The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chesapeake Bank building in Mathews, held last Wednesday, took a form possibly best described as “demolition light.”
Bank officials and contractors passed around a gold-colored sledgehammer and took turns beating up on the interior structures of the former Bank of America building on Buckley Hall Road, not far from Chesapeake Bank’s current location.
Executive Vice President and Retail Executive Dianne Hall, who is overseeing the project and has been with Chesapeake Bank since the Mathews branch opened 42 years ago, was the first to do the honors.
“This is an exciting time for me and Chesapeake Bank,” she said. “We came here committed to Mathews County, and the commitment stays the same—buying this building says that.”
Bank President and CEO Jeff Szyperski, grinning, asked Hall how long she had coveted the building.
“Forty-two years,” said Hall to a burst of laughter. She then took the first swing. The official demolition of the building was slated to begin on Monday.
The bank plans to renovate the previous Bank of America building with a more up-to-date design with the help of Guernsey Tingle Architect and Henderson, Inc., both of Williamsburg. Construction is expected to be completed in the late summer.
On a brief tour of the building, Hall pointed out amenities designed for customers and the community. She said that there will now be a welcome center adjacent to the entry door, complete with a television and seating area, for those who are waiting to conduct business. There will be seating for customers in the lobby area, as well.
Community room
But perhaps most exciting, said Hall, is the community room that will be made available to the public for meetings. She said the large room to the left while facing the front of the building will be blocked off from the bank, and a covered entryway will be created so nonprofits and businesses can access the room even after banking hours. It will be equipped for electronic devices and will have a widescreen television. Historic photos of Mathews County will line the walls.
“This is a way to give back to the community,” said Hall. “We’re really committed to the community, and we want them to know that.”
The building at 10758 Buckley Hall Road was originally built to house the Farmers Bank of Mathews. Alvin Richard (Dick) Savage with Barker Construction was part of the construction team at the time. His son, Rick Savage, is part of the team at Henderson, Inc., working on the upgrade of the building.
The 14,000-square-foot office space will feature an open floor plan with numerous private offices, community room space, and conference rooms. It will accommodate Chesapeake Bank and Chesapeake Wealth Management clients and community groups.
“This full-service office will be even better suited to serve the financial needs of the Mathews community,” said Szyperski. “We have a long history in Mathews and will continue to partner and serve this community for years to come.”
Headquartered in Kilmarnock, Chesapeake Bank has 15 branches across Virginia, on the Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck, Williamsburg and Richmond. Founded in 1900, Chesapeake Bank is primarily a lender to small businesses and is active in each of the communities it serves.
Named in 2019 by American Banker as one of the Top 200 Community Banks and a Best Bank to Work For, Chesapeake Bank employs 225 associates. For more information about Chesapeake Bank, visit chesbank.com.
