First Reliance Bank is proud to announce that Donna Smith, a vice president for consumer lending at the bank’s West Columbia branch, has graduated from the South Carolina Bankers School, hosted at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina. Smith was recommended and accepted into the program as part of First Reliance Bank’s focus on promoting continuing education for its banking professionals.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Donna,” said First Reliance Bank CEO Rick Saunders. “It takes a significant amount of hard work and dedication to graduate from the South Carolina Bankers School. Donna’s accomplishment embodies the culture we strive to build at First Reliance Bank, where our professionals are always interested in continuing their banking education to serve their clients better”.

The prestigious three-year program, offered through the South Carolina Bankers Association, is designed to provide practicing bankers with an integrated and complete set of usable courses covering all aspects of banking, as well as overall bank management. Admission requirements to the program include having five years of banking experience and a recommendation to the program by the banker’s CEO or executive management.

“This is an impressive feat for anyone but to complete in the current environment we are in takes a special talent.  We are truly proud of Donna’s and wish her continued success with First Reliance Bank,” said David Hall, Executive Vice President of Dealer Services.