United Bankshares, Inc. Announces Record Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2025

WASHINGTON & CHARLESTON, W.Va.- United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI ) (“United”), today reported record earnings for the third quarter of 2025 of $130.7 million, or $0.92 per diluted share. Third quarter of 2025 results produced annualized returns on average assets, average equity, and average tangible equity, a non-GAAP measure, of 1.57%, 9.58%, and 15.45%, respectively.

“UBSI’s earnings momentum from the first half of the year carried through into the third quarter of 2025,” stated Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer. “It was another quarter of record earnings, marked by continued organic growth, tightly managed expenses, and strong profitability metrics.”

Earnings for the second quarter of 2025 were $120.7 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, and annualized returns on average assets, average equity, and average tangible equity were 1.49%, 9.05%, and 14.67%, respectively. As a result of the acquisition of Piedmont Bancorp, Inc. (“Piedmont”) on January 10, 2025, the third quarter and first nine months of 2025 were impacted by increased levels of average balances, income, and expense as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2024. Earnings for the third quarter of 2024 were $95.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, and annualized returns on average assets, average equity, and average tangible equity were 1.28%, 7.72%, and 12.59%, respectively.

Third quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2025

Earnings for the third quarter of 2025 were $130.7 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, as compared to earnings of $120.7 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025.

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2025 was a record $280.1 million, an increase of $5.6 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2025. Tax-equivalent net interest income, a non-GAAP measure which adjusts for the tax-favored status of income from certain loans and investments, for the third quarter of 2025 also increased $5.6 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2025. The increase in net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest income was driven by an increase in average earning assets partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits and a decrease in acquired loan accretion income. Average earning assets increased $470.3 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2025 driven by increases in average net loans and loans held for sale of $310.8 million and average short-term investments of $111.1 million. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $415.5 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2025. Acquired loan accretion income was $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2025, a decrease of $4.3 million from the second quarter of 2025. The net interest margin was 3.80% and 3.81% for the third quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2025, respectively.

The provision for credit losses was $12.1 million for the third quarter of 2025 as compared to $5.9 million for the second quarter of 2025. Refer to the Credit Quality section below for additional information.

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2025 was $43.2 million, an increase of $11.7 million, or 37%, from the second quarter of 2025, driven by increases in net gains on investment securities of $10.0 million and fees from brokerage services of $1.4 million. Net gains on investment securities of $10.4 million for the third quarter of 2025 were primarily due to unrealized fair value gains on equity securities reflecting common stock appreciation at September 30, 2025, from the prior quarter-end. The increase in fees from brokerage services was primarily due to higher volume.

Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2025 of $146.7 million was flat from the second quarter of 2025, slightly decreasing $1.3 million, or less than 1%. The decrease in noninterest expense was driven by a $3.2 million net benefit in the expense for the reserve for unfunded loan commitments for the third quarter of 2025, as compared to a $748 thousand net benefit in the expense for the reserve for unfunded loan commitments for the second quarter of 2025 and a $1.1 million decrease in other noninterest expense. Partially offsetting these decreases in noninterest expense were a $1.2 million increase in employee compensation and a $1.2 million increase in employee benefits. The net benefit in the expense for the reserve for unfunded loan commitments for the third quarter of 2025 was primarily due to a decrease in the modeled loss rate within certain loan portfolios partially offset by an increase in the outstanding balance of loan commitments at September 30, 2025, from the prior quarter-end. Other noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2025 included $961 thousand of merger-related expenses. Additionally, within other noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the second quarter of 2025, decreases in certain general operating expenses were largely offset by an increase in tax credit amortization of $1.4 million. The increase in employee compensation was primarily due to higher employee headcount and brokerage commissions. The increase in employee benefits was primarily due to higher postretirement benefit costs.

For the third quarter of 2025, income tax expense was $33.7 million, an increase of $2.4 million from the second quarter of 2025. This increase in income tax expense was primarily due to the impact of higher earnings. United’s effective tax rate was 20.5% and 20.6% for the third quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2025, respectively.

Third quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter of 2024

Earnings for the third quarter of 2025 were $130.7 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, as compared to earnings of $95.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024.

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2025 increased $49.9 million, or 22%, from the third quarter of 2024. Tax-equivalent net interest income increased $49.8 million, or 22%, from the third quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest income was primarily due to an increase in average earning assets, a lower average rate paid on deposits, and an increase in acquired loan accretion income. These increases were partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits. Average earning assets increased $3.3 billion, or 13%, from the third quarter of 2024, driven by increases in average net loans and loans held for sale of $2.7 billion and average short-term investments of $750.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in average investment securities of $154.8 million. The increase in average loans from the third quarter of 2024 was driven by the Piedmont acquisition and organic loan growth. The cost of average interest-bearing deposits decreased 44 basis points from the third quarter of 2024. Acquired loan accretion income was $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2025 as compared to $2.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $2.6 billion, or 15%, from the third quarter of 2024. The net interest margin of 3.80% for the third quarter of 2025 was an increase of 28 basis points from the net interest margin of 3.52% for the third quarter of 2024.

The provision for credit losses was $12.1 million for the third quarter of 2025 as compared to $6.9 million for the third quarter of 2024.

