Exhibit 99.2 Certification "I, Michael D. Dowling, 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/Michael D. DowlingMichael D. Dowling
                              Chief Financial Officer
                              (principal financial officer)