Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. (BMBN), the Kenbridge-based hold­ing company for Benchmark Community Bank, recently announced the declaration of a semi-annual dividend of $0.19 per share to holders of common stock of the company.

This dividend, up from the $0.18 per share paid in July, brings total dividends for the year to $0.37 per share, representing an increase of 8.8 percent over the $0.34 per share paid in 2014.

The record date for shareholders entitled to payment of the dividend will be the close of business, 5 p.m., on Jan. 8, with payment to occur by Jan. 29.

The common stock of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. trades on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol BMBN. Any stockbroker can assist with purchases of the company’s stock, as well as with sales of holdings.

Benchmark Community Bank, founded in 1971, is head­quartered in Kenbridge, and is the company’s sole subsidiary which oper­ates twelve banking offices through­out central Southside Vir­ginia.

In June, for the ninth year in a row, Benchmark was named one of the Top 200 Community Banks in the nation by American Banker magazine.