United Bancorp, Inc. Declares its Third Quarter Regular Cash Dividend Payment at $0.07 per Share

MARTINS FERRY, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 14, 2013, the Board of Directors of United Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBCP) declared the third quarter dividend payment of $0.07 per share for shareholders of record on September 10, 2013 with a payment date of September 20, 2013.  This payment is equal to the cash dividend paid in the first and second quarters of this year and on an annualized basis provides a current yield to shareholders of 3.9%. 

James W. Everson, Chairman and CEO stated earlier, "Our mantra in our earnings releases for the past three quarters has centered on the fact we are managing our balance sheet causing 'short term pain for long term gain'.  Our conservative risk management of keeping our liquidity in lower yielding short term investments has stifled our recent earnings reports, yet continues to be prudent with the anticipation of interest rate increases as the Federal Reserve eases out of its current monetary policy.  At present, we continue to aggressively make loans in our banking communities and resist seeking a higher return by stretching maturities on our investment portfolio until we have a clearer definition of the Federal Reserve's direction.  By investing in longer maturities today, we would expose our shareholders to losses in capital and earnings when interest rates normalize.  We continue to be satisfied to cover our overhead, provide for a proper amount of capital and reserves and make our generous dividend payment.  We project our strategy will be proven right as inflation and higher interest rates return, bringing our shareholders the gain we are postured to earn."

United Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Martins Ferry, Ohio with total assets of approximately $414.6 million and total shareholder's equity of approximately $36.4 million as of June 30, 2013.  Through its single bank charter with its twenty banking offices and an operations center, The Citizens Savings Bank through its Community Bank Division serves the Ohio Counties of Athens, Fairfield and Hocking and through its Citizens Bank Division serves Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas. United Bancorp, Inc. is a part of the Russell Microcap Index and trades on The NASDAQ Capital Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol UBCP, Cusip #909911109.

Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical facts and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond the Company's control), may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of these terms.  Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset/liability management, changes in the financial and securities markets, including changes with respect to the market value of our financial  assets, and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update or carry forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE United Bancorp, Inc.