United Bank may receive $197 million from rescue plan: ; The company will vote on whether to issue preferred stock

United Bankshares Inc. may be eligible to receive about $197million from the federal government's $700 billion rescue plan, thecompany said in a statement filed with the federal Securities andExchange Commission.

As previously reported, United has called a Dec. 23 specialmeeting of shareholders to vote on whether to amend the company'sarticles of incorporation to allow the company to issue preferredstock. The federal government has been investing in banks bypurchasing preferred stock.

Congress passed the federal rescue plan on Oct. 3. Formallycalled the Capital Purchase Program, it is aimed at persuadinghealthy banks to lend again.

In its proxy statement …