HIGHLANDS BANKSHARES INC /VA/
DEF 14A, 2000-05-11
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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12



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


      (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than 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)(4) 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 10, 2000



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 10, 2000 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 8, 2000
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



                                         Robert M. Little, Jr.
                                         Secretary

Abingdon, Virginia
April 3, 2000

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

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 10, 2000

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

         This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of common stock, $1.25 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 10, 2000 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 3, 2000.

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 8, 2000
(the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the
Record Date, there were 2,623,856 shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
issued and outstanding and 1,088 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                       E. Craig. Kendrick            Attorney in private
Age 50                        Consultant                     Age 48                        practice
Director since                                               Director since
March, 1991                                                  February, 2000

Clydes B. Kiser               President of Kiser             J. Carter Lambert             Private Investor
Age 62                        Furniture, a furniture         Age 74
Director since                retailer                       Director since
March, 1988                                                  August, 1983

James D. Moore, Jr.           Physician; President           James D. Morefield            Attorney in private
Age 54                        of the Corporation;            Age 50                        practice; Chairman
Director since                President of the               Director since                of the Corporation
August, 1983                  Bank                           August, 1983                  and the Bank

Charles P. Olinger            Controller; Frizzell           William J. Singleton          Private Investor
Age 50                        Construction                   Age 74
Director since                Company                        Director since
March, 1988                                                  November, 1991

H. Ramsey White Jr.
Age 54                        Dentist in private
Director since                practice
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 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.
<PAGE>

         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         The following table sets forth information as of March 8, 2000
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>
<S>                   <C>                         <C>
                                                 Common Stock
Name                                             Beneficially Owned             Percent of Class
- ----                                             ------------------             ----------------
Directors
   William E. Chaffin (1)                         25,300                                *
   E. Craig. Kendrick (2)                         66,048                              1.69%
   Clydes B. Kiser (3)                            25,620                                *
   J. Carter Lambert (4)                          61,836                              2.52%
   James D. Moore, Jr. (5)                       248,474                              9.46%
       P.O. Box 1192
       Abingdon, VA 24212
   James D. Morefield (6)                        156,702                              5.97%
       211 High Street
       Abingdon, VA 24210
   Charles P. Olinger                             12,369                                *
   William Singleton (7)                          15,216                                *
   H. Ramsey White, Jr. (8)                       35,304                              1.34%
                                                 -------                          --------
        Total Directors                          646,869                             22.65%
Named Executives
    Samuel L. Neese (9)                           39,020                              1.49%
    James T. Riffe (10)                           17,557                                *
The chief executive officer and directors as a
group (11 persons) (11)                          703,446                             26.81%
                                                 -------                          --------
</TABLE>

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

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

(1)  Includes indirect ownership of 600 shares held solely in Mrs. Chaffin's
     name.

(2)  Includes indirect ownership of 7,150 shares held solely in Mrs. Kendrick's
     name. Also includes indirect ownership of 30,828 shares held in Mr.
     Kendrick's children's names. Also includes 4,000 shares held jointly with
     Mrs. Kendrick. Also includes 16,840 shares held by Morefield, Kendrick,
     Hess & Largen PST for which Mr. Kendrick is a trustee.

(3)  Includes 6,800 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately. Also includes indirect ownership of 7,580 shares
     held solely in Mrs. Kiser's name.

(4)  Includes 1,000 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately. Also includes 29,018 shares held jointly with
     Mrs. Lambert.

(5)  Includes 131,880 shares held by Glover and Moore Profit Sharing Plan for
     which Dr. Moore is trustee; 30,664 shares held in a custodial relationship;
     and indirect ownership of 15,866 shares held solely in Mrs. Moore's name.
<PAGE>

(6)  Includes indirect ownership of 16,044 shares held by Mrs. Morefield in a
     custodial relationship; and 20,396 shares held solely in Mrs. Morefield's
     name. Also includes 16,840 shares held by Morefield, Kendrick, Hess &
     Largen PST for which Mr. Morefield is a trustee.

(7)  Includes 2,000 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately. Also includes indirect ownership of 6,608 shares
     held solely in Mrs. Singleton's name.

(8)  Includes indirect ownership of 600 shares held by Dr. White in a custodial
     relationship. Also includes 5,540 shares held by Mrs. White in a
     self-directed IRA.

