Form 8-K
8-K — COLONY BANKCORP INC
Accession: 0001104659-26-077342
Filed: 2026-06-24
Period: 2026-06-24
CIK: 0000711669
SIC: 6022 (STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS)
Item: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Item: Other Events
Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits
Documents
8-K — tm2618469d1_8k.htm (Primary)
EX-2.1 — EXHIBIT 2.1 (tm2618469d1_ex2-1.htm)
EX-99.1 — EXHIBIT 99.1 (tm2618469d1_ex99-1.htm)
EX-99.2 — EXHIBIT 99.2 (tm2618469d1_ex99-2.htm)
EX-99.3 — EXHIBIT 99.3 (tm2618469d1_ex99-3.htm)
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
June 24, 2026
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
Georgia
(State or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
001-42397
(Commission File Number)
58-1492391
(IRS. Employer Identification
Number)
115 South Grant Street,
Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
(Address of principal executive
offices) (Zip Code)
(229) 426-6000
(Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
x Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each Class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name
of each exchange on
which registered
Common
stock, par value $1.00 per share
CBAN
The
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405
of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company
¨
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section l3(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material
Definitive Agreement
Agreement and Plan of Merger
Merger. On June 24, 2026, Colony Bankcorp,
Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”)
with First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (“FSRL”), whereby FSRL will be merged with and into the
Company (the “Merger”). Pursuant to and simultaneously with entering into the Merger Agreement, the Company’s wholly-owned
subsidiary bank, Colony Bank, and FSRL’s wholly-owned subsidiary bank, First Reliance Bank, entered into a Bank Plan of Merger and
Merger Agreement whereby First Reliance Bank will be merged with and into Colony Bank immediately following the merger of FSRL with and
into the Company (the “Bank Merger”).
The
Merger Agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of the Company and FSRL. The transaction is expected to close
during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions discussed below.
Merger Consideration. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, upon the consummation of the Merger, each outstanding share of FSRL common stock and FSRL preferred stock (collectively, the
“FSRL Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”)
will be converted into the right to receive, at the election of each FSRL shareholder, either (i) $19.75 in cash (the “Per Share
Cash Consideration”), or (ii) 0.94 of a share of the Company’s common stock (the “Per Share Stock Consideration”),
subject to customary proration and allocation procedures such that approximately 20% of FSRL Stock will be converted to the Per Share
Cash Consideration and the remaining 80% of FSRL Stock will be converted to the Per Share Stock Consideration.
Immediately prior to, but continent upon, the
Effective Time, each then-outstanding restricted stock unit (other than certain restricted stock units identified as “Rollover RSUs”)
that was granted under a FSRL stock plan will fully vest and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive, as elected by the holder
and subject to allocation procedures and applicable tax withholdings, either the Per Share Cash Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration.
Each Rollover RSU will be assumed by CBAN and converted into a restricted stock unit with respect to shares of CBAN Common Stock (a “CBAN
RSU”), with the number of CBAN RSUs determined based on the exchange ratio and subject to substantially the same terms and conditions,
including vesting conditions.
Each restricted share of FSRL Common Stock will
become fully vested and will receive, as elected by the holder and subject to allocation procedures and applicable tax withholdings, either
the Per Share Cash Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration.
Immediately prior to, but contingent upon, the
Effective Time, each option to purchase shares of FSRL common stock (“FSRL Option”), whether vested or unvested, will be cancelled
and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares of common stock of FSRL
subject to such FSRL Option times (ii) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Cash Consideration over the exercise price per
share of common stock of FSRL under such FSRL Option, less applicable taxes required to be withheld with respect to such payment,
with no payment made with respect to any FSRL Option that has an exercise price per share equal to or greater than the Per Share Cash
Consideration.
Each outstanding share of the Company’s
common stock will remain outstanding and will be unaffected by the Merger.
Representations and Warranties. The Merger
Agreement contains usual and customary representations and warranties that the Company and FSRL made to each other as of specific dates.
The assertions embodied in those representations and warranties were made solely for purposes of the contract between the Company and
FSRL and may be subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating certain terms.
Moreover, certain of the representations and warranties are subject to a contractual standard of materiality that may be different from
what may be viewed as material to shareholders, and the representations and warranties may have been used to allocate risk between the
Company and FSRL rather than establishing matters of fact.
Covenants; No Solicitation. Each party
also has agreed to customary covenants, including, among others, covenants relating to the conduct of its business during the interim
period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Merger. Additionally, FSRL has agreed, subject to certain
exceptions, not to (i) initiate, solicit, induce or knowingly encourage or take any action or facilitate any alternative acquisition transaction;
(ii) participate in discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish any non-public information relating to, any alternative acquisition
transaction; or (iii) withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to the Company, the recommendation of the FSRL board of directors that FSRL’s
shareholders approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger. In the event that FSRL receives a proposal with respect to an alternative acquisition
transaction that the FSRL board of directors determines is superior to the Merger, the Company will have an opportunity to match the terms
of such proposal, subject to certain requirements.
Conditions to Closing. Consummation of
the Merger is subject to various customary conditions, including (i) approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by shareholders of
FSRL and approval of the issuance of common stock of the Company by shareholders of the Company; (ii) the receipt of certain regulatory
approvals; (iii) the receipt of certain governmental approvals; (iv) no injunctions or other legal restraints preventing the consummation
of the Merger; (v) the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) having declared effective the Company’s registration
statement covering the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock in the Merger; (vi) the receipt by each party of a tax opinion
to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended; (vii) the Company’s receipt of a Certification of Non-USRPHC status from FSRL; , (viii) the accuracy of representations
and warranties of the parties and compliance by the parties with their respective covenants and obligations under the Merger Agreement
(subject to customary materiality qualifiers); (ix) dissenting shares representing less than 7.5% of the outstanding shares of FSRL stock;
and (x) the absence of a material adverse effect with respect to the either the Company or FSRL.
Termination. The Merger Agreement may be
terminated in certain circumstances, including: (i) by mutual written agreement of the parties, (ii) by either party if any regulatory
approval required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement has been denied by final non-appealable action
by the relevant governmental authority or an application for such approval has been permanently withdrawn at the request of a governmental
authority, (iii) by either party if the approval of the shareholders of either party is not obtained, (iv) by either party in the event
of a material breach by the other party of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in the Merger Agreement and such breach
is not cured within thirty days, (v) by either party if the Merger is not consummated on or before March 24, 2027 subject to automatic
extension to April 23, 2027 if the only outstanding closing condition is the receipt of regulatory approvals, (vi) by the Company if FSRL’s
board of directors breaches its obligation not to solicit any alternative acquisition transaction, changes its recommendation with respect
to the Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, or breaches its obligation to call the FSRL shareholder meeting to
vote on the Merger, (vii) by FSRL if the Company breaches its obligation to call the Company shareholder meeting to vote on the issuance
of the Company’s common stock in connection with the merger, (viii) by FSRL in order to enter into an agreement relating to a superior
proposal; (ix) by FSRL if the average of the daily closing prices for the Company’s common stock for the twenty (20) consecutive
trading days ending on the fifth trading day immediately preceding closing both (A) is less than $16.86, and (B) underperforms a specified
index of financial institution stocks during comparable periods by more than 20%; provided, however, that in the event that FSRL provides
notice of its intent to terminate the Merger Agreement as provided in this section (ix), the Company may, but is not obligated, increase
the consideration through an adjustment to the exchange ratio to an amount equal to a minimum amount necessary to avoid the satisfaction
of the conditions in (A) and (B).
Termination Fee. FSRL will pay the Company
a termination fee equal to $6,600,000 in the event (i) the Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company because FSRL’s board of
directors breaches its obligation not to solicit any alternative acquisition transaction, changes its recommendation with respect to the
Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, or breaches its obligation to call the FSRL shareholder meeting to vote on
the Merger, (ii) FSRL terminates the Merger Agreement in order to accept a superior proposal, or (iii) the Merger Agreement is terminated
(A) by either the Company or FSRL because the required FSRL shareholder approval is not obtained or (B) by the Company because of FSRL’s
material breach of representations, warranties or covenants, and, in each case, FSRL enters into an agreement for or completes an acquisition
transaction within 12 months of the termination of the Merger Agreement if any acquisition proposal was received after the date of the
Merger Agreement and prior to its termination.
The foregoing
summary of the Merger Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement,
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The Merger Agreement should not be read alone,
but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding the Company, its affiliates and their respective businesses,
and the information regarding the Merger Agreement, the Merger and FSRL that will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into,
the registration statement on Form S-4 of the Company that will include a joint proxy statement of FSRL and the Company and a prospectus
of the Company and that will be filed with the SEC.
Voting Agreements
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement,
the directors and executive officers of both the Company and FSRL have entered into voting agreements (the “Voting Agreements”),
pursuant to which each such director and executive officer of FSRL and the Company agreed to vote his or her shares of FSRL Stock and
the Company common stock, as applicable, (i) in favor of approval of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
therein, (ii) in favor of any adjournment of the applicable shareholder meeting if there are insufficient votes to approve the transaction
or, for the Company, to approve the issuance of its common stock, (iii) against any action that would materially breach the merger agreement
or delay or impede the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iv) for FSRL, against any acquisition proposal. The Voting Agreements generally
prohibit the sale or transfer of the shares held by each such director or executive officer until the earlier of (i) termination of the
Merger Agreement or (ii) receipt of the requisite approval of the shareholders. The Voting Agreements terminate upon the earlier of (i)
the consummation of the Merger, (ii) the amendment of the Merger Agreement in any manner that materially and adversely affects any rights
of the shareholder, (iii) the termination of the Merger Agreement or (iv) three years from the date of the Voting Agreements.
The foregoing summary of the Voting Agreements
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such documents, the forms of which are included as Exhibit A and Exhibit
B, respectively, to the Merger Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.1 attached hereto and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Director Non-Compete Agreements
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement,
each of the directors of FSRL and First Reliance Bank will enter into a Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement with the Company,
which contains provisions related to the non-disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets, non-solicitation of customers with
whom such directors had material contact, non-competition within a restricted territory and non-recruitment of employees.
The foregoing summary of the Non-Competition and
Non-Disclosure Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such document, a form of which is included
as Exhibit D to the Merger Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.1 attached hereto and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events
On June 24, 2026, the Company and FSRL issued
a joint press release announcing the entry into the Merger Agreement. A copy of the joint press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
The Company is also providing supplemental information relating to the Merger in the investor
presentation attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and questions and answers for Company and FSRL team members used on June 24, 2026 as Exhibit
99.3.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This Current Report contains “forward-looking
statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In general, forward-looking statements usually use
words such as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,”
“should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue” and “potential”
or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, including statements related to the expected timing of the closing of
the Merger, the expected returns and other benefits of the Merger to shareholders, expected improvement in operating efficiency resulting
from the Merger, estimated expense reductions resulting from the transactions and the timing of achievement of such reductions, the impact
on and timing of the recovery of the impact on tangible book value, and the effect of the Merger on the Company's capital ratios. Forward-looking
statements represent management's beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters
addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties
that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by
such statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to (1) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from the Merger may not be realized
or take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption from the Merger with customers, suppliers, employee or other business partners
relationships, (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement,
(4) the risk of successful integration of FSRL’s business into the Company, (5) the failure to obtain the necessary approvals by
the shareholders of FSRL or the Company, (6) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger, (7) the ability
of the parties to obtain required governmental approvals of the Merger on expected terms or in a timely manner, or at all, (8) reputational
risk and the reaction of each of the companies' customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the Merger, (9) the failure
of the closing conditions in the Merger Agreement to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing of the Merger, (10) the risk that
the integration of FSRL’s operations into the operations of the Company will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult
than expected, (11) the possibility that the Merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected
factors or events, (12) the dilution caused by the Company's issuance of additional shares of its common stock in the Merger transaction,
(13) the successful integration of the recently completed acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc., and (14) general competitive, economic,
political and market conditions.
These factors are not necessarily all of the factors
that could cause the Company’s, FSRL’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or unpredictable
factors, also could harm the Company’s, FSRL’s, or the combined company’s results.
The Company and FSRL urge you to consider all
of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by the Company and /
or FSRL. As a result of these and other matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other factors, the actual
results relating to the subject matter of any forward-looking statement may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed or
implied in that forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made in this Current Report or made by the Company or FSRL in
any report, filing, document or information incorporated by reference in this Current Report, speaks only as of the date on which it is
made. The Company and FSRL undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions
or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. The Company and FSRL believe that these assumptions or bases have been chosen in good
faith and that they are reasonable. However, the Company and FSRL caution you that assumptions as to future occurrences or results almost
always vary from actual future occurrences or results, and the differences between assumptions and actual occurrences and results can
be material. Therefore, the Company and FSRL caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this
Current Report or incorporated by reference herein.
If the Company or FSRL update one or more forward-looking
statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company or FSRL will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking
statements, unless required by law. Further information regarding the Company and factors which could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can
be found in the cautionary language included under the headings “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2025, and other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the SEC.
Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find
It
This Current Report does not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed Merger, the Company will file with
the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of FSRL and the Company and a prospectus of
the Company, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. WE URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, FSRL AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. The joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the shareholders
of FSRL seeking the required shareholder approval. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
registration statement on Form S-4 and the related joint proxy statement/prospectus, when filed, as well as other documents filed
with the SEC by the Company through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Documents filed with the SEC by the Company
will also be available free of charge by directing a written request to Colony Bankcorp, Inc., 115 South Grant Street, Fitzgerald,
Georgia 31750, Attn: Derek Shelnutt and on the Company’s website, www.colony.bank, under Investor Relations. The
Company’s telephone number is (229) 426-6000.
Participants in the Transaction
The Company, FSRL and certain of their respective
directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of FSRL and the
Company in connection with the proposed transaction. Certain information regarding the interests of these participants and a description
of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding
the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Additional information about the Company and its directors and officers may be found
in the definitive proxy statement of the Company relating to its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on April 16, 2026.
The definitive proxy statement can be obtained free of charge from the sources described above.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 24, 2026, by and between Colony Bankcorp, Inc. and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.*
99.1
Joint Press Release of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., dated June 24, 2026
99.2
Investor Presentation dated June 24, 2026
99.3
A Team Member’s Guide to the Colony Bank Partnership dated June 24, 2026
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline
XBRL document)
*Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules and
similar attachments have been omitted. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or similar
attachment to the SEC upon request.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
Date: June 24, 2026
By:
/s/ T. Heath Fountain
T. Heath Fountain
Chief Executive Officer
EX-2.1 — EXHIBIT 2.1
EX-2.1
Filename: tm2618469d1_ex2-1.htm · Sequence: 2
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and between
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
and
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
Dated as of June 24, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.01
The Merger.
2
Section 1.02
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Officers and Directors.
2
Section 1.03
Bank Merger.
2
Section 1.04
Effective Time; Closing.
3
Section 1.05
Additional Actions.
3
Section 1.06
Reservation of Right to Revise Structure.
3
Section 1.07
Effects of the Merger.
4
ARTICLE II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
Section 2.01
Merger Consideration.
4
Section 2.02
Election Procedures.
5
Section 2.03
FSRL Stock-Based Awards.
8
Section 2.04
Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers.
9
Section 2.05
Fractional Shares.
9
Section 2.06
Plan of Reorganization.
10
Section 2.07
Exchange Procedures.
10
Section 2.08
Deposit and Delivery of Merger Consideration.
10
Section 2.09
Rights of Certificate Holders after the Effective Time.
11
Section 2.10
Anti-Dilution Provisions.
12
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FSRL
Section 3.01
Organization and Standing.
12
Section 3.02
Capital Stock.
13
Section 3.03
Subsidiaries.
14
Section 3.04
Corporate Power; Minute Books.
15
Section 3.05
Corporate Authority.
15
Section 3.06
Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.
16
Section 3.07
Financial Statements; Internal Controls.
17
Section 3.08
Regulatory Reports.
19
Section 3.09
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.
20
Section 3.10
Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
20
Section 3.11
Legal Proceedings.
20
Section 3.12
Compliance with Laws.
21
Section 3.13
FSRL Material Contracts; Defaults.
22
Section 3.14
Agreements with Regulatory Agencies.
23
i
Section 3.15
Brokers; Fairness Opinion.
24
Section 3.16
Employee Benefit Plans.
24
Section 3.17
Labor Matters.
27
Section 3.18
Environmental Matters.
28
Section 3.19
Tax Matters.
29
Section 3.20
Investment Securities.
31
Section 3.21
Derivative Transactions.
32
Section 3.22
Regulatory Capitalization.
33
Section 3.23
Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets.
33
Section 3.24
Allowance for Credit Losses.
34
Section 3.25
Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts.
35
Section 3.26
Investment Management and Related Activities.
35
Section 3.27
Repurchase Agreements.
35
Section 3.28
Deposit Insurance; FHLB.
35
Section 3.29
Community Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security.
35
Section 3.30
Transactions with Affiliates.
36
Section 3.31
Tangible Properties and Assets.
36
Section 3.32
Intellectual Property.
37
Section 3.33
Insurance.
38
Section 3.34
Antitakeover Provisions.
38
Section 3.35
FSRL Information.
38
Section 3.36
Transaction Costs.
39
Section 3.37
Bank Holding Company.
39
Section 3.38
ESOP Trustees.
39
Section 3.39
Information Security.
39
Section 3.40
Questionable Payments.
39
Section 3.41
Mortgage Loan Matters.
40
Section 3.42
SBA Matters.
41
Section 3.43
No Other Representations or Warranties.
41
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CBAN
Section 4.01
Organization and Standing.
41
Section 4.02
Capital Stock.
42
Section 4.03
Corporate Power.
42
Section 4.04
Corporate Authority.
42
Section 4.05
SEC Documents; Financial Statements.
42
Section 4.06
Regulatory Reports.
44
Section 4.07
Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.
44
Section 4.08
CBAN Information.
45
Section 4.09
Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
45
Section 4.10
Compliance with Laws.
45
Section 4.11
CBAN Regulatory Matters.
46
Section 4.12
Brokers.
47
ii
Section 4.13
Legal Proceedings.
47
Section 4.14
Tax Matters.
47
Section 4.15
Agreements with Regulatory Agencies.
47
Section 4.16
Regulatory Capitalization.
48
Section 4.17
Community Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security.
48
Section 4.18
Loans.
48
Section 4.19
No Financing
49
Section 4.20
Benefits.
49
Section 4.21
No Other Representations or Warranties.
49
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01
Covenants of FSRL.
50
Section 5.02
Covenants of CBAN.
55
Section 5.03
Commercially Reasonable Efforts.
55
Section 5.04
Shareholder Approvals.
55
Section 5.05
Registration Statement; Proxy Statement-Prospectus; NYSE Listing.
57
Section 5.06
Regulatory Filings; Consents.
58
Section 5.07
Publicity.
59
Section 5.08
Access; Current Information.
59
Section 5.09
No Solicitation by FSRL; Superior Proposals.
61
Section 5.10
Indemnification.
64
Section 5.11
Employees; Benefit Plans.
66
Section 5.12
Notification of Certain Changes.
68
Section 5.13
Transition; Informational Systems Conversion.
68
Section 5.14
Financial Statements.
69
Section 5.15
Termination and Amendment of Contracts.
69
Section 5.16
No Control of Other Party’s Business.
69
Section 5.17
Certain Litigation.
69
Section 5.18
Director and Officer Resignations.
70
Section 5.19
Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
70
Section 5.20
Claims Letters.
70
Section 5.21
Employment Agreements.
70
Section 5.22
Corporate Governance.
70
Section 5.23
Coordination.
71
Section 5.24
Transactional Expenses.
72
Section 5.25
Confidentiality.
73
Section 5.26
FINRA Compliance.
73
Section 5.27
Tax Matters.
73
Section 5.28
Stock Exchange Listing.
73
Section 5.29
Takeover Statutes.
73
Section 5.30
Dividends.
74
Section 5.31
Trust Preferred Securities.
74
iii
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 6.01
Conditions to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger.
74
Section 6.02
Conditions to Obligations of FSRL.
75
Section 6.03
Conditions to Obligations of CBAN.
76
Section 6.04
Frustration of Closing Conditions.
77
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.01
Termination.
77
Section 7.02
Termination Fee
80
Section 7.03
Effect of Termination.
81
ARTICLE VIII
DEFINITIONS
Section 8.01
Definitions.
81
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01
Survival.
93
Section 9.02
Waiver; Amendment.
93
Section 9.03
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.
93
Section 9.04
Expenses.
94
Section 9.05
Notices.
94
Section 9.06
Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
95
Section 9.07
Severability.
96
Section 9.08
Enforcement of the Agreement.
96
Section 9.09
Interpretation.
96
Section 9.10
Assignment.
97
Section 9.11
Confidential Supervisory Information.
97
Section 9.12
Counterparts.
97
Exhibit A – Form of FSRL Voting Agreement
Exhibit B – Form of CBAN Voting Agreement
Exhibit C – Form of Bank Plan of Merger
and Merger Agreement
Exhibit D – Form of Director Non-Competition
and Non-Disclosure Agreement
Exhibit E – Form of Claims Letter
iv
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of
Merger (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 24, 2026, by and between Colony Bankcorp, Inc., a Georgia corporation
(“CBAN”), and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (“FSRL”
and, together with CBAN, the “Parties” and each a “Party”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the boards
of directors of the Parties have unanimously determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and their respective
shareholders to consummate the business combination transaction provided for in this Agreement in which FSRL will, on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, merge with and into CBAN (the “Merger”), with CBAN continuing
as the surviving company in the Merger (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Entity”);
WHEREAS, as a material
inducement to and condition of CBAN’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, each executive officer and director of FSRL has
entered into a voting agreement (each a “FSRL Voting Agreement” and collectively, the “FSRL Voting
Agreements”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, dated as of the date hereof, with CBAN, pursuant
to which each such executive officer, director or shareholder has agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of FSRL Stock owned by
such executive officer, director or shareholder in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, subject
to the terms of the FSRL Voting Agreements;
WHEREAS, each executive
officer and director of CBAN has entered into a voting agreement (each a “CBAN Voting Agreement” and collectively,
the “CBAN Voting Agreements”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, dated as of the
date hereof, with FSRL, pursuant to which each such executive officer or director has agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of
CBAN Common Stock owned by such executive officer or director in favor of the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the terms of
the CBAN Voting Agreements;
WHEREAS, the Parties
desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions
to the Merger; and
WHEREAS, for federal
income tax purposes, it is intended that each of the Merger and the Bank Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”),
and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for each of the Merger and the Bank Merger
for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual promises herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1
Article
I
THE MERGER
Section 1.01 The Merger.
Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the “GBCC”), at the Effective Time,
FSRL shall merge with and into CBAN pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. CBAN shall be the Surviving Entity in the Merger and shall
continue its existence as a corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia. Upon the consummation of the Merger, the separate corporate
existence of FSRL shall cease.
Section 1.02 Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws; Officers and Directors.
(a) At
the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of CBAN in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the articles of incorporation
of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law. The bylaws of CBAN in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms
of such bylaws.
(b) Subject
to Section 5.22, (i) the directors and officers of CBAN in office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall serve as the directors
and officers of the Surviving Entity in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Entity, and (ii) the directors and officers of Colony
Bank in office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall serve as the directors and officers of the Surviving Bank from and after
the Effective Time in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Bank. Such directors and executive officers shall serve until their
resignation, removal or until their successors shall have been elected or appointed and shall have qualified in accordance with applicable
Law and the governing documents applicable to the Surviving Entity.
Section 1.03 Bank Merger.
Immediately following the
Effective Time, First Reliance Bank, a South Carolina state-chartered bank and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of FSRL (“First
Reliance Bank”), shall be merged (the “Bank Merger”) with and into Colony Bank, a Georgia state-chartered
bank and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of CBAN, in accordance with the provisions of applicable federal and state banking laws and
regulations, and Colony Bank shall be the surviving bank (the “Surviving Bank”). The Bank Merger shall have
the effects as set forth under applicable federal and state banking laws and regulations, and the board of directors of the Parties have,
on the date hereof, caused the board of directors of Colony Bank and First Reliance Bank, respectively, to approve a separate merger agreement
(the “Bank Plan of Merger”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, and have caused the
Bank Plan of Merger to be executed and delivered on the date of this Agreement. Each of CBAN and FSRL shall also approve the Bank Plan
of Merger in their capacities as sole shareholders of Colony Bank and First Reliance Bank, respectively. As provided in the Bank Plan
of Merger, the Bank Merger may be abandoned at the election of Colony Bank at any time, whether before or after filings are made for regulatory
approval of the Bank Merger, but if the Bank Merger is abandoned for any reason, First Reliance Bank shall continue to operate under its
name; provided that prior to any such election, CBAN shall (a) reasonably consult with FSRL and its regulatory counsel and (b)
reasonably determine in good faith that such election will not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, delay or impair either
Party’s ability to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2
Section 1.04 Effective
Time; Closing.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parties will make all such filings as may be required to consummate the Merger and
the Bank Merger by applicable Laws. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles of merger (the “Articles
of Merger”) related to the Merger, which will include the plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”),
that shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, as provided in the GBCC and with the Secretary of State of the
State of South Carolina as provided in the SCBCA, on the Closing Date. The “Effective Time” of the Merger shall
be the later of (i) the date and time of filing of the Articles of Merger, or (ii) the date and time when the Merger becomes effective
as set forth in the Articles of Merger. Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Parties, the Effective Time will occur on the first day
of the calendar month following the day all of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VI (other than conditions to
be satisfied at the Closing, which shall be satisfied or waived at the Closing) have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms
hereof.
(b) The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”)
shall take place on the same day as the Effective Time (such date, the “Closing
Date”) by electronic means or at such other place as the Parties may mutually
agree. At the Closing, there shall be delivered to CBAN and
FSRL the certificates and other documents required to be delivered under Article VI.
Section 1.05 Additional
Actions.
If, at any time after the
Effective Time, either Party shall consider or be advised that any further deeds, documents, assignments or assurances in Law or any other
acts are necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement (such Party, the “Requesting Party”),
the other Party and its Subsidiaries and their respective current and former officers and directors shall be deemed to have granted to
the Requesting Party and its Subsidiaries, and each or any of them, an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver, in such official
corporate capacities, all such deeds, assignments or assurances in Law or any other acts as are necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and directors of the Requesting Party and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, are authorized
in the name of the other Party and its Subsidiaries or otherwise to take any and all such action.
Section 1.06 Reservation
of Right to Revise Structure.
CBAN may at any time and without
the approval of FSRL change the method of effecting the business combination contemplated by this Agreement if and to the extent that
it reasonably deems such a change to be necessary; provided, however, that no such change shall (a) alter or change the
amount of the consideration to be issued to (i) Holders as Merger Consideration or (ii) holders of FSRL Options or FSRL RSUs as currently
contemplated in this Agreement, (b) reasonably be expected to materially impede or delay consummation of the Merger, (c) adversely affect
the federal income tax treatment of Holders in connection with the Merger, or (d) require submission to or approval of FSRL’s shareholders
after the plan of merger set forth in this Agreement has been approved by FSRL’s shareholders. In the event that CBAN elects to
make such a change, the Parties agree to cooperate to execute appropriate documents to reflect the change.
3
Section 1.07 Effects
of the Merger.
At and after the Effective
Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the GBCC.
Article
II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
Section 2.01 Merger
Consideration.
Subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Parties or any
shareholder of FSRL:
(a) Each
share of CBAN Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall remain outstanding following the Effective Time and shall be unchanged by the
Merger.
(b) Each
share of FSRL Stock (i) held in treasury stock or (ii) owned directly by CBAN,
FSRL, or any of their respective Subsidiaries (excluding
shares held in the ESOP, in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like for the benefit of customers or
shares held as collateral for outstanding debt previously contracted) immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be cancelled and retired at the Effective Time without any conversion thereof,
and no payment shall be made with respect thereto (the “FSRL Cancelled Shares”).
(c) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all shares of FSRL Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time and which are held by a shareholder who did not vote in favor of the Merger (or consent thereto in writing), who has delivered written
notice to FSRL of such shareholder’s intent to demand payment for such shares prior to the vote on the Merger, who is entitled to
demand and properly demands the fair value of such shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of Chapter
13 of the SCBCA, shall not be converted into or be exchangeable for the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration (the “Dissenting
Shares”), but instead the Holder of such Dissenting Shares (hereinafter called a “Dissenting Shareholder”)
shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the SCBCA (and at the Effective
Time, such Dissenting Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist and such holder
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the rights provided for pursuant to the applicable provisions of the SCBCA
and this Section 2.01(c)), unless and until such Dissenting Shareholder shall have failed to perfect such holder’s right
to receive, or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost rights to demand or receive, the fair value of such shares of FSRL Stock under
the applicable provisions of the SCBCA. If any Dissenting Shareholder shall fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or lose such Holder’s
dissenter’s rights under the applicable provisions of the SCBCA, or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such
Holder is not entitled to payment, each such Dissenting Share shall be deemed to have been converted into and to have become exchangeable
for, the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, in accordance with the applicable provisions
of this Agreement. FSRL shall give CBAN (i) prompt notice of any written notices to exercise dissenters’ rights in respect of any
shares of FSRL Stock, attempted withdrawals of such notices and any other instruments served pursuant to the SCBCA and received by FSRL
relating to dissenters’ rights and (ii) the opportunity to participate in negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for
fair value under the SCBCA. FSRL shall not, except with the prior written consent of CBAN (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed), voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle, or offer or agree to settle, any such demand for payment.
Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Article II to pay for shares of FSRL
Stock for which dissenters’ rights have been perfected shall be returned to CBAN upon demand. If the amount paid to a Dissenting
Shareholder exceeds such Dissenting Shareholder’s pro rata portion of the Merger Consideration, such excess amount shall
not reduce the Per Share Merger Consideration paid to other Holders.
4
(d) Subject
to the allocation provisions of this Article II, each share of FSRL Stock (excluding Dissenting Shares and FSRL Cancelled Shares)
issued and outstanding at the Effective Time shall cease to be outstanding and shall be converted, in accordance with the terms of this
Article II, into and exchanged for the right to receive either:
(i) a
cash payment, without interest, in an amount equal to $19.75 (the “Per Share Cash Consideration”); or
(ii) 0.94
(subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7.01(i)) (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of CBAN Common Stock
(the “Per Share Stock Consideration”).
(e) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary and for the avoidance of doubt, the Merger shall not be consummated unless at least 50% of the Merger Consideration
shall be in the form of CBAN Common Stock.
Section 2.02 Election
Procedures.
(a) Election.
(i) Prior
to the Effective Time, CBAN shall appoint an Exchange Agent, which is acceptable to FSRL in its reasonable discretion, for the payment
and exchange of the Merger Consideration.
(ii) Holders
of record of FSRL Stock may elect to receive either shares of CBAN Common Stock or cash in exchange for their shares of FSRL Stock, provided
that the aggregate number of shares of FSRL Stock to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall
not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the shares of FSRL Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Stock
Conversion Maximum”); provided, however, the Stock Conversion Maximum is subject to adjustment as provided in Section
7.01(i).
5
(iii) An
election form (“Election Form”), together with a Letter of Transmittal (as defined in Section 2.07),
shall be mailed no less than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the Election Deadline or on such earlier date as CBAN and FSRL shall mutually
agree (the “Mailing Date”) to each Holder of record of FSRL Stock as of five (5) Business Days prior to the
Mailing Date permitting such Holder, subject to the allocation and election procedures set forth in this Section 2.02, (1) to specify
the number of shares of FSRL Stock owned by such Holder with respect to which such Holder desires to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration
(a “Cash Election”, and such shares subject to a Cash Election, the “Cash Election Shares”),
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01(d)(i), (2) to specify the number of shares of FSRL Stock owned by such Holder
with respect to which such Holder desires to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration (a “Stock Election” and
such shares subject to a Stock Election, the “Stock Election Shares”), in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.01(d)(ii), or (3) to indicate that such record Holder has no preference as to the receipt of cash or CBAN Common Stock
for such shares. Holders of record of shares of FSRL Stock who hold such shares as nominees, trustees or in other representative capacities
(a “Representative”) may submit multiple Election Forms, provided that each such Election Form covers all the
shares of FSRL Stock held by each Representative for a particular beneficial owner. Any shares of FSRL Stock with respect to which the
Holder thereof shall not, as of the Election Deadline, have made an election by submission to the Exchange Agent of an effective, properly
completed Election Form shall be deemed “Non-Election Shares.” CBAN shall make available one or more Election
Forms as may reasonably be requested in writing from time to time by all Persons who become holders (or beneficial owners) of FSRL Stock
between the record date for the initial mailing of Election Forms and the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Election
Deadline, and FSRL shall provide to the Exchange Agent all information reasonably necessary for it to perform as specified herein.
(iv) The
term “Election Deadline” shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the later of (1) the date of the FSRL Meeting
and (2) the date that CBAN and FSRL shall agree is as near as practicable to five (5) Business Days prior to the expected Closing Date.
An election shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have actually received a properly completed Election Form by
the Election Deadline accompanied by one (1) or more Certificates (or customary affidavits and indemnification regarding the loss or destruction
of such certificates or the guaranteed delivery of such certificates) representing all the shares of FSRL Stock covered by such Election
Form; provided, however, that an Election Form submitted by a Representative who holds shares of FSRL Stock in Book-Entry Form
need not be accompanied by a Certificate representing the shares of FSRL Stock by such Election Form. Any Election Form may be revoked
or changed by the Person submitting such Election Form to the Exchange Agent by written notice to the Exchange Agent only if such notice
of revocation or change is actually received by the Exchange Agent at or prior to the Election Deadline. The Certificate or Certificates
relating to any revoked Election Form shall be promptly returned without charge to the Person submitting the Election Form to the Exchange
Agent. Shares of FSRL Stock held by holders who acquired such shares subsequent to the Election Deadline will be designated Non-Election
Shares. In addition, if a Holder of FSRL Stock either (A) does not submit a properly completed Election Form in a timely fashion or (B)
revokes its Election Form prior to the Election Deadline and fails to file a new properly completed Election Form before the deadline,
such shares shall be designated Non-Election Shares. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and of the Election Form, the Exchange Agent
shall have discretion to determine whether any election, revocation or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard immaterial
defects in the Election Forms, and any good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive.
Neither CBAN nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any Person of any defect in an Election Form.
6
(b) Allocation.
No later than five (5) Business Days after the Effective Time, CBAN shall cause the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation among Holders
of FSRL Stock of rights to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration and/or the Per Share Stock Consideration, which shall be effected
by the Exchange Agent as follows:
(i) If
the aggregate number of shares of FSRL Stock with respect to which Stock Elections shall have been made (the “Stock Election
Number”) exceeds the Stock Conversion Maximum, then all Cash Election Shares and all Non-Election Shares of each Holder
thereof shall be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration, and the Stock Election Shares of each Holder thereof
will be converted into the right to receive (1) the Per Share Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Stock Election Shares equal
to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Stock Election Shares held by such Holder by (B) the fraction, the numerator
of which is the Stock Conversion Maximum and the denominator of which is the Stock Election Number, and (2) the right to receive the Per
Share Cash Consideration in respect of the remainder of such Holder’s Stock Election Shares that were not converted into the right
to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration pursuant to clause (1) above.
(ii) If
the Stock Election Number is less than the Stock Conversion Maximum (the amount by which the Stock Conversion Maximum exceeds the Stock
Election Number being referred to herein as the “Shortfall Number”), then all Stock Election Shares shall be
converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration and the Non-Election Shares and Cash Election Shares shall be treated
in the following manner:
(1) If
the Shortfall Number is less than or equal to the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into
the right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration and the Non-Election Shares of each Holder thereof shall be converted into the right
to receive (A) the Per Share Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Non-Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying
(x) the number of Non-Election Shares held by such Holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Shortfall Number and the denominator
of which is the total number of Non-Election Shares, and (B) the right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration in respect of the remainder
of such Holder’s Non-Election Shares that were not converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration pursuant
to clause (A) above; and
7
(2) If
the Shortfall Number exceeds the number of Non-Election Shares, then all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive
the Per Share Stock Consideration and the Cash Election Shares of each Holder thereof shall be converted into the right to receive (A)
the Per Share Stock Consideration in respect of that number of Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the
number of Cash Election Shares held by such Holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which the Shortfall Number
exceeds the total number of Non-Election Shares and the denominator of which is the total number of Cash Election Shares, and (B) the
right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration in respect of the remainder of such Holder’s Cash Election Shares that were not
converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration pursuant to clause (A) above.
Section 2.03 FSRL Stock-Based
Awards.
(a) Immediately
prior to, but contingent upon, the Effective Time, each then-outstanding restricted stock unit award granted under any FSRL Stock Plan
(a “FSRL RSU”), other than the FSRL RSUs set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 2.03(a) (each, a “Rollover
RSU”) shall become fully vested and shall be, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (but contingent upon the Effective
Time), cancelled and converted into the right to receive, at the at the election of the holder and subject to the allocation procedures
set forth in Section 2.02(b), the Per Share Cash Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration, less the amount of any required
withholding Tax, pursuant to Section 2.01(d).
(b) Immediately
prior to the Effective Time (but contingent upon the Effective Time), each Rollover RSU shall cease to represent a right with respect
to shares of FSRL Stock and shall be assumed by CBAN and converted into a restricted stock unit (each, a “CBAN RSU”)
with respect to shares of CBAN Common Stock under CBAN’s 2020 Incentive Plan. The number of CBAN RSUs issuable with respect to each
Rollover RSU will equal the product of (i) the number of shares of FSRL Stock underlying such Rollover RSU and (ii) the Exchange
Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share. The CBAN RSUs issued upon conversion of the Rollover RSUs shall be subject to substantially
the same terms and conditions as the Rollover RSUs, including any vesting and acceleration of vesting provisions (the “Vesting
Conditions”); provided that CBAN may implement changes that, in the reasonable and good faith determination of CBAN, are
appropriate to conform the Rollover RSUs to the CBAN RSUs, so long as such changes do not modify the Vesting Conditions.
(c) Each
share of restricted FSRL Common Stock (a “FSRL RSA”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable and shall be converted automatically into and shall thereafter represent the right to
receive, at the election of the Holder and subject to the allocation procedures set forth in Section 2.02(b), the Per Share Cash
Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration, less the amount of any required withholding Tax, pursuant to Section 2.01(d).
