Bank of America to close Virginia City branch in September

Bank of America will close its Virginia City branch in mid-September, leaving the county government and many of the town's 900 residents without a local bank and possibly an ATM.

"The accounts housed there in Virginia City will be transferred to Carson City at that banking center," bank spokeswoman Diane Wagner said.

Storey County Clerk/Treasurer Doreen Bacus said Thursday her department hasn't decided yet where it will deposit the government checks when the city's only bank closes.

"It was a shock to all of us," she said. "We heard Sept. 24 (was the day it will close) and we haven't really decided yet what we're going to do. I just found out today from the district manager in Reno that it was for sure."

She said most people in Virginia City, including herself, have personal accounts with Bank of America.

Bacus doesn't know yet if Virginia City will ask another bank to take its place.

The Bank of America spokeswoman said company officials will work with the community to make the building available for another bank, or another business.

"This is part of our overall plan for this year," she said. "We are closing 100 low-volume banking centers across the U.S. and we're also building 100 new centers and renovating 500 banking centers."

But that doesn't include Virginia City, which is a tourist destination.

The bank will also install 250 new full-service ATMs in various cities across the U.S., but Wagner doesn't know if Virginia City will get one.

The VC branch's two employees "will be given other opportunities with the bank."

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.