<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>uni83-991.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>

                                                               Exhibit 99.1

Union Bankshares, Inc. Announces Planned Merger of Subsidiary Banks

Morrisville, VT February 18, 2003.  Union Bankshares, Inc. (AMEX-UNB) today
announced the planned merger of its two subsidiary banks, Union Bank
(Union), Morrisville, VT, and Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company
(Citizens), St. Johnsbury, VT, under the name and banking charter of Union.
Union Bankshares acquired Citizens in December of 1999.  Since the
acquisition, each subsidiary bank has operated semi-autonomously under the
bank holding company.

Union, serving north-central Vermont, and Citizens, serving northeastern
Vermont, are community banks with combined assets of $343 million as of
December 31, 2002.  Both banks provide commercial, residential and consumer
loans, as well as a wide array of deposit products and trust services.

The purpose of merging the two banks is to provide a higher quality of
service to the communities served by each bank by improving coordination of
products and services as well as enhancing efficiencies.  The tentative
merger completion date is May 1, 2003, subject to receipt of the required
regulatory approvals.

"This is simply a step to increase our competitiveness and delivery
capability to our current and prospective customers," commented Ken
Gibbons, CEO of Union Bankshares and Union.  He added, "the impact of
combining the two banks makes us more competitive, saves us money and
reduces our regulatory burden.  We'd like to focus the savings in time and
money towards our clients.  The merger should be transparent to our St.
Johnsbury customers and will have minimal impact on the staff."

No Citizens offices will be closed as a result of the merger and all branch
offices will be operated as the Citizens division of Union.  Citizens'
Littleton, New Hampshire loan office will also become part of Union, as
will Hometown Trust, Citizens' trust division.  At the time the merger is
completed the Citizens Board of Directors will become an advisory board to
the Citizens Division market area to ensure continued local input and
decision making.  Two members of the Citizens Board will join the Board of
Union.

Effective February 15th, Jerry Rowe, President and CEO of Citizens, and Vice
President and director of Union Bankshares, has decided to leave Citizens
to pursue other interests.  "Jerry has been a key member of the management
team since the acquisition of Citizens and has led Citizens for the past 15
years.  We appreciate very much his contribution," commented Ken Gibbons,
who will also serve as interim president at Citizens until the merger is
completed.

"Our Board of Directors is excited at the opportunities the consolidation
presents for our Company," concluded Mr. Gibbons.  "The greater St.
Johnsbury market will receive increased marketing emphasis and resource
allocation."

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Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements.  Investors are cautioned that all forward-
looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and several factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-
looking statements.  When we use any of the words "believes", "expects",
"anticipates", "estimates" or similar expressions, we are making forward-
looking statements.  The following factors, among others, could cause
actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking
statements:  uncertainties associated with general or localized economic
conditions in some or all of the company's market areas; economic
conditions; changes in the interest rate environment; inflation; political,
legislative or regulatory developments; the market's acceptance of and
demand for the company's products and services; technological changes,
including the impact of the internet on the company's business and on the
financial services market place; impact of competitive products and
pricing, and dependence on third party suppliers.

For further information about the company, please refer to the Union
Bankshares reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at
www.sec.gov.


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