Chase Bank is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to add a drive-through ATM to its Herndon location.
The company has submitted a special exception proposal requesting the ability to operate the ATM and a deposit box at Village Center Shopping Center (2401 Centreville Road).
The county’s land use database indicates that the application was submitted on March 14, but as of press time, staff were still awaiting the actual plans.
The location currently has two ATMs, and Chase Bank’s website indicates that it recently opened.
According to a Chase Bank spokesperson, the branch opened in October and was “built from the ground up.”
“All of our branches that have a drive-thru are locations where there is space and demand to give customers a variety of options for their deposit and withdrawal financing needs,” said Carolyn Evert, Chase Bank’s spokesperson for the D.C. region.
The shopping center, which is anchored by Giant, currently has three spaces available. The largest vacant space is a 44,460-square-foot location for a fitness tenant.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated at 11 a.m. on 2/28/2024) Allegations of racist lending practices against Navy Federal Credit Union have solidified into a class action lawsuit.
Attorneys representing nine members of Navy Federal filed a complaint in federal court on Feb. 20 alleging that the Vienna-based financial institution “systematically discriminates” against people of color, particularly Black, Hispanic and Native American applicants, when determining whether to approve mortgage loans.
The lawsuit builds on a Dec. 14 story by CNN that found Navy Federal was more than twice as likely to reject Black mortgage applicants than their white counterparts, even when they have similar incomes, property values and neighborhood characteristics.
“Navy Federal claims that it champions community and that it is dedicated to embracing and celebrating diversity and inclusion in all the communities it serves. Of course, actions speak louder than words, and Navy Federal’s claims of community devotion ring hollow in the face of its systematic discrimination against non-white borrowers,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump said at a press conference in New York, where the lawsuit was publicly announced.
Consolidating four initially separate legal challenges, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, since Navy Federal’s global headquarters are at 820 Follin Lane in Vienna.
Navy Federal, which serves current and former members of the military and their families, gave conventional home purchase mortgage loans to 77% of white applicants in 2022 but only 48% of Black applicants — a 29% disparity that’s the biggest of any major lender in the country, CNN reported, citing data that the credit union was required to report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Hispanic applicants were approved 56% of the time, while Native Americans and Asians saw approval rates of 64% and 69%, respectively.
Brought by plaintiffs from across the country who say they were either denied a loan or, in one case, issued one at a higher-than-average interest rate by Navy Federal, the 65-page complaint argues that the credit union’s practices amounted to racial discrimination in violation of federal laws, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
The complaint also alleges violations of state laws in California and Florida, where some of the plaintiffs are located.
“Harming its members and engaging in unlawful behavior is nothing new to Navy Federal, a company that has shown it simply does not care about equal housing, non-discrimination, or its members’ well-being,” the complaint says, noting that the credit union was ordered by the CFPB in 2016 to pay $23 million to members for making misleading threats in order to collect debts. Read More
Customers that bank at Truist in Reston and Springfield may soon have to make some changes.
The company, Truist Financial Corp., plans to close its Reston (11100 South Lakes Drive) and Springfield (6810 Commerce Street) locations early next year.
The closures were disclosed in a letter to customers in this month, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Here’s more on the closures from the WBJ:
A Truist spokesperson said declines in foot traffic and transaction volume in its branches drove the decision to close these locations, along with others it’s shuttering in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other markets within its footprint. On average, there’s another Truist branch within about a mile of any location it’s closing, the spokesperson said.
There will also be layoffs associated with the move, though the company didn’t specify how many. A spokesperson said the bank is “committed to supporting teammates affected by these branch closures through this transition.” There are some new positions being created at other branches and employees will have “elevated access” to other jobs within Truist, the spokesperson said.
Truist has nearly 200 branches in the D.C. area, 11 of which will close in March. Five of the ones slated for closure in March are in D.C., four are in Prince George’s County and two are in Fairfax County.
Truist’s closure in Reston will give South Lakes Village Center a second vacant bank building. The center owner had proposed turning the first building — which was filled by SunTrust — into a fast-food drive-thru, but the plan was put on hold indefinitely in May.
Image via Google Maps
A new bank is coming to Reston’s Campus Commons development.
Capital Bank appears to be opening a location at 1900 Campus Commons Drive in Suite 130, according to Fairfax County permits. The company did not return several requests for comment from FFXnow.
The bank has a handful of branches in the area, including in the District, Rockville, and Columbia. The bank also currently has a Reston location at 10700 Parkridge Blvd.
