American Community Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ Stock Market:ACBA) holding company of American Community Bank headquarters in Monroe, N.C., has announced that J. Rick Patterson will join the bank as its Upstate Carolina Executive.

The last 29 years, Patterson was employed by Wachovia Corporation, most recently as Senior Vice President and Community Banking Sales Director in South Carolina.

A lifelong resident, of Cherokee County, he lives in Gaffney and will continue to serve the Gaffney, Greenville/Spartanburg and Upstate South Carolina markets for American Community Bank.