FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

 
(Mark One)
FORM 10-Q
 
     
x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
 
 
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2009
 
     
 
OR
 
     
¨
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
 
 
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     
For the Transition Period from _________to_________

Commission File Number 000-49757

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)

South Carolina
80-0030931
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
2170 West Palmetto Street
Florence, South Carolina 29501
(Address of principal executive
offices, including zip code)
 
(843) 656-5000
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)
 


State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity as of the latest practicable date:

3,587,426 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as of July 31, 2009

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x Yes                      ¨ No.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ¨    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer   o Smaller reporting company x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes ¨    No x

 

 
 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
INDEX

 
Page No.
     
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
3
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - Six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
 
 
and Three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
4
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income-
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
5
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 6
  6
     
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7-17
     
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
18-36
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
37
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
37
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
38
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
38
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
38
     
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
38
     
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders
39
     
Item 5.
Other Information
39
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
39
 
 

 
 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Audited)
 
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents:
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 95,029,262     $ 5,451,607  
Federal funds sold
    -       257,000  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    95,029,262       5,708,607  
                 
Investment securities:
               
Securities available-for-sale
    89,605,156       76,310,816  
Nonmarketable equity securities
    4,812,100       4,574,700  
Total investment securities
    94,417,256       80,885,516  
                 
Mortgage loans held for sale
    14,925,745       9,589,081  
                 
Loans receivable
    447,853,158       468,990,202  
Less allowance for loan losses
    (7,541,049 )     (8,223,899 )
Loans, net
    440,312,109       460,766,303  
                 
Premises and equipment, net
    26,726,663       28,612,022  
Accrued interest receivable
    2,331,650       2,653,260  
Other real estate owned
    3,901,800       379,950  
Cash surrender value life insurance
    11,194,639       10,986,484  
Other assets
    7,162,535       3,852,660  
                 
Total assets
  $ 696,001,659     $ 603,433,883  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Liabilities
               
Deposits
               
Noninterest-bearing transaction accounts
  $ 42,473,097     $ 39,467,609  
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
    42,327,303       34,708,951  
Savings
    105,726,044       110,629,005  
Time deposits $100,000 and over
    211,773,224       137,444,867  
Other time deposits
    172,965,889       138,884,952  
Total deposits
    575,265,557       461,135,384  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
    1,125,365       8,197,451  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    56,500,000       78,000,000  
Note payable
    -       6,950,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310,000       10,310,000  
Accrued interest payable
    640,379       623,330  
Other liabilities
    1,868,926       791,960  
Total liabilities
    645,710,227       566,008,125  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity
               
Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares:
               
Series A cumulative perpetual preferred stock 15,349 and 0 shares issued
               
and outstanding at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
    14,438,103       -  
Series B cumulative perpetual preferred stock 767 and 0 shares issued
               
and outstanding at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
    844,281       -  
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized,
               
3,587,426 and 3,525,004 shares issued and outstanding
               
at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
    35,874       35,250  
Nonvested restricted stock
    (269,792 )     (207,653 )
Capital surplus
    26,260,835       26,120,460  
Treasury stock at cost at 11,535 and 10,829 shares at
               
at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
    (163,907 )     (159,777 )
Retained earnings
    10,480,859       11,839,005  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (1,334,821 )     (201,527 )
Total shareholders’ equity
    50,291,432       37,425,758  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 696,001,659     $ 603,433,883  
 
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
-3-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

   
Six Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Interest income:
                       
Loans, including fees
  $ 13,838,054     $ 17,660,316     $ 6,870,317     $ 8,560,841  
Investment securities:
                               
Taxable
    1,002,970       675,964       471,654       329,580  
Nontaxable
    745,799       655,492       432,381       327,882  
Federal funds sold
    1,332       11,840       349       9,947  
Other interest income
    36,720       113,964       27,121       62,674  
Total
    15,624,875       19,117,576       7,801,822       9,290,924  
                                 
Interest expense:
                               
Time Deposits over $100,000
    2,575,302       4,032,916       1,382,735       1,995,863  
Other deposits
    3,433,801       3,405,068       1,810,957       1,502,973  
Other interest expense
    1,576,970       1,884,358       722,421       964,838  
Total
    7,586,073       9,322,342       3,916,113       4,463,674  
                                 
Net interest income
    8,038,802       9,795,234       3,885,709       4,827,250  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
    4,855,822       1,147,397       3,555,442       645,794  
                                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    3,182,980       8,647,837       330,267       4,181,456  
                                 
Noninterest income:
                               
Service charges on deposit accounts
    935,094       929,852       474,486       492,717  
Gain on sales of mortgage loans
    1,214,537       1,126,357       554,038       566,973  
Brokerage fees
    5,931       106,557       2,009       56,227  
Income from bank owned life insurance
    208,155       229,565       103,005       107,811  
Other charges, commissions and fees
    267,903       238,095       140,904       124,823  
Gain on sale of securities
    1,029,459       -       1,029,459       -  
Loss on sale of other real estate
    (15,892 )     -       -       -  
Gain on sale of fixed assets
    86,810       -       -       -  
Other non-interest income
    274,837       100,869       9,816       50,950  
Total
    4,006,834       2,731,295       2,313,717       1,399,501  
                                 
Noninterest expenses:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    5,523,554       5,753,376       2,714,639       2,808,625  
Occupancy expense
    710,032       731,432       354,175       391,729  
Furniture and equipment expense
    562,569       422,490       276,704       209,531  
Other operating expenses
    2,682,647       2,554,775       1,408,405       1,317,792  
Total
    9,478,802       9,462,073       4,753,923       4,727,677  
                                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (2,288,988 )     1,917,059       (2,109,939 )     853,280  
                                 
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (1,148,239 )     407,515       (955,325 )     169,859  
                                 
Net income (loss)
    (1,140,749 )     1,509,544       (1,154,614 )     683,421  
Preferred stock dividends
    268,132       -       208,547       -  
Deemed dividends on preferred stock resulting from
                               
net accretion of discount and amortization
                               
of premium
 
57,072
      -       44,388       -  
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ (1,465,953 )   $ 1,509,544     $ (1,407,549 )   $ 683,421  
                                 
Average common shares outstanding, basic
    3,546,386       3,504,070       3,567,533       3,445,001  
Average common shares outstanding, diluted
    3,546,386       3,532,672       3,567,533       3,549,903  
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.41 )   $ 0.43     $ (0.40 )   $ 0.20  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.41 )   $ 0.43     $ (0.40 )   $ 0.20  
 
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
-4-

 
 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
(Unaudited)

                                       
Accumulated
       
                                       
Other
       
                           
Nonvested
         
Comprehensive
       
   
Preferred
   
Common
   
Capital
   
Treasury
   
Restricted
   
Retained
   
Income
       
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Surplus
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Earnings
   
(Loss)
   
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2007
  $ -     $ 34,946     $ 25,875,012     $ (145,198 )   $ (152,762 )   $ 11,417,275     $ (1,369 )   $ 37,027,904  
                                                                 
Adjustment to reflect the cumulative-effect of change in accounting for life insurance arrangements
                                            (203,902 )             (203,902 )
                                                                 
Net income
                                            1,509,544               1,509,544  
                                                                 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $393,242
                                                    (763,353 )     (763,353 )
                                                                 
Comprehensive income
                                                            746,191  
                                                                 
Non-vested restricted stock
            140       150,739               (84,316 )                     66,563  
                                                                 
Purchase of treasury stock
                            (8,302 )                             (8,302 )
                                                                 
Exercise of stock options
            49       24,967                                       25,016  
                                                                 
Balance, June 30, 2008
  $ -     $ 35,135     $ 26,050,718     $ (153,500 )   $ (237,078 )   $ 12,722,917     $ (764,722 )   $ 37,653,470  
                                                                 
                                                                 
Balance, December 31, 2008
  $ -     $ 35,250     $ 26,120,460     $ (159,777 )   $ (207,653 )   $ 11,839,005     $ (201,527 )   $ 37,425,758  
                                                                 
Issuance of Series A preferred stock, net of issuance cost of $116,786
    14,375,740                                                       14,375,740  
                                                                 
Issuance of Series B preferred stock, net of issuance cost $6,902
    849,572                                                       849,572  
                                                                 
Net loss
                                            (1,140,749 )             (1,140,749 )
                                                                 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $583,818
                                                    (1,133,294 )     (1,133,294 )
                                                                 
Comprehensive loss
                                                            (2,274,043 )
                                                                 
Preferred stock dividends
                                            (160,325 )             (160,325 )
                                                                 
Accretion of Series A Preferred stock discount
    62,363                                       (62,363 )             -  
                                                                 
Amortization of Series B Preferred stock premium
    (5,291 )                                     5,291               -  
                                                                 
Issuance of stock to employee
            2       998                                       1,000  
                                                                 
Non-vested restricted stock
            622       139,377               (62,139 )                     77,860  
                                                                 
Purchase of treasury stock
                            (4,130 )                             (4,130 )
                                                                 
Balance, June 30, 2009
  $ 15,282,384     $ 35,874     $ 26,260,835     $ (163,907 )   $ (269,792 )   $ 10,480,859     $ (1,334,821 )   $ 50,291,432  
 
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
-5-

 
 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (1,140,749 )   $ 1,509,544  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
               
Provided (used) by operating activities:
               
Provision for loan losses
    4,855,822       1,147,397  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    542,760       472,929  
Gain on sale of premises
    (86,810 )     -  
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities
    (1,029,459 )     -  
Loss on sale of other real estate owned
    15,892       -  
Write down of other real estate owned
    -       106,750  
Discount accretion and premium amortization
    38,766       15,581  
Disbursements for loans held-for-sale
    (119,138,851 )     (74,296,578 )
Proceeds from loans held-for-sale
    113,572,405       83,449,431  
Net increase in valuation allowance for loans held-for-sale
    229,782       -  
Decrease in interest receivable
    321,610       380,496  
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
    (208,155 )     -  
Increase (decrease) in interest payable
    17,049       (171,561 )
Amortization of deferred compensation on restricted stock
    77,860       66,563  
Increase in other liabilities
    1,076,966       1,405,049  
Increase in other assets
    (2,847,259 )     (579,348 )
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
    (3,702,371 )     13,506,253  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Net decrease in loans receivable
    12,054,022       623,490  
Purchases of securities available-for-sale
    (61,714,944 )     -  
Proceeds on sales of securities available-for-sale
    40,506,377       -  
Maturities of securities available-for-sale
    7,187,809       2,282,921  
Purchase of nonmarketable equity securities
    (237,400 )     (441,800 )
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
    6,608       25,500  
Proceeds from disposal of premises, furniture, and equipment
    2,286,810       -  
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (736,200 )     (1,797,105 )
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
    (646,918 )     693,006  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Net increase (decrease) in demand deposits, interest-bearing and savings accounts
    5,720,879       (11,407,990 )
Net increase in certificates of deposit and other time deposits
    108,409,294       18,185,561  
Decrease in federal funds purchased
    -       (13,359,000 )
Net decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    (7,072,086 )     (1,506,398 )
Decrease in advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank
    (21,500,000 )     (500,000 )
Repayment of note payable
    (6,950,000 )     -  
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
    15,225,312       -  
Issuance of shares to employee
    1,000       -  
Preferred stock dividends paid
    (160,325 )     -  
Purchase of treasury stock
    (4,130 )     (8,302 )
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    -       25,016  
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
    93,669,944       (8,571,113 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    89,320,655       5,628,146  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    5,708,607       7,164,650  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 95,029,262     $ 12,792,796  
                 