It’s unclear if the Campus Commons location will be new or a relocation of the bank on Parkridge Blvd.
Developer TF Cornerstone is behind Campus Commons, a two-building complex at the intersection of the Dulles Toll Road and Wiehle Avenue. A plan to transform the aging office park into a 1.3-million-square-foot, mixed-use development was approved by the county in 2019.
Image via Google Maps
Plans to convert a drive-thru bank into a fast food restaurant in Reston’s South Lakes Village Center are on hold.
At a June 21 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission plans to indefinitely defer the application, which would have converted the bank into drive-thru restaurant.
The applicant had hoped to convert the 1,675-square-foot space into a fast-food restaurant.
“The establishment of a fast-food restaurant at this location complements existing uses, including those of other fast-food businesses in the village center,” the special exception application said.
Most recently updated in February, the application said South Lakes Village Center had hoped to maintain the structure of the building and “broaden the retail options” available to area residents.
The shopping center is anchored by Safeway and includes tenants like Starbucks, Chipotle, Red’s Table, Custom Ink and Truist.
South Lakes Village Center did not immediately return a request for comment from FFXnow. A Fairfax County spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow that the applicant asked for the deferral.
A new bank is slated to open soon at The Spectrum Center at Reston Town Center.
PNC Bank plans to open at 11842 Spectrum Center this year, according to the center’s website.
County permits indicate that a permit for electrical work was issued last month. The center has businesses like The Container Store, Harris Teeter and Not Your Average Joe’s. A Barnes and Nobles location is also expected to open soon at the center.
“We are excited to share that this new branch location is anticipated to open at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center during the third quarter. The space occupies approximately 3,600 square feet,” a PNC Bank spokesperson told FFXnow.
There are several other banking options at the center, including United Bank, First National Bank, and Trustar Bank.
The bank has one other location in Reston. An ATM is located at the Giant in North Point Village Center (1450 Northpoint Village Center).
Last year, a PNC Bank location shuttered in Reston Town Center (11932 Democracy Drive).
Hat tip to Adam Rubinstein
Chase Bank is expected to open a new location in Herndon.
The bank will take over space formerly occupied by SunTrust at the Village Center at Dulles (2445 Centreville Road). The 3,200-square-foot space is expected to open before the end of this year, a company spokesperson told FFXnow.
“This branch is part of our continued expansion into Northern Virginia,” the spokesperson said. “We currently have 17 branches throughout Northern VA and expect to have a total of 26 open by the end of the year.”
The village center’s website states that six spaces are available, including three restaurant uses and one fitness space. The center has tenants like Giant, Starbucks, Gold’s Gym, Chuck E. Cheese and HomeGoods.
Image via Google Maps
Metro Promises Relief for Train Riders Next Month — Starting Monday (Aug. 1), the addition of more rail cars will speed up service on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines to every 15 minutes on weekdays instead of the current wait times, which can reach up to 20 minutes. Metro says it anticipates expanding those service adjustments to weekends in September. [WMATA]
Man to Plead Guilty to Herndon Murder — A Virginia man told a Fairfax County judge he wants to plead guilty to the 1987 killing of 37-year-old Eige Sober-Adler in Herndon after being indicted in the case in January. Charles Helem is already serving life in prison for strangling and killing his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Bentley, in Chantilly in 2002. [WTOP]
Reston Residents Frustrated by Car Burglaries — “Some angry Reston residents are complaining that the police are doing too little to stop a persistent car burglar repeatedly targeting their community…Neighbors say the same burglar has returned to the West Market neighborhood near Reston Town Center at least four times over the course of the year” [WUSA9]
New Sidewalks in Lincolnia Near Finish — “Work is wrapping up on #Lincolnia Road Sidewalk and Spot Improvement Project! This #FairfaxCounty Transportation project consists of 1,000 LF of sidewalk to connect pedestrian facilities along North Chambliss Street and Lincolnia Road from the Lincolnia Senior Center to Linmar Court” [Supervisor Penny Gross/Twitter]
Pittsburgh Bank Coming to Reston — “First National Bank is expanding in Northern Virginia. F.N.B. Corp. (NYSE: FNB) said Wednesday it has filed applications with the Order of the Comptroller of the Currency to open new branches in Reston and Arlington. The bank currently operates seven First National Bank offices in Northern Virginia and the District and said it expects to grow that total to 11 by 2024.” [Washington Business Journal]