(9)  Includes 7,000 options to purchase the Corporation's Common Stock that may
     be exercised immediately.

(10) Includes 4,000 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 ITS 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, 1999. No
director attended fewer than 75 percent of the total number of meetings of the
Board of Directors. There were three committee meetings of the Corporation for
1999.

         The Board of Directors of the Bank met twelve times during 1999. 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 three times during the year ended December
31, 1999.

         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.

         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

<PAGE>

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 OF THE CORPORATION

         SAMUEL L. NEESE (Age 49) 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 46) 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. All filings were made in a timely manner.


                                  REMUNERATION

SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION

         The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended December 31,
1999, 1998 and 1997, 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 receives compensation from the Corporation
in the form of stock options, which may be purchased and converted, on a share
to share basis, to the Corporation's common stock.


                           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          1999     120,468         5,500       1,000           5,816
Vice President and Chief            1998     105,424           -0-       1,000           5,305
Executive Officer                   1997      92,312         8,250         500           2,310

James T. Riffe, Executive           1999     105,983         5,500       1,000           3,080
Vice President and Chief            1998      95,093           -0-       1,000           4,830
Operations Officer                  1997      91,236         7,500         500           2,100
</TABLE>

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

(a)  Consists of annual amounts funded by the Bank for the benefit of Mr. Neese
     and Mr. Riffe under its qualifying 401-K plan for the year ended 1999, 1998
     and 1997.
<PAGE>

                        OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (a)
                                          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                 NUMBER OF                                                                    POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                SECURITIES           PERCENT OF                                                 VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                UNDERLYING         TOTAL OPTIONS/                                            ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                 OPTIONS/           SARS GRANTED           EXERCISE                          PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
                                   SARS            TO EMPLOYEE IN            PRICE          EXPIRATION            OPTION TERM
   NAME                         GRANTED(#)         FISCAL YEAR(b)          ($/SHARE)           DATE          5%($)           10%($)
   ----                         ----------         --------------          ---------           ----          -----           ------
<S>                                <C>                  <C>                 <C>                <C>           <C>             <C>
Samuel L.                          1,000                3.75%               $19.00             2009          $15,207         $35,469
Neese, Exec.
Vice Pres. and
Chief Exec.
Officer

James T. Riffe,                    1,000                3.75%               $19.00             2009          $15,207         $35,469
Exec. V.P. and
Cashier
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  1,000 stock options were awarded at $19.00 per share and may be exercised
     immediately.

(b)  Options to purchase 1,000 shares of common stock were granted to the Chief
     Executive Officer and Cashier of the Corporation during the fiscal year
     ended December 31, 1999.

OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS

         All options held by the Chief Executive Officer and Cashier at December
31, 1999 can be exercised immediately. The following table sets forth
information with respect to exercised and unexercised options held by such
officers as of the end of the fiscal year:

               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 FISCAL          OPTIONS/SARS AT FISCAL
      NAME                    EXERCISE(#)         REALIZED($)              YEAR END(#)                    YEAR END ($)(a)
      ----                    -----------         -----------              -----------                    ---------------
<S>                              <C>               <C>                         <C>
Samuel L. Neese,                 16,200            $282,200                    7,000                          $54,500
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Executive Officer

James T. Riffe,                   5,700            $ 81,875                    4,000                          $20,250
Executive Vice
President and
Cashier
</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,
     1999, $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.
<PAGE>

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 $6,700.00 each for
their services for the year ended December 31, 1999 except for E. Craig Kendrick
who was not appointed to the Board until February 2000.

         During 1999, Directors of the Corporation and Directors of the Bank,
excluding Chairman Morefield who did not receive any options during 1999,
received 1,000 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, 1999 was non-accruing, past due or restructured. At December 31, 1999, the
aggregate amounts of loans outstanding to all directors and officers of the
Corporation and members of their immediate families were approximately
$7,767,000, representing 38.06% 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.


                                    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, 1999. Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP has acted as the Corporation's
auditors for 1999 and as the Bank's auditors for the past fourteen 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 that a stockholder wishes to have presented at the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on or about May 9, 2001, 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 30, 2000. 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 to
the Secretary of the Corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested.
<PAGE>

                     ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         A copy of the Bank's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1999 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, 1999 AND THE EXHIBITS 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.


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