SWVA BANCSHARES INC
DEF 14A, 1998-09-14
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            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 ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12

                             SWVA Bancshares, 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>




                       [SWVA BANCSHARES, INC. LETTERHEAD]














September 14, 1998

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

         On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of SWVA  Bancshares,
Inc., (the  "Company"),  I cordially  invite you to attend the annual meeting of
stockholders  to be held at the Holiday Inn -  Tanglewood,  4468  Starkey  Road,
Roanoke,  Virginia  on  October  14,  1998,  at 10:30 a.m.  We will be  electing
directors,  ratifying  the choice of auditors and  considering a proposal from a
stockholder. During the meeting, I will report on the operations of the Company.
Our directors  and  officers,  as well as  representatives  of Cherry  Bekaert &
Holland L.L.P., certified public accountants, will be present to respond to your
questions.

         WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE
ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE AS
PROMPTLY  AS  POSSIBLE.  This will not  prevent you from voting in person at the
meeting,  but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

                                                    Sincerely,


                                                    /s/ B.L. Rakes
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    B. L. Rakes
                                                    President



<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              SWVA BANCSHARES, INC.
                             302 SECOND STREET, S.W.
                          ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1597
                                 (540) 343-0135
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                         TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  (the "Meeting")
of SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc.,  (the  "Company")  will be held at the Holiday Inn -
Tanglewood, 4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke, Virginia on Wednesday, October 14, 1998,
10:30 a.m. A proxy and a proxy statement for the Meeting are enclosed.

The Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

1.       The election of two directors;
2.       The  ratification of the appointment of Cherry Bekaert & Holland L.L.P.
         as independent  auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending June
         30, 1999;
3.       The  consideration  of a  stockholder's  proposal to recommend that the
         board of directors  appoint a special  committee  concerning  offers to
         acquire the Company; and
4.       The  transaction  of such other matters as may properly come before the
         Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

         The  Board of  Directors  is not aware of any  other  business  to come
before the Meeting.  Any action may be taken on the  foregoing  proposals at the
Meeting  on the date  specified  above or on any  date or  dates  to  which,  by
original or later  adjournment,  the Meeting may be adjourned.  Stockholders  of
record at the  close of  business  on  September  4,  1998 are the  stockholders
entitled to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

EACH  STOCKHOLDER,  WHETHER  OR NOT HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND  THE  MEETING,  IS
REQUESTED TO SIGN,  DATE,  AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED  PROXY  WITHOUT  DELAY IN THE
ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE.  ANY  PROXY  GIVEN BY THE  STOCKHOLDER  MAY BE
REVOKED BY FILING A WRITTEN  REVOCATION OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER
DATE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.  ANY STOCKHOLDER  PRESENT AT THE MEETING
MAY REVOKE HIS OR HER PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON ON EACH MATTER BROUGHT BEFORE THE
MEETING.  HOWEVER,  IF YOU ARE A STOCKHOLDER  WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN
YOUR OWN NAME, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR RECORD HOLDER TO
VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING.

                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                             /s/ Barbara C. Weddle
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Barbara C. Weddle
                                             Secretary
Roanoke, Virginia
September 14, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT  RETURN OF PROXIES  WILL SAVE THE  COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF
FURTHER  REQUESTS  FOR  PROXIES  IN ORDER TO INSURE A QUORUM AT THE  MEETING.  A
SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED
IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       OF
                              SWVA BANCSHARES, INC.
                             302 SECOND STREET, S.W.
                          ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1597
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                October 14, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     General
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         This proxy statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of proxies by the board of directors of SWVA Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") to
be used at the annual  meeting of  stockholders  of the Company (the  "Meeting")
which will be held at the Holiday Inn - Tanglewood,  4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke,
Virginia  on  Wednesday,   October  14,  1998,   10:30  a.m.,  local  time.  The
accompanying  Notice of Meeting and this proxy  statement are being first mailed
to  stockholders  on or  about  September  14,  1998.  The  Company  is the sole
shareholder of Southwest Virginia Savings Bank, FSB (the "Bank").

         At the  Meeting,  stockholders  will  consider  and  vote  upon (i) the
election of two directors,  (ii) the ratification of the appointment of auditors
for the  fiscal  year  ending  June 30,  1999 and (iii) the  consideration  of a
stockholder's  proposal  to  recommend  that the  board of  directors  appoint a
special  committee.  The Board of  Directors  of the Company (the "Board" or the
"Board of Directors") knows of no additional  matters that will be presented for
consideration  at the  Meeting.  Execution of a proxy,  however,  confers on the
designated  proxy  holder  the  discretionary   authority  to  vote  the  shares
represented  by such proxy in accordance  with their best judgment on such other
business,  if any, of which the Company was not aware of on or before August 23,
1998,  that may  properly  come  before the  Meeting or any  adjournment  of the
Meeting.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Voting and Revocability of Proxies
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any
time.  Unless  revoked,  the shares  represented by proxies will be voted at the
Meeting and all  adjournments of the Meeting.  Proxies may be revoked by written
notice to the  Secretary of the Company at the address above or by the filing of
a later dated proxy prior to a vote being taken on a particular  proposal at the
Meeting.  A proxy will not be voted if a  stockholder  attends  the  Meeting and
votes in person.  Proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors  will be voted in
accordance  with  the  directions  given  therein.  Where  no  instructions  are
indicated,  signed proxies will be voted "FOR" the nominees for directors, "FOR"
the ratification of auditors and "AGAINST" the stockholder proposal.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 4, 1998
(the "Record Date"),  are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock of
the Company (the "Common  Stock") then held. As of the Record Date,  the Company
had 496,887 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

         The   Articles  of   Incorporation   of  the  Company   ("Articles   of
Incorporation")  provide  that  in no  event  shall  any  record  owner  of  any
outstanding Common Stock which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
a person who beneficially  owns in excess of 10% of the then outstanding  shares
of Common Stock (the  "Limit") be entitled or permitted to any vote with respect
to the shares held in excess of the Limit.  Beneficial  ownership is  determined
pursuant to the definition in the Articles of


<PAGE>



Incorporation  and includes shares  beneficially  owned by such person or any of
his or her  affiliates or associates  (as such terms are defined in the Articles
of  Incorporation),  shares  which  such  person  or his or  her  affiliates  or
associates  have the right to acquire upon the exercise of conversion  rights or
options  and  shares  as to  which  such  person  and his or her  affiliates  or
associates  have or share  investment  or voting  power,  but shall not  include
shares  beneficially  owned by any employee stock ownership plan or similar plan
of the issuer or any subsidiary.

