Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc., Norfolk, VA,
                        Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

    NORFOLK, Va., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The directors of
Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWBS) declared a quarterly cash dividend
in the amount of $0.05 per share on its common stock, payable May 31, 2005, to
shareholders of record as of May 2, 2005. This is the second quarterly dividend
declared in 2005, for a total year to date dividend of $0.10, consistent with
the $0.10 total dividend declared during the first two quarters of 2004. Total
dividends declared in 2004 were $0.20, a 25% increase over the $0.16 total
dividend declared in 2003.

    Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. offers its shareholders the convenience of a
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan and the direct deposit of cash
dividends, without payment of any brokerage commission, fee or service charge.

    Holders of stock may have their quarterly dividends automatically reinvested
in additional shares of the Company's common stock by utilizing the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan. Shares of common stock purchased through the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan with reinvested dividends will be 95% of the market price.

    Shareholders participating in the Stock Purchase Plan may also make
voluntary cash contributions not to exceed $20,000 per quarter. These shares are
issued at market value, without incurring brokerage commissions. In addition,
shareholders also have the option of having their cash dividends deposited
directly into an account with Bank of the Commonwealth.

    Shareholders may receive information on the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock
Purchase Plan or direct deposit of cash dividends by contacting the Stock
Transfer Department at Bank of the Commonwealth, P.O. Box 1177, Norfolk, VA
23501-1177.

    To capture the growing market and the real estate boom in the Ocean View
area of Norfolk, Bank of the Commonwealth recently opened a loan origination
office on Pretty Lake Avenue at East Beach and is negotiating a lease for a
permanent branch site nearby. This will be the Bank's tenth branch site in the
Hampton Roads area.

    About Commonwealth Bankshares

    Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. is the parent of Bank of the Commonwealth
which opened its first office in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1971, creating a
community bank that was attuned to local issues and could respond to the needs
of local citizens and businesses. Over the last three decades, the Company's
growth has mirrored that of the communities it serves. Today, Bank of the
Commonwealth has nine bank branches strategically located throughout the Hampton
Roads region and an extensive ATM network for added convenience. The Company
continues to grow and develop new services, such as Online Banking and a
Corporate Cash Management program while at the same time, maintains a
longstanding commitment to personal service. Our slogan conveys our true
corporate philosophy: "When you bank with us, you bank with your neighbors."
Bank of the Commonwealth offers insurance services through its subsidiary BOC
Insurance Agencies of Hampton Roads, Inc., title services through BOC Title of
Hampton Roads, Inc. and mortgage funding services through one of its newest
subsidiaries, Community Home Mortgage of Virginia, Inc. Additional information
about the company, its products and services, can be found on the Web at
http://www.bankofthecommonwealth.com.



    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as
"anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "should," "will,"
variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current
beliefs as to the expected outcomes of future events and are not guarantees of
future performance. These statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent,
likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may
materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause a difference include, among
others: changes in the national and local economies or market conditions;
changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand and asset quality,
including real estate and other collateral values; changes in banking
regulations and accounting principals, policies or guidelines; and the impact of
competition from traditional or new sources. These and other factors that may
emerge could cause decisions and actual results to differ materially from
current expectations. Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. undertakes no obligation to
revise, update, or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect events or
conditions after the date of this release.

SOURCE  Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc.
    -0-                             04/22/2005
    /CONTACT:  E.J. Woodard, Jr., CLBB, Chairman of The Board, President, and
Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc., +1-757-446-6904 or
ewoodard@bocmail.net/
    /Web site:  http://www.bankofthecommonwealth.com /