EXHIBIT 99.1

UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION REPORTS EARNINGS IMPROVEMENT

AND DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Bowling Green, Virginia) — Union Bankshares Corporation (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: UBSH-News) net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 increased by $42 thousand, or 1.2%, to $3.6 million from the most recent quarter ended December 31, 2007. Earnings per share, on a diluted basis, remained at $.27 for both periods while the return on average equity improved slightly from 6.80% to 6.85%, and the return on average assets was unchanged from the most recent quarter at 0.64%. The improvement in net income was largely attributable to revenue associated with the mortgage segment, nonrecurring noninterest income and lower operating costs partially offset by increased provisions for loan losses and continued tightening of the net interest margin.

“I was pleased by a number of factors that produced our first quarter results,” said G. William Beale, President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bankshares Corporation. “Despite a tight deposit market supporting higher funding costs and a rapid decline in the prime borrowing rate, strong loan growth was able to deliver increased net interest income when compared to last quarter. While credit quality remains strong, we have seen some softening in our markets, including delinquencies in our portfolios and have increased our allowance for loan losses appropriately in light of the current economic uncertainty in our market. I was extremely satisfied that even with the impact of increased credit costs and the continued expense drag of some of our newer branches our net income was slightly above the last quarter.”

Net income was down 29.1%, from $5.1 million for the same quarter in 2007. Earnings per share, on a diluted basis, decreased $.11, or 28.9%, from $.38 to $.27 for the same quarter a year ago. Return on average equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was 6.85%, while return on average assets for the same period was 0.64%, compared to 10.38% and 1.00%, respectively, for the prior year’s same quarter.

This year to year decline was largely the result of increased provisions for loan losses, the purchase of six bank branches, effective September 7, 2007, the opening of one de novo bank branch and costs associated with merging affiliate banks. These increases were partially offset by increased service charge income on deposit accounts and other noninterest income.

As a supplement to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company also uses certain alternate financial measures to review its operating performance. Diluted earnings

per share on a cash basis for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 were $.29 as compared to $.41 for the same quarter a year ago and $.29 for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. Additionally, cash basis return on average tangible equity for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 was 10.88% as compared to 15.90% in the prior year’s first quarter and 10.93% for the quarter ended December 31, 2007.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Further declines in the targeted Federal funds rate continued to negatively impact the Company’s net interest margin during the first quarter of 2008. The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors lowered the target Fed Funds rate 200 basis points during the quarter: a 75 basis points decrease on January 22^nd, another 50 basis points on January 30^th and another 75 basis points on the March 18^th to arrive at 2.25% by March 31, 2008. These declines in the targeted Federal funds rate resulted in the immediate repricing of the Company’s loans tied to prime which represent approximately 33% of the loan portfolio and a resulting reduction in yields on earning assets.

The liability side of the balance sheet also showed some immediate repricing, as overnight borrowing rates and FHLB advances adjusted downward. Although the Company’s deposit maturities have been structured to position us to take advantage of declining deposit rates, liquidity needs throughout the industry have resulted in increased competition for deposits and have inhibited the Company’s ability to adjust deposit pricing downward with the declining Federal funds rate. This competition has resulted in increased use of wholesale funding options, including Federal funds purchased, FHLB advances and other sources. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company issued $40 million of brokered certificates of deposits with an average cost of 3.90%.

On a linked quarter basis, net interest income increased by $126 thousand to $19.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The tax-equivalent net interest margin declined 4 basis points from 3.89% to 3.85% from the most recent quarter. This decline was largely driven by declines in yields on earning assets and lower demand deposits. Strong average loan growth of $55.4 million helped to partially offset the decline in loan yields of 40 basis points. This growth in loans was primarily within the commercial real estate and residential loan portfolios.

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, increased to $19.9 million from $18.9 million when compared to last year’s same period. Favorable loan volumes helped to offset the impact of the of the lower yields on earning assets, and an increase in purchased funding contributed to the decline in net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, from 4.09% a year earlier to 3.85%. This 24 basis point margin decline was driven by lower yields on earning assets, which declined 55 basis points to 6.89%, compared to the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, which declined to 3.50%, or 44 basis points. Average interest-earning assets at March 31, 2008 increased approximately $210.8 million, or 11.3%, compared to only $46.8 million, or 3.4%, for interest-bearing deposits, from the same period a year ago. The remaining growth was funded by other borrowings which increased by $169.0 million over the same timeframe, driven primarily by increases in FHLB advances and brokered certificates of deposit, partially offset by lower demand deposits and savings account balances.