8
(d) Immediately
prior to, but contingent upon, the Effective Time, each then-outstanding option to purchase FSRL Common Stock granted under any FSRL Stock
Plan (each a “FSRL Option”), whether vested or unvested, shall be cancelled and the holder thereof shall be
entitled to receive from FSRL immediately prior to the Effective Time an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of (i)
the total number of shares of FSRL Common Stock subject to such FSRL Option times (ii) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Cash
Consideration over the exercise price per share of FSRL Common Stock under such FSRL Option, less applicable Taxes required to
be withheld with respect to such payment. No holder of an FSRL Option that has an exercise price per share of FSRL Common Stock that is
equal to or greater than the Per Share Cash Consideration shall be entitled to any payment with respect to such cancelled FSRL Option
before, on, or after the Effective Time.
(e) Prior
to the Effective Time, the board of directors of FSRL (or,
if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the FSRL Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions
or take such other actions, including obtaining any necessary
consents or amendments to the applicable award agreements and equity plans, as may be required
to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.03. No later than thirty (30) days subsequent
to the Effective Time, CBAN shall prepare and have on file with the SEC an effective registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities
Act with respect to the shares of CBAN Common Stock subject to the CBAN RSUs issued upon conversion of the Rollover RSUs.
Section 2.04 Rights
as Shareholders; Stock Transfers.
At the Effective Time, all
shares of FSRL Stock, when converted in accordance with Section 2.01, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each Certificate or Book-Entry Share previously evidencing such shares shall thereafter
represent only the right to receive for each such share of FSRL Stock, the Per Share Merger Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional
shares of CBAN Common Stock in accordance with this Article II. At the Effective Time, holders of FSRL Stock shall cease to be,
and shall have no rights as, shareholders of FSRL, other than the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration and cash in lieu
of fractional shares of CBAN Common Stock as provided under this Article II. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of
FSRL shall be closed, and there shall be no registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of FSRL of shares of FSRL Stock.
Section 2.05 Fractional
Shares.
Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof, no fractional shares of CBAN Common Stock and no certificates or scrip therefor, or other evidence of ownership thereof,
will be issued in the Merger. In lieu thereof, CBAN shall pay or cause to be paid to each Holder who would otherwise receive a fractional
share of CBAN Common Stock, rounded to the nearest one hundredth of a share, an amount of cash (without interest and rounded to the nearest
whole cent) determined by multiplying the fractional share interest in CBAN Common Stock to which such Holder would otherwise be entitled
by the Average Closing Price.
9
Section 2.06 Plan of
Reorganization.
It is intended that the Merger
and the Bank Merger shall each qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that this
Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” as that term is used in Sections 354 and 361 of the Code for each of
the Merger and the Bank Merger.
Section 2.07 Exchange
Procedures.
CBAN shall cause as promptly
as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Agent
to mail or otherwise caused to be delivered to each Holder who has not previously surrendered such Certificate or Certificates or Book-Entry
Shares, appropriate and customary transmittal materials, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title
to the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent,
as well as instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration
(including cash in lieu of fractional shares) as provided for in this Agreement (the “Letter of Transmittal”).
Section 2.08 Deposit
and Delivery of Merger Consideration.
(a) Prior
to the Effective Time, CBAN shall (i) deposit, or
shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent stock certificates representing the
number of shares of CBAN Common Stock and cash sufficient to deliver the Merger
Consideration (together with, to the extent then determinable, any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section
2.05, and if applicable, cash in an aggregate amount sufficient to make the appropriate payment to the Holders of Dissenting
Shares) (collectively, the “Exchange Fund”), and (ii) instruct
the Exchange Agent to pay such Merger Consideration and
cash in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with this Agreement as promptly as practicable
after the Effective Time and conditioned upon receipt of a properly completed Letter of Transmittal.
The Exchange Agent and CBAN, as the case may be, shall not
be obligated to deliver the Merger Consideration to a Holder to which such Holder
would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Merger until such Holder
surrenders the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares representing the shares of FSRL
Stock for exchange as provided in this Article II, or, an appropriate affidavit of
loss and indemnity agreement and/or a bond in such amount
as may be reasonably required in each case by CBAN or the Exchange
Agent.
(b) Any
portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the shareholders of FSRL for one (1) year
after the Effective Time (as well as any interest or proceeds
from any investment thereof) shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to CBAN.
Any shareholders of FSRL who have not theretofore complied with this Section 2.08 shall
thereafter look only to CBAN for the Merger Consideration, any
cash in lieu of fractional shares of FSRL Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor, and any dividends or distributions to
which such Holder is entitled in respect of each share of FSRL Stock such shareholder held
immediately prior to the Effective Time, as determined pursuant to this Agreement,
in each case without any interest thereon. If outstanding Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for
shares of FSRL Stock are not surrendered or the payment
for them is not claimed prior to the date on which such shares of CBAN Common Stock or cash would
otherwise escheat to or become the property of any governmental unit or
agency, the unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted by the law of abandoned property
and any other applicable Law, become the property of CBAN (and
to the extent not in its possession shall be delivered to it), free and clear of all claims or interest
of any Person previously entitled to such property. Neither the Exchange
Agent nor either Party shall be liable to any Holder represented by any Certificate
or Book-Entry Share for any amounts delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar Laws. CBAN and the Exchange
Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of FSRL to establish the identity
of those Persons entitled to receive the Merger Consideration specified
in this Agreement, which books shall be conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of a dispute
with respect to ownership of any shares of FSRL Stock represented by any Certificate
or Book-Entry Share, CBAN and the Exchange Agent shall
be entitled to tender to the custody of any court of competent jurisdiction any Per Share Merger Consideration
represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Share and file legal proceedings interpleading
all parties to such dispute, and will thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims thereto.
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(c) CBAN
or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any
amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any Holder
such amounts as CBAN is required to deduct and withhold under applicable Law.
Any amounts so deducted and withheld shall be remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority and
upon such remittance shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to
the Holder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by CBAN
or the Exchange Agent, as applicable.
Section 2.09 Rights
of Certificate Holders after the Effective Time.
(a) All
shares of CBAN Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and if
ever a dividend or other distribution is declared by CBAN in respect of the CBAN Common Stock, the record date for which is at or after
the Effective Time, that declaration shall include dividends or other distributions in respect of all shares of CBAN Common Stock issuable
pursuant to this Agreement. No dividends or other distributions in respect of the CBAN Common Stock shall be paid to any Holder of any
unsurrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Share until such Certificate or Book-Entry Share is surrendered for exchange in accordance with
this Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, there
shall be issued and/or paid to the Holder of the certificates representing whole shares of CBAN Common Stock issued in exchange therefor,
without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of CBAN Common Stock and not paid and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the
dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of CBAN Common Stock with a record date after the Effective
Time but with a payment date subsequent to surrender. For the avoidance of doubt, Holders shall not have any right to participate in any
dividends or other distributions declared by CBAN in respect of the CBAN Common Stock if the record date of such dividend or distribution
is prior to the Effective Time.
(b) In
the event of a transfer of ownership of a Certificate representing FSRL Stock that is not registered in the stock transfer records of
FSRL, the proper amount of cash and/or shares of CBAN Common Stock shall be paid or issued in exchange therefor to a person other than
the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if the Certificate formerly representing such FSRL Stock shall be
properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment or issuance shall pay any transfer
or other similar Taxes required by reason of the payment or issuance to a person other than the registered Holder of the Certificate or
establish to the satisfaction of CBAN that the Tax has been paid or is not applicable.
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Section 2.10 Anti-Dilution
Provisions.
If the number of shares of
CBAN Common Stock or FSRL Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall be increased or decreased, or changed into or
exchanged for a different number of kind of shares or securities, in any such case as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split,
stock combination, stock dividend, reclassification or similar transaction, or there shall be any extraordinary dividend or distribution
with respect to such stock, and the record date therefor shall be prior to the Effective Time, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment
shall be made to the Merger Consideration to give holders of FSRL Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior
to such event. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made with regard to CBAN Common Stock if (i) CBAN issues additional
shares of CBAN Common Stock and receives consideration for such shares (including, without limitation, upon the exercise of outstanding
stock options or other equity awards) or (ii) CBAN issues employee or director stock grants or similar equity awards pursuant to a CBAN
benefit plan.
Article
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FSRL
Except as set forth in the
disclosure schedule delivered by FSRL to CBAN prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement with respect to each such
Section below (the “FSRL Disclosure Schedule”); provided, that (a) the mere inclusion of an item in the FSRL
Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by FSRL that such item represents
a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on FSRL
and (b) any disclosures made with respect to a section of Article III shall be deemed to qualify (i) any other section of Article
III specifically referenced or cross-referenced and (ii) other sections of Article III to the extent it is reasonably apparent
on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies
to such other sections, FSRL hereby represents and warrants to CBAN as follows:
Section 3.01 Organization
and Standing.
Each of FSRL and its Subsidiaries
is (a) an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation
and (b) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not had, and is
not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to FSRL. A complete and accurate list of all such jurisdictions
described in (a) and (b) is set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.01.
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Section 3.02 Capital
Stock.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of FSRL consists of 20,000,000 shares of FSRL Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of FSRL Preferred Stock. As
of the date hereof, there are 7,896,292 shares of FSRL Common Stock issued and outstanding (including 110,329 shares of FSRL
RSAs) and 51,132 shares of FSRL Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, there are 321,465 shares of FSRL
Common Stock subject to outstanding FSRL RSUs and FSRL Options to acquire 100,000 shares of FSRL Common Stock are outstanding. There are
no shares of FSRL Stock held by any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries. There are no bonds, debentures,
notes or other indebtedness of FSRL having the right to vote on any matters on which shareholders of FSRL may vote. Except as set forth
on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.02(a), no trust preferred securities or subordinated debt securities of FSRL are issued or outstanding.
(b) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.02(b) sets forth, as of the date hereof, the name and address, as reflected on the books and records of FSRL,
of each Holder, and the number and type of shares of FSRL Stock held by each such Holder. The issued and outstanding shares of FSRL Stock
are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and have not been issued in violation of nor are they subject to preemptive
rights of any FSRL shareholder. All shares of FSRL’s capital stock issued and outstanding have been issued in compliance with and
not in violation of any applicable federal or state securities Laws.
(c) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.02(c) sets forth, as of the date hereof, for each grant or
award of FSRL RSAs, FSRL RSUs or FSRL Options, the (i) name of the grantee, (ii) date of
the grant, (iii) vesting schedule and vesting status, (iv) number of shares of FSRL Common Stock,
or any other security of FSRL, subject to such award, (v)
for each FSRL Option, the exercise price per share underlying such FSRL Option and the expiration date, and (vi) the FSRL
Stock Plan under which such award was granted. Each FSRL Option, FSRL RSU, and FSRL RSA is and
has been at all times exempt from, or in compliance with, Section 409A of the Code and qualifies
for the tax treatment afforded thereto in FSRL’s Tax Returns. Each grant of FSRL
RSUs, FSRL RSAs or FSRL Options (A) was appropriately authorized or ratified by the board of directors of FSRL
or the compensation committee thereof as of a date no later than the date on which the grant of such FSRL
RSA, FSRL RSU or FSRL Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, (B) was made in accordance with
the terms of the FSRL Stock Plans and any applicable Law (including
valid exemptions from registration under applicable securities Laws) and regulatory rules or requirements;
and (C) for FSRL Options, has been granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value (within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code) of a share of FSRL Common Stock on the date of grant. There are no outstanding shares of capital stock of any
class, or any options, warrants or other similar rights,
convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom stock” rights,
stock appreciation rights, stock based performance units, agreements, arrangements, commitments
or understandings to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party, whether or not in writing, of any character
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other
securities of FSRL or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries or obligating
FSRL or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries to issue (whether
upon conversion, exchange or otherwise) or sell any share
of capital stock of, or other equity interests in or other
securities of, FSRL or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries other
than those listed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.02(c). There are no obligations, contingent
or otherwise, of FSRL or any of FSRL’s
Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of FSRL
Stock or capital stock of any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries or any other securities of FSRL
or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries or to provide funds to or
make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any such
Subsidiary or any other entity. Except for the FSRL Voting Agreements,
there are no agreements, arrangements or other understandings with respect to the voting of FSRL’s
capital stock and there are no agreements or arrangements under which FSRL
is obligated to register the sale of any of its securities under the Securities Act.
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(d) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.02(d) sets forth a list of all repurchases by FSRL of FSRL Stock since January 1, 2023, including the date of
such repurchase, the number, class, and series of the shares repurchased, and the price at which FSRL executed such repurchase. FSRL conducted
all such repurchases were conducted in material compliance with applicable Laws. To the Knowledge of FSRL, all Affiliates of FSRL have,
since January 1, 2023, conducted purchases and sales of FSRL in material compliance with applicable Laws.
(e) FSRL
is not a party to any agreement that provides holders of FSRL Stock with rights as holders of FSRL Stock that are in addition to those
provided by FSRL’s articles of incorporation, FSRL’s bylaws, or by applicable Law.
Section 3.03 Subsidiaries.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.03(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of
FSRL, including the jurisdiction of organization and all jurisdictions in which any such
entity is qualified to do business and the number of shares or other equity interests in such Subsidiary held by FSRL. Except as set forth
in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.03(a), (i) FSRL owns,
directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of each FSRL
Subsidiary, (ii) no equity securities of any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries are or
may become required to be issued (other than to FSRL) by reason of any contractual right
or otherwise, (iii) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
arrangements by which any of such Subsidiaries is or may
be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any of its equity securities (other than to FSRL
or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of FSRL), (iv) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings
or arrangements relating to FSRL’s rights to vote
or to dispose of such securities, (v) all of the equity securities of each such Subsidiary
held by FSRL, directly or indirectly, are validly
issued, fully paid, non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive or similar rights,
and (vi) all of the equity securities of each Subsidiary that is owned, directly or
indirectly, by FSRL or any Subsidiary thereof, are
free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities or
banking Laws. There are no material restrictions on the ability of any Subsidiary of FSRL to pay
dividends or make distributions to FSRL, except for restrictions generally applicable to similarly regulated entities.
(b) First
Reliance Capital Trust I is a Subsidiary of FSRL, the common securities of which are wholly owned by FSRL, formed for the purpose of issuing
“trust preferred securities.” The proceeds from the sale of the securities and the issuance of the capital securities by First
Reliance Capital Trust I were invested in Fixed/Floating Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures issued by FSRL (the “FSRL
Junior Subordinated Debt”), which are the sole assets of such trust. FSRL has performed all the obligations required to
be performed by it and is not in default under the terms of the FSRL Junior Subordinated Debt or the trust preferred securities and agreements
related thereto. The FSRL Junior Subordinated Debt (i) is not convertible into FSRL Stock, (ii) does not carry voting rights with respect
to any FSRL Stock and (iii) does not contain dividend limitation provisions upon FSRL Stock except in the event of default or in the event
of deferral of the payments due thereon. Except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.03(b), neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries
has any trust preferred securities or other similar securities outstanding.
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(c) Neither
FSRL nor any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries owns any stock
or equity interest in any depository institution (as defined in 12
U.S.C. Section 1813(c)(1)) other than First Reliance Bank. Except as set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.03(c), neither FSRL nor any of FSRL’s
Subsidiaries beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (other than in a bona fide fiduciary
capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted), any equity securities or
similar interests of any Person, or any interest
in a partnership or joint venture of any kind.
Section 3.04 Corporate
Power; Minute Books.
(a) FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate or similar
power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all of its properties and assets; and FSRL
has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to receipt of all necessary
approvals of Governmental Authorities, the Regulatory Approvals
and the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval.
(b) FSRL
has made available to CBAN a complete and correct copy of its articles of incorporation
and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries, the minute books of FSRL and
each of its Subsidiaries, and the stock ledgers and stock transfer books of FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither FSRL nor any
of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the terms of its articles of incorporation, bylaws
or equivalent organizational documents. The minute books of FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries contain records of all meetings held by, and all other corporate
or similar actions of, their respective shareholders and boards of directors (including
committees of their respective boards of directors) or other governing bodies, which records
are complete and accurate in all material respects. The stock ledgers and the stock transfer books
of FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries contain complete and
accurate records of the ownership of the equity securities of FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.05 Corporate
Authority.
Subject only to the receipt
of the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval at the FSRL Meeting, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized
by all necessary corporate action of FSRL and the board of directors of FSRL on or prior to the date hereof. The board of directors of
FSRL has determined that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of,
FSRL and its shareholders and has resolved to recommend that FSRL’s shareholders approve and adopt this Agreement and direct that
this Agreement be submitted to FSRL’s shareholders for approval at a meeting of the shareholders. Except for the receipt of the
Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval in accordance with the SCBCA and FSRL’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, no other vote
or action of the shareholders of FSRL is required by Law, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of FSRL or otherwise to approve this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. To the Knowledge of FSRL, there is no shareholder holding 5% or more of the outstanding
shares of FSRL Common Stock who intends to vote against the approval of this Agreement. FSRL has duly executed and delivered this Agreement
and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by CBAN, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of FSRL, enforceable
in accordance with its terms (except to the extent that validity and enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general
principles of equity or by principles of public policy (the “Enforceability Exception”)).
15
Section 3.06 Regulatory
Approvals; No Defaults.
(a) No
consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or
filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority
are required to be made or obtained by FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance by FSRL of this Agreement or to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as may be required for (i)
filings of applications and notices with, and receipt of consents, authorizations, approvals, exemptions or
non-objections from the SEC, NYSE, state securities
authorities, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., applicable securities, commodities and futures exchanges, and other industry
self-regulatory organizations (each, an “SRO”), (ii) filings of applications
or notices with, and consents, approvals or waivers by the
FRB, the FDIC, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, the South Carolina Office of the
Commissioner of Banking and other banking, regulatory, self-regulatory or enforcement authorities
or any courts, administrative agencies or commissions or
other Governmental Authorities and approval of or non-objection
to such applications, filings and notices (taken together with the items listed in clause (i),
the “Regulatory Approvals”), (iii) the filing by CBAN with the SEC
of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration Statement
and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iv) the filing of the Articles
of Merger contemplated by Section 1.04(a) and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia,
the Secretary of State of the State of South Carolina or other applicable Governmental Authorities
to cause the Bank Merger to become effective and (v) such filings and approvals as are required
to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue
Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of CBAN Common Stock pursuant
to this Agreement (the “CBAN Common Stock Issuance”) and approval of
listing of such CBAN Common Stock on the NYSE. Subject to
the receipt of the approvals referred to in the preceding sentence, the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval
and as set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.06(a), the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by FSRL
do not and will not (A) constitute a breach or violation of, or
a default under, the articles of incorporation, bylaws or similar governing documents of
FSRL or any of its respective Subsidiaries, (B) violate
any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or
injunction applicable to FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
or any of their respective properties or assets, (C) conflict
with, result in a breach or violation of any provision of, or the
loss of any benefit under, or a default (or an event which,
with or without notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien under, result
in a right of termination or the acceleration of any right or obligation
(which, in each case, would have a material impact on FSRL or could reasonably be expected to result in a financial obligation or penalty
in excess of $50,000) under any permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond,
mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, contract, franchise, agreement
or other instrument or obligation of FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries or to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
or their respective properties or assets is subject or
bound, or (D) require the consent or approval of
any third party or Governmental Authority under any such Law,
rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, permit,
license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement,
lease, instrument, concession, contract, franchise, agreement or other instrument or
obligation that would have a material impact on FSRL or result in a material financial penalty to FSRL.
16
(b) As
of the date hereof, FSRL has no Knowledge
of any reason (i) why the Regulatory Approvals referred to in Section 6.01(b) will
not be received in customary time frames from the applicable Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction
over the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) why any Burdensome
Condition would be imposed.
Section 3.07 Financial
Statements; Internal Controls.
(a) FSRL
has previously delivered or made available to CBAN copies
of FSRL’s (i) audited consolidated financial statements (including
the related notes and schedules thereto) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, accompanied by the unqualified
audit reports of Elliott Davis, LLC, independent registered accountants (collectively, the “Audited
Financial Statements”) and (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements
(including any related notes and the schedules thereto) for the three (3) months ended March 31,
2026 (the “Unaudited Financial Statements” and collectively with
the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”).
The Financial Statements (including any related
notes and schedules thereto) are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations, changes
in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of FSRL and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as of the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements,
all in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject, in the case of the Unaudited
Financial Statements, to (A) the absence of consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity, consolidated statements
of comprehensive income (loss), and consolidated statements of cash flow, (B) normal, recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which
has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to FSRL), and (C) the
absence of notes and schedules (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those included in the Audited
Financial Statements). No financial statements of any entity or
enterprise other than FSRL’s Subsidiaries are required by GAAP
to be included in the consolidated financial statements of FSRL.
The audits of FSRL have been conducted in accordance with GAAP.
Since December 31, 2023, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries
has any liabilities or obligations of a nature that would be required by GAAP
to be set forth on its consolidated balance sheet or in the notes thereto except for liabilities
reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements and
current liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since December 31, 2023. True,
correct and complete copies of the Financial Statements are set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.07(a). The books and records of FSRL and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all
material respects in accordance with GAAP and applicable Law and accurately reflect in all material respects the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of FSRL and its Subsidiaries.
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(b) The
financial statements contained in the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (the “Call Reports”) of First
Reliance Bank for the periods ended on or after December 31, 2023, (i) are true, accurate and complete in all material respects, (ii)
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and regulatory accounting principles consistently applied, except as may be otherwise indicated
in the notes thereto and except for the omission of footnotes, (iii) have been filed on a timely basis, and (iv) fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition of First Reliance Bank as of the respective dates set forth therein and the results of operations
and stockholders’ equity for the respective periods set forth therein, subject to year-end adjustments, in compliance with the rules
and regulations of applicable federal banking authorities. The financial statements contained in the Call Reports of First Reliance Bank
to be prepared after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing (A) will be true, accurate and complete in all material respects,
(B) will have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and regulatory accounting principles consistently applied, except as may be otherwise
indicated in the notes thereto and except for the omission of footnotes, and (C) will fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition of First Reliance Bank as of the respective dates set forth therein and the results of operations and stockholders’ equity
of First Reliance Bank for the respective periods set forth therein, subject to year-end adjustments, in compliance with the rules and
regulations of applicable federal banking authorities.
(c) The
records, systems, controls, data and information of FSRL and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored,
maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or
photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership
and direct control of FSRL or its Subsidiaries or accountants
(including all means of access thereto and therefrom). FSRL and its Subsidiaries have devised and
maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP,
and those internal accounting controls are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are recorded with its management’s
general or specific authorizations and (ii) transactions are recorded in conformity with GAAP and applicable Law. None of FSRL, its Subsidiaries
or any director, officer, employee, agent or other Person acting behalf of FSRL or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries, has made any fraudulent
entry on the books or records of FSRL or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries. Neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director,
senior executive officer, or auditor independent accountant of FSRL or its Subsidiaries, has received written notice or otherwise obtained
actual knowledge of any material weakness regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures or methods of FSRL or any of FSRL’s
Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls.
(d) FSRL
has disclosed based on its most recent evaluations, to its outside auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of
FSRL (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely
to adversely affect FSRL’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in FSRL’s
internal control over financial reporting.
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(e) Except
as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.07(e), since December 31, 2023, (x) neither FSRL nor
any of its Subsidiaries nor, to FSRL’s Knowledge,
any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries has received, or otherwise
had or obtained Knowledge of, any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the integrity
of the Financial Statements, any financial statements of any Subsidiary of FSRL, including the Call Reports, the accounting or auditing
practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including
any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable
accounting or auditing practices, and (y) no attorney representing FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by FSRL or
any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duties or similar violation
by FSRL or any of its officers, directors, employees, or agents to the board of directors of FSRL or any committee of the board of directors
or, to FSRL’s Knowledge, to any director or officer of FSRL. To FSRL’s Knowledge, there have been no instances of fraud by
FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not material.
(f) The
most recent Financial Statements as of the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve, in accordance with GAAP, for all Taxes payable by
FSRL and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods through the date of such Financial Statements. Since December 31, 2023, neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses, as that term is used in GAAP,
outside the Ordinary Course of Business. Except for (i) those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved for in the Financial Statements,
(ii) liabilities or obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since December 31, 2023 in amounts consistent with past practice,
(iii) liabilities that have been discharged or paid in full before the Closing Date; or (iv) liabilities or obligations incurred directly
as a result of this Agreement, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability of any nature whatsoever (whether
absolute, accrued or contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due), and there is no existing condition, situation or set of
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement
or that, either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clause (i)-(iv), has had, or would be reasonably
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to FSRL.
(g) The
Financial Statements to be prepared by FSRL after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing (i) will be true, accurate and complete
in all material respects, (ii) will be prepared from, and in accordance with, the books and records of FSRL and its Subsidiaries, (iii)
will be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and (iv) will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial condition, results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of FSRL and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates and for the respective periods covered thereby, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes in
the case of unaudited interim financial statements.
(h) The
independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Annual Financial Statements is, and has been throughout the periods covered
by such financial statements, “independent” within the meaning of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. As of the date hereof, such
accounting firm has not resigned or been dismissed as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with FSRL on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.
Section 3.08 Regulatory
Reports.
Since January 1, 2023, FSRL
and its Subsidiaries have timely filed with the FRB, the FDIC, any SRO and any other applicable Governmental Authority, in correct form,
the material reports, registration statements and other documents required to be filed under applicable Laws and regulations and have
paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, and such reports were complete and accurate and in compliance in
all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations. Other than normal examinations conducted by a Governmental
Authority in the Ordinary Course of Business, no Governmental Authority has notified FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries that it has initiated
any proceeding or, to the Knowledge of FSRL, threatened an investigation into the business or operations of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
since January 1, 2023. Subject to Section 9.11, (i) there is no material and unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any
Governmental Authority with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations or inspections of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
and (ii) there have been no formal or informal inquiries by, or disagreements or disputes with, any Governmental Authority with respect
to the business, operations, policies or procedures of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2023.
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Section 3.09 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
Neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any material liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), except for (a) those liabilities
that are reflected or reserved against on the Financial Statements (including any notes thereto), (b) those liabilities incurred in the
Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice from March 31, 2026 through the date of this Agreement, (c) those liabilities
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (d) those liabilities and obligations, if any,
set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.09.
Section 3.10 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events.
Except as set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.10, the Financial Statements or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2025, (a) FSRL
and its Subsidiaries have carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the Ordinary Course of Business, (b) there
have been no events, changes or circumstances which have had, or are reasonable likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to FSRL, and (c) neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action
prior to the date of this Agreement which action or failure, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach
or violation of any of the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 5.01.
Section 3.11 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Except
as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.11(a), there is no material civil, criminal, administrative or
regulatory action, suit, demand letter, demand for indemnification, claim, hearing, notice of violation, arbitration, investigation,
order to show cause, market conduct examination, notice of non-compliance or other proceeding of
any nature pending or, to the Knowledge of FSRL,
threatened against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
current or former directors or executive officers in their capacities as such, or to which FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their current or former director or executive officer, in
their capacities as such, is a party, including without limitation, any such actions, suits,
demand letters, demands for indemnification, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause,
market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature that would challenge the validity or propriety
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(b) There
is no material injunction, order, judgment or decree or regulatory restriction imposed upon FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries, or the assets of FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Merger or the Bank Merger would apply
to the Surviving Entity or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates), and neither FSRL nor
any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of the threat of any such action, other than any such
injunction, order, judgement or decree that is generally applicable to all Persons
in businesses similar to that of FSRL or any of FSRL’s
Subsidiaries.
(c) To
the Knowledge of FSRL, no event has occurred and no circumstance exists that would reasonably be expected to give rise to or serve as
a basis for the commencement of any material civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory action, suit, claim, arbitration or investigation
against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, including any proceeding or the type described in clauses (a) or (b) above.
Section 3.12 Compliance
with Laws.
(a) FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries is, and has been since January 1, 2023, in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws,
rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to
the employees conducting such businesses, including, without limitation, Laws
related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act,
the Bank Secrecy Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act,
the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act,
the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
the Truth in Lending Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Sections 23A and
23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the
regulations implementing such statutes, all other applicable anti-money laundering Laws,
fair lending Laws and other Laws relating to discriminatory
lending, financing, leasing or business practices and all agency requirements relating to the origination,
sale and servicing of mortgage loans. Since January 1, 2023, neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of any supervisory concerns regarding their
compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act or related state or federal
anti-money laundering laws, regulations and guidelines, including
without limitation those provisions of federal regulations requiring (i) the filing of reports,
such as Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports, (ii) the maintenance of records
and (iii) the exercise of due diligence in identifying customers. Neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised by any Governmental
Authority of any material deficiencies or concerns in respect of its compliance with applicable Laws.
(b) FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries have all material permits,
licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and each has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental
Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease its properties and to
conduct its business as presently conducted. All such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force
and effect and, to FSRL’s Knowledge, no suspension or cancellation
of any of them is threatened.
(c) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since January
1, 2023, written or, to FSRL’s Knowledge, oral notification
from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is materially in non-compliance with any
of the Laws which such Governmental Authority enforces or
(ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization
(nor, to FSRL’s Knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing exist).
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Section 3.13 FSRL Material
Contracts; Defaults.
(a) Other
than the FSRL Benefit Plans, neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to, bound by or
subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or
understanding (whether written or oral) (i) which would entitle any present or
former director, officer, employee, consultant or agent of FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries to indemnification from FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) which grants any right of first refusal, right of first
offer or similar right with respect to any assets or properties
of FSRL or its respective Subsidiaries; (iii) related to
the borrowing by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries of money
other than those entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and any guaranty of any obligation
for the borrowing of money, excluding endorsements made for collection, repurchase or resell agreements,
letters of credit and guaranties made in the Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) which provides for
payments to be made by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries upon
a change in control thereof; (v) relating to the lease of personal property having a value in excess of $25,000
individually or $50,000 in the aggregate; (vi) relating
to any joint venture, partnership, limited liability company agreement or other similar agreement
or arrangement; (vii) which relates to capital expenditures and involves future payments in excess of $50,000
individually or $125,000 in the aggregate; (viii)
which relates to the disposition or acquisition of assets or any
interest in any business enterprise outside the Ordinary Course of Business; (ix) which is not
terminable on sixty (60) days or less notice and involving the payment of more than $30,000
per annum; (x) which contains a non-compete or client or
customer non-solicit requirement or any other provision that restricts the conduct of any
line of business by FSRL or any of its Affiliates or upon
consummation of the Merger will restrict the ability of the Surviving
Entity or any of its Affiliates to engage in any line of business (including, for the avoidance
of doubt, any exclusivity provision granted in favor of any third party) or which grants any right
of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right or that
limits or purports to limit the ability of FSRL or any of
its Subsidiaries (or, following
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries)
to own, operate, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any assets or
business; (xi) pursuant to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
may become obligated to invest in or contribute capital to any entity; (xii) which provides
that the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (xiii) any debt securities or any swaps, hedging or derivatives arrangements (or the guarantee
of any of the foregoing by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries); (xiv) any employment, severance, termination, consulting, retention or retirement
agreement; (xv) any agreement with any Affiliate, officer, director, employee, or consultant of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than ordinary course loans or deposits); (xvi) any settlement agreement, consent agreement or similar agreement (including with any Governmental
Authority) that imposes continuing material obligations on FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries; or (xvii) any agreement that provides rights
to investors, including registration, preemptive, anti-dilution or board designation rights; (each such contract, arrangement, commitment
or understanding of the type described in this Section 3.13(a) is listed in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.13(a), and is referred to herein as a “FSRL
Material Contract”). FSRL has previously made
available to CBAN true, complete and correct copies of each such FSRL
Material Contract, including any and all amendments and modifications thereto. All indebtedness
for borrowed money of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is prepayable without penalty or premium, except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 3.13(a) and FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.03(b).
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(b) (i)
Each FSRL Material Contract is valid and binding on FSRL and
any of its Subsidiaries to the extent such Subsidiary is
a party thereto, as applicable, and is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with
its terms (assuming the due execution by each other party thereto, provided that FSRL hereby represents and warrants that, to its Knowledge,
each FSRL Material Contract is duly executed by all such parties), subject to the Enforceability Exception; (ii) FSRL and each of its
Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of FSRL, each of the other parties thereto, has in all material respects performed all obligations
required to be performed by such party to date under each FSRL Material Contract; and (iii) and neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any FSRL
Material Contract or other “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), to which it is a party, and there has not occurred any
event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both,
would constitute such a material default. No power of attorney or similar authorization given directly
or indirectly by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
is currently outstanding. No counterparty to any FSRL Material Contract has exercised, or delivered written notice of intent to
exercise, any force majeure or similar provision to excuse or delay performance thereunder.
(c) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.13(c) sets forth a true and complete list of all FSRL Material Contracts
pursuant to which consents, waivers or notices are or may
be required to be given thereunder, in each case, prior to the performance by FSRL of this Agreement
and the consummation of the Merger, the Bank Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(d) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.13(d) contains a schedule showing the estimated, with reasonable precision, present value of the monetary amounts
payable as of the date specified in such schedule, whether individually or in the aggregate (including good faith estimates of all amounts
not subject to precise quantification as of the date of this Agreement), under any employment, change-in-control, severance, salary continuation,
deferred compensation, supplemental retirement or similar contract, plan or arrangement with or which covers any present or former employee,
director or consultant of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries and identifying the types and estimated amounts of the in-kind benefits due
under any FSRL Benefit Plan or FSRL Material Contract for each such person, specifying the assumptions in such schedule. The failure of
FSRL to include immaterial amounts (both individually and/or in the aggregate) under this Section 3.13(d) shall not constitute
a breach hereof.
Section 3.14 Agreements
with Regulatory Agencies.
Neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or
memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is a recipient of any extraordinary
supervisory letter from, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental
Authority (each a “FSRL Regulatory Agreement”) that restricts, or by its terms will in the future restrict,
the conduct of FSRL’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy, credit
or risk management policies, dividend policies, management, business or operations, nor has FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries been advised
by any Governmental Authority that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, requesting, recommending, or otherwise proceeding
with (or is considering the appropriateness of any of the aforementioned actions) any FSRL Regulatory Agreement. To FSRL’s Knowledge,
there are no investigations relating to any regulatory matters pending before any Governmental Authority with respect to FSRL or any of
its Subsidiaries.
23
Section 3.15 Brokers;
Fairness Opinion.
Neither FSRL nor any of its
officers, directors or any of its Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred, nor will it incur, any liability for any
broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
that FSRL has engaged, and will pay a fee or commission to Hovde Group, LLC (“FSRL Financial Advisor”), in accordance
with the terms of a letter agreement between FSRL Financial Advisor and FSRL, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously
delivered by FSRL to CBAN. FSRL has received the opinion of the FSRL Financial Advisor (and, when it is delivered in writing, a copy of
such opinion will be promptly provided to CBAN) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the
qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of
shares of FSRL Stock (including holders of shares of FSRL Stock through the ESOP), and, as of the date of this Agreement, such opinion
has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified.
Section 3.16 Employee
Benefit Plans.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.16(a) sets forth a true and complete list of each FSRL Benefit Plan.
For purposes of this Agreement, “FSRL Benefit Plans”
means all benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements (i) covering current
or former employees of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
(such current and former employees collectively, the “FSRL Employees”),
(ii) covering current or former directors of FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) with respect to which FSRL,
any of its Subsidiaries, Controlled Group Members, or ERISA Affiliates has or
may have any liability or contingent liability including,
but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section
3(3) of ERISA, health/welfare, employment, severance, change-of-control, fringe benefit, deferred compensation, defined benefit
plan, defined contribution plan, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock
based, incentive, bonus plans, retirement plans and other policies, plans or arrangements whether
or not subject to ERISA.
(b) With
respect to each FSRL Benefit Plan, FSRL has provided or
made available to CBAN true and complete copies of such FSRL Benefit
Plan (or a written summary of such FSRL Benefit Plan where no plan document exists), any trust instruments and insurance contracts
forming a part of any FSRL Benefit Plans and all amendments thereto, the most current summary plan
descriptions and summaries of material modifications, IRS Form
5500, including applicable schedules and reports required to be filed therewith (for the three (3) most recently completed plan years),
the most recent IRS determination, opinion, or advisory letters with respect thereto, and any correspondence
from any Governmental Authority. In addition, with respect to the FSRL Benefit Plans for the three (3) most recently completed plan years,
any plan financial statements and accompanying accounting reports, service contracts, fidelity bonds and material communications (e.g.
award agreements, summary of benefits and coverage, employee and participant annual QDIA notice, safe harbor notice, or fee disclosures
notices under 29 CFR 2550.404a-5), and coverage and nondiscrimination testing data and results (e.g. under Code Sections 105(h), 125,
129, 410, 401(k), and 401(m), as applicable), have been provided or made available to CBAN.
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(c) All
FSRL Benefit Plans are in compliance in all material respects
in form and operation with all applicable Laws, including ERISA
and the Code. Each FSRL Benefit Plan which is intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (“FSRL
401(a) Plan”) has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or is entitled
to rely on a favorable opinion or advisory letter from the IRS, and, to FSRL’s Knowledge, there
is not any circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in revocation of any such favorable determination, opinion
or advisory letter, and nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to result in the
FSRL 401(a) Plan ceasing to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
All FSRL Benefit Plans have been administered in all material respects
in accordance with their terms. There is no pending or, to FSRL’s
Knowledge, threatened litigation or regulatory action relating to the FSRL
Benefit Plans. To FSRL’s Knowledge, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries
has engaged in a transaction with respect to any FSRL Benefit Plan that could reasonably
be expected to subject FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries to
a tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code or Section
502(i) of ERISA. No FSRL 401(a) Plan has been submitted under or been the subject of an IRS voluntary
compliance program submission that is still outstanding or that has not been fully corrected in accordance with a compliance statement
issued by the IRS with respect to any applicable failures. There are no audits, inquiries, investigations, or
proceedings pending or, to FSRL’s Knowledge, threatened
by any Governmental Authority, or participant claims (other than claims for benefits in the normal course of business), with respect to
any FSRL Benefit Plan. To FSRL’s Knowledge, neither FSRL nor any administrator or fiduciary
of any FSRL Benefit Plan (or any agent of any of the foregoing) that is an employee of FSRL has engaged in any transaction, or acted or
failed to act in any manner with respect to any FSRL Benefit Plan that could subject it to any direct or indirect material liability (by
indemnity or otherwise) for breach of any fiduciary, co-fiduciary, or other duty under ERISA. No oral or written representation or communication
with respect to any aspect of the FSRL Benefit Plans has been made to FSRL Employees that is not in conformity with the written or otherwise
preexisting terms and provisions of such plans.
