Exhibit 99.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANNES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of American National
Bankshares Inc. (the "Company") for the period ending June 30, 2002 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
I, Charles H. Majors, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbannes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



\s\ Charles H. Majors
- -------------------------------------
Charles H. Majors
President and Chief Executive Officer

August 14, 2002