Finding Truth: Stimulus Funds in South Carolina

February 2010
Is stimulus money really working in South Carolina? The answer seems to depend on who you ask. With pros and cons on both sides of the aisle, the issue has been a topic of heated debate since Gov. Mark Sanford’s failed attempt to reject the funds made national headlines. While many state agencies and their consumers have and will continue to benefit from the more than $3 billion projected to flow into the state, top financial officers doubt the long-term benefits to South Carolina’s—or the nation’s—economy.

Mortgage Experts: Better Days Ahead, growth will be Slow

January 2010
Midlands mortgage and real estate professionals are hoping that an increase in the number of property transactions in the second half of 2009 is an indicator that the real estate market is getting its heartbeat back to pace a strong 2010. “October was a good month for the housing market in South Carolina. With a 17 percent increase in total sales from October of last year, this is the largest monthly increase in activity we have reported this year.” said Jay Rinehart, president of South Carolina Realtors. He said that the (federal) first-time home buyer tax credit has had a significant impact on recent sales.

More Than Loans for Land and Livestock - Arbor One Farm Credit

February 2010
Ensconced in ArborOne Farm Credit’s beautiful new offices at 800 Woody Jones Blvd. in Florence, Chris Collins considered a question about the financial institution’s new digs and promptly turned it on its head.
 
“To be honest with you, I think we’d all say our real offices are our trucks. We go to where our customers are,” said Collins, adding that in his case that means farms and Ag operations in Clarendon and Sumter Counties. “More often than not, we close loans on the hood of a truck,” Collins continued...

New Banking Regulations and the Cost for South Carolina Banks

February 2010
Good intentions lie behind the recently passed and proposed changes to the U.S. bank regulatory system – they’re designed to protect consumers, prevent large financial institutions from failing and ensure a repeat of 2008’s economic disaster does not occur. But unsurprisingly, they’ve sparked some debate among banking professionals.

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