Your financial success remains our highest priority
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 28 full-service offices across southwest, western, and central Virginia and a loan production office located in Charlottesville, 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.
Our First 30 Years: A Look Back…
May 21, 1891 – The Beginning
The Commonwealth of Virginia issued a charter to a brand-new bank: The Bank of Blacksburg. Business officially began from one room in the Green Hotel on Main Street.
- First President: Alexander Black
- First (and only!) employee: W.E. Hubbert
- Salary: $500 per year
The Colonial Hotel (later demolished), previously named the Green Hotel - housed Bank of Blacksburg in 1891.
May 21, 1892 – Early Success
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Just one year in, the bank was already making strides:
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Assets: $21,011.72
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Profit: $902.27
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Dividend declared: 12%
1898 – A New “Office”
Growth called for a move. The bank relocated a few doors down Main Street to the Conway House (more information below), operating out of a converted storeroom.Also in 1898, the first telephone was installed — a big step forward.
Conway House - Through the Years…
Dr. W.B. Conway arrived in Blacksburg at the close of reconstruction - around 1870 and opened up a medical practice and pharmacy in the home. Later this would become the second home of Bank of Blacksburg. Documentation states that Dr. Conway mentioned the alleyway between two houses - which still exists today (as seen in both pictures below). This alleyway currently connects Main Street to the Blacksburg Farmers Market. The original Conway House (left) burned down in the 1990s, and in its place, the new reconstructed building (right) was built. Note - the triangular window on the new building echoes the triangular gable that existed on the original Conway House.
Old Conway House - 1976Old Conway House location - 2000s
Early Innovations
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1904: Purchased our first adding machine
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1906: Installed a burglar alarm system and vault (Safety and security and have always mattered here.)
The 1920s – A Major Milestone
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1921: Moved into a brand-new building at the northwest corner of Main & Roanoke Streets
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1922: Re-chartered as a national bank. Assets had grown to $485,000
From Then to Now
What started in a hotel room has grown alongside the communities we serve thanks to generations of employees who made integrity, service, and relationships the foundation of our success.