Five Southeastern Bank Brands to Come Together as South State Bank
COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
First Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCBT) announced today its plan
to join five brands under one unified name – South State Bank.
The holding company name will also be changed to South State
Corporation, subject to obtaining shareholder approval for the name
change at the 2014 annual shareholder meeting to be held in April.
The company operates today in SC, NC and GA under the brands: First
Federal, North Carolina Bank and Trust (NCBT), Community Bank & Trust
(CBT), The Savannah Bank, and South Carolina Bank and Trust(SCBT). All of these bank divisions will operate as South State
Bank when they transition to the new name this summer.
“This is a great next step for our company. Our new name reflects the
strength and stability we’ve had for years and clearly positions us to
continue building the best regional bank in the Southeast,” said Robert
R. Hill, Jr., CEO. “We have combined a number of great banks into one
strong, relationship driven regional bank. While our name is changing,
our approach to relationship banking and exceptional service levels will
remain the same. The new name will provide greater convenience and
increased access for our customers.”
Once all bank divisions begin operating under one name and on one system
later this summer, customers will be able to do their banking at any
location throughout the three-state network. With 138 branches
currently, the combination of these bank brands will create a unified
$7.9 billion bank that is the largest publicly traded bank headquartered
in South Carolina and one of the largest headquartered in the Southeast.
Employees from each bank division gathered today for a celebration in
Columbia, where they were first to learn about the new brand and the
vision for a more integrated organization going forward.
Customers will receive communication throughout the rebranding process
as the bank prepares for the name change. On June 30, 2014, SCBT, CBT,
NCBT and The Savannah Bank will change their names to South State Bank.
First Federal will undergo a system conversion and name change on July
21, 2014.
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
First Financial Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: SCBT) Columbia, South Carolina
is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of
South Carolina. The Company consists of SCBT, the Bank and the following
divisions: NCBT, Community Bank & Trust, The Savannah Bank, and First
Federal. The Bank also operates Minis & Co., Inc. and First Southeast
401k Fiduciaries, both registered investment advisors; and First
Southeast Investor Services, a wholly owned broker dealer. Providing
financial services for over 80 years, First Financial Holdings, Inc.
operates 138 locations in 19 South Carolina counties, 12 Georgia
counties and 4 North Carolina counties. First Financial Holdings, Inc.
has assets of approximately $7.9 billion and its stock is traded under
the symbol SCBT in the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Please visit www.SCBTonline.com
for more information.
Important Additional Information
First Financial Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) will prepare and file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy
statement and other relevant documents for the Company’s shareholders
concerning, among other things, the holding company’s proposed name
change. The Company’s shareholders are urged to read the proxy materials
regarding the proposed name change as they become available and any
other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments
or supplements to those documents, because these will contain important
information. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy
statement, as well as other filings containing information about the
Company, at the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
The documents can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a
written request to: First Financial Holdings, Inc., 520 Gervais Street,
Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the
Company in connection with the proposed holding company name change.
Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company
and their ownership of the Company’s common stock is set forth in the
Company’s most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC and available
at the SEC’s internet site and from the Company at the address set forth
in the preceding paragraph. Additional information regarding the
interests of these participants regarding, among other things, the
proposed holding company name change may be obtained by reading the 2014
annual shareholder meeting proxy statement when it becomes available.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Statements included in this release which are not historical in nature
are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward looking
statements for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements
generally include words such as “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,”
“believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “plan,” “potential,”
“possible” and other similar expressions. The Company cautions readers
that forward looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
anticipated results. Such risks and uncertainties, include, among
others, (1) potential diminution of brand name awareness or customer
confusion, (2) potential inability to obtain shareholder approval of the
proposed holding company name change, (3) operational risks and expenses
associated with a name change, and (4) other factors disclosed in
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 4, 2013 or in its
subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any of
which could cause actual results to differ materially from future
results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
Donna Pullen, 803-765-4558
Source: First Financial Holdings, Inc.