SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934




Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 9, 2000


                           NATIONAL BANKSHARES, INC.
                          ---------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


  Virginia                        0-15204                     54-1375874
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                  (Commission                 (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)                Identification No.)
incorporation)


P.O. Box 90002
Blacksburg, Virginia                                          24062-9002
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(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (540) 951-6300




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Item 2   Acquisitions

         On August 17,  2000,  National  Bankshares,  Inc.  signed a  definitive
agreement  to purchase  six  Virginia  branches of AmSouth  Bank of  Birmingham,
Alabama.   National  Bankshares  plans  to  operate  the  branches  through  its
subsidiaries, The National Bank, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Bank
of Tazewell County, of Tazewell,  Virginia.  The offices acquired are located in
Abingdon, Dublin, Marion, Pulaski, Radford and Wytheville.

         Under terms of the agreement,  National  Bankshares  purchased  certain
loans and assets and assumed  approximately  $95  million of deposits  and other
liabilities  of the six  AmSouth  offices.  The  transaction  was  completed  on
November  9,  2000.  Due to the  lack of  availability  of  certain  information
associated with the acquisition,  the filing of pro forma financial  information
will be deferred.  Such  information will be filed within sixty days of the date
of this filing.

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                    NATIONAL BANKSHARES, INC.


November 22, 2000                   /s/James G. Rakes
-----------------                   --------------------------------------------
Date                                James G. Rakes
                                    Chairman
                                    President and
                                    Chief Executive Officer







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