Cash paid during the period for
               
Income taxes
  $ 4,257     $ 922,499  
Interest
  $ 7,569,024     $ 9,493,903  
                 
               
Foreclosures on loans
  $ 3,544,350     $ 408,850  
 
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
-6-

 
 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements for interim financial statements and, accordingly, they are condensed and omit certain disclosures, which would appear in audited annual consolidated financial statements.  The consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2009 and for the interim periods ended June 30, 2009  and 2008 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation.  The consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2008 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.  For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and the notes included in First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Note 2 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following is a summary of recent authoritative pronouncements:

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162,” (“SFAS 168”).  SFAS 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for nongovernmental entities.  The Codification does not change GAAP. Instead, it takes the thousands of individual pronouncements that currently comprise GAAP and reorganizes them into approximately 90 accounting Topics, and displays all Topics using a consistent structure.  Contents in each Topic are further organized first by Subtopic, then Section and finally Paragraph. The Paragraph level is the only level that contains substantive content. Citing particular content in the Codification involves specifying the unique numeric path to the content through the Topic, Subtopic, Section and Paragraph structure. FASB suggests that all citations begin with “FASB ASC,” where ASC stands for Accounting Standards Codification. SFAS 168, (FASB ASC 105-10-05, 10, 15, 65, 70) is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009 and will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position but will change the referencing system for accounting standards.  The following pronouncements provide citations to the applicable Codification by Topic, Subtopic and Section in addition to the original standard type and number.

In December 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) SFAS 132(R)-1 (FASB ASC 715-20-65), “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets,” (“FSP SFAS 132(R)-1”).  This FSP provides guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan.  The objective of the FSP is to provide the users of financial statements with an understanding of: (a) how investment allocation decisions are made, including the factors that are pertinent to an understanding of investment policies and strategies; (b) the major categories of plan assets; (c) the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets; (d) the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on changes in plan assets for the period; and (e) significant concentrations of risk within plan assets.  The FSP also requires a nonpublic entity, as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) 132, to disclose net periodic benefit cost for each period for which a statement of income is presented.  FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009.  The Staff Position will require the Company to provide additional disclosures related to its benefit plans.

FSP EITF 99-20-1, “Amendments to the Impairment Guidance of EITF Issue No. 99-20,” (FASB ASC 325-40-65) (“FSP EITF 99-20-1”) was issued in January 2009.  Prior to the FSP, other-than-temporary impairment was determined by using either Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased Beneficial Interests and Beneficial Interests that Continue to be Held by a Transferor in Securitized Financial Assets,” (“EITF 99-20”) or SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” (“SFAS 115”) depending on the type of security.  EITF 99-20 required the use of market participant assumptions regarding future cash flows regarding the probability of collecting all cash flows previously projected.  SFAS 115 determined impairment to be other than temporary if it was probable that the holder would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms. To achieve a more consistent determination of other-than-temporary impairment, the FSP amends EITF 99-20 to determine any other-than-temporary impairment based on the guidance in SFAS 115, allowing management to use more judgment in determining any other-than-temporary impairment.  The FSP was effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2008.  Management has reviewed the Company’s security portfolio and evaluated the portfolio for any other-than-temporary impairments.

 
-7-

 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 2 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements(continued)

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued three staff positions related to fair value, which are discussed below.

FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2 (FASB ASC 320-10-65), “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments,” (“FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2”) categorizes losses on debt securities available-for-sale or held-to-maturity determined by management to be other-than-temporarily impaired into losses due to credit issues and losses related to all other factors.  Other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) exists when it is more likely than not that the security will mature or be sold before its amortized cost basis can be recovered.  An OTTI related to credit losses should be recognized through earnings.  An OTTI related to other factors should be recognized in other comprehensive income.  The FSP does not amend existing recognition and measurement guidance related to other-than-temporary impairments of equity securities.  Annual disclosures required in SFAS 115 and FSP SFAS 115-1 and SFAS 124-1 are also required for interim periods (including the aging of securities with unrealized losses).

FSP SFAS 157-4 (FASB ASC 820-10-65), “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That are Not Orderly” recognizes that quoted prices may not be determinative of fair value when the volume and level of trading activity has significantly decreased.  The evaluation of certain factors may necessitate that fair value be determined using a different valuation technique.  Fair value should be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale.  If a transaction is considered to not be orderly, little, if any, weight should be placed on the transaction price.  If there is not sufficient information to conclude as to whether or not the transaction is orderly, the transaction price should be considered when estimating fair value.  An entity’s intention to hold an asset or liability is not relevant in determining fair value.  Quoted prices provided by pricing services may still be used when estimating fair value in accordance with SFAS 157; however, the entity should evaluate whether the quoted prices are based on current information and orderly transactions.  Inputs and valuation techniques are required to be disclosed in addition to any changes in valuation techniques.

FSP SFAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 (FASB ASC 825-10-65), “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” requires disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual financial statements and also requires those disclosures in summarized financial information at interim reporting periods  A publicly traded company includes any company whose securities trade in a public market on either a stock exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or any company that is a conduit bond obligor.  Additionally, when a company makes a filing with a regulatory agency in preparation for sale of its securities in a public market it is considered a publicly traded company for this purpose.

The three staff positions are effective for periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption of all three permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009.  The Company adopted the staff positions for its second quarter 10-Q.  The staff positions had no material impact on the financial statements.  Additional disclosures have been provided where applicable.

Also on April 1, 2009, the FASB issued FSP SFAS 141(R)-1 (FASB ASC 805-20-25, 30, 35, 50), “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies.”  The FSP requires that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from a contingency be recognized at fair value.  If fair value cannot be determined during the measurement period as determined in SFAS 141 (R), the asset or liability can still be recognized if it can be determined that it is probable that the asset existed or the liability had been incurred as of the measurement date and if the amount of the asset or liability can be reasonably estimated.  If it is not determined to be probable that the asset/liability existed/was incurred or no reasonable amount can be determined, no asset or liability is recognized. The entity should determine a rational basis for subsequently measuring the acquired assets and assumed liabilities.  Contingent consideration agreements should be recognized initially at fair value and subsequently reevaluated in accordance with guidance found in paragraph 65 of SFAS 141 (R).  The FSP is effective for business combinations with an acquisition date on or after the beginning of the Company’s first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  The Company will assess the impact of the FSP if and when a future acquisition occurs.

 
-8-

 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 2 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements(continued)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 111 (FASB ASC 320-10-S99-1) on April 9, 2009 to amend Topic 5.M., “Other Than Temporary Impairment of Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” and to supplement FSP SFAS 115-2 and SFAS 124-2.  SAB 111 maintains the staff’s previous views related to equity securities; however debt securities are excluded from its scope.  The SAB provides that “other-than-temporary” impairment is not necessarily the same as “permanent” impairment and unless evidence exists to support a value equal to or greater than the carrying value of the equity security investment, a write-down to fair value should be recorded and accounted for as a realized loss.  The SAB was effective upon issuance and had no impact on the Company’s financial position.

SFAS 165 (FASB ASC 855-10-05, 15, 25, 45, 50, 55), “Subsequent Events,” (“SFAS 165”) was issued in May 2009 and provides guidance on when a subsequent event should be recognized in the financial statements.  Subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet should be recognized at the balance sheet date. Subsequent events that provide evidence about conditions that arose after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued, or are available to be issued, are not required to be recognized. The date through which subsequent events have been evaluated must be disclosed as well as whether it is the date the financial statements were issued or the date the financial statements were available to be issued.  For nonrecognized subsequent events, which should be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the nature of the event and an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made, should be disclosed.  The standard is effective for interim or annual periods ending after June 15, 2009.  See Note 11 for Management’s evaluation of subsequent events.

The FASB issued SFAS 166 (not yet reflected in FASB ASC), “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,” (“SFAS 166”) in June 2009.  SFAS 166 limits the circumstances in which a financial asset should be derecognized when the transferor has not transferred the entire financial asset by taking into consideration the transferor’s continuing involvement.  The standard requires that a transferor recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained (including a transferor’s beneficial interest) and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale.  The concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity is removed from SFAS 140 along with the exception from applying FIN 46(R).  The standard is effective for the first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within the first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter.  Earlier application is prohibited.  The Company does not expect the standard to have any impact on the Company’s financial position.

SFAS 167 (not yet reflected in FASB ASC), “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),” (“SFAS 167”) was also issued in June 2009.  The standard amends FIN 46(R) to require a company to analyze whether its interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”) gives it a controlling financial interest.  A company must assess whether it has an implicit financial responsibility to ensure that the VIE operates as designed when determining whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that significantly impact its economic performance.  Ongoing reassessments of whether a company is the primary beneficiary is also required by the standard.  SFAS 167 amends the criteria to qualify as a primary beneficiary as well as how to determine the existence of a VIE.  The standard also eliminates certain exceptions that were available under FIN 46(R).  SFAS 167 is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter.  Earlier application is prohibited.  Comparative disclosures will be required for periods after the effective date.  The Company does not expect the standard to have any impact on the Company’s financial position.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 3 - Reclassifications

Certain captions and amounts in the financial statements in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 were reclassified to conform to the June 30, 2009 presentation.

