We’re with you. From our very start, Bank of the James has been firmly committed to investing in the communities we serve.   Across our region, we are proud to support and sponsor over 250 civic organizations, non-profits, and community events. While we support a diverse array of activities, we focus our giving in the areas of youth enrichment and education, health and human services as well as arts and culture.   In addition, we actively seek out opportunities that will strengthen our underserved friends and neighbors.  

We believe in the power of giving and we believe in our communities.  As a community-focused bank, we see it as our responsibility to demonstrate that belief by offering financial support as well as empowering our staff to volunteer with causes in which they believe.  With their dedication of time and talent, our staff serves numerous community organizations, working hand-in-hand to build a brighter tomorrow. In fact, in a recent internal survey, BOTJ staff cited “service,” “purpose” and “contribution” as values reflecting what they love about working in our organization.  Our team clearly expressed the importance of working for an organization with such “a sterling reputation” for doing good things in and around our community.  We are so honored by this expression of pride and teamwork and we strive to live this out every day, both in and out of our offices.  

We’re with you, partnering for good.

Collage of Bank of the James community partners featuring Jimmy Bird

Bank of the James is proud to sponsor WLNI’s fantastic program (new in 2022), “The Best of the ‘burg”.  Each month, the hosts share regional events, restaurant openings, and other interesting happenings around our area.  BOTJ opted to use this opportunity as another way to share our “Partnering for Good” platform by highlighting on some of the many wonderful non-profits we support.  Some of the amazing organizations that joined us for our interviews include Meals on Wheels, Camp Kum-Ba-Yah, and Lynchburg Daily Bread.  Thank you to WLNI for providing us with this great programming!

Click here to learn more about our 25th anniversary!

Partnering for Good: Bank of the James and Miriam’s House

Partnering For Good: Bank of the James and Riverviews Artspace

Click here to listen to 2023 interviews!

Click here to listen to 2022 interviews!

Bank of the James and BANZAI!

Bank of the James is proud to partner with Banzai, a nationally acclaimed financial literacy platform designed to provide important financial education tools to teachers in multiple settings. If you are a middle- or high-school teacher in Region 2000 and would like to teach Banzai, we’ve got you covered.  Bank of the James will humbly provide the financial sponsorship required to equip you with the award-winning Banzai toolkits for as many students as you wish.

WHAT IS BANZAI?

Banzai allows you to teach real-world financial literacy – on us!

We know life in the classroom is more challenging than ever and we love our teachers!  In addition to the core classroom essentials, we realize teachers are also being asked to provide life skills education and so much more, even when budgets don’t allow for it. Here’s a fresh idea: meaningful content using real-life scenarios that engages teenagers and doesn’t cost a dime. That’s Banzai.  No need to re-invent the wheel – Banzai has the content, Bank of the James provides it to you. 

Give your students a solution, FOR LIFE.

Let’s face it, chalkboards don’t cut it anymore. Bringing variety into a subject helps keep students engaged, and that’s when real learning takes place. Banzai includes interactive online tools, as well as printed materials – teachers’ choice.

Grade an entire class in an INSTANT.

You’re a teacher, not a bookkeeper. Do what you love, Banzai does the rest. Lesson preparation and grading are a cinch because Banzai does the work for you.

Access the program from ANYWHERE, anytime.

No carrying disks, no deciphering installation instructions. Using Banzai is as simple as getting your email. Gain full access to the program anywhere you have a computer.

If you are an educator in our community and want more information on getting Banzai into your classroom, click here

Ronald V. Dolan Citizenship Award

The Bank of the James/Ronald V. Dolan Citizenship Award was started in 2006 in memory of one of its founding board members, Ron Dolan. Ron was an accomplished businessman and exemplified good citizenship in everything he did. We honor his memory by asking local schools to select a student who has demonstrated the characteristics that Ron personified.

The award is not a scholarship program. It is an award given to a student from each of the Region 2000 area high schools who possesses the qualities of integrity, trustworthiness and service. Administration and faculty make the selections based on the students’ contributions to their respective communities throughout their high school careers.  This award is not based on academic or athletic achievement, but rather community service and citizenship qualities, which we at the bank value as Mr. Dolan so thoroughly did.

The nominee must be:
  • A senior attending who has met all qualifications for graduation.
  • Selected by the school’s principal and faculty as having characteristics which make the student stand out among other students.
  • A student who has demonstrated outstanding citizenship qualities that show loyalty, trustworthiness, integrity and a genuine concern for the well-being of others.

Since 2006, over 250 students have been recipients of the Bank of the James/Ronald V. Dolan Awards.

2023 Recipients

  • Cidney Lynn Jennings – Altavista Combined School
  • Mary-Caroline Lucille Cockerham – Amherst County High School
  • Kayla Michelle Elliott – Appomattox County High School
  • Natalie Marie Hudson – Brookville High School
  • Nellie Grace Fitzgerald – EC Glass High School
  • Ayanni Jamisha Vincent – Heritage High School
  • Samuel Morgan Gillespie- Jefferson Forest High School
  • Tristan James Strathy – Liberty Christian Academy
  • Emma Elizabeth Kimberlin – Liberty High School
  • Matthew Ashley Drumheller – Nelson County High School
  • Elizabeth Claire Matney – New Covenant Schools
  • Zayd Martin Freedom Pritchett – New Vistas School
  • Michael Edward Osal – Rustburg High School
  • Bailey Davis Vann – Staunton River High School
  • Morgan Elise Allen – Temple Christian School
  • Amory Elizabeth Davis – Timberlake Christian School
  • Joseph Marc Staggers – Virginia Episcopal School
  • Tristin Michael Herald – William Campbell Combined School