DIVIDENDS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Dividends [Abstract]

DIVIDENDS

16. DIVIDENDS

The Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Company is restricted by the laws and regulations of the State of South Carolina. Generally, these restrictions allow the Bank to pay dividends from current earnings without the prior written consent of the South Carolina Commissioner of Banking, if it received a satisfactory rating at its most recent examination. Cash dividends when declared, are paid by the Bank to the Company for distribution to shareholders of the Company. The Bank paid dividends of $3.8 million, $2.7 million, and $2.3 million to the Company during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

On April 10, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a ten percent stock dividend to our shareholders. The record date was April 30, 2018 and the distribution date was May 31, 2018. Earnings per share and average shares outstanding have been adjusted for all periods presented to retroactively reflect the stock dividend in our consolidated financial statements. Total shares outstanding increased by 499,095 shares.