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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995                   TAG: 9511140089
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRST UNION MULLS CLOSING BRANCH

First Union National Bank of Virginia said Monday that it is considering closing its Hollins Road branch.

Chuck Saldarini, president of First Union's Roanoke regional bank, said a final decision will be made after a 30-day public comment period. If the decision is made to proceed with the plan, he said, the bank at 7711 Plantation Road would close March 31.

It would be consolidated with either the Hershberger Road or Williamson Road office.

The seven employees at the branch would be relocated to other positions, he said.

The bank has closed and consolidated several area offices.

Saldarini said the Hollins Road branch is attached to First Union's operations center near the intersection with Interstate 81.

The bank is considering closing the branch, Saldarini said, because most of its customers are employees of First Union's operations center and the branch's dominant transaction is check cashing.

Saldarini said there is an automated teller machine by the employee cafeteria in the operations center, and First Union also would keep an outside ATM at the Hollins branch site for the convenience of employees.

by CNB