News Notes

Suffolk Bank Expands

Farmers Bank, based in Windsor, has applied to the Virginia State Corporation Commission to open a branch at 28319 Southampton Parkway in Southampton County. The bank filed the request Nov., 11, 2012.

The bank’s assets were $424.5 million as of June 30, 2012, down from $454.5 million for the same period in 2011.

Deposits dropped to $337.96 million, for the period ending June 30, 2012, from $374 million for the same period last year.

Troubled assets dropped to $8.04 million, for the period ending June 30, 2012, from $14.26, for the period ending June 30, 2011.

The financials are taken from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Health Insurance Firm to Outsource Call Center

Anthem Health Plans of Virginia and Healthkeepers wants permission to offer behavorial health advice and service from a call center outside of Virginia. The health insurance firm, which offers health insurance nationwide, asked the Virginia State Corporation Commission for permission Nov., 16, 2012.

Anthem used the term “relief” in its request.  

Anthem says in its filing that it lacks the administrative capability to provide services from a call center in Virginia.

To justify its request, Anthem said in the filing that a centralized call center will decrease customer frustration and minimize the number of “touches” of customer interactions needed to get the customer to the best health services.

State law prevents Anthem from locating the call center outside of the United States, saying relief doesn’t include relief to allow the provision of services from outside the United States.