HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /VA/
DEF 14A, 1997-04-07
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant [ X ] 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [   ]

Check the appropriate box:

[   ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement    [    ]  Confidential,  For Use of the
                                              Commission Only
                                              (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ X ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[   ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[   ]  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant to Rule  14a-11(c)
         or Rule 14a-12


                           HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ X ]  No fee required.

[   ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

       (1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
                pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on 
                which the  filing fee is  calculated  and state how it was
                determined):

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (5)      Total fee paid:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------

[   ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
       
                ----------------------------------------------------------------
[   ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange
       Act Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting
       fee was paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration
       statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

       (1)      Amount previously paid:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (3)      Filing Party:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------
       (4)      Date Filed:

                ----------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                           HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES, INC.
                              340 West Main Street
                            Abingdon, Virginia 24210




                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           To be held on May 14, 1997



NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  of  Highlands
Bankshares,  Inc. (the "Corporation") will be held at the Southwest Virginia 4-H
Education Center, 25236 Hillman Highway,  Abingdon,  Virginia on May 14, 1997 at
7:00 p.m., for the following purposes:

         (1)  To elect nine  directors  for a term of one year or until their  
              respective  successors  are elected and qualified;

         (2)  To transact  such other  business as may properly  come before the
              meeting. Management is not aware of any other business, other than
              procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting.

         The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of  business  on March 15,
1997 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

                                            BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                            /s/ Robert M. Little, Jr.

                                            Robert M. Little, Jr.
                                            Secretary

Abingdon, Virginia
April 7, 1997



- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOU ARE  CORDIALLY  INVITED TO ATTEND THIS  MEETING.  IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT YOUR
SHARES BE  REPRESENTED  REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER YOU OWN. EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO BE
PRESENT,  YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE,  SIGN,  DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED  PROXY
PROMPTLY IN THE  ENVELOPE  PROVIDED.  IF YOU ATTEND THIS  MEETING,  YOU MAY VOTE
EITHER IN PERSON OR BY YOUR  PROXY.  ANY PROXY  GIVEN MAY BE  REVOKED  BY YOU IN
WRITING   OR  IN   PERSON   AT  ANY  TIME   PRIOR  TO  THE   EXERCISE   THEREOF.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                           HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES, INC.

                                 ---------------

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                 --------------- 

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  May 14, 1997


                               GENERAL INFORMATION

     This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of common stock, $2.50 par
value  per  share  ("Common  Stock"),   of  Highlands   Bankshares,   Inc.  (the
"Corporation"),  in connection with the  solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors  (the "Board") of the  Corporation to be used at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders  to be held on May 14, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southwest  Virginia
4-H Education Center,  Inc., 25236 Hillman Highway,  Abingdon,  Virginia and any
adjournment thereof (the "Annual Meeting").

         The principal  executive  offices of the Corporation are located at 340
West Main Street,  Abingdon,  Virginia. The approximate date on which this Proxy
Statement,  the accompanying proxy card and Annual Report to Stockholders (which
is not part of the Corporation's  soliciting  materials) are being mailed to the
Corporation's stockholders is April 7, 1997.

Voting and Revocability of Proxy

         The proxy  solicited  hereby,  if properly  signed and  returned to the
Corporation  and not revoked prior to its use, will be voted in accordance  with
the instructions  contained thereon. If no contrary instructions are given, each
proxy  received  will  be  voted  "for"  the  proposals  described  herein.  Any
stockholder  giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time  before it is
exercised  by (i)  filing  written  notice  thereof  with the  Secretary  of the
Corporation (Robert M. Little, Jr., Secretary,  Highlands Bankshares,  Inc., 340
West Main Street,  Abingdon,  Virginia  24210),  (ii) submitting a duly executed
proxy bearing a later date; or (iii)  appearing at the Annual  Meeting or at any
adjournment  thereof and giving the Secretary  notice of his or her intention to
vote in person.  Proxies  solicited  hereby may be exercised  only at the Annual
Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting.

Persons Making the Solicitations

         The cost of  soliciting  proxies will be borne by the  Corporation.  In
addition  to  solicitation  by  mail,  officers  and  regular  employees  of the
Corporation may solicit proxies in person or by telephone.