         The  presence  in  person  or by proxy of at  least a  majority  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock  entitled to vote (any shares held in excess
of the  Limit  shall  not be  considered  entitled  to  vote)  is  necessary  to
constitute a quorum at the Meeting.  Any shares for which a broker  indicates on
the proxy that it does not have discretionary  authority to vote on such matter,
are considered  "Broker  Non-Votes." In the event there are not sufficient votes
for a quorum or to ratify any proposals at the time of the Meeting,  the Meeting
may be adjourned in order to permit the further solicitation of proxies.

         As to the election of directors,  the proxy being provided by the Board
enables a stockholder  to vote for the election of the nominees  proposed by the
Board,  or to withhold  authority to vote for one or more of the nominees  being
proposed. Directors are to be elected by a plurality of votes cast by the shares
entitled to vote in the election at a meeting of  stockholders at which a quorum
is present.

         As to the ratification of auditors and consideration of the stockholder
proposal,  by checking the  appropriate  box, a stockholder  may: vote "FOR" the
item,  (ii) vote  "AGAINST"  the item,  or (iii) vote to "ABSTAIN" on such item.
These two matters and, unless  otherwise  required by law, all other matters are
determined  by a majority  of votes cast  affirmatively  or  negatively  without
regard to (a)  broker  non-  votes  (shares  that  brokers  cannot  vote  absent
instruction  from the beneficial  owner) or (b) proxies  marked  "ABSTAIN" as to
that matter.

         Persons  and  groups  owning in excess  of 5% of the  Common  Stock are
required  to file  certain  reports  regarding  such  ownership  pursuant to the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the "1934  Act").  The  following
table sets forth, as of the Record Date,  persons or groups who own more than 5%
of the Common Stock and the ownership of all executive officers and directors of
the Company as a group. Other than as noted below, management knows of no person
or group that owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at the
Record Date.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Percent of Shares
                                                              Amount and Nature of          of Common Stock
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner                          Beneficial Ownership            Outstanding
- ------------------------------------                          --------------------            -----------
<S>                                                            <C>                              <C>  
Southwest Virginia Savings Bank, FSB                             44,743                           9.0%
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
302 Second Street, S.W.
Roanoke, Virginia  24011-1597

Mr. Richard J. Nelson                                            27,000(1)                        5.4%
c/o LaSalle Capital Management, Inc.
259 East Michigan  Avenue
Suite 405
Kalamazoo, Michigan  49007

All Directors and Executive Officers                             89,176(2)(3)(4)                 17.3%
  as a Group (8 persons)

</TABLE>

- ----------------------------------
(1)  Based on an amended  Schedule  13D filed on May 15,  1998  disclosing  sole
     voting and dispositive power with respect to all shares.
(2)  Includes  shares of Common  Stock  held  directly  as well as by spouses or
     minor children,  in trust and other indirect  ownership,  over which shares
     the  individuals  effectively  exercise sole voting and  investment  power,
     unless  otherwise  indicated.  Includes  17,611 shares of Common Stock that
     executive  officers  have a right to acquire  pursuant  to the  exercise of
     options  within 60 days from the  Record  Date.  Includes  5,430  shares of
     Common Stock  allocated  under the ESOP to executive  officers,  over which
     such individuals exercise shared voting and investment power.
(3)  Excludes 27,385  unallocated shares of Common Stock held under the Employee
     Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") for which certain  directors serve as members
     of the  administrative  committee ("ESOP Committee") or as trustees for the
     ESOP ("ESOP Trustees"). Such individuals disclaim beneficial ownership with
     respect to such  shares held in a fiduciary  capacity.  The ESOP  purchased
     such  shares  for the  exclusive  benefit of ESOP  participants  with funds
     borrowed from the Company.  These shares are held in a suspense account and
     are allocated among ESOP participants annually on the basis of compensation
     as the ESOP debt is repaid.  Messrs. B. L. Rakes, John L. Hart, and Michael
     M. Kessler serve on the ESOP  Committee  and Michael M.  Kessler,  James H.
     Brock, and Glen C. Combs serve as the ESOP Trustees.  The ESOP Committee or
     the Board  instructs  the ESOP Trustees  regarding  investment of ESOP plan
     assets.  The ESOP  Trustees must vote all shares  allocated to  participant
     accounts  under  the ESOP as  directed  by ESOP  participants.  Unallocated
     shares and shares for which no timely voting  direction is received will be
     voted by the ESOP Trustees as directed by the ESOP Committee.
(4)  Excludes  17,537  shares of Common  Stock  held by the  Southwest  Virginia
     Savings Bank,  FSB  Management  Stock Bonus Plan  ("Management  Stock Bonus
     Plan") as of the close of  business  on the Record  Date.  Directors  Hart,
     Hoge,  Brock,  Combs,  and  Kessler  collectively  serve as trustees to the
     Management  Stock  Bonus  Plan'  trust,   and  such  individuals   disclaim
     beneficial  ownership  with  respect  to such  shares  held in a  fiduciary
     capacity.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Common Stock is  registered  pursuant to Section  12(g) of the 1934
Act. The officers and directors of the Company and beneficial  owners of greater
than 10% of the Common  Stock ("10%  beneficial  owners")  are  required to file
reports  on  Forms 3, 4, and 5 with the SEC  disclosing  changes  in  beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock.  Based on the Company's  review of such ownership
reports, to the best of the Company's knowledge,  no officer,  director,  or 10%
beneficial  owner of the  Company  failed to file such  ownership  reports  on a
timely basis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The  Articles of  Incorporation  require that the Board of Directors be
divided into three classes,  each of which contains  approximately  one-third of
the members of the Board.  The directors are elected by the  stockholders of the
Company for staggered  three-year  terms, or until their  successors are elected
and  qualified.  One class of  directors,  consisting  of F.  Courtney  Hoge and
Barbara C. Weddle, has a term of office expiring at the Meeting. A second class,
consisting of James H. Brock, Glen C. Combs, and Michael M. Kessler,  has a term
of office  expiring at the annual meeting of  stockholders to be held in 1999. A
third class,  consisting  of John L. Hart and B. L. Rakes,  has a term of office
expiring at the annual meeting of  stockholders to be held in 2000. The Board of
Directors  consists  of seven  members.  Two  directors  will be  elected at the
Meeting to serve for three-year  terms or until a successor has been elected and
qualified.

