
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 16, 1994                   TAG: 9402040294
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRST CENTURY OPENS NEW HOME

A sofa and a fireplace might seem out of place in a bank to some, but not to the folks who recently opend First Century Bank's main office in Wytheville.

Actually, Wytheville was designated as the headquarters for First Century early in 1993, but, until now, it has done business in rented facilities. A subsidiary of Pocahontas Bankshares Corp. in Bluefield, W. Va., First Century was organized in May, 1991, and established a Wytheville branch later that year.

The new building is a full-service bank with a 24-hour automated teller machine that customers can use without leaving their cars. Its large lobby is being offered to accommodate evening meetings for area community organizations.

"We think the atmosphere is reflective of a community-based approach," said Jeffery Forlines, president and chief executive officer of First Century.

The new bank's staff occupied the 6,190-square-foot building on a lot of nearly two acres along Peppers Ferry Road at the end of December.

by CNB