First Reliance Bank has hired William Jones as Branch Manager for its Downtown Greenville Branch. In this new role, Jones will oversee the day-to-day client services and branch operations at 500 E. Washington Street.

“We are excited to welcome William and have his expertise guide our Greenville branch,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “He’s an experienced manager and will help drive our commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience to our clients in Greenville.”

Jones comes to First Reliance with more than two decades of experience in retail and business banking, including over a decade as a financial center manager for a large bank in South Carolina. He attended the University of Maryland and is a 15-year veteran of the United States Air Force.  

“William brings an unparalleled level of professionalism and financial expertise to banking.  His clients love him,” said Brian Rogers, Greenville Market President. ...

Congratulations to Blake Dressler and Suzanne Hill who recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.  First Reliance Bank is very supportive of associate development in the banking profession.

Dressler and Hill are among the 129 bankers who received graduation diplomas on June 2, 2021. This three-year program provides courses covering all aspects of banking, economics, and related subjects.  Students traveled from twenty-on states to participate in this Session.  

Sponsored by 15 southern state bankers associations in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education at LSU, the banking school requires attendance on campus for three years, with extensive bank study assignments between sessions. The faculty consists of bankers, business and professional leaders, and educators from all parts of the U.S.

"We are really proud of Blake and Suzanne on their accomplishment," said Rick Saunders, CEO.  "We believe in supporting our associates commitment to further their education in the ...

First Reliance Bank announced today the recent appointment of Mike Reichenbach to its Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2021.

“Mike is a dynamic business leader and impassioned community member who will bring fresh perspectives to our board,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “We are excited to have his expertise and counsel guide our work here in Florence and across the Carolinas."

Reichenbach has lived in Florence for nearly 15 years and is owner and president of three automotive dealerships in South Carolina: Mike Reichenbach Ford Lincoln, Mike Reichenbach Volkswagen of Florence and Mike Reichenbach Chevrolet.

Reichenbach is actively involved in the community in Florence. He currently serves on the boards of several local groups, including, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, McLeod Health Foundation, Coastal Carolina Hospital, Florence-Darlington Technical College Foundation, Florence School District 1 and the Francis Marion University School of Business advisory board. In ...

Carson Williams has joined First Reliance Bank as senior vice president and residential lending specialist. He will work out of First Reliance’s Mortgage Operations center in Mount Pleasant, which helps customers assess their lending needs and identify the bank products that can best meet their needs.

“Carson is a top loan producer and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our residential lending team,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “His extensive career in the mortgage lending industry will be invaluable to our clients and homebuyers across the state.”

Williams has more than 25 years of mortgage lending experience, with the last 20 years spent serving homebuyers in the greater Charleston area. Over the course of his career, Carson has served as past President of the Mortgage Lenders Association of the Greater Charleston area, where he is still an active member. Additionally, he is a member of the Mortgage ...

Mark Mercuri has joined First Reliance Bank as senior vice president and commercial lender. Based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Mercuri will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with business customers, offering advice on business accounts, loans, treasury management services, mortgage, and referrals for investments through First Reliance Wealth Strategy, along with personal banking services offered to business owners and their employees.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mark to our commercial lending team in Mount Pleasant,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “He knows the Charleston market well and will be a valuable asset to our customers across the state.”

Mercuri gained his extensive experience in commercial lending over his more than 25-year career in South Carolina, most recently as a commercial lender with a community bank.

“Mark’s genuine desire to be an advisor, will serve him well as he works to attract and build on client relationships ...

First Reliance Bank has hired Christina Johnson as vice president and branch manager for its Mount Pleasant branch. In this new role, Johnson will oversee the day-to-day client services and branch operations at 800 South Shelmore Boulevard.

“We are excited to welcome Christina and have her expertise leading our Mount Pleasant branch,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “She’s an experienced manager and will help continue delivering our exceptional customer experience to our clients in the Lowcountry.”

Johnson comes to First Reliance with six years of experience in commercial banking, most recently as a financial services representative at a community bank. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Francis Marion University.

First Reliance Bank announced today the appointment of Octavia Williams-Blake to its Board of Directors beginning June.

“Octavia’s experience and passion aligns with our number one focus – keeping the communities we serve at the forefront of everything we do,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank. “She has spent her career focused on improving the lives of our neighbors in Florence and we’re thrilled to have her expertise guide our work.”

Williams-Blake is a well-known community leader in Florence. She served three terms as an at-large City Council member in Florence from 2008-2020 and was the first African American elected at large and the first female elected since 1953. She also served as president of the Municipal Association of South Carolina from 2018-2019.

For nearly two decades she has worked at McLeod Health, the healthcare system that services more than one million people from the Midlands to ...

First Reliance Bank has hired Suzanne Hill as senior vice president and market president, Winston-Salem. Hill will be responsible for overseeing all lines of business, including personal banking, business banking, investments, mortgage banking and business development.

“Suzanne’s experience aligns with our strategic priorities and our focus on positioning the bank for transformational growth across the Carolinas,” said Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank, based in Florence, S.C.

Hill has nearly 15 years of commercial banking experience, most recently serving as market president for a commercial bank in North Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University and will graduate from Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking in June 2021. Hill is a 2015 Leadership Winston-Salem graduate, she currently serves on the boards of Korner’s Folly Foundation and Kernersville YMCA and is the director of community service for the Kernersville Rotary Club.

“First ...

Rick Saunders, CEO of First Reliance Bank based in Florence, has joined the Advisory Board for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Foundation.

“This Foundation will help equip the Florence County Sheriff’s Office with additional resources to carry out their duty to protect and serve our community,” said Saunders. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to support this important effort.”

The newly formed foundation’s funds will be used to provide life-saving equipment and to help deputies and their families in the case of an emergency. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in partnership with the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation.

In 1999, with 19 years of banking experience, Saunders founded First Reliance Bank, which has since grown to nearly $775 million in assets. First Reliance employs 178 associates with branches in Florence, West Columbia, Lexington, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Downtown Greenville, Taylors, Simpsonville, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. ...