NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank of Hampton Roads, a subsidiary bank of Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:HMPR), is pleased to announce that it has incorporated changes to its overdraft policy to help customers avoid overdraft fees and prevent overspending. The changes will also apply to customers of Gateway Bank, a division of Bank of Hampton Roads.
Effectively immediately, the Banks will not charge a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee on items being presented for amounts of $5.00 or less. In addition, customers will incur no more than five NSF fees per day.
Both banks offer optional overdraft privileges, but new customers must request to be included in this service. This choice allows customers to define how they prefer transactions to be handled when there are insufficient funds in their account.
"Being a community bank, we know our customers and the hardships that many of them are facing in this tough economy. Earlier this year, we mailed customers "OOPS! Coupons" good for a one-time NSF refund should they overdraw their account. The response to this proactive program was so favorable, it prompted us to re-examine our overdraft policy and consequently update it to reflect the current economic and banking environment," said David R. Twiddy, President of Bank of Hampton Roads.
Bank of Hampton Roads and Gateway Bank offer a number of ways for customers to monitor their accounts and avoid overdraft fees, including online banking, telephone banking, call centers and ATMs.
About Hampton Roads Bankshares
Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc. is a financial holding company that was formed in 2001 and is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. The Company's primary subsidiaries are Bank of Hampton Roads, which opened for business in 1987, and Shore Bank, which opened in 1961. The Banks engage in general community and commercial banking business, targeting the needs of individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. Currently, Bank of Hampton Roads operates thirty banking offices in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia and twenty-four offices in Virginia and North Carolina doing business as Gateway Bank & Trust Co. Shore Bank serves the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia through eight banking offices and fifteen ATMs. Through various affiliates, the Banks also offer mortgage banking services, insurance, title insurance and investment products. Shares of the Company's common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol HMPR. Additional information about the Company and its subsidiaries can be found at www.hamptonroadsbanksharesinc.com.
Certain statements in this report may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical facts. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to certain forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance or achievements of the Company will not differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors. For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and other reports filed and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release and this release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation would be unlawful.