First Community Corporation Raises Quarterly Dividend to $0.17

First Community Corporation (NASDAQ: FCCO) raised its quarterly dividend to $0.17 per share from $0.16, an increase of 6.25%. The shares traded ex-dividend on Aug. 4, 2026.

At the stated quarterly rate, the dividend equates to $0.68 per share annually. That represents a forward yield of 2.02% based on a share price of $33.73.

The increase extends First Community’s dividend-growth streak to four consecutive years. The company previously reduced its payout in 2010. Its dividend-safety score is 84 out of 100, corresponding to an A grade.

Earnings and expansion provide context

First Community announced the higher payout alongside its second-quarter results. Chief Executive Mike Crapps said the company’s performance enabled the board to continue its cash dividend, directly connecting the decision to recent operating results. The bank reported higher year-over-year net income for the quarter and said its tax-equivalent net interest margin expanded for the ninth consecutive quarter. First Community’s second-quarter announcement

The company’s regulatory filing attributed stronger net interest income partly to a shift toward higher-yielding loans and short-term investments. It also reported that loan growth outpaced deposit growth during the quarter, a balance-sheet trend that can support revenue but requires continued attention to funding and credit quality. First Community’s quarterly report

The results also included the effects of First Community’s acquisition of Signature Bank of Georgia. The transaction closed earlier in 2026, with Signature merging into First Community Bank. SEC filing on the completed merger

First Community is a financial-services holding company whose principal subsidiary provides commercial and retail banking, mortgage lending, investment advisory and government-guaranteed lending services across markets in South Carolina and Georgia.

What it means for income investors

The increase raises shareholders’ recurring quarterly income by 6.25% and continues the company’s recent growth record. The 2.02% forward yield remains modest, while the A safety grade indicates a comparatively strong dividend profile under the supplied scoring methodology. As with any bank dividend, future payments remain subject to board approval, earnings, capital needs and regulatory requirements.