DATE: FROM: CONTACT:

February 24, 1999 United Bankshares, Inc. 514 Market Street Parkersburg, WV  26101 Steven E. Wilson (304) 424-8704

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI) declared a first quarter dividend of 20¢ per share for shareholders of record as of March 12, 1999. This is a 14% increase over the 17.5¢ paid in the first quarter of 1998 and is equal to the fourth quarter 1998 dividend.

The dividend payout of approximately $8.6 million on forty-three million shares is payable April 1, 1999. The year 1999 will be the 26th consecutive year of dividend increases to United shareholders. The annualized 1999 dividend of 80¢ equates to a yield of approximately 3.4% based on recent UBSI market prices.

United Bankshares stock is traded on the NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Quotation System) National Market System under the quotation symbol "UBSI".