EXHIBIT - 99(B)

                              EAGLE BANCORP, INC.

                    PROXY FOR SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING


          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned shareholder(s) of
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. Charleston, West Virginia, does hereby nominate constitute,
and appoint,                                           &
                                             or either of them will full power
to act alone as the true and lawful attorneys for the undersigned with full
power of substitution for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to
vote all the common stock of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. Charleston, West Virginia,
standing in the undersigned's name on its books on                     , 1996,
at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held at
                                        , on               , 1996, at
                     .m. local time, or any adjournments thereof, with all the
powers the undersigned would possess if personally present as follows:

          To approve, ratify and confirm the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of August 18, 1995, between Eagle Bancorp, Inc. and United Bankshares, Inc.

          The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice and
Prospectus/Joint Proxy Statement dated                                          
1996 and hereby revokes all proxies previously given by the undersigned for said
meeting.

          THIS PROXY CONFERS AUTHORITY TO VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL LISTED ABOVE
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE
ABOVE PROPOSALS.

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EAGLE
BANCORP, INC. AND MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.

          PLEASE MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY. ALL JOINT OWNERS MUST
SIGN.

                                           ___________________________________
   
   
                                           ___________________________________
   
   
                                           Dated:  __________________, 1996


          When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title. If more than one trustee, all should sign.