First Reliance Bank and First Reliance Bancshares has announced the Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. C. Dale Lusk as Chairman of the Board.  Dr. Lusk was one of the original organizers of First Reliance Bank and has served as a Director of First Reliance Bank since August 1999 and as Chairman of the Audit Committee.  He is the third board Chairman over the banks twenty-one year history.  “His tenure and long standing service gives him an abundance of institutional and industry knowledge and makes him uniquely qualified for this role” said Rick Saunders, First Reliance Bank CEO and President.

Presently, Dr. Lusk is employed by McLeod Physician’s Associates since February 1996. Dr. Lusk became a partner of Adams, O’Dell, Davidson, & Lusk OB/GYN PC from July 1993 until February 1996. He was appointed to the position of Chief Medical Officer for both McLeod Health and the McLeod Healthcare Network (CIN) in November 2018, where he supervises administrative staff of Medical Services as well as hospital personnel under the direction of departmental managers with all seven of the McLeod Health hospitals.  He is involved in the Quality Operations and Credentials committees for McLeod Regional Medical Center (MRMC), and has served as Chair of the Medial Executive Committee.

“We are excited to have Dr. Dale Lusk as our Board Chairman as he is an extraordinary leader in the medical community and has been a very active director throughout his twenty years on the board,” said Rick Saunders.  “He replaces, retiring Chairman, J. Munford Scott, Jr. who served as Chairman 2017– 2020 and has been an exceptional leader for our company.  Munford leaves big shoes for Dale to fill for which we are confident in his ability to achieve.  Dale has been a great advisor and resource to me since the founding of our company.  His leadership style is one of preparedness, intellect, humility, and calming with a high degree of accountability, all crucial leadership characteristics for a board chairman.  We look forward to working with him as Chairman and appreciate his commitment to provide guidance and leadership on the Board as the bank grows and expands into new markets. We are fortunate to have a strong Board of Directors willing to accept the responsibilities of a growing community bank.”

First Reliance currently has a presence in the Midlands, Upstate, Low Country, Coastal and Florence markets in South Carolina and the Winston-Salem and Charlotte areas of North Carolina.  The bank has recently been focused on increasing its brand presence throughout the Southeast with further expansions into the Coastal regions as well as the Winston-Salem and Charlotte areas of North Carolina.