Southern First Bank Names Len Howell to Executive Team
July 16, 2012
Bank plans expansion to Charleston, South Carolina
GREENVILLE, SC – July 16, 2012 – Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, N.A. (also doing business as Greenville First Bank), announces the hiring of Mr. Len Howell as Executive Vice President and Charleston Regional Executive of Southern First Bank.
Howell brings 30 years of banking experience including the last 13 years as Regional Executive South Coastal for National Bank of South Carolina (NBSC). Howell is a graduate of The University of the South (Sewanee) and The University of Virginia Darden School of Banking. He is very active in the Charleston community and currently serves on the Education Foundation of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments Board. He is a past member of the Trident United Way Board of Directors, Charleston Chamber of Commerce and Roper Hospital Foundation Board.
“Len Howell has been extremely successful in serving the Charleston market, and we believe that his leadership and performance will add significant depth to our executive team,” stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer of the company. With the addition of Howell, the company also announces plans to establish a major banking presence in the Charleston region.
“Over the past 12 years, Southern First has created a unique Client FIRST style of banking emphasizing a professional relationship with a personal senior banker,” Seaver added. “Our Charleston office will utilize this unique client-focused model, and its implementation by experienced market bankers will be led by Len Howell.”
The bank expects to open its Charleston office during the third quarter of 2012 at 480 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina.
Southern First Bancshares, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina. The Company consists of Southern First Bank, N.A., the 9th largest bank headquartered in South Carolina; which also does business as Greenville First Bank, N.A. in Greenville County. Since 1999 Southern First Bancshares has been providing financial services and now operates in six locations in the Greenville and Columbia markets of South Carolina. Southern First Bancshares has assets of approximately $760 million and its stock is traded in the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SFST. More information can be found at www.southernfirst.com.
