Our Story
This historic landmark is rooted in the forces that shaped downtown Roanoke. The corner of Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue has served as a place of exchange for more than a century—where ideas, commerce, and community converged. What once anchored the region’s financial life now welcomes weekend adventurers, culture seekers, and locals alike, connecting people in a new way that celebrates Roanoke.
Historical Timeline
Founded in 1882, the First National Bank of Roanoke helped shape the city in its earliest days as a railroad hub. Through decades of growth, consolidation, and architectural evolution, the building that became the First National Exchange Bank stood as a symbol of confidence and permanence—often described as a true “temple of finance.” Millions of dollars in National Bank Notes once passed through these walls, fueling commerce across Southwest Virginia.
Today, that sense of purpose endures. Thoughtfully restored and reimagined, the historic bank enters its next chapter as The Promissory Hotel—a boutique destination where history, hospitality, music, and meaningful gatherings come together in the heart of downtown Roanoke.
The First National Bank of Roanoke is organized and federally chartered—the same year Roanoke officially becomes a city—linking the bank’s origins directly to the birth of modern Roanoke and establishing its early role in the city’s growth.
Construction begins on the Terry Building, a seven-story “skyscraper” at Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue, marking one of Roanoke’s first major office buildings and signaling the city’s rising commercial ambition.
The First National Bank relocates into the Terry Building at Jefferson & Campbell, further cementing the corner as Roanoke’s financial crossroads.
During the National Bank era, the institution issued more than $12 million in National Bank Notes, underscoring its regional influence and economic importance across Southwest Virginia.
The First National Bank commissions and opens its own purpose-built headquarters at 101 S. Jefferson Street (Jefferson & Salem Avenue). Designed by architect John Kevan Peebles in the French Renaissance / Beaux-Arts style, the building is celebrated as a “temple of finance,” intentionally designed to convey permanence, trust, and civic pride.
The National Exchange Bank constructs a new landmark building at the southwest corner of Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue, replacing the Terry Building as its primary home. The architecture reflects the same ideals of confidence and longevity that defined the era's banking institutions.
The First National Bank and National Exchange Bank formally consolidated to become the First National Exchange Bank (FNEB). Banking operations are centralized in the Jefferson & Campbell building, uniting two of Roanoke’s most influential financial institutions under one roof.
The former First National Bank building at Jefferson & Salem is sold and transitions to other uses, while FNEB continues operations at Jefferson & Campbell.
Major additions expand the original Exchange Bank structure, reflecting decades of growth and shaping the footprint that would later be reimagined for hospitality, events, and gatherings.
The First National Exchange Bank building at Jefferson & Campbell closes, ending more than a century of banking on the site and opening the door to reinvention.
Following an extensive restoration, the historic building is redefined as The Promissory Hotel—a boutique hotel paired with The Exchange, a live music and event venue, and Suerte, a Spanish-inspired restaurant and wine bar. What was once a hub of finance is now a destination for hospitality, music, dining, and meaningful gatherings in the heart of downtown Roanoke.