Celebrating 100 Years Citizens Bank of West Virginia

January 22, 1924: Citizens National Bank was established in Elkins, West Virginia, in the Cain Building on Davis Avenue, during the era that ushered in following World War I. Its founders focused on the mission of assisting the financial needs of its depositors, large and small, who were mostly employed in the prospering timber, coal, and railroad industries in Randolph County.

1920s

Heavner Building | 1927

1927: The bank moved to the Heavner Building on the corner of Third Street and Kerens Avenue to accommodate increased business.

1940s

1940: A night depository was installed to offer more services to customers.

1950s

First Drive-In Window | 1957

1953: The area’s first Installment Loan Department opened.
1957: The area’s first drive-in window was installed.

1960s

1964: A Trust Department was added to offer more services.

1970s

1977: A drive-thru facility was built across the street from the main office in Elkins.

1980s

Citizens National Bank | 1981

1982: The area’s first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) was put into operation.
1983: A new building addition was completed at the main office in Elkins, with 1077 safe deposit boxes and heated sidewalks.

Parsons Office | 1984

1984: The Parsons office was opened.
1985: West Virginia was hit with the worst flood in 100 years, causing the Parsons office to flood.
1987: The Citizens National Bank of Elkins became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citizens Financial Corp.

1990s

Tygart Valley Branch | 1992

1992: The Tygart Valley Branch in Beverly was opened.
1994: The Tygary Valley Branch was robbed. The suspects were arrested and charged with federal bank robbery and aiding and abetting.
1999: Brokerage Services were added.

2000s

Snowshoe Branch | 2000

2000: A branch was opened in Snowshoe.
2002: ATM services were made available to Tucker County customers.
2004: Online banking was launched.
2009: Citizens National Bank converted from a nationally-charted institution to a state-charted institution under the new name Citizens Bank of West Virginia.

2010s

2013: Mobile Banking was introduced, another banking first for the area.
2016: A Home Lending Center was opened in Buckhannon, and fixed-rate mortgages were added to the menu of loan products.
2018: A full-service facility was erected in downtown Buckhannon to better serve Upshur County customers.
2019: The Elkins drive-thru facility was relocated adjacent to the main office with high-definition video chat technology.

Elkins Drive-Thru Relocation | 2019

2020s

2020: A tandem drive-thru lane was added to the Beverly office featuring high-definition video chat technology.
2020: The Beverly office was robbed for a second and third time in February and August. The suspect was arrested and charged after committing a bank robbery in another state.
2021: Citizens acquired two branches in Buckhannon and New Martinsville.