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2025 was $43.2 million, an increase of $11.3 million, or 35%, from the third quarter of 2024. The increase in noninterest income was driven by net gains on investment securities for the third quarter of 2025 of $10.4 million as compared to net losses on investment securities for the third quarter of 2024 of $6.7 million, a $1.2 million increase in fees from brokerage services, and smaller increases in several other categories of noninterest income. Partially offsetting these increases in noninterest income were a $7.4 million decrease in mortgage loan servicing income and a $2.0 million decrease in income from mortgage banking activities. Net gains on investment securities for the third quarter of 2025 of $10.4 million were primarily due to the aforementioned unrealized fair value gains on equity securities. Net losses on investment securities of $6.7 million for the third quarter of 2024 were primarily due to a $6.9 million loss on the sale of available for sale (“AFS”) investment securities. The increase in fees from brokerage services was primarily due to higher volume. Mortgage loan servicing income was $7.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, driven by a $7.1 million gain on the sale of mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”). The decrease in income from mortgage banking activities was primarily due to lower mortgage production and a lower quarter-end valuation of mortgage loans held for sale.

Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2025 was $146.7 million, an increase of $11.4 million, or 8%, from the third quarter of 2024. The increase in noninterest expense was driven by increases in employee compensation of $5.6 million, employee benefits of $1.6 million, amortization of intangibles of $1.4 million, net occupancy of $1.2 million, and smaller increases in several other categories of noninterest expense. The increase in employee compensation was primarily due to higher employee headcount from the acquisition and higher employee incentives. The increase in employee benefits was primarily due to higher medical insurance expenses partially driven by additional employees from the acquisition. The increases in the amortization of intangibles, net occupancy, and other categories of noninterest expense were mainly from the acquisition.

For the third quarter of 2025, income tax expense was $33.7 million as compared to $24.6 million for the third quarter of 2024. This increase of $9.1 million in income tax expense was driven by higher earnings. United’s effective tax rate was 20.5% and 20.6% for the third quarter of 2025 and third quarter of 2024, respectively.

First nine months of 2025 compared to the first nine months of 2024

Earnings for the first nine months of 2025 were $335.8 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, as compared to earnings of $278.6 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2024.

Net interest income for the first nine months of 2025 increased $136.2 million, or 20%, from the first nine months of 2024. Tax-equivalent net interest income for the first nine months of 2025 increased $136.0 million, or 20%, from the first nine months of 2024. The increase in net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest income was primarily due to an increase in average earning assets, a lower average rate paid on deposits, an increase in acquired loan accretion income, and a decrease in average long-term borrowings. These increases to net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest income were partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits. Average earning assets increased $2.9 billion, or 11%, from the first nine months of 2024, driven by increases in average net loans and loans held for sale of $2.3 billion and average short-term investments of $1.0 billion, partially offset by a decrease in average investment securities of $448.8 million. The cost of average interest-bearing deposits decreased 34 basis points from the first nine months of 2024. Acquired loan accretion income was $25.2 million for the first nine months of 2025 as compared to $7.3 million for the first nine months of 2024. Average long-term borrowings decreased $628.4 million, or 53%, from the first nine months of 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $2.7 billion, or 16%, from the first nine months of 2024. The net interest margin of 3.77% for the first nine months of 2025 was an increase of 28 basis points from the net interest margin of 3.49% for the first nine months of 2024.

The provision for credit losses was $47.1 million for the first nine months of 2025, which included $18.7 million of provision recorded on purchased non-credit deteriorated (“non-PCD”) loans from Piedmont. The provision for credit losses was $18.5 million for the first nine months of 2024.

Noninterest income for the first nine months of 2025 was $104.2 million, an increase of $9.8 million, or 10%, from the first nine months of 2024. The increase in noninterest income was driven by net gains on investment securities for the first nine months of 2025 of $11.4 million as compared to net losses on investment securities for the first nine months of 2024 of $7.0 million, a $2.4 million increase in income from bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”), a $1.5 million increase in fees from brokerage services, and a $1.4 million increase in fees from deposit services. Partially offsetting these increases in noninterest income were an $9.0 million decrease in mortgage loan servicing income and a $6.2 million decrease in income from mortgage banking activities. Net gains on investment securities of $11.4 million for the first nine months of 2025 were primarily due to unrealized fair value gains on equity securities. Net losses on investment securities of $7.0 million for the first nine months of 2024 included $13.7 million in losses on sales of AFS investment securities, partially offset by a $6.9 million gain on the VISA share exchange. The increase in BOLI income was primarily due to the impact of higher market values of underlying investments and death benefits recognized in 2025. Increases in fees from brokerage services and in fees from deposit services were primarily due to higher volume. The decrease in mortgage loan servicing income was due to sales of MSRs in 2024. The decrease in income from mortgage banking activities was primarily due to lower mortgage production in 2025.

Noninterest expense for the first nine months of 2025 was $448.3 million, which included $12.7 million in merger-related expenses, while noninterest expense was $410.9 million for the first nine months of 2024, which included $1.6 million in merger-related expenses. Other noninterest expense increased $11.9 million, driven by $7.0 million in merger-related expenses recognized during the first nine months of 2025 as compared to $1.6 million for the first nine months of 2024 and higher amounts of certain general operating expenses. Employee compensation increased $11.6 million for the first nine months of 2025 and included $1.5 million in merger-related expenses, higher employee headcount mainly from the acquisition, and higher employee incentives partially offset by lower commissions driven by a decrease in mortgage production. Additionally, increases in several other categories of noninterest expense mainly from the acquisition were partially offset by decreases in mortgage loan servicing expense of $2.4 million and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance expense of $2.2 million. The decrease in mortgage loan servicing expense was driven by the aforementioned sale of MSRs. FDIC insurance expense for the first nine months of 2024 included $2.1 million in expense for the FDIC’s special assessment.

For the first nine months of 2025, income tax expense was $87.7 million as compared to $64.9 million for the first nine months of 2024. The increase of $22.8 million was primarily due to higher earnings and the impact of discrete tax benefits recognized during the first nine months of 2024. United’s effective tax rate was 20.7% for the first nine months of 2025 and 18.9% for the first nine months of 2024.