Our Story

From humble beginnings in a hotel room in 1891, National Bank of Blacksburg has grown steadily through the decades along with the communities we serve. Today, we have 27 full-service offices and two loan production offices in southwest and central Virginia. Our assets exceed $1.8 billion. But at heart, we're still a local bank, committed to friendly, personalized service for everyone who walks through our doors or contacts us in any other way.

 

• May 21, 1891: The Commonwealth of Virginia issued a charter to a new bank, the Bank of Blacksburg. Soon afterward, the bank began to do business from one room of the Green Hotel on Main Street. The first president was Alexander Black and the only employee, W.E. Hubbert, was paid a yearly salary of $500.
  
  
• May 21, 1892: The Bank of Blacksburg had assets of $21,011.72, reported a profit of $902.27, and declared a 12% dividend to stockholders.
  
  
• 1898: The bank moved a few doors south on Main Street to the Conway Building and conducted business out of a converted storeroom.
  
  
• 1898: First telephone installed.
  
  
• 1904: Purchased first adding machine.
  
  
• 1906: Installed a burglar alarm system and a vault.
  
  
• 1921: Moved to a new building on the northwest corner of Main and Roanoke Streets.
  
  
• 1922:  Re-chartered as a national bank with assets of $485,000.
  
  
• 1942: The National Bank of Blacksburg built its first office. Seven employees moved to occupy the new building at the northeast corner of Main and Roanoke.
  
  
• 1963: Moved to the present Main Office on yet another corner of Main and Roanoke Streets. Assets had increased to $8,032,171.
  
  
• 1968: First branch office built at North Main and Progress streets in Blacksburg.
  
  
• 1974: Constructed the Hethwood Office.
  
  
• 1984: A former Exxon station was converted into the South Main Office.
  
  
• 1986: Formed a one-bank holding company, National Bankshares, Inc.
  
  
• 1988: National Bank of Blacksburg added Giles County to its service area. The Pearisburg staff moved from rented quarters to its new office in May 1989.
  
  
• 1990: Opened the Market Place Office in Christiansburg.
  
  
• 1994: Added a second office in Giles County by converting a First Union office in Pembroke.
  
  
• 1996: The Bank of Tazewell County (BTC) joins National Bankshares, Inc. BTC operates bank offices in Tazewell, Richlands, and Bluefield, Va.
  
  
• 1997: Opened the Rich Creek Office.
  
  
• 1998: Added another market area with the acquisition of a First American office in the City of Galax.
  
  
• 1999: The bank opens its 10th location on the corner of Hubbard and South Main streets in Blacksburg. The Hubbard Street location also houses the bank's Bank Card and Trust Departments, Human Resources, and other administrative and executive offices. Additionally, it serves as headquarters for The National Bank's holding company, National Bankshares, Inc. The Main Office continues to be located in downtown Blacksburg.
  
  
• 2000: New offices are acquired in Radford, Pulaski and Dublin, expanding National Bank’s service area throughout the New River Valley. Bank of Tazewell County acquires new offices in Abingdon, Marion, and Wytheville.
  
  
• 2000: National Bankshares Insurance Services and National Bankshares Investment Services are founded.
  
  
• 2003: New office opened in downtown Christiansburg.
  
  
• 2004:  The National Bank of Blacksburg adds its 15th location with the acquisition of the Memorial Drive Office in Pulaski, Virginia.
  
  
• 2006: The National Bank of Blacksburg and Bank of Tazewell County combine their operations to form National Bank, with 25 banking locations across Southwest Virginia.
  
  
• 2011: Bank assets grow to over $1 billion.
  
  
• 2015: Bank opens its 25th office location in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg.
  
  
• 2016: Roanoke Loan Production Office opens.
  
  
• 2022: Charlottesville Loan Production Office opens.
  
  
• 2024: National Bank acquires Frontier Community Bank, adding three new offices in Waynesboro, Staunton, and Lynchburg.

National Bank will strive to maximize earnings by practicing “Banking Built on Values.” Put simply, our customers and shareholders can expect excellent service based on honesty, integrity, and accountability delivered by knowledgeable, valued employees who are committed to serving our communities as genuine professionals.

 

• Positive Attitude
• Accountability
• Honesty and Integrity
• Excellence in Service
• Respect for Others
• Open and Clear Communication
• Knowledgeable

How do these values translate into our bank's daily operations? By fully investing in and immersing ourselves in these values, our employees will exhibit behaviors that show:

 

• Team First: We value our coworkers as much as ourselves
• Excellence in Service: We value our customers
• Focus on Profitability: We value our shareholders
• Focus on Stewardship: We value our communities