Benchmark Community Bank has established the Michael O. Walker Benchmark Community Bank Scholarship at Southside Virginia Community College. This honors the leadership and legacy of Walker’s 43 years of service at the bank.

In the bank’s most recent Annual Report, it notes, “The Mike Walker years will be remembered for the extraordinary progress made and the healthy growth of the bank, which almost doubled in asset size and added over 17,000 customers during that time.”

Another aspect of Walker’s legacy is recorded as “his input was always greatly appreciated, sometimes awe-inspiring.”

Walker worked at the bank for over four decades and served as the President and CEO for 12 years until his recent retirement. During his tenure, he introduced a robust secondary mortgage program, reorganization of loan operations, introduced a Benchmark credit card, construction of three new branch facilities and the completion of five major renovation projects. He also spent ten years encouraging employees to “Make Southside Smile.”

This scholarship in his honor will continue Walker’s contribution to happy people in Southside Virginia.