Published: February 12, 2008 01:31 pm      

Capital One Bank: We’re not closing J’ville branch

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Jacksonville Capital One branch manager Penny Walker wants to put the rumors to rest.

“Capital One is not closing,” Walker said. “We are not changing hands.”

The question of the bank’s future in Jacksonville was raised recently on the Jacksonville Daily Progress’s Web site forum. The forum is a venue where the paper’s readers can voice opinions, anonymously or otherwise, on any topic via the newspaper’s Internet site.

The entry in question — posted on Jan. 26 at 8:33 p.m. — was entered by a user with the handle “Reaganomics.”

“Why isn’t the paper asking more questions about the direction and management of the school system?” Reaganomics’ post states. “Lets [sic] take a look at some recent events within the town, Western Litotech [sic] closes it doors and lays off hundreds. Chubby’s closes its doors. Larissa House is scaling back in a major way. Hallmark closes it’s [sic] doors. Now I am hearing a rumor Capital One bank may be closing? Anyone heard that one? Cannot verify that at all; but that is the talk around the campfire. What would have happened if any of the bonds would have passed? I am not even going to touch the looming recession to the economy.

“If I am looking for stories that affect this town, the managment [sic] and lack of planning on the part of the school board is great place to start. Come on people, get with the program and report the truth. The Truth IS [sic] out there,” Reaganomics wrote.

Walker called the Daily Progress office last week and reported customers had been asking about the bank’s alleged closing.

“The forum is an avenue for our readers and residents to air their opinions about local matters that affect them,” Jacksonville Daily Progress Publisher Amy Miller said. “We are pleased with the interest the forum has generated and welcome anyone to use it as it is intended to be used. We try to police the forum to make sure there isn’t anything posted that could be construed as libelous to any private citizen or private business.”

Miller added the Daily Progress editorial department reserves the right to follow up on anything published on the forum, though a news article may not be printed for every posting.