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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000203596-01-000003.txt : 20010122
<SEC-HEADER>0000203596-01-000003.hdr.sgml : 20010122
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000203596-01-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20001229
ITEM INFORMATION:		
FILED AS OF DATE:		20010108

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESBANCO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000203596
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				550571723
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08467
		FILM NUMBER:		1503559

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 BANK PLAZA
		CITY:			WHEELING
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3042349000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BANK PLZ
		CITY:			WHEELING
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			26003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>0001.txt
<TEXT>


<PAGE>   1

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, DC  20549

                                 Form 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  December 29, 2000
                                                 ------------------
                                 WesBanco, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     West Virginia                    0-8467                55-0571723
- ---------------------------        ------------         ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission          (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)                File Number)        Identification No.)


     1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV                               26003
- ----------------------------------------                    ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (304) 234-9000
                                                      --------------------
Former name or former address, if changed since last report  Not Applicable
                                                            ---------------

<PAGE>   2


Item 5 - Other Events

     On December 29, 2000 WesBanco, Inc. and Freedom Bancshares, Inc. jointly
announced that they have entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of
Merger providing for the acuisition of Freedom and the merger of Freedom's
affiliate Belington Bank, Belington, West Virginia, with and into WesBanco
affiliate, WesBanco Bank, Inc.  Under the terms of the definitive Agreement
and Plan of Merger, WesBanco will exchange 2.58 shares of WesBanco common
stock for each share of Freedom common stock outstanding in a transaction
accounted for as a purchase transaction.  The transaction, which is subject
to, among other things, approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities
and the stockholders of Freedom and WesBanco, is expected to be completed
in mid-year 2001.

Item 7 - Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

        (c) Exhibits

            20 - Press release dated December 29, 2000, announcing that
                 WesBanco, Inc. and Freedon Bancshares, Inc. have entered
                 into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger.




                                 Signatures

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          WesBanco, Inc.
                                          --------------
                                          (Registrant)


January 8, 2001                           /s/ Edward M. George
- ---------------                           ---------------------------
    Date                                  Edward M. George
                                          President & Chief Executive Officer


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
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<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>0002.txt
<TEXT>

<PAGE>  1

                                                           EXHIBIT 20
                                                           ----------


NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2000



                                             WesBanco, Inc.
                                             1 Bank Plaza
                                             Wheeling, WV  26003

                                             and

                                             Freedom Bancshares, Inc.
                                             315 Crim Avenue
                                             P.O. Box 10
                                             Belington, WV  26250

                                             For Further Information Contact:
                                             Edward M. George   (304) 234-9208
                                             President & CEO, WesBanco, Inc.

                                             or

                                             Michael H. Hudnall (304) 823-1531
                                             President & CEO
                                             Freedom Bancshares, Inc.


                    Freedom Bancshares and WesBanco, Inc.
             Announce Execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger

BELINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA and WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - December 29, 2000 -
Freedom Bancshares, Inc. ("Freedom") and WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco")
(NASDAQ:WSBC) jointly announced today that they have executed a definitive
Agreement and Plan of Merger providing for the merger of Freedom's affiliate
Belington Bank, Belington, West Virginia, with and into WesBanco affiliate,
WesBanco Bank, Inc.  The joint announcement was made by Edward M. George,
President & CEO of WesBanco, Inc. and Thomas M. Pitsenberger, Chairman and
Michael H. Hudnall, President & CEO of Freedom.

At September 30, 2000, Freedom had total assets of $103.1 million, deposits
of $95.4 million and shareholders' equity of $7.7 million.

WesBanco is a multi-bank holding company presently operating through 60
banking offices.  Banking subsidiaries include: WesBanco Bank, Inc., WesBanco
Securities, Inc., WesBanco Insurance Services, Inc., and Hometown Finance
Company.


<PAGE>  2


At September 30, 2000, WesBanco had consolidated assets of $2.3 billion,
deposits of $1.8 billion and loans of $1.6 billion.  For the nine months
ended September 30, 2000, WesBanco earned $22.1 million which represents an
annualized return on average assets of 1.2%.

Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, WesBanco will exchange
WesBanco common stock based upon a fixed exchange ratio of 2.58 shares of
WesBanco common stock for each share of Freedom common stock outstanding.
Freedom's affiliate, Belington Bank, operates offices in five communities
located in four counties in central West Virginia:  Belington and Philippi
in Barbour County, Bridgeport in Harrison County, Buckhannon in Upshur County,
and Elkins in Randolph County.

This acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase transaction.

The transaction, which is subject to, among other things, approval by the
appropriate regulatory authorities and the stockholders of Freedom, is
expected to be completed in mid-year 2001.


###







</TEXT>
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