(d) Neither
FSRL nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained a plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
None of FSRL or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed to (or
been obligated to contribute to) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA. FSRL has not contributed to (or been obligated to contribute to) a “multiple
employer plan” within the meaning of ERISA Sections 4063 or
4064 or Code Section 413(c) at any time. Neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates have incurred, and to FSRL’s Knowledge there
are no circumstances under which they could reasonably be expected to incur, liability under Title IV
of ERISA. Neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever sponsored, maintained or participated in a multiple employer welfare
arrangement as defined in ERISA Section 3(40).
(e) All
contributions required to be made with respect to all FSRL Benefit Plans have been timely made
or accrued on FSRL’s financial statements.
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(f) No
FSRL Benefit Plan provides life insurance, medical, surgical, hospitalization or
other employee welfare benefits to any FSRL Employee, upon or following his or her retirement
or termination of employment for any reason, except as may be required by Law.
(g) All
FSRL Benefit Plans that are group health plans have been operated in all material
respects in compliance with the group health plan continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code
and all other applicable sections of ERISA and the Code,
and, to FSRL’s Knowledge, no material liabilities arising under Code Section 4980H have occurred or no such liabilities are expected
to be assessed. FSRL may amend or terminate any such FSRL Benefit Plan at any time, subject to applicable Law and the terms of the FSRL
Benefit Plan.
(h) Except
as set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.16(h), neither the execution of this Agreement,
shareholder approval of this Agreement or consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (individually or in conjunction with any
other event) will (i) entitle any FSRL Employee to retention or other bonuses, parachute payments, non-competition payments, or any other
payment, (ii) entitle any FSRL Employee to severance pay or any increase in severance pay, (iii)
accelerate the time of payment or vesting (except as required by Law)
or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust
or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under or increase
the amount payable under any of the FSRL Benefit Plans, (iv) result in any breach or
violation of, or a default under, any of the FSRL Benefit
Plans, (v) result in any payment of any amount that would, individually or in combination with any other such payment, be an excess
“parachute payment” to a “disqualified individual” as those terms are defined in Section 280G of the Code,
or (vi) limit or restrict the right of FSRL
or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, CBAN
or any of its Subsidiaries, to merge, amend or terminate
any of the FSRL Benefit Plans in accordance with applicable Law.
(i) Each
FSRL Benefit Plan that is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan or
arrangement within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any underlying award, is
in compliance in all material respects with Section 409A of the Code. Neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any obligation to reimburse or
indemnify any participant in a FSRL Benefit Plan for any of the interest or penalties specified
in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code that may be currently due or
triggered in the future, or (ii) has been required to report to any Governmental Authority any correction or
taxes due as a result of a failure to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
(j) No
FSRL Benefit Plan provides for the gross-up or reimbursement
of any Taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or otherwise,
and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to reimburse or indemnify any party for such Taxes.
(k) FSRL
has made available to CBAN copies of any Code Section 280G calculations (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual,
if applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(l) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.16(l) contains a schedule showing the monetary amounts payable or potentially payable, whether individually
or in the aggregate (including good faith estimates of all amounts not subject to precise quantification as of the date of this Agreement)
under any employment, change-in-control, severance, or similar contract, plan, or arrangement with or which covers any present or former
director, officer, employee, or consultant of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries who may be entitled to any such amount and identifying the
types and estimated amounts of the in-kind benefits due under any FSRL Benefit Plans (other than a plan qualified under Section 401(a)
of the Code) for each such Person, specifying the assumptions in such schedule and providing estimates of other required contributions
to any trusts for any related fees or expenses.
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(m) No
FSRL Benefits Plan is subject to the Laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States.
Section 3.17 Labor Matters.
(a) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding
with a labor union or labor organization, nor is there any proceeding pending or, to FSRL’s Knowledge threatened, asserting that
FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking
to compel FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor is there
any strike or other labor dispute against FSRL pending or, to FSRL’s Knowledge, threatened, nor to FSRL’s Knowledge is there
any activity involving FSRL Employees seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational activity. To
FSRL’s Knowledge, FSRL and its Subsidiaries have correctly classified all individuals who directly or indirectly perform services
for FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of federal and state unemployment compensation Laws, workers’ compensation Laws
and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor and as employees or independent contractors under applicable Laws. To FSRL’s
Knowledge, no officer of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is in material violation of any employment contract, confidentiality, non-competition
agreement or any other restrictive covenant, and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any Governmental
Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws of an intent to conduct, nor to FSRL’s Knowledge is there
pending or threatened, any investigation relating to the labor or employment practices of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) FSRL
and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with, and since December 31, 2023, have complied in all material respects
with, all Laws regarding employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours, plant closing notification,
classification of employees and independent contractors, equitable pay practices, privacy rights, labor disputes, employment discrimination,
sexual harassment or discrimination, workers’ compensation or long-term disability policies, retaliation, immigration, family and
medical leave, occupational safety and health and other Laws in respect of any reduction in force (including notice, information and consultation
requirements).
(c) (i)
To FSRL’s Knowledge, no written allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been made in the past five (5) years
against any person who is a current member of the board of directors of FSRL or a current officer of FSRL or its Subsidiaries categorized
at or above Senior Vice President, (ii) in the past five (5) years neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement
agreement related to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by any current officer at or above Senior Vice President, and
(iii) there are no proceedings currently pending or, to the Knowledge of FSRL, threatened related to any allegations of sexual harassment
or sexual misconduct by any current member of the board of directors of FSRL, any current officer or any Senior Vice President.
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(d) Since
March 31, 2026, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has effectuated a “mass layoff” or “plant closings” as
defined in the WARN Act affecting any site of employment or facility of FSRL or FSRL’s Subsidiaries.
(e) Except
as set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.17(e), neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any FSRL Material Contract
with respect to the employment of any officer, director, employee or consultant that is not terminable at will and without any penalty
or other severance or obligation.
(f) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.17(f) sets forth a complete list of all employees FSRL and its Subsidiaries and their basic employment data
(including, without limitation, with respect to each such employee, current base salary or wage, total compensation for 2025, current
target bonus opportunity, date of hire, status as full or part-time, status as active or on-leave (and type of leave) and exempt or non-exempt
status and office location).
(g) Except
as set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.17(g), there are no employment agreements, severance agreements or similar arrangements
to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiary is a party.
(h) Except
as set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.17(h), there are no non-solicitation, non-competition, non-disclosure, or non-interference
agreements between FSRL or its Subsidiary and any current or former employee of FSRL or any of its Subsidiary.
(i) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any workers’ compensation liability other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.
FSRL and its Subsidiaries have paid or accrued all material assessments required under applicable workers’ compensation Laws, and
neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has been subject to any unpaid material special or penalty assessment under such Laws.
Section 3.18 Environmental
Matters.
(a) To
its Knowledge, (i) FSRL and its Subsidiaries have been and are in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including
obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits required under Environmental Laws for the operation of their respective businesses,
(ii) there is no action or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority relating to or arising under any Environmental Laws that
is pending or, to the Knowledge of FSRL, threatened against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property or facility presently
owned, operated or leased by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor (including in a fiduciary or agency capacity), (iii) neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of or is subject to any liability, order, settlement, judgment, injunction or
decree involving uncompleted, outstanding or unresolved requirements relating to or arising under Environmental Laws, (iv) to the Knowledge
of FSRL, there have been no releases of Hazardous Substances at, on, under or affecting any of the real properties or facilities presently
owned, operated or leased by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor (including in a fiduciary or agency capacity) in amount
or condition that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in liability to FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries relating to
or arising under any Environmental Laws, (v) to the Knowledge of FSRL, there are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any property
currently owned, operated or leased by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, and (vi) FSRL and its Subsidiaries have furnished to CBAN all
environmental assessments, audits, reports, and other material documents and information in their possession or control relating to FSRL,
any of its Subsidiaries, any predecessor, any facility or property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by FSRL or any of its
Subsidiaries.
28
(b) FSRL
and its Subsidiaries have developed, implemented and adhere to commercially reasonable environmental risk-management procedures in connection
with the origination and servicing of loans and the exercise of rights and remedies with respect thereto, including upon borrower default,
in order to minimize potential liability under Environmental Laws.
Section 3.19 Tax Matters.
(a) Each
of FSRL and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all income Tax Returns and all
other material Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Laws.
All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material
respects and have been prepared in compliance with all applicable Laws. All material Taxes due
and owing by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or
not shown on any Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid. Neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within
which to file any Tax Return. Neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries has ever received written notice of any claim by
any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where FSRL or such
Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that it is or
may be subject to Taxes by that jurisdiction. There are no Liens
for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable or that
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with
GAAP) upon any of the assets of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries have collected or withheld and paid over to the appropriate
Governmental Authority all material amounts of Taxes required to have been collected or withheld and paid over by it, and have complied
in all material respects with all information reporting and backup withholding requirements under any applicable federal, state, local
and foreign Laws in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Person, including Taxes required to have been collected or withheld and
paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee or independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or other third party, and
Taxes required to be collected or withheld and paid pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, and 3406 of the Code or similar provisions under
state, local, or foreign Law.
(c) No
foreign, federal, state or local Tax audits or
administrative or judicial Tax proceedings are currently
being conducted or pending or threatened in writing, in
each case, with respect to Taxes of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries.
Neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has received from
any foreign, federal, state or local taxing authority (including
jurisdictions where FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries have
not filed Tax Returns) any (i) written notice indicating
an intent to open an audit, action, suit, proceeding, claim, investigation, examination, or other litigation regarding any Tax or
other review with respect to Taxes or (ii) written notice of deficiency or
proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted or
assessed by any taxing authority against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
which, in either case (i) or (ii), has not been fully paid or
settled. There are no agreements, waivers or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to the assessment
of any Tax or deficiency against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived or extended
the applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Tax or agreed to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
29
(d) FSRL
has delivered or made available to CBAN true and
complete copies of the foreign, federal, state or local Tax Returns
filed with respect to FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
and of all examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by
FSRL, in each case with respect to income Taxes, for taxable
periods ended on or after December 31, 2022.
(e) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United
States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during
the applicable period specified in Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii). Except as set forth on FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.19(e), neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to or is otherwise bound by any Tax
allocation, sharing agreement or similar agreement
pursuant to which it has any material obligation to any Person with respect to Taxes (other than such an agreement
with customers, vendors, lessors or similar third parties entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business and not primarily related to Taxes).
Neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a
consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was FSRL),
or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other
than FSRL and its Subsidiaries) under Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or
any similar provision of foreign, state or local Law),
as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(f) The
most recent Financial Statements as of the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve, in accordance with GAAP, for all Taxes payable by
FSRL and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods through the date of such Financial Statements. Since December 31, 2025, neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses, as that term is used in GAAP,
outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(g) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include
any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable
income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Effective
Time as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting pursuant to Section 481 of the Code
or any comparable provision under foreign, state or local Law
for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section
7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of foreign, state or local Law) executed on or
prior to the Closing Date; (iii) intercompany transactions or
any excess loss account described in Regulations under Code
Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of foreign, state or local Law); (iv) installment sale or
open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing
Date; or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior
to the Closing Date.
30
(h) Since
January 1, 2023, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has
distributed stock of another Person nor had its stock distributed by another Person
in a transaction that was intended to be nontaxable and governed in whole or in part by
Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(i) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party
to any “listed transaction,” as defined in Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and
Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) of the Regulations in any tax year.
(j) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a “controlled
foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code, (ii) is a “passive foreign
investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or
(iii) has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or
otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in
which it is organized.
(k) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or
agreed to take any action, or is aware of any fact or circumstance,
that would be reasonably likely to prevent the Merger or the Bank
Merger from qualifying for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization”
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(l) FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries is in material compliance with all federal, state and foreign Laws applicable to abandoned or unclaimed property
or escheat and has timely paid, remitted or delivered to each jurisdiction all material unclaimed or abandoned property required by any
applicable Laws to be paid, remitted or delivered to that jurisdiction.
(m) Set
forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.19(m) are the net operating loss, net capital loss, credit, minimum Tax, charitable contribution,
and other Tax carryforwards (by type of carryforward and expiration date, if any) of FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries. Except as set
forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.19(m), none of those carryforwards are, as of the Closing Date and without giving effect to
the Merger, presently subject to limitation under Sections 382, 383, or 384 of the Code, or the federal consolidated return regulations,
or any analogous provision of foreign, state, or local Tax Law.
Section 3.20 Investment
Securities.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.20 sets forth as of March 31, 2026, the FSRL Investment Securities, as well as any purchases or sales of FSRL
Investment Securities between December 31, 2025 to and including March 31, 2026, reflecting with respect to all such securities, whenever
purchased or sold, descriptions thereof, CUSIP numbers, designations as securities “available for sale” or securities “held
to maturity” (as those terms are used in ASC 320), book values, fair values and coupon rates, and any gain or loss with respect
to any FSRL Investment Securities sold during such time period between December 31, 2025 and March 31, 2026. Each of FSRL and its Subsidiaries
has good title in all material respects to all securities and commodities owned by it (except those sold under repurchase agreements)
which are material to FSRL’s business on a consolidated basis, free and clear of any Lien, except to the extent such securities
or commodities are pledged in the Ordinary Course of Business to secure obligations of FSRL or its Subsidiaries. Such securities and commodities
are valued on the books of FSRL in accordance with GAAP in all material respects. Except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.20,
neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any of the outstanding equity of any savings bank, savings and loan association, savings
and loan holding company, credit union, bank or bank holding company, insurance company, mortgage or loan broker or any other financial
institution other than First Reliance Bank. Except for investments in FHLB stock, FRB stock, trust preferred securities and pledges to
secure FHLB or FRB borrowings and reverse repurchase agreements entered into in arm’s-length transactions pursuant to normal commercial
terms and conditions and entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and restrictions that exist for securities to be classified as
“held to maturity,” none of the investment securities held by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any restriction
(contractual or statutory) that would materially impair the ability of the entity holding such investment to freely dispose of such investment
at any time.
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(b) FSRL
has made available to CBAN a true and complete list, as of March 31, 2026, of the borrowed funds (excluding deposit accounts) of FSRL
and its Subsidiaries.
(c) FSRL
has made available to CBAN a true and complete list, as of March 31, 2026, of the deposits of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries that are
“brokered” or “listing service” deposits.
(d) FSRL
and its Subsidiaries employ, to the extent applicable, investment, securities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures
that FSRL believes are prudent and reasonable in the context of their respective businesses, and FSRL and its Subsidiaries have, since
January 1, 2024, been in compliance with such policies, practices and procedures in all material respects.
Section 3.21 Derivative
Transactions.
(a) All
Derivative Transactions entered into by FSRL or any of its
Subsidiaries or for the account of any of its customers were entered into in accordance in all
material respects with applicable Laws and regulatory policies
of any Governmental Authority, and in accordance in all material
respects with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by
FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, and were entered into with
counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or
in consultation with its advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions.
FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed, in
all material respects, all of their obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent
that such obligations to perform have accrued, and there are no material breaches, violations or
defaults or allegations or assertions of such by
any party thereunder.
(b) Each
Derivative Transaction is listed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.21(b), and the financial position of FSRL or its Subsidiaries under
or with respect to each has been reflected in the books and records of FSRL or its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, and no material
open exposure of FSRL or its Subsidiaries with respect to any such instrument (or with respect to multiple instruments with respect to
any single counterparty) exists, except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.21(b).
(c) No
Derivative Transaction, were it to be a Loan held by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, would be classified as “Special Mention,”
“Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit
Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List,” as such terms are defined by the FDIC’s uniform loan
classification standards, or words of similar import.
32
(d) As
of the date hereof, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Derivative Transaction that has not been resolved.
Section 3.22 Regulatory
Capitalization.
FSRL and First Reliance Bank
are “well-capitalized,” as such term is defined in the applicable state and federal rules and regulations. Neither FSRL nor
First Reliance Bank has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority indicating that it would reasonably be expected to
cease to be “well capitalized,” and FSRL has no Knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected
to result in such a change.
Section 3.23 Loans;
Nonperforming and Classified Assets.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.23(a) sets forth all (i) loans, loan agreements, notes or
borrowing arrangements and other extensions of credit (including, without limitation, leases,
credit enhancements, commitments, guarantees and interest-bearing assets) (collectively, “Loans”) in which FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries is a creditor which, as of March 31, 2026, was over thirty (30) days or more delinquent in payment of principal
or interest or in default of any other material provision, and (ii) Loans with any director, executive officer or 5% or greater shareholder
of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of FSRL, any affiliate of any of the foregoing. Set forth in FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 3.23(a) is a true, correct and complete list of (A) all of the Loans of FSRL and its Subsidiaries that, as of March 31, 2026,
were classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,”
“Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List” or words of similar
import by First Reliance Bank, FSRL or any bank examiner, together with the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on each
such Loan and the identity of the borrower thereunder, together with the aggregate principal amount of such Loans by category of Loan
(e.g., commercial, consumer, etc.), and (B) each Loan classified by First Reliance Bank as a Troubled Debt Restructuring as defined by
GAAP.
(b) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.23(b) identifies each asset of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
that as of March 31, 2026 was classified as other real estate owned (“OREO”)
and the book value thereof as of March 31, 2026 as well as any assets classified as OREO between
December 31, 2025 and March 31, 2026 and any sales of OREO between December 31, 2025 and March
31, 2026, reflecting any gain or loss with respect to any OREO
sold.
(c) Each
Loan held in FSRL’s or any of its Subsidiaries’
loan portfolio (each a “FSRL Loan”) (i) is evidenced by notes, agreements
or other evidences of indebtedness that are true, genuine and what they purport to be, (ii) to
the extent secured, is and has been secured by valid Liens which have been perfected and (iii)
is a legal, valid and binding obligation of FSRL and the obligor named therein, and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by such obligor or obligors, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception.
33
(d) All
currently outstanding FSRL Loans were solicited, originated and currently exist in material
compliance with all applicable requirements of Law and the notes or
other credit or security documents with respect to each such outstanding FSRL
Loan are complete and correct in all material respects. There are no oral modifications or amendments
or additional agreements related to the FSRL Loans that
are not reflected in the written records of FSRL or its Subsidiary,
as applicable. All such FSRL Loans are owned by FSRL or its
Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens other than a blanket lien
on qualifying loans provided to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. No claims of defense as to the enforcement of any FSRL
Loan have been asserted in writing against FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
for which there is a reasonable possibility of a material adverse determination, and FSRL
has no Knowledge of any acts or omissions which would
give rise to any claim or right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim or
defense for which there is a reasonable possibility of a material adverse determination
to its Subsidiaries. Except as described on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.23(d), no FSRL
Loans are presently serviced by third parties and there is no obligation which could result
in any FSRL Loan becoming subject to any third-party servicing.
(e) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to any agreement or arrangement with (or otherwise
obligated to) any Person which obligates FSRL or any of
its Subsidiaries to repurchase from any such Person any
Loan or other asset of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
unless there is a material breach of a representation or covenant
by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, and none of the agreements
pursuant to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries has sold
Loans or pools of Loans or participations in Loans
or pools of Loans contains any obligation to repurchase such Loans
or interests therein solely on account of a payment default by the obligor on any such Loan.
(f) Neither
FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is now nor has it ever
been since January 1, 2023, subject to any fine, suspension, settlement or other contract or
other administrative agreement or sanction by, or any
reduction in any loan purchase commitment from, any Governmental Authority relating to the origination,
sale or servicing of mortgage or consumer Loans.
(g) There
are no outstanding Loans made by FSRL or First Reliance Bank to any directors, executive officers or principal shareholders (as such terms
are defined in Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board (12 C.F.R. Part 215)) of FSRL or First Reliance Bank, other than Loans that are
subject to and that were made and continue to be in compliance with Regulation O or that are exempt therefrom.
Section 3.24 Allowance
for Credit Losses.
FSRL’s allowance for
credit losses as reflected in each of (a) the latest balance sheet included in the Financial Statements, (b) in the balance sheet as of
December 31, 2025 included in the Financial Statements were, and, the allowance for credit losses shown on any financial statements delivered
in accordance with Section 5.14 will be, as the case may be, in the opinion of management, as of each of the dates thereof, in
compliance in all material respects with FSRL’s existing methodology for determining the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses
as well as the standards established by applicable Governmental Authority, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and GAAP, and is,
in the reasonable judgment of management, adequate under all such standards. As of December 31, 2025, any impairment on loans, investments,
derivatives and any other financial instrument in the Financial Statements was accounted for under GAAP.
34
Section 3.25 Trust Business;
Administration of Fiduciary Accounts.
Neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries has offered or engaged in providing any individual or corporate trust services or administers any accounts for which it acts
as a fiduciary, including, but not limited to, any accounts in which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative,
guardian, conservator or investment advisor.
Section 3.26 Investment
Management and Related Activities.
None of FSRL, any FSRL Subsidiary
or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, in each of their respective capacities as a director, officer, or employee
of FSRL or any FSRL Subsidiary, is required to be registered, licensed or authorized under the Laws of any Governmental Authority as an
investment adviser, a broker or dealer, an insurance agency, a commodity trading adviser, a commodity pool operator, a futures commission
merchant, an introducing broker, a registered representative or associated person, investment adviser, representative or solicitor, a
counseling officer, an insurance agent, a sales person or in any similar capacity with a Governmental Authority.
Section 3.27 Repurchase
Agreements.
With respect to all agreements
pursuant to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, FSRL or any of its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has a valid, perfected first lien or security interest in the government securities or other collateral
securing the repurchase agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured thereby.
Section 3.28 Deposit
Insurance; FHLB.
First Reliance Bank is an
“insured depositary institution” as defined in the FDIC, the deposits of First Reliance Bank are insured by the FDIC in accordance
with the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and First Reliance Bank
has paid all premiums and assessments and filed all reports required by the FDIA. No proceedings for the revocation or termination of
such deposit insurance are pending or, to FSRL’s Knowledge, threatened. First Reliance Bank is a member in good standing of the
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.
Section 3.29 Community
Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security.
Neither FSRL nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters and neither FSRL nor
any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that any facts or circumstances exist which would cause FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries: (a) to
be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to
be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “satisfactory”;
(b) to be deemed to be operating in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA PATRIOT
Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control,
or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (c) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with
the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy Laws and regulations, including,
without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the boards of
directors of FSRL and its Subsidiaries has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer
identification verification procedures that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements
of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. First Reliance Bank has implemented a program with respect to the beneficial ownership
requirements set forth in the final rule on Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions found in 81 Federal Register
29397 (July 11, 2016) and 31 C.F.R. § 1010 et seq.
35
Section 3.30 Transactions
with Affiliates.
Except as set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.30, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or advances by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
to, and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor or debtor to (a) any current or former director, executive officer,
immediate family member of an such director or executive officer, 5% or greater shareholder of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or to any
of their respective Affiliates or Associates, other than as part of the normal and customary terms of such person’s employment or
service as a director with FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries and other than deposits held by First Reliance Bank in the Ordinary Course
of Business, or (b) any other Affiliate of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.30,
there are no, and since December 31, 2023, there have been no, currently proposed transactions, arrangements or contracts between FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of the Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) above, on the other hand. All agreements
between First Reliance Bank and any of its Affiliates (or any company treated as an affiliate for purposes of such Law) comply, and have
complied, to the extent applicable, with Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W of the FRB.
Section 3.31 Tangible
Properties and Assets.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.31(a) sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all real property owned by FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.31(a), FSRL or its Subsidiaries
has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in or otherwise legally enforceable
rights to use all of the real property, personal property and other assets (tangible or
intangible), used, occupied and operated or held for use by it in connection with its business
as presently conducted in each case, free and clear of any Lien, except for (a) statutory Liens
for amounts not yet delinquent, and (b) easements, rights of way, and other similar Liens
that do not materially affect the value or use of the properties or
assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise
materially impair business operations at such properties. There is no pending or, to FSRL’s
Knowledge, threatened legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceeding, claim,
action or governmental or regulatory investigation of any
nature with respect to the real property that FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
owns, uses or occupies or has the right to use or
occupy, now or in the future, including without limitation
a pending or threatened taking of any of such real property by eminent domain. True and complete
copies of all deeds or other documentation evidencing ownership of the real properties set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.31(a),
and complete copies of the title insurance policies and surveys for each property, together with any mortgages, deeds of trust and security
agreements to which such property is subject have been furnished or made available to CBAN. There are no material pending or, to the Knowledge
of FSRL, threatened condemnation proceedings against any real property owned or leased by FSRL or its Subsidiaries.
36
(b) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.31(b) sets forth a true, correct and complete schedule of all leases,
subleases, licenses and other agreements under which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
uses or occupies or has the right to use or
occupy, now or in the future, real property (the “Leases”).
Each of the Leases is valid, binding and in full force and effect and neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries has received a written notice of, and otherwise has no Knowledge
of any, default or termination with respect to any Lease.
There has not occurred any event and no condition exists that would constitute a termination event or
a breach by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries of, or
default by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries in, the
performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in any Lease.
To FSRL’s Knowledge, no lessor under a Lease is in
material breach or default in the performance of any material
covenant, agreement or condition contained in such Lease.
FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries has paid all rents and
other charges to the extent due under the Leases. True and complete copies of all Leases
for, or other documentation evidencing ownership of or a
leasehold interest in, the properties listed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.31(b),
have been furnished or made available to CBAN.
(c) All
buildings, structures, fixtures, building systems and equipment, and all components thereof, including
the roof, foundation, load-bearing walls and other structural elements thereof, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, mechanical,
electrical, plumbing and other building systems, environmental control, remediation and abatement systems, sewer, storm and waste water
systems, irrigation and other water distribution systems, parking facilities, fire protection, security and surveillance systems, and
telecommunications, computer, wiring and cable installations, included in the owned real property or the
subject of the Leases are in good condition and repair (normal wear and tear excepted) and sufficient
for the operation of the business of FSRL and its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.32 Intellectual
Property.
FSRL Disclosure Schedule
3.32 sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all FSRL Intellectual Property. FSRL or its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid
license to use all FSRL Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens, royalty or other payment obligations (except for royalties
or payments with respect to off-the-shelf Software at standard commercial rates). The FSRL Intellectual Property constitutes all of the
Intellectual Property necessary to carry on the business of FSRL and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted. The FSRL Intellectual Property
is valid and enforceable and has not been cancelled, forfeited, expired or abandoned, and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received notice challenging the validity or enforceability of FSRL Intellectual Property. None of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is,
nor will any of them be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance by FSRL of its obligations hereunder,
in violation of any licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to
which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third-party patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade secrets
or computer software, and neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice challenging FSRL’s or any of its Subsidiaries’
license or legally enforceable right to use any such third-party intellectual property rights. The consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not result in the material loss or impairment of the right of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries to own or use any of FSRL Intellectual
Property. Since January 1, 2023, neither FSRL nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any litigation or received any written notice
alleging infringement or misappropriation of any third-party Intellectual Property, nor has FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries initiated
any litigation to enforce its Intellectual Property rights.
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Section 3.33 Insurance.
(a) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.33(a) identifies all of the insurance policies, binders or
bonds currently maintained by FSRL and its Subsidiaries (the “Insurance Policies”),
including the insurer, policy numbers, amount of coverage, effective and termination dates and
any pending claims thereunder involving more than $10,000. FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries
is insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as the management of FSRL
reasonably has determined to be prudent in accordance with industry practices. FSRL and its Subsidiaries maintain directors’
and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance with coverage limits and terms consistent with industry practice.
All of the Insurance Policies are in full force and effect, neither FSRL
nor any Subsidiary has received notice of cancellation of any of the Insurance
Policies or is otherwise aware that any insurer under any of the Insurance Policies has
expressed an intent to cancel any such Insurance Policies, and neither FSRL
nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default thereunder, and all claims thereunder have been
filed in due and timely fashion in all material respects. All premiums due and payable under the
Insurance Policies have been timely paid, and there has been no lapse in coverage under any Insurance Policy.
(b) FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.33(b) sets forth a true, correct and complete description of all bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”)
owned by FSRL or its Subsidiaries, including
the value of its BOLI as of the end of the month prior to the
date hereof. The value of such BOLI is and has been fairly and accurately reflected in the
most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP.
All BOLI is owned solely by First Reliance Bank, no other
Person has any ownership claims with respect to such BOLI or proceeds
of insurance derived therefrom and there is no split dollar or similar benefit under FSRL’s
BOLI. Neither FSRL nor any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries
has any outstanding borrowings secured in whole or part by its BOLI.
Section 3.34 Antitakeover
Provisions.
No Takeover Statutes are applicable
to this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 3.35 FSRL Information.
The information relating to
FSRL and its Subsidiaries that is provided by or on behalf of FSRL for inclusion in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration
Statement will not (with respect to the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, as of the date the Proxy Statement-Prospectus is first mailed to FSRL’s
shareholders and as of the date of the FSRL Meeting, and with respect to the Registration Statement, as of the time the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement thereto is declared effective under the Securities Act) contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading;
provided, however, that any information contained in any subsequent filing of FSRL as of a later date shall be deemed to
modify information as of an earlier date. The portions of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus relating to FSRL and FSRL’s Subsidiaries
and other portions thereof within the reasonable control of FSRL and its Subsidiaries will comply as to form in all material respects
with the provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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Section 3.36 Transaction
Costs.
FSRL Disclosure Schedule
3.36 sets forth attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accounting fees and other costs or fees of FSRL and its Subsidiaries
that, based upon reasonable inquiry, are expected to be paid or accrued through the Closing Date in connection with the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.37 Bank Holding
Company.
FSRL is regulated as a bank
holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
Section 3.38 ESOP Trustees.
The Persons set forth in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.38 are the duly appointed ESOP Trustees, with the power and authority to act on behalf of the ESOP (a) as fiduciary
of the ESOP in the manner described in Section 3(21)(A) of ERISA and (b) on behalf of the ESOP to the extent specified in the ESOP and
any related trust or other documents.
Section 3.39 Information
Security.
FSRL and its Subsidiaries
use commercially reasonable and appropriate efforts and measures to protect (a) their trade secrets and confidential information and (b)
the integrity, security and continuous operation of the Systems used in connection with their businesses (and all personal data that are
processed thereby), and since December 31, 2023, (i) there have been no breaches, outages, violations, or unauthorized uses of or unauthorized
access to same, other than incidents that were resolved without material cost, liability or the duty to notify any Person and (ii) such
Systems have functioned in all material respects in accordance with their specifications and intended purpose and have been free of material
defects, errors, viruses, malware or other corruptants.
Section 3.40 Questionable
Payments.
(a) None
of FSRL, First Reliance Bank or any of their Subsidiaries, or to FSRL’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent or other
person acting on behalf of FSRL, First Reliance Bank or any of its Subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly: (a) used any corporate funds
for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to foreign or domestic political activity; (b) made
any unlawful payments to any foreign or domestic governmental officials, employees or agents of any foreign or domestic government or
to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; (c) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act of 1977, as amended; (d) established or maintained any unlawful fund of monies or other assets of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
(e) made any fraudulent entry on the books or records of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries or (f) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate,
payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other material unlawful payment, regardless of form, whether in money, property or services, to
any foreign or domestic governmental official, employee, or agent of any foreign or domestic government. None of FSRL, First Reliance
Bank or any of their Subsidiaries, or to FSRL’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent or other person acting on behalf
of FSRL, First Reliance Bank or any of its Subsidiaries, is subject to any United States sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department.
39
(b) FSRL
has implemented one or more policies addressing each of ethics, personal trading policies, conflicts of interest policies, customer privacy
policies, anti-money laundering policies, fair lending policies, vendor risk management policies, policies related to compliance with
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and other material policies as may be required by any applicable Law for itself
and its Subsidiaries, and a complete and correct copy of each such policy has been made available to CBAN. Such policies comply in all
material respects with the requirements of any Laws applicable thereto.
Section 3.41 Mortgage
Loan Matters.
Except as set forth on FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.41, at all times while FSRL and its Subsidiaries have been originating and servicing qualified and non-qualified
(i.e., not for sale to any public government-sponsored enterprise) residential mortgage loans (collectively, the “Mortgage
Loans”), FSRL and its Subsidiaries:
(a) has
all licenses necessary to carry on its business as now being conducted and is licensed, qualified and in good standing in the states where
each Mortgaged Property is located if the laws of such state require licensing or qualification in order to conduct business of the type
conducted by it;
(b) has
developed policies and procedures governing the origination of Mortgage Loans, including, but not limited to, ability to repay, analysis
of gift letters and evaluation of financial statements from borrowers, use of third-party brokers, and independent quality control, and
is in compliance with such policies and procedures in all material respects;
(c) utilized
origination, collection and servicing practices with respect to the Mortgage Loans that have been in all material respects legal, in compliance
with all applicable Laws, and customary in the mortgage origination and servicing industry, and the collection and servicing practices
have been consistent with Customary Servicing Procedures;
(d) to
the Knowledge of FSRL, has not been the subject of allegations of material failure to comply with applicable loan origination, servicing
or claims procedures, in its most recent audits (if any);
(e) has
in full force and effect an adequate errors and omissions policy or policies with respect to its origination and servicing operations
and a standard mortgage banker’s blanket bond;
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(f) is
an approved Fannie Mae Seller Servicer in good standing and is in material compliance with the provisions of the Fannie Mae Guide; and
(g) is
an approved Freddie Mac Seller Servicer in good standing and is in material compliance with the provisions of the Freddie Mac Guide.
Section 3.42 SBA Matters.
At all times while FSRL and
its Subsidiaries have been originating and servicing SBA Loans, FSRL and its Subsidiaries (a) is and was approved and in good standing,
as required, as an issuer and servicer of SBA Loans, (b) has not received any written notice of any cancellation or suspension of, or
material limitation on, its status as a licensee or as an approved issuer, seller/servicer or lender, as applicable, from the SBA, (c)
holds and at all relevant times held in good standing all required approvals, permits and licenses of the SBA that are necessary to the
conduct of the SBA-related business of FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (d) were and are in material compliance with
the SBA’s Standard Operating Procedures.
Section 3.43 No Other
Representations or Warranties.
Except for the representations
and warranties made by FSRL in this Article III and for the disclosures contained in the FSRL Disclosure Schedule, neither FSRL
nor any other person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to FSRL, its Subsidiaries or their respective
businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and FSRL hereby disclaims any such other
representations or warranties. FSRL acknowledges and agrees that neither CBAN nor any other person has made or is making any express or
implied representation or warranty other than those contained in Article IV and in the CBAN Disclosure Schedule.
Article
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CBAN
Except as set forth in the
disclosure schedule delivered by CBAN to FSRL prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement with respect to each such
Section below (the “CBAN Disclosure Schedule”); provided, that (a) the mere inclusion of an item in the
CBAN Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by CBAN that such item represents
a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on CBAN,
and (b) any disclosures made with respect to a section of Article IV shall be deemed to qualify (i) any other section of Article
IV specifically referenced or cross-referenced and (ii) other sections of Article IV to the extent it is reasonably apparent
on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies
to such other sections, CBAN hereby represents and warrants to FSRL as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization
and Standing.
Each of CBAN and its Subsidiaries
is (a) an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation
and (b) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not had, and is
not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to CBAN.
41
Section 4.02 Capital
Stock.
The authorized capital stock
of CBAN consists of 50,000,000 shares of CBAN Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of the date hereof, 21,158,353
shares of CBAN Common Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. The outstanding
shares of CBAN Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and have not been issued
in violation of nor are they subject to preemptive rights of any CBAN shareholder. The shares of CBAN Common Stock to be issued pursuant
to this Agreement, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and will not be subject to preemptive rights. All shares of CBAN’s capital stock issued and outstanding have been
issued in compliance with and not in violation of any applicable federal or state securities Laws.
Section 4.03 Corporate
Power.
(a) CBAN
and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate or similar power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and
to own all of its properties and assets; and CBAN has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to receipt of all Regulatory Approvals and the Requisite
CBAN Shareholder Approval.
(b) CBAN
has made available to FSRL a complete and correct copy of its articles of incorporation
and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of CBAN and each of
its Subsidiaries. Neither CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries is
in violation of any of the terms of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational
documents.
Section 4.04 Corporate
Authority.
Except for the approval of
this Agreement and of the transactions contemplated hereby, including but not limited to the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval, and
the adoption and approval of the Bank Merger Agreement by CBAN as Colony Bank’s sole shareholder, no other corporate proceedings
on the part of CBAN are necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. CBAN has duly executed
and delivered this Agreement and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by FSRL, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding
obligation of CBAN, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception.
Section 4.05 SEC Documents;
Financial Statements.
(a) CBAN
has filed all required reports, forms, schedules, registration statements and other documents with the SEC
that it has been required to file since January 1, 2023 (the “CBAN Reports”),
and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except where the failure to file such required reports,
forms, schedules, registration statements, and other documents or pay such fees and assessments has not had or would not reasonably be
expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on CBAN. As of their respective dates of filing with
the SEC (or, if amended or
superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such subsequent
filing), the CBAN Reports complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder
applicable to such CBAN Reports, and none of the CBAN Reports when
filed with the SEC, or if amended prior to the
date hereof, as of the date of such amendment, contained any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, no executive officer of CBAN has failed in any respect to make the certifications
required of him or her under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding
comments from or unresolved issues raised by the SEC with respect to any of the CBAN Reports.
42
(b) The
consolidated financial statements of CBAN (or incorporated
by reference) included (or incorporated by reference) in the CBAN Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) complied as
to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or,
if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date
hereof, as of the date of such subsequent filing), in all material respects, with all applicable
accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules of the SEC),
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except as may be disclosed therein), and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of CBAN and its Subsidiaries and the
consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of such companies as of the dates and for the
periods shown. The books and records of CBAN and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance
with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements, reflect only actual transactions and there are no material misstatements,
omissions, inaccuracies or discrepancies contained or reflected therein.
(c) CBAN
(i) has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms
are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of
Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange
Act, and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its outside auditors and the audit committee of CBAN’s
board of directors (A) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange
Act) which are reasonably likely to adversely affect CBAN’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial data and (B) any fraud, whether or not material,
that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in CBAN’s
internal control over financial reporting. These disclosures were made in writing by management to CBAN’s auditors and audit committee.
To the Knowledge of CBAN, there is no reason to believe that CBAN’s outside auditors and its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer will not be able to give the certifications and attestations required pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, without qualification, when next due, if required.
43
(d) Since
January 1, 2026, neither CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to CBAN’s Knowledge,
any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of CBAN or
any of its Subsidiaries has received, or otherwise
had or obtained Knowledge of, any material
complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or
auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of CBAN
or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including
any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that
CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable
accounting or auditing practices.
Section 4.06 Regulatory
Reports.
