South Carolina

Southern First Bank in Greenville, S.C., and Five Star Bank in Warsaw, N.Y., are entering new markets.

HCSB Financial in Loris, S.C., has recruited its third executive since completing a key recapitalization.

South State in Columbia, S.C., has terminated five loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

South State in South Carolina has agreed to buy Southeastern Bank Financial in Georgia, which is run by Daniel Blanton, the chairman of the American Bankers Association.

It has been seven years, and it’s going to take about $16.1 million, but First Reliance Bancshares in Florence, S.C., says it is about to close a key chapter in its post-crisis recovery and is ready to ramp up growth.

Castle Creek Capital Partners has appointed a director to serve on the board at HCSB Financial in Loris, S.C.

South State in Columbia, S.C., is planning to close 11 branches over the rest of this year.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has agreed to buy Tidelands Bancshares in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., for $2.2 million in cash, or 52 cents a share.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has delayed the closing of its acquisition of Southcoast Financial in Mount Pleasant, S.C., as the Federal Reserve has not completed its review of the deal.

South State in Columbia, S.C., has promoted one of its executives to become chief executive of its bank.

A dozen banks from Arkansas to Virginia are nearing $10 billion in assets, where they will face higher compliance costs and caps on interchange fees. Mergers among those institutions could create a new class of regional bank.

Atlantic Bancshares in Bluffton, S.C., has raised about $4 million to redeem shares issued through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Tidelands Bancshares in Mount Pleasant, S.C., has been declared in default on $18.3 million of trust-preferred securities.

HCSB Financial in Loris, S.C., said Jan Hollar would become its chief executive after a $45 million recapitalization led by Castle Creek Capital Partners.

Carolina Alliance Bank in Spartanburg, S.C., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund program.

The company plans to eliminate an unknown number of positions, including high-paying job titles such as managing director.

Carolina Financial in Charleston, S.C., has agreed to buy Congaree Bancshares in Cayce, S.C.