         F. Courtney Hoge and Barbara C. Weddle have been nominated by the Board
of  Directors  to serve as  directors.  Mr.  Hoge and Ms.  Weddle are  currently
members of the Board and have been nominated for  three-year  terms to expire in
2001.  It is intended  that the persons  named in the proxies  solicited  by the
Board will vote for the election of the named  nominees.  If a nominee is unable
to serve,  the shares  represented  by all valid  proxies  will be voted for the
election of such  substitute as the Board of Directors may recommend or the size
of the Board may be reduced to eliminate  the vacancy.  At this time,  the Board
knows of no reason why a nominee might be unavailable to serve.

         The  following   table  sets  forth  the  nominees  and  the  directors
continuing in office,  their name, age, the year they first became a director of
the  Company  or the  Bank,  the  expiration  date of  their  current  term as a
director,  and  the  number  and  percentage  of  shares  of  the  Common  Stock
beneficially  owned.  Each director of the Company is also a member of the Board
of Directors of the Bank.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Year First            Current       Shares of Common     
                                              Elected or            Term to      Stock Beneficially         Percent of
          Name                Age(1)        Appointed (2)           Expire         Owned (3)(4)             Class (5)
          ----                ------        -------------           -------        ------------             ---------
<S>                             <C>              <C>                 <C>        <C>                           <C> 
                    BOARD NOMINEES FOR TERM TO EXPIRE IN 2001

F. Courtney Hoge                57               1979                1998         7,145(6)(7)                   1.4%

Barbara C. Weddle               61               1987                1998         10,990(8)                     2.2%

                         DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

James H. Brock                  56               1985                1999          7,677(6)(7)(9)               1.5%

Glen C. Combs                   51               1987                1999         13,645(6)(7)(9)               2.7%

Michael M. Kessler              46               1987                1999          7,970(6)(7)(9)               1.6%

John L. Hart                    78               1960                2000         13,645(6)(7)(9)               2.7%

B. L. Rakes                     65               1977                2000         24,169(9)(10)                 4.8%

</TABLE>
- ---------------------------
(1)  At June 30, 1998.
(2)  Refers to the year the individual first became a director of the Company or
     the Bank.  All  directors of the Bank during June 1994 became  directors of
     the Company when it was incorporated in June 1994.
(3)  Includes  shares of Common  Stock  held  directly  as well as by spouses or
     minor children,  in trust, and other indirect ownership,  over which shares
     the  individuals  effectively  exercise sole voting and  investment  power,
     unless otherwise indicated.
(4)  Beneficial ownership as of the Record Date.
(5)  Percentages are calculated on the basis of the amount of outstanding Common
     Stock,  excluding Common Stock held by or for the account of the Company or
     its  subsidiaries,  plus Common  Stock deemed  outstanding  pursuant to the
     Rules under the 1934 Act. The amount of Common Stock that an individual has
     a right to acquire  (e.g.,  pursuant to the  exercise of options or through
     the  vesting of  restricted  stock)  within 60 days from the Record Date is
     included  when  calculating  that  individual's  percentage of Common Stock
     beneficially owned.
(6)  Includes  3,157 shares of Common Stock that the  individual  has a right to
     acquire  pursuant  to  exercisable  options,  and 163 shares of  restricted
     Common Stock that will vest within 60 days from the Record Date.
(7)  Excludes  17,537 shares of Common Stock held by the Management  Stock Bonus
     Plan's trust,  to which the individual  serves as trustee.  Such individual
     disclaims  beneficial  ownership  with  respect  to such  shares  held in a
     fiduciary capacity.
(8)  Includes  5,896 shares of Common Stock that the  individual  has a right to
     acquire pursuant to exercisable options and 425 shares of restricted Common
     Stock that will vest within 60 days from the Record Date.
(9)  Excludes 27,385  unallocated shares of Common Stock held under the ESOP for
     which certain  directors  serve as members of the ESOP Committee or as ESOP
     Trustees.  Such individual  disclaims  beneficial ownership with respect to
     such shares held in a fiduciary capacity. The ESOP purchased shares for the
     exclusive  benefit  of ESOP  participants  with  funds  borrowed  from  the
     Company.  These  shares are held in a suspense  account  and are  allocated
     among ESOP  participants  annually on the basis of compensation as the ESOP
     debt is repaid.  Messrs.  B. L. Rakes, John L. Hart, and Michael M. Kessler
     serve on the ESOP  Committee  and Michael M. Kessler,  James H. Brock,  and
     Glen C. Combs serve as the ESOP  Trustees.  The ESOP Committee or the Board
     instructs the ESOP Trustees  regarding  investment of ESOP plan assets. The
     ESOP Trustees must vote all shares allocated to participant  accounts under
     the ESOP as directed by ESOP  participants.  Unallocated  shares and shares
     for which no timely voting  direction is received will be voted by the ESOP
     Trustees as directed by the ESOP Committee.
(10) Includes  10,006 shares of Common Stock that the  individual has a right to
     acquire  pursuant  to  exercisable  options,  and 815 shares of  restricted
     Common stock that will vest within 60 days from the Record Date.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>




         The following table sets forth the non-director  executive  officers of
the Company and the Bank, their name, age, the year they first became an officer
of the Company or the Bank,  and their current  position with the Company or the
Bank.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Year First
                                                               Appointed as
Name of Individual                      Age (1)                 Officer(2)                        Position (3)
- ------------------                      -------                 ----------                        ------------

<S>                                       <C>                      <C>                     <C>
D.W. Shilling                             52                       1998                          Executive Vice
                                                                                           President/Chief Operations
                                                                                                     Officer

Wayne F. Munden                           54                       1985                      Senior Vice President/
                                                                                               Director of Lending

Mary G. Staples                           44                       1990                            Treasurer/
                                                                                                   Controller
</TABLE>


- ---------------------------
(1)  As of June 30, 1998.
(2)  Refers to the year the individual first became an officer of the Bank.
(3)  Mr. Shilling serves as an executive  officer of the Bank. Mr. Munden serves
     as  an  executive   officer  of  the  Bank.   In  addition  to  serving  as
     Treasurer/Controller  of the Company,  Ms. Staples serves as Vice President
     of Operations and as Treasurer/Controller of the Bank.

