Greenville, S.C. (October 26, 2023) - Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, announces the opening of its new Dream Mortgage Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

Southern First’s mission is to impact lives in the communities we serve, and one of the most impactful and wealth-building events in a person’s life is becoming a homeowner. However, many potential buyers lack the access to lenders, credit, and information about the homebuying process necessary to begin the path to homeownership. As a relationship-first financial institution, it is our honor to bridge this gap and come alongside everyone in the communities we serve to help them achieve their homeownership goals.

Art Seaver, CEO of Southern First, shared, “We believe deeply in the power of relationships and trust to impact lives. As we think creatively about how we can have even more to impact those around us, we are excited about the privilege we have in helping more people own homes.”

With this in mind, Southern First created the Dream Mortgage Center, a space purposely designed to create opportunities for education and outreach in an underserved community in Richland County. By providing access to homebuyer education, meeting space for community events, and mortgage lending experts equipped with a variety of loan products to fit any budget, Southern First hopes to create over $10 million of annual impact in Columbia.

Cal Hurst, President of Southern First, said, “We are excited to use the Dream Mortgage Center as a place where relationships can be built and where we can do our part to enable the dream of homeownership. This Center is unique – designed to be inviting, not imposing; built to facilitate partnership, not just transactions; aimed at making people better off in the community they love.”

The Dream Mortgage Center is located at 452 Killian Road, Suite B in Columbia, and is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Fridays and by appointment. Visit  southernfirst/dream-mortgage-center for more information.