“I’ve been to a lot of these events, over the last couple of years, but this one is special with so many people from our community in attendance.” City of Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen summed up what many at the grand opening of the new Valley Bank of Nevada office on Sunset Road were already thinking. In attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 31st were a veritable “who’s who” of Henderson business owners, politicians, chamber of commerce members, and community leaders.

The throng gathered inside Valley Bank of Nevada’s nicely appointed new branch, which is a loan center for now, but will offer full banking services by mid-2016. D.J. Allen, chairman of Valley Bank of Nevada’s Henderson advisory board, welcomed everyone. President and CEO James York acknowledged all the personnel in attendance and presented key people with tokens of thanks that included framed photographs of vintage Henderson businesses. The event culminated with James York’s cutting of the ceremonial ribbon.

Everyone in attendance had come to celebrate a fresh beginning, but Valley Bank’s new office has deep community roots. It shares DNA with the old Bank of Las Vegas, which operated in the late 50s and 60s under the management of legendary Las Vegas partners E. Parry Thomas and Jerry Mack. Bank of Las Vegas supplied capital to casinos back when larger banks wouldn’t lend to gaming entities. When Bank of Las Vegas merged with Valley Bank in Carson City, the named was changed. Valley Bank operated until 1992 when Bank of America purchased it.

The current incarnation of Valley Bank of Nevada first reopened as Bank of North Las Vegas, but when the Valley Bank name became available again in 2006, the original name was restored. In addition to the Henderson and North Las Vegas locations, Valley Bank of Nevada has plans to open branches in Summerlin and the southwestern areas of Clark County.

So there’s a new bank in Henderson, but it’s built on a long tradition of service to the business community of southern Nevada. As Mayor Hafen noted, this one is special.