 
-9-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 4 - Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income - Accounting principles generally require that recognized income, expenses, gains, and losses be included in net income.  Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

The components of other comprehensive income and related tax effects are as follows:
         
Tax
       
   
Pre-tax
   
(Expense)
   
Net-of-tax
 
   
Amount
   
Benefit
   
Amount
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009:
                 
Net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale arising during the period
  $ (687,653 )   $ 233,802     $ (453,851 )
Less, reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income
    1,029,459       (350,016 )     679,443  
                         
    $ (1,717,112 )   $ 583,818     $ (1,133,294 )
                         
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
                       
Net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale
  $ (1,156,595 )   $ 393,242     $ (763,353 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income
    -       -       -  
                         
    $ (1,156,595 )   $ 393,242     $ (763,353 )
                         
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2009:
                       
Net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale arising during the period
  $ (1,084,399 )   $ 368,696     $ (715,703 )
Less, reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net income
    1,029,459       (350,016 )     679,443  
                         
    $ (2,113,858 )   $ 718,712     $ (1,395,146 )
                         
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008
                       
Net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale
  $ (1,301,521 )   $ 442,517     $ (859,004 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income
    -       -       -  
                         
    $ (1,301,521 )   $ 442,517     $ (859,004 )

NOTE 5 - INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of securities available-for-sale were:

   
Amortized
   
Gross Unrealized
   
Estimated
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
June 30, 2009
                       
U.S. Government agencies
  $ 5,035,557     $ -     $ 48,628     $ 4,986,929  
Mortgage-backed securities
    43,429,576       165,037       850,556       42,744,057  
Municipals
    42,943,729       83,571       1,226,605       41,800,695  
Other
    218,750       -       145,275       73,475  
    $ 91,627,612     $ 248,608     $ 2,271,064     $ 89,605,156  

 
-10-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 5 - INVESTMENT SECURITIES(continued)

   
Amortized
   
Gross Unrealized
   
Estimated
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
December 31, 2008
                       
U.S. Government agencies
  $ 88,013     $ -     $ 16     $ 87,997  
Mortgage-backed securities
    46,465,667       1,108,354       -       47,574,021  
Municipals
    29,843,730       155,047       1,474,279       28,524,498  
Other
    218,750       -       94,450       124,300  
    $ 76,616,160     $ 1,263,401     $ 1,568,745     $ 76,310,816  

The following is a summary of maturities of securities available-for-sale as of June 30, 2009.  The amortized cost and estimated fair values are based on the contractual maturity dates.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalty.

   
Securities
 
   
Available-For-Sale
 
   
Amortized
   
Estimated
 
   
Cost
   
Fair Value
 
Due after one year but within five years
  $ 16,564     $ 16,557  
Due after five years but within ten years
    1,236,716       1,252,690  
Due after ten years
    46,726,006       45,518,377  
      47,979,286       46,787,624  
Mortgage-backed securities
    43,429,576       42,744,057  
Other
    218,750       73,475  
Total
  $ 91,627,612     $ 89,605,156  

The following table shows gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category, and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
 
   
Less than
   
Twelve months
       
   
twelve months
   
or more
   
Total
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
   
Fair value
   
losses
   
Fair value
   
losses
   
Fair value
   
losses
 
June 30, 2009
                                   
U.S. government agencies
  $ 4,970,372     $ 48,621     $ 16,557     $ 7     $ 4,986,929     $ 48,628  
Mortgage-backed securities
    28,490,226       850,556       -       -       28,490,226       850,556  
Municipals
    15,811,972       310,976       10,522,298       915,629       26,334,270       1,226,605  
Other
    73,475       145,275       -       -       73,475       145,275  
Total
  $ 49,346,045     $ 1,355,428     $ 10,538,855     $ 915,636     $ 59,884,900     $ 2,271,064  
December 31, 2008
                                               
U.S. government agencies
  $ 87,997     $ 16     $ -     $ -     $ 87,997     $ 16  
Municipals
    16,846,808       836,446       3,719,646       637,833       20,566,454       1,474,279  
Other
    124,300       94,450       -       -       124,300       94,450  
Total
  $ 17,059,105     $ 930,912     $ 3,719,646     $ 637,833     $ 20,778,751     $ 1,568,745  

At June 30, 2009, securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair market value.  Approximately 40.32% of the unrealized losses, or 17 individual securities, consisted of securities in a continuous loss position for twelve months or more.  The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost. The Company believes, based on industry analyst reports and credit ratings, that the deterioration in value is attributable to changes in market interest rates and is not in the credit quality of the issuer and therefore, these losses are not considered other-than-temporary.

 
-11-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 6 – Shareholders’ Equity

Common StockThe following is a summary of the changes in common shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Common shares outstanding at beginning of the period
    3,525,004       3,494,646  
Issuance of non-vested restricted shares
    62,222       14,028  
Issuance of stock to employee
    200          
Exercise of stock options
    -       4,850  
                 
Common shares outstanding at end of the period
    3,587,426       3,513,524  

Preferred Stock - On February 24, 2009, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation were amended to authorize the issuance of a class of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, having no par value.  Subject to certain conditions, the amendment authorizes the Company’s Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without shareholders’ approval.  Under this amendment, the Board is authorized to determine the terms of one or more series of preferred stock, including the preferences, rights, and limitations of each series.

On March 6, 2009, the Company completed a transaction with the United States Treasury (“Treasury”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (“TARP CPP”), which was amended by the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009.   Under the TARP CPP, the Company sold 15,349 shares of its Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock.  In addition, the Treasury received a warrant to purchase 767 shares of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, which was immediately exercised by the Treasury for a nominal exercise price.  The preferred shares issued to the Treasury qualify as tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes.
 
The Series A Preferred Stock is a senior cumulative perpetual preferred stock that has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, pays cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years and thereafter at a rate of 9% per year.  Dividends are payable quarterly.  At any time, the Company may, at its option and with regulatory approval, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at par value plus accrued and unpaid dividends.  The Series A Preferred Stock is generally non-voting. Prior to March 6, 2012, unless the Company has redeemed the Series A Preferred Stock or the Treasury has transferred the Series A Preferred Stock to a third party, the consent of the Treasury will be required for the Company to increase its common stock dividend or repurchase its common stock or other equity or capital securities, other than in connection with benefit plans consistent with past practices and certain other circumstances. A consequence of the Series A Preferred Stock purchase includes certain restrictions on executive compensation that could limit the tax deductibility of compensation the Company pays to executive management.
 
The Series B Preferred Stock is a cumulative perpetual preferred stock that has the same rights, preferences, privileges, voting rights and other terms as the Series A Preferred Stock, except that dividends will be paid at the rate of 9% per year and may not be redeemed until all the Series A Preferred Stock has been redeemed.
 
The proceeds from the issuance of the Series A and Series B were allocated based on the relative fair value of each series based on a discounted cash flow model.  As a result of the valuations, $14,492,526 and $856,474 was allocated to the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, respectively.  This resulted in a discount of $973,260 for the Series A stock and a premium of $82,572 for the Series B stock.  The discount and premium will be accreted and amortized, respectively, through retained earnings over a five-year estimated life using the effective interest method.  For the six months and quarter ended June 30, 2009, accretion of the Series A Preferred Stock discount totaled $62,363 and $48,503 respectively, and the amortization of the Series B Preferred Stock premium totaled $5,291 and $4,115, respectively.  The net amount of the accretion and amortization was treated as a deemed dividend to preferred shareholders in the computation of earnings per share.

 
-12-

 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 7 - Earnings Per Share

Net income available to common shareholders represents net income adjusted for preferred dividends including dividends declared, accretions of discounts and amortization of premiums on preferred stock issuances and cumulative dividends related to the current dividend period that have not been declared as of period end.

The following is a summary of the earnings (loss) per share calculations for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
 
   
Six Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (1,140,749 )   $ 1,509,544     $ (1,154,614 )   $ 683,421  
Preferred stock dividends
    268,132       -       208,547       -  
Deemed dividends on preferred stock resulting from
                               
net accretion of discount and amortization
                               
of premium
    57,072       -       44,388       -  
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ (1,465,953 )   $ 1,509,544     $ (1,407,549 )   $ 683,421  
Basic earnings per share:
                               
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ (1,465,953 )   $ 1,509,544     $ (1,407,549 )   $ 683,421  
Average common shares outstanding - basic
    3,546,386       3,504,070       3,567,533       3,445,001  
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.41 )   $ 0.43     $ (0.40 )     .20  
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ (1,465,953 )   $ 1,509,544     $ (1,407,549 )   $ 683,421  
Average common shares outstanding - basic
    3,546,386       3,504,070       3,567,533       3,445,001  
                                 
Dilutive potential common shares
    -       28,602       -       104,902  
                                 
Average common shares outstanding - diluted
    3,546,386       3,532,672       3,567,533       3,549,903  
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.41 )   $ 0.43     $ (0.40 )     .20  

Note 8 - Equity Incentive Plan

On January 19, 2006, the Company adopted the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, which provides for the granting of dividend equivalent rights options, performance unit awards, phantom shares, stock appreciation rights and stock awards, each of which shall be subject to such conditions based upon continued employment, passage of time or satisfaction of performance criteria or other criteria as permitted by the plan. The plan allows granting up to 350,000 shares of stock, to officers, employees, and directors, consultants and service providers of the Company or its affiliates.  Awards may be granted for a term of up to ten years from the effective date of grant. Under this Plan, our Board of Directors has sole discretion as to the exercise date of any awards granted.  The per-share exercise price of incentive stock awards may not be less than the market value of a share of common stock on the date the award is granted.  Any awards that expire unexercised or are canceled become available for re-issuance.

The Company can issue the restricted shares as of the grant date either by the issuance of share certificate(s) evidencing restricted shares or by documenting the issuance in uncertificated or book entry form on the Company's stock records. Except as provided by the Plan, the employee does not have the right to make or permit to exist any transfer or hypothecation of any restricted shares.  When restricted shares vest the employee must either pay the Company within two business days the amount of all tax withholding obligations imposed on the Company or make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to pay taxes at grant date.

 
-13-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 8 - Equity Incentive Plan(continued)

Restricted shares may be subject to one or more objective employment, performance or other forfeiture conditions as established by the Plan Committee at the time of grant.  Any shares of restricted stock that are forfeited will again become available for issuance under the Plan.  An employee or director has the right to vote the shares of restricted stock after grant until they are forfeited or vested.  Compensation cost for restricted stock is equal to the market value of the shares at the date of the award and is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period.  Dividends, if any, will be paid on awarded but unvested stock.

During six months ended June 30, 2009 the Company issued 62,222 of restricted stock pursuant to the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  The shares cliff vest in three years and are fully vested in 2012.  The weighted-average fair value of restricted stock issued during the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $2.25 per share.  Compensation cost associated with the issuance was $139,999.  There were no restricted stock forfeitures during the six months ended June 30, 2009.  Deferred compensation expense of $77,860, relating to restricted stock, was amortized to income during six months ended June 30, 2009.

The 2006 Equity Incentive Plan allows for the issuance of Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs").  The SARs entitle the participant to receive the excess of (1) the market value of a specified or determinable number of shares of the stock at the exercise date over the fair value at grant date or (2) a specified or determinable price which may not in any event be less than the fair market value of the stock at the time of the award.  Upon exercise, the Company can elect to settle the awards using either Company stock or cash. The shares start vesting after five years and vest at 20% per year until fully vested.  Compensation cost for SARs is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period.

There were no SARs awarded, exercised or forfeited during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.  The SARs compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 was $36,917 and $37,121 respectively.

As of June 30, 2009 and 2008, there were 93,981 SARS outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $14.95.

Note 9 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company terminated its 2003 Employee Stock Option Plan and replaced it with the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  Outstanding options issued under any former stock option plans will be honored in accordance with the terms and conditions in effect at the time they were granted, except that they are not subject to reissuance.  At June 30, 2009, 269,447 options were outstanding and exercisable.  No stock options have been granted since June 2005.

A summary of the status of the Company’s 2003 stock option plan as of June 30, 2009 and 2008, and changes during the period is presented below:
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
         
Weighted-
         
Weighted-
 
         
Average
         
Average
 
         
Exercise
         
Exercise
 
   
Shares
   
Price
   
Shares
   
Price
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
    269,447     $ 8.36       278,847     $ 8.32  
Exercised
                    (4,850 )     5.15  
Forfeited
                    (2,500 )     11.00  
                                 
Outstanding at end of period
    269,447     $ 8.36       271,497     $ 8.35  

 
-14-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 10 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount for which the asset or obligation could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments.  Because no market value exists for a significant portion of the financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of significant financial instruments:
Cash and Due from Banks - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Federal Funds Sold and Purchased - Federal funds sold and purchased are for a term of one day and the carrying amount approximates the fair value.

Securities Available-for-Sale - Fair value equals the carrying amount, which is the quoted market price.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable securities.

Nonmarketable Equity Securities - The carrying amount of nonmarketable equity securities is a reasonable estimate of fair value since no ready market exists for these securities.

Loans Held-for-Sale - The carrying amount of loans held for sale is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Loans Receivable - For certain categories of loans, such as variable rate loans, which are repriced frequently and have no significant change in credit risk and credit card receivables, fair values are based on the carrying amounts.  The fair value of other types of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to the borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

Deposits - The fair value of demand deposits, savings, and money market accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair values of certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies current interest rates to a schedule of aggregated expected maturities.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase - The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value because these instruments typically have terms of one day.

Advances From Federal Home Loan Bank - The fair values of fixed rate borrowings are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies the Company’s current borrowing rate from the Federal Home Loan Bank.  The carrying amounts of variable rate borrowings are reasonable estimates of fair value because they can be repriced frequently.

Junior Subordinated Debentures and Note Payable - The carrying value of the junior subordinated debentures and note payable approximates there fair value since they were issued at a floating rate.

Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable - The carrying value of these instruments is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments - Fair values of off-balance sheet lending commitments are based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties' credit standing.

 
-15-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 10 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - continued

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments were as follows:

   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Carrying
   
Estimated Fair
   
Carrying
   
Estimated Fair
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Financial Assets:
                       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 95,029,262     $ 95,029,262     $ 5,451,607     $ 5,451,607  
Federal funds sold
    -       -       257,000       257,000  
Securities available-for-sale
    89,605,156       89,605,156       76,310,816       76,310,816  
Nonmarketable equity securities
    4,812,100       4,812,100       4,574,700       4,574,700  
Loans, including loans held for sale
    462,778,903       463,618,000       478,579,283       480,311,000  
Accrued interest receivable
    2,331,650       2,331,650       2,653,260       2,653,260  
Financial Liabilities:
                               
Demand deposit, interest-bearing
                               
transaction, and savings accounts
  $ 190,526,444     $ 190,526,444     $ 184,805,565     $ 184,805,565  
Certificates of deposit
    384,739,113       384,619,000       276,329,819       275,825,000  
Securities sold under agreements
                               
to repurchase
    1,125,365       1,125,365       8,197,451       8,197,451  
Advances from Federal Home
                               
Loan Bank
    56,500,000       56,311,000       78,000,000       77,908,015  
Note payable
    -       -       6,950,000       6,950,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310,000       10,310,000       10,310,000       10,310,000  
Accrued interest payable
    640,379       640,379       623,330       623,330  

   
Notional
   
Estimated Fair
   
Notional
   
Estimated Fair
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Off-Balance-Sheet Financial Instruments:
                       
Commitments to extend credit
  $ 46,323,843     $ -     $ 53,812,183     $ -  
Standby letters of credit
    2,636,141       -       3,006,214       -  

The Company adopted Statement No. 157 effective January 1, 2008, which did not have a material impact on the   financial statements.  Statement No. 157 applies to all assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis.  Statement No. 157 requires new disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.  This statement enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements by establishing a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.  The statement requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1:  Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:  Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to Statement No. 157.  At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3.

 
-16-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 10 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - continued

The table below presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the hierarchy.
 
   
June 30, 2009
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Available for- sale- securities
  $ 89,605,156     $ -     $ 89,605,156     $ -  
Mortgage loans held for sale (1)
    14,925,745       -       14,925,745       -  

    (1)  Carried at the lower of cost or market.

The Company has no liabilities carried at fair value or measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

The Company is predominantly an asset-based lender with real estate serving as collateral on a substantial majority of loans. Loans that are deemed impaired are primarily valued on a nonrecurring basis at the fair values of the underlying real estate collateral. Such fair values are obtained using independent appraisals, which the Company considers to be level 2 inputs. The aggregate carrying amount of impaired loans at June 30, 2009 was $49,263,581.

Repossessed assets required in settlement of loans are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value on a non-recurring basis.  The fair is dependent primarily upon independent appraisals, which the Company considers level 2 inputs.  At June 30, 2009, the recorded investment in repossessed assets acquired in the settlement of loans was $3,901,800.

Note 11- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. Recognized subsequent events are events or transactions that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing financial statements.  Nonrecognized subsequent events are events that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the date of the balance sheet but arose after that date.  Management has reviewed events occurring through August 13, 2009, the date the financial statements were issued and no subsequent events occurred requiring accrual or disclosure.

 
-17-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

The following discussion reviews our results of operations and assesses our financial condition.  You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  The commentary should be read in conjunction with the discussion of forward-looking statements, the financial statements and the related notes and the other statistical information included in this report.

Advisory Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution readers of this report that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of us to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our expectations of future performance is based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations.

Factors which could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, among other things:

 
·
the challenges, costs and complications associated with the continued development of our branches;
 
·
the potential that loan charge-offs may exceed the allowance for loan losses or that such allowance will be increased as a result of factors beyond the control of us;
 
·
our dependence on senior management;
 
·
competition from existing financial institutions operating in our market areas as well as the entry into such areas of new competitors with greater resources, broader branch networks and more comprehensive services;
 
·
adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market, and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions);
 
·
changes in deposit rates, the net interest margin, and funding sources;
 
·
inflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations;
 
·
risks inherent in making loans including repayment risks and value of collateral;
 
·
the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on our loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses;
 
·
fluctuations in consumer spending and saving habits;
 
·
the demand for our products and services;
 
·
technological changes;
 
·
the challenges and uncertainties in the implementation of our expansion and development strategies;
 
·
the ability to increase market share;
 
·
the adequacy of expense projections and estimates of impairment loss;
 
·
the impact of changes in accounting policies by the Securities and Exchange Commission;
 
·
unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings;
 
·
the potential negative effects of future legislation affecting financial institutions (including without limitation laws concerning taxes, banking, securities, and insurance);
 
·
the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
 
·
the timely development and acceptance of products and services, including products and services offered through alternative delivery channels such as the Internet;
 
·
the impact on our business, as well as on the risks set forth above, of various domestic or international military or terrorist activities or conflicts;
 
·
other factors described in this report and in other reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and
 
·
our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.  We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 
-18-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Overview

The following discussion describes our results of operation for the six months and quarter ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the six months and quarter ended June 30, 2008 and also analyzes our financial condition as of June 30, 2009 as compared to December 31, 2008.

Like most community banks, we derive the majority of our income from interest received on our loans and investments.  Our primary source of funds for making these loans and investments is our deposits, on which we pay interest.  Consequently, one of the key measures of our success is our amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the expense on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings.  Another key measure is the spread between the yield we earn on these interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, which is called our net interest spread. 

There are risks inherent in all loans, so we maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  We maintain this allowance by charging a provision for loan losses against our operating earnings for each period.  We have included a detailed discussion of this process, as well as several tables describing our allowance for loan losses.

In addition to earning interest on our loans and investments, we earn income through fees and other charges to our customers.  We have also included a discussion of the various components of this non-interest income, as well as of our non-interest expense.

The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements.  We encourage you to read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with our financial statements and the other statistical information included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have adopted various accounting policies which govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States in the preparation of our financial statements.  Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2008 as filed on our annual report on Form 10-K.  Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities.  We consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies.  The judgments and assumptions we use are based on the historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions we make, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates which could have a major impact on our carrying values of assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

We believe the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  Refer to the portion of this discussion that addresses our allowance for loan losses for description of our processes and methodology for determining our allowance for loan losses.

Regulatory Matters

We are not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities which, if they were to be implemented, would have a material effect on liquidity, capital resources or operations.

Effect of Economic Trends

Economic conditions, competition and federal monetary and fiscal policies also affect financial institutions. Lending activities are also influenced by regional and local economic factors, such as housing supply and demand, competition among lenders, customer preferences and levels of personal income and savings in our primary market area.

 
-19-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Results of Operations
 
For the quarter ended June 30, 2009, we incurred a net loss of $1,154,614 compared to net income of $683,421 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.  Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share were ($0.40), compared to $0.20 reported in the prior year .
 
We realized a net loss of $1,140,749 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to net income of $1,509,544 for the six months ended June 30, 2008.   This resulted in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share of ($0.41) for the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $0.43 for the same period of 2008.
 
The decline in net income for both periods was caused by the significant increase in our provision for loan losses due to the higher level of charged off loans and to the decline of our net interest income.  The reduction in our net interest income is attributed to the lost income on our nonaccruing loans and to the net interest margin compression due to market interest rates for the 2009 reporting periods being lower than the rates in effect during the comparable periods in 2008.
 
Income Statement Review
 
Net Interest Income

The largest component of our net income is its net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on assets and interest paid on deposits and on the borrowings used to support such assets.  Net interest income is determined by the yields earned on our interest-earning assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities, the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the degree of mismatch and the maturity and repricing characteristics of its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  Total interest-earning assets yield less total interest-bearing liabilities rate represents our net interest rate spread.

Net interest income decreased $941,541, or 19.50%, to $3,885,709 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, from $4,827,250 for the comparable period in 2008.  Our net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 was $8,038,802 and $9,795,234, respectively.  This represents a decline of $1,756,432 or 17.93%.  The decrease in the net interest income for both periods was attributable to the prevailing market interest rates during 2009 being lower than the rates in effect during the comparable periods in 2008.  Since approximately 55% of the average volume of our loan portfolio included variable interest  rate loans, these lower rates negatively impacted interest income.  In addition, the decrease in net interest income was significantly impacted by the increase in our nonaccruing loans, which were $23,084,908 higher at June 30, 2009 than at June 30, 2008.

For the second quarter of 2009 and 2008, total interest income was $7,801,822 and $9,290,924, respectively.  This equated to a tax-equivalent yield of 5.64% and 6.83%, respectively, on our averaged interest-earning assets.  The yield on our interest-earning assets for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 was 119 basis points lower than the yield for the comparable period of 2008.  Total interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $15,624,875, a decline of $3,492,701, or 18.27%, from the total interest income earned during the first six months of 2008.  The tax-equivalent yield for 2009 was 141 basis points lower than the yield for 2008.  For the first six months of 2009 and 2008, the tax-equivalent yield realized on our earning assets was 5.64% and 7.05%, respectively.

For the second quarter of 2009 and 2008, the primary components of interest income were interest earned on loans of $6,870,317 and $8,560,841 and interest on investment securities of $904,035 and $657,462, respectively.  For the first six months of 2009 and 2008, interest income on loans was $13,838,054 and $17,660,316 and interest on investment securities was $1,748,769 and $1,331,456, respectively.

Average earning assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, were $11,314,046, or 2.04%, and $16,660,920, or 3.02%, higher than the average earnings assets for the comparable periods of 2008.  The increase in both periods was primarily due to growth in the average investment portfolio, which increased $21,587,737, or 37.74%, and $19,540,113, or 33.87%, respectively.

The average rate paid on our interest-bearing liabilities was 2.80% and 3.53% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which represented a decrease of 73 basis points.  The average rate paid on our interest-bearing liabilities declined 91 basis points from 3.70% for the first six months of 2008 to 2.79% for the comparable 2009 period.

 
-20-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Our average interest-bearing liabilities increased $52,747,355, or 10.37%, from the quarter ended June 30, 2008, to $561,243,480 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, our interest-bearing liabilities were $549,105,744 and $506,685,590, respectively.  This represents an increase of $42,420,154, or 8.37%.  The increases for both periods were due mainly to the increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits, which increased $75,658,544, or 18.49%, and $53,395,137, or 13.17%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.
 
Our net interest spread was 2.84% for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to 3.30% for the three months ended June 30, 2008.  This represents a decrease of 46 basis points.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, our net interest spread was 2.85%, compared to 3.35% for the six months ended June 30, 2008.  This represents a decrease of 50 basis points.  The net interest spread is the difference between the yield earned on our interest-earning assets and the rate paid on our interest-bearing liabilities.

Our net interest margin is calculated as tax equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.  Our net interest margin for the second quarter of 2009 was 2.86%, which is 73 basis points lower than our net interest margin of 3.59% for the second quarter of 2008.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, our net interest margin was 2.94%, which is 71 basis points lower than our net interest margin of 3.65% for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates

For the periods indicated, the following tables set forth certain information relating to our average balance sheet and its average yields on assets and average costs of liabilities.  Such yields are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities.  Average balances have been derived from the daily balances throughout the periods indicated.

 
-21-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

For the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   
Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates
 
   
For the three months ended
   
For the three months ended
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2008
 
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
 
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
 
Assets
                                   
Loans (2)
  $ 479,367,950     $ 6,870,317       5.75 %   $ 489,482,276     $ 8,560,841       7.03 %
Securities, taxable
    41,464,614       471,654       4.56       26,064,071       329,580       5.09  
Securities, nontaxable (1)
    37,325,798       579,391       6.23       31,138,604       439,362       5.67  
Federal funds sold and other
    800,000       349       0.18       2,888,942       9,947       1.38  
Nonmarketable equity securities
    6,301,777       27,121       1.73       4,372,200       62,674       5.77  
Total earning assets
    565,260,139       7,948,832       5.64       553,946,093       9,402,404       6.83  
                                                 
Non-earning assets
    95,528,060                       41,540,987                  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 660,788,199                     $ 595,487,080                  
                                                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  $ 37,749,755     $ 53,510       0.57 %   $ 27,388,048     $ 36,158       0.53 %
Savings and money market accounts
    97,474,325       480,901       1.98       87,611,586       469,622       2.16  
Time deposits
    349,663,952       2,659,281       3.05       294,229,854       2,993,056       4.09  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    484,888,032       3,193,692       2.64       409,229,488       3,498,836       3.44  
                                                 
Other interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Securities sold under
                                               
agreement to repurchase
    1,259,734       12       0.00       7,996,790       31,501       1.58  
Federal funds purchased
    -       -       0.00       4,514,791       55,078       4.91  
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
    64,785,714       567,865       3.52       73,445,056       693,382       3.80  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310,000       154,544       6.01       10,310,000       153,971       6.01  
Note payable
    -       -       0.00       3,000,000       30,906       4.14  
Total other interest-bearing liabilities
    76,355,448       722,421       3.79       99,266,637       964,838       3.91  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    561,243,480       3,916,113       2.80       508,496,125       4,463,674       3.53  
                                                 
Noninterest-bearing deposits
    44,433,287                       44,285,582                  
Other liabilities
    2,579,889                       3,225,694                  
Stockholders' equity
    52,531,543                       38,016,643                  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 660,788,199                     $ 594,042,044                  
                                                 
Net interest income/interest spread
          $ 4,032,719       2.84 %           $ 4,938,730       3.30 %
                                                 
Net yield on earning assets
                    2.86 %                     3.59 %

(1)
Fully tax-equivalent basis at 34% tax rate for nontaxable securities
(2)
Includes mortgage loans held for sale and nonaccruing loans

 
-22-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   
Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates
 
   
For the six months ended
   
For the six months ended
 
   
June 30, 2009
   
June 30, 2008
 
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Yield/
 
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Rate
 
Assets
                                   
Loans (2)
  $ 483,599,949     $ 13,838,054       5.77 %   $ 487,754,471     $ 17,660,316       7.28 %
Securities, taxable
    44,005,591       1,002,970       4.60       26,639,235       675,964       5.10  
Securities, nontaxable (1)
    33,219,203       999,371       6.07       31,045,446       878,359       5.69  
Federal funds sold and other
    1,032,646       1,332       0.26       1,787,316       11,840       1.33  
Nonmarketable equity securities
    6,283,270       36,720       1.18       4,253,271       113,964       5.39  
Total earning assets
    568,140,659       15,878,447       5.64       551,479,739       19,340,443       7.05  
                                                 
Non-earning assets
    75,585,993                       40,733,770                  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 643,726,652                     $ 592,213,509                  
                                                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  $ 35,928,629       103,088       0.58 %   $ 29,457,748       95,143       0.65 %
Savings and money market accounts
    98,328,994       850,513       1.74       88,620,534       1,102,889       2.50  
Time deposits
    324,662,473       5,055,502       3.14       287,446,677       6,239,952       4.37  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    458,920,096       6,009,103       2.64       405,524,959       7,437,984       3.69  
                                                 
Other interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Securities sold under
                                               
agreement to repurchase
    3,471,836       1,162       0.07       7,998,346       79,333       1.99  
Federal funds purchased
    41,381       169       0.82       6,733,714       112,679       3.37  
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing
    73,367,403       1,233,848       3.39       73,118,571       1,314,362       3.61  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310,000       306,897       6.00       10,310,000       309,034       6.03  
Note payable
    2,995,028       34,894       2.35       3,000,000       68,950       4.62  
Total other interest-bearing liabilities
    90,185,648       1,576,970       3.53       101,160,631       1,884,358       3.75  
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    549,105,744       7,586,073       2.79       506,685,590       9,322,342       3.70  
                                                 
Noninterest-bearing deposits
    45,995,567                       44,285,582                  
Other liabilities
    2,373,334                       3,225,694                  
Stockholders' equity
    46,525,007                       38,016,643                  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 643,726,652                     $ 592,213,509                  
                                                 
Net interest income/interest spread
          $ 8,292,374       2.85 %           $ 10,018,101       3.35 %
                                                 
Net yield on earning assets
                    2.94 %                     3.65 %

(1)
Fully tax-equivalent basis at 34% tax rate for nontaxable securities
(2)
Includes mortgage loans held for sale and nonaccruing loans

 
-23-

 


FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Net interest income can be analyzed in terms of the impact of changing interest rates and changing volume.  The following tables set forth the effect which the varying levels of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the applicable rates have had on changes in net interest income for the periods presented.

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009 compared to 2008
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
   
Total
 
Interest-earning assets
                 
Loans
  $ (1,518,226 )   $ (172,298 )   $ (1,690,524 )
Securities, taxable
    (37,275 )     179,349       142,074  
Securities, nontaxable
    46,493       93,536       140,029  
Federal funds sold and other
    (5,260 )     (4,338 )     (9,598 )
Other
    (55,860 )     20,307       (35,553 )
Total interest-earning assets
    (1,570,128 )     116,556       (1,453,572 )
Interest-bearing liabilities
                       
Interest-bearing deposits
                       
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
    2,885       14,467       17,352  
Savings and money market accounts
    (40,388 )     51,667       11,279  
Time deposits
    (841,098 )     507,323       (333,775 )
Total interest-bearing deposits
    (878,601 )     573,457       (305,144 )
Other interest-bearing liabilities
                       
Securities under agreement to repurchase
    (17,091 )     (14,398 )     (31,489 )
Federal funds purchased
    (27,539 )     (27,539 )     (55,078 )
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
    (48,274 )     (77,243 )     (125,517 )
Junior Subordinated Debentures
    -       573       573  
Note payable
    (15,453 )     (15,453 )     (30,906 )
Total other interest-bearing liabilities
    (108,357 )     (134,060 )     (242,417 )
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    (986,958 )     439,397       (547,561 )
Net interest income
  $ (583,170 )   $ (322,841 )   $ (906,011 )

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009 compared to 2008
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
   
Total
 
Interest-earning assets
                 
Loans
  $ (3,671,491 )   $ (150,771 )   $ (3,822,262 )
Securities, taxable
    (72,083 )     399,089       327,006  
Securities, nontaxable
    59,075       61,937       121,012  
Federal funds sold and other
    (6,891 )     (3,617 )     (10,508 )
Other
    (115,304 )     38,060       (77,244 )
Total interest-earning assets
    (3,806,694 )     344,698       (3,461,996 )
Interest-bearing liabilities
                       
Interest-bearing deposits
                       
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
    (11,109 )     19,054       7,945  
Savings and money market accounts
    (362,471 )     110,095       (252,376 )
Time deposits
    (1,916,053 )     731,603       (1,184,450 )
Total interest-bearing deposits
    (2,289,633 )     860,752       (1,428,881 )
Other interest-bearing liabilities
                       
Securities under agreement to repurchase
    (49,270 )     (28,901 )     (78,171 )
Federal funds purchased
    (48,633 )     (63,877 )     (112,510 )
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings
    (84,694 )     4,180       (80,514 )
Junior subordinated debentures
    (2,137 )     -       (2,137 )
Note payable
    (33,941 )     (115 )     (34,056 )
Total other interest-bearing liabilities
    (218,675 )     (88,713 )     (307,388 )
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    (2,508,308 )     772,039       (1,736,269 )
Net interest income
  $ (1,298,386 )   $ (427,341 )   $ (1,725,727 )

 
-24-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

We have developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of our credit portfolio and the timely identification of potential problem credits.  On a quarterly basis, our Board of Directors reviews and approves the appropriate level for the  allowance for loan losses based upon management’s recommendations, the results of the internal monitoring and reporting system, and an analysis of economic conditions in our market.  The objective of management has been to fund the allowance for loan losses at a level greater or equal to our internal risk measurement system for loan risk.

Additions to the allowance for loan losses, which are expensed as the provision for loan losses on our income statement, are made periodically to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level based on management’s analysis of the potential risk in the loan portfolio.  Loan losses and recoveries are charged or credited directly to the allowance.  The amount of the provision is a function of the level of loans outstanding, the level of nonperforming loans, historical loan loss experience, the amount of loan losses actually charged against the reserve during a given period, and current and anticipated economic conditions.

The allowance represents an amount which management believes will be adequate to absorb inherent losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  Our judgment in determining the adequacy of the allowance is based on evaluations of the collectability of loans, including consideration of factors such as the balance of impaired loans; the quality, mix and size of our overall loan portfolio; economic conditions that may affect the borrower's ability to repay the amount and quality of collateral securing the loans; our limited historical loan loss experience and a review of specific problem loans.

The amount of the allowance is periodically adjusted based on changing circumstances as a component of the provision for loan losses.  We charge recognized losses against the allowance and add subsequent recoveries back to the allowance.  Under our policy, we evaluate the allowance for loan losses using three categories; specific reserves, historical losses based on loan category, and environmental factors.  Detailed calculations are documented on a monthly basis and submitted through appropriate areas for approval to ensure adequate levels for the allowance for loan losses. Management and the Board believe that the current methodology meets regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Our various regulatory agencies review our allowance for loan losses through their periodic examinations, and they may require additions to the allowance for loan losses based on their judgment about information available to them at the time of their examinations. Our losses will undoubtedly vary from our estimates, and it is possible that charge-offs in future periods will exceed the allowance for loan losses as estimated at any point in time.

As of June 30, 2009 and 2008, the allowance for loan losses was $7,541,049 and $5,740,860, respectively, an increase of $1,800,189, or 31.36%, over the 2008 allowance.  As a percentage of total loans, the allowance for loan losses was 1.68% and 1.23% at June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The increase in the allowance for loan losses was driven by the significant increase in the amount of net loans charged off during 2009.  During the three months ended June 30, 2009, our net loans charged off totaled $3,545,444 compared to $444,535 for the three months ended June 30, 2008, an increase of $2,900,909.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, our net loans charged off totaled $5,538,672 and $677,144, respectively, an increase of $4,861,529.

For the second quarter of 2009 and 2008, the provision for loan losses was $3,555,442 and $645,794, respectively, an increase of $2,909,648.  The provision for loan losses was $4,855,822 and $1,147,397 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  This represents an increase of $3,708,425.  The increase in the provision for loan losses for both periods is primarily attributable to the higher than normal amount of our net loans charged-off.

We believe the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2009, is adequate to meet potential loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

 
-25-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Noninterest Income

The following table sets forth information related to our noninterest income.

   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Service fees on deposit accounts
  $ 474,486     $ 492,717     $ 935,094     $ 929,852  
Gain on sale of mortgage loans
    554,038       566,973       1,214,537       1,126,357  
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale
    1,029,459       -       1,029,459       -  
Other income
    255,734       339,811       827,744       675,086  
                                 
Total noninterest income
  $ 2,313,717     $ 1,399,501     $ 4,006,834     $ 2,731,295  

Compared to 2008, noninterest income increased $914,216 for the second quarter of 2009, while it increased $1,275,539 for the six months ended June 30, 2009.  The increase in both periods is largely attributable to the $1,029,459 gain on sale of securities available-for-sale.  The underlying securities were sold in accordance with our strategy to reposition the investment portfolio in order to maximize the yield on our investment securities.

Other income consisted primarily of other service fees and commissions, income from bank owned life insurance and other miscellaneous types of income. 

Noninterest Expense
 
Total noninterest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2009, was $4,753,923, an increase of $26,246 from the three months ended June 30, 2008.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, noninterest expense totaled $9,478,802 and $9,462,073, respectively, an increase of $16,729.   The primary reason for the slight increases in non-interest expense is our continued emphasis on expense management offset by increases in FDIC insurance premiums.
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2008, salaries and employee benefits decreased $93,986, or 3.35%, while all other major categories of noninterest expense increased $120,232, 6.27%.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008, salaries and employee benefits decreased $229,822, or 4.28%, while all other major categories of noninterest expense increased $246,551, or 6.65%.

The change from the income tax expense of $407,515 and $169,859 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, to the income tax benefit of $1,148,239 and $955,325 for the comparable 2009 periods, respectively, is attributable to the net operating loss incurred before our income provision and the increase in nontaxable investment income.

Balance Sheet Review
 
General
At June 30, 2009, we had total assets of $696.0 million, consisting principally of $447.9 million in loans, $94.4 million in investments, and $95.0 million in cash and due from banks.  Our liabilities at June 30, 2009 totaled $645.7 million, which consisted principally of $575.3 million in deposits, $56.5 million in FHLB advances, and $11.4 million in other borrowings.  Since March 6, 2009, we improved our capital position by issuing $15.3 million of preferred stock to the United States Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Program.  At June 30, 2009, our shareholders’ equity was $50.3 million.

At December 31, 2008, we had total assets of $603.4 million, consisting principally of $469.0 million in loans, $80.9 million in investments, and $5.5 million in cash and due from banks.  Our liabilities at December 31, 2008 totaled $566.0 million, consisting principally of $461.1 million in deposits, $78.0 million in FHLB advances, and $25.5 million in other borrowings.  At December 31, 2008, our shareholders' equity was $37.4 million.

 
-26-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Investments Securities

The investment securities portfolio, which is also a component of our total earning assets, consists of securities available-for-sale and nonmarketable equity securities.

At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had investment securities totaling $94,417,256 and $80,885,516, respectively, which represented 13.57% and 13.40% of our total assets, respectively.

Nonmarketable equity securities consist of Federal Home Loan Bank stock, which is recorded at its original cost of $4,812,100 and $4,574,700 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

The amortized costs and the fair value of our securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are shown in the following table.
   
June 30, 2009
   
December 31,2008
 
   
Amortized
         
Amortized
       
   
Cost
   
Estimated
   
Cost
   
Estimated
 
   
(Book Value)
   
Fair Value
   
(Book Value)
   
Fair Value
 
U. S. Government agencies
  $ 5,035,557     $ 4,986,929     $ 88,013     $ 87,997  
Mortgage-backed securities
    43,429,576       42,744,057       46,465,667       47,574,021  
Municipal securities
    42,943,729       41,800,695       29,843,730       28,524,498  
Other
    218,750       73,475       218,750       124,300  
    $ 91,627,612     $ 89,605,156     $ 76,616,160     $ 76,310,816  

At June 30, 2009, securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair market value.  Approximately 40.32% of the unrealized losses, or 17 individual securities, consisted of securities in a continuous loss position for twelve months or more.  The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost.  The Company believes, based on industry analyst reports and credit ratings, that the deterioration in value is attributable to changes in market interest rates and is not in the credit quality of the issuer and therefore, these losses are not considered other than temporary.

Securities Available-for-sale Maturity Distribution and Yields

Contractual maturities and yields on our available for sale securities at June 30, 2009 are shown in the following table.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. 
 
   
After One But
   
After Five But
                         
June 30, 2009
 
Within Five Years
   
Within Ten Years
   
After Ten Years
   
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
 
U. S. Government agencies
  $ 17       6.34 %   $ -         %   $ 4,970       5.29 %   $ 4,987       5.29 %
Municipals (2)
    -       -       1,253       6.68       40,548       6.39       41,801       6.40  
Total securities (1)
  $ 17       6.34 %   $ 1,253       6.68 %   $ 45,518       6.28 %   $ 46,788       6.29 %
 
(1)
Excludes mortgage-backed securities totaling $42,744with a yield of 4.34 % and other equity securities totaling $73.
(2)
Yields are based on a tax equivalent basis of 34%.

 
-27-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Loans
 
Since loans typically provide higher interest yields than other types of interest earning assets, a substantial percentage of our earning assets are invested in our loan portfolio.  For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, average loans, including mortgage loans held for sale, were $483,599,949 and $487,754,471, respectively.  Before the allowance for loan losses, total loans outstanding, excluding mortgage loans held for sale, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, were $447,853,158 and $468,990,202, respectively.
 
The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

   
June 30,
   
% of
   
December 31,
   
% of
 
   
2009
   
Total
   
2008
   
Total
 
Mortgage loans on real estate
                       
Residential 1-4 family
  $ 61,956,006       13.83 %   $ 72,245,289       15.40 %
Multifamily
    8,490,679       1.90       7,104,889       1.51  
Commercial
    168,805,860       37.69       201,318,345       42.94  
Construction
    105,882,181       23.64       60,744,432       12.95  
Second mortgages
    5,327,104       1.19       4,989,538       1.06  
Equity lines of credit
    33,781,971       7.54       37,792,852       8.06  
Total mortgage loans
    384,243,801       85.79       384,195,345       81.92  
Commercial and industrial
    53,609,633       11.97       70,877,890       15.12  
Consumer
    8,400,815       1.88       8,974,448       1.91  
Other, net
    1,598,909       .36       4,942,519       1.05  
Total loans
  $ 447,853,158       100.00 %   $ 468,990,202       100.00 %

Maturities and Sensitivity of Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

The information in the following tables is based on the contractual maturities of individual loans, including loans which may be subject to renewal at their contractual maturity.  Renewal of such loans is subject to review and credit approval, as well as modification of terms upon maturity.  Actual repayments of loans may differ from the maturities reflected below because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

The following table summarizes the loan maturity distribution by type and related interest rate characteristics at June 30, 2009.

