The opening of Essex Bank in the former BB&T bank building on Route 60 beside the sheriff’s office in Cumberland is being hailed by the community. The building sat empty for several months after BB&T closed the location, west of the courthouse.

The bank purchased both the land and a 3,300 square-foot retail bank office, according to a bank press release.

“I think it’s a great day when any new business opens up, especially when it’s replacing one that had been serving the community for as many years as BB&T and the other branches that were there before them,” District Three Supervisor Kevin Ingle, who represents the area, said.

“Competition is a good thing. The availability of services from another institution, that way we have two (banks) here. I think the service will be greater to the community.”

Leaders said the business — though it’ll only employ four people — is a boost to the local economy, adding a second bank to a small county that is largely agricultural in nature and industry.

“At the basis of our bank, we come from small communities,” Bank President and CEO Rex L. Smith III said.

“We were founded in Essex County and we were founded with the old Bank of Powhatan as part of our original franchise. So, we were Bank of Goochland, Bank of Powhatan, Bank of Louisa, as well as Bank of Essex many, many years ago, and we all came together around 2008, 2009 to try go get more synergy in things.”

Smith said Essex Bank has hired some former BB&T and Citizens and Farmers Bank employees.

“I think, for right now, that’s going to be able to do what we need to do,” Smith said of the number of employees. “We want Valerie (Nunnelly) to be able to get out into the community. We’ve got a community … conference room opening up for folks to use … Anybody (who) needs to use it can get with Valerie and we encourage people, if they need a place to meet.”

Cumberland County Administrator and Attorney Vivian Seay Giles said the county welcomes and appreciates the bank’s “vote of confidence” in the community.

Smith returned the appreciation.

“One of the things we’ve always said is, ‘Every community is the social sort of entity, and you can’t just take, take, take. You need to give back,’” Smith said. “

Our folks — we enjoy hiring folks in the local areas (who) want to be a part of the community and want to make the community better, and we were able to see that in Cumberland.”

The bank, 1496 Anderson Hwy., Cumberland, can be reached at 1-800-443-5524. The bank’s website is www.essexbank.com.