FIRST
FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. ANNOUNCES
DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS AND RESULTS OF ANNUAL
MEETING
Charleston, South Carolina (February 1, 2005)
– First
Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:
FFCH) today announced that its Board of Directors
has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend
of $.23 per share. The dividend is payable February
25, 2005, to stockholders of record as of February
11, 2005.
A.
Thomas Hood, President and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, “We are very pleased to have our
stockholders continue to benefit directly in the
profitability of the Company through the payment
of cash dividends. The Board of Directors and
Management are committed to enhancing the value
of our stockholders’ investment.”
First Financial also announced that at its Annual
Meeting on January 27, 2005, shareholders elected
Thomas J. Johnson, James C. Murray and D. Kent
Sharples to the Board of Directors for a three-year
term to expire January 2008. Shareholders also
ratified the adoption of the 2005 Stock Option
Plan and the 2005 Performance Equity Plan.
After seventeen years of service on the boards
of First Financial and First Federal, Gary C.
Banks, Jr. retired as a director and was elected
to Director Emeritus status. Mr. Hood commented,
“Mr. Banks has made significant contributions
to the Company, industries and communities we
serve. We look forward to his continued association
as Director Emeritus.”
First Financial is the thrift holding company
of First Federal Savings and Loan Association
of Charleston. The Association operates a total
of 48 offices located in the Charleston Metropolitan
area, Horry, Georgetown, Florence and Beaufort
counties in South Carolina and Brunswick County
in coastal North Carolina. The Company also provides
insurance, brokerage and trust services through
First
Southeast Insurance Services, Kimbrell
Insurance Group, First
Southeast Investor Services and First
Southeast Fiduciary and Trust Services.. For
additional information about First Financial,
please visit our web site at www.firstfinancialholdings.com. |
