First Financial Holdings, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call

CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Financial Holdings, Inc. ("First Financial") (Nasdaq:FFCH) announced today that it will host a conference call for institutional investors and analysts on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results. The conference call will coincide with the news release announcing third quarter earnings which will be distributed after the market closes on Thursday, October 25, 2012.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available at www.firstfinancialholdings.com . The webcast will be recorded and available until January 31, 2013.

About First Financial

First Financial Holdings, Inc. ("First Financial,") (Nasdaq:FFCH) is a Charleston, South Carolina financial services provider with $3.3 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2012. First Financial offers integrated financial solutions, including personal, business, and wealth management services. First Federal Bank ("First Federal"), which was founded in 1934 and is the primary subsidiary, serves individuals and businesses throughout coastal South Carolina, Florence, South Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina. First Financial subsidiaries include: First Federal; First Southeast Investor Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer; and First Southeast 401(k) Fiduciaries, Inc., a registered investment advisor. First Federal is the largest financial institution headquartered in the Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan area and the third largest financial institution headquartered in South Carolina, based on asset size. Additional information about First Financial is available at www.firstfinancialholdings.com .

CONTACT: First Financial Holdings, Inc.
         Blaise B. Bettendorf
         Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
         [phone] or [phone]
         [e-mail]
         [e-mail]