Exhibit 99.1 Certification "I, R. Arthur Seaver, Jr., certify, based on my knowledge, that: (i)  The compensation committee of Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     has discussed, reviewed, and evaluated with senior risk officers at
                     least every six months during any part of the most recently completed
                     fiscal year that was a TARP period (January 1, 2012 – June 28, 2012), senior executive officer (SEO)
                     compensation plans and employee compensation plans and the risks
                     these plans pose to Southern First Bancshares, Inc.; (ii)  The compensation committee of Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     has identified and limited during any part of the most recently
                     completed fiscal year that was a TARP period, any features of the SEO
                     compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary and
                     excessive risks that could threaten the value of Southern First
                     Bancshares, Inc., and has identified any features of the employee
                     compensation plans that pose risks to Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     and has limited those features to ensure that Southern First
                     Bancshares, Inc. is not unnecessarily exposed to risks; (iii)  The compensation committee has reviewed, at least every six
                     months during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year
                     that was a TARP period, the terms of each employee compensation plan
                     and identified any features of the plan that could encourage the
                     manipulation of reported earnings of Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     to enhance the compensation of an employee, and has limited any such
                     features; (iv)  The compensation committee of Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     will certify to the reviews of the SEO compensation plans and
                     employee compensation plans required under (i) and (iii) above; (v)  The compensation committee of Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
                     will provide a narrative description of how it limited during any
                     part of the most recently completed fiscal year that included a TARP
                     period the features in (A) SEO compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary
                     and excessive risks that could threaten the value of Southern First
                     Bancshares, Inc.; (B) Employee compensation plans that unnecessarily expose Southern
                     First Bancshares, Inc. to risks; and (C) Employee compensation plans that could encourage the manipulation
                     of reported earnings of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. to enhance
                     the compensation of an employee; (vi)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has required that bonus
                     payments to SEOs or any of the next twenty most highly compensated
                     employees, as defined in the regulations and guidance established
                     under section 111 of EESA (bonus payments), be subject to a recovery
                     or "clawback" provision during any part of the most recently
                     completed fiscal year that was a TARP period if the bonus payments
                     were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other
                     materially inaccurate performance metric criteria; (vii)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited any golden
                     parachute payment, as defined in the regulations and guidance
                     established under section 111 of EESA, to an SEO or any of the next
                     five most highly compensated employees during any part of the most
                     recently completed fiscal year that was a TARP period; (viii)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has limited bonus payments to
                     its applicable employees in accordance with section 111 of EESA and
                     the regulations and guidance established thereunder during any part
                     of the most recently completed fiscal year that was a TARP period; (ix)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. and its employees have complied
                     with the excessive or luxury expenditures policy, as defined in the
                     regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA,
                     during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year that was a
                     TARP period; and any expenses that, pursuant to this policy, required
                     approval of the board of directors, a committee of the board of
                     directors, an SEO, or an executive officer with a similar level of
                     responsibility were properly approved; (x)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. will permit a non-binding
                     shareholder resolution in compliance with any applicable Federal
                     securities rules and regulations on the disclosures provided under
                     the Federal securities laws related to SEO compensation paid or
                     accrued during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year
                     that was a TARP period; (xi)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. will disclose the amount,
                     nature, and justification for the offering during any part of the
                     most recently completed fiscal year that was a TARP period, of any
                     perquisites, as defined in the regulations and guidance established
                     under section 111 of EESA, whose total value exceeds $25,000 for any
                     employee who is subject to the bonus payment limitations identified
                     in paragraph (viii); (xii)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. will disclose whether Southern
                     First Bancshares, Inc., the board of directors of Southern First
                     Bancshares, Inc., or the compensation committee of Southern First
                     Bancshares, Inc. has engaged during any part of the most recently
                     completed fiscal year that was a TARP period a compensation
                     consultant; and the services the compensation consultant or any
                     affiliate of the compensation consultant provided during this period;


(xiii)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited the payment of
                     any gross-ups, as defined in the regulations and guidance established
                     under section 111 of EESA, to the SEOs and the next twenty most
                     highly compensated employees during any part of the most recently
                     completed fiscal year that was a TARP period; (xiv)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has substantially complied
                     with all other requirements related to employee compensation that are
                     provided in the agreement between Southern First Bancshares, Inc. and
                     Treasury, including any amendments; (xvi)  Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has submitted to Treasury a
                     complete and accurate list of the SEOs and the twenty next most
                     highly compensated employees for the current fiscal year, with the
                     non-SEOs ranked in descending order of level of annual compensation,
                     and with the name, title, and employer of each SEO and most highly
                     compensated employee identified; and (xvi)  I understand that a knowing and willful false or fraudulent
                     statement made in connection with this certification may be punished
                     by fine, imprisonment, or both. (See, for example, 18 U.S.C. 1001.)" Date: March 5, 2013
                           
                           
                           By:
                           
                           
                           /s/R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.
                              Chief Executive Officer
                              (principal executive officer)