CHARLESTON, S.C., July 8, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Financial Holdings, Inc. ("Company") (Nasdaq:FFCH) announced today that the company will host a conference call for institutional investors and analysts on Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its financial results. The conference call will coincide with the news release announcing fiscal third quarter earnings which will be distributed after the market close on Thursday, July 28, 2011.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available at www.firstfinancialholdings.com. Additionally, the webcast will be recorded and available until October 31, 2011.

About First Financial

First Financial Holdings, Inc. ("First Financial") (Nasdaq:FFCH) is a premier financial services provider offering integrated financial solutions, including personal, business, wealth management, and insurance. First Financial serves individuals and businesses throughout coastal South Carolina, as well as the Florence, Columbia, and upstate regions of South Carolina and Burlington, and Wilmington, North Carolina. First Financial subsidiaries include: First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston ("First Federal"); Kimbrell Insurance Group, Inc., a managing general insurance agency; First Southeast 401(k) Fiduciaries, Inc., a registered investment advisor; and First Southeast Investor Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer. 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: Blaise B. Bettendorf
         Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
         (843) 529-5456
         bbettendorf@firstfederal.com
Source: First Financial Holdings, Inc.