EXHIBIT 99.1
                                                                    News Release
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                        [LOGO] UNITED BANKSHARES, INC.


For Immediate Release                                  Contact: Steven E. Wilson
December 10, 2001                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                                                  (304) 424-8704

                       United Bankshares, Inc. Acquires
                           Century Bancshares, Inc.

     United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI) completed the acquisition of Century
Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Century National Bank.
Century Bancshares, with $415 million in assets, adds 11 full service offices to
United's existing presence in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and
Montgomery County, Maryland. As a result of the acquisition, Century National
was merged with United's Virginia subsidiary, United Bank, increasing United's
Virginia franchise to over $2 billion in assets. United Bank now becomes the 9th
largest bank in the Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC MSA. United's total
assets increased to approximately $5.6 billion with 86 full service offices in
West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Washington, D.C.

     As a result of the transaction valued at approximately $70.3 million,
Century shareholders will receive 0.45 shares of United Bankshares, Inc. common
stock plus $3.43 in cash for each share of Century common stock. The transaction
is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

     United Chairman and CEO, Richard Adams stated, "This acquisition continues
to strengthen our position in one of the best markets in the nation and further
enhances our franchise value. United anticipates an accretive transaction based
upon projected in market cost savings and revenue enhancements."

     Century Chairman, Joseph Bracewell, added, "We are happy to be joining with
United Bankshares. United is a high performance banking company with a great
track record of creating shareholder value." Mr. Bracewell will be joining the
United Bankshares Board of Directors.

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


This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including
certain plans, expectations, goals and projections, which are subject to
numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ
materially from those contained in or implied by such statements for a variety
of factors including: changes in economic conditions; movements in interest
rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing
of business strategies; the nature and extent of governmental actions and
reforms; and rapidly changing technology evolving banking industry standards.