Voting Securities

         Only  stockholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 1997
(the  "Record  Date")  will be entitled  to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  On the
Record Date,  there were  1,227,838  shares of Common  Stock of the  Corporation
issued and  outstanding  and 937 record  holders.  Each share of Common Stock is
entitled to one vote at the Annual  Meeting.  The Corporation had no other class
of voting securities outstanding at the Record Date.

In the election of Directors,  those nominees  receiving the greatest  number of
votes will be elected  even if they do not receive a majority.  Abstentions  and
broker  non-votes  will not be  considered  a vote  for,  or a vote  against,  a
Director.

<PAGE>


                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Nominees

         Nine (9)  Directors  are to be elected  at the Annual  Meeting to serve
until the next Annual Meeting, and until the election and qualification of their
respective successors.

         The following table sets forth the names, ages and business  experience
of nominees  for election to the Board of Directors as well as the date each was
first elected to the Board of Directors of the  Corporation or previously to the
Board of  Directors  of the  Bank.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the  business
experience shown for each nominee has extended five or more years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME AND AGE                                            NAME AND AGE                                                    
 AND YEAR                                                 AND YEAR                                          
 BECAME                         PRINCIPAL                  BECAME                     PRINCIPAL      
 DIRECTOR                      OCCUPATION                 DIRECTOR                   OCCUPATION     
 --------                      ----------                 --------                   ----------     
                                                      

<S>                         <C>                       <C>                         <C>  
William E. Chaffin          Computer                  Verne D. Kendrick           Private Investor           
Age 47                      Consultant                Age 76                                          
Director since                                        Director since                                  
March, 1991                                           September, 1983                                 
                                                                                                      
Clydes B. Kiser             President of Kiser        J. Carter Lambert           Private Investor    
Age 59                      Furniture, a furniture    Age 71                                          
Director since              retailer                  Director since                                  
March, 1988                                           August, 1983                                    
                                                                                                      
James D. Moore, Jr.         Physician; President      James D. Morefield          Attorney in private 
Age 51                      of the Corporation;       Age 47                      practice; Chairman  
Director since              President of the Bank     Director since              of the Corporation  
August, 1983                                          August, 1983                and the Bank        
                                                                                                      
Charles P. Olinger          CEO of Settlers Life      William J. Singleton        Private Investor    
Age 47                      Insurance Company         Age 71                      
Director since                                        Director since          
March, 1988                                           November, 1991          
                                                      
H. Ramsey White Jr.         Dentist in private        
Age 51                      practice                  
Director since July,                              
1983                                              
                            


</TABLE>


Election of Directors

         Unless  authority  is withheld in the proxy,  each proxy  executed  and
returned by a stockholder  will be voted for the election of the nominees listed
above.  Proxies distributed in conjunction herewith may not be voted for persons
other than the nominees  listed above.  If any person named as nominee should be
unable or unwilling to stand for election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the
proxy  holders  will  nominate  and vote for a  replacement  nominee or nominees
recommended  by the Board of  Directors.  All of the nominees  listed above have
consented to be nominated and to serve if elected,  and at this time,  the Board
of  Directors  knows no reason why any of the  nominees  listed above may not be
able to serve as a director if  elected.  The proxy also  confers  discretionary
authority 

<PAGE>

upon the persons named therein, or their substitutes,  with respect to any other
matter that may promptly come before the meeting.

   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE NOMINEES BE ELECTED AS DIRECTORS

         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         The  following  table  sets  forth  information  as of March  15,  1997
regarding  the  beneficial  ownership of the  Corporation's  Common Stock by (i)
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation's
Common Stock (all of whom are Directors of the Corporation),  (ii) all Directors
and  nominees,  (iii) its Chief  Executive  Officer,  and (iv) all Directors and
executive  officers  as a group.  For the  purposes  of this  table,  beneficial
ownership has been  determined in accordance  with the  provisions of Rule 13d-3
under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),
under  which,  in  general,  a person is deemed  to be a  beneficial  owner of a
security  if he has or  shares  the power to vote or  direct  the  voting of the
security or the power to dispose or direct the  disposition of the security,  or
if he has the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of the security  within 60
days.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Common Stock
Name                                                 Beneficially Owned            Percent of Class
- ----                                                 ------------------            ----------------
<S>                                                    <C>                              <C>      
Directors
   William E. Chaffin (1)                              10,850                                *
   Verne D. Kendrick (2)                               76,330                             6.22%
       P.O. Box 310
       Meadowview, VA  24361
    Clydes B. Kiser (3)                                11,310                                *
   J. Carter Lambert (4)                               30,978                             2.52%
   James D. Moore, Jr. (5)                            121,783                             9.92%
       P.O. Box 1192
       Abingdon, VA  24212
   James D. Morefield (6)                              85,237                             6.94%
       211 High Street
       Abingdon, VA  24210
   Charles P. Olinger (7)                               6,522                                *
   William Singleton (8)                               14,876                             1.21%
   H. Ramsey White, Jr. (9)                            23,944                             1.95%
        Total Directors                               381,830                            28.76%
Named Executives
     Samuel L. Neese (10)                              17,150                             1.40%
The chief executive officer and directors as a
group (10 persons) (11)                               398,980                            32.49%
</TABLE>

