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TABATHIA HAGAN JOINS FIRST RELIANCE BANK AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, RETAIL BANKING MANAGER

Tabathia Hagan has joined First Reliance Bank as Senior Vice President, Retail Banking Manager for First Reliance Bank North and South Carolina markets.  Hagan is responsible for retail sales and strategic growth  of First Reliance Bank’s branch footprint, and she will oversee sales management throughout that footprint.

Hagan has over 31 years of experience in the banking industry. She began her career in a Charleston credit union prior to joining BB&T where she quickly grew her career in retail banking leading branch managers along the South Carolina Coast.   

“Tabathia has extensive experience leading, coaching and directing retail branch teams to develop strong customer relationships.  She understands our culture and community banking and the importance of making a difference in the lives of our customers and the communities we serve,”  said Rick Saunders, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Reliance Bank. “Her sales and  leadership experience ...

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First Reliance Bank’s Robert Dozier Named to SCBA Board of Directors

Robert Dozier, Chief Banking Officer of First Reliance Bank in Florence, has joined the South Carolina Bankers Association (SCBA) as a Board member. In addition he will act as Chairman of the SCBA’s Political Action Committee.

The appointment is a natural step for Dozier, an industry veteran who brings more than 30 years of experience to his leadership role at the fast-growing, Florence-based bank. As Chief Banking Officer, Dozier oversees the commercial platform and guides corporate strategy and strategic market expansion of First Reliance Bank’s footprint throughout the Carolinas

Prior to joining First Reliance Bank, Dozier served as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, where he oversaw all external customer facings of the bank, which serves more than 850 financial institutions throughout the Southeast. Prior to that, Dozier served as President and COO of Homeowners Mortgage – a division of Coastal States ...

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Walter Reese, VP of Electronic Banking
Walter Reese, VP of Electronic Banking

Walter Reese is the new Vice President of Electronic Banking for First Reliance Bank, where he will be based in the company’s Charleston Operations Center. Reese brings over 30 years of experience into his new role, which focuses on managing and enhancing First Reliance’s digital and online banking technology and platforms.

Reese is responsible for ensuring First Reliance Bank delivers best-in-class digital experiences to its customers, maximizes its resources, and for contributing to the organizations business results and strategic objectives.

A banking industry veteran, Reese has worked both internally, and externally as a consultant, for financial institutions including Wells Fargo, Ridgewood Savings Bank, and most recently for CresCom Bank, where he served as Senior Vice President and Director of Operations. While with CresCom, Reese guided operations for multiple areas of the bank, including card services, online and mobile banking, and internal team management and performance measurement.

Reese has a BSBA ...

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First Reliance Bank has expanded its Lake Norman Loan Production into a full-service branch offering personal banking, business banking, and a full range of mortgage products. The branch, which opened August 28th, has added two new team members to service customers. First Reliance Bank welcomes Tamara Brewer and Kim Cory to the team.

Brewer joins First Reliance Bank as the new Branch Manager for the Lake Norman location. In this role, she will oversee the branch’s daily operations, providing exceptional customer service, and developing new personal and business relationships. Throughout her career, Brewer has held numerous professional banking positions including as Branch Leader, Financial Center Manager, and Mortgage Loan Officer. A native of North Carolina, Brewer is very active in the community. She served on various boards including Junior Achievement, United Way of Central Carolina and the Executive Board of American Heart Association. 

Kim Cory joins the Lake Norman branch ...

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CEO/President F.R. "Rick" Saunders Jr.
CEO/President F.R. "Rick" Saunders Jr.

F.R. “Rick” Saunders Jr., President and CEO of First Reliance Bank in Florence, has joined the Board of Directors of Business Development Corporation (BDC).

In 1999, with 19 years of banking experience, Saunders founded First Reliance Bank, which has since grown to nearly $671 million in assets. First Reliance has 150 associates with branches in Florence, West Columbia, Lexington, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Greenville, Taylors, Simpsonville and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. The bank also has a branch in Winston-Salem, N.C., and a loan production office in Mooresville, N.C.

The bank has a robust mortgage operation and specializes in serving middle-income households and small businesses. First Reliance has received multiple awards as a “Best Places to Work” and for its commitment to community banking. The staff donates more than 1,500 hours of volunteer service annually and the bank donates approximately 1% of its net income to charity every year.

Saunders, who ...

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ROBERT MAYHUE JOINS FIRST RELIANCE BANK AS VICE PRESIDENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Robert Mayhue has joined First Reliance Bank as the Vice President of Information Technology. As head of the bank’s IT Department, Mayhue will be responsible for the management, strategy and execution of IT infrastructure along with the intersection of IT and security compliance.

Mayhue joins the team as a supremely qualified and results-driven information technology professional with more than 25 years of comprehensive expertise. He has spent the last 10 years in director-level positions at several community banks including as Director of IT and Director of IT Support Services. During his tenure, Mayhue played a key role in the successful completion of over seven bank acquisitions and has implemented various programs and strategies that helped reduce bank costs and improve operational efficiency.  

“Robert brings high-level IT experience working in the banking industry, and we are thrilled to have someone of his caliber joining our team,” said Ben Brazell, Chief ...

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2005 -2020 Best Places To Work
2005 -2020 Best Places To Work

First Reliance Bank was recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. The fifteenth annual program was created by SC Biz News in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. First Reliance Bank has received the award every year 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, benefitting the state’s economy, workforce, and businesses. The list is made up of 74 total companies. First Reliance Bank has been named one of this year’s Best Places to Work in South Carolina.

Since its inception in 1999, First Reliance Bank has truly become a better bank, proving again and again that “There’s More to Banking thank Money®.” “We are very proud to be named a Best Place to Work in South Carolina for ...

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Lincoln Stewart, Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Lincoln Stewart, Vice President and Portfolio Manager

Lincoln Stewart has joined First Reliance Bank as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager in Greenville, SC. In his new role, he will be responsible for underwriting and portfolio management for North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina markets.

Based out of the Downtown Greenville branch, Stewart is an experienced commercial credit underwriter with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry. Prior to joining First Reliance Bank, Stewart held key roles at various banks including as Credit Analyst, Commercial Underwriter, and Vice President. Stewart holds a Business degree with a concentration in Managerial Economics from Wofford College. He is also a graduate from the RMA Florida School of Commercial Lending.

“We are excited to welcome Lincoln to the team in Greenville,” said Rick Saunders, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Reliance Bank. “He is a highly motivated and results-driven leader and we look forward to his success with ...