Since January 1, 2023, CBAN
and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed with the SEC, FRB, FDIC, any SRO and any other applicable Governmental Authority, in correct
form, all reports, registration statements and other documents required to be filed under applicable Laws and regulations and have paid
all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, and such reports were complete and accurate and in compliance in all
material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations, except where the failure to file such report or statement
or to pay such fees and assessments, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to CBAN. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Governmental Authority in the regular course of the business
of CBAN and its Subsidiaries, no Governmental Authority has notified CBAN that it has initiated or has pending any proceeding or, to the
Knowledge of CBAN threatened an investigation into the business or operations of CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2023,
except where such proceedings or investigation would not reasonably be likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to CBAN. Subject to Section 9.11, there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Governmental
Authority with respect to any report filed by, or relating to any examinations or inspections by any such Governmental Authority of CBAN
or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to CBAN.
Section 4.07 Regulatory
Approvals; No Defaults.
No consents or approvals of,
or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are required to be made or obtained by CBAN or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by CBAN of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including the Bank Merger, except for (a) the Regulatory Approvals, (b) the filing with the SEC and the filing and
declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (c) the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval, (d) the filing of the Articles
of Merger contemplated by Section 1.04(a) and the filing of documents with the FDIC, the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia,
the Secretary of State of the State of South Carolina, or other applicable state or federal banking agencies to cause the Bank Merger
to become effective, (e) such other filings and reports as required pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, or applicable stock exchange requirements, (f) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection
with compliance with the rules and regulations of any applicable SRO and the rules of the NYSE and (g) such filings and approvals as are
required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the CBAN Common
Stock Issuance and approval of listing of such CBAN Common Stock on the NYSE. Subject to the receipt of the approvals referred to in the
preceding sentence, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
by CBAN do not and will not, (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of
CBAN, (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to CBAN or any
of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or (iii) violate, result in a breach of any provision of or the
loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result
in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument
or obligation to which CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may
be bound. As of the date hereof, CBAN has no Knowledge of any reason (A) why the Regulatory Approvals and other necessary consents and
approvals will not be received in order to permit consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger on a timely basis and (B) why a Burdensome
Condition would be imposed.
44
Section 4.08 CBAN Information.
The information relating to
CBAN and its Subsidiaries that is supplied by or on behalf of CBAN for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus
and the Registration Statement will not (with respect to the Proxy Statement-Prospectus, as of the date the Proxy Statement-Prospectus
is first mailed to FSRL shareholders and as of the date of the FSRL Meeting, and with respect to the Registration Statement, as of the
time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto is declared effective under the Securities Act) contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
in which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that any information contained in any CBAN Report as of a later
date shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. The portions of the Proxy Statement-Prospectus relating to CBAN and
CBAN’s Subsidiaries and other portions thereof within the reasonable control of CBAN and its Subsidiaries will comply as to form
in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Section 4.09 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events.
Except as reflected or disclosed
in CBAN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 or in the CBAN Reports since December 31, 2025, as filed
with the SEC, there has been no change or development with respect to CBAN and its assets and business or combination of such changes
or developments which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect
to CBAN.
Section 4.10 Compliance
with Laws.
(a) CBAN
and each of its Subsidiaries is, and has been since January 1, 2023, in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws,
rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to
the employees conducting such businesses, including, without limitation, Laws
related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act,
the Bank Secrecy Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act,
the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act,
the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
the Truth in Lending Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Sections 23A
and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the regulations
implementing such statutes, all other applicable anti-money laundering Laws, fair lending
Laws and other Laws relating to discriminatory lending,
financing, leasing or business practices and all agency requirements relating to the origination,
sale and servicing of mortgage loans. Since January 1, 2023, neither CBAN
nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of any supervisory concerns regarding their
compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act or related state or federal
anti-money laundering laws, regulations and guidelines, including
without limitation those provisions of federal regulations requiring (i) the filing of reports,
such as Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports, (ii) the maintenance of records and (iii) the exercise of due diligence
in identifying customers.
45
(b) CBAN
and each of its Subsidiaries have all material permits,
licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and each has made all filings and applications and registrations with, all Governmental
Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease its properties and to
conduct its business as presently conducted. All such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force
and effect and, to CBAN’s Knowledge, no suspension
or cancellation of any of them is threatened.
(c) Neither
CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since January 1, 2023, written or, to CBAN’s Knowledge, oral notification from any
Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is not in compliance with any of the Laws which such Governmental Authority enforces or (ii)
threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization (nor, to CBAN’s Knowledge, do any grounds for
any of the foregoing exist), except where such noncompliance of threatened revocation is not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to CBAN.
Section 4.11 CBAN Regulatory
Matters.
(a) CBAN
is regulated as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
(b) Colony
Bank is an “insured depositary institution” as defined in the FDIA, the deposits of Colony Bank are insured by the FDIC in
accordance with FDIA to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and Colony Bank has paid all premiums and assessments and filed all reports
required by the FDIA. No proceedings for the revocation or termination of such deposit insurance are pending or, to CBAN’s Knowledge,
threatened. Colony Bank received a rating of “satisfactory” in its most recent examination under the Community Reinvestment
Act.
(c) Subject
to Section 9.11, since January 1, 2023, neither CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to, or the subject of, any cease-and-desist
order, consent order, written agreement, order for civil money penalty, refund, restitution, prompt corrective action directive, memorandum
of understanding, supervisory letter, individual minimum capital requirement, operating agreement, or any other formal or informal enforcement
action issued or required by, or entered into with, any Governmental Authority. Neither CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries has made, adopted,
or implemented any commitment, board resolution, policy, or procedure at the request or recommendation of any Governmental Authority that
limits in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its payment
of dividends or distribution of capital, its credit or risk management, its compliance program, its management, its growth, or its business.
Neither CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that any Governmental Authority is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, requesting,
recommending, or otherwise proceeding with any of the items referenced in this paragraph.
46
Section 4.12 Brokers.
Neither CBAN nor any of its
officers, directors or any of its Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred, nor will it incur, any liability for any
broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
that CBAN has engaged, and will pay a fee or commission to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.
Section 4.13 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Neither
CBAN nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to CBAN’s Knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative,
arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their current or former directors or executive officers in their capacities as such that is reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on CBAN, or challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Subject
to Section 9.11, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on CBAN, there is no material injunction, order, judgment, decree or regulatory restriction (other than regulatory restrictions
of general application to banks and bank holding companies) imposed upon CBAN, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of CBAN or any of
its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Merger or the Bank Merger would apply to the Surviving Entity or any of its Subsidiaries
or affiliates).
Section 4.14 Tax Matters.
Neither CBAN nor any of its
Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action, or is aware of any fact or circumstance, that would be reasonably likely to prevent
the Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 4.15 Agreements
with Regulatory Agencies.
Neither CBAN nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or
memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is a recipient of any extraordinary
supervisory letter from, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental
Authority (each a “CBAN Regulatory Agreement”) that restricts, or by its terms will in the future restrict,
the conduct of CBAN’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy, credit
or risk management policies, dividend policies, management, business or operations, nor has CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries been advised
by any Governmental Authority that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, requesting, recommending, or otherwise proceeding
with (or is considering the appropriateness of any of the aforementioned actions) any CBAN Regulatory Agreement. To CBAN’s Knowledge,
there are no investigations relating to any regulatory matters pending before any Governmental Authority with respect to CBAN or any of
its Subsidiaries.
47
Section 4.16 Regulatory
Capitalization.
CBAN and its Subsidiaries
are “well-capitalized,” as such term is defined in the applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
Section 4.17 Community
Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security.
Neither CBAN nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters and neither CBAN nor
any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that any facts or circumstances exist which would cause CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) to
be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to
be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “satisfactory”;
or (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA
PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance
with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy Laws and regulations, including,
without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the boards of
directors of CBAN and its Subsidiaries has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer
identification verification procedures that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements
of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.
Section 4.18 Loans.
As of the date hereof, each
Loan held in CBAN’s or any of its Subsidiaries’
loan portfolio, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to CBAN, (i) at the time and under the circumstances in which made, was made for good, valuable and adequate consideration
in the ordinary course of business and are the legal and binding obligations of the obligors thereof (except as enforcement against the
obligors may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar Laws relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and subject to general principals of equity which may limit the enforcement of certain
remedies), (ii) is evidenced by genuine notes, agreements, or other evidences of indebtedness, (iii) was made in accordance with the lending
policies and underwriting standards of Colony Bank, and (iv) to the extent secured, have been secured, to the Knowledge of CBAN, by valid
Liens and security interests which have been perfected.
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Section 4.19 No Financing
CBAN has and will have as of the Effective Time,
without having to resort to external sources, sufficient capital to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.20 Benefits.
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, “CBAN Benefit Plans”
means all benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements (i) covering current
or former employees of CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) covering current or former directors of CBAN or any
of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) with respect to which CBAN,
any of its Subsidiaries, Controlled Group Members, or ERISA Affiliates has or
may have any liability or contingent liability including,
but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section
3(3) of ERISA, health/welfare, employment, severance, change-of-control, fringe benefit, deferred compensation, defined benefit
plan, defined contribution plan, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock
based, incentive, bonus plans, retirement plans and other policies, plans or arrangements whether
or not subject to ERISA.
(b) All
CBAN Benefit Plans are in compliance in all material respects
in form and operation with all applicable Laws, including ERISA
and the Code. All CBAN Benefit Plans have been administered
in all material respects in accordance with their terms. There is no pending or,
to CBAN’s Knowledge, threatened litigation or regulatory
action relating to the CBAN Benefit Plans. Neither CBAN nor
any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to any CBAN
Benefit Plan that could reasonably be expected to subject CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries
to a tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code or Section
502(i) of ERISA. There are no audits, inquiries, investigations, or
proceedings pending or, to CBAN’s Knowledge, threatened
by any Governmental Authority, or participant claims (other than claims for benefits in the normal course of business), with respect to
any CBAN Benefit Plan. Neither CBAN nor any administrator or fiduciary of any CBAN Benefit Plan
(or any agent of any of the foregoing) that is an employee of CBAN has engaged in any transaction, or acted or failed to act in any manner
with respect to any CBAN Benefit Plan that could subject it to any direct or indirect material liability (by indemnity or otherwise) for
breach of any fiduciary, co-fiduciary, or other duty under ERISA.
Section 4.21 No Other
Representations or Warranties.
Except for the representations
and warranties made by CBAN in this Article IV and for the disclosures contained in the CBAN Disclosure Schedule, neither CBAN
nor any other person makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to CBAN, its Subsidiaries or their respective
businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and CBAN hereby disclaims any such other
representations or warranties. CBAN acknowledges and agrees that neither FSRL nor any other person has made or is making any express or
implied representation or warranty other than those contained in Article III and in the FSRL Disclosure Schedule.
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Article
V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01 Covenants
of FSRL.
During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,
except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including as set forth in the FSRL Disclosure Schedule), required by
Law or with the prior written consent of CBAN (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), FSRL shall carry
on its business, including the business of each of its Subsidiaries, in the Ordinary Course of Business in all material respects and consistent
with prudent banking practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, FSRL will use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to (i) preserve its business organizations and assets intact, (ii) keep available to itself and CBAN the present services of the current
officers and employees of FSRL and its Subsidiaries, (iii) preserve for itself and CBAN the goodwill of its customers, employees, lessors
and others with whom business relationships exist, and (iv) continue diligent collection efforts with respect to any delinquent loans
and, to the extent within its control, not allow any material increase in delinquent loans. Without limiting the generality of and in
furtherance of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, except (w) as set forth in FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 5.01, (x) as required by applicable Law or Governmental Authority, (y) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement,
or (z) consented to in writing by CBAN (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), FSRL shall not and
shall not permit its Subsidiaries to:
(a) Stock.
(i) Issue, sell, grant, pledge, dispose of, encumber or otherwise permit to become outstanding,
or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of its stock, any Rights,
any new award or grant under the FSRL Stock Plans or otherwise,
or any other securities (including units of beneficial ownership
interest in any partnership or limited liability company), or enter
into any agreement with respect to the foregoing, (ii) except as expressly permitted by this Agreement,
accelerate the vesting of any existing Rights, or (iii)
except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, directly or indirectly
change (or establish a record date for changing), adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, exchange,
purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock, or
any other securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership
or limited liability company) convertible into or exchangeable
for any additional shares of stock, any Rights issued and outstanding prior to the Effective
Time.
(b) Dividends;
Other Distributions. Make, declare, pay or set aside for payment of dividends payable in cash,
stock or property on or in respect of, or
declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital stock, except for dividends
from wholly-owned Subsidiaries to FSRL.
(c) Compensation;
Employment Agreements, Etc. Enter into or amend or renew
any employment, consulting, compensatory, severance, retention or similar agreements or
arrangements with any director, officer or employee of FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries, or grant any salary,
wage or fee increase or increase any employee benefit or
pay any incentive or bonus payments, except, in each case, (i) normal increases in base
salary to employees in the Ordinary Course of Business and pursuant to policies currently in effect,
provided that, such increases shall not result in an annual adjustment in base compensation (which includes base salary and any
other compensation other than bonus payments) of more than 5% for any individual or 3% in the aggregate
for all employees of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries other than
annual increases in base compensation and year-end bonuses disclosed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c), (ii) as specifically
provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, as contemplated by Section 5.11 of this Agreement), (iii) as may
be required by Law, (iv) to satisfy the contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule
3.16(l), or (iv) as otherwise set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c).
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(d) Hiring.
(i) Hire any person as an employee or officer of FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for at-will employment at an annual rate of base salary not to exceed
$100,000 to fill vacancies that may arise from time to time in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (ii)
promote any employee except to fill vacancies that may arise in the Ordinary Course of Business
or to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date of this Agreement and set forth on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.01(d).
(e) Benefit
Plans. Enter into, establish, adopt, amend, modify or terminate (except (i) as may be required
by or to make consistent with applicable Law, (ii) to satisfy
contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof (iii) as previously disclosed to CBAN
and set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.01(e), or (iv) as may be required pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, as contemplated by Section 5.11
of this Agreement)) any FSRL Benefit Plan.
(f) Transactions
with Affiliates. Except pursuant to agreements or arrangements
in effect on the date hereof and set forth in FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 5.01(f), pay, loan or advance any amount to, or
sell, transfer or lease any properties or assets
(real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or
enter into any agreement or arrangement with, any of its officers or
directors or any of their immediate family members or any
Affiliates or Associates of any of its officers or directors
other than compensation or business expense advancements or reimbursements
in the Ordinary Course of Business.
(g) Dispositions.
Except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.13(a), sell, license, lease, transfer, mortgage, pledge, encumber or
otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its rights,
assets, deposits, business or properties or cancel or
release any indebtedness owed to FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries.
(h) Acquisitions.
Acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide fiduciary
capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the Ordinary
Course of Business) all or any portion of the assets, debt, business, deposits or
properties of any other entity or Person, except for purchases specifically approved by
CBAN pursuant to any other applicable paragraph of this Section 5.01.
(i) Capital
Expenditures. Except as set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.01(i), make any capital
expenditures in amounts exceeding $50,000 individually, or $250,000 in the aggregate, provided
that CBAN shall grant or deny its consent to emergency repairs or replacements necessary to prevent substantial deterioration of the condition
of a property within two (2) Business Days of its receipt of a written request from FSRL.
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(j) Governing
Documents. Amend FSRL’s articles of incorporation or
bylaws or any equivalent documents of FSRL’s Subsidiaries.
(k) Accounting
Methods. Implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or
methods, other than as may be required by applicable Laws or GAAP or applicable accounting
requirements of any Governmental Authority, in each case, including
changes in the interpretation or enforcement thereof.
(l) Contracts.
Enter into, amend, modify, terminate, renew, extend, or waive any material
provision of, any FSRL Material Contract, Lease or Insurance
Policy, or make any change in any instrument or agreement
governing the terms of any of its securities, or material lease, license or
contract, or enter into any contract that would constitute a FSRL
Material Contract if it were in effect on the date of this Agreement, except for any amendments,
modifications or terminations reasonably requested by CBAN.
(m) Claims.
Other than settlement of foreclosure actions in the Ordinary Course of Business, (i) enter into
any settlement or similar agreement with respect to any
action, suit, proceeding, order or investigation to which FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a party
after the date of this Agreement, which settlement or agreement
involves payment by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries of
an amount which exceeds $50,000 individually or $150,000 in the aggregate and/or
would impose any material restriction on the business of FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) waive or release
any material rights or claims, or agree or
consent to the issuance of any injunction, decree, order or judgment restricting or
otherwise affecting its business or operations.
(n) Banking
Operations. (i) Enter into any material new line of business, introduce any material
new products or services, any material marketing
campaigns or any material new sales compensation or
incentive programs or arrangements; (ii) change in any material
respect its lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other banking and operating policies, except
as required by applicable Law, regulation or policies imposed
by any Governmental Authority; (iii) make any material changes
in its policies and practices with respect to underwriting, pricing, originating, acquiring, selling, servicing, or
buying or selling rights to service Loans,
its hedging practices and policies; and (iv) incur any material liability or
obligation relating to retail banking and branch merchandising, marketing and advertising activities and initiatives except in
the Ordinary Course of Business.
(o) Derivative
Transactions. Enter into any Derivative Transaction other than in the Ordinary
Course of Business consistent with past practice.
(p) Indebtedness.
Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent
with past practice with a term not in excess of twelve (12) months (other than creation of deposit liabilities or
sales of certificates of deposit in the Ordinary Course of Business), or
incur, assume or become subject to, whether directly or
by way of any guarantee or otherwise, any obligations or
liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any other Person,
other than the issuance of letters of credit in the Ordinary Course of Business and in accordance
with the restrictions set forth in Section 5.01(s).
52
(q) Investment
Securities. Unless mutually agreed upon by the Parties, (i) other than in the Ordinary Course of Business
consistent with past practice, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of any debt security or equity investment (other than obligations
of the government of the United States or agencies of the United States or state or local governments having maturities of not more than
five (5) years and which municipal obligations have been assigned a rating of A2 or better by Moody’s Investors Service or A or
better by Standard and Poor’s), or any certificates of deposits issued by other banks, nor (ii) change the classification method
for any of the FSRL Investment Securities from “held to maturity” to “available for sale” or from “available
for sale” to “held to maturity,” as those terms are used in ASC 320.
(r) Deposits.
Other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any changes to deposit pricing or acquire any
“brokered deposits” except for any extensions or renewals of existing brokered deposits.
(s) Loans.
Except for loans or extensions of credit approved and/or committed as of the date hereof that are listed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule
5.01(s), (i) make, renew, renegotiate, increase, extend or modify any (A) unsecured loan, if the amount of such unsecured loan, together
with any other outstanding unsecured loans made by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries to such borrower or its Affiliates, would be in excess
of $100,000, in the aggregate, (B) loan secured by other than a first lien in excess of $500,000, (C) loan in excess of FFIEC regulatory
guidelines relating to loan to value ratios, (D) loan secured by a first lien residential mortgage and with no loan policy exceptions
in excess of $750,000, (E) secured loan over $2,000,000, (F) any loan that is not made in conformity with FSRL’s ordinary course
lending policies and guidelines in effect as of the date hereof, or (G) loan, whether secured or unsecured, if the amount of such loan,
together with any other outstanding loans (without regard to whether such other loans have been advanced or remain to be advanced), would
result in the aggregate outstanding loans to any borrower of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries (without regard to whether such other loans
have been advanced or remain to be advanced) to exceed $2,000,000, (ii) sell any loan or loan pools in excess of $1,000,000 in principal
amount or sale price (other than residential mortgage loan pools sold in the Ordinary Course of Business), or (iii) acquire any servicing
rights, or sell or otherwise transfer any loan where FSRL or any its Subsidiaries retains any servicing rights (except for servicing rights
acquired or sold in the Ordinary Course of Business with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac). Any loan in excess of the limits set forth in this
Section 5.01(s) shall require the prior written approval of the President or Chief Credit Officer of Colony Bank, which approval
or rejection shall be given in writing within one (1) Business Day after the loan package is delivered to such individual.
(t) Investments
or Developments in Real Estate. Make any investment or commitment to invest in real
estate or in any real estate development project other than by way of foreclosures or deed in lieu
thereof or make any investment or commitment to develop,
or otherwise take any actions to develop any real estate owned by FSRL
or its Subsidiaries.
(u) Taxes.
Make or change any material Tax election, file any material
amended Tax Return, enter into any material closing agreement
with respect to Taxes, settle or compromise any material
liability with respect to Taxes, agree to any material adjustment
of any Tax attribute, file any claim for a material
refund of Taxes, or consent to any extension or
waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment, provided
that, for purposes of this Section 5.01(u), “material” means affecting or
relating to $50,000 or more in Taxes or $150,000
or more of taxable income.
53
(v) Tax
Treatment of Each of the Merger and the Bank Merger. Take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in
either the Merger or the Bank Merger failing to qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code.
(w) Compliance
with Agreements. Commit any act or omission which constitutes a material breach or default by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries under
any agreement with any Governmental Authority or under any FSRL Material Contract, Lease, the Fannie Mae Seller Guide, the Freddie Mac
Seller Guide or other material agreement or material license to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them
or their respective properties are bound or under which any of them or their respective assets, business, or operations receives benefits.
(x) Environmental
Assessments. Foreclose on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties without first
conducting an ASTM International (“ASTM”) E1527-13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (or any applicable
successor standard) of the property that satisfies the requirements of 40 C.F.R. Part 312 (“Phase I”), or foreclose
on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties if such environmental assessment indicates
the presence or likely presence of any Hazardous Substances under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material
threat of a release of any Hazardous Substances into structures on the property or into the ground, ground water, or surface water of
the property.
(y) Adverse
Actions. Take any action or knowingly fail to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement
that is intended or is reasonably likely to (i) prevent, delay or
impair FSRL’s ability to consummate the Merger or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) agree to take, make any commitment
to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited
by this Section 5.01.
(z) Capital
Stock Purchase. Except as required by an FSRL Benefit Plan for purposes of satisfying tax withholding obligations related to the vesting
of awards granted thereunder, or otherwise required by the ESOP, directly or indirectly repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock.
(aa) Facilities.
Except as required by Law, file any application or make
any contract or commitment for the opening, relocation or closing
of any, or open, relocate or close any, branch office,
loan production or servicing facility or automated banking
facility, except for any change that may be requested by CBAN.
(bb) Restructure.
Merge or consolidate itself or any of its Subsidiaries
with any other Person, or restructure, reorganize
or completely or partially liquidate or
dissolve it or any of its Subsidiaries.
(cc) Loan Workouts.
Compromise, resolve, or otherwise “workout” any delinquent or troubled loan, other than any loan workout in the Ordinary Course
of Business.
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(dd) Commitments.
(i) Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or
commit to do, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors or
similar governing body in support of, any of the foregoing or (ii) take any action that
is intended or expected to result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this
Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material
respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, or in
any of the conditions to the Merger not being satisfied in any material respect or
in a violation of any provision of this Agreement, except, in every case, as may be required
by applicable Law.
Section 5.02 Covenants
of CBAN.
(a) Affirmative
Covenants. From the date hereof until the Effective Time,
CBAN will carry on its business consistent with prudent banking practices and in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable Laws.
(b) Negative
Covenants. From the date hereof until the Effective Time,
except as expressly permitted or contemplated by this Agreement, or as required by applicable law or a
Governmental Authority, or with the prior written consent of FSRL during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time,
CBAN shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(i) Take
any action or knowingly fail to take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in either the Merger or the Bank Merger
failing to qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code;
(ii) Take
any action or knowingly fail to take any action that is reasonably likely to prevent, delay or
impair CBAN’s ability to consummate the Merger or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or Colony Bank’s ability to consummate the
Bank Merger or perform any of its obligations under the Bank Plan of Merger; or
(iii) agree
to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support
of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.02.
Section 5.03 Commercially
Reasonable Efforts.
Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, so as to permit consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable, including the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article
VI, and shall reasonably cooperate with the other Party to that end.
Section 5.04 Shareholder
Approvals.
(a) Each
of CBAN and FSRL shall call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders (the “CBAN Meeting”
and the “FSRL Meeting,” respectively) as soon as reasonably practicable (subject to applicable notice requirements)
after the Registration Statement is declared effective for the purpose of obtaining the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval and the Requisite
FSRL Shareholder Approval required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and, if so desired and mutually agreed, upon other
matters of the type customarily brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders to approve a merger agreement or the issuance
of shares contemplated thereby (as applicable). The board of directors of each of CBAN and FSRL shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain from the shareholders of CBAN and FSRL, as the case may be, the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval, in the case of
CBAN, and the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval, in the case of FSRL, including by communicating to its respective shareholders its
recommendation (and including such recommendation in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) that they approve this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including, with respect to CBAN, the CBAN Common Stock Issuance. CBAN or FSRL shall adjourn or postpone the CBAN
Meeting or the FSRL Meeting, as the case may be, if, as of the time for which such meeting is originally scheduled there are insufficient
shares of CBAN Common Stock or the FSRL Stock, as the case may be, represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary
to conduct the business of such meeting, or if on the date of such meeting CBAN or FSRL as applicable, has not received proxies representing
a sufficient number of shares necessary to obtain the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval or the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, each of the CBAN
Meeting and FSRL Meeting shall be convened, the CBAN Common Stock Issuance shall be submitted to the shareholders of CBAN, and this Agreement
shall be submitted to the shareholders of FSRL, at the CBAN Meeting and FSRL Meeting, respectively, for the purpose of voting on the approval
of such proposals and the other matters contemplated hereby, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve either CBAN or FSRL
of such obligation. CBAN and FSRL shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate to hold the CBAN Meeting and FSRL Meeting
as soon as reasonably practicable (subject to applicable notice requirements) after the Registration Statement is declared effective,
and to set the same record date for each such meeting.
55
(b) Except
to the extent provided otherwise in Section 5.09, the board of directors of FSRL shall at
all times prior to and during the FSRL Meeting recommend approval of this Agreement
by the shareholders of FSRL and the transactions contemplated
hereby (including the Merger) and any other matters
required to be approved by FSRL’s shareholders for consummation of the Merger
and the transactions contemplated hereby (the “FSRL
Recommendation”) and shall not withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or qualify
such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to the interests of CBAN or take any other
action or make any other public statement inconsistent with such recommendation and the Proxy
Statement-Prospectus shall include the FSRL Recommendation.
FSRL shall not take any action that would constitute a “FSRL Subsequent Determination,” including publicly proposing to change,
qualify, withhold or withdraw the FSRL Recommendation, or adopting, approving or recommending any alternative transaction. In the event
that there is present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable voting power
to secure the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval, FSRL will
not adjourn or postpone the FSRL Meeting unless FSRL
is advised by counsel that failure to do so would result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the board of directors of FSRL.
FSRL shall keep CBAN updated with respect to the proxy solicitation
results in connection with the FSRL Meeting as reasonably requested by CBAN.
(c) The
board of directors of CBAN shall at all times prior to and during the CBAN
Meeting recommend approval of the CBAN Common Stock Issuance by the shareholders of CBAN and
any other matters required to be approved by CBAN’s shareholders for the CBAN Common Stock
Issuance (the “CBAN Recommendation”) and shall not withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or
qualify such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to the interests of FSRL or take
any other action or make any other public statement inconsistent with such recommendation and the
Proxy Statement-Prospectus shall include such recommendation.
In the event that there is present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable
voting power to secure the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval, CBAN
will not adjourn or postpone the CBAN Meeting unless
CBAN is advised by counsel that failure to do so would result in a breach of the fiduciary duties
of the board of directors of CBAN. CBAN shall keep FSRL
updated with respect to the proxy solicitation results in connection with the CBAN Meeting as
reasonably requested by FSRL.
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Section 5.05 Registration
Statement; Proxy Statement-Prospectus; NYSE Listing.
(a) CBAN
and FSRL agree to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration
Statement. FSRL shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to CBAN
such financial statements and related analysis of FSRL,
including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations” of FSRL, as may be required in order to file the Registration
Statement, and any other report required to be filed by CBAN with the SEC,
in each case, in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws, and shall, as promptly
as practicable following execution of this Agreement, prepare and deliver drafts of such information
to CBAN to review. Subject to FSRL’s cooperation as provided in this Section 5.05(a),
within sixty (60) days of the date of this Agreement, CBAN shall file with the SEC the Registration Statement. Each of CBAN
and FSRL agree to use their respective commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC
as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and to maintain such effectiveness for as long as necessary to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. CBAN also agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary state securities Law or “blue
sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
FSRL agrees to cooperate with CBAN and CBAN’s
counsel and accountants in requesting and obtaining appropriate opinions, consents and letters from FSRL’s
independent auditors in connection with the Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement-Prospectus. After the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities
Act, FSRL, at its sole expense, shall promptly mail or cause
to be mailed the Proxy Statement-Prospectus to its shareholders.
(b) CBAN
will advise FSRL, promptly after CBAN receives notice
thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or
any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or
the suspension of the qualification of CBAN Common Stock for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose,
or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or
supplement of the Registration Statement or upon the receipt of any comments (whether written
or oral) from the SEC or its staff. CBAN
will provide FSRL and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on
the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement-Prospectus,
and all responses to requests for additional information by and replies to comments of the SEC prior
to filing such with, or sending such to, the SEC, and CBAN
will provide FSRL and its counsel with a copy of all such filings made with the SEC.
If at any time prior to the Effective Time there shall occur any event that should be disclosed in an amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement-Prospectus or the Registration
Statement so that either such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, CBAN
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare and file such amendment or supplement
with the SEC (if required under applicable Law) and cooperate
with FSRL to mail such amendment or supplement to FSRL
shareholders (if required under applicable Law).
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(c) CBAN
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of CBAN Common Stock to
be issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be approved for
listing on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective
Time.
Section 5.06 Regulatory
Filings; Consents.
(a) Each
of CBAN and FSRL and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts (i) to promptly prepare
all documentation (including the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement-Prospectus), and to effect all filings, to obtain all
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Regulatory Approvals and all other consents and approvals of a Governmental Authority required to
consummate the Merger in the manner contemplated herein, (ii) to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals
and authorizations and (iii) to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable,
including obtaining all necessary, proper or advisable approvals, authorizations, actions or non-actions, waivers, permits, consents,
qualifications and exemptions from Governmental Authorities and all non-governmental Persons, and executing and delivering any additional
documents or instruments reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry
out the purposes of, this Agreement; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries or FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries to take
any non-standard action, or commit to take any such action, or agree to any non-standard condition or restriction, in connection with
obtaining the foregoing permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be likely
to have a material and adverse effect (measured on a scale relative to FSRL) on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
liquidity, assets or deposit liabilities, properties or business of CBAN, FSRL, the Surviving Entity or the Surviving Bank, after giving
effect to the Merger (“Burdensome Condition”). CBAN and FSRL
will furnish each other and each other’s counsel with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries,
directors, trustees, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be necessary or advisable
in connection with any application, petition or any other statement or
application made by or on behalf of CBAN or FSRL to
any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Party shall have the right to review and approve in advance all characterizations of the information
relating to such party and any of its Subsidiaries that
appear in any filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with
any Governmental Authority. In addition, CBAN and FSRL
shall each furnish to the other for review a copy of each non-confidential portion of such filing made in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Authority
prior to its filing. Without limiting the foregoing, FSRL and CBAN shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain and shall
cooperate with each other in obtaining the Fannie Mae’s, Freddie Mac’s and the SBA’s respective authorizations to transfer
FSRL’s Fannie Mae Seller Servicer approval, Freddie Mae Seller Servicer approval and SBA lender approval to CBAN.
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(b) FSRL
will use its reasonable best efforts, and CBAN shall reasonably cooperate with FSRL
at FSRL’s request, to obtain all consents, approvals, authorizations, waivers or
similar affirmations described on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.13(c) or that
are otherwise required to be obtained under the terms of any FSRL Material Contract in order to prevent
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from constituting a default under such FSRL Material Contract or creating
any lien, claim, or charge upon any of the assets of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Party
will notify the other Party promptly and shall promptly furnish the other Party
with copies of notices or other communications received by such Party
or any of its Subsidiaries of any communication from any Person
alleging that the consent of such Person (or another
Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from such Party,
its Subsidiaries or its representatives). FSRL will consult
with CBAN and its representatives as often as practicable under the circumstances so as to permit
FSRL and CBAN and their respective representatives to cooperate
to take appropriate measures to obtain such consents and avoid or mitigate any adverse consequences
that may result from the foregoing.
(c) Each
Party shall have the right to review in advance, and, to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other Party, subject to applicable
Law, confidentiality obligations and regulatory requirements and without delaying any required filing, all information relating to such
Party or any of its Subsidiaries that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.07 Publicity.
CBAN and FSRL shall consult
with each other before issuing any press release with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not
issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other Party, which shall not be unreasonably
delayed or withheld; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party (but after such consultation,
to the extent practicable in the circumstances), issue such press release or make such public statements as may upon the advice of counsel
be required by Law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchanges. It is understood that CBAN shall assume primary responsibility
for the preparation of joint press releases relating to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.08 Access;
Current Information.
(a) For
the purposes of verifying the representations and warranties of the other and preparing for the Merger
and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement, upon reasonable notice and subject
to applicable Laws, FSRL agrees to afford CBAN
and its officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives such access during normal business hours
at any time and from time to time throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to FSRL’s
and its Subsidiaries’ books, records (including, without
limitation, Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), information technology systems,
business, properties and personnel and to such other information relating to them as CBAN may reasonably
request and FSRL shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide any appropriate notices
to employees and/or customers in accordance with applicable Law
and FSRL’s privacy policy and, during such period, FSRL
shall furnish to CBAN, upon CBAN’s reasonable
request, all such other information concerning the business, properties and personnel of FSRL and its Subsidiaries that is substantially
similar in scope to the information provided to CBAN in connection with its diligence review prior
to the date of this Agreement. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this Agreement, FSRL will
furnish to CBAN true and complete copies of all deeds and other documentation evidencing ownership of the real properties set forth in
FSRL Disclosure Schedule Section 3.31(a), and complete copies of the title insurance policies and surveys for each property, together
with any mortgages, deeds of trust, and security agreements to which such property is subject.
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(b) For
the purposes of verifying the representations and warranties of the other and preparing for the Merger
and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement, during the period of time from the
date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws,
CBAN agrees to furnish to FSRL such information as FSRL may reasonably request concerning the business of CBAN and its Subsidiaries that
is substantially similar in scope to the information provided to FSRL in connection with its diligence review prior to the
date of this Agreement.
(c) As
promptly as reasonably practicable after they become available, FSRL will furnish to CBAN
copies of the board packages distributed to the board of directors of FSRL or any of its
Subsidiaries, and minutes from the meetings thereof, copies of any internal management financial
control reports showing actual financial performance against plan and previous period, and copies of any reports provided to the board
of directors of FSRL or any committee thereof relating to the financial performance and risk management
of FSRL.
(d) During
the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time,
at the reasonable request of either Party, the other Party will
cause one or more of its designated representatives to confer with representatives of the Requesting
Party and to report the general status of the ongoing operations of the other Party
and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, FSRL
agrees to provide to CBAN (i) to the extent permitted by applicable Law, a copy of each
report filed by FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries with a Governmental
Authority, (ii) a copy of FSRL’s monthly loan trial balance, and (iii) a copy of FSRL’s
monthly statement of condition and profit and loss statement and, if requested by CBAN, a copy
of FSRL’s daily statement of condition and daily profit and loss statement, in each case,
which shall be provided as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed or prepared, as
applicable. FSRL further agrees to provide CBAN, no later than ten (10) Business Days following the end of each calendar month following
the date hereof, any supplements to FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.20, FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.23(a), and FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 3.23(b) that would be required if the references to March 31, 2026 in each corresponding representation and warranty of FSRL
were changed to the date of the most recently ended calendar month.
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(e) No
investigation by a Party or its representatives shall be deemed to modify or
waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
other Party set forth in this Agreement, or the conditions
to the respective obligations of CBAN and FSRL to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 5.08, no Party shall be required to provide the
other Party with any documents where such access or disclosure would result in the waiver by it of the privilege protecting communications
between it and any of its counsel, where such access or disclosure would contravene any applicable Law or binding agreement entered into
prior to the date of this Agreement or involving information related to the negotiation, discussions or preparation of this Agreement.
In the event any of the restrictions in this Section 5.08(f) shall apply, such Party shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts to provide appropriate consents, waivers, decrees and approvals necessary to satisfy any confidentiality
issues relating to documents prepared or held by third parties
(including work papers), and the Parties will make
appropriate alternate disclosure arrangements, including adopting additional specific procedures
to protect the confidentiality of sensitive material and to ensure compliance with applicable Laws.
Section 5.09 No Solicitation
by FSRL; Superior Proposals.
(a) Except
as permitted by Section 5.09(b), FSRL shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and
each of their respective officers, directors and employees not to, and will not authorize any investment bankers, financial advisors,
attorneys, accountants, consultants, affiliates or other agents of FSRL
or any of FSRL’s Subsidiaries (collectively, the “FSRL
Representatives”) to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, induce
or knowingly encourage, or take any action to facilitate
the making of, any inquiry, offer or proposal which constitutes, or
could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) participate in any
discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal
or furnish, or otherwise afford access, to any Person (other
than CBAN) any information or data with respect to FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise relating to an Acquisition
Proposal; (iii) release any Person from, waive any provisions of, or
fail to enforce any confidentiality agreement or standstill agreement
to which FSRL is a party; or
(iv) enter into any agreement, confidentiality agreement, agreement
in principle or letter of intent with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal or approve or resolve to approve any Acquisition
Proposal or any agreement, agreement in principle
or letter of intent relating to an Acquisition Proposal.
Any violation of the foregoing restrictions by any of the FSRL Representatives, whether or not such FSRL Representative is so authorized
and whether or not such FSRL Representative is purporting to act on behalf of FSRL or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this
Agreement by FSRL. FSRL and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause each of the FSRL Representatives to,
immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing discussions, negotiations, and communications with any Persons
with respect to any existing or potential Acquisition Proposal.
FSRL shall promptly (and in any event within one (1) Business Day after the date hereof) terminate access by any such Person to any data
room (virtual or actual) or other information repositories containing information of or relating to FSRL or its Subsidiaries.
For purposes of this Agreement,
“Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, offer or proposal (other than an inquiry, offer or proposal from CBAN),
whether or not in writing, contemplating, relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Transaction.