- ---------------
*Indicated  holdings amount to less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Common
Stock.

(1)  Includes  3,850 options to purchase the  Corporation's  Common Stock that
     may be exercised immediately.  All shares are held directly by Mr. Chaffin.

(2)  Includes 900 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may be
     exercised  immediately.  Also includes indirect  ownership of 31,500 shares
     held solely in Mrs. Kendrick's name.

(3)  Includes 1,900 options to purchase the Corporation's  Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately.  Also includes indirect ownership of 3,790 shares
     held solely in Mrs. Kiser's name.

(4)  Includes 900 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may be
     exercised immediately. Also includes 1,060 shares held by Mrs. Lambert in a
     custodial relationship.
<PAGE>

(5)  Includes 8,350 options to purchase the Corporation's  Common Stock that may
     be exercised  immediately.  Also includes  63,940 shares held by Glover and
     Moore  Profit  Sharing  Plan  for  which  Dr.  Moore is  trustee;  indirect
     ownership of 15,332  shares held by Dr. Moore in a custodial  relationship;
     indirect  ownership  of 450 shares  held solely in Dr.  Moore's  children's
     names; and indirect ownership of 7,666 shares held solely in Mrs. Moore's 
     name.

(6)  Includes 1,700 options to purchase the Corporation's  Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately.  Also includes indirect ownership of 8,022 shares
     held by Mrs.  Morefield  in a custodial  relationship;  14,907  shares held
     solely in Mrs.  Morefield's  name;  and  7,220  shares  held  solely in Mr.
     Morefield's daughter's name.

(7)  Includes 3,650 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately.

(8)  Includes 900 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may be
     exercised immediately.

(9)  Includes 8,350 options to purchase the Corporation's  Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately. Also indirect ownership of 600 shares held by Dr.
     White in a custodial relationship; 2,670 shares held by Mrs. White in a 
     self-directed IRA.

(10) Includes 11,100 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately

(11) All shares,  except as noted above,  are individually  held or held jointly
     with spouses or children,  or in an Individual Retirement Account

                   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IT'S COMMITTEES

         Meetings  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Corporation  are  held
regularly each month, and there is also an organizational  meeting following the
conclusion of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Board of Directors of the
Corporation  held  twelve  meetings  in the year ended  December  31,  1996.  No
director  attended  fewer than 75 percent of the total number of meetings of the
Board of  Directors.  There were no committee  meetings of the  Corporation  for
1996.

         The  Board  of  Directors  of the Bank met 12  times  during  1996.  No
director  attended  fewer than 75 percent of the total number of meetings of the
Board of Directors and of the total number of meetings held by all committees of
the Board of Directors on which he served.

         The Board of Directors of the  Corporation has an Audit Committee and a
Compensation  Committee,  but  does  not  have  a  nominating  committee.  These
committees were previously  committees of the Board of Directors of the Bank and
have the same members and the same functions as when they were committees of the
Board of Directors of the Bank.

         The Audit Committee  consists of Messrs.  Kendrick,  Lambert,  Olinger,
White,  Chaffin,  and  Singleton.  The Audit  Committee is  responsible  for the
selection and  recommendation of the independent  accounting firm for the annual
audit and for the establishment, and the assurance of the adherence to, a system
of internal  controls.  It reviews and accepts the reports of the  Corporation's
independent auditors and federal and state examiners. The Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors  of the Bank met 3 times  during the year ended  December 31,
1996.

