First Financial Holdings Inc.

Overview

First Financial Holdings Inc. is a savings and loan holding company and the parent of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston, known as First Federal. In addition to banking, it offers cash management, retail investment services, mortgage banking, insurance, and trust and investment management services. Based in Charleston, S.C., the thrift has 58 offices, including outlets in Wal-Mart Supercenters, Kroger and Lowes Food Stores.

The company has acquired a variety of different businesses in recent years. It also has benefited from the federal bailout in 2008, receiving a $65 million investment from the Treasury Department as part of the government's capital purchase program.

Recruiting

• Best Places to Work in South Carolina
  
• Employee Training
  

Facts & Resources

Resources

• First Federal
  
• First Federal's Connections customer and Ventures 50-plus newsletters
  

Subsidiaries & Divisions

• First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston
  
• First Southeast Investors Services Inc.
  
• First Southeast Insurance Services Inc.
  
• Associated Insurors/First Southeast Insurance Services Inc.
  
• Kinghorn Insurance Services Inc.
  
• Kimbrell Insurance Group
  
• Johnson Insurance Associates Inc.
  
• Atlantic Acceptance Corporation
  
• Somers-Pardue Insurance Services
  
• Benefit Administrators Inc.
  

Competitors

• First Citizens Bancorp.
  
• South Financial
  
• Wells Fargo & Co.