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For purposes of this Agreement,
“Acquisition Transaction” means (A) any transaction or series of transactions involving any merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) any transaction
pursuant to which any third party or group acquires or would acquire (whether through sale, lease or other disposition), directly or indirectly,
a significant portion of the assets of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) any issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way
of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase or securities
convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes attached to the outstanding securities of FSRL or any of its
Subsidiaries; (D) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any third party or group beneficially owning
20% or more of any class of equity securities of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries; or (E) any transaction which is similar in form, substance
or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions, or any combination of the foregoing.
For purposes of this Agreement,
“Superior Proposal” means a bona fide, unsolicited Acquisition Proposal (i) that if consummated would result
in a third party (or in the case of a direct merger between such third party and FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, the shareholders of
such third party) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding FSRL Stock or more than 50% of the assets of FSRL
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities and (ii) that the board of directors of
FSRL reasonably determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside financial advisor and outside legal counsel, (A) is reasonably
capable of being completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal, including all conditions
contained therein and the person making such Acquisition Proposal, and (B) taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed
by CBAN in response to such Acquisition Proposal, as contemplated by Section 5.09(c), and all financial, legal, regulatory and
other aspects of such takeover proposal, including all conditions contained therein and the person making such proposal, is more favorable
to the shareholders of FSRL from a financial point of view than the Merger.
(b) Notwithstanding
Section 5.09(a) or any other provision of this Agreement,
prior to the date of the FSRL Meeting, FSRL may take any
of the actions described in Section 5.09(a) if, but only if, (i) FSRL has received a bona
fide unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 5.09(a);
(ii) the board of directors of FSRL reasonably determines in good faith, after consultation with
and having considered the advice of its outside financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that (A) such Acquisition
Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior
Proposal and (B) it is reasonably necessary to take such actions to comply with its fiduciary duties to FSRL’s
shareholders under applicable Law; (iii) FSRL has provided
CBAN with at least three (3) Business Days’ prior
notice of such determination; and (iv) prior to furnishing or affording access to any information
or data with respect to FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal, FSRL receives
from such Person a confidentiality agreement with terms
no less favorable to FSRL than those contained in the confidentiality agreement
with CBAN. FSRL shall provide CBAN with at least
three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice before entering into any such confidentiality agreement. For the avoidance of doubt,
FSRL shall not enter into any confidentiality agreement that provides any Person with exclusive rights to negotiate with FSRL or that
otherwise prohibits FSRL from complying with its obligations under this Section 5.09. FSRL shall promptly provide to CBAN
any non-public information regarding FSRL or its Subsidiaries
provided to any other Person which was not previously provided to CBAN,
such additional information to be provided no later than the date of provision of such information to such other party.
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(c) FSRL
shall promptly (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) notify CBAN in writing if
any proposals or offers are received by, any information is requested from, or
any negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or
continued with, FSRL or the FSRL Representatives,
in each case in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, and such notice shall indicate the name
of the Person initiating such discussions or negotiations
or making such proposal, offer or information request and
the material terms and conditions of any proposals or offers
and shall include an unredacted copy of any such Acquisition Proposal and any draft agreements, proposals or other related written materials
(including e-mails or other electronic communications). FSRL agrees that it shall keep CBAN
informed, on a reasonably current basis, of the status and terms of any such proposal, offer, information request, negotiations
or discussions (including any amendments or
modifications to such proposal, offer or request).
(d) Neither
the board of directors of FSRL nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw, qualify, amend or
modify, or propose to withdraw, qualify, amend or modify,
in a manner adverse to CBAN in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including the Merger), the FSRL Recommendation,
fail to reaffirm the FSRL Recommendation within three (3) Business
Days following a request by CBAN, or make any statement,
filing or release, in connection with the FSRL Meeting or otherwise,
inconsistent with the FSRL Recommendation (it being understood that taking a neutral position or
no position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal shall be considered an adverse modification
of the FSRL Recommendation); (ii) approve or recommend,
or propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition
Proposal; or (iii) enter into (or cause FSRL
or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into) any letter of intent, agreement
in principle, acquisition agreement or other agreement (A)
related to any Acquisition Transaction (other than a confidentiality agreement
entered into in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.09(b)) or (B) requiring
FSRL to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Merger
or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding
Section 5.09(d), prior to the date of the FSRL Meeting, the board of directors of FSRL
may withdraw, qualify, amend or modify the FSRL Recommendation (a “FSRL
Subsequent Determination”) after the fifth (5th) Business Day following
CBAN’s receipt of a notice (the “Notice of Superior
Proposal”) from FSRL advising CBAN that
the board of directors of FSRL has decided (in good faith after consultation with its outside legal
counsel and financial advisor) that a bona fide unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that it
received (that did not result from a breach of Section 5.09(a)) constitutes a Superior Proposal
if, but only if, (i) the board of directors of FSRL has
determined in good faith, after consultation with and having considered the advice of outside legal counsel and its financial advisor,
that it is reasonably necessary to take such actions to comply with its fiduciary duties to FSRL’s
shareholders under applicable Law, (ii) during the five (5) Business
Day period after receipt of the Notice of Superior Proposal by CBAN
(the “Notice Period”), FSRL and
the board of directors of FSRL shall have cooperated and negotiated in good faith with CBAN
to make such adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement as would enable FSRL to proceed with the FSRL
Recommendation without a FSRL Subsequent Determination; provided, however,
that CBAN shall not have any obligation to propose any adjustments, modifications or
amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (iii) at the end of the Notice
Period, after taking into account any such adjusted, modified or amended terms as may have
been proposed by CBAN since its receipt of such Notice of Superior
Proposal, the board of directors of FSRL has again in good faith made the determination
(A) in clause (i) of this Section 5.09(e) and (B) that such Acquisition
Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal. In the event of any material
revisions to the Superior Proposal, FSRL shall be
required to deliver a new Notice of Superior Proposal to CBAN and
again comply with the requirements of this Section 5.09(e), except that the Notice Period shall
be reduced to three (3) Business Days.
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(f) Notwithstanding
any FSRL Subsequent Determination, this Agreement shall
be submitted to FSRL’s shareholders at the FSRL Meeting for
the purpose of voting on the approval of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger)
and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve FSRL of
such obligation; provided, however, that if the board of directors of FSRL shall
have made a FSRL Subsequent Determination with respect to a Superior
Proposal, then the board of directors of FSRL may recommend approval of such Superior
Proposal by the shareholders of FSRL and may submit this Agreement
to FSRL’s shareholders without recommendation, in which event the board of directors
of FSRL shall communicate the basis for its recommendation of such Superior
Proposal and the basis for its lack of a recommendation with respect to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby to FSRL’s shareholders
in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus or an appropriate amendment or
supplement thereto.
(g) Nothing
contained in this Section 5.09 shall prohibit FSRL or the board of directors of FSRL
from complying with FSRL’s obligations required under Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under
the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any such disclosure relating to an Acquisition
Proposal (other than a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the
type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) shall be deemed a change in the FSRL
Recommendation unless the board of directors of FSRL reaffirms the FSRL
Recommendation in such disclosure.
Section 5.10 Indemnification.
(a) For
a period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, and in any event subject to the provisions
of Section 5.10(c), CBAN shall indemnify and hold harmless the present and former directors
and officers of FSRL and its Subsidiaries (each an “Indemnified Party”),
against all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities or amounts that are paid in settlement (which settlement shall require
the prior written consent of CBAN, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in connection with any claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (each a “Claim”), arising out of actions or omissions
of such persons in the course of performing their duties for FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries occurring at or before the Effective Time
(including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby), regardless of whether such Claim is asserted or claimed before,
or after, the Effective Time, to the same extent permitted under the organizational documents of FSRL and its Subsidiaries in effect on
the date of this Agreement to the extent permitted by applicable Law;
provided, however, that that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the organizational documents of the FSRL or
its Subsidiaries, CBAN shall have no obligation to provide indemnification under this paragraph (a) to any Indemnified Party for any Excluded
Claim.
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(b) In
connection with the indemnification provided pursuant to this Section 5.10, CBAN and/or an CBAN Subsidiary will advance expenses,
promptly after statements therefor are received, to each FSRL Indemnified Party, to the same extent permitted under the organizational
documents of FSRL and its Subsidiaries in effect on the date of this Agreement to the extent permitted
by applicable Law (provided the individual to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking
to repay such advance if it is ultimately determined that such individual is not entitled to indemnification), including the payment of
the fees and expenses of one counsel with respect to a matter, and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction, if necessary or
appropriate, selected by such FSRL Indemnified Party or multiple Indemnified Parties, it being understood that they collectively shall
only be entitled to one counsel and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction where necessary or appropriate (unless a conflict
shall exist between them in which case they may retain separate counsel), all such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to CBAN. CBAN
shall have no obligation to advance expenses related to any Excluded Claim.
(c) Any
Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under
this Section 5.10 shall promptly notify CBAN upon learning of any Claim, provided that,
failure to so notify shall not affect the obligation of CBAN under this Section 5.10, unless,
and only to the extent that, CBAN is materially prejudiced in the defense of such Claim as a consequence.
In the event of any such Claim (whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or
after the Effective Time), (i) CBAN shall have the
right to assume the defense thereof and CBAN shall not be liable to such Indemnified
Parties for any legal expenses or other counsel or any
other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Parties in connection with the defense
thereof, (ii) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such matter, (iii) CBAN
shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent, and (iv) CBAN
shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party
if such indemnification would be in violation of any applicable federal or state banking
Laws or regulations, or in the event that a federal or
state banking agency or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that indemnification
of an Indemnified Party in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Laws
and regulations, whether or not related to banking
Laws.
(d) For
a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, CBAN will
maintain director’s and officer’s liability insurance (herein, “D&O
Insurance”) that serves to reimburse the present and former officers and directors of FSRL
or its Subsidiaries (determined as of the Effective Time)
with respect to claims against such directors and officers arising from facts or events occurring
before the Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated
hereby), which insurance will contain at least the same coverage and amounts, and contain terms and conditions no less advantageous
to the Indemnified Party, as that coverage currently provided by FSRL;
provided that, if CBAN is unable to maintain or obtain
the insurance called for by this Section 5.10, CBAN will provide as much comparable insurance
as is reasonably available (subject to the limitations described below in this Section 5.10(d)); and provided, further,
that officers and directors of FSRL or its Subsidiaries may
be required to make application and provide customary representations and warranties to the carrier of the D&O
Insurance for the purpose of obtaining such insurance. In no event shall CBAN be required
to expend for such tail insurance a premium amount in excess of an amount equal to 200% of the annual premiums paid by FSRL
for D&O Insurance in effect as of the date of this Agreement
(the “Maximum D&O Tail Premium”). If the cost of such tail
insurance exceeds the Maximum D&O Tail Premium, CBAN shall
obtain tail insurance coverage or a separate tail insurance policy with the greatest coverage available
for a cost not exceeding the Maximum D&O Tail Premium.
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(e) Any
indemnification payments made pursuant to this Section 5.10 are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with Section 18(k)
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k)) and the regulations promulgated by the FDIC (12 C.F.R. Part 359).
(f) This
Section 5.10 shall survive the Effective Time, is intended to benefit each FSRL Indemnified Party (each of whom shall be entitled
to enforce this Section 5.10 against CBAN), and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of CBAN.
(g) If
CBAN or any of its successors and assigns (i) shall consolidate with or
merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger, or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially
all of its property and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, in each such
case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of CBAN and its Subsidiaries
shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.10.
Section 5.11 Employees;
Benefit Plans.
(a) Following
the Effective Time, for a period of six (6) months, CBAN shall
maintain or cause to be maintained employee benefit plans for the benefit of employees who are
full time employees of FSRL on the Closing Date and who become employees of CBAN in connection
with the transaction contemplated hereunder (“Covered Employees”) that
provide employee benefits which, in the aggregate, are substantially comparable to the employee benefits and cash-based compensation opportunities
that are made available on a uniform and non-discriminatory basis to similarly situated employees
of CBAN; provided, however, that in no event shall any Covered
Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen plan of CBAN.
CBAN shall give the Covered Employees credit for their prior
service with FSRL for purposes of eligibility (including initial participation and eligibility
for current benefits) and vesting under any employee benefit plan maintained by CBAN and in which
Covered Employees may be eligible to participate.
(b) With
respect to any employee benefit plan of CBAN that is a health, dental, vision or
other welfare plan in which any Covered Employee is eligible to participate, for the plan
year that includes the Closing, if Covered Employees are eligible to participate in such plans, CBAN shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any pre-existing condition limitations, eligibility waiting periods or evidence
of insurability requirements under such CBAN plan to be waived with respect to such Covered
Employee and his or her covered dependents to the extent such condition was or
would have been covered under the comparable FSRL Benefit Plan in which such Covered
Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Following
the Effective Time, Colony Bank shall credit each Covered Employee with an amount of paid time off equal to such Covered Employee’s
accrued but unused paid time off at First Reliance Bank (“Carryover PTO”); provided, however,
that such Carryover PTO will be forfeited if not used in accordance with the terms of Colony Bank’s policies.
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(d) FSRL
shall cause First Reliance Bank to take all necessary actions to terminate the First Reliance Bank 401(k) Plan (the “401(k)
Plan”), effective as the date immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time of the Merger, subject to the occurrence
of the Effective Time. FSRL shall provide CBAN with copies of the appropriate resolutions terminating the plan not later than three (3)
days prior to the Effective Time. The accounts of all participants and beneficiaries in the 401(k) Plan shall become fully vested upon
termination of such plan.
(e) As
soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, FSRL will request that the ESOP Trustees take all necessary action required by the
ESOP plan document, the ESOP Trust, and applicable law to conduct a pass-through vote of the ESOP participants to direct the ESOP Trustee
to vote the shares of FSRL Stock owned by the ESOP and allocated to the plan accounts of ESOP participants either in favor of or against
the Merger (the “ESOP Vote”). FSRL will provide CBAN for review and comment, reasonably in advance of the ESOP
Vote, all materials proposed to be distributed to the ESOP participants in connection with the ESOP Vote. CBAN shall have five business
days to review and provide comments with respect to the materials to be distributed to ESOP participants with respect to the ESOP Vote.
(f) FSRL
shall cause First Reliance Bank to take all necessary actions to terminate the ESOP, on the date immediately prior to the Effective Time,
subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time. FSRL shall provide CBAN with copies of the appropriate resolutions terminating the plan
not later than three (3) days prior to the Effective Time. The accounts of all participants and beneficiaries in the ESOP shall become
fully vested upon termination of such plan.
(g) CBAN
shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary to cause the trustee of the Colony Bankcorp, Inc. 401(k) Plan, if requested to
do so by a Covered Employee, to accept a direct “rollover” in cash of all or a portion of such employee’s distribution
from the ESOP and the FSRL 401(k) plan.
(h) Prior
to the Effective Time, FSRL shall take, and shall cause First Reliance Bank to take, all actions requested by CBAN that may be necessary
or appropriate to, conditioned on the occurrence of the Effective Time, (i) cause one or more FSRL Benefits Plans not covered above to
terminate as of the Effective Time, or as of the date immediately preceding the Effective Time, (ii) cause benefit accruals and entitlements
under any FSRL Benefit Plan to cease as of the Effective Time, or as of the date immediately preceding the Effective Time, (iii) cause
the continuation on and after the Effective Time of any contract, arrangement or insurance policy relating to any FSRL Benefit Plan for
such period as may be requested by CBAN, or (iv) facilitate the merger of any FSRL Benefit Plan into any employee benefit plan maintained
by CBAN. All resolutions, notices, or other documents issued, adopted or executed in connection with the implementation of this Section
5.11(h) shall be subject to CBAN’s reasonable prior review and approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed.
(i) Except
for employees whose terms of employment are governed by the CBAN Employment Agreements, any employee of FSRL or First Reliance Bank that
becomes an employee of CBAN or Colony Bank at the Effective Time who is terminated within one year following the Effective Time (other
than for cause, death, disability, normal retirement or voluntarily resignation) shall receive a severance payment calculated in accordance
with the policy set forth on CBAN Disclosure Schedule 5.11(i).
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(j) Prior
to the Effective Time, any agreement that is an employment, change-in-control, severance, salary continuation, deferred compensation,
supplemental retirement or similar contract, plan or arrangement with or which covers any present or former employee, director or consultant
of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the agreements listed on CBAN Disclosure Schedule 5.11(j), shall be terminated and
any amounts owed in connection with such termination paid by FSRL. Following the Effective Time, CBAN shall assume, honor and comply with
all obligations set forth in the employment agreements listed on CBAN Disclosure Schedule 5.11(j).
(k) Nothing
in this Section 5.11 shall be construed to limit the right of CBAN (including,
following the Closing Date, FSRL) to amend or terminate
any FSRL Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, to the extent such amendment or
termination is permitted by the terms of the applicable plan, nor shall anything in this Section 5.11 be construed to require
CBAN to retain the employment of any particular Covered Employee
for any fixed period of time following the Closing Date, and the continued retention (or
termination) by CBAN of any Covered Employee subsequent
to the Effective Time shall be subject in all events to CBAN’s
normal and customary employment procedures and practices, including customary background screening
and evaluation procedures, and satisfactory employment performance.
(l) For
purposes of this Section 5.11, (i) “employees of FSRL” shall include employees of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) “employees of CBAN” shall include employees of CBAN or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) all references to FSRL shall include
each of the Subsidiaries of FSRL (iv) all references to CBAN shall include each of the Subsidiaries of CBAN.
Section 5.12 Notification
of Certain Changes.
CBAN and FSRL shall promptly
advise the other Party of any change or event having, or which could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect or which
it believes would, or which could reasonably be expected to, cause or constitute a material breach of any of its or its respective Subsidiaries’
representations, warranties or covenants contained herein and FSRL shall provide on a periodic basis written notice to CBAN of any matters
that FSRL becomes aware of that should be disclosed on a supplement or amendment to the FSRL Disclosure Schedule.
Section 5.13 Transition;
Informational Systems Conversion.
From and after the date hereof,
at CBAN’s request, FSRL will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with CBAN to facilitate the integration of FSRL
with the business of CBAN following consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and representative of FSRL shall be available
to meet with representative of CBAN on a regular basis to discuss and plan for the conversion of the data processing and related electronic
informational systems of FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Informational Systems Conversion”) to those
used by CBAN, which planning shall include, but not be limited to, (a) discussion of third-party service provider arrangements of FSRL
and each of its Subsidiaries; (b) non-renewal or changeover, after the Effective Time, of personal property leases and software licenses
used by FSRL and each of its Subsidiaries in connection with the systems operations; (c) retention of outside consultants and additional
employees to assist with the conversion; (d) outsourcing, as appropriate after the Effective Time, of proprietary or self-provided system
services; and (e) any other actions necessary and appropriate to facilitate the conversion, as soon as practicable following the Effective
Time. CBAN shall promptly reimburse FSRL on request for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses or charges that FSRL
may incur as a result of taking, at the request of CBAN, any action prior to the Effective Time to facilitate the Informational Systems
Conversion.
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Section 5.14 Financial
Statements.
From the date of this Agreement
until the Closing Date (or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms), FSRL will provide to CBAN as promptly as practicable,
but in no event later than the twentieth (20th) day following the end of the relevant calendar month, the monthly unaudited financial
statements of FSRL as provided to FSRL’s management (including any related notes and schedules thereto), for each of the calendar
months ended after the date of this Agreement. If the Closing Date is on or after January 1, 2027, FSRL will provide to CBAN as promptly
as practicable, but in no event later than March 31, 2027, the consolidated audited financial statements, including the financial information
of FSRL as of December 31, 2026, including the balance sheets, statements of income, statements of comprehensive income, statements of
changes in stockholders’ equity and statements of cash flows for the year then ended.
Section 5.15 Termination
and Amendment of Contracts.
In accordance with this Section
5.15, FSRL will take all actions necessary to accrue any and all costs, fees, expenses, contract payments, penalties or liquidated
damages necessary to be paid in connection with the termination of each FSRL Material Contract listed on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 5.15
(unless CBAN otherwise directs FSRL not to terminate such contract), and any other contract or agreement requested by CBAN to be amended,
modified or terminated (collectively, the “Terminated Contracts”). For the avoidance of doubt, CBAN will be
responsible for the amendment, modification or termination of any contract or agreement subject to this Section 5.15 after the
Closing Date and all costs, fees, expenses, contract payments, penalties or liquidated damages necessary to be paid in connection with
the termination of each such contract or agreement shall be paid with the funds accrued for such purpose by FSRL. For the avoidance of
doubt, Terminated Contracts shall not include FSRL Benefit Plans.
Section 5.16 No Control
of Other Party’s Business.
Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall give CBAN, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of FSRL or its Subsidiaries prior to
the Effective Time, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall give FSRL, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the
operations of CBAN or its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of FSRL and CBAN shall exercise,
consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
Section 5.17 Certain
Litigation.
Each Party shall promptly,
and in any event within two (2) Business Days, notify the other Party in writing of any proceeding, or of any claim, controversy or contingent
liability of which the notifying Party has Knowledge that might reasonably be expected to become the subject of a proceeding against the
notifying Party or any of its Subsidiaries, if such proceeding or potential proceeding is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. Each Party shall promptly advise the other Party orally and in writing of any actual or threatened shareholder litigation against
such Party and/or the members of the board of directors of FSRL or the board of directors of CBAN related to this Agreement or the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. With respect to any such actual or threatened shareholder litigation and any
matter disclosed on FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.11(a), FSRL shall: (a) permit CBAN to review and discuss in advance, and consider
in good faith the views of CBAN in connection with, any proposed written or oral response to such shareholder litigation or matter; (b)
furnish CBAN’s outside legal counsel with all non-privileged information and documents which outside counsel may reasonably request
in connection with such shareholder litigation or matter; (c) consult with CBAN regarding the defense or settlement of any such shareholder
litigation or matter, shall give due consideration to CBAN’s advice with respect to such shareholder litigation or matter and shall
not settle any such litigation or matter prior to such consultation and consideration, and no such settlement shall be agreed without
CBAN’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and (d) use commercially reasonable
best efforts to resolve and settle such shareholder litigation or matter prior to the Effective Time, subject to this Section 5.17.
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Section 5.18 Director
and Officer Resignations.
FSRL will cause to be delivered
to CBAN resignations of all the directors and officers of FSRL and its Subsidiaries, such resignations to be effective as of the Effective
Time.
Section 5.19 Non-Competition
and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Concurrently with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and effective upon Closing, FSRL has caused each director of FSRL and First Reliance Bank to execute and
deliver the Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (collectively, the “Director
Restrictive Covenant Agreements”).
Section 5.20 Claims
Letters.
Concurrently with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and effective upon the Closing, FSRL has caused each executive officer and director of FSRL and First Reliance
Bank to execute and deliver the Claims Letter in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
Section 5.21 Employment
Agreements.
Concurrently with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the individuals set forth in CBAN Disclosure Schedule 5.21 have executed and delivered to CBAN
employment agreements that become effective as of (and subject to the occurrence of) the Effective Time (collectively, the “CBAN
Employment Agreements”).
Section 5.22 Corporate
Governance.
(a) At
or prior to the Effective Time, CBAN will cause the number of directors that comprise the full board of directors of the Surviving Entity
to be increased by two (2). The board of directors of the Surviving Entity immediately after the Effective Time shall appoint F.R. Saunders,
Jr. and one (1) additional former member of the FSRL board of directors selected my mutual agreement between FSRL and CBAN (collectively,
the “Board Representatives”) to serve until such Board Representatives are succeeded in accordance with the
Surviving Entity’s bylaws. No other directors or employees of FSRL shall be designated to serve on the board of directors of the
Surviving Entity at the Effective Time. The appointment of the Board Representatives to the board of directors of the Surviving Entity
shall be subject to the bylaws of the Surviving Entity and the Board Representatives must (i) be reasonably acceptable to the board of
directors of CBAN and (ii) satisfy and meet CBAN’s standards for directors, comply with and be subject to CBAN’s corporate
governance policies and, except with respect to Mr. Saunders, qualify as an “independent director,” as such term is defined
in Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (or any successor rule). The Surviving Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
to (i) ensure that the Board Representatives are nominated for re-election to the board of directors of the Surviving Company at the Surviving
Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders following the Closing Date and (ii) solicit proxies for the Board Representatives
in respect of such re-election to the same extent as it does for any of the Surviving Company’s other nominees to the board of directors;
provided, however, that the Surviving Company shall not have any obligation to nominate for re-election or solicit proxies for
such re-election with respect to any Board Representative who, at the time director nominations are made for the Surviving Company’s
next annual meeting of the shareholders following the Closing Date, is not in compliance with or demonstrated an unwillingness to comply
with any CBAN policy related to the duties, obligations, or conduct of members of the CBAN board of directors.
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(b) In
addition, at the Effective Time, CBAN shall, if requested by FSRL, consider permitting one (1) additional member of the FSRL board of
directors (the “Observer”) to attend all meetings of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity and all
committees thereof in a non-voting observer capacity. Such Observer shall be entitled to receive all notices, minutes and other materials
provided to the board of directors at the same time and in the same manner as the members of the board of directors; provided that such
Observer shall be subject to customary confidentiality obligations and shall not be entitled to vote on any matters presented to the board
or any committee thereof.
Section 5.23 Coordination.
(a) Prior
to the Effective Time, subject to applicable Laws, FSRL
and its Subsidiaries shall take any actions CBAN may reasonably request from time to time to better
prepare the parties for integration of the operations of FSRL and its Subsidiaries with CBAN
and its Subsidiaries, respectively. Without limiting the foregoing, senior officers of FSRL
and CBAN shall meet from time to time as CBAN may
reasonably request, and in any event not less frequently than monthly, to review the financial and operational affairs of FSRL and its
Subsidiaries, and FSRL shall give due consideration to CBAN’s
input on such matters, with the understanding that, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement,
neither CBAN nor Colony Bank shall under any circumstance
be permitted to exercise control of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries
prior to the Effective Time. FSRL shall permit representatives
of Colony Bank to be onsite at FSRL to facilitate integration
of operations and assist with any other coordination efforts as necessary, provided such efforts shall be done without undue disruption
to First Reliance Bank’s business, during normal business hours and at the expense of CBAN or Colony Bank (not to include First
Reliance Bank’s regular employee payroll).
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(b) Prior
to the Effective Time, subject to applicable Laws, FSRL
and its Subsidiaries shall take any actions CBAN may reasonably request in connection with negotiating
any amendments, modifications or terminations of any Leases or
FSRL Material Contracts that CBAN may request, including,
but not limited to, actions necessary to cause any such amendments, modifications or terminations
to become effective prior to (to the extent that the conditions set forth in Article VI of this Agreement have already been satisfied),
or immediately upon, the Closing, and shall cooperate with
CBAN and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate specific provisions that may
be requested by CBAN in connection with any such amendment, modification or
termination.
(c) From
and after the date hereof, subject to applicable Laws, the
parties shall reasonably cooperate (provided that the parties shall cooperate to reasonably minimize
disruption to FSRL’s or First Reliance Bank’s business) with the other in preparing for the prompt conversion or
consolidation of systems and business operations promptly after the Effective Time (including
by entering into customary confidentiality, non-disclosure and similar agreements with the other party
and appropriate service providers) and FSRL shall, upon CBAN’s
reasonable request, introduce CBAN and its representatives to suppliers of FSRL and its Subsidiaries
for the purpose of facilitating the integration of FSRL and its business into that of CBAN.
In addition, after satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b), subject to applicable
Laws, FSRL shall, upon CBAN’s
reasonable request, introduce CBAN and its representatives to customers of FSRL and its Subsidiaries
for the purpose of facilitating the integration of FSRL and its business into that of CBAN.
Any interaction between CBAN and FSRL’s and any of
its Subsidiaries’ customers and suppliers shall be coordinated by FSRL.
FSRL shall have the right to participate in any discussions between CBAN
and FSRL’s customers and suppliers.
(d) CBAN
and FSRL agree to take all action necessary and appropriate to cause First
Reliance Bank to merge with Colony Bank in accordance with applicable Laws
and the terms of the Bank Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement immediately following the Effective
Time or as promptly as practicable thereafter.
(e) Without
limiting the foregoing, upon CBAN’s reasonable request, FSRL and First Reliance Bank shall, prior to the Closing Date, dispose of
any assets held by FSRL or First Reliance Bank that CBAN determines would be impermissible investments for CBAN or Colony Bank.
Section 5.24 Transactional
Expenses.
FSRL has provided in FSRL
Disclosure Schedule 3.36 a reasonable good faith estimate of costs and fees that FSRL and its Subsidiaries expect to pay to retained
representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, exclusive of any costs that may be incurred by FSRL
as a result of any litigation which may arise in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “FSRL Expenses”).
FSRL shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the aggregate amount of all FSRL Expenses to not exceed the total expenses
disclosed in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.36. FSRL shall promptly notify CBAN if or when it determines that it expects
to exceed its total budget for FSRL Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.24, FSRL shall not incur
any investment banking, brokerage, finders or other similar financial advisory fees in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement other than those expressly set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 3.36.
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Section 5.25 Confidentiality.
Prior to the execution of
this Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Merger, subject to applicable Laws, each of CBAN and FSRL, and their respective Subsidiaries,
affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, consultants and advisors have provided, and will continue to provide one another with
information which may be deemed by the party providing the information to be non-public, proprietary and/or confidential, including, but
not limited to, trade secrets of the disclosing party. Each Party agrees that it will, and will cause its representatives to, hold any
information obtained pursuant to this Article V in accordance with the terms of the Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement, dated as of
April 1, 2026 between CBAN and FSRL.
Section 5.26 FINRA Compliance.
FSRL shall take all actions
and submit all filings necessary to ensure compliance by FSRL with Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b-17 and FINRA Rule 6490.
Section 5.27 Tax Matters.
(a) The
Parties intend that each of the Merger and the Bank Merger shall each qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code and that this Agreement constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g)
of the Regulations for each of the Merger and the Bank Merger. Except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, from and
after the date of this Agreement, each of CBAN and FSRL shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause each of the Merger
and the Bank Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and will not take any action, cause
any action to be taken, fail to take any action or cause any action to fail to be taken which action or failure to act is intended or
is reasonably likely to prevent either the Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.
(b) CBAN
shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax Returns for FSRL and its Subsidiaries for all periods ending
on or prior to the Closing Date that are filed after the Closing Date.
Section 5.28 Stock Exchange
Listing.
Prior to the Effective Time,
FSRL shall cooperate with CBAN and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done
all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and the rules and policies of the OTCQX Market
to enable the cessation of quotation of FSRL Common Stock on the OTCQX Market as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time.
Section 5.29 Takeover
Statutes.
None of CBAN, FSRL or their
respective boards of directors shall take any action that would cause any “moratorium,” “control share,” “fair
price,” “affiliate transaction,” “shareholder protection,” “anti-greenmail,” “business
combination” or other antitakeover Laws of the State of Georgia, the State of South Carolina, or of any other state that are applicable
to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (any of the foregoing, “Takeover Statutes”) to become applicable
to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, and each shall take all reasonably necessary steps
to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby from any applicable Takeover
Statutes now or hereafter in effect. If any Takeover Statute may become, or may purport to be, applicable to the transactions contemplated
hereby, each Party and the members of its board of directors will grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that
the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act
to eliminate or minimize the effects of any Takeover Statute on any of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, if necessary,
challenging the validity or applicability of any such Takeover Statute.
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Section 5.30 Dividends.
After the date of this Agreement,
FSRL shall coordinate with CBAN regarding the declaration of any dividend in respect of FSRL Common Stock and the record date and payment
date relating thereto, it being the intention of the parties hereto that Holders of FSRL Stock shall not receive two (2) dividends
in any quarter with respect to their shares of FSRL Stock and any shares of CBAN Common Stock any such Holder receives in exchange therefor
in the Merger.
Section 5.31 Trust Preferred
Securities.
Prior to the Effective Time,
CBAN and FSRL shall take all actions necessary for CBAN to enter into, and CBAN shall enter into, supplemental indentures with the trustee
of the indentures for FSRL’s outstanding floating rate capital securities issued in connection with the issuance of the trust securities
of First Reliance Capital Trust I in order to evidence the assumption by CBAN of such capital securities as of the Effective Time. The
form of the supplemental indenture shall be reasonably acceptable to CBAN.
Article
VI
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 6.01 Conditions
to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations
of the Parties to consummate the Merger are subject to the fulfillment or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by
the Parties prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
(a) Shareholder
Votes. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
as applicable, shall have received the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval at the FSRL
Meeting and the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval at the CBAN Meeting.
(b) Regulatory
Approvals; No Burdensome Condition. All Regulatory Approvals required to consummate
the Merger and the Bank Merger in the manner contemplated
herein shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting
periods in respect thereof, if any, shall have expired or been terminated, and no such Regulatory
Approval includes or contains, or shall have resulted in the imposition of, any Burdensome
Condition.
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(c) No
Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No judgment, order, injunction or
decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or
other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or
decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental
Authority that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Effective
Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall
have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by
the SEC or any other Governmental Authority.
(e) Tax
Opinions Relating to the Merger. CBAN and
FSRL, respectively, shall have received opinions from Alston & Bird LLP and Ward and Smith,
P.A., respectively, each dated as of the Closing Date, in substance and form reasonably satisfactory
to CBAN and FSRL, respectively, to the effect that, on the
basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinions, the Merger will
be treated for federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering their opinions, Alston & Bird LLP and Ward and
Smith, P.A. may require and rely upon representations as to certain factual matters contained in certificates of officers of each of CBAN
and FSRL, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such counsel.
Section 6.02 Conditions
to Obligations of FSRL.
The obligations of FSRL to
consummate the Merger also are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by FSRL prior to the Closing Date of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of CBAN (i) set forth in Section 4.09 shall be true and correct in all respects
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of
the Closing Date, (ii) Section 4.01, Section 4.02 (except for inaccuracies which
are de minimis in amount), Section 4.03(a), Section 4.04, Section 4.08 and Section 4.12, shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as
of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and (iii) set forth in
this Agreement, other than those sections specifically identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.02(a), shall be true
and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” and
words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though
made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the
case of this clause (iii), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to CBAN. FSRL shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of CBAN by the
Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of CBAN to the foregoing effect.
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(b) Performance
of Obligations of CBAN. CBAN shall have performed and
complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material
respects at or prior to the Closing Date except where
the failure of the performance of, or compliance with, such obligation has not had and does not
have a Material Adverse Effect on CBAN, and FSRL
shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date,
signed on behalf of CBAN by its Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer to such
effect.
(c) No
Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement (i)
no change or event has occurred which has resulted in CBAN or Colony
Bank being subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) no condition, event, fact, circumstance
or other occurrence has occurred that may reasonably be expected to have or
result in such parties being subject to a Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 6.03 Conditions
to Obligations of CBAN.
The obligations of CBAN to
consummate the Merger also are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by CBAN prior to the Closing Date of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of FSRL (i) set forth in Section 3.02(a) and Section 3.09 shall
be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made as of the Closing Date,
(ii) the first sentence of Section 3.01, Section 3.04(a), Section 3.05, Section 3.15 and Section 3.35,
shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and (iii)
set forth in this Agreement, other than those sections specifically identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.03(a),
shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”
and words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though
made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the
case of this clause (iii), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to FSRL. CBAN shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of FSRL by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of FSRL to the foregoing effect.
(b) Performance
of Obligations of FSRL. FSRL shall have performed and
complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material
respects at or prior to the Closing Date, and CBAN
shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date,
signed on behalf of FSRL by FSRL’s Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to such effect.
(c) No
Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement (i)
no change or event has occurred which has resulted in FSRL or any
of its Subsidiaries being subject to a Material Adverse Effect
and (ii) no condition, event, fact, circumstance or other occurrence has occurred that may
reasonably be expected to have or result in such parties being
subject to a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Plan
of Bank Merger. The Bank Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement shall have been executed and delivered.
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(e) Dissenting
Shares. Dissenting Shares shall be less than seven and one-half percent (7.5)%
of the issued and outstanding shares of FSRL Stock.
(f) Employee
Benefit Plans. Notwithstanding the requirement of Section 6.03(b), FSRL and its Subsidiaries shall have performed and complied
with all of its obligations set forth in Section 5.11 in all material respects prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Consents
and Approvals. FSRL has received, in form and substance satisfactory to FSRL and CBAN, all consents, approvals, waivers and
other assurances from all non-governmental third parties which are required to be obtained under the terms of any contract, agreement
or instrument to which FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties is bound in order to
prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from constituting a default under such contract, agreement
or instrument or creating any lien, claim or charge upon any of the assets of FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries.
(h) Consents
from Governmental Authorities. Any applicable approval of any Governmental Authority, including those disclosed on FSRL Disclosure
Schedule 3.06(a), shall have been obtained and any mandatory waiting period related thereto shall have expired, including, but not
limited to: Fannie Mae’s, Freddie Mac’s and the SBA’s respective authorizations to transfer FSRL’s Fannie Mae
Seller Servicer approval, Freddie Mae Seller Servicer approval and SBA lender approval to CBAN.
(i) Certification
of Non-USRPHC Status. CBAN shall have received from FSRL (i) a certificate stating that FSRL is not and has not been a United States
real property holding corporation, pursuant to Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c)(3), and (ii) a notice to the IRS described in Regulations
Section 1.897-2(h), in each case dated as of the Closing Date, executed by an officer of FSRL, executed under penalties of perjury, and
as reasonably acceptable to CBAN.
Section 6.04 Frustration
of Closing Conditions.
Neither CBAN nor FSRL may
rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02 or Section 6.03, as the case may be,
to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such Party’s failure to use its reasonable best efforts to consummate any of the transactions
contemplated hereby, as required by and subject to Section 5.03.
Article
VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.01 Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated,
and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned:
(a) Mutual
Consent. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by the mutual consent, in writing, of CBAN
and FSRL if the board of directors of CBAN and the
board of directors of FSRL each so determines by vote of a majority of the members of its entire
board.
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(b) No
Regulatory Approval. By CBAN or FSRL, if either of their
respective boards of directors so determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire board, in the event any Regulatory
Approval required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
have been denied by final, non-appealable action by such Governmental Authority or an application
therefor shall have been permanently withdrawn at the request of a Governmental Authority unless the failure
to obtain the Regulatory Approval is due to the failure of the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the obligations,
covenants and agreements of such Party set forth herein.
