Rick and Paul Saunders, brothers from Florence, South Carolina, along with Dale Porter had been in the banking business for nearly two decades. The three shared a strong dedication to building trust and forming lasting relationships with their customers. Simply put, the Saunders brothers and Porter were known in the area for being highly trustworthy, dependable bankers. The kind of people you could ALWAYS rely on. Throughout their banking careers, they had seen a lot. They saw clearly how mergers, acquisitions, and the high turnover in banking negatively affected consumers. They saw a need for a bank that was designed and operated with the community in mind. One with strong values, and an even stronger team of associates. They saw a need to create a bank that could become a rock in the community, based on trust and relationships; one that could make a real difference in the lives of its customers. They saw a need for a better bank. So, in 1999, First Reliance Bank was born.