Biographical Information

         Set forth below is certain  information  with respect to the  executive
officers and  directors of the Company and executive  officers of the Bank.  All
directors  have held their  present  positions  for five years unless  otherwise
stated.

         F. Courtney  Hoge has been an insurance  sales  representative  for New
York Life Insurance Company, Roanoke, Virginia since 1965. He is a member of the
Blood Services  Committee of the Roanoke Chapter of the American Red Cross, past
President of the E. Price Ripley Memorial  Foundation,  a member of the board of
directors of the Life Line Foundation of the Rescue  Mission,  past President of
the Roanoke  Association of Life  Underwriters and past President of the Roanoke
Valley Estate Planning  Council and past President of the Rotary Club of Roanoke
- - Downtown.

         Barbara C.  Weddle has been  Senior  Vice  President  of the Bank since
1985,  in which  capacity she oversees the  savings,  accounting  and  personnel
departments.  She has served as Secretary  of the Bank since 1977.  She has been
employed  by the Bank  since  1965 in  various  capacities  and served as a Vice
President from 1977 until 1985.

         James H. Brock is currently President of Rusco Window Company, Roanoke,
Virginia,  a manufacturer and distributor of home improvement products which has
employed Mr. Brock since 1970.  He is a member and past  President of the Rotary
Club of Roanoke,  past  President of the Better  Business  Bureau,  and a former
member  of the  board  of  directors  of the  Credit  Marketing  and  Management
Association.

         Glen C.  Combs is Vice  President  of Acosta  Sales,  a food  brokerage
company.  Mr.  Combs is a former  member of the Rotary  Club of Roanoke  and the
Roanoke Food Brokers  Association and a past Board member of Inter-City Athletic
Association.


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



         Michael M.  Kessler  has been the  President  and sole  stockholder  of
Kessler Associates,  Ltd., a photo processing company,  since 1983. He is also a
member and past  President of the Rotary Club of Roanoke,  past President of the
Virginia Professional  Photographers  Association, a past member of the Board of
Governors  of the  Southeastern  Professional  Photographers  Association,  past
chairman of the Specialist  Group of the  Professional  Photographers of America
and a past Board Member of the Better Business Bureau. He is listed in Who's Who
of American Executives.

         John L. Hart has been an  attorney-at-law  with his own  general  civil
practice in Roanoke  since 1950.  He also serves as General  Counsel to the Bank
and has a  retainer  agreement  with the Bank (see  "Certain  Relationships  and
Related Transactions" below).

         B. L.  Rakes has been  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and Chief
Financial Officer of the Bank since 1977 and has been employed by the Bank since
1959.  He served  as Vice  President  and  Treasurer  from 1973 to 1977,  and as
Secretary  from 1974 to 1977.  He is a member and past  President  of the Rotary
Club of Roanoke and an arbitrator for the Roanoke Better Business Bureau.

         D. W. Shilling  joined the Bank in April 1998,  filling the position of
Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.  Between January 1995 and
April 1998,  Mr.  Shilling was a Senior Vice  President and Area Manager for the
Roanoke,  Virginia area of a Virginia-based commercial bank. Prior to that time,
Mr.  Shilling was a Senior Vice  President and Area Manager for the same bank in
the southwestern part of Virginia.

         Wayne F.  Munden has been a Senior Vice  President  since 1985 in which
capacity he is Director of Lending.  He has been employed by the Bank since 1968
and  served as Vice  President  from 1977 to 1985.  He is a member of the Rotary
Club of Roanoke.

         Mary G.  Staples has been Vice  President  of  Operations  for the Bank
since 1997.  She has served as  Controller/Treasurer  since  1990.  She has been
employed by the Bank since 1972 in various capacities.

Stockholder Nominations

         Pursuant to the Company's Articles of Incorporation, nominations, other
than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors,  shall be made
pursuant  to  timely  notice  in  writing  as  set  forth  in  the  Articles  of
Incorporation.  To be timely,  a  stockholder's  notice shall be received by the
Chairman of the  Nominating  Committee of the Board (which notice may be sent to
such  Chairman in care of the  Secretary  of the  Company) or, in the absence of
such a Nominating  Committee,  by the Secretary of the Company, not less than 14
days nor more than 60 days prior to any meeting of the  stockholders  called for
the election of directors;  provided, however, that if fewer than 21 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 stockholder's  notice must contain certain  information as required
by and set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.  In addition, the stockholder
making such nomination shall promptly provide any other  information  reasonably
requested by the Company.  The nomination made by a stockholder may be made only
at a meeting of the  stockholders  of the  Company  called for the  election  of
directors at which such  stockholder  is present in person or by proxy,  and can
only be made by a  stockholder  who has  theretofore  complied  with the  notice
provisions set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

         The Company's Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings
of the Board.  The Board of  Directors  of the Company  did not have  committees
during the fiscal year ended June 30,  1998,  but the  committees  of the Bank's
Board of Directors acted as committees for both the Company and the Bank. During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998,  the Board of Directors of the Company held
11 regular  meetings.  No director of the Company attended fewer than 75% of the
total  meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company and committees on which
such director served during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.

         During the 1998 fiscal year, Directors Hart, Brock, Combs, Kessler, and
Rakes acted as the  Company's  nominating  committee  ("Nominating  Committee"),
which is a non-standing  committee,  for selecting the  management  nominees for
election  of  directors  in  accordance  with  the  Company's   Bylaws.  In  its
deliberations,  the Nominating Committee considers the candidate's  knowledge of
the banking business and involvement in community,  business, and civic affairs.
While the Board of Directors will consider nominees recommended by stockholders,
it has not actively solicited  recommendations  from the Company's  stockholders
for  nominees  nor,  subject  to the  procedural  requirements  set forth in the
Articles  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws,  established  any  procedures  for this
purpose.  The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  met twice as the  Nominating
Committee during the 1998 fiscal year.

         The Audit Committee,  a standing  committee,  is comprised of Directors
Hart (Chairman),  Hoge, Brock, Combs, and Kessler.  The Audit Committee annually
selects the  independent  auditors and meets with the accountants to discuss and
review the annual audit. The Audit Committee is further responsible for internal
controls for financial reporting. The Audit Committee met once during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1998.

         The Executive  Committee,  a standing committee,  consists of Directors
Hart (Chairman),  Rakes, Combs, and Hoge. The Executive Committee meets on call.
It offers guidance to the Bank's and the Company's  management.  When necessary,
it performs functions of the full Board during the intervals between meetings of
the Board of Directors.  The Company's  Executive  Committee did not meet during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998. However, the Bank's Executive Committee met
once during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.  The Executive  Committee  also
acts as the Personnel Committee.

         The full Board of Directors acts as a standing compensation  committee,
however,  at times the  Personnel  Committee is directed to act on  compensation
matters, and any action taken by the Personnel Committee must be approved by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors did not meet in fiscal 1998 to review
and approve salary adjustments for the Company's senior management. However, the
Bank's Personnel Committee met once during fiscal 1998.

         The Retirement  Committee consists of Directors Hoge (Chairman),  Hart,
and  Weddle.  The  Retirement  Committee  meets on call to review  and study the
Bank's retirement plans. The Retirement Committee did not meet during the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1998.

Directors' Compensation

         The  Company  pays  Board of  Director  fees of $3,600 per year to each
member  of its  Board of  Directors.  The  Company  paid a total of  $25,200  in
directors fees during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



         The Bank also pays Board of Director fees.  Chairman Hart receives $400
monthly and $450 per meeting  attended and all other directors are paid $450 per
meeting attended.  Directors Rakes and Weddle do not receive fees for attendance
of meetings of the Board of Directors of the Bank or any of its committees. Each
non-employee director attending a meeting of the Executive Committee, Retirement
Committee,  or Loan  Committee  of the Bank  receives a fee of $100 per  meeting
attended.  The Bank  paid a total of  $40,200  in board  and  committee  fees to
members of the Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.

         Stock  Awards.  On October 25, 1995,  the  stockholders  of the Company
approved the SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc.  1994 Stock Option Plan ("1994 Stock Option
Plan") and the Southwest  Virginia Savings Bank, FSB Management Stock Bonus Plan
("Management Stock Bonus Plan"). Directors Hart, Hoge, Brock, Combs, and Kessler
each received (as of the date of stockholder approval) options to purchase 2,852
shares of Common  Stock  under the 1994 Stock  Option  Plan and 1,141  shares of
restricted  stock under the Management  Stock Bonus Plan. The options granted to
these  directors are  exercisable  at a rate of 20% annually.  Restricted  stock
granted to the above named directors vest at a rate of 14.28% annually. In March
1998,  each  Director of the Company was awarded  exercisable  stock  options to
purchase 1,446 shares of Common Stock.

Executive Compensation

         Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth the cash and
non-cash compensation awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company.  No executive  officer of the Company had a salary and bonus during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1998 that exceeded  $100,000 for services rendered in
all capacities to the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Long Term Compensation
                                             Annual Compensation                                 Awards
                                     ---------------------------------------        -------------------------------

                                                                                                        Securities
                                                                                     Restricted         Underlying
Name and                                Fiscal                Other Annual              Stock            Options/        All Other
Principal Position       Year           Salary       Bonus   Compensation(1)        Awards($)(2)          SARs(#)      Compensation
- ------------------       ----           ------       -----   ---------------        ------------        -----------    ------------

<S>                      <C>         <C>             <C>        <C>                  <C>                  <C>            <C>    
B. L. Rakes              1998        $100,995        $  --      $3,750                   --                1,446          $27,567(4)
President                1997        $ 97,245        $  --      $3,800                   --                 --            $24,050(5)
                         1996        $ 95,995        $  --      $4,760               $95,202(3)           14,264          $23,098(6)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1)  Consists of board of director fees from the Company and Southwest  Virginia
     Service Corp. Does not include the value of certain other benefits, such as
     automobile  allowances,  which do not  exceed  10% of the total  salary and
     bonus of the individual.
(2)  As of the end of the 1998  fiscal  year,  Mr.  Rakes  had  4,076  shares of
     restricted  stock in the  aggregate  which  had a total  value  of  $83,049
     (calculated by multiplying the aggregate  number of restricted stock by the
     Common  Stock's  closing market price as of the last day of the 1998 fiscal
     year). Dividends are paid on the restricted stock awarded.
(3)  The value of restricted  stock granted is calculated by multiplying (i) the
     number of  restricted  stock  granted  by (ii) the Common  Stock's  closing
     market price as of the date of grant.
(4)  Includes  608 shares of Common  Stock  allocated,  in the 1998 fiscal year,
     under the ESOP with a market  value as of June 30,  1998,  of  $20.375  per
     share,  for  a  total  value  of  $12,388.   Includes  accruals  under  the
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of $15,179 for the fiscal year ended
     June 30, 1998.

                                       -9-

<PAGE>



(5)  Includes  614 shares of Common  Stock  allocated,  in the 1997 fiscal year,
     under  the ESOP with a market  value as of June 30,  1997,  of  $16.00  per
     share, for a total value of $9,824,  and includes accruals under the Bank's
     Supplemental  Executive  Retirement  Plan of $14,226  for the  fiscal  year
     ending June 30, 1997.
(6)  Includes  626 shares of Common  Stock  allocated,  in the 1996 fiscal year,
     under  the ESOP with a market  value as of June 30,  1996,  of  $15.60  per
     share, for a total value of $9,766,  and includes accruals under the Bank's
     Supplemental  Executive  Retirement  Plan of $13,332  for the  fiscal  year
     ending June 30, 1996.