(c) No
Shareholder Approval. By either CBAN or FSRL (provided that such terminating party shall not
be in breach of any of its obligations under Section 5.04), if the Requisite CBAN Shareholder Approval or the Requisite
FSRL Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly held meeting
of such shareholders or at any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
(d) Breach
of Representations and Warranties. By either CBAN or FSRL (provided that the terminating party
is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
other agreement contained herein in a manner that
would entitle the other party to not consummate this Agreement)
if there shall have been (i) with respect to representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement
that are not qualified by the term “material” or
do not contain terms such as “Material Adverse Effect,” a material
breach of any of such representations or warranties by the other party
and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement that
are qualified by the term “material” or contain
terms such as “Material Adverse Effect,” any breach of any of such representations
or warranties by the other Party; which breach is not cured
prior to the earlier of (y) thirty (30) days following written notice to the Party committing such
breach from the other Party or (z) two (2) Business Days prior
to the Expiration Date, or which breach, by its nature,
cannot be cured prior to the Closing.
(e) Breach
of Covenants. By either CBAN or FSRL (provided that the terminating party
is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
other agreement contained herein in a manner that
would entitle the other Party not to consummate the agreement)
if there shall have been a material breach of any of the covenants or
agreements set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other Party,
which breach shall not have been cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following written notice to the Party
committing such breach from the other Party or (ii) two (2) Business
Days prior to the Expiration Date, or which breach,
by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the Closing.
(f) Delay.
By either CBAN or FSRL if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before March 24, 2027, provided, however, that
such date will be automatically extended to April 23, 2027, if the only outstanding condition to Closing under Article VI is the
receipt of all Regulatory Approvals (the “Expiration Date”), unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such
date shall be due to a material breach of this Agreement by the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement.
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(g) Failure
to Recommend; Etc.
(i) In
addition to and not in limitation of CBAN’s termination rights
under Section 7.01(e), by CBAN if (i) there shall have been a material
breach of Section 5.09, or (ii) the board of directors of FSRL
(A) withdraws, qualifies, amends, modifies or withholds the FSRL
Recommendation, or makes any statement, filing or release,
in connection with the FSRL Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the FSRL
Recommendation (it being understood that taking a neutral position or no position with respect
to an Acquisition Proposal shall be considered an adverse modification of the FSRL
Recommendation), (B) materially breaches its obligation to call, give notice of and commence the FSRL
Meeting under Section 5.04(a), (C) approves or recommends an Acquisition
Proposal, (D) fails to publicly recommend against a publicly announced Acquisition Proposal within
three (3) Business Days of being requested to do so by CBAN,
(E) fails to publicly reconfirm the FSRL Recommendation within three (3) Business
Days of being requested to do so by CBAN, or (F)
resolves or otherwise determines to take, or announces an
intention to take, any of the foregoing actions.
(ii) In
addition to and not in limitation of FSRL’s termination rights
under Section 7.01(e), by FSRL if the board of directors of CBAN
(i) withdraws, qualifies, amends, modifies or withholds the CBAN
Recommendation, or makes any statement, filing or release,
in connection with the CBAN Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the CBAN
Recommendation, (ii) materially breaches its obligation to call, give notice of and commence the CBAN
Meeting under Section 5.04(a), (iii) fails to publicly reconfirm the CBAN Recommendation
within three (3) Business Days of being requested to do so by FSRL,
or (iv) resolves or otherwise determines to take, or
announces an intention to take, any of the foregoing actions.
(h) Acceptance
of Superior Proposal. By FSRL in connection with entering into a definitive agreement to effect a Superior Proposal after making an FSRL
Subsequent Determination in accordance with Section 5.09(e).
(i) Stock
Price Decline; Exchange Ratio Adjustment. By FSRL giving prompt written notice of termination
to CBAN at any time on or after the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately prior to the
date on which the Effective Time is to occur (the “Determination Date”) and prior to the Effective Time, if
both of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the quotient obtained by dividing the Average Closing Price by the Starting CBAN Stock
Price (the “CBAN Ratio”) shall be less than 0.80; and (ii) the CBAN
Ratio shall be less than the number obtained by dividing the Final Index Price by the Starting Index Price (the “Index Ratio”)
and subtracting 0.20 from such quotient. Following delivery of such written notice of termination by FSRL, this Agreement shall terminate
upon the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Determination Date (the “Termination Date”); provided,
however, that FSRL’s notice of election to terminate may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Termination Date; and provided
further that during the five (5) Business Day period commencing with the receipt of such notice, CBAN shall have the option (but not
the obligation) to offer to increase the stock consideration to be received by the holders of FSRL Common Stock through an adjustment
to the Exchange Ratio such that the stock consideration portion of the Merger Consideration equals or exceeds the Minimum Stock Consideration
Amount. If CBAN makes this election to increase the Exchange Ratio, whereupon no termination shall have occurred pursuant to this Section
7.01(i) and this Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms (except as the Exchange Ratio, and derivatively the
Per Share Stock Consideration, shall have been so modified, and the Stock Conversion Maximum shall be adjusted proportionately), and any
references in this Agreement to “Exchange Ratio” and “Per Share Stock Consideration” shall thereafter
be deemed to refer to the Exchange Ratio and Per Share Stock Consideration after giving effect to any adjustment made pursuant to this
Section 7.01(i).
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Section 7.02 Termination
Fee
(a) In
recognition of the efforts, expenses and other opportunities foregone by CBAN while structuring
and pursuing the Merger, FSRL shall pay to CBAN
a termination fee equal to $6,600,000 (“Termination Fee”), by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by CBAN in the event of any
of the following: (i) in the event CBAN terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.01(g), FSRL shall pay CBAN
the Termination Fee within one (1) Business Day after
receipt of CBAN’s notification of such termination; and (ii)
in the event that after the date of this Agreement and prior to the termination of this
Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made
known to senior management of FSRL or has been made directly to its shareholders generally or
any Person shall have publicly announced (and not withdrawn) an Acquisition
Proposal with respect to FSRL and (A) thereafter this Agreement
is terminated (x) by either CBAN or FSRL pursuant to Section 7.01(c) because the
Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained or
(y) by CBAN pursuant to Section 7.01(d) or Section
7.01(e) and (B) prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such termination, FSRL
enters into any agreement or consummates a transaction with respect to an Acquisition
Proposal (whether or not the same Acquisition Proposal as
that referred to above), then FSRL shall, on the earlier of the date it enters into such agreement
and the date of consummation of such transaction, pay CBAN the Termination
Fee, provided, that for purposes of this Section 7.02(a)(ii), all references
in the definition of Acquisition Proposal to “20%” shall instead refer to “50%,”
and (iii) in the event FSRL terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(h), FSRL shall pay CBAN the Termination Fee within
one (1) Business Day after FSRL’s notification of such termination.
(b) FSRL
and CBAN each agree that the agreements contained in this Section 7.02 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, CBAN would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if FSRL fails promptly to pay
any amounts due under this Section 7.02, FSRL shall pay interest on such amounts from the date payment of such amounts were due
to the date of actual payment at the rate of interest equal to the sum of (i) the rate of interest published from time to time in
The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition (or any successor publication thereto), designated therein as the prime rate on the date such
payment was due, plus (ii) 200 basis points, together with the costs and expenses of CBAN (including reasonable legal fees and expenses)
in connection with such suit.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Parties
agree that if FSRL pays or causes to be paid to CBAN
the Termination Fee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), FSRL
(or any successor in interest of FSRL) will not have
any further obligations or liabilities to CBAN with respect
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
provided that such termination shall not relieve FSRL for any and all liabilities and damages incurred or suffered by CBAN as a
result of the fraud or a willful and material breach of this Agreement by FSRL.
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Section 7.03 Effect
of Termination.
Except as set forth in Section
7.02(c), termination of this Agreement will not relieve a breaching party from liability for any breach of any covenant, agreement,
representation or warranty of this Agreement (a) giving rise to such termination and (b) resulting from fraud or any willful and material
breach. In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall otherwise become void and have no further force or effect; provided; however,
that this Section 7.03 and such other provisions of this Agreement as by their terms are intended to survive termination shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.
Article
VIII
DEFINITIONS
Section 8.01 Definitions.
The following terms are used
in this Agreement with the meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition Proposal”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).
“Acquisition Transaction”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. As used in this
definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Articles of Merger”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).
“ASC 320”
means GAAP Accounting Standards Codification Topic 320.
“Associate”
when used to indicate a relationship with any Person means (a) any corporation or organization (other than FSRL or any of its Subsidiaries)
of which such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity
securities, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or serves as trustee or in a similar
fiduciary capacity, or (c) any relative or family member of such Person.
“ASTM”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(x).
“Audited
Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
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“Average Closing
Price” means the average of the daily closing prices for shares of CBAN Common Stock for
the twenty (20) consecutive full Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Determination Date on which such shares
are actually traded on the NYSE.
“Bank Merger”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
“Bank Plan of
Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
“Bank Secrecy
Act” means the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended.
“Board Representatives”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a).
“BOLI”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.33(b).
“Book-Entry Shares”
means any non-certificated share held by book entry in FSRL’s stock transfer book, which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represents an outstanding share of FSRL Stock.
“Burdensome Condition”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
“Business Day”
means Monday through Friday of each week, except a legal holiday recognized as such by the U.S. government or any day on which banking
institutions in the State of Georgia are authorized or obligated to close.
“Call Reports”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(b).
“Carryover PTO”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(c).
“Cash Election”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Cash Election
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“CBAN”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“CBAN Common Stock”
means the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of CBAN.
“CBAN Common Stock
Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“CBAN Disclosure
Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article IV.
“CBAN Employment
Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.
“CBAN Meeting”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
“CBAN Ratio”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“CBAN Recommendation”
shall have the meanings set forth in Section 5.04(c).
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“CBAN Reports”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(a).
“CBAN RSU” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
“Certificate”
means any outstanding certificate, which immediately prior to the Effective Time, represents an outstanding share of FSRL Stock.
“Claim”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).
“Closing”
and “Closing Date” have the meanings set forth in Section 1.04(b).
“Code”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Community Reinvestment
Act” means the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended.
“Controlled Group
Members” means, with respect to the applicable entity, any related organizations described in Code Sections 414(b), (c),
or (m).
“Covered Employees”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(a).
“Customary Servicing
Procedure” means, with respect to each Mortgage Loan, those mortgage servicing practices and procedures (including collection
procedures) that are in all material respects legal, proper and customary in the mortgage servicing business of prudent mortgage servicers
that service mortgage loans of the same type as such Mortgage Loan in the jurisdiction where the related Mortgaged Property is located,
and which are in accordance with (a) the terms of the related Mortgage Note and Mortgage, and (b) applicable Law.
“D&O Insurance”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(d).
“Derivative Transaction”
means any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction
or collar transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities, bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, catastrophe events,
weather-related events, credit-related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction (including any option with
respect to any of these transactions) or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other
similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support,
collateral or other similar arrangements related to any such transaction or transactions.
“Determination
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Director Restrictive
Covenant Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.19.
“Dissenting Shareholder”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
“Dissenting Shares”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
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“Dodd-Frank Act”
means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
“Effective Time”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).
“Election Deadline”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iv).
“Election Form”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Enforceability
Exception” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05.
“Environmental
Law” means any federal, state or local Law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion or agency requirement
relating to: (a) pollution, the protection or restoration of the indoor or outdoor environment, human health and safety, or natural
resources, (b) the handling, use, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, or (c) any injury
or threat of injury to persons or property in connection with any Hazardous Substance. The term Environmental Law includes, but is not
limited to, the following statutes, as amended, any successor thereto, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state
or local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like addressing similar issues: (i) Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601
et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
§ 7401, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control
Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1101, et
seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act; 42 U.S.C. § 300f, et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.;
(ii) common Law that may impose liability (including without limitation strict liability) or obligations for injuries or damages
due to the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Substance.
“Equal Credit
Opportunity Act” means the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as amended.
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate”
means, with respect to the applicable entity, an organization that is related under Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
“ESOP”
means the First Reliance Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as amended through the date hereof.
“ESOP Trust”
means the trust established and maintained in connection with the ESOP.
“ESOP Trustees”
means the person(s) currently serving as trustee(s) of the ESOP Trust.
“Exchange Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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“Exchange Agent”
means such exchange agent as may be designated by CBAN (which shall be CBAN’s transfer agent), and reasonably acceptable to FSRL,
to act as agent for purposes of conducting the exchange procedures described in Article II.
“Exchange Fund”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).
“Exchange Ratio”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(ii).
“Excluded Claim”
means (a) any Claim brought by any Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party or CBAN or its Subsidiaries (or their respective
successors) or (b) any Claim brought by CBAN or its Subsidiaries (or their respective successors) against any Indemnified Party.
“Expiration Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(f).
“Fair Credit Reporting
Act” means the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended.
“Fair Housing
Act” means the Fair Housing Act, as amended.
“Fannie Mae”
means the Federal National Mortgage Association.
“Fannie Mae Guide”
means the Fannie Mae Single Family Seller/Servicing Guide.
“Freddie Mac”
means the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or any successor thereto.
“Freddie Mac Guide”
means the Freddie Mac Single Family Seller/Servicing Guide.
“FDIA”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.
“FDIC”
means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“FFIEC”
means the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.
“Final Index Price”
shall mean the average of the Index Prices for the twenty (20) consecutive full Trading Days
ending on the Determination Date or, if the Determination Date is not a full Trading Day, the Trading Day immediately prior to the Determination
Date.
“Financial Statements”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
“First Reliance
Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
“FRB”
means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
“FSRL”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“FSRL 401(a) Plan”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(c).
“FSRL Benefit
Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
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“FSRL Cancelled
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
“FSRL Common Stock”
means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of FSRL.
“FSRL Disclosure
Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article III.
“FSRL Employees”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
“FSRL Expenses”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24.
“FSRL Financial
Advisor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15.
“FSRL Intellectual
Property” means the Intellectual Property used in or held for use in the conduct of the business of FSRL and its Subsidiaries.
“FSRL Investment
Securities” means the investment securities of FSRL and its Subsidiaries.
“FSRL Junior Subordinated
Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).
“FSRL Loan”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(c).
“FSRL Material
Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“FSRL Meeting”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
“FSRL Option”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).
“FSRL Preferred
Stock” means the series D preferred stock, no par value, of FSRL.
“FSRL Recommendation”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(b).
“FSRL Regulatory
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.
“FSRL Representatives”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).
“FSRL RSA”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).
“FSRL RSU”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
“FSRL Stock”
means the capital stock of FSRL, including FSRL Common Stock and FSRL Preferred Stock.
“FSRL Stock Plan”
means the First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on February 26, 2026.
“FSRL Subsequent
Determination” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).
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“FSRL Voting Agreement”
or “FSRL Voting Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, applied consistently with past practice, including with
respect to quantity and frequency.
“GBCC”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
“Governmental
Authority” means any U.S. or foreign federal, state or local governmental commission, board, body, bureau or other regulatory
authority or agency, including, without limitation, courts and other judicial bodies, bank regulators, insurance regulators, applicable
state securities authorities, the SEC, the IRS, state banking departments, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration,
the Small Business Association, the Veteran’s Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture or any self-regulatory
body or authority, including any instrumentality or entity designed to act for or on behalf of the foregoing.
“Hazardous Substance”
means any and all substances (whether solid, liquid or gas) defined, listed, or otherwise regulated as pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous
substances, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, flammable or explosive materials, radioactive materials or words of similar
meaning or regulatory effect under any present or future Environmental Law or that may have a negative impact on human health or the environment,
including, but not limited to, petroleum and petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls,
lead, radon, radioactive materials, flammables and explosives, mold, mycotoxins, microbial matter and airborne pathogens (naturally occurring
or otherwise). Hazardous Substance does not include substances of kinds and in amounts ordinarily and customarily used or stored for the
purposes of cleaning or other maintenance or operations.
“Holder”
means the holder of record of shares of FSRL Stock.
“Home Mortgage
Disclosure Act” means Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended.
“Indemnified Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).
“Index Price”
shall mean the closing price on such date of the NASDAQ Bank Index.
“Index Ratio”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Informational
Systems Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13.
“Insurance Policies”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.33(a).
“Intellectual
Property” means (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, Internet domain names, designs, logos, slogans, and general
intangibles of like nature, together with all goodwill, registrations and applications related to the foregoing; (b) patents and industrial
designs (including any continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, renewals, reissues, and applications for any of the foregoing);
(c) copyrights (including any registrations and applications for any of the foregoing); (d) Software (excluding off-the-shelf Software);
and (e) technology, trade secrets and other confidential information, know-how, proprietary processes, formulae, algorithms, models, and
methodologies.
87
“IRS”
means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge”
means, with respect to FSRL, the actual knowledge, of the Persons set forth in FSRL Disclosure Schedule 8.01, after due inquiry
of their direct subordinates who would be likely to have knowledge of such matter, and with respect to CBAN, the actual knowledge of the
Persons set forth in CBAN Disclosure Schedule 8.01, after due inquiry of their direct subordinates who would be likely to have
knowledge of such matter.
“Law”
means any federal, state, local or foreign Law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree, arbitration
award, agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Authority that is applicable to the referenced Person.
“Leases”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.31(b).
“Letter of Transmittal”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
“Liens”
means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction, claim, lien or encumbrance, conditional and installment sale agreement,
charge, claim, option, rights of first refusal, encumbrances, or security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any limitation
on voting, sale, transfer or other disposition or exercise of any other attribute of ownership).
“Loans”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Mailing Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Material Adverse
Effect” with respect to any party means (a) any change, development or effect that individually or in the aggregate is,
or is reasonably likely to be, material and adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, liquidity, assets
or deposit liabilities, properties, or business of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) any change, development or
effect that individually or in the aggregate would, or would be reasonably likely to, materially impair the ability of such party to perform
its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially impairs, or is reasonably likely to materially impair, the ability of such
party to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that, in the case of clause
(a) only, a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (i) changes after the date of this Agreement in
banking and similar Laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by Governmental Authorities (except to the extent that such
change disproportionately adversely affects FSRL and its Subsidiaries or CBAN and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other
companies of similar size operating in the same industry in which FSRL and CBAN operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect
will be taken into account), (ii) changes after the date of this Agreement in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable
to banks or bank holding companies generally (except to the extent that such change disproportionately adversely affects FSRL and its
Subsidiaries or CBAN and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other companies of similar size operating in the same industry
in which FSRL and CBAN operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect will be taken into account), (iii) changes after the date
of this Agreement in global, national or regional political conditions (including the outbreak of war or acts of terrorism) or in economic
or market (including equity, credit and debt markets, as well as changes in interest rates) conditions in the United States or the State
of Georgia affecting the financial services industry generally (except to the extent that such change disproportionately adversely affects
FSRL and its Subsidiaries or CBAN and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other companies of similar size operating in the
same industry in which FSRL and CBAN operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect will be taken into account), (iv) public
disclosure of the transactions contemplated hereby or actions expressly required by this Agreement or actions or omissions that are taken
with the prior written consent of the other party, or as otherwise expressly permitted or contemplated by this Agreement; (v) any failure
by FSRL or CBAN to meet any internal or published industry analyst projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings for any
period (it being understood and agreed that the facts and circumstances giving rise to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from
the definition of Material Adverse Effect may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect),
(vi) changes in the trading price or trading volume of CBAN Common Stock, and (vii) the impact of the public disclosure of this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby on relationships with customers or employees (including the loss of personnel subsequent to the
date of this Agreement).
88
“Maximum D&O
Tail Premium” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(d).
“Merger”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Consideration”
means the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration payable to Holders of FSRL Stock hereunder.
“Minimum Stock Consideration
Amount” means an amount that is great than or equal to the lesser of the following:
(a) an
amount equal to the product of the Starting CBAN Stock Price, the maximum number of shares of CBAN Common Stock to be issued as Merger
Consideration, and 0.80; or
(b) an
amount equal to (i) the product of the Index Ratio, 0.80, the maximum number of shares of CBAN Common Stock to be issued as Merger Consideration,
and the Average Closing Price, divided by the CBAN Ratio.
“Mortgage”
means with respect to a Mortgage Loan, the mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument securing the related Mortgage Note.
“Mortgage Loans”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.41.
“Mortgage Note”
means the note or other evidence of the indebtedness of a Mortgagor secured by a Mortgage and any riders thereto.
“Mortgaged Property”
means the real property and fixtures encumbered by a Mortgage.
89
“Mortgagor”
means with respect to each Mortgage Loan, the obligor on a Mortgage Note, including any co-borrower, co-maker, co-signor or guarantor,
who is obligated under the terms of such Mortgage Note.
“National Labor
Relations Act” means the National Labor Relations Act, as amended.
“Non-Election
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Notice of Superior
Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).
“Notice Period”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).
“NYSE”
means the New York Stock Exchange.
“Observer”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(b).
“OCC”
means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
“Ordinary Course
of Business” means the ordinary, usual and customary course of business of FSRL and FSRL’s Subsidiaries consistent
with past practice, including with respect to frequency and amount.
“OREO”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(b).
“OTCQX Market”
means Over-the-Counter Quotation Exchange.
“Party”
or “Parties” have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Per Share Cash
Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(i).
“Per Share Merger
Consideration” means the Per Share Cash Consideration or the Per Share Stock Consideration, as applicable.
“Per Share Stock
Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(ii).
“Person”
means any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, business trust, limited liability company, unincorporated
organization or other organization or firm of any kind or nature.
“Phase I”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(x).
“Plan of Merger”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).
“Proxy Statement-Prospectus”
means the joint proxy statement and prospectus and other proxy solicitation materials of CBAN and FSRL relating to the CBAN Meeting and
the FSRL Meeting.
90
“Registration
Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by CBAN in connection with the CBAN Common
Stock Issuance (including the Proxy Statement-Prospectus constituting a part thereof).
“Regulations”
means the final and temporary regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Regulatory Approvals”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Representative”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Requesting Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.05.
“Requisite CBAN
Shareholder Approval” means approval of the issuance of CBAN Common Stock as contemplated by this Agreement, by a vote (in
person or by proxy) of the majority of the votes cast by holders of CBAN Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the CBAN Meeting.
“Requisite FSRL
Shareholder Approval” means approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by a vote (in person or
by proxy) of two thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of FSRL Common Stock and FSRL Preferred Stock (voting together
with the holders of FSRL Common Stock as a single voting group) entitled to vote thereon at the FSRL Meeting. Such approval must also
include the ESOP Vote as required by law.
“Rights”
means, with respect to any Person, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities and other arrangements or commitments which obligate
the Person to issue or dispose of any of its capital stock or other ownership interests.
“Rollover RSU” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
“Sarbanes-Oxley
Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
“SBA”
means the Small Business Administration.
“SCBCA”
means the South Carolina Business Corporation Act.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shortfall Number”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b)(ii).
“Software”
means computer programs, whether in source code or object code form (including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models
and methodologies), databases and compilations (including any and all data and collections of data), and all documentation (including
user manuals and training materials) related to the foregoing.
“SRO”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
91
“Starting CBAN
Stock Price” shall mean $21.08.
“Starting Index
Price” shall mean $5,193.85.
“Stock Conversion
Maximum” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(ii).
“Stock Election”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Stock Election
Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b)(i).
“Stock Election
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii).
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any party, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the capital stock or other ownership interest
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time
directly or indirectly owned by such party. Any reference in this Agreement to a Subsidiary of FSRL means, unless the context otherwise
requires, any current or former Subsidiary of FSRL.
“Superior Proposal”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).
“Surviving Bank”
has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
“Surviving Entity”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Systems”
means all hardware, computers, software, websites, applications, databases, systems, networks and other information technology assets
and equipment.
“Takeover Statutes”
has the meaning set for in Section 5.29.
“Tax”
and “Taxes” shall mean all federal, state, local, and foreign taxes, charges, fees, levies, imposts, duties,
or other like assessments, including assessments for unclaimed property, as well as income, gross receipts, excise, employment, sales,
use, transfer, intangible, recording, license, payroll, franchise, severance, documentary, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, environmental,
federal highway use, commercial rent, customs duties, capital stock, paid-up capital, profits, withholding, Social Security, single business
and unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, registration, ad valorem, value added, alternative or add-on minimum,
estimated, or other tax or governmental fee of any kind whatsoever, or any amount in respect of unclaimed property or escheat, imposed
by or required to be paid or withheld by the United States or any state, local, or foreign government or subdivision or agency thereof,
whether disputed or not, including any related interest, penalties, and additions imposed thereon or with respect thereto, and including
any liability for Taxes of another Person pursuant to a contract, as a transferee or successor, under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6
or analogous provision of state, local or foreign Law or otherwise.
“Tax Returns”
shall mean any report, return, declaration, claim for refund, information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any associated
schedules, forms, attachments or amendments and any related or supporting information, estimates, elections, or statements provided or
required to be provided to the appropriate Governmental Authority in connection with Taxes, including any return of an affiliated or combined
or unitary group that includes a Party or its Subsidiaries and including without limitation any estimated Tax return.
92
“Terminated Contracts”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.
“Termination Date”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(i).
“Termination Fee”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).
“The date hereof”
or “the date of this Agreement” means the date first set forth above in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Trading Day”
means any day on which NYSE is open for trading; provided that a “Trading Day” only includes those days that have a scheduled
closing time of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
“Truth in Lending
Act” means the Truth in Lending Act of 1968, as amended.
“Unaudited Financial
Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
“USA PATRIOT Act”
means the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Vesting Conditions” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
Article
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 Survival.
No representations, warranties,
agreements or covenants contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time other than this Section 9.01 and any other
agreements or covenants contained herein that by their express terms are to be performed after the Effective Time, including, without
limitation, Section 5.10.
Section 9.02 Waiver;
Amendment.
Prior to the Effective Time
and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) waived by the Party benefited by the provision,
provided such waiver is in writing and signed by such Party, or (b) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing among
the Parties executed in the same manner as this Agreement, except that after the CBAN Meeting or the FSRL Meeting no amendment shall be
made which by Law requires further approval by the shareholders of CBAN or FSRL, as applicable, without obtaining such approval. The waiver
by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of
such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
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Section 9.03 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.
(a) This
Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal,
substantive laws of the State of Georgia, without regard for conflict of law
provisions.
(b) Each
Party agrees that it will bring any action or proceeding
in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby exclusively in any federal or
state court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Georgia (the “Georgia
Courts”), and, solely in connection with claims arising under this Agreement or the
transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, (i) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Georgia Courts, (ii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or
proceeding in the Georgia Courts, (iii) waives any objection that the Georgia
Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party
and (iv) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or
proceeding will be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 9.05.
(c) Each
Party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement
is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such Party hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such Party may have to a trial by jury in respect
of any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Each Party certifies and acknowledges that (i)
no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has
represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would
not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (ii) each Party understands
and has considered the implications of this waiver, (iii) each Party makes this waiver voluntarily,
and (iv) each Party has been induced to enter into this Agreement
by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 9.03.
Section 9.04 Expenses.
Except as otherwise provided
in Section 7.02, each Party will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, accountants and counsel. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
limit either Party’s rights to recover any liabilities or damages arising out of the other Party’s willful breach of any provision
of this Agreement.
Section 9.05 Notices.
All notices, requests and
other communications hereunder to a Party, shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly given if delivered (a) personally, (b) by
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), with adequate postage prepaid thereon, (c) by properly addressed electronic mail
delivery (with confirmation of delivery receipt), or (d) by reputable courier service to such Party at its address set forth below, or
at such other address or addresses as such Party may specify from time to time by notice in like manner to the Parties. All notices shall
be deemed effective upon delivery.
94
(a) if
to CBAN, to:
Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
115 South Grant Street
Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
Attn: T. Heath Fountain,
Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: heath.fountain@colonybank.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice
to CBAN) to:
Alston & Bird LLP
One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attn: Mark C. Kanaly
David S. Park
E-mail: mark.kanaly@alston.com
david.park@alston.com
(b) if
to FSRL, to:
First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.
2170 West Palmetto Street
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Attn: F.R. Saunders,
Jr.
E-mail: rsaunders@firstreliance.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice
to FSRL) to:
Ward and Smith, P.A.
127 Racine Drive
Post Office Box
7068
Wilmington, North
Carolina
Attn: B.T. Atkinson
E-mail: btatkinson@wardandsmith.com
Section 9.06 Entire
Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement represents
the entire understanding of the Parties and thereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement supersedes
any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. Except for the Indemnified Parties’ rights under Section 5.10,
CBAN and FSRL hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit
of the other Party, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not,
confer upon any Person (including any person or employees who might be affected by Section 5.11), other than the Parties, any rights
or remedies hereunder, including, the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein. The representations and
warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations between the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties. Consequently,
Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts
or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.
95
Section 9.07 Severability.
In the event that any one
or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the Parties
will use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements
the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
Section 9.08 Enforcement
of the Agreement.
The Parties agree that irreparable
damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms
or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state
having jurisdiction without having to show or prove economic damages and without the requirement of posting a bond, this being in addition
to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 9.09 Interpretation.
(a) When
a reference is made in this Agreement to sections, exhibits or
schedules, such reference shall be to a section of, or exhibit or
schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and captions
and headings contained in this Agreement are included solely for convenience of reference; if there
is any conflict between a caption or heading and the text of this Agreement,
the text shall control. Whenever the words “include,” “includes”
or “including” are used in this Agreement,
they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(b) The
Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement
and the other agreements and documents contemplated herein. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises under any provision of this Agreement
or any other agreement or document contemplated herein,
this Agreement and such other agreements or documents shall
be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party
by virtue of authorizing any of the provisions of this Agreement or any other agreements
or documents contemplated herein.
(c) The
FSRL Disclosure Schedule and the CBAN Disclosure Schedule,
as well as all other schedules and all exhibits to this Agreement, shall be deemed part of this
Agreement and included in any reference to this Agreement.
Any matter disclosed pursuant to any section of either the FSRL Disclosure Schedule or the CBAN Disclosure
Schedule shall be deemed disclosed for purposes of any other section of Article III or Article
IV, respectively, to the extent that applicability of the disclosure to such other section is reasonably apparent on the face, notwithstanding
the absence of a specific cross-reference, of such disclosure. No item is required to be set forth in either the FSRL Disclosure
Schedule or the CBAN Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty
if its absence would not result in the related representation or warranty being deemed untrue or
incorrect. The mere inclusion of an item in either Disclosure Schedule as an exception to
a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by either party
that such item represents a material exception or fact,
event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely
to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or that any breach
or violation of applicable Laws or any contract exists or
has actually occurred. This Agreement shall not be interpreted or
construed to require any person to take any action, or fail
to take any action, if to do so would violate any applicable Law.
96
(d) Any
reference contained in this Agreement to specific statutory or
regulatory provisions or to any specific Governmental Authority
shall include any successor statute or regulation,
or successor Governmental Authority, as the case may be.
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be deemed to be interchangeable, and
the singular includes the plural and vice versa. As used herein,
(i) the term “made available” means any document or
other information that was (a) provided by one party or its representatives to the other
party or its representatives prior to the date hereof or (b)
included in the virtual data room of a party prior to the date
hereof, and (ii) the word “or” is not exclusive.
(e) Unless
otherwise specified, the references to “Section” and “Article” in this Agreement
are to the Sections and Article of this Agreement. When used in this Agreement,
words such as “herein”, “hereinafter”,
“hereof”, “hereto”, and “hereunder”
refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
Section 9.10 Assignment.
No Party may assign either
this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Party, and any
purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.10 shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 9.11 Confidential
Supervisory Information.
Information and documents
commonly known as “confidential supervisory information” that is prohibited from disclosure under 12 C.F.R. § 261.2(b),
12 C.F.R. § 309.6, or 12 C.F.R. § 4.32(b) shall not be disclosed by either Party and nothing in this Agreement shall require
such disclosure or be understood as constituting such disclosure.
Section 9.12 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed
and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other
Party, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile or by electronic data
file shall have the same effect as originals.
97
[Signature Page Follows]
98
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties
have caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
/s/ T. Heath Fountain
T. Heath Fountain
Chief Executive Officer
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
/s/ F.R. Saunders, Jr.
F.R. Saunders, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
[Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXHIBIT A
FSRL VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is dated as of June [___], 2026, by and between the undersigned holder (“Shareholder”)
of capital stock of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. a South Carolina corporation (“FSRL”), and Colony Bankcorp, Inc.,
a Georgia corporation (“CBAN”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, CBAN and FSRL are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently
amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) FSRL will merge with and into CBAN, with CBAN as
the surviving entity, and (ii) First Reliance Bank, a South Carolina state-chartered bank and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of FSRL,
will merge with and into Colony Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of CBAN, with Colony Bank as
the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”), and in connection with the Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of FSRL Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (apart from the Dissenting Shares and the FSRL Cancelled Shares) will be converted
into and exchanged for the right to receive the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares.
WHEREAS, Shareholder
“beneficially owns” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
and is entitled to dispose of (or direct the disposition of) and to vote (or direct the voting of) directly or indirectly the number of
shares of FSRL Stock indicated on the signature page of this Agreement under the heading “Total Number of Shares of FSRL Stock Subject
to this Agreement;” provided, that such shares do not include shares beneficially owned by Shareholder but subject to the
voting direction of a third party with regard to voting on the Merger (such shares, together with any additional shares of FSRL Stock
subsequently acquired by Shareholder during the term of this Agreement, including through the exercise of any stock option or other equity
award, warrant or similar instrument, being referred to collectively as the “Shares”); and
WHEREAS, it is a material
inducement to and condition of CBAN’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of CBAN entering into the Merger Agreement and proceeding with the transactions contemplated thereby, and in consideration
of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by CBAN in connection therewith, Shareholder and CBAN agree as follows:
Agreement to Vote Shares.
Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of shareholders of FSRL, however
called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any action proposed to be taken by written consent of the shareholders of FSRL, or in any
other circumstances in which Shareholder is entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval, except as otherwise agreed to in writing
in advance by CBAN, Shareholder shall:
A-1
appear at each such
meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and
vote (or cause to
be voted), in person or by proxy, all the Shares as to which the Shareholder has, directly or indirectly, the right to vote or direct
the voting, (i) in favor of adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby
(including any amendments or modifications of the terms thereof approved by the board of directors of FSRL and adopted in accordance with
the terms thereof); (ii) in favor of any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies to
approve the Merger Agreement; (iii) against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty
or any other obligation or agreement of FSRL contained in the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder contained in this Agreement; and (iv)
against any Acquisition Proposal or any other action, agreement or transaction that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede,
interfere or be inconsistent with, delay, postpone, discourage or materially and adversely affect consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement.
Shareholder further agrees not to vote or execute
any written consent to rescind or amend in any manner any prior vote or written consent, as a shareholder of FSRL, to approve or adopt
the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms.
No Inconsistent Agreements.
Shareholder hereby covenants and agrees that, except for this Agreement, Shareholder (i) shall not enter into, at any time while this
Agreement remains in effect, any voting agreement or voting trust or any other contract with respect to the Shares, (ii) shall not grant
at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, a proxy (other than as required to effect Shareholder’s voting obligations in
Section 1), consent or power of attorney in contravention of the obligations of Shareholder under this Agreement with respect to
the Shares, (iii) shall not commit any act, except for transfers permitted under Section 3, that could restrict or affect his or
her legal power, authority and right to vote any of the Shares then held of record or beneficially owned by Shareholder or otherwise reasonably
expected to prevent or disable Shareholder from performing any of his or her obligations under this Agreement, and (iv) shall not take
any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of Shareholder contained herein untrue or incorrect
or have the effect of impeding, preventing, delaying, interfering with, disabling or adversely affecting the performance by, Shareholder
of his or her obligations under this Agreement.
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No Transfers. Until
the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7 and (ii) receipt of the Requisite FSRL Shareholder Approval,
Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of, or enter into any contract
option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of,
any of the Shares, except the following transfers shall be permitted: (a) transfers by will or operation of Law, in which case this Agreement
shall bind the transferee, (b) transfers pursuant to any pledge agreement, subject to the pledgee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer,
to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (c) transfers in connection with estate and tax planning purposes, including transfers to
relatives, trusts and charitable organizations, subject to each transferee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by
the terms of this Agreement, and (d) such transfers as CBAN may otherwise permit in its sole discretion. Any transfer or other disposition
in violation of the terms of this Section 3 shall be null and void. As promptly as practicable following the date hereof, Shareholder
shall notify FSRL’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Shares and that this Agreement
places limits on the voting of the Shares; provided, that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn
and terminated by the Shareholder following the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.
Representations and Warranties
of Shareholder. Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with CBAN as follows:
Shareholder has
all requisite capacity and authority to enter into and perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.
This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Shareholder, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by CBAN, constitutes a valid
and legally binding obligation of Shareholder enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
and to general equity principles.
The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance by Shareholder of his, her or its obligations hereunder and the
consummation by Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate or conflict with, or constitute a default under,
any agreement, instrument, contract or other obligation or any order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Shareholder is a
party or by which Shareholder is bound, or any statute, rule or regulation to which Shareholder is subject or, in the event that Shareholder
is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, any charter, bylaw or other organizational document of Shareholder.
Shareholder is the
record and beneficial owner of, or is the trustee that is the record holder of, and whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of,
and has good title to all of the Shares, and the Shares are owned free and clear of any liens, security interests, charges or other encumbrances.
The Shares do not include shares over which Shareholder exercises control in a fiduciary capacity for any other person or entity that
is not an Affiliate of Shareholder, and no representation by Shareholder is made with respect thereto. Shareholder has the right to vote
the Shares, and none of the Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting
of the Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of capital stock
of FSRL other than the Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock.
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There is no legal
action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of Shareholder, threatened against or affecting
Shareholder, that would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Shareholder to perform his, her or its obligations under this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis, or that questions the validity of this Agreement or
any action taken or to be taken by Shareholder in connection with this Agreement.
No Solicitation and Non-Disparagement.
From and after the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7, Shareholder, in his, her or its capacity
as a shareholder of FSRL, shall not, nor shall such Shareholder authorize any partner, officer, director, advisor or representative of,
such Shareholder or any of his, her or its Affiliates to, directly or indirectly (and, to the extent applicable to Shareholder, such Shareholder
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prohibit any of his, her or its representatives or Affiliates to), (i) initiate, solicit,
induce or knowingly encourage, or take any action to facilitate the making of, any inquiry, offer or proposal which constitutes, or could
reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) except in his capacity as a director or officer of FSRL and under circumstances
for which such actions are permitted for FSRL under the Merger Agreement, participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any
Acquisition Proposal or furnish, or otherwise afford access, to any person (other than CBAN) any information or data with respect to FSRL
or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) enter into any agreement, agreement in principle or letter of intent with respect
to an Acquisition Proposal or approve or resolve to approve any Acquisition Proposal or any agreement, agreement in principle or letter
of intent relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) solicit proxies with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (other than the Merger Agreement)
or otherwise encourage or assist any party in taking or planning any action that would compete with, restrain or otherwise serve to interfere
with or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (v) initiate a shareholders’
vote or action by consent of FSRL’s shareholders with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or (vi) make, publish or communicate any
negative, defamatory or disparaging statements, remarks or comments concerning or alluding to FSRL, CBAN, First Reliance Bank, Colony
Bank or their products, customers, suppliers, licensees, licensors, franchisees or employees.
