Rick Saunders

Rick Saunders has worked in finance and banking as his career of choice from an early age. From 1983 through 1997, Mr. Saunders was Senior Vice President and City Executive of Florence for Pee Dee State Bank, where he was also a member of the Senior Loan Committee and Board of Directors. During this time, his responsibilities included Corporate Banking, Business Development, and Policy Making. From 1997 to 1998, he served as Senior Market Executive with Centura Bank after its merger with Pee Dee State Bank. In 1998, he began organizing First Reliance Bank and presently serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Saunders founded First Reliance Bank in 1999, and it is the only locally owned and operated bank in Florence, South Carolina. It has assets of nearly $708 million and over 170 highly talented associates. Headquartered in Florence, First Reliance Bank also spans the Midlands, Upstate, Pee Dee, Coastal and Low Country regions of South Carolina and the Winston-Salem and Charlotte areas of North Carolina. Through the South Carolina Chamber, First Reliance has been named a “Best Places To Work” company for fourteen consecutive years, an achievement based on associate survey scores. First Reliance Bank was recognized by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking™ with a Banky® Award for their commitment to strong community banking. This recognition is given to the top 1% of 6,000 banks across the country.

Mr. Saunders graduated from the South Carolina Bankers School, a cooperative program with the College of Business Administration of the University of South Carolina in 1986. Two years later, he graduated from the Southeastern School of Agriculture Lending, a cooperative program with the College of Agricultural Science of Clemson University.