First Citizens Bank planned off U.S. 1

A site plan was submitted last month for a First Citizens Bank branch on land that an affiliate of the Silver Cos. recently purchased in Fredericksburg.

The branch is planned on the west side of U.S. 1 just south of Cowan Boulevard. Part of the branch is planned on land the Silver affiliate bought from Keene Embrey late last year, and the rest is on land the entity plans to buy from Carter Embrey.

When that property is acquired, the Silver entity will own all the commercial frontage on the west side of U.S. 1 between Cowan and the building that is home to the Harris Law Firm at 1619 Jefferson Davis Highway. The planned bank branch is at a stoplight near the middle of the property Silver is acquiring. Silver plans additional commercial development in the area, to possibly include offices to the south of the bank and a restaurant at the corner of Cowan.

Raleigh, N.C.-based First Citizens has one branch in the local market, near the intersection of State Route 3 and Bragg Road in Spotsylvania County. A company spokeswoman declined to comment on the company's local plans.

--Bill Freehling