During the first quarter of 2007, approximately $6.2 million of investment securities were called by the issuers, resulting in gains of $301 thousand. The proceeds from these calls, plus additional funds, were used to pay off approximately $9.0 million of higher cost (6.3%) FHLB advances. Penalties of approximately $316 thousand associated with the early payoff of these advances were reflected as an interest expense adjustment in the net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

LOAN LOSS PROVISION/ASSET QUALITY

Nationally, industry concerns over asset quality have increased due in large part to issues related to subprime mortgage lending, declining real estate activity and general economic concerns. While the Company has experienced reduced residential real estate activity, the markets in which the Company operates remain stable and there has been no significant deterioration in the quality of the Company’s loan portfolio. The Company does not participate in subprime mortgage lending. Residential loan demand has moderated somewhat, but the Company is still experiencing continued loan demand, particularly in commercial real estate. Management will continue to monitor delinquencies, risk rating changes, charge-offs, market trends and other indicators of risk in the Company’s portfolio, particularly those tied to residential real estate, and adjust the allowance for loan losses accordingly.

Despite increasing industry concerns over credit issues, the Company’s asset quality remains strong. Net charge-offs were $484 thousand, or .11% of loans, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared to net charge-offs of $162 thousand in the same quarter last year and $393 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and remain at relatively low levels. At March 31, 2008, nonperforming assets totaled $10.8 million, including a single credit relationship totaling $7.2 million.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the provision for loan losses increased $2.3 million from a year ago. This increase was largely attributable to the reduction of estimated loss exposure ($750 thousand provision recapture) noted during the first quarter of 2007 on the aforementioned continuing non-performing loan to a single credit relationship. Without regard for the above recapture, the provision for loan losses increased $1.6 million over this same period. On a linked quarter basis, the provision for loan losses increased $427 thousand from the fourth quarter of 2007. The increase in the allowance for loan losses was primarily due to continued loan growth, net charge-offs and increased uncertainty with regard to general economic and other credit risk factors which the Company considers in assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

The Company entered into a workout agreement with the borrower in the aforementioned single credit relationship during March 2004. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company extended further credit secured by additional property with significant equity. During the first quarter of 2007, such equity was extracted from this relationship, reducing nonperforming assets totals on this relationship from $10.6 million as of December 31, 2006 to $7.9 million, and resulting in the recapture of $750 thousand in specific reserves. In the second quarter of 2007, approximately $400 thousand of this relationship returned to accrual status, further reducing the nonperforming balance to $7.5 million as of the end of June 30, 2007. This balance has been further reduced, due to payments from the borrower, to $7.2 million at March 31, 2008. Despite the lengthy nature of this workout, the Company continues to work with the borrower toward a resolution of the affiliated loans and anticipates this workout will result in further reductions of the Company’s overall exposure to the borrower. The loans to this relationship continue to be secured by real estate (two assisted living facilities).

NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, increased $1.1 million, or 18.3%, from $6.2 million to $7.3 million compared to last year’s same quarter. This increase reflected higher mortgage segment income from the sale of loans of approximately $654 thousand and increased revenue from service charges on deposit accounts (primarily brokerage commissions and debit card income) of $394 thousand, from the same quarter a year ago. During the first quarter of 2008, appropriation of Company owned real estate by the Commonwealth of Virginia for a public domain easement resulted in a gain of $127 thousand. Also, the initial public offering of Visa, Inc. common stock during March 2008 resulted in the mandatory redemption of certain classes of common stock to financial institution members of Visa U.S.A. As a result, the Company recorded a gain of $198 thousand related to this redemption of Visa common stock.

On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income increased $946 thousand, or 14.8%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2007. These results included $681 thousand from gains on sales of loans within the mortgage segment partially offset by lower income of $246 thousand related to service charges and fees (letters of credit fees, overdraft fees and ATM fees). Also, during the first quarter of 2008, the Company recorded gains of $127 thousand from the sale of Company owned real estate and $198 thousand related to the mandatory redemption of Visa stock (as described above). Lastly, during the fourth quarter 2007, the Company reported a $121 thousand loss on disposal related to the replacement of legacy telephone equipment with voice over internet (“VoIP”) equipment.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

Noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased $2.0 million, or 11.0%, to $20.0 million over last year’s same period. Salaries and benefits increased $1.1 million, or 11.3%, and were mainly attributable to mortgage segment commissions and additional personnel in acquired and de novo bank branches, partially offset by lower profit sharing expense. Of this increase, approximately $420 thousand related to commission expense corresponding to an increase in loan volumes at the mortgage segment. Excluding the mortgage segment, salaries and benefits increased $700 thousand or 8.7%. Other operating expenses increased $452 thousand, or 8.3%, and principally related to the one time costs associated with the merger of the Prosperity Bank & Trust Company into Union Bank and Trust Company, the acquisition of six bank branches and their related operations, one de novo bank branch and the ongoing infrastructure enhancements to support the Company’s continued growth. Infrastructure enhancements include VoIP and the associated hardware and software to support this technology. Other initiatives include online check deposