Seasoned Upstate Bankers Establish Greenville Presence for First Community Bank

LEXINGTON, S.C., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- First Community Bank, headquartered in Lexington, South Carolina, is expanding its loan production office in the Greenville market with the addition of commercial bankers Coleman Kirven, Trey Werner and David Ramseur.

Kirven, Werner and Ramseur bring more than a combined 50 years of banking experience in the Upstate of South Carolina, primarily working with local businesses and professionals. Kirven will lead the group as Senior Vice President/Regional Market President with Werner as Vice President/Senior Commercial Banker and Ramseur as Vice President/Commercial Banker. Dana Childress will be joining as the paralender for the Greenville market.  Kirven commented on First Community's Upstate expansion by saying, "Our team is excited to become a part of First Community Bank.  We are passionate about the Upstate market and joining First Community allows us to continue to serve local businesses and professionals with a partner focused on their unique needs.  With First Community's strong record of success and similar values, we knew this was a great fit for us."

First Community Bank operates 15 full-service offices with more than 200 employees in the Midlands of South Carolina; Aiken, South Carolina; and Augusta, Georgia. The bank provides three primary lines of business: commercial and retail banking, residential mortgage banking, and financial planning/investment advisory services and has over 20 years of experience in serving local businesses and professional practices.

Known as a community bank designed to meet the unique needs of business owners, First Community sees tremendous growth opportunities in the Upstate. "Business activity in the Greenville area is strong, and for the past two years, we have been seeking the right bankers to help expand our presence in this market," said Michael Crapps, President and CEO of First Community Bank. "We are very pleased to assemble a team that matches our distinct style of banking and will help us grow our other lines of business in the future."

Several members of First Community Bank's Board of Directors have ties to the Greenville area including two longtime bankers, Randy Potter, co-founder of Summit Bank and Savannah River Banking Company, and former CEO of Newberry Federal, Tommy Johnson.

One of First Community's primary strategic initiatives is to re-mix the asset side of its balance sheet, moving toward a goal of an 80% loan-to-earning asset mix; thereby enhancing net interest income and earnings per share.  This entry into the fast growing Greenville market will serve as a catalyst to move closer to this important goal.  While initially the team's work will be focused on growth in the commercial loan portfolio, they will also be able to identify prospects for the other lines of business, including financial planning and mortgage banking.  Longer term, First Community will seek the appropriate strategy in order to build out a deposit franchise in Greenville as well. 

First Community Bank, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Lexington, South Carolina, is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Community Corporation (NASDAQ: FCCO). First Community is a full service commercial bank offering deposit and loan products and services, residential mortgage lending, and financial planning/investment advisory services for businesses and consumers. First Community has a network of 15 banking offices located in the Midlands of South Carolina, Aiken, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia. 

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SOURCE First Community Bank