         The  Compensation  Committee  consists of Messrs.  Kiser,  Lambert, 
Morefield, Olinger, and White. The Committee is responsible for the oversight of
the  compensation  paid to employees  and  officers of the Bank.  It reviews and
recommends  salary  adjustments for the Bank. The  Compensation  Committee meets
semi-annually.

         Under the Corporation's Bylaws, notice of a proposed nomination meeting
certain specified requirements must be received by the Corporation not less than
60 nor more than 90 days  prior to any  meeting of  stockholders  called for the
election of directors,  provided in each case that if fewer than 70 days' notice
of the meeting is given to  stockholders,  such written notice shall be received
not later than the close of the tenth day  following  the day on which notice of
the meeting was mailed to stockholders.
<PAGE>

         The Bylaws of the Corporation require that the stockholder's notice set
forth as to each  nominee (i) the name,  age,  business  address  and  residence
address of such  nominee,  (ii) the  principal  occupation or employment of such
nominee,  (iii)  the class and  number  of shares of the  Corporation  which are
beneficially owned by such nominee,  and (iv) any other information  relating to
such nominee that is required under federal  securities  laws to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for the election of directors, or is otherwise required
(including, without limitation, such nominee's written consent to being named in
a proxy  statement  as nominee  and to serving as a director  if  elected).  The
Bylaws of the  Corporation  further  require that the  stockholder's  notice set
forth as to the  stockholder  giving the notice (i) the name and address of such
stockholder  and (ii) the class  and  amount  of such  stockholder's  beneficial
ownership of the  Corporation's  capital stock. If the  information  supplied by
stockholder is deficient in any material aspect or if the foregoing procedure is
not  followed,  the  chairman  of the Annual  Meeting  may  determine  that such
stockholder's  nomination  should not be brought  before the Annual  Meeting and
that such  nominee  shall not be  eligible  for  election  as a director  of the
Corporation..

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

         Samuel L. Neese (Age 46) was  appointed  Executive  Vice  President and
Chief Executive  Officer of the Corporation in 1995 and Executive Vice President
and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Bank in 1991.  He was first  appointed as a
bank  officer to the  position  of Vice  President  and Senior  Loan  Officer in
January,  1988.  Prior to January,  1988,  he was  associated  with a Washington
County bank for fifteen years.

         James T. Riffe (Age 43) was  appointed  Executive  Vice  President  and
Cashier of the  Corporation  in 1995 and Executive Vice President and Cashier of
the Bank in 1991. His first officer position with the Bank was as Vice President
and Cashier,  to which he was  appointed in 1986.  He has been  associated  with
various  banks  since 1975,  including  serving as vice  president  of a bank in
Botetourt County, Virginia from 1981 to 1986.

Compliance With Filing Requirements Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         The Exchange Act requires the  Corporation's  Directors  and  executive
officers,  and any persons owning more than 10% of a class of the  Corporation's
stock,  to file certain  reports of ownership and changes in ownership  with the
SEC. The reporting requirements are complex, and the following filings were made
late: On May 24, 1996,  J.D.  Morefield sold to Samuel L. Neese 2,000 shares and
James T. Riffe 1,000  shares.  The sale  should have been  reported on or before
June 10, 1996 by J.D.  Morefield,  Samuel L. Neese, and James T. Riffe. The sale
was reported in a timely manner by J.D. Morefield and filed late on December 23,
1996 by Samuel L. Neese and James T. Riffe.


                                  REMUNERATION

Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation

         The following table show, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994, the cash  compensation paid by the Bank, as well as certain other
compensation  paid or accrued for those years, to the Chief Executive Officer of
the  Corporation  in all  capacities  in which he  served.  The Chief  Executive
Officer  of  the  Corporation  does  not  receive  any  compensation   from  the
Corporation:


<PAGE>

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          Annual Compensation                   Long-Term
                                                                               Compensation

                                                                       Securities       All Other
                                                                       Underlying       Compensation
Name and Principal Position         Year    Salary($)      Bonus($)    Options          ($) (a)
- ---------------------------         ----    ---------      --------    -------          -------

<S>                                 <C>     <C>              <C>          <C>           <C>  
Samuel L. Neese, Executive          1996    90,000           3,000        800           6,127
Vice President and Chief            1995    81,800           4,650        200           6,364
Executive Officer                   1994    72,800           4,867        650           6,719
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(a)   Consists of annual  amounts funded by the Bank for the benefit of Mr. 
      Neese under its  non-integrated  profit  sharing plan.


