EXHIBIT 99.1
                                                                    News Release

                             [GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]


For Immediate Release                               Contact: Steven E. Wilson
February 28, 2002                                     Chief Financial Officer
                                                                (304)424-8704

                           United Bankshares Announces
                            Stock Repurchase Program

         Richard M. Adams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United
Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI), announced that at the February 25, 2002 board meeting,
United's Board of Directors approved a new plan to repurchase up to 1.72 million
shares of its common stock on the open market effective upon completion of the
2000 repurchase plan.

         The stock repurchase plan represents 4% of the issued and outstanding
shares of United. "We are confident in the future of United. We feel that
another repurchase plan underscores our commitment to enhancing long-term
shareholder value," stated Chairman Adams.

         The timing, price and quantity of purchases under the plan will be at
the discretion of management and the plan may be discontinued, suspended or
restarted at any time depending on the facts and circumstances. The repurchase
plan, depending upon market conditions, provides capital management
opportunities. Shares repurchased under the plan will be available to fund
employee benefit programs as well as for a variety of other corporate purposes.

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



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