4 Ways to Save on Your Smartphone

Repair your existing phone and you can save big money compared to buying a new one. If your phone is a little slow, has some hiccups or is only slightly damaged (and having the latest gadget isn't important to you) a local smartphone repair shop might be able to get it running as good as new. Plus, the diagnostic tests to find out if it can be repaired are usually free.

Sell your old phone. Many cell carriers have trade-in and trade-up programs. You can also get cash for old phones from recyclers like ecoATM or Gazelle, through online garage sale sites, ...

July 6, 2017, Florence, S.C. – First Reliance Bank was recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. This twelfth annual program was created by SC Biz News in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group.

First Reliance is one of three companies throughout South Carolina who have received the award all twelve years since the program began.

This survey-and-awards program was designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in the state of South Carolina, benefiting the state's economy, workforce, and businesses. The list is made up of 70 companies. First Reliance has been named one of this year’s Best Places to Work in South Carolina.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, ...

Follow these simple steps to assess the pros and cons of different credit card offers.

So you are in the market for a new credit card, but with the seemingly endless options available, how do you choose the best one? Use the steps listed below to evaluate what credit card may best support your spending habits and needs.

Review your credit rating.

If you already have a credit card, check to see if they provide your credit score for free. If not, the big three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are federally mandated to provide you with a free credit score once every twelve months. You can access your free score through the federally approved website, AnnualCreditReport.com.

If your score isn’t quite what you hoped, you can either adopt healthier financial practices to boost your credit, or dispute an error if you believe there has been a mistake.

Choose ...

Beat the heat without breaking the bank with these helpful energy saving tips.

Now that the long, hot days of a South Carolina summer are in full swing, homeowners are depending on their air conditioning to keep their homes comfortably cool. With increased energy use comes higher energy bills, so how do you strike the balance between comfort and cost during the summer? Use the ten tips below to help reduce your energy consumption and costs while also keeping your home cool for you and your family.

Keep your shades drawn.

Close your blinds in windows that receive direct sunlight and in rooms you are not using to help keep your house cool.

Raise your thermostat when you aren't home.

Increase the temperature on your thermostat when leaving for work or going out of town so that you don’t continue to cool your home to comfort while you’re away, wasting ...

Learn more about the steps to finding a quality home contractor in this week’s blog.

When it comes to finding a competent, reliable, and trustworthy contractor, it is essential that homeowners perform due diligence and search out professionals with a proven record for quality work delivered in a reasonable time. If you just go with the first person you contact, or depend on a friend of a friend, you may find yourself with a poor quality, half completed renovation project, and money lost. To find the best contractor for your renovation project, use these six steps to ensure the greatest likelihood of a project completed to your satisfaction.

Seek out referrals - Talk to friends and family who have done renovations and ask for recommendations, as well as contractors to avoid if they have had a negative experience. Not only can they provide valuable insight into the process and experience ...