                        OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Individual Grants (a)
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Potential Realizable   
                              Number of                 Percent of                                        Value at Assumed       
                              Securities               Total Options/                                  Annual Rates of Stock      
                              Underlying                   SARs                                        Price Appreciation for     
                               Options/                 Granted to         Exercise                          Option Term           
                                 SARS                   Employee in          Price        Expiration   
       Name                   Granted (#)              Fiscal Year(b)      ($/Share)         Date         5%($)       10%($)
       ----                   -----------              --------------      ---------         ----         -----       ------
<S>                               <C>                       <C>              <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>    
Samuel L. Neese, Exec.            800                       6.20%            $15.00        01/31/2005     $15,376     $31,576
Vice Pres. and                                         
Chief Exec. Officer

</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a)  Stock options were awarded at $15.00 per share and may be exercised 
     immediately.

(b)  Options to purchase  800 shares of Common  Stock were  granted to the chief
     executive officer of the Corporation  during the fiscal year ended December
     31, 1996.


Option Exercises and Holdings

         All options  held by the Chief  Executive  Officer at December 31, 1996
can be exercised  immediately.  The following table sets forth  information with
respect to exercised and unexercised  options held by such officer as of the end
of the fiscal year:


<PAGE>

               AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                      AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Number of Securities
                                                             Underlying                 Value of Unexercised
                         Shares                              Unexercised                    in-the-Money
                         Acquired on        Value          Options/SARs at                 Options/SARs at
Name                     Exercise(#)     Realized($)       Fiscal Year End(#)          Fiscal Year End ($)(a)
- ----                     -----------     -----------       ------------------          ----------------------
<S>                          <C>            <C>                  <C>                           <C>     
Samuel L. Neese,            -0-             N/A                  9,600                         $140,953
Executive Vice 
President and Chief 
Executive Officer

</TABLE>

(a)  The  value of  unexercised  in-the-money  options  at  fiscal  year end was
     calculated by determining  the difference  between the fair market value of
     the Common Stock of the Corporation  underlying the options on December 31,
     1996,  $21.00  per  share,  and the  exercise  price  of the  options.  The
     Corporation's  Common  Stock is not actively  traded,  and thus fair market
     value  reflects  the  good  faith  determination  by  management  based  on
     information received from purchasers and sellers of such stock.


Director's Compensation

         Directors  of  the   Corporation   receive   options  to  purchase  the
Corporation's  Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors,  for their
services.  Directors of the Corporation also received fees of $2,600.00 each for
their services for the year ended December 31, 1996.

         During 1996,  Directors of the  Corporation  and directors of the Bank,
excluding  Chairman  Morefield  who did not  receive any  options  during  1996,
received 900 options each for the Corporation's Common Stock for their services.


                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

         Some of the Directors and officers of the  Corporation  and some of the
corporations  and firms with which these  individuals  are  associated  are also
customers of the Corporation in the ordinary course of business, or are indebted
to the Corporation with respect to loans, and it is anticipated that some of the
persons,  corporations  and firms will continue to be customers of, and indebted
to, the Corporation on a similar basis in the future. All loans extended to such
persons,  corporations  and firms were made in the ordinary  course of business,
did not involve more than normal  collection  risk or present other  unfavorable
features,  and were made on  substantially  the same terms,  including  interest
rates  and  collateral,  as those  prevailing  at the same  time for  comparable
Corporation  transactions with unaffiliated persons. No such loan as of December
31, 1996 was non-accruing,  past due or restructured.  At December 31, 1996, the
aggregate  amounts of loans  outstanding  to all  directors  and officers of the
Corporation  and  members  of  their  immediate   families  were   approximately
$5,540,790, representing 37.9% of the total equity of the Corporation.

         Management is not aware of any  arrangements  which may at a subsequent
date result in a change in control of the Corporation.

         Management of the Corporation is not aware of any material  proceedings
to which any  Director,  officer or affiliate of the  Corporation,  any owner of
record or beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Corporation's Common
Stock,  or  any  associate  of  any  such  Director,  officer  affiliate  of the
Corporation,  or  stockholder  is a party  adverse to the  Corporation  or has a
material interest adverse to the Corporation.

