EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/20/2009
Contact: Scott Shockey or Bryna Butler, (740) 446-2631, 1-800-468-6682


                 OHIO VALLEY BANC CORP. INCREASES CASH DIVIDEND
                       & EXTENDS STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

GALLIPOLIS,  OHIO - On January 20,  2009,  the Ohio  Valley Banc Corp.  [Nasdaq:
OVBC] Board of  Directors  declared a cash  dividend  of $0.20 per common  share
payable on February 10, 2009 to  shareholders of record on February 2, 2009. The
$0.20 per share  dividend  represents  an increase of 5.3 percent from the $0.19
per share dividend paid in each of the previous four quarters.

     "Last week, Ohio Valley Banc Corp. reported consolidated net income for the
year ended December 31, 2008, was  $7,128,000,  an increase of 13.2 percent from
the year ended December 31, 2007,  net income of $6,297,000.  Earnings per share
were $1.77 for the year of 2008 versus  $1.52 for the year of 2007,  an increase
of 16.4  percent,"  reported  President  and CEO  Jeffrey E.  Smith.  "Return on
average  assets and return on average  equity both  increased to .91 percent and
11.62 percent,  respectively,  for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, as
compared  to .82  percent  and 10.40  percent,  respectively,  for the same time
period in the prior year."

     The Company was also  authorized by its Board of Directors to repurchase up
to 175,000  shares of OVBC  common  stock  through  open  market  and  privately
negotiated purchases.

     The  timing of the  purchases,  the prices  paid and the  actual  number of
shares  of common  stock  purchased  will  depend  upon  market  conditions  and
limitations  imposed by applicable federal securities laws. All shares of common
stock purchased will be held as treasury shares and will be available for use by
OVBC pursuant to the terms of OVBC's  Dividend  Reinvestment  and Employee Stock
Purchase Plan


as well as for other general corporate  purposes.  All purchases will be made by
OVBC between  February 16, 2009 and  February 15, 2010,  unless  OVBC's Board of
Directors extends the program.

     Ohio Valley  Banc Corp.  has three  subsidiaries:  Ohio Valley Bank with 16
offices in Ohio and West  Virginia,  Loan Central with five offices in Ohio, and
Ohio Valley  Financial  Services based in Jackson,  Ohio. Ohio Valley Banc Corp.
stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol OVBC. The company's
Web site is www.ovbc.com.