Mark Mercuri joins First Reliance Bank as senior vice president
May 26, 2021
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 at First Reliance Bank,” said Frank Bullard, market president of Charleston.
His education includes a degree in economics from Francis Marion College, completion of SC Bankers School and East Carolina Commercial Lending School. He currently serves as a member of Sertoma of Mount Pleasant.
First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:FSRL), the holding company for First Reliance Bank, reported record net income and earnings in 2020. “First Reliance continued building on the success of 2020 with a strong start to 2021,” said Rick Saunders, CEO. “Our net income of $1.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted common share, for the quarter represents an increase of 99.1% over the same period last year. We have also made significant investments in both our commercial and mortgage production teams during the quarter, highlighted by the hiring of Justin Strickland, who in January became President of First Reliance Bank. Justin’s hiring represents the completion of our vision to establish an executive leadership team capable of executing our growth plans. Additionally, against the backdrop of fiscal stimulus, the national vaccination rollout, and improved customer balance sheets, our markets appear poised for significant growth.”
ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANK
Founded in 1999, First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTC: FSRL.OB), is based in Florence, South Carolina and has assets of approximately $775 million. The Company employs more than 189 professionals and has locations throughout South Carolina and central North Carolina. First Reliance has redefined community banking with a commitment to making customers’ lives better, its founding principle. Customers of the company have given it a 93% customer satisfaction rating well above the bank industry average of 81%. First Reliance is also one of three companies throughout South Carolina to receive the Best Places To Work in South Carolina award all 15 years since the program began. We believe that this recognition confirms that our associates are engaged and committed to our brand and the communities we serve. In addition to offering a full range of personalized community banking products and services for individuals, small businesses, and corporations, First Reliance offers two unique community-customers programs, which include: Hometown Heroes, a package of benefits for those serving our communities and Check N Save, an outreach program for the unbanked or under-banked. We also offer a full suite of digital banking services, a Customer Service Guaranty, a Mortgage Service Guaranty, and are open on most traditional holidays.
Additional information about the Company is available on the Company’s website at www.firstreliance.com.