<PAGE>

                                    AUDITORS

         The Board of Directors has appointed Brown,  Edwards & Company,  LLP to
perform the audit of the Corporation's  financial statements for the year ending
December 31, 1996. Brown,  Edwards & Company, LLP has acted as the Corporation's
auditors  for 1996 and as the Bank's  auditors for the past eleven years and has
reported on financial  statements  during those  periods.  Representatives  from
Brown,  Edwards & Company, LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be
given  the  opportunity  to make a  statement,  if they so  desire,  and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.


                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

         Any proposal  which a stockholder  wishes to have presented at the next
Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders,  to be held on or about May 13, 1998,  must be
received by the Corporation no later than 60 days before such date. Any proposal
which a stockholder  wishes to have included in the Proxy  Statement and form of
proxy  relating to the next Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  must be received by
the Corporation no later than November 28, 1997. If such proposal  complies with
all of the  requirements  of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, it will be included
in the Proxy  Statement  and set forth in the form of proxy  issued for the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  It is urged that any such proposals be sent the
Secretary of the Corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested.

                     ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         A copy of the Bank's Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended
December 31, 1996  accompanies this Proxy  Statement.  Additional  copies may be
obtained by written  request to the Secretary of the  Corporation at the address
indicated  below.  Such  Annual  Report  is not part of the  proxy  solicitation
materials.

         UPON  RECEIPT  OF A WRITTEN  REQUEST  OF ANY PERSON WHO , ON THE RECORD
DATE,  WAS RECORD OWNER OF THE  CORPORATION'S  COMMON STOCK OR WHO REPRESENTS IN
GOOD  FAITH THAT HE OR SHE WAS ON SUCH DATE THE  BENEFICIAL  OWNER OF SUCH STOCK
ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF  STOCKHOLDERS,  THE  CORPORATION  WILL
FURNISH TO SUCH PERSON, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE EXHIIBITS  THERETO  REQUIRED
TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
ANY SUCH REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE IN WRITING TO ROBERT M. LITTLE,  JR., SECRETARY,
HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES,  INC., 340 WEST MAIN STREET, ABINGDON, VIRGINIA 24210. THE
FORM 10-K IS NOT PART OF THE PROXY SOLITICATION MATERIALS.



                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  is not aware of any other
matters  that may come before the Annual  Meeting.  However,  the proxies may be
voted with  discretionary  authority  with respect to any other matters that may
properly come before the Annual Meeting.

<PAGE>



                           HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES, INC.

                 340 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210

                    PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

         THIS PROXY IS  SOLICITED  BY THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS.  The  undersigned
hereby constitutes J.D. Morefield, William E. Chaffin and Clydes B. Kiser or any
of them,  attorneys and proxies,  with power of substitution in each, to act for
the  undersigned  with  respect  to all  shares  of  Common  Stock of  Highlands
Bankshares,  Inc. (the "Corporation") held of record by the undersigned on March
15, 1997,  at the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held at the  Southwest
Virginia 4-H Education Center, Inc. at 25236 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, Virginia
on May 14, 1997, at 7:00 p.m.,  or any  adjournment  thereof,  for the following
purposes:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                              <C>                                                <C>
1. Election of Directors         [   ]  FOR all nominees listed below               [   ]  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for
                                        (except as marked to the contrary)                 all nominees
</TABLE>

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
 such nominee's name on the line below)

William E. Chaffin          V.D. Kendrick               Clydes B. Kiser
J. Carter Lambert           James D. Moore, Jr.         J.D. Morefield
Charles P. Olinger          William J. Singleton        H. Ramsey White, Jr.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. In  their  discretion,  the  proxies  are  authorized  to vote on such  other
   business as may properly come before the meeting.

             (Continued and to be signed and dated on the reverse
             side and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope.)

<PAGE>


THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY
THE  STOCKHOLDER.  IF NO  DIRECTION  IS MADE,  THIS  PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS LISTED IN ITEM 1.

          Please sign name exactly as it appears on the stock certificate. All 
          owners should sign. Fiduciaries should give full title.



                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                   Signature


                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                     Date


                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                   Signature


                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                     Date



                                    I plan_________, do not plan____________, to
                                    attend the 1997 Annual Meeting.

                                    PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN 
                                    THIS PROXY SHEET PROMPTLY.




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