Yesterday, First Community Bank and First South Bank jointly announced the signing of a purchase and assumption agreement for First Community to acquire approximately $43 million in deposits and $9 million in loans from First South.  This represents all of the deposits and a portion of the loans at First South's Columbia banking office located at 1333 Main Street.  First Community is paying a premium of $800 thousand which may be adjusted based on actual account balances at closing date.  The banks expect the purchase to close by the end of the third quarter of this year following regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. 

The deposits and loans will be transferred to First Community's recently opened downtown Columbia banking office located at 1213 Lady Street just around the corner from First South's current Columbia location.  Mike Crapps, First Community President and CEO, commented on the pending transaction by saying, "We look forward to welcoming these First South customers to First Community.  Our top priority will be to insure a smooth transition for First South customers included in this transaction."  Crapps noted, "The purchase of these deposits and loans allows First Community to immediately expand our presence in and serve a larger customer base from this key downtown market area." 

First South CEO, Barry Slider, added, "We thank these customers for the privilege of serving them.  We are confident that First Community will provide them with exceptional customer service and the added convenience of an expanded banking network in theColumbia area." 

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 for businesses and consumers, residential mortgage lending, and financial planning/investment advisory services.  First Community has a network of fourteen banking offices located in the Midlands of South Carolina, Aiken, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia.   For more information on First Community Bank, visit www.firstcommunitysc.com. 

First South Bank, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina is a wholly owned subsidiary of First South Bancorp Inc. (OTCBB: FSBS).  First South has developed a strong niche in small business lending and serves customers through five banking centers located in Spartanburg, East Spartanburg, Greenville, Columbia and Bluffton/Hilton Head.  In addition, First South offers investment brokerage and mortgage loan services through its subsidiary First South Financial Services.  For more information on First South Bank, visit www.firstsouthbancorp.com.