Photo Provided Sally Cline, president and CEO of the West Virginia Bankers Association, left, presents the association’s Individual Banker Advocate of the Year Award to Chad Mildren, United Bank chief consumer banking officer.

PARKERSBURG — United Bank has been named the 2018 Bank Advocate of the Year by the West Virginia Bankers Association.

United Bank Chief Consumer Banking Officer, Chad Mildren, who led bank-wide initiatives, also was recognized as the 2018 Individual Banker Advocate of the Year by the association.

As a subsidiary of United Bankshares Inc., the largest publicly traded company headquartered in West Virginia, United Bank is committed to the economic growth of the state and supports initiatives that allow banks to better serve their communities, according to Richard Adams, United chairman and CEO.

“No industry is more important to the economy and communities across the country than the banking industry. In communities large and small, banks support local organizations, economic development, the arts, education and many other areas that strengthen our state,” Adams said. “We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to bank advocacy and the successful leadership of Chad Mildren.”

Starting at the grassroots level, Mildren coordinated and implemented a bank campaign that engaged United’s senior-level employees. Employees worked with state and federal decision-makers and leaders to advance business and economic growth in the state, with a goal of enhancing the vitality of West Virginia.

Mildren, a Parkersburg native, is active with issues important to the state and residents. Mildren serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Wood County Development Authority, the board of the West Virginia Bankers Association and is the chairman of the West Virginia Bankers Association Bank Political Action Committee.

He is a past chairman and board member of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley and a past board member of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. He also served on the Downtown Development Task Force in Parkersburg.

United Bank has assets of $19.2 billion and 142 full-service banking locations throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.