Loan Maturity Schedule and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

June 30, 2009
       
Over
             
(Dollars in thousands)
       
One Year
             
   
One Year or
   
Through
   
Over Five
       
   
Less
   
Five Years
   
Years
   
Total
 
Commercial and industrial
  $ 21,291     $ 29,372     $ 2,947     $ 53,610  
Real estate
    125,166       199,652       59,426       384,244  
Consumer and other
    2,879       6,315       805       9,999  
    $ 149,336     $ 235,339     $ 63,178     $ 447,853  
Loans maturing after one year with:
                               
Fixed interest rates
                          $ 156,523  
Floating interest rates
                            141,994  
                            $ 298,517  

 
-28-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses

The following table summarizes the activity related to our allowance for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.

   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Balance, January 1
  $ 8,223,899     $ 5,270,607  
Provision for loan losses for the period
    4,855,822       1,147,397  
Net loans (charged-off) recovered for the period
    (5,538,672 )     (677,144 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 7,541,049     $ 5,740,860  
Total loans outstanding, end of period
  $ 447,853,158     $ 466,428,206  
Allowance for loan losses to loans outstanding
    1.68 %     1.23 %

Risk Elements in the Loan Portfolio

The following is a summary of risk elements in the loan portfolio.
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
Nonperforming Loans
 
2009
   
2008
 
Nonaccrual loans
  $ 26,393,371     $ 3,308,463  
Accruing loans more than 90 days past due
    1,419,207       1,399,612  
                 
Nonperforming loans
  $ 27,812,578     $ 4,708,075  
                 
Percentage of nonperforming loans to total loans
    6.21 %     1.01 %
                 
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans
    27.11 %     92.81 %

Generally, loans are placed on nonaccrual status if principal or interest payments become 90 days past due and/or we deem the collectability of the principal and/or interest to be doubtful.  Once a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against interest income.  Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized on a cash basis when the ultimate collectability is no longer considered doubtful.  Loans are returned to accrual status when the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.  All nonaccruing loans at June 30, 2009, were included in our impaired loans.

Impaired Loans

At June 30, 2009, we had impaired loans totaling $49,263,581, as compared to $3,308,463 at June 30, 2008.  Included in the impaired loans at June 30, 2009, were 25 borrowers that accounted for approximately 76.24% of the total amount of the impaired loans at that date.  These loans were primarily commercial real estate loans isolated to the coastal regions of South Carolina.

The recent downturn in the real estate market has resulted in an increase in loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures; however, we believe these trends are slowing. In some cases, this downturn has resulted in a significant impairment to the value of the Company’s collateral and ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure at its appraised value. However, there is a risk that these trends could continue a higher pace.  If real estate values continue to decline, it is also more likely that the Company would be required to increase its allowance for loan losses.

 
-29-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

At June 30, 2009, nonaccrual loans were $26,393,371 and total recorded investments in impaired loans were $49,263,581 versus $3,308,463 at June 30, 2008.  During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the average investments in impaired loans were $41,066,599, as compared to $2,930,960 during the six months ended June 30, 2008.  Impaired loans with a specific allocation of the allowance for loan losses totaled $25,970,639 at June 30, 2009. The amount of the specific allocation was $4,880,786.  There was no specific allocation of the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2008.

Monthly, management analyzes each loan that is classified as impaired to determine the potential for possible loan losses.  This analysis is focused upon determining the then current estimated value of the collateral, local market condition and estimated costs to foreclose, repair and resell the property.  The net realizable value of the property is then computed and compared to the loan balance to determine the appropriate amount of specific reserve for each loan.

Interest income recognized on impaired loans for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $926,817.

Deposits and Other Interest-Bearing Liabilities

Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $42,420,154 or 8.37%, to $549,105,744 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, from $506,685,590 for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Deposits

For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, average total deposits were $504,915,663 and $449,810,541, respectively, which is an increase of $55,105,122 or 10.91%.  At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, total deposits were $575,265,557 and $461,135,384, respectively, an increase of $114,130,173 or 24.75%.

Average interest-bearing deposits increased $53,395,137, or 13.17%, to $458,920,096 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, from $405,524,959 for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

The average balance of non-interest bearing deposits increased $1,709,985, or 3.86%, to $45,995,567 for the six months ended June 30, 2009, from $44,285,582 for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

The following table shows the average balance amounts and the average rates paid on deposits held by us for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. 

   
2009
   
2008
 
   
Average
   
Average
   
Average
   
Average
 
   
Amount
   
Rate
   
Amount
   
Rate
 
Noninterest bearing demand deposits
  $ 45,995,567       0.0 %   $ 44,285,582       0.0 %
Interest bearing demand deposits
    35,928,629       0.58       29,457,748       0.65  
Savings accounts
    98,328,994       1.74       88,620,534       2.50  
Time deposits
    324,662,473       3.14       287,446,677       4.37  
    $ 504,915,663       2.40 %   $ 449,810,541       3.33 %

Core deposits, which exclude time deposits of $100,000 or more, provide a relatively stable funding source for our loan portfolio and other earning assets.  Core deposits were $363,492,333 and $323,690,517 at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.  This represented an increase of $39,801,816 or 12.30%.  The increase in core deposits resulted from successful pricing and marketing promotions.

Included in time deposits $100,000 and over, at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are brokered time deposits of $157,005,000 and $96,652,000, respectively.  We anticipate being able to either renew or replace brokered deposits when they mature, although we may not be able to replace them with deposits with the same terms or rates. 

 
-30-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Deposits, and particularly core deposits, have been our primary source of funding and have enabled us to meet successfully both our short-term and long-term liquidity needs.  We anticipate that such deposits will continue to be our primary source of funding in the future.  However, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank are being used as an alternative source of funds.  Our loan-to-deposit ratio was 77.85% and 101.70% at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

All of our time deposits are certificates of deposits.  The maturity distribution of our time deposits of $100,000 or more at June 30, 2009 was as follows:

   
June 30,
 
   
2009
 
Three months or less
  $ 37,400,195  
Over three through twelve months
    32,550,436  
Over one year through three years
    64,430,761  
Over three years
    77,391,832  
Total
  $ 211,773,224  

Borrowings
 
The following table outlines our various sources of borrowed funds during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and the year ended December 31, 2008, the amounts outstanding at the end of each period, at the maximum point for each component during the periods and on average for each period, and the average interest rate that we paid for each borrowing source.  The maximum month-end balance represents the high indebtedness for each component of borrowed funds at any time during each of the periods shown.

   
Maximum
                       
   
Outstanding
   
Weighted
                   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
at any
   
Average
   
Average
   
Ending
   
Period
 
   
Month End
   
Balance
   
Interest Rate
   
Balance
   
End Rate
 
At or for the six months ended June 30, 2009
                             
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
  $ 7,664     $ 3,472       0.07 %   $ 1,125       0.54 %
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    93,500       73,367       3.39       56,500       3.45  
Federal funds purchased
    243       41       0.82       -       -  
Note payable
    6,950       2,995       2.35       -       -  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310       10,310       6.00       10,310       5.93  
                                         
At or for the year ended December 31, 2008
                                       
                                         
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
  $ 9,291     $ 7,845       1.54 %   $ 8,197       0.25 %
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    83,500       72,617       3.77       78,000       3.43  
Federal funds purchased
    11,482       4,359       2.99       -       -  
Note payable
    6,950       3,389       4.01       6,950       2.00  
Junior subordinated debentures
    10,310       10,310       5.97       10,310       5.93  

 
-31-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Capital Resources

Total shareholders' equity at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $50,291,432 and $37,425,758, respectively.  The $12,865,674 increase during the first six months of 2009 resulted primarily from the issuance of $15,349,000 of preferred stock to the United States Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program.  See Note 6 of the condensed consolidated financial statements, which described the terms of the preferred stock issued to the Treasury.
 
The following table shows the return on average assets (net income (loss) divided by average total assets), return on average equity (net income (loss) divided by average equity), and equity to assets ratio (average equity divided by average total assets) for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.  Since our inception, we have not paid cash dividends on common stock.

   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Return on average assets
    (0.36 )%     0.51 %
Return on average equity
    (4.94 )%     7.99 %
Average equity to average assets ratio
    7.23 %     6.42 %

The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies.  Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.  The Company’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum ratios of Tier 1 and total capital as a percentage of assets and off-balance-sheet exposures, adjusted for risk weights ranging from 0% to 100%.  Tier 1 capital of the Company consists of common shareholders’ equity, excluding the unrealized gain or loss on securities available-for-sale, minus certain intangible assets.  The Company’s Tier 2 capital consists of the allowance for loan losses subject to certain limitations.  Total capital for purposes of computing the capital ratios consists of the sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. The regulatory minimum requirements are 4% for Tier 1 capital and 8% for total risk-based capital.

The Company and the Bank are also required to maintain capital at a minimum level based on quarterly average assets, which is known as the leverage ratio.  Only the strongest banks are allowed to maintain capital at the minimum requirement of 3%.  All others are subject to maintaining ratios 1% to 2% above the minimum.

The following table sets forth the Company's and the Bank's various capital ratios at June 30, 2009 and at December 31, 2008.  For all periods, the Bank was considered "well capitalized" and the Company met or exceeded its regulatory capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies.

   
June 30 , 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
   
Holding
         
Holding
       
   
Company
   
Bank
   
Company
   
Bank
 
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    12.34 %     11.29 %     10.73 %     9.60 %
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    13.59 %     12.54 %     11.97 %     10.86 %
Leverage or Tier 1 capital (to total average assets)
    9.39 %     8.57 %     9.28 %     8.18 %

 
-32-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Effect of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
The effect of relative purchasing power over time due to inflation has not been taken into account in our consolidated financial statements.  Rather, our financial statements have been prepared on an historical cost basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Unlike most industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature.  Therefore, the effect of changes in interest rates will have a more significant impact on our performance than will the effect of changing prices and inflation in general.  In addition, interest rates may generally increase as the rate of inflation increases, although not necessarily in the same magnitude.  As discussed previously, we seek to manage the relationships between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against wide rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation.

Off-Balance Sheet Risk
 
Through our operations, we have made contractual commitments to extend credit in the ordinary course of our business activities. These commitments are legally binding agreements to lend money to our customers at predetermined interest rates for a specified period of time.  At June 30, 2009, we had issued commitments to extend credit of $46.3 million and standby letters of credit of $2.6 million through various types of commercial lending arrangements.  Approximately $37.2 million of these commitments to extend credit had variable rates.

The following table sets forth the length of time until maturity for unused commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit at June 30, 2009.

