The United Building in downtown Charleston
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When Richard Adams became president of Parkersburg National Bank in 1975, the $100 million banking company had a single location along Market Street in Parkersburg’s downtown.
Today, the company, now known as United Bankshares Inc., is the 48th largest bank in the United States, with 1,733 employees managing $11.7 billion in assets at 133 offices in five states and Washington, D.C.
The parent company of United Bank is gearing up to celebrate its 175th anniversary Monday. It’s come a long way since St. Patrick’s Day 1839, when founders opened the doors on the original two-story branch house along Third Street in Parkersburg.
“When I talk to Wall Street about our company, I refer to us as ‘The American Dream success story coming out of Parkersburg, West Virginia,'” Adams said.
“It’s nice to have a company that’s born, raised and growing headquartered right here in West Virginia,” he said.
United’s history predates the state itself…
