ...

Mortgage rates are at their lowest in history. Are you asking yourself if it's a good time to shop for a home? Do you know the advantages of house hunting in November and December?

If you're considering selling your current house or buying a new one, now is a very good time. If you’re a first-time home buyer who is ready to make a down payment on your dream home by tapping into your money market account or cashing in a certificate of deposit, there's no better time to realize your dream of home ownership.

There are several advantages to house hunting in winter. Best of all, home shopping during the holiday season can translate into real cost savings for smart shoppers.

[caption id="attachment_5351" align="alignleft" width="300"] Click image to enlarge[/caption]

But there are pros and cons, so let's consider them:

Want quality time with your agent? Winter's the time to ...

Veterans Day is this Sunday. Most of us know someone who is serving or has served in our military. Maybe it's a family member or a friend. Perhaps it's a neighbor down the road or a fellow parishioner at church.

Why not reach out and thank them for their service to our country?

It only takes a moment to show your appreciation, and to let them know that they have not been forgotten.

[caption id="attachment_5329" align="alignleft" width="150"] Click image to enlarge[/caption]

At First Reliance Bank, we show support for veterans everyday with special programs and fundraising efforts.

Right now, we're raising money for the Wounded Soldiers Fund by honoring those in the active or retired military, military veterans and even deceased veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Here's how you can participate through November 11.

[caption id="attachment_5328" align="alignright" width="150"] Click image to enlarge[/caption]

We especially appreciate those of you who ...

The recent cyber attack on South Carolina Department of Revenue records has put more than 3 million South Carolinians and over 600,000 businesses at risk.

On October 26, the state announced that the Social Security numbers of 3.6 million people and 387,000 credit and debit card numbers have been exposed. On October 31, it was revealed that information from up to 657,000 businesses had also been stolen when the state's computers were hacked.

Any individual or business that filed a state return from 1998 through the present may be at risk.

Consumers Are Urged To Enroll In Protectmyid.com — It's Free To Use

The state is paying for a year's worth of free identity protection for each South Carolina taxpayer. Although the bill for this will be $12 million, it's an investment that must be made to protect the millions of citizens made vulnerable by the cyber attack.

You can ...