         
After One
   
After Three
                   
   
Within
   
Through
   
Through
       
Greater
       
   
One
   
Three
   
Twelve
   
Within
   
Than
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Month
   
Months
   
Months
   
One Year
   
One Year
   
Total
 
                                     
Unused commitments to extend credit
  $ 8,818     $ 4,883     $ 11,437     $ 25,138     $ 21,186     $ 46,324  
Standby letters of credit
    -       423       615       1,038       1,598       2,636  
Total
  $ 8,818     $ 5,306     $ 12,052     $ 26,176     $ 22,784     $ 48,960  

We evaluate each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by us upon extension of credit, is based on our credit evaluation of the borrower.  Collateral varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, commercial and residential real estate.

 
-33-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates, which principally arises from interest rate risk inherent in our lending, investing, deposit gathering, and borrowing activities.  Other types of market risks, such as foreign currency exchange rate risk and commodity price risk, do not generally arise in the normal course of our business.  Our finance committee monitors and considers methods of managing exposure to interest rate risk.  We have both an internal finance committee consisting of senior management that meets at various times during each quarter and a management finance committee that meets weekly as needed.  The finance committees are responsible for maintaining the level of interest rate sensitivity of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities within board-approved limits.

We actively monitor and manage our interest rate risk exposure principally by measuring our interest sensitivity "gap," which is the positive or negative dollar difference between assets and liabilities that are subject to interest rate repricing within a given period of time.  Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets or liabilities, selling securities available for sale, replacing an asset or liability at maturity, or adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability.  Managing the amount of assets and liabilities repricing in this same time interval helps to hedge the risk and minimize the impact on net interest income of rising or falling interest rates.  We generally would benefit from increasing market rates of interest when we have an asset-sensitive gap position and generally would benefit from decreasing market rates of interest when we are liability-sensitive.

We were asset sensitive during most of the year ended December 31, 2008 and during the three months ended June 30, 2009.  As of June 30, 2009, we expect to be liability sensitive for the next nine months because a majority of our deposits reprice over a 12-month period.  Approximately 55% of our loans were variable rate loans at June 30, 2009.  The ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets after 12 months was (33.33%) because $186.0 million more assets will reprice in a 12 month period than liabilities.   However, our gap analysis is not a precise indicator of our interest sensitivity position.  The analysis presents only a static view of the timing of maturities and repricing opportunities, without taking into consideration that changes in interest rates do not affect all assets and liabilities equally.  For example, rates paid on a substantial portion of core deposits may change contractually within a relatively short time frame, but those rates are viewed by us as significantly less interest-sensitive than market-based rates such as those paid on noncore deposits.  Net interest income may be affected by other significant factors in a given interest rate environment, including changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 
-34-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued

Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity
 
Liquidity represents the ability of a company to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and the ability to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities.  Liquidity management involves monitoring our sources and uses of funds in order to meet our day-to-day cash flow requirements while maximizing profits.  Liquidity management is made more complicated because different balance sheet components are subject to varying degrees of management control.  For example, the timing of maturities of our investment portfolio is fairly predictable and subject to a high degree of control at the time investment decisions are made.  However, net deposit inflows and outflows are far less predictable and are not subject to the same degree of control.

At June 30, 2009, our liquid assets, consisting of cash and due from banks, amounted to $95.0 million, or 13.65% of total assets.  Our investment securities, excluding nonmarketable securities, at June 30, 2009 amounted to $89.6 million, or 12.87% of total assets.  Investment securities traditionally provide a secondary source of liquidity since they can be converted into cash in a timely manner.  However, $63.3 million of these securities are pledged against unused FHLB borrowing lines, the Federal Reserve line of credit, and other required deposit accounts.  At December 31, 2008, our liquid assets, consisting of cash and due from banks, amounted to $5.7 million, or 0.95% of total assets.  Our investment securities, excluding nonmarketable securities, at December 31, 2008 amounted to $76.3 million, or 12.65% of total assets.  However, $73.2 million of these securities were pledged. 

Our ability to maintain and expand our deposit base and borrowing capabilities serves as our primary source of liquidity.  We plan to meet our future cash needs through the liquidation of temporary investments, the generation of deposits, and from additional borrowings.  In addition, we will receive cash upon the maturity and sale of loans and the maturity of investment securities.  During most of 2008 and the first six months of 2009, as a result of historically low rates that were being earned on short-term liquidity investments, we maintained a lower than normal level of short-term liquidity securities.  Additionally, we maintain four federal funds purchased lines of credit with correspondent banks, giving us credit availability totaling approximately $17.0 million, for which there were no borrowings against the lines at June 30, 2009.  We are also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, from which applications for borrowings can be made for leverage purposes.  The FHLB requires that securities, qualifying mortgage loans, and stock of the FHLB owned by the bank be pledged to secure any advances from the FHLB. The Company has an available line to borrow funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank up to 30% of the Bank’s total assets which provide additional available funds of $104.6 million at June 30, 2009.  At June 30, 2009, the bank had $56.5 million outstanding in FHLB advances. Additionally, the Company has an available line of credit at the Federal Reserve of $32.2 million.  At June 30, 2009, there were no borrowings against this line. We believe that sources described above will be sufficient to meet our future liquidity needs.

Asset/liability management is the process by which we monitor and control the mix and maturities of our assets and liabilities. The essential purposes of asset/liability management are to ensure adequate liquidity and to maintain an appropriate balance between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to minimize potentially adverse impacts on earnings from changes in market interest rates.  We have both an internal finance committee consisting of senior management that meets at various times during each quarter and a management finance committee that meets weekly as needed.  The finance committees are responsible for maintaining the level of interest rate sensitivity of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities within board-approved limits.

 
-35-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - continued
Interest Sensitivity Analysis

The following table sets forth information regarding our rate sensitivity as of June 30, 2009 for each of the time intervals indicated. The information in the table may not be indicative of our rate sensitivity position at other points in time.  In addition, the maturity distribution indicated in the table may differ from the contractual maturities of the earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities presented due to consideration of prepayment speeds under various interest rate change scenarios in the application of the interest rate sensitivity methods described above.

June 30, 2009
                                   
         
After One
   
Three
         
Greater Than
       
         
Through
   
Through
         
One Year or
       
   
Within One
   
Three
   
Twelve
   
Within One
   
Non-
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Month
   
Months
   
Months
   
Year
   
Sensitive
   
Total
 
Assets
                                   
Interest-earning assets
                                   
Loans
  $ 55,698     $ 34,914     $ 83,630     $ 174,242     $ 273,611     $ 447,853  
Loans held for sale
    -       -       -       -       14,926       14,926  
Securities, taxable
    357       678       2,607       3,642       44,163       47,805  
Securities, nontaxable
    -       -       -       -       41,800       41,800  
Nonmarketable securities
    4,812       -       4,812       -       4,812          
Investment in trust
    -       -       -       -       310       310  
Total earning assets
    60,867       35,592       86,237       182,696       374,810       557,506  
Liabilities
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
Demand deposits
  $ 42,327     $       $       $ 42,327     $       $ 42,327  
Savings deposits
    105,726       105,726       105,726                          
Time deposits
    35       73,640       115,133       188,808       195,931       384,739  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    148,088       73,640       115,133       336,861       195,931       532,792  
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
    -       8,500       22,000       30,500       26,000       56,500  
Junior subordinated debentures
    -       -       -       -       10,310       10,310  
Repurchase agreements
    1,125       -       -       1,125       -       1,125  
                                                 
Total interest-bearing Liabilities
    149,213       82,140       137,133       368,486       232,241       600,727  
Period gap
  $ (88,346 )   $ (46,548 )   $ (50,896 )   $ (185,790 )   $ 142,569          
                                                 
Cumulative gap
  $ (88,346 )   $ (134,894 )   $ (185,790 )   $ (185,790 )   $ (43,221 )        
                                                 
Ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets
    (15.85 )%     (24.20 )%     (33.33 )%     (33.33 )%     (7.75 )%        

 
-36-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See "Market Risk" and "Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity" in Item 2, Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (“Disclosure Controls”).  Disclosure Controls, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.  Disclosure Controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls will prevent all error and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected.  These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.  The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

Based upon their controls evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our Disclosure Controls are effective at a reasonable assurance level.

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during our second fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
-37-

 

FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Part II - Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

There are no material, pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its subsidiary is a party or of which any of their property is the subject.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1. Business" under the heading "Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.  The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a)
Not applicable.

(b)
Not applicable

(c)
The following stock repurchases were made during the period covered by this report in connection with administration of the Company’s employee stock ownership plan.
 
               
Total
       
               
Number of
   
Maximum
 
               
Shares
   
Number of
 
               
Purchased as
   
Shares that
 
               
Part of
   
May Yet Be
 
   
Total
         
Publicly
   
Purchased
 
   
Number of
   
Average Price
   
Announced
   
Under the
 
   
Shares
   
Paid per
   
Plans or
   
Plans or
 
Period
 
Purchased
   
Share
   
Programs
   
Programs
 
April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009
    81     $ 5.85       -       -  
May 1, 2009 – May 31, 2009
    -     $ -       -       -  
June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009/a
    -     $ -       -       -  
      81     $ 5.85       -       -  

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

 
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FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

In connection with Annual Meeting of Shareholders held June 18, 2009, the election of directors with expiring terms and a non-binding proposal regarding executive compensation were submitted to our common shareholders for approval.  The outcome of the voting was as follows:

PROPOSAL 1: Election of Class B Directors

Director Nominee: Paul C. Saunders
 
   
No. of Votes
 
Percent of Outstanding
 Shares
For:
 
2,295,743
 
97.9 %
Withhold:
 
49,967
 
2.1%
 
Director Nominee: Andrew G. Kamiziones
   
No. of Votes
 
Percent of Outstanding
 Shares
For:
 
2,234,471
 
95.3%
Withhold:
 
111,239
 
4.7 %

Director Nominee: Jeffery A. Paolucci
   
No. of Votes
 
Percent of Outstanding
Shares
For:
 
2,297,005
 
97.9%
Withhold:
 
48,705
 
2.1%

PROPOSAL 2: Nonbinding Proposal Regarding Compensation of the Company’s Executive Officers

   
No. of Votes
 
Percent of Outstanding
Shares
For:
 
2,021,911
 
91.5%
Against:
 
186,831
 
8.5%
Abstain:
 
136,968
 

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Number Exhibit
   
     
31.1
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
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SIGNATURE

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
   
Date:     August 14, 2009
By:
/s/ F.R. SAUNDERS, JR.
   
F. R. Saunders, Jr.
   
President & Chief Executive Officer
     
Date:     August 14, 2009
By:
/s/ JEFFERY A. PAOLUCCI
   
Jeffery A. Paolucci
   
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 
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