Maintenance Set for Planned Tysons Trail — “Fairfax County supervisors on July 19 authorized the county’s transportation director, Thomas Biesiadny, to execute a perpetual agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for joint operation and maintenance of a new shared-use path in Tysons.” [Sun Gazette]
Idylwood Office Buildings Sold — “Dave Schaeffer, CEO of Cogent Communications, has acquired 7799 Leesburg Pike, a pair of 11-story office towers totaling 377,717 square feet in Tysons, Va. The sale price was $49 million, according to someone close to the deal…At the time of the sale, the buildings were 36 percent leased to seven tenants, including Tyson MRI and Imaging Center and the University of the Potomac Virginia Campus.” [Commercial Observer]
Reston Offers “Superhero” Triathlon for Kids — Coming this Sunday (July 31), the CORE Foundation will host its first-ever Reston Superhero Youth Triathlon at Ridge Heights Pool. Over 100 people have registered for the competition, which will feature running, swimming, and bicycling and have categories for para and adaptive athletes. [CORE Foundation]
Vienna Parks and Rec Registration Coming — “Get ready, get set for fall fun with Vienna Parks and Recreation! Explore the program guide and sign up for classes, camps and more adventures for the whole family! Registration for Town residents opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 1. Registration for all others opens Monday, Aug. 8.” [Town of Vienna]
It’s Friday — Rain in the evening and overnight. High of 82 and low of 74. Sunrise at 6:09 am and sunset at 8:25 pm. [Weather.gov]
Dog Dies in Newington Townhouse Fire — Unattended cooking started a fire at a townhouse in the 6700 block of Red Bird Woods Court last Friday (July 15) that displaced one resident and caused approximately $93,750 in damages. County firefighters found a dog while searching the property that was given medical care but didn’t survive. [FCFRD]
Fairfax Nonprofit Helps Rescued Beagles — The Fairfax-based animal rescue group Homeward Trails is one of several shelters across the country helping the Humane Society find homes for beagles rescued from a Cumberland breeding facility. The nonprofit will place 1,500 of the dogs and has already received almost 1,000 adoption applications. [Washingtonian]
New Mental Health Crisis Hotline Available — “A new 9-8-8 crisis and support hotline is now active across the United States, including here in Fairfax County…Dialing either 9-8-8 or the existing [National Suicide Prevention Lifeline] number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), will connect you to behavioral health care and support 24 hours a day.” [Fairfax County Government]
GW Parkway Rehab Could Bring Traffic Cameras — “WTOP has learned that an upcoming major rehabilitation of the George Washington Parkway’s northern section will lay the groundwork — literally — for live traffic cameras along a 7-mile stretch of the roadway running from the Capital Beltway to Spout Run. Ground was broken for the project on Monday.” [WTOP]
McLean Baseball Player Drafted by New York Mets — “Add one more significant achievement, and likely the best of all, in a season full of big accomplishments and recognitions for Nick Morabito. The McLean resident and 2022 graduate of Gonzaga College High School recently was chosen in the second round (75th pick overall) of the Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets.” [Sun Gazette]
Great Falls Bank to Expand — “Three-year-old Trustar Bank in Great Falls has raised $18 million in fresh capital and intends to use the proceeds to help fund its expansion across the D.C. region. The private placement…could be a prelude to an eventual initial public offering for the $560 million-asset Trustar.” [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Park Field Named After Advocate — “In action at their regular meeting on July 13, 2022, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board voted to name rectangular field 6 at Pine Ridge Park in honor of Wanda Rixon at the request of the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association (FWSA)…FWSA and Rixon played an instrumental role in the effort to retain Pine Ridge Park as permanent park land.” [FCPA]
DMV Stops by Tysons Library Tomorrow — “Looking to renew your license, get the real ID and more? The DMV is visiting the Tysons-Pimmit Library. Registration is required and an appointment can be made here. Please note the DMV takes a lunch break from 12:30pm-1:30pm.” [FCPL]
It’s Thursday — Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 89 and low of 78. Sunrise at 6:02 am and sunset at 8:31 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 6:30 p.m. on 7/20/2022) PNC Bank customers will have to go elsewhere to conduct business in Reston Town Center.
The location at 11932 Democracy Drive in the town center has permanently closed, according to its website. The vacancy is near the location of Fogo de Chao, a new Brazilian steakhouse that is under construction.
The closure leaves just one other PNC Bank location in Reston, which is located at 1450 North Point Village Center.
It comes after the company previously announced plans to shutter 280 branches over two years.
H/t to Adam Rubinstein for the tip. Image via Google Maps
