Index
About BCB
Who are we?
Benchmark Community Bank is the largest bank focused exclusively on serving Southside Virginia. We have been around for 37 years helping area citizens and businesses thrive. We are, always have been, and intend to remain locally owned and operated.
Benchmark is a full-service, progressive financial institution that is integrally involved with each of the communities it serves. We hire local residents whose love of community mirrors ours.
Members of the Benchmark family are also individuals who pride themselves in giving exceptional service. They love listening and always want to know what other community members are looking for in a financial institution. We gather this information regularly so that we can make the right decisions on new products and services. By right decisions, we mean, of course, what the people in the community want and need.
What's our history?
Originally founded as The Lunenburg County Bank, the predecessor to Benchmark Community Bank opened for business on September 8, 1971 in a "doublewide" in Kenbridge, Virginia. From those humble beginnings, Benchmark's leaders have developed a well-regarded institution upon which many Southside Virginians depend for their banking needs. For 37 years now, growth has been strong and steady. The timeline below gives a brief overview of Benchmark's growth:
The Benchmark Timeline
1971 The bank was formed as the Lunenburg County Bank, and the first office was opened in Kenbridge.
1974 The bank relocated to its current site in Kenbridge and opened a branch in Victoria.
1989 Upon deciding to open branches in Farmville and South Hill, the Lunenburg County Bank was renamed Benchmark Community Bank.
1993 - 2003 Steady expansion increased the bank's reach to Crewe, Lawrenceville, Clarksville, Chase City and Blackstone.
2005 - 2006 A new Operations Center was completed, and the headquarters was renovated.
2007 A new office was opened in South Boston.
2008 A new office was opened in Halifax.
For a detailed account of how Benchmark grew to its present size and scope, we invite you to read The Benchmark Story.
Benchmark Today
Since 1971, the bank now known as Benchmark Community Bank has grown to 12 locations spread across 6 Southside Virginia counties. The headquarters remains in Kenbridge.
Benchmark's current president and CEO is Michael O. Walker. Walker has been with the bank since 1974 and took over the helm in 2005. He is a native of South Hill, Virginia.
Other members of the senior management team include Janice Pernell, who has been with the bank since its inception, Jay Stafford, who joined in 1988, Ken Reeves, and Neil Burke. Pernell oversees compliance and operations, Stafford retail banking, and Reeves business banking. Burke is chief financial officer. The management team works with an active, hands-on board of directors, all local business owners and leaders or retired professionals.
Benchmark employs over 125 people.
Who's Who
The Administrative/Operations team at Benchmark includes:
Michael O. Walker, President & CEO
Jay Stafford - Retail Banking
Ken Reeves - Business Banking
Neil Burke - Chief Financial Officer
Janice Pernell, Mike Arthur, Nicole Martin - Compliance
Jenny Clark - Human Resources
Lucia Malon - Marketing & Public Relations
Susan Parrish - Operations
Buddy Whittaker - Data Processing
Kurt Crane - Internal Audit
Our Board of Directors includes:
Willliam J. Callis, Retired Executive - Chairman
Wayne J. Parrish, Parrish Trucking Company, Inc. - Vice Chairman
Mary Jane Elkins, Southside Virginia Community College - Secretary
David K. Biggs, Biggs Construction Co., Inc.
Mark F. Bragg, Atlantic Medical, Inc.
Earl H. Carter, Jr., Taylor-Forbes Equipment Co., Inc.
Earl C. Currin, Jr., Southside Virginia Community College
C. Edward Hall, Victoria Drug Company
J. Ryland Hamlett, Retired Executive
Ernest R. Lail, Retired Executive
Michael O. Walker, President and CEO, Benchmark Community Bank
BCB News
Press releases:
Benchmark Bankshares Announces Solid Earning and Growth Numbers
Benchmark Bankshares Announces 2nd Quarter 2008 Results
Benchmark Rewards Customers with Revolutionary $uccess Checking
Benchmark to Open New Branch in Halifax
Benchmark Bankshares Announces 1st Quarter 2008 Results
Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. Announces Results for 2007
BCB in the News
Recent articles and publicity about Benchmark and its employees include:
Benchmark Women Know Success, article in South Hill Enterprise's Women in Business
Looking Great in '08, article in the South Hill Enterprise, Getting to Know South Hill section
Big Changes at Benchmark, article in the Mecklenburg Sun, Heart of the Community section
Inside Benchmark 
Our shareholder newsletter is published 3 times a year:
Fall 2008: Providing Strength in Uncertain Times
Summer 2008: New Branch in Halifax
Spring 2008: New Initiatives
Fall 2007: Spotlight on Human Resources
Summer 2007: Business Banking
Spring 2007: Financial Services & Mortgage Products
Fall 2006: New Branch in South Boston
Summer 2006: 35th Anniversary
Spring 2006: Going the Extra Mile
Fall 2005: Headquarters Renovation
Meet Some of Our Happy Customers
We've made these Southside Virginians smile!
S&B Donuts, South Hill
Luigi's Place, Crewe
Denise Woods, Blackstone
Joey Maitland, Lawrenceville
Robert Glenn, Farmville
Victoria Rowe, Clarksville
Smith's Pharmacy, Kenbridge
Miracle One, South Boston
Dianne Simpson, Farmville
Dorothy Vanarsdall, Crewe
Ed & Brenda Clancy, Clarksville
Johnny McNabb, Blackstone
Mark & Beth Lucy, Lawrenceville
Thomasine Stroble, Farmville
For Newcomers
Moving or just moved to the area? Welcome to Southside Virginia! We are pleased you have chosen to move here and hope you will love it as much as we do.
Allow us to introduce ourselves. Benchmark Community Bank is locally owned and operated with 11 branches, all in Southside Virginia. Our branches are conveniently located within a 65-mile radius of our Kenbridge, Virginia headquarters. Our lobbies are open all day. We have extended hours for our drive-thrus and additional access at our 24-hour ATMs.
At Benchmark, we care deeply about the community. We reinvest in the local economy and support local civic organizations in various ways. Community involvement is at the core of our mission which, incidentally, has not changed in 37 years.
We also take pride in building strong relationships with the individuals, families, and businesses we serve. Our goal is to help you reach your goals! And, as we hope you'll soon discover, we're always willing to "go the extra mile" to do it. It is part of our Pledge to you.
To help you get to know both us and Southside Virginia better, we would like to give you a Welcome Bag. This handy, reusable canvas bag contains helpful information on the area such as a map, business resources, and a list of community organizations. It also has information on Benchmark products and services including our switch kit, a tool to help make your account transitions just a little bit easier. Plus, as our way of saying we're glad you're here, we've added some Benchmark gifts. We hope you will find them useful.
To get your Welcome Bag, just fill out the appropriate section of our contact form or call the branch nearest your new home.
About our Switch Kit
We know it's not easy to change banks, especially when it involves a checking account. Direct deposits and withdrawals complicate the situation. And for those who use Bill Pay, it can be even more complicated. That's why Benchmark developed the No Sweat Switch Kit. It was designed to help make the process a little easier. Take a look! We'll even help you complete the forms if you want. Just give us a call or come on in!
