Freedom First Credit Union has created an ice cream truck that will give away free ice cream to disadvantaged children at area schools. Here is a press release from Freedom First:

WHAT: Introducing Scoop – an ice cream truck that’s giving away free ice cream throughout the Roanoke and New River valleys. With the start of the school year in Roanoke City, Scoop will initially visit area schools and after-school programs, supporting community development agencies that work with disadvantaged children and families.

Initially, Scoop will visit Greenvale School, West End Center for Youth, Rescue Mission, and Boys and Girls Club, kicking off future ongoing visits to area businesses and community events. A schedule is available at www.freedomfirst.com/freeicecream. Freedom First Credit Union will also be using Twitter and Facebook to update the community of planned visits, and to encourage residents in the Roanoke and New River valleys to suggest fun places for Scoop to visit. Read more »

Roanoke police are investigating a robbery at a SunTrust bank on McClannahan Street in South Roanoke.

Reporter Amanda Codispoti of The Roanoke Times has more.

Operations at StellarOne Bank have returned to normal after outages lasting about five hours disrupted service.

Business writer Jeff Sturgeon of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

StellarOne Bank customers may have trouble reaching the bank by phone and completing online transactions this morning due to an equipment outage at the bank.

Business writer Jeff Sturgeon of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

Roanoke police have now released surveillance photos of the suspect in today’s robbery of a Wachovia Bank branch in downtown Roanoke.

You can find the photos, along with updates, here.

Police swarmed downtown Roanoke looking for a person who pulled a lunchtime robbery at the Wachovia Bank branch at Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue.

We have more details from The Roanoke Times here.

First Bank of Virginia is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Customer appreciation days will take place as follows: Dublin Aug. 16; Abingdon Aug. 20; Radford Aug. 20; Wytheville Aug. 20; Christiansburg Aug. 27; and Fort Chiswell Aug. 27. Here are more details from the bank:

First Bank of Virginia branches are celebrating a historical milestone this year. Each location will hold a Customer Appreciation Day in August to mark the 75th anniversary of First Bank, which operates in the state of Virginia as First Bank of Virginia. First Bank was founded in 1935 as Bank of Montgomery, changing its name to First Bank in 1985. The bank expanded into Virginia in 2002, opening its initial First Bank of Virginia branch in Wytheville. Since its founding, First Bank has remained a safe, secure and trusted partner in the communities it serves. As a result, the bank has grown to become one of the most well respected financial institutions in the nation. Read more »

Valley Financial Corp., the Roanoke-based holding company of Valley Bank, posted a profit for the second quarter after reporting a loss for the same period a year ago.

Business writer Sarah Bruyn Jones of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

Valley Bank has bought the Williamson Road property that houses the Star City Playhouse. Arts writer Mike Allen has details on his Arts & Extras blog.

Enterprise Car Sales and the VA Credit Union League are donating $11,760 to the Children’s Miracle Network. Here is a press release from the Children’s Miracle Network in Roanoke:

Enterprise Car Sales and Virginia’s member-owned credit unions have raised $11,760 for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals serving our state. During the month of June, Enterprise Car Sales sponsored “Cars For Kids”, a fundraiser donating $250 to CMN for each car sold from its inventory of late-model, quality used vehicles to credit union members from participating credit unions.

This was the first year for the campaign in Roanoke and raised the second highest fundraising amount across the state. Tomorrow state representatives from the VA Credit Union League and Enterprise Car Sales will present a check for $1,750 to the VP of Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital and a family that has benefited locally from the services of Children’s Miracle Network. Read more »