Specific Performance; Remedies;
Attorneys’ Fees. Shareholder acknowledges that it is a condition to the willingness of CBAN to enter into the Merger Agreement
that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement and that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to CBAN if Shareholder
fails to comply with the obligations imposed by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, CBAN will not have an adequate
remedy at Law or in equity. Accordingly, Shareholder agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy is the appropriate remedy
for any such failure and will not oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that CBAN has an adequate remedy at Law. Shareholder
further agrees that Shareholder will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection
with CBAN’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief. In addition, after discussing the matter with Shareholder, CBAN shall have
the right to inform any third party that CBAN reasonably believes to be, or to be contemplating, participating with Shareholder or receiving
from Shareholder assistance in violation of this Agreement, of the terms of this Agreement and of the rights of CBAN hereunder, and that
participation by any such persons with Shareholder in activities in violation of Shareholder’s agreement with CBAN set forth in
this Agreement may give rise to claims by CBAN against such third party.
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Term of Agreement; Termination.
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement by the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto, and shall be automatically terminated
upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the amendment of the Merger Agreement in any manner that materially and adversely
affects any of Shareholder’s rights set forth therein (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any reduction to the Merger Consideration),
(iii) termination of the Merger Agreement or (iv) three (3) years from the date hereof. Upon such termination, no party shall have any
further obligations or liabilities hereunder; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any party from liability
for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
Entire Agreement. This
Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement
supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.
Modification and Waiver.
No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing
signed by each party. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions
at the same or any prior subsequent time.
Severability. In the
event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which,
insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
Capacity as Shareholder.
This Agreement shall apply to Shareholder solely in his, her or its capacity as a shareholder of FSRL and it shall not apply in any manner
to Shareholder in his, her or its capacity as a director of FSRL, if applicable. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
apply to, or limit in any manner, the obligations of Shareholder to comply with his, her or its fiduciary duties as a director of FSRL,
if applicable.
Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Georgia,
without regard for conflict of law provisions.
Jurisdiction. Any civil
action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of
the State of Georgia in Ben Hill County or the United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia. Each party consents to the jurisdiction
of such Georgia court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue
of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Georgia court. Service of any court paper may be effected on
such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN
RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS
AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED
TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 14.
Waiver of Appraisal Rights;
Further Assurances. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, Shareholder hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent
from the Merger or demand fair value for his, her or its Shares in connection with the Merger, in each case, that Shareholder may have
under applicable Law. From time to time prior to the termination of this Agreement, at CBAN’s request and without further consideration,
Shareholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or desirable
to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder further agrees not to commence or participate
in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise,
against CBAN, Colony Bank, FSRL, First Reliance Bank or any of their respective successors relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery
of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger.
Disclosure. Shareholder
hereby authorizes FSRL and CBAN to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus such Shareholder’s identity and ownership of the Shares and the nature of Shareholder’s
obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that CBAN shall provide Shareholder written drafts of any such disclosure
and consider in good faith Shareholder’s comments thereto.
Ownership. Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to give CBAN any rights to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power as owner of the Shares
or to vest in CBAN any direct or indirect ownership or incidents of ownership of or with respect to any of the Shares. All rights, ownership
and economic benefits of and relating to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Shareholder, notwithstanding the provisions
of this Agreement, and CBAN shall have no authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern or administer any of the
policies or operations of FSRL or to exercise any power or authority to direct the Shareholder in voting any of the Shares, except as
otherwise expressly provided herein.
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Assignment. Except
as expressly contemplated hereby, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by
any party hereto (whether by operation of Law, including by merger or consolidation, or otherwise) without the prior written consent of
the other party. Subject to the foregoing sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 18
shall be null and void ab initio.
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
Integration. Any singular
term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,”
“includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without
limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to any Law
shall refer to such Law as amended, modified or reenacted from time to time and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile
or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
By:
_____________________________________
T. Heath Fountain
Chief Executive Officer
SHAREHOLDER
_________________________________________
Printed Name: _____________________________
Number of Shares of FSRL Stock Subject to this
Agreement:___________________________
[Signature Page – FSRL Voting Agreement]
EXHIBIT B
CBAN VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 24, 2026, by and between the undersigned holder (“Shareholder”)
of common stock of Colony Bankcorp, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“CBAN”), and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a South
Carolina corporation (“FSRL”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, CBAN and FSRL are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently
amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) FSRL will merge with and into CBAN, with CBAN as
the surviving entity, and (ii) First Reliance Bank, a South Carolina state-chartered bank and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of FSRL,
will merge with and into Colony Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of CBAN, with Colony Bank as
the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”), and in connection with the Merger, each issued and outstanding share
of FSRL Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (apart from the Dissenting Shares and the FSRL Cancelled Shares) will be converted
into and exchanged for the right to receive the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares.
WHEREAS, Shareholder
“beneficially owns” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
and is entitled to dispose of (or direct the disposition of) and to vote (or direct the voting of) directly or indirectly the number of
shares of CBAN Common Stock indicated on the signature page of this Agreement under the heading “Number of Shares of CBAN Common
Stock Subject to this Agreement;” provided, that such shares do not include shares beneficially owned by Shareholder but
subject to the voting direction of a third party with regard to voting on the Merger (such shares, together with any additional shares
of CBAN Common Stock subsequently acquired by Shareholder during the term of this Agreement, including through the exercise of any stock
option or other equity award, warrant or similar instrument, being referred to collectively as the “Shares”); and
WHEREAS, it is a material
inducement to and a condition of FSRL’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this
Agreement.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of FSRL entering into the Merger Agreement and proceeding with the transactions contemplated thereby, and in consideration
of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by FSRL in connection therewith, Shareholder and FSRL agree as follows:
Section 1. Agreement
to Vote Shares. Shareholder agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of shareholders of CBAN, however called,
for the purpose of voting on the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances
in which Shareholder is entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval, except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by FSRL,
Shareholder shall:
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(a) appear
at each such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating
a quorum; and
(b) vote
(or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, all the Shares as to which the Shareholder has, directly or indirectly, the right to vote
or direct the voting, (i) in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any amendments or modifications
of the terms thereof approved by the board of directors of CBAN and adopted in accordance with the terms thereof); (ii) in favor of any
proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies to approve the Merger Agreement; and (iii) against
any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement
of CBAN contained in the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder contained in this Agreement.
Shareholder further agrees not to vote or execute
any written consent to rescind or amend in any manner any prior vote or written consent, as a shareholder of CBAN, to approve the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms.
Section 2. No Transfers.
Until the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5 and (ii) receipt of the approval of shareholders
of CBAN of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge,
assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the
sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, any of the Shares, except the following transfers shall be permitted: (a)
transfers by will or operation of Law, in which case this Agreement shall bind the transferee, (b) transfers pursuant to any pledge agreement,
subject to the pledgee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (c) transfers in connection
with estate and tax planning purposes, including transfers to relatives, trusts and charitable organizations, subject to each transferee
agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and (d) such transfers as FSRL may otherwise
permit in its sole discretion. Any transfer or other disposition in violation of the terms of this Section 2 shall be null and
void.
Section 3. Representations
and Warranties of Shareholder. Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with CBAN as follows:
(a) Shareholder
has all requisite capacity and authority to enter into and perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Shareholder, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by FSRL, constitutes
a valid and legally binding obligation of Shareholder enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’
rights and to general equity principles.
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(c) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance by Shareholder of his, her or its obligations hereunder
and the consummation by Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate or conflict with, or constitute a default
under, any agreement, instrument, contract or other obligation or any order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Shareholder
is a party or by which Shareholder is bound, or any statute, rule or regulation to which Shareholder is subject or, in the event that
Shareholder is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, any charter, bylaw or other organizational document of Shareholder.
(d) Shareholder
is the record and beneficial owner of, or is the trustee that is the record holder of, and whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners
of, and has good title to all of the Shares, and the Shares are owned free and clear of any liens, security interests, charges or other
encumbrances. The Shares do not include shares over which Shareholder exercises control in a fiduciary capacity for any other person or
entity that is not an Affiliate of Shareholder, and no representation by Shareholder is made with respect thereto. Shareholder has the
right to vote the Shares, and none of the Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect
to the voting of the Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares
of capital stock of CBAN Common Stock other than the Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
such capital stock, other than any restricted stock issued by CBAN.
Section 4. Specific
Performance; Remedies; Attorneys’ Fees. Shareholder acknowledges that it is a condition to the willingness of FSRL to enter
into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement and that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage
to FSRL if Shareholder fails to comply with the obligations imposed by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, FSRL
will not have an adequate remedy at Law or in equity. Accordingly, Shareholder agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy
is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that FSRL has an adequate
remedy at Law. Shareholder further agrees that Shareholder will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting
of a bond in connection with FSRL’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief. In addition, after discussing the matter with Shareholder,
FSRL shall have the right to inform any third party that FSRL reasonably believes to be, or to be contemplating, participating with Shareholder
or receiving from Shareholder assistance in violation of this Agreement, of the terms of this Agreement and of the rights of FSRL hereunder,
and that participation by any such persons with Shareholder in activities in violation of Shareholder’s agreement with FSRL set
forth in this Agreement may give rise to claims by FSRL against such third party.
Section 5. Term of Agreement;
Termination. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement by the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto, and shall be automatically
terminated upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the amendment of the Merger Agreement in any manner that materially
and adversely affects any of Shareholder’s rights set forth therein (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any change to the Merger
Consideration), (iii) termination of the Merger Agreement or (iv) three (3) years from the date hereof. Upon such termination, no party
shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any party
from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
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Section 6. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this
Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.
Section 7. Modification
and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing signed by each party. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar
provisions or conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time.
Section 8. Severability.
In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which,
insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
Section 9. Capacity
as Shareholder. This Agreement shall apply to Shareholder solely in his, her or its capacity as a shareholder of CBAN and it shall
not apply in any manner to Shareholder in his, her or its capacity as a director of CBAN, if applicable. Nothing contained in this Agreement
shall be deemed to apply to, or limit in any manner, the obligations of Shareholder to comply with his, her or its fiduciary duties as
a director of CBAN, if applicable.
Section 10. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State
of Georgia, without regard for conflict of law provisions.
Section 11. Jurisdiction.
Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of
record of the State of Georgia in Ben Hill County or the United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia. Each party consents
to the jurisdiction of such Georgia court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to
the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Georgia court. Service of any court paper
may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.
Section 12. WAIVER OF
JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED
AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,
EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.
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Section 13. Ownership.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give FSRL any rights to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power as owner of the
Shares or to vest in CBAN any direct or indirect ownership or incidents of ownership of or with respect to any of the Shares. All rights,
ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Shareholder, notwithstanding the
provisions of this Agreement, and CBAN shall have no authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern or administer
any of the policies or operations of CBAN or to exercise any power or authority to direct the Shareholder in voting any of the Shares,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
Section 14. Assignment.
Except as expressly contemplated hereby, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned
by any party hereto (whether by operation of Law, including by merger or consolidation, or otherwise) without the prior written consent
of the other party. Subject to the foregoing sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 14
shall be null and void ab initio.
Section 15. Third-Party
Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto
or their respective successors any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 16. Integration.
Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words
“include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by
the words “without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference
herein to any Law shall refer to such Law as amended, modified or reenacted from time to time and any rules or regulations promulgated
thereunder.
Section 17. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall
be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile
or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC.
By:
______________________________________
Rick Saunders
Chief Executive officer
SHAREHOLDER
__________________________________________
Printed Name: ______________________________
Number of Shares of CBAN Common Stock Subject
to this Agreement:__________________________
[Signature Page – CBAN Voting Agreement]
EXHIBIT C
BANK PLAN OF MERGER AND MERGER AGREEMENT
This PLAN OF MERGER AND MERGER
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of June [●], 2026, by and between First Reliance Bank,
a South Carolina state-chartered bank with its main office located at 1901 Main Street, Suite 195, Columbia, SC 29201, and Colony Bank,
a Georgia state-chartered banking institution with its main office located at 302 South Main Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750, to provide
for the merger of First Reliance Bank with and into Colony Bank (the “Bank Merger”). First Reliance Bank and Colony
Bank are referred to herein as the “Merging Banks”.
WHEREAS, Colony Bankcorp,
Inc. (“CBAN”), which owns all of the outstanding shares of Colony Bank, and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (“FSRL”),
which owns all of the outstanding shares of First Reliance Bank, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger
Agreement”) which, among other things, contemplates the merger of FSRL with and into CBAN, all subject to the terms and conditions
of such Merger Agreement (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, the Merger
Agreement contemplates the merger First Reliance Bank with and into Colony Bank, with Colony Bank as the surviving bank (the “Surviving
Bank”), conditioned upon and immediately following consummation of the Merger;
WHEREAS, the respective
boards of directors of FSRL, First Reliance Bank, CBAN and Colony Bank have approved the Bank Merger, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and have determined that the Bank Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
are in the best interests of their respective shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Bank Merger
has been approved by a majority of the board of directors of Colony Bank, by CBAN, as the sole shareholder of Colony Bank, by a majority
of the board of directors of First Reliance Bank, and by FSRL, as the sole shareholder of First Reliance Bank, in each case in accordance
with the provisions of 12 U.S.C. § 215, O.C.G.A. § 7-1-531 and Chapter 25 of the South Carolina Banking and Branching Efficiency
Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and of the covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are acknowledged, the Merging Banks, intending to be legally bound, hereby make, adopt and approve this Agreement, and hereby
prescribe the terms and conditions of the Bank Merger and the mode of effecting the Bank Merger as follows:
TERMS OF BANK MERGER
The Bank Merger.
As a result of the
Bank Merger, (i) each share of common stock of First Reliance Bank, par value $0.01 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time (as defined below) shall cease to be outstanding and shall be cancelled and (ii) each share of capital stock of
Colony Bank, par value $10.00 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding
and shall constitute the only shares of capital stock of the Surviving Bank issued and outstanding immediately after the Effective Time.
For purposes of this Agreement, the Bank Merger shall become effective on the date and time the Articles of Merger (“Articles
of Merger”) reflecting the Bank Merger shall become effective with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia (the “Effective
Time”). Any shareholder of First Reliance Bank voting against the Bank Merger shall have dissenters’ rights of appraisal
in accordance with applicable law.
C-1
At the Effective
Time, the Surviving Bank shall be considered the same business and corporate entity as each of the Merging Banks and thereupon and thereafter
all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each of the Merging Banks shall vest in the Surviving Bank and the Surviving
Bank shall be subject to and be deemed to have assumed all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of each of the Merging Banks
and shall have succeeded to all of each of their relationships, fiduciary or otherwise, as fully and to the same extent as if such property,
rights, privileges, powers, franchises, debts, liabilities, obligations, duties and relationships had been originally acquired, incurred
or entered into by the Surviving Bank. In addition, any reference to either of the Merging Banks in any contract, will or document, whether
executed or taking effect before or after the Effective Time, shall be considered a reference to the Surviving Bank if not inconsistent
with the other provisions of the contract, will or document; and any pending action or other judicial proceeding to which either of the
Merging Banks is a party shall not be deemed to have abated or to have been discontinued by reason of the Bank Merger, but may be prosecuted
to final judgment, order or decree in the same manner as if the Bank Merger had not been made or the Surviving Bank may be substituted
as a party to such action or proceeding, and any judgment, order or decree may be rendered for or against it that might have been rendered
for or against either of the Merging Banks if the Bank Merger had not occurred.
Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, each of the Merging Banks agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in
good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable law to permit consummation of the Bank Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to reasonably
cooperate with the other Merging Bank to that end.
Name of Surviving Bank
and Principal Office. The name of the Surviving Bank shall be “Colony Bank.” The principal office of Colony Bank
shall continue to be 302 South Main Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750 after the Effective Time. The branch offices of Colony Bank and
First Reliance Bank will be operated as branch offices of the Surviving Bank immediately following the Effective Time.
Articles of Incorporation.
On and after the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of Colony Bank shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Bank until amended in accordance with applicable law.
C-2
Bylaws. On and
after the Effective Time, the Bylaws of Colony Bank shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Bank until amended in accordance with applicable
law.
Directors and Officers.
On and after the Effective Time, until changed in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Bank, (i)
the directors of the Surviving Bank shall be the directors of Colony Bank immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with such
individuals as may be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Surviving Bank in accordance with the Merger Agreement and named in the
Articles of Merger related to the Bank Merger, and (ii) the officers of the Surviving Bank shall be the officers of Colony Bank immediately
prior to the Effective Time, together with such individuals as shall be named by the Board of Directors of the Surviving Bank following
the Effective Time. The directors and officers of the Surviving Bank shall hold office in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Surviving Bank.
Capital of Surviving Bank.
The amount of capital stock of the Surviving Bank authorized immediately following the Effective Time shall continue to be 150,000 shares
of common stock, par value $10.000 per share, of which 90,000 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof.
Income Tax Treatment.
Each party to this Agreement agrees to treat the Bank Merger for all income tax purposes as a reorganization qualifying under Section
368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and hereby adopt this Agreement as a result of execution thereof as a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g). None of the parties shall file a tax return or take any
position with any taxing authority that is inconsistent with the tax treatment described in the preceding sentence.
MISCELLANEOUS
Conditions Precedent.
The respective obligations of each party pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to (i) the closing of the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement; (ii) the approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), (iii) the approval
of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the “GDBF”); and (iv) the approval by the shareholders of each of
the Merging Banks. Additionally, no order, injunction or decree issued by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction
or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Bank Merger shall be in effect, and no law, statute, rule,
regulation, order, injunction or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced that prohibits or makes illegal the
consummation of the Bank Merger.
Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the laws of the State of Georgia, without
regard to any applicable principles of conflicts of laws that would result in the application of the law of another jurisdiction.
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed (by facsimile or otherwise) by any one or more of the parties in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
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Amendments.
To the extent permitted by the FDIC, the GDBF and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, this Agreement may be amended by a subsequent
writing signed by the parties hereto upon the approval of the board of directors of each of the parties hereto.
Successors.
This Agreement shall be binding on the successors of First Reliance Bank and Colony Bank.
Further Assignments.
If at any time CBAN or the Colony Bank shall consider or be advised that any further assignments, conveyances or assurances are necessary
or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm in Colony Bank full title to any property or rights of First Reliance Bank or otherwise carry
out the provisions hereof, the proper officers and directors of First Reliance Bank, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and
thereafter the officers of Colony Bank acting on behalf of First Reliance Bank, shall execute and deliver, or shall cause to be executed
and delivered, any and all proper assignments, conveyances and assurances and do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions
hereof.
[Signature page follows]
C-4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First
Reliance Bank and Colony Bank have caused this Plan of Bank Merger and Merger Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers
as of the date first set forth above.
COLONY BANK
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Name:
Title:
Title:
FIRST RELIANCE BANK
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Name:
Title:
Title:
[Signature Page – Bank Plan of Merger
and Merger Agreement]
EXHIBIT D
DIRECTOR NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT
This Director Non-Competition
and Non-Disclosure Agreement (the “Agreement”), is dated as of June [___], 2026, by and between the undersigned director
of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (“Director”), and Colony Bankcorp, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“CBAN”).
All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, CBAN and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (“FSRL”),
are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”),
pursuant to which (i) FSRL will merge with and into CBAN, with CBAN as the surviving entity, and (ii) First Reliance Bank, a South Carolina
state-chartered bank and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of FSRL, will merge with and into Colony Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank
and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of CBAN, with Colony Bank as the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, Director is
a shareholder of FSRL and, as a result of the Merger and pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Director is
expected to receive significant consideration in exchange for the shares of FSRL Stock held by Director;
WHEREAS, as of and
prior to the date hereof, Director serves and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of FSRL or First Reliance Bank, and, therefore,
Director has knowledge of the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets (each as hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, as a result
of the Merger, CBAN will succeed to all of the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, for which CBAN as of the Effective Time will
have paid valuable consideration and desires reasonable protection; and
WHEREAS, it is a material
prerequisite to the consummation of the Merger that each director of FSRL and First Reliance Bank, including Director, enter into this
Agreement.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of these premises and the mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained, CBAN and Director, each intending to be legally
bound, covenant and agree as follows:
Restrictive Covenants.
Director acknowledges
that (i) CBAN has separately bargained for the restrictive covenants in this Agreement; and (ii) the types and periods of restrictions
imposed by the covenants in this Agreement are fair and reasonable to Director and such restrictions will not prevent Director from earning
a livelihood.
D-1
Having acknowledged
the foregoing, solely in the event that the Merger is consummated, Director covenants and agrees with CBAN as follows:
From and after the
date hereof, Director shall maintain in strict confidence and shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose, use or permit the use of any
Confidential Information or Trade Secrets for so long as such information remains Confidential Information or a Trade Secret, as applicable,
for any purpose, except for any disclosure that is required by applicable Law. In the event that Director is required by Law to disclose
any Confidential Information, Director will: (A) if and to the extent permitted by such Law, provide CBAN with prompt notice of such requirement
prior to the disclosure so that CBAN may waive the requirements of this Agreement or seek an appropriate protective order at CBAN’s
sole expense; however, Director will cooperate fully with CBAN in seeking such protective measures and (B) use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain assurances that any Confidential Information disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. If, in the absence of
a waiver or protective order, Director is nonetheless, in the opinion of his or her counsel, required to disclose Confidential Information,
disclosure may be made only as to that portion of the Confidential Information that counsel advises Director is required to be disclosed,
and Director shall use his or her reasonable best efforts to ensure that such disclosed Confidential Information is accorded confidential
treatment.
Except as expressly
provided on Schedule I to this Agreement, for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending two (2) years after the Effective Time
(the “Restricted Period”), Director will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of CBAN), on Director’s
own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit or attempt to solicit any customer of CBAN, Colony Bank, FSRL or First Reliance
Bank (each a “Protected Party”), including actively sought prospective customers of First Reliance Bank as of the Effective
Time, for the purpose of providing products or services that are Competitive (as hereinafter defined) with those offered or provided by
any Protected Party. This restriction shall apply regardless of whether the customer relationship was established prior to or after the
Effective Time.
Except as expressly
provided on Schedule I to this Agreement, during the Restricted Period, Director will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written
consent of CBAN), either directly or indirectly, on Director’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, act as a director,
manager, officer or employee of any business which offers products or services that are Competitive and which has an office located within
the Restricted Territory (as hereinafter defined).
During the Restricted
Period, Director will not, on Director’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit or recruit or attempt to solicit
or recruit, directly or by assisting others, any employee of any Protected Party, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee
or a temporary employee of such Protected Party, whether or not such employment is pursuant to a written agreement and whether or not
such employment is for a determined period or is at will, to cease working for such Protected Party; provided that the foregoing will
not prevent the placement of any general solicitation for employment not specifically directed towards employees of any Protected Party
or hiring any such person as a result thereof.
D-2
For purposes of
this Section 1, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
“Competitive,”
with respect to particular products or services, means products or services that are the same as or similar to the products or services
of any Protected Party.
“Confidential
Information” means data and information:
relating to the
business of FSRL and its Subsidiaries, including First Reliance Bank, regardless of whether the data or information constitutes a Trade
Secret;
disclosed to Director
or of which Director became aware as a consequence of Director’s relationship with FSRL and/or First Reliance Bank;
having value to
FSRL and/or First Reliance Bank and, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, CBAN and/or
Colony Bank; and
not generally known
to competitors of FSRL or CBAN (including competitors to First Reliance Bank or Colony Bank).
Confidential Information shall include
Trade Secrets, methods of operation, names of customers, price lists, financial information and projections, personnel data and similar
information; provided, however, that the terms “Confidential Information” and “Trade Secrets” shall not mean data
or information that (x) has been disclosed to the public, except where such public disclosure has been made by Director without authorization
from FSRL or CBAN, (y) has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or (z) has otherwise entered the public domain through
lawful means.
“Restricted
Territory” means each county in South Carolina where First Reliance Bank operates a banking office at the Effective Time and
each county contiguous to each of such counties.
“Trade Secret”
means information, without regard to form, including technical or nontechnical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a
device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, financial data, financial plans, product plans or a list of actual or potential customers
or suppliers, that is not commonly known by or available to the public and which information:
D-3
derives economic
value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who
can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and
is the subject of
efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Director acknowledges
that irreparable loss and injury would result to CBAN upon the breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 1 and that damages
arising out of such breach would be difficult to ascertain. Director hereby agrees that, in addition to all other remedies provided at
law or in equity, CBAN may petition and obtain from a court of law or equity, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without
posting any bond or other security, both temporary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent a breach by Director of any covenant contained
in this Section 1, and shall be entitled to an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising out of any such
breach. In the event that the provisions of this Section 1 should ever be determined to exceed the time, geographic or other limitations
permitted by applicable Law, then such provisions shall be modified so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by Law. If
such provision(s) cannot be modified to be enforceable, the provision(s) shall be severed from this Agreement to the extent unenforceable.
The remaining provisions and any partially enforceable provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Term and Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the written consent of the parties hereto, and this Agreement shall be automatically terminated
upon the earlier of (a) termination of the Merger Agreement prior to the consummation of the Merger or; (ii) two (2) years following the
Effective Time. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 1 shall only become operative upon the consummation of the Merger
but, in such event, shall survive the consummation of the Merger until the earlier of (a) two (2) years after the Effective Time or (b)
upon a Change in Control of CBAN. Upon termination of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder,
except that termination of this Agreement will not relieve a breaching party from liability for any breach of any provision of this Agreement
occurring prior to the termination of this Agreement.
Notices. All notices,
requests and other communications hereunder to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly given if delivered (a) personally,
(b) by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), with adequate postage prepaid thereon, (c) by properly addressed electronic
mail delivery (with confirmation of delivery receipt) or (d) by reputable courier service to such party at its address set forth below,
or at such other address or addresses as such party may specify from time to time by notice in like manner to the parties hereto. All
notices shall be deemed effective upon delivery.
If to CBAN:
Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
115 South Grant Street
Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Attn: T. Heath Fountain, Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: heath.fountain@colonybank.com
D-4
If to Director:
The address of Director’s principal
residence as it appears in FSRL’s records as of the date hereof, as subsequently modified by Director’s provision of notice
regarding the same to CBAN.
Governing Law; Jurisdiction.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Georgia,
without regard for conflict of law provisions. Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to
this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Georgia in Ben Hill County or the United States District Court,
Middle District of Georgia. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Georgia court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding
or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such
Georgia court. Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as
may be provided under applicable Laws.
Modification and Waiver.
No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing
signed by Director and CBAN. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with,
any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time.
Severability. In the
event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which,
insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile
or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.
Entire Agreement. This
Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement
supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.
D-5
Construction; Interpretation.
Whenever the singular number is used in this Agreement and when required by the context, the same shall include the plural and vice versa,
and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa. Whenever the words “include,” “includes”
or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope,
extent or intent of this Agreement or any of its provisions.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
D-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
By:
____________________________________
T. Heath Fountain
Chief Executive Officer
DIRECTOR
________________________________________
Printed Name: ____________________________
Signature Page – Director Non-Competition
and Non-Disclosure Agreement
Schedule I
For avoidance of doubt, the
parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in Sections 1(b)(ii) and (iii) shall not apply to any of the following activities
of Director:
1. The provision of legal services by Director to any Person.
2. The provision of private equity/venture capital financing
by Director to any Person.
3. The provision of accounting services by Director to any Person.
4. The ownership of 5% or less of any class of securities of
any Person.
5. Obtaining banking-related services or products for entities
owned or controlled by the Director.
EXHIBIT E
CLAIMS LETTER
June [24], 2026
Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
115 South Grant Street
Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is delivered pursuant
to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June [24], 2026 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and between Colony Bankcorp,
Inc., a Georgia corporation (“CBAN”), and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (“FSRL”).
Concerning any claims which
the undersigned may have against FSRL or any of its subsidiaries, including First Reliance Bank (each, a “FSRL Entity”),
in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee of any FSRL Entity, and in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and in the Merger Agreement and the mutual benefits to be derived hereunder and thereunder, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby agrees as
follows:
Definitions. Unless
otherwise defined in this letter, capitalized terms used in this letter have the meanings given to them in the Merger Agreement.
Release of Certain Claims.
The undersigned
hereby releases and forever discharges, effective upon the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each FSRL Entity,
and each of their respective directors and officers (in their capacities as such), and their respective successors and assigns, and each
of them (hereinafter, individually and collectively, the “Released Parties”) of and from any and all liabilities, claims,
demands, debts, accounts, covenants, agreements, obligations, costs, expenses, actions or causes of action of every nature, character
or description (collectively, “Claims”), which the undersigned, solely in his or her capacity as an officer, director
or employee of any FSRL Entity has or claims to have, or previously had or claimed to have, in each case as of the Effective Time, against
any of the Released Parties, whether or not in law, equity or otherwise, based in whole or in part on any facts, conduct, activities,
transactions, events or occurrences known or unknown, matured or unmatured, contingent or otherwise (individually a “Released
Claim,” and collectively, the “Released Claims”), except for (i) compensation for services that have accrued
but have not yet been paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, including without limitation any accrued
but unpaid salary, wages, bonuses (whether annual, signing, retention, or transaction-related), deferred compensation, retirement benefits,
401(k) or other retirement plan contributions or matching, pension benefits, health or welfare benefits, paid time off, or expense reimbursements
which have been disclosed in writing to CBAN on or prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, or other contract rights relating to severance,
employment, stock options and restricted stock grants which have been disclosed in writing to CBAN on or prior to the date of the Merger
Agreement, and (ii) the items listed in Section 2(b) below.
E-1
For avoidance of
doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Released Claims do not include any of the following:
any Claims that the
undersigned may have in any capacity other than as an officer, director or employee of any FSRL Entity, including, but not limited to,
(A) Claims as a borrower under written loan commitments and agreements between the undersigned and First Reliance Bank, (B) Claims as
a depositor under any deposit account with First Reliance Bank, (C) Claims as the holder of any Certificate of Deposit issued by First
Reliance Bank, (D) Claims on account of any services rendered by the undersigned in a capacity other than as an officer, director or employee
of any FSRL Entity, (E) Claims in his or her capacity as a shareholder of FSRL and (F) Claims as a holder of any check issued by any other
depositor of First Reliance Bank;
the Claims excluded
in Section 2(a)(i) above;
any Claims that the
undersigned may have under the Merger Agreement; or
any right to indemnification
that the undersigned may have under the articles of incorporation or bylaws of any FSRL Entity, under Georgia or South Carolina law or
the Merger Agreement.
Forbearance. The undersigned
shall forever refrain and forebear from commencing, instituting or prosecuting any lawsuit, action, claim or proceeding before or in any
court, regulatory, governmental, arbitral or other authority to collect or enforce any Released Claims which are released and discharged
hereby.
Miscellaneous.
This letter shall
be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Georgia, without regard
for conflict of law provisions.
This letter contains
the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Released Claims released hereby, and the release of Claims contained in this
letter supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements or understandings (written or otherwise) with respect to such Released Claims, and
no representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, has been made by or relied upon by any party hereto, except as expressly
contained herein or in the Merger Agreement.
This letter shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the undersigned and the Released Parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assigns.
E-2
This letter may
not be modified, amended or rescinded except by the written agreement of the undersigned and the Released Parties, it being the express
understanding of the undersigned and the Released Parties that no term hereof may be waived by the action, inaction or course of delaying
by or between the undersigned or the Released Parties, except in strict accordance with this paragraph, and further that the waiver of
any breach of the terms of this letter shall not constitute or be construed as the waiver of any other breach of the terms hereof.
The undersigned
represents, warrants and covenants that the undersigned is fully aware of the undersigned’s rights to discuss any and all aspects
of this matter with any attorney chosen by him or her, and that the undersigned has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions
of this letter, and that the undersigned is voluntarily entering into this letter.
This letter shall
become effective upon the consummation of the Merger, and its operation to extinguish all of the Released Claims released hereby is not
dependent on or affected by the performance or non-performance of any future act by the undersigned or the Released Parties. If the Merger
Agreement is terminated for any reason, this letter shall be of no force or effect.
If any civil action,
arbitration or other legal proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this letter, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default
or misrepresentation in connection with any provision of this letter, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled
to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, sales and use taxes and all reasonable expenses even if not taxable as court
costs (including, without limitation, all such fees, taxes, costs and expenses incident to arbitration, appellate, bankruptcy and post-judgment
proceedings), incurred in that proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may be entitled. Attorneys’
fees shall include, without limitation, paralegal fees, investigative fees, administrative costs, sales and use taxes and all other reasonable
charges billed by the attorney to the prevailing party (including any fees and costs associated with collecting such amounts).
Each party acknowledges
and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this letter is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore
each such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation
directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this letter, or the transactions contemplated by this letter. Each party certifies
and acknowledges that (i) no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other
party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (ii) each party understands and has considered the
implications of this waiver, (iii) each party makes this waiver voluntarily and (iv) each party has been induced to enter into this letter
by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section.
E-3
Any civil action,
counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this letter shall be brought in the courts of record of the State
of Georgia in Ben Hill County or the United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia. Each party consents to the jurisdiction
of such Georgia court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue
of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Georgia court. Service of any court paper may be effected on
such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable laws, rules of procedure or
local rules.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
E-4
Sincerely,
_______________________________
Signature of Director
_______________________________
Printed Name of Director
[Signature Page – Claims Letter]
On behalf of Colony Bankcorp,
Inc., I hereby acknowledge receipt of this letter as of this [24th] day of [June] 2026.
COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
By:
___________________________
T. Heath Fountain
Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page – Claims Letter]
EX-99.1 — EXHIBIT 99.1
EX-99.1
Filename: tm2618469d1_ex99-1.htm · Sequence: 3
Exhibit 99.1
COLONY BANKCORP,
INC. AND FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC. SIGN DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIONAL SOUTHEAST BANKING
PARTNERSHIP
FITZGERALD, GA. and FLORENCE, SC (June 24, 2026)
- Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (NYSE: CBAN) (“Colony” or the “Company”), the holding company for Colony Bank, and First
Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: FSRL) (“First Reliance”), the holding company for First Reliance Bank, today jointly announced
the signing of a definitive merger agreement in which Colony has agreed to acquire 100% of the stock of First Reliance in a combined stock-and-cash
transaction valued at approximately $163 million (the “Merger”). This strategic combination will create a transformational
partnership, significantly expanding the combined institution’s footprint across premier, high-growth markets in Alabama, Florida,
Georgia and South Carolina.
“This partnership represents a truly transformational
milestone for both Colony and First Reliance,” said Heath Fountain, Colony’s Chief Executive Officer. “By uniting our
teams, we are creating a premier Southeast banking franchise that is uniquely positioned to capture market share in some of the most dynamic
economies in the country. First Reliance shares our passion for community banking, and together, we will have the scale, talent, and resources
to better serve our customers and communities.”
Rick Saunders, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
of First Reliance, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Colony in a move that accelerates our strategic growth plans. This
partnership allows us to preserve our cherished culture while gaining the operational scale required to compete at the highest level.
Our customers will enjoy access to broader banking capabilities and enhanced technology, while our employees will benefit from being part
of a larger, dynamic organization with expanded career opportunities.”
Key leadership appointments following the Merger
include Rick Saunders, who will join Colony as Executive Vice Chairman, board member, and member of the executive team. Justin Strickland,
currently President of First Reliance, will become Colony’s President for South Carolina and Robert Haile, First Reliance’s
Chief Financial Officer, will serve as Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer. Additionally, Brook Moore, First Reliance’s Chief
Credit Officer will become Colony’s Credit Officer for South Carolina and Chuck Stuart, current President of the First Reliance
Mortgage Division, will join as Co-President of Colony Mortgage.
Strengthening the governance of the combined company,
First Reliance director Rick Redden will join the Colony Board of Directors, while First Reliance Chairman Dr. Dale Lusk will maintain
an active advisory role with formal board observation rights.
Following the closing of the merger, First Reliance
locations in South Carolina will continue operating under the First Reliance brand. Customers of both organizations will continue to receive
the same industry-leading service both institutions are recognized for delivering.
Under the terms of the agreement, each First Reliance
shareholder will have the right to elect to receive either $19.75 in cash or 0.94 of a share of Colony’s common stock in exchange
for each share of First Reliance common stock, subject to customary proration and allocation procedures such that approximately 20% of
First Reliance common stock will be converted to cash consideration and the remaining 80% will be converted to Colony common stock. The
combined organization will have approximately $5 billion in total assets, $4.0 billion in total deposits, and $3.2 billion in loans, making
it one of the leading community banks in the Southeast. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Colony’s earnings
per share, excluding one- time merger-related expenses, and will enhance Colony’s key performance ratios.
The boards of directors of both Colony and First
Reliance have unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in fourth quarter 2026, subject to regulatory approvals,
shareholder approval, and other customary closing conditions.
A conference call with analysts will
be held at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and using the
Conference ID: 3962081. A replay of the call will be available until Thursday, July 2, 2026, by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and entering the
passcode 3962081#. An investor presentation will be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.colony.bank.
Advisors
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods A Stifel Company
served as financial advisor and Alston & Bird, LLP served as legal counsel to Colony. Hovde Group, LLC served as financial advisor
to First Reliance and Ward and Smith, P.A. served as its legal advisor.
About Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
Colony Bankcorp,
Inc. is the bank holding company for Colony Bank. Founded in Fitzgerald, Georgia in 1975, Colony operates locations throughout Georgia
as well as in Birmingham, Alabama; Tallahassee, Florida; and the Florida Panhandle. Colony Bank offers a range of banking solutions for
personal and business customers. In addition to traditional banking services, Colony provides specialized solutions that include mortgage
lending, government guaranteed lending, consumer insurance, wealth management, credit cards and merchant services. Colony’s common
stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CBAN.” For more information, please
visit www.colony.bank. You can also follow the Company on social media.
About First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.
Founded in 1999
to provide a better banking experience and improve the lives of our clients, associates, and communities, First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.
(OTCQX: FSRL) is headquartered in Florence, South Carolina, with $1.1 billion in assets. First Reliance provides a comprehensive range
of consumer and business banking services, prioritizing superior customer service as the cornerstone of First Reliance.
For more information on First Reliance Bank, visit www.firstreliance.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In general, forward-looking statements usually use
words such as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,”
“should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue” and “potential”
or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, including statements related to the expected timing of the closing of
the Merger, the expected returns and other benefits of the Merger, to shareholders, expected improvement in operating efficiency resulting
from the Merger, estimated expense reductions resulting from the transactions and the timing of achievement of such reductions, the impact
on and timing of the recovery of the impact on tangible book value, and the effect of the Merger on the Company's capital ratios. Forward-looking
statements represent management's beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters
addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties
that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by
such statements.
Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to (1) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue
synergies from the Merger may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption from the Merger with
customers, suppliers, employee or other business partners relationships, (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, (4) the risk of successful integration of First
Reliance’s business into the Company, (5) the failure to obtain the necessary approvals by the shareholders of First Reliance
or the Company, (6) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger, (7) the ability of the parties to
obtain required governmental approvals of the Merger on expected terms or in a timely manner, or at all, (8) reputational risk and
the reaction of each of the companies’ customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the Merger, (9) the
failure of the closing conditions in the merger agreement to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing of the Merger, (10)
the risk that the integration of First Reliance’s operations into the operations of the Company will be materially delayed or
will be more costly or difficult than expected, (11) the possibility that the Merger may be more expensive to complete than
anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (12) the dilution caused by the Company's issuance of additional
shares of its common stock in the Merger transaction, (13) the successful integration of the recently completed acquisition of TC
Bancshares, Inc., and (14) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions.
These factors are not necessarily all of the factors
that could cause the Company’s, First Reliance’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance, or achievements
to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or
unpredictable factors, also could harm the Company’s, First Reliance’s, or the combined company’s results.
The Company and First Reliance urge you to consider
all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by the Company and
/ or First Reliance. As a result of these and other matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other factors,
the actual results relating to the subject matter of any forward- looking statement may differ materially from the anticipated results
expressed or implied in that forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made in this news release or made by the Company
or First Reliance in any report, filing, document or information incorporated by reference in this news release, speaks only as of the
date on which it is made. The Company and First Reliance undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A forward-looking statement may include
a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. The Company and First Reliance believe that these assumptions
or bases have been chosen in good faith and that they are reasonable. However, the Company and First Reliance caution you that assumptions
as to future occurrences or results almost always vary from actual future occurrences or results, and the differences between assumptions
and actual occurrences and results can be material. Therefore, the Company and First Reliance caution you not to place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.
If the Company or First Reliance update one or
more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company or First Reliance will make additional updates with respect
to those or other forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Further information regarding the Company and factors which could
affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can be found in the cautionary language included under the headings “Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual
Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It
This news
release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or
approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful
prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed Merger,
the Company will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of First Reliance
and the Company and a prospectus of the Company, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. WE URGE
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S- 4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, FIRST RELIANCE AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. The joint proxy
statement/prospectus will be sent to the shareholders of First Reliance seeking the required shareholder approval. Investors and
security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement on Form S-4 and the related joint proxy
statement/prospectus, when filed, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by the Company through the web site maintained by
the SEC at www.sec.gov. Documents filed with the SEC by the Company will also be available free of charge by directing a written
request to Colony Bankcorp, Inc., 115 South Grant Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750, Attn: Derek Shelnutt and on the Company’s
website, www.colony.bank, under Investor Relations. The Company’s telephone number is (229) 426- 6000.
Participants in the Transaction
The Company, First Reliance and certain of their
respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of First
Reliance and the Company in connection with the proposed transaction. Certain information regarding the interests of these participants
and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus
regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Additional information about the Company and its directors and officers
may be found in the definitive proxy statement of the Company relating to its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on
April 16, 2026. The definitive proxy statement can be obtained free of charge from the sources described above.
For additional Colony Bankcorp Inc. information, contact:
Derek Shelnutt
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
229-426-6000 ext. 6119
For additional First Reliance Bancshares Inc. information, contact:
Robert Haile
Chief Financial Officer, SEVP
(843) 674-3251
EX-99.2 — EXHIBIT 99.2
EX-99.2
Filename: tm2618469d1_ex99-2.htm · Sequence: 4
Exhibit 99.2
Creating a Strategic Partnership for Scalable Growth June 2026
2 CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In general, forward-looking statements usually use words such as “may,”
“believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “should,”
“plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue” and “potential” or the negative
of these terms or other comparable terminology, including statements related to the expected timing of the closing of the merger (the
“Merger”) between Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (“CBAN” or “Colony”) and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (“FSRL”),
the expected returns and other benefits of the Merger to shareholders, expected improvement in operating efficiency resulting from the
Merger, estimated expense reductions resulting from the transactions and the timing of achievement of such reductions, the impact on and
timing of the recovery of the impact on tangible book value, and the effect of the Merger on CBAN’s capital ratios. Forward-looking
statements represent management's beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters
addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties
that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by
such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to (1) the risk that the cost
savings and any revenue synergies from the Merger may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption from
the Merger with customers, suppliers, employee or other business partners relationships, (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, (4) the risk of successful integration of FSRL’s
business into CBAN, (5) the failure to obtain the necessary approvals by the shareholders of FSRL or CBAN, (6) the amount of the costs,
fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger, (7) the ability of the parties to obtain required governmental approvals of the Merger
on expected terms or in a timely manner, or at all, (8) reputational risk and the reaction of each of the companies’ customers,
suppliers, employees or other business partners to the Merger, (9) the failure of the closing conditions in the merger agreement to be
satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing of the Merger, (10) the risk that the integration of FSRL’s operations into the operations
of CBAN will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected, (11) the possibility that the Merger may be more
expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (12) the dilution caused by CBAN’s
issuance of additional shares of its common stock in the Merger transaction, and (13) the successful integration of the recently completed
acquisition of TC Bancshares, Inc., (14) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions. These factors are not necessarily
all of the factors that could cause CBAN’s, FSRL’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance, or achievements
to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or
unpredictable factors, also could harm CBAN’s, FSRL’s, or the combined company’s results. CBAN and FSRL urge you to
consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by CBAN
and / or FSRL. As a result of these and other matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other factors, the
actual results relating to the subject matter of any forward- looking statement may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed
or implied in that forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made in this presentation or made by CBAN or FSRL in any report,
filing, document or information incorporated by reference in this presentation, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. CBAN and
FSRL undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments
or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying
the forward-looking statement. CBAN and FSRL believe that these assumptions or bases have been chosen in good faith and that they are
reasonable. However, CBAN and FSRL caution you that assumptions as to future occurrences or results almost always vary from actual future
occurrences or results, and the differences between assumptions and actual occurrences and results can be material. Therefore, CBAN and
FSRL caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation or incorporated by reference
herein. If CBAN or FSRL update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that CBAN or FSRL will make additional
updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Further information regarding CBAN and factors
which could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can be found in the cautionary language included under the headings
“Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in
CBAN’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other documents subsequently filed by CBAN with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
3 CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It This presentation does not constitute an offer to
sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the proposed Merger, CBAN will file with the SEC a registration statement
on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of FSRL and CBAN and a prospectus of CBAN, as well as other relevant documents concerning
the proposed transaction. WE URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE
PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CBAN, FSRL AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. The joint proxy statement/prospectus
will be sent to the shareholders of FSRL seeking the required shareholder approval. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain
free copies of the registration statement on Form S-4 and the related joint proxy statement/prospectus, when filed, as well as other documents
filed with the SEC by CBAN through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Documents filed with the SEC by CBAN will also be
available free of charge by directing a written request to Colony Bankcorp, Inc., 115 South Grant Street, Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750, Attn:
Derek Shelnutt and on CBAN’s website, www.colony.bank, under Investor Relations. CBAN’s telephone number is (229) 426-6000.
Participants in the Transaction CBAN, FSRL and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of FSRL and CBAN in connection with the proposed transaction. Certain information
regarding the interests of these participants and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise,
will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Additional information
about CBAN and its directors and officers may be found in the definitive proxy statement of CBAN relating to its 2026 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders filed with the SEC on April 16, 2026. The definitive proxy statement can be obtained free of charge from the sources described
above.
4 TRANSACTION RATIONALE PRO FORMA IMPACT ~20% 2027 EPS Accretion ~12% TBVPS Dilution <3.5 Years TBVPS Earnback ~11% CET1 Ratio at Closing
FINANCIALLY ATTRACTIVE ~20% earnings accretion with fully realized cost savings Manageable tangible book value dilution, earned back in
under 3.5 years Strong pro forma capital position Enhanced profitability vs. peers POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE Proven M&A integration
track record (3 completed deals in the last 7 years) Scale to compete – creates the largest bank sub $10B headquartered in SC or
GA Compelling for shareholders, employees, customers and communities ~$5.0bn+ Pro forma assets across 4 states (1) Assumes 100% realization
of cost savings (1) STRATEGIC FIT Expands franchise into highly attractive South Carolina Markets o Meaningful presence in South Carolina’s
4 largest markets Combines two granular balance sheets with deep ties to local, familiar markets Delivers complementary, seasoned business
lines to both customer bases Improves funding and operating profile with a quality deposit franchise Highly aligned cultures and market
strategies
5 FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS $1.1bn Assets $929mm Deposits $808mm Net Loans 1.18% Core ROAA 3.77% NIM 13.7%
Core ROATCE Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence Data as of or for the three months ended 3/31/26; Deposit and demographics data
as of 6/30/25 (1) Community banks defined as banks with less than $10bn in assets 94% Core Deposits 86% Loans / Deposits 26.6% NIB Deposits
/ Deposits FSRL Branch (10) <0% Growth 0% - 5% Growth 5% - 10% Growth >10% Growth SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia Greenville Charleston
Myrtle Beach Florence 5 BRANCH FOOTPRINT 2026 – 2031 PROJECTED Deposits by MSA POPULATION GROWTH BY COUNTY MSA Branches Deposits
($ Millions) % of Franchise Community Bank Rank Market Share Florence 2 $390 41.0% 3 9.11% Columbia 3 268 28.1 5 1.00 Charleston 2 179
18.8 8 0.77 Greenville 2 93 9.8 11 0.36 Myrtle Beach 1 22 2.3 7 0.18 • Headquartered in Florence, SC o 10 Branches • Founded
in 1999 – cycle tested • Experienced management o CEO: Rick Saunders o CFO: Robert Haile o President: Justin Strickland •
Operates in 5 of the top 7 MSAs in South Carolina by population • Core bank and seasoned mortgage platform
6 15.5% 14.3% 13.3% 11.9% 11.0% 11.3% Myrtle Beach MSA Greenville MSA Charleston MSA Columbia MSA Florence MSA U.S. DYNAMIC MARKETS CHARLESTON
MARKET DEPOSITS ~$23bn | POPULATION 893,430 • Strong tourism, retail, and industrial base • Top 10 busiest U.S. port per BTS
• Top 50 MSA in U.S. for projected population growth in next 5 years COLUMBIA MARKET DEPOSITS ~$27bn | POPULATION 882,398 •
State capital and home to University of South Carolina and Fort Jackson • Stable economy provides low historical unemployment levels
per BLS Proj. HHI Change (2026-2031) Proj. Population Change (2026-2031) 11.6% 7.5% 6.6% 4.8% 0.9% 2.6% Myrtle Beach MSA Charleston MSA
Greenville MSA Columbia MSA Florence MSA U.S. Legacy FSRL Legacy CBAN Pro Forma 2x population growth vs. national avg. last three years
4x population growth vs. national avg. next three years 40% higher GDP growth vs. national avg. last three years SOUTH CAROLINA MARKET
HIGHLIGHTS MARKET DEPOSITS ~$12bn | POPULATION 434,265 MYRTLE BEACH • Top 3 MSA in U.S. for projected population growth next 5 years
• Top 30 MSA in U.S. for projected HHI growth in next 5 years FLORENCE MARKET DEPOSITS ~$4bn | POPULATION 200,334 • FSRL headquarters
• Regional commercial hub of northeast SC • Strategically located at the I-95/I-20 crossroads GREENVILLE MARKET DEPOSITS ~$26bn
| POPULATION 1,018,490 • Top SC MSA by population • Top U.S. city for business per Business Insider • Deep university talent
pipeline (Clemson, Furman, USC) 91% of counties growing in population, ranking 4th among other states(1) Source: S&P Global Market
Intelligence; Deposit and demographic data as of 6/30/25 Note: FSRL and CBAN demographic data deposit weighted by county (1) Per U.S.
Census Bureau
7 BETTER TOGETHER Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence; Data as of or for the three months ended 3/31/26; Bank level data used if
holding company data unavailable Note: Peers include 285 nationwide public banks with total assets between $1bn and $10bn; excludes merger
targets and mutual holding companies; excludes peers without estimates Note: Core deposits defined as total deposits less time deposits
greater than $250,000 (1) U.S. National averages (2) Pro Forma profitability shown for 2027E; Assumes 100% realization of cost savings
(3) Excludes purchase accounting adjustments (4) Pro forma capital shown at transaction close PRO FORMA PEER MEDIAN MARKETS & DEMOGRAPHICS
Projected Population Growth 1.3% 3.9% 1.9% 2.6% Projected Household Income Growth 9.6% 12.0% 10.2% 11.3% PROFITABILITY Core ROAA 1.04%
1.18% 1.35% 1.15% Net Interest Margin 3.48% 3.77% 3.69% 3.62% Non Interest Income / Avg Assets 1.16% 1.28% 1.18% 0.59% Non Interest Income
/ Operating Revenue 26.8% 26.9% 26.8% 14.6% Efficiency Ratio 63.9% 64.8% 56.0% 60.6% DEPOSITS Cost of Deposits 1.69% 1.70% 1.71% 1.79%
Non-Interest Bearing Deposits / Total Deposits 16% 27% 19% 22% Core Deposits 92% 94% 93% 93% ASSET QUALITY NPAs / Assets 0.47% 0.14% 0.36%
0.48% Net Charge Offs / Avg Loans 0.28% 0.00% 0.21% 0.04% CAPITAL Total Risk Based Capital Ratio 15.0% 14.2% 13.6% 14.6% CRE Concentration
Ratio 261% 196% 267% 227% (1) (1) (3) (3) (2) (2) (2) (4) (4)
8 C&D 11% 1-4 Family 25% Multifamily 4% Owner- Occupied CRE 19% Non Owner- Occupied CRE 29% C&I 8% Consumer & Other 6% C&D
13% 1-4 Family 20% Multifamily 4% Owner- Occupied CRE 18% Non Owner- Occupied CRE 30% C&I 8% Consumer & Other 7% C&D 5% 1-4
Family 37% Multifamily 1% Owner- Occupied CRE 21% Non Owner- Occupied CRE 26% C&I 9% Consumer & Other 1% PRO FORMA LOAN &
DEPOSIT COMPOSITION Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence; Data as of or for the three months ended 3/31/26 Note: Jumbo time deposits
defined as time deposits greater than $250,000 Note: FSRL loan portfolio data per bank level regulatory filings; All other financials
per holding company reports (1) Pro forma loan yield and cost of deposits inclusive of purchase accounting adjustments Pro Forma $2.4bn
MRQ Loan Yield: 6.28% $0.8bn MRQ Loan Yield: 5.77% $3.2bn MRQ Loan Yield(1): 6.36% Demand Deposits 17% NOW Accounts 30% Money Market &
Savings 26% Retail Time Deposits 19% Jumbo Time Deposits 8% $3.1bn MRQ Cost of Deposits: 1.69% Demand Deposits 27% NOW Accounts Money
10% Market & Savings 46% Retail Time Deposits 11% Jumbo Time Deposits 6% $0.9bn MRQ Cost of Deposits: 1.70% Demand Deposits 22% NOW
Accounts Money 23% Market & Savings 31% Retail Time Deposits 17% Jumbo Time Deposits 7% $4.0bn MRQ Cost of Deposits(1): 1.71% Deposit
Composition Loan Composition
9 DIFFERENTIATED LOW-COST DEPOSIT BASES Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence; Data as of or for the three months ended each respective
quarter Note: Data from Q4 ’19 to Q1 ‘26 Note: Peers include 285 nationwide public banks with total assets between $1bn and
$10bn; excludes merger targets and mutual holding companies; excludes peers without estimates 0.00% 0.50% 1.00% 1.50% 2.00% 2.50% 3.00%
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 CBAN FSRL PEER MEDIAN 1.79% 1.70% 1.69% COST OF DEPOSITS BY QUARTER SINCE 12/31/19
10 COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESS MODELS COMBINED Commercial Banking Retail Banking Insurance Mortgage Banking Wealth Management Small Business
Specialty Lending Marine/RV Lending PRODUCT OFFERINGS Source: Internal company reports and public disclosures Note: Yellow checkmark indicates
outsourced product offering Credit Cards Merchant Services
11 TRANSACTION SUMMARY Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence; FactSet Financial data as of 3/31/26; Market data as of 6/22/26 (1)
Based on CBAN’s stock price of $20.71 on June 22, 2026. Assumes 7,896,292 shares outstanding, plus 321,465 RSUs and 51,132 preferred
shares converted; assumes 100,000 options are cashed out at a weighted-average strike price of $7.27 (subject to the per share cash consideration
price of $19.75) (2) Core deposit premium equal to diluted deal value less target’s tangible common equity as a percentage of core
deposits; Core deposits defined as total deposits less deposits greater than $100,000 Structure & Consideration Transaction Value
and Multiples (1) Approvals and Timing Board Representation and Management • First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. to merge with and into
Colony Bankcorp, Inc. at closing • Consideration mix: 80% stock | 20% cash • 0.94 CBAN shares per FSRL share or $19.75 per share
in cash • Implied ownership: 77% CBAN / 23% FSRL • Implied Aggregate Transaction Value: $163mm • Indicative price per share:
$19.52 per FSRL share • Price / Tangible Book Value per Share: 162% • Price / 2027E Earnings: 11.7x • Price / 2027E Earnings
+ Cost Saves: 6.8x • Core Deposit Premium (2): 8.5% • Rick Saunders, FSRL CEO, to serve as Executive Vice Chairman of CBAN •
Rick Redden, FSRL Director, will join the CBAN Board of Directors • Dr. Dale Lusk, FSRL Chairman, will maintain an active advisory
role with formal board observation rights • Robert Haile, FSRL Chief Financial Officer, will serve as Chief Investment Officer and
Treasurer • Justin Strickland, FSRL President, will serve as President for South Carolina • Brook Moore, FSRL Chief Credit Officer
will serve as Credit Officer for South Carolina • Chuck Stuart, President of FSRL Mortgage, will serve as Co-President of Colony
Mortgage • No material overlap providing continuity of roles for key employees and producers • Anticipated closing in Q4 2026
• Voting agreements in place with directors and executive officers • Subject to customary regulatory approval and shareholder
approval of CBAN and FSRL
12 KEY FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS Earnings Projections •• CBAN: Street consensus earnings for 2026E and 2027E FSRL: Street consensus
earnings for 2026E and 2027E Cost Savings and Synergies • Cost savings of approximately 35% of FSRL’s projected 2028 non-interest
expense of $37.6mm o Phased in 60% in 2027 and 100% thereafter • Revenue synergies identified but not modeled Credit Assumptions
• Total gross credit mark of $9.0mm pre-tax, or 1.05% of FSRL’s loan portfolio o Utilizes early adoption of FASB’s new
standard for purchased assets, eliminating non-PCD credit mark and related “double count” Other Purchase Accounting Adjustments
• Loan rate related write-down of $21.9mm accreted into earnings over time • Assumes AOCI of ($5.1mm) is accreted into earnings
over time • Subordinated debt write-down of $0.7mm amortized into earnings over time • Trust preferred write-down of $1.0mm
amortized into earnings over time • Fixed asset write-up of $9.0mm amortized into earnings over time • Mortgage Service Rights
write-up of $1.4mm amortized into earnings over time • Time deposit write-down of $0.5mm amortized into earnings over time •
Core deposit intangible assumed to be 2.5% of FSRL’s core deposits, amortized over 10-years (sum- of-the-years-digits) Other Assumptions
• Pre-tax merger expenses of $16.0mm; fully recognized in TBV at close • Marginal tax rate: 21%
13 1.15% 1.35% (1) 17.6% (1) 13.0% PRO FORMA FINANCIAL IMPACT Note: Pro forma peers include select major exchange traded banks headquartered
in AL, AR, FL, KY, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and VA with total assets between $3.0 and $10.0 billion as of the most recent quarter reported;
Excludes merger targets and banks without consensus analyst estimates (1) Assumes 100% realization of cost savings 2027E ROAA VS. SOUTHEAST
BANKS $3-10B IN TOTAL ASSETS 2027E ROATCE VS. SOUTHEAST BANKS $3-10B IN TOTAL ASSETS 2027E EFFICIENCY RATIO VS. SOUTHEAST BANKS $3-10B
IN TOTAL ASSETS 56.0% (1) 62.6% Standalone Pro Forma FINANCIAL IMPACT AT CLOSE 2027 EPS Accretion ~20% TBV Dilution ~12% Earnback <3.5yrs
CET1 Ratio ~11% TRBC Ratio ~14% CRE Conc. ~270% Leverage Ratio ~9% C&D Conc. ~70% (1)
14 COMPREHENSIVE DUE DILIGENCE • Comprehensive, management-driven diligence process with support from external legal, audit, and
advisory professionals • Performed detailed credit and operational analysis that supports long term integration and identifies meaningful
synergy opportunities • 1,000+ files reviewed through two rounds of due diligence DILIGENCE FOCUS AREAS SCOPE OF LOAN REVIEW Completed
a comprehensive credit review conducted by management and third-party advisor, including: • Detailed review of loan portfolio, credit
philosophy, and underwriting practices • 53.3% of loan portfolio was reviewed • 65.1% of non-mortgage loans reviewed •
72.6% of loans reviewed internally; 27.4% reviewed by a third party • 79.3% of permanent CRE and multifamily loans reviewed •
77.0% of all CRE reviewed • Reviewed all non-mortgage loans over $725,000 REVENUE GENERATING Lending Activities Investment Portfolio
Deposit Information Mortgage Banking Other Borrowings Branch & Facilities OPERATIONAL & RISK Corporate Organization Financial
Accounting Legal & Regulatory Operations & Technology Data Processing & Contracts Litigation HR & Benefits Tax Insurance
Source: Internal due diligence files and third-party loan review reports
15 Georgia 71% Florida 5% South Carolina 24% OUR COMBINED COMPANY Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence Note: Deposit data as of
6/30/25 ALABAMA FLORIDA GEORGIA SOUTH CAROLINA Birmingham Atlanta Athens Macon Albany Thomasville Tallahassee Jacksonville Santa Rosa
Beach Savannah Augusta Columbia Greenville Charleston Myrtle Beach CBAN Offices (53) FSRL Branch (10) Florence DEPOSITS BY STATE PRO FORMA
HIGHLIGHTS Total Assets ~$5bn Gross Loans ~$3bn Total Deposits ~$4bn Loans / Deposits ~80% Expanded complementary business lines to each
customer base Diversified geographic footprint in growth markets Enhanced scale enables investments to better manage risk and serve customers
Shared vision, cultural foundation, and commitment to customers and employees Well positioned for the future Valdosta Columbus
16 EPS ACCRETION RECONCILIATION Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence and FactSet (1) Other adjustments include opportunity cost
of cash, mortgage servicing rights amortization, and fixed asset mark amortization Dollars in millions, excluding per share data 2027E
CBAN Financial Earnings (Mean Consensus Estimates GAAP) $44 FSRL Financial Earnings (Mean Consensus Estimates GAAP) 14 Combined Earnings
$58 Cost Savings (Fully Phased-In) $10 Accretion of Interest Rate Marks 5 Core Deposit Amortization (3) Other Adjustments (1) (2) Pro
Forma Earnings $68 Standalone Avg. Diluted Shares Outstanding (Millions) 21 Standalone EPS $2.12 Pro Forma Avg. Diluted Shares Outstanding
(Millions) 27 Pro Forma EPS $2.52 EPS Accretion ($) $0.40 EPS Accretion (%) ~20%
17 TBV DILUTION RECONCILIATION Millions $ Millions of Shares $ Per Share CBAN Tangible Book Value at Close (12/31/26) $ 335 21 $15.85
Equity Consideration to FSRL 129 6 Core Deposit Intangible (19) Goodwill Created (56) Transaction Cost Attributable to CBAN (6) Pro Forma
Tangible Book Value $ 383 27 $13.98 CBAN Tangible Book Value Per Share Dilution ($) ($1.88) CBAN Tangible Book Value Per Share Dilution
(%) (12%) TBVPS Earnback (Years) < 3.5 $ Millions Aggregate Transaction Value $163 FSRL Common Equity at Close (12/31/26) 105 (Less)
Transaction Cost Attributable to FSRL (6) (Less) FSRL Intangibles (1) Adjusted FSRL Tangible Common Equity $98 Net Credit Mark 1 Rate
Marks (9) Core Deposit Intangible 19 Net Deferred Tax Assets / (Liability) Created (2) Net Adjustments $9 Goodwill Created $56
EX-99.3 — EXHIBIT 99.3
EX-99.3
Filename: tm2618469d1_ex99-3.htm · Sequence: 5
Exhibit 99.3
Dear First Reliance Bank Team,
On June 24th, we shared the exciting news that First Reliance Bank
is expected to join Colony Bank through a planned strategic partnership. On behalf of our entire team, welcome. This is a significant
step for both of our organizations, and we couldn’t be more excited to begin this next chapter together.
From our earliest conversations, it was clear that First Reliance Bank
and Colony Bank share a lot in common, especially in how we care about our people, serve our customers and support our communities. First
Reliance has built a strong reputation and legacy for fostering a strong culture and team environment, putting customers first, being
a trusted community partner, and continuously looking for ways to grow and improve. That’s something we deeply respect, and it’s
a big reason this partnership felt like such a natural fit from the beginning.
Both of our organizations were founded with the goal of Making Lives
Better. That belief has shaped the relationships we've built, the communities we've served, and the way we've cared for our customers
and team members over the years.
At Colony Bank, our purpose has long been to enable progress. As we
discussed the future of our organizations, it was clear that our purpose and First Reliance Bank's founding vision were closely aligned.
That common foundation is why we're excited to bring our organizations together under a shared purpose: To Enable Progress for Better
Lives.
That purpose also reflects something we both believe deeply: There's
More to Banking Than Money. It's about creating opportunities for people to grow and succeed, helping customers achieve their goals, supporting
local businesses and nonprofits, and strengthening communities.
As we look ahead, we're excited about the opportunities this partnership
creates for each of you, our customers, and the communities we serve. We're also committed to bringing our cultures together in a way
that honors the legacy of both organizations.
As with any partnership of this nature, the transaction remains subject
to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. We anticipate the completion of our partnership in the fourth quarter of 2026,
and the system conversion to happen in the second quarter of 2027. The First Reliance name you trust isn’t going anywhere. You will
continue to see the First Reliance name proudly displayed, seamlessly paired alongside the Colony Bank brand.
Over the coming weeks and months, we'll communicate clearly and provide
the information and support you need along the way. This guide is intended to help answer some of those early questions and give you a
better understanding of what to expect moving forward.
We're grateful for the opportunity to partner with you, and we're excited
to welcome you to Colony Bank.
With great enthusiasm,
T. Heath Fountain
Rick Saunders
CEO, Colony Bank
Founder and CEO, First Reliance Bank
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
Q: Who is Colony Bank?
A: Colony Bank is a community bank
headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with locations across Georgia, as well as in Birmingham, Alabama, and across North Florida, including
Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and the Florida Panhandle. Since 1975, we’ve been committed to building strong relationships, supporting
the communities we serve, and delivering solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations.
Our purpose is to enable progress for our
customers, team members, communities, and shareholders. We believe in creating a culture where people are coachable, take ownership, and
lead with a selfless mindset.
Q: How is this partnership going to strengthen our
two teams?
A: This partnership came together
for all the right reasons. From the beginning, it was clear that First Reliance Bank and Colony Bank share similar values and a common
approach to serving customers, supporting communities, and leading our teams. Both organizations believe in taking care of people, supporting
local communities, and creating a strong culture for team members.
We know that sometimes progress is best
made with a partner who understands you and shares your commitments. By bringing our companies together, we are building a sustainable,
profitable bank that can support the continued growth of our customers and communities.
This whole partnership reflects that there’s
more to banking than money. By being Coachable, Selfless, and taking Ownership, we build the Trust and deliver the Results that put Customers
First. Our commitment to being Prompt, Simple, and Collaborative is how we ensure a Responsive, Accurate, and Courteous experience every
day. Together, we Enable Progress for Better Lives.
Q: What does this mean for me as a team member?
A: For now, it’s business as
usual. Both banks will continue to operate independently until the partnership is approved and finalized. Once that happens, we’ll
begin a careful and thoughtful integration process, with plenty of communication along the way. As we move through the transition, our
goal is to keep you informed and supported to ensure this is a smooth process for you and the First Reliance Bank customer base.
Q: Will my pay or benefits change?
A: There are no immediate changes.
Both HR teams are working together to review benefits and compensation with team member well-being at the center of the review process.
However, we’re excited to share that this partnership will introduce several enhanced benefits and wealth-building opportunities
for the First Reliance team, including a competitive 401(k) match, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 15% discount, a $50 contribution
into the High Deductible Plan per paycheck, and lower medical insurance costs for dependents. As final decisions are made, we’ll
communicate clearly and ensure you have plenty of time to understand the updates moving forward.
Q: Will there be job changes or layoffs?
A: We expect most team members to
continue in their current roles. In any partnership of this nature, there may be some overlapping responsibilities that require adjustments,
but we’ll approach those with care and communicate clearly. We’re also growing, which means there will be new opportunities
to explore as our combined organization continues to evolve. We’re committed to supporting team members every step of the way.
Q: What should I say to customers who ask about
the partnership?
A: Let them know they’ll still
see the same familiar faces and receive the same great service, with even more to look forward to such as more locations, a wider range
of products and services for businesses and individuals, an expanded network of ATMs, and more. We’ve also created a list of customer
FAQs to help you guide some of these conversations. If you’re unsure how to answer a question, it’s okay to let the customer
know we’re working through the transition and more information will be coming soon.
Q: When will First Reliance Bank become a part of
Colony Bank?
A: Pending regulatory approval and
closing conditions, we expect the partnership to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2026. Once complete, First Reliance Bank will legally
become part of Colony Bank. System conversion is planned for the second quarter of 2027. At that time, we expect to co-brand both First
Reliance and Colony Bank to our customers. Until then, it’s business as usual. You’ll continue to serve customers and operate
under your current systems and brand. We’ll provide regular updates throughout the process to help you prepare for each step.
Q: What does “co-branding” mean and
why are we doing it?
A: Co-branding further demonstrates
the commitment to our partnership in the communities we serve across South Carolina. Over the coming months, we will feature both logos
side by side on First Reliance materials to show our alignment and help customers get used to seeing Colony Bank. There are no immediate
changes to branch signage, locations, or day-to-day operations at this time. It simply serves as a visible reflection of our shared purpose
as we build our future together.
Q: How are customers being notified about the partnership?
A: Customers will receive official
communications through letters, emails, our website, and other digital channels. These messages will be timed carefully to provide helpful
information as it becomes relevant. We’ll keep them fully updated and supported throughout the process.
Q: How will this impact customers? What differences
will they see?
A: Nothing will change immediately.
As we approach the system conversion, we’ll share updates with customers about any changes to accounts, statements, or services.
For now, they should continue banking just as they always have with the team they trust.
Q: How should I answer the phone?
A: Keep answering
the phone the same way you always have. There are no changes to your day-to-day operations or your branch branding at this time.
Q: Do I need to update my email signature right
now?
A: No, there’s
no need to update your email signature at this time. Please continue using your current signature and branding. We’ll provide guidance
and materials when it’s time to make updates. For now, it’s business as usual.
Q: Who should I contact if I have HR-related questions
about the process?
A: For now, continue reaching out
to your current HR contact or manager. As the transition progresses, you’ll be introduced to Colony Bank’s HR team, including
our Chief People Officer, Lance Whitley. We’ll make sure you know where to go for support throughout the process.
Q: What happens to my sick, vacation, and other
benefits I currently enjoy through First Reliance Bank?
A: Colony Bank and First Reliance
Bank’s Human Resources teams are currently assessing all benefits and will share with you all transition details and how they may
impact your current benefits, if any, during the on-boarding meetings that will occur over the next few months. As decisions are made,
any changes will be communicated to you.
Q: Will our culture change?
A: During initial conversations between
Heath Fountain, Colony Bank’s CEO, and Rick Saunders, First Reliance Bank’s Founder and CEO, one of the first and most important
conversations discussed was about culture. We knew that for this to work, it had to feel right, not just on paper, but in how we operate
day to day.
Both First Reliance Bank and Colony Bank
share a deep commitment to relationships, service, and community. This partnership reflects our belief that there’s more to banking
than money. As we come together, we are committed to enabling progress to make lives better — for our customers, team members, communities,
and shareholders.
Q: Will we be moving to Colony Bank's systems and
how will training work?
A: As part of the partnership, we
will eventually transition to one system and technology platform. While system conversion is currently anticipated to take place in 2027,
there are no immediate changes to the systems you use today.
As we move closer to conversion, you'll
receive detailed training, resources, and support to help you prepare. Colony Bank has a dedicated Learning & Development team that
will lead and coordinate training efforts, ensuring you have the knowledge, tools, and hands-on experience needed to feel comfortable
and confident before any changes take place.
Q: What should I do if someone from the media calls
to ask questions about the announcement?
A: Please direct all news media and investor
relations concerns to the following. For media inquiries out of South Carolina, please direct those to Rick Saunders:
- Derek Shelnutt, Investor Relations, Colony Bank: 229-426-6000, ext. 6119
- Brantley Collins, Media Inquiries, Colony Bank: 229-426-6000, ext. 6154
- Christi Rubio, Media Inquiries, Colony Bank: 229-426-6000, ext. 6160
- Laurie Senn, Media Inquiries, Colony Bank: 229-426-6000, ext 6009
- Rick Saunders, South Carolina Media Inquiries, First Reliance Bank: 843-319-2324 | rsaunders@firstreliance.com
QUESTIONS CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE
Q: What does this announcement mean for me as a
customer?
A: The most important thing to know
is that your banking relationship isn't changing today. You'll continue working with the same people you know and trust, visiting the
same locations, and banking the way you always have. Over time, this partnership will allow us to bring you additional resources, expanded
capabilities, and new banking solutions while continuing to provide the personal service you've come to expect.
Q: When will First Reliance Bank become Colony Bank?
A: For now, it's business as usual.
You'll continue banking with the same team, at the same locations, and using the same accounts and services you do today. Pending regulatory
approval, we anticipate the legal partnership being completed in the fourth quarter of 2026 with the system integration in the second
quarter of 2027. As we move closer to 2027, we'll begin sharing information about upcoming changes and enhancements, including new tools,
services, and banking experiences available through Colony Bank. We'll communicate well in advance and provide the support and resources
you need every step of the way.
Q: Why is First Reliance Bank joining Colony Bank?
A: This partnership brings together
two community banks that share many of the same values. Both First Reliance Bank and Colony Bank believe in local relationships, personal
service, and doing what’s best for the customers and communities we serve. We both believe that there’s more to banking than
money; it's about enabling progress to make lives better. By joining together, we'll have more resources and capabilities to help our
customers while staying true to the community banking approach that defines both organizations. You’ll continue to work with the
same friendly team you know and trust.
Q: What are the benefits of this partnership for
customers?
A: Over time, customers will gain
access to additional banking solutions, expanded lending capabilities, enhanced digital banking tools, more locations, and a broader network
of financial professionals. Most importantly, you'll continue receiving the relationship-focused service that has always been the foundation
of both organizations.
Q: Can I still go to my regular branch and work
with my usual banker?
A: Yes. The team that knows you,
your family, and your business will continue to be an important part of your banking experience. Preserving those trusted relationships
is a key reason this partnership came together, and we're committed to maintaining the personal service and local connections you've come
to rely on.
Q: How and when will information be communicated
to First Reliance customers?
A: We understand how important clear
communication is during a transition like this, especially when it relates to your banking. You can count on hearing from us often, and
well in advance of any changes. We'll share updates through mail, email, and on the Colony Bank and First Reliance Bank websites, so you
know what’s happening and when. Additionally, you'll receive a detailed Customer Welcome Guide closer to the conversion date, which
will clearly outline any changes and answer your questions. Our goal is to make this transition easy and worry-free for you.
Q: Who should I call for questions about my account?
A: Please continue contacting your
local First Reliance branch or banker just as you always have. The team you know and trust remains your best resource, and we're here
to help answer any questions you may have throughout the partnership process.
Q: Can I use locations or services at Colony Bank
at this time?
A: Not yet. Until the partnership
is complete, both banks will continue operating independently. For now, please continue using your current branches, accounts, online
banking, debit cards, and customer service contacts. We'll let you know when additional locations and services become available to you.
Q: Will I need to do anything with my accounts?
A: No action is needed from you at
this time. Continue banking as you normally would. If any updates are needed in the future, we'll communicate well in advance and provide
clear, step-by-step guidance to make the process as easy as possible.
Q: Will my account number or debit card change?
A: Not at this time. You can continue
using your account number, debit card, and banking services as you do today. If any updates are needed in the future, we'll provide plenty
of notice, explain exactly what to expect, and make the transition as simple as possible. For now, there's nothing you need to do.
Q: Will my business accounts change?
A: No. Your business accounts, banker,
and day-to-day banking experience will remain the same for now. Over time, you'll gain access to additional business banking resources
and specialized solutions. You'll continue receiving the personalized service you expect, backed by additional resources to support your
business.
Q: Will my automatic payments or direct deposits
be affected?
A: Not at this time. Everything will
continue to process as usual. If anything changes in the future, we’ll walk you through how to update your information, if needed.
Q: Will my loan be affected?
A: No. Your loan terms and payment
schedule will stay the same. You’ll continue making payments just like you always have.
Q: Will fees or rates change as a result of the
merger?
A: Not immediately. If any updates
are made to account features, rates, or fees as part of the transition, we’ll notify you ahead of time and provide a clear breakdown
of any changes.
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dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Name of the City or Town
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Code for the postal or zip code
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Name of the state or province.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:stateOrProvinceItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityFileNumber
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:fileNumberItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2
+ Details
Name:
dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:employerIdItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Local phone number for entity.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_LocalPhoneNumber
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 13e
-Subsection 4c
+ Details
Name:
dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14d
-Subsection 2b
+ Details
Name:
dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Title of a 12(b) registered security.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b
+ Details
Name:
dei_Security12bTitle
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:securityTitleItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1
+ Details
Name:
dei_SecurityExchangeName
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:edgarExchangeCodeItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14a
-Subsection 12
+ Details
Name:
dei_SolicitingMaterial
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
duration
X
- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425
+ Details
Name:
dei_WrittenCommunications
Namespace Prefix:
dei_
Data Type:
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Balance Type:
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Period Type:
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