With the upcoming opening of a new office in Chesapeake, one of the discussions we have been having is: what should we call ourselves there?

For most of our offices, and the region we serve, the name Powell is a known commodity – from a mountain to a river to a valley to a high school football team. As we travelled to new markets (Abingdon, Bristol, Kingsport), we were regaled with stories by folks who shared that their family banked with us and always loved the bank. Our good name preceded our venture into these newer markets.

Chesapeake and Tidewater is a different story as they are clear across the Commonwealth of Virginia. We asked our Tidewater team to let us know what they want to be called. They thought about it for a while, and they came up with the name they would like to use – Powell Valley National Bank.

Wait a second, Leton. That is the Bank’s name.

Yep.

Our Chesapeake team shared that our name was different, contained the word national, exuding capability and strength, and reflected a history since 1888.

Wow, have I been underappreciating our name all this time? This led me to seek out where the name Powell came from. We are named after Captain Ambrose Powell from Culpepper, VA, a companion with Thomas Walker as they were commissioned by the Governor of Virginia to explore the lands west of the mountains in the 1750’s.

Captain Powell was friends with James Madison Sr. (father of future President Madison) and was godfather to Mr. Madison’s daughter. He was an acquaintance (if not a friend) of Peter Jeffereson (Thomas’s father). During his travels in our region, he often and regularly carved his name (A. Powell) into a variety of birch trees.

Years later, when settlers began coming into the region, they kept seeing the name Powell everywhere. Thus, the name for Powell Valley, Powell River, and Powell Mountain. After learning this, I thought our journey back across the mountains to a region whose name our name came from was quite poetic –  completing the journey’s circle and taking a well-known name back east.

A name can be important. Yet I am reminded it is not so much what we are called as a bank. Rather, it is our people, our actions, and our commitment that cement the value of what we call ourselves. The name,  Powell, is also a legacy we can pass along to future generations of bankers.

Powell Valley National Bank, established in 1888 and still going strong.