Pub. 9 2018 Issue 2

www.wvbankers.org 30 West Virginia Banker B orn from an economic boom as timber was harvested from the mountains surrounding Wardensville, WV, and more recently tested by the economic downturn of the last decade, Capon Valley Bank has demonstrated resilience in good times and bad, and the bank will mark its 100th anni- versary in July. “We are humbled by this milestone,” said Alan L. Brill, pres- ident and CEO, “and we know that a century of community banking isn’t possible without the support of the commu- nities we serve, coupled with the efforts of our dedicated employees.” For a bank that now holds approximately $150 million in assets, operates five offices (three in West Virginia and two in Virginia), and employs more than 60 people, Capon Valley Bank’s beginnings were humble. Newspaper articles in 1918 took note of a “healthy boom at Wardensville” brought about by timber deals, which fueled development of a branch railroad line and a lumber mill. Due to this economic activity, there was a need for a local financial institution, and a group of investors, representatives of the timber and railroad com- panies met to organize Capon Valley Bank with $30,000 in capital. William Barney was elected president, and B.F. Sine was named secretary and cashier. During the bank’s first day of operation, July 30, 1918, there were 26 deposits totaling $4,958.96, and one $850 loan was approved. The bank’s office was a rented room on Wardens- ville’s Main Street that would be home to the bank for the next 30 years. Bank operations weren’t seamless in those early days, and Capon Valley Bank faced its first major challenge. Barely two Capon Valley Bank Marks 100th Anniversary “We are humbled by this milestone,” said Alan L. Brill, president and CEO, “and we know that a century of community banking isn’t possible without the support of the communities we serve, coupled with the efforts of our dedicated employees.”