Bland County officials welcome the notification by First Sentinel Bank of their plans to open a branch in Bland, Virginia. The site of the new operation will be the former New Peoples Bank on Main Street in Bland. “We are excited that First Sentinel is expanding their banking services by opening a branch here in Bland County,” stated David Dillow, chairman of the Bland County Economic Development Authority. “The property that they are locating in has been vacant for a number of years and it is great to have another business in operation.” The Bland branch is expected to have a soft opening on July 23rd with grand opening celebrations being planned for July 27th.