By Eric J. Wallace
Corporate Headquarters: 101 East Queen St., Hampton | 757-728-1200 | OldPoint.com
Founded: 1923
Employees: More than 300
This nearly 100-year-old community bank has grown substantially since its humble beginnings at the Cooper’s Confectionary store in Phoebus. The 1923 partnership between a local doctor, merchant and seafood dealer has expanded to include 19 bank branches, two trust and three mortgage offices dispersed throughout Coastal Virginia.
While much has changed, President and CEO Robert Shuford Jr. says the company’s community-centered focus remains. In addition to offering world-class financial services, Old Point has supported more than 300 regional charitable organizations to date. Nine out of 10 workers participate in local service projects and collect upward of 3,200 pounds of food for foodbanks each year.
“To us, ‘community banking’ should be about putting people first and numbers second,” says Shuford. To that effect, the bank’s mission statement includes a commitment to support regional prosperity. Old Point employees live, work, shop, eat and play in the areas they serve. As such, Shuford adds, “that makes us all the more [prideful] of our efforts to create a better community and a more positive work environment day in and day out.”
Shuford says the approach forms the backbone of Old Point’s company culture. The goal is to ensure employees feel like the profoundly valuable assets they are. Competitive salaries and benefits packages and a tendency toward internal promotions help. But great company culture is about more than financial incentives.
“If you focus on creating an atmosphere of togetherness and teamwork and provide employees with a sense of purpose and wellbeing, to me, that’s going to bring more long-term satisfaction than ping-pong tables, giveaways and the like,” says Shuford. “Our goal is to create a work culture where everyone feels welcome and safe, never uncomfortable or excluded.”
Shuford points to low turnover rates and employee tenures spanning into the decades as testimonials. Mortgage Loan Originator Andy Orleans confirms that employee satisfaction reigns supreme. “Here, employees are viewed as individuals whose opinions are valued and wanted,” says Orleans. Experience working at other community banks taught him that isn’t always the case. He likens working at Old Point to joining a family. “Everybody knows everybody. Executives and administrators encourage everyone to make suggestions and embrace employee ideas. You feel like they’re trying hard to provide you with resources and opportunities that will help you succeed. In my experience, that’s atypical. That helps me go home feeling good about how I spent my day.”
Work Perks:
- Flexible time off and generous paid leave policies
- Discounted tickets to attractions and theme parks, including Water Country USA, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion
- Employee discounts at Verizon and Office Max
- Quarterly awards ceremonies to celebrate employee achievements
- Company-matched contributions to employee health savings accounts, up to $100 per month
- 401(k) plan with 4 percent matching for employee contributions
Why I Love My Job:
“Old Point’s culture of giving back has made a positive impact on so many people, local businesses and nonprofits. That generosity toward the community—including its employees and customers—make this such a great place to work. If someone is in the [financial services sector] and looking to experience a career that leaves them feeling truly fulfilled? I’d definitely encourage them to apply at Old Point.” —Andy Orleans, Mortgage Loan Originator, more than three years at Old Point National Bank