Employment Agreement

         The Bank maintains an employment agreement with B. L. Rakes,  President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. The employment  agreement is for a term
of three years at his then current salary level. The employment agreement may be
terminable by the Bank for "just cause" as defined in the employment  agreement.
If the Bank  terminates  Mr. Rakes without just cause,  he will be entitled to a
continuation  of his salary from the date of  termination  through the remaining
term of the employment agreement.  The employment agreement contains a provision
stating  that in the  event of his  involuntary  termination  of  employment  in
connection  with,  or within one year after,  any change in control of the Bank,
Mr.  Rakes will be paid in a lump sum an amount  equal to 2.99 times his average
annual  compensation for the prior five years.  Following a change in control, a
termination  of employment as of June 30, 1998 would have resulted in a lump sum
payment of approximately $277,560 to Mr. Rakes. If Mr. Rakes becomes disabled he
will receive 100% of his salary for the first  twelve  months of his  disability
and 65% of his  salary  for the  next 24  months  or the  remaining  term of the
employment agreement, whichever is less. The employment agreement may be renewed
annually  by the  Board  of  Directors  upon  a  determination  of  satisfactory
performance.

Other Benefits

         Pension   Plan.   The   Bank   is  a   participating   employer   in  a
multiple-employer   pension  plan   sponsored  by  the  Financial   Institutions
Retirement Fund (the "Pension  Plan").  All full-time  employees of the Bank are
eligible to  participate  after one year of service and  attainment of age 21. A
qualifying  employee becomes fully vested in the Pension Plan upon completion of
five years  service or when the normal  retirement  age of 65 is  attained.  The
Pension Plan is intended to comply with the Employee  Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.

         The Pension Plan  provides for monthly  payments to each  participating
employee  at normal  retirement  age.  The annual  allowance  payable  under the
Pension Plan is equal to 1.5% of the average annual salary  (excluding  overtime
and  bonuses)  for the five  highest  years of salary  during  benefits  service
multiplied  by the number of years of credited  service.  A  participant  who is
vested  in the  Pension  Plan,  with 15  years  of  service,  may  take an early
retirement and elect to receive a reduced monthly benefit  beginning as early as
age 55. The Pension Plan also  provides for payments in the event of  disability
or death. At June 30, 1998, Mr. Rakes had 38 years of credited service under the
Pension Plan.

1994 Stock Option Plan

         Pursuant to the SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc.  1994 Stock  Option Plan ("1994
Stock Option  Plan"),  shares of Common Stock were  reserved for issuance by the
Company upon exercise of stock options granted to officers,  directors,  and key
employees of the Company (or any present or future  parent or  subsidiary of the
Company).


                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                      OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                               (Individual Grants)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          Percent of
                                 Number of              Total Options/
                                Securities               SARs Granted
                                Underlying               to Employees               Exercise or
                               Options/SARs                in Fiscal                Base Price
            Name                 Granted (#)                  Year                     ($/Sh)               Expiration Date
            ----                 -----------                  ----                     ------               ---------------


<S>                                <C>                        <C>                      <C>                  <C>
B. L. Rakes                        1,446                      50%                      21.00                March 18, 2008
</TABLE>


         AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END
                                OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Number of Securities
                                                                     Underlying Unexercised          Value of Unexercised
                                    Shares                                Options/SARs             in-the-Money Options/SARs
                                  Acquired on         Value            at Fiscal Year-End             at Fiscal Year-End
                                   Exercise         Realized                   (#)                            ($)
            Name                      (#)              ($)          Exercisable/Unexercisable      Exercisable/Unexercisable
- -----------------------------   ---------------   -------------   ----------------------------   ---------------------------

<S>                                    <C>           <C>                     <C>                      <C>       
         B. L. Rakes                   0             $0                      7,150/8,560              $21,019/$31,540(1)
</TABLE>


- -------------------
(1)  Based upon an exercise  price of $16.69 per share versus a closing price of
     $20.375 at June 30, 1998.  Options  related to 1,446 shares of Common Stock
     have  an  exercise   price  of  $21.00  and  all  of  which  are  currently
     exercisable.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Director Hart serves as the Bank's  General  Counsel and has a retainer
agreement  with the Bank.  During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998,  Director
Hart earned legal fees from the Bank in connection with title, foreclosure,  and
deed services and retainer fees.

         Except as noted below, no directors,  executive officers,  or immediate
family members of such individuals were engaged in transactions with the Bank or
any subsidiary involving more than $60,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30,
1998. Furthermore,  the Bank had no "interlocking"  relationships existing on or
after June 30, 1998 in which (i) any executive  officer is a member of the Board
of  Directors/Trustees  of another entity,  one of whose executive officers is a
member of the Bank's Board of Directors,  or where (ii) any executive officer is
a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive
officers is a member of the Bank's Board of Directors.


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



         Set forth below is certain information as of June 30, 1998, relating to
mortgage and other loans given to executive  officers  and  directors  and their
immediate  family who had aggregate  outstanding  loan balances with the Bank of
$60,000 or greater.

         The Bank,  like many financial  institutions,  has followed a policy of
granting  various types of loans to officers,  directors,  and  employees.  Such
loans have been made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the
same terms,  including  interest rates and collateral as those prevailing at the
time for comparable  transactions  with the Bank's other  customers,  and do not
involve  more  than  the  normal  risk  of  collectability,  nor  present  other
unfavorable  features.  However, as part of the Bank's compensation program, the
Bank  makes   adjustable-rate  first  mortgage  loans  to  full-time  employees,
officers,  directors  and  related  parties at 1% above the bank's cost of funds
while adjustable-rate  second mortgages and cash out refinances are made at 1.5%
above the Bank's cost of funds. Such rates are only effective while such persons
are employees,  officers,  directors (including loans to related parties of such
individuals)  of the Bank and  continue to occupy the real estate  securing  the
loans as their primary residence.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  Highest Unpaid
                                                                                                      Balance
                                                                                                    Outstanding
                                                                                                    During Last       Unpaid
                                                   Original       Interest       Prevailing Rate    Two Fiscal      Balance As
     Name of Officer                   Date          Loan           Rate          at Time Loan      Years Ended     Of June 30,
       or Director   Type of Loan   Originated      Amount         Charged          was Made       June 30, 1998        1998
       -----------   ------------   ----------      ------         -------          --------       -------------        ----

<S>                  <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>              <C>     
Wayne F. Munden      Home Mortgage   05/30/97      $200,000        5.50%(2)           5.50%          $200,000         $196,617
                     Bridge Loan     05/23/97      $ 85,000        9.50%(3)           9.50%          $ 85,000         $      0
                     90-Day Note

</TABLE>

- ----------------------
(1)  The interest rate of 5.50% on the home mortgage loan is an adjustable  rate
     mortgage  plan.  The loan was  modified at the time the loan was made to 1%
     above the cost of Bank's funds rounded to the next one-quarter percent. The
     rate on this loan adjusts annually.
(2)  The bridge loan of $85,000 was paid off on August 29, 1997.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PROPOSAL II -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Cherry  Bekaert & Holland L.L.P.  served as the Company's  auditors for
the fiscal year ended June 30,  1998.  The Board of  Directors  has approved the
selection of Cherry Bekaert & Holland L.L.P. as its auditors for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999,  subject to ratification by the Company's  stockholders.  A
representative  of Cherry Bekaert & Holland L.L.P.  is expected to be present at
the Meeting to respond to stockholders'  questions and will have the opportunity
to make a statement if he or she so desires.

         The Board of  Directors  recommends  that  stockholders  vote "FOR" the
ratification  of the  appointment  of Cherry  Bekaert &  Holland  L.L.P.  as the
Company's auditors for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       PROPOSAL III -- STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL CONCERNING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Mr. Richard J. Nelson c/o LaSalle  Capital  Management,  Inc., 259 East
Michigan Avenue,  Suite 405,  Kalamazoo,  Michigan 49007, is the owner of 27,000
shares of Common Stock. Mr. Nelson has submitted the following  proposal and the
accompanying statement.

         "RESOLVED,  that the shareholders recommend that the Board of Directors
of SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc. (the  "Company")  appoint a special  committee of the
Board of  Directors  to  solicit,  review and  negotiate  offers to acquire  the
Company  on  terms  that are fair  and in the  best  interest  of the  Company's
shareholders;  if the committee  determines an offer is financially  fair to the
Company's  shareholders and would receive  required  regulatory  approvals,  the
committee  shall recommend to the Board that it consider and act on the offer in
accordance with applicable law."

                      STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL
                      ------------------------------------

         Proponent  believes that shareholders  should review carefully the SWVA
Bancshares,  Inc., Third Quarter 1998 News Release, issued by the Company May 1,
1998.  Proponent further believes that the following  information,  contained in
the News Release, should be of special concern to shareholders:

         o        At March 31, 1998,  the return on average  assets was .69% and
                  return on average equity was 6.02%.

         o        Net interest income decreased by $7,000 or 1.03% from $677,000
                  for the three  months ended March 31, 1997 to $670,000 for the
                  three months ended March 31, 1998.

         o        Net income increased  $11,000 or 7.75%,  from $142,000 for the
                  three months ended March 31, 1997 to income of $153,00 for the
                  three months ended March 31, 1998.  The increase in net income
                  was  mainly  due to an  increase  in gain on sale of  mortgage
                  loans offset by increased non-interest expenses.

SWVA Bancshares,  Inc. has been a public company for over three years. Proponent
believes  that in that three year period,  SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc.,  should have
attained significantly higher returns on assets and equity.

         As more financial institution mergers and acquisitions occur, Proponent
believes that the time to actively  explore the possibility of an acquisition of
SWVA  Bancshares,  Inc.,  is now.  Proponent  believes  that the  creation  of a
committee  of directors to carry out this effort is the best method of enhancing
and maximizing shareholder value and serving the interests of shareholders.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (VOTE AGAINST PROPOSAL III)

         The  Board of  Directors  recommends  that  stockholders  vote  against
Proposal  III.  The Board of  Directors  does not believe  that the  creation of
another  committee  is needed  because it does not  expect to solicit  offers to
acquire  the Company and it  believes  that if an offer were  received,  that it
could  review and, if  appropriate,  negotiate  an offer by means of its current
resources without resorting to yet another committee.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>




         Each  director  owns a  substantial  amount  of  Common  Stock and each
director naturally wants to maximize the value of the Common Stock they own. The
Board is aware that there have been  acquisitions  of financial  institutions in
southwest Virginia and that certain stockholders hope the Company will be next.

         While some  stockholders may be interested only in short-term  profits,
the Board considers the interests of all  stockholders.  The Board believes that
the Company can remain an independent  community  based  institution and provide
long-term  value to  stockholders.  Since the Bank  converted from the mutual to
stock form, each share of Common Stock has  approximately  doubled in price from
$10.00 and has provided its owner with more than $2.00 in dividends. During this
past fiscal year, each share earned $0.95.

         Recent  acquisitions  of other  institutions  have provided the Company
with  opportunities  for growth and adding  managerial  expertise.  During  this
fiscal  year,  the Bank hired a chief  operating  officer  with over 27 years of
experience in banking, hired a branch manager who has begun to revitalize one of
our smallest branches, began offering, for the first time, commercial loans, and
has placed a  concentrated  focus on improving  retail  delivery of products and
services.  There is  frequently  a delay  between  increases  in asset  size and
staffing and the increased earnings that those changes are expected to cause and
the Board is aware that  stockholders  who have only recently  purchased  Common
Stock may be disappointed in the short term performance of the Company. However,
the Board  hopes  that  these  changes  will  result in better use of the branch
structure of the Bank that will then result in  improvement in return on average
assets  and  equity.  During the past  fiscal  year,  the assets of the  Company
increased 19% and net income increased 11%.

         The  Bank  is a  community  oriented  financial  institution  that  has
developed  long-term  relationships with many of its customers.  Approval of the
proposal  may confuse the Bank's  current and future  customers as to the future
ownership  and control of the Bank and  adversely  affect the Bank's  ability to
conduct its business in a normal manner.  In addition,  approval of the proposal
may confuse and undermine employees'  confidence regarding their future with the
Company.  This confusion could adversely affect the Company's  effectiveness and
ability to perform its services.

         The  Company  has  repeatedly  advised  its  stockholders  that it is a
community  based  institution.  The  members  of the Board  live and work in the
market area of the Bank and believe  that they are able to evaluate the changes,
both good and bad, that result from merger  activity in  southwestern  Virginia.
The  Board  believes  that its  ongoing  evaluation  of its  market  is a better
strategy than creating a special  committee  whose purpose may satisfy the short
term  interest  of a few  stockholders  at  the  expense  of all  other  Company
stockholders.

         The Board is proud of the  value  that has been  provided,  not only to
stockholders,  but also to the  customers  and  employees  of the Bank since the
conversion from mutual to stock form and for the more than 70 years the Bank has
been in existence. The Board will work to continue to provide long-term value to
all stockholders. It is the hope of the Board that all stockholders will benefit
from these  efforts  through  their  ownership of Common Stock during the coming
years.

         The  Board  of  Directors   recommends  a  vote  AGAINST  Proposal  III
concerning a special committee.  Unless a contrary choice is specified,  proxies
solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted AGAINST Proposal III.


                                      -14-

<PAGE>





- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  proxy materials
for next year's annual meeting of stockholders, any stockholder proposal to take
action at that meeting must be received at the  Company's  executive  offices at
302 Second Street,  S.W., Roanoke,  Virginia  24011-1597,  no later than May 17,
1999.

         In the event the Company  receives notice of a stockholder  proposal to
take action at next year's annual meeting of stockholders  that is not submitted
for inclusion in the Company's proxy material, or is submitted for inclusion but
is properly  excluded  from the proxy  material,  the persons named in the proxy
sent by the Company to its  stockholders  intend to exercise their discretion to
vote on the  stockholder  proposal  in  accordance  with their best  judgment if
notice of the  proposal is not received at the  Company's  main office by August
30, 1999. The Articles of Incorporation  provide that if notice of a stockholder
proposal  to take action at next year's  annual  meeting is not  received at the
Company's  main office by August 30, 1999, the proposal will not be eligible for
presentation at that meeting.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Board of  Directors is not aware of any business to come before the
Meeting  other  than those  matters  described  above in this  proxy  statement.
However,  if any other matters  should  properly come before the Meeting,  it is
intended  that  proxies  will be voted in  accordance  with the  judgment of the
persons named in the proxy. If the Company did not have notice of a matter on or
before  August  23,  1998,  it  is  expected  that  the  persons  named  in  the
accompanying  proxy will exercise  discretionary  authority  when voting on that
matter.

         The  cost of  soliciting  proxies  will be borne  by the  Company.  The
Company  will  reimburse  brokerage  firms and other  custodians,  nominees  and
fiduciaries for reasonable  expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
to the beneficial  owners of Common Stock. In addition to solicitations by mail,
directors,  officers,  and regular  employees of the Company may solicit proxies
personally or by telegraph or telephone  without  additional  compensation.  The
Company has  retained  Kissel  Blake Inc.,  New York,  New York to assist in the
solicitation  of  proxies at a cost to the  Company  not  anticipated  to exceed
$3,000 plus reimbursement of certain incurred expenses.

         The Company's 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders,  including  financial
statements,  will be mailed to all persons who were stockholders of record as of
the close of business on September 4, 1998. Any stockholder who has not received
a copy of the 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders may obtain a copy by writing to
the Secretary of the Company.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FORM 10-KSB
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A COPY OF THE  COMPANY'S  ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
JUNE 30, 1998 WILL BE FURNISHED  WITHOUT CHARGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AS OF THE RECORD
DATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY,  SWVA  BANCSHARES,  INC., 302 SECOND
STREET, S.W., ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1597.

                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                             /s/ Barbara C. Weddle
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Barbara C. Weddle
                                             Secretary
Roanoke, Virginia
September 14, 1998

                                      -16-

<PAGE>
                                                                   Form of Proxy
                              SWVA BANCSHARES, INC.
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                October 14, 1998

         The  undersigned  hereby  appoints  the  board  of  directors  of  SWVA
Bancshares, Inc. ("Company"), or its designee, with full powers of substitution,
to act as  attorneys  and  proxies  for the  undersigned,  to vote all shares of
Common  Stock of the Company  which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote at the
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("Meeting"), to be held at the Holiday Inn -
Tanglewood,  4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke,  Virginia on October 14, 1998, at 10:30
a.m. and at any and all adjournments thereof, in the following manner:

                                                        FOR   WITHHELD
                                                        ---   --------

1. The election as director of all nominees
   listed below:                                        |_|    |_|

   F. Courtney Hoge
   Barbara C. Weddle

INSTRUCTIONS:  To  withhold  your vote for any  individual  nominee,  insert the
nominee's name on the line provided below.

                                                        FOR   AGAINST    ABSTAIN
                                                        ---   -------    -------
2. The ratification of the appointment of Cherry 
   Bekaert & Holland L.L.P. as independent auditors of 
   the Company for the fiscal year ending
   June 30, 1999.                                       |_|     |_|        |_|

                                                        FOR   AGAINST    ABSTAIN
                                                        ---   -------    -------
3. The proposal of a stockholder to recommend that 
   the Board of Directors appoint a special committee
   concerning offers to acquire the Company.            |_|      |_|       |_|

         In their discretion,  such attorneys and proxies are authorized to vote
upon such  other  business  as may  properly  come  before  the  Meeting  or any
adjournments thereof.

         The Board of Directors  recommends a vote "FOR" Proposals 1 and 2 and a
vote "AGAINST" Proposal 3.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR  PROPOSALS 1 AND 2 AND AGAINST  PROPOSAL 3. IF ANY OTHER
BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED IN
THIS PROXY IN THEIR BEST  JUDGMENT.  AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the Meeting,  or
at any  adjournments  thereof,  and after  notification  to the Secretary of the
Company at the Meeting of the  stockholder's  decision to terminate  this proxy,
the power of said  attorneys  and proxies shall be deemed  terminated  and of no
further force and effect. The undersigned may also revoke this proxy by filing a
subsequently  dated proxy or by written  notification  to the  Secretary  of the
Company of his or her decision to terminate this proxy.

         The  undersigned  acknowledges  receipt  from the Company  prior to the
execution  of this  proxy of a Notice of Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  and a
proxy statement dated September 14, 1998.

                                                Please check here if you
Dated:                , 1998           |_|      plan to attend the Meeting.
       ---------------


- ----------------------------------------        --------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER                       PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER

- ----------------------------------------        --------------------------------
SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER                        SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER

Please  sign  exactly  as your name  appears  on this  proxy.  When  signing  as
attorney, executor,  administrator,  trustee, or guardian, please give your full
title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE  COMPLETE,  DATE,  SIGN,  AND MAIL THIS PROXY  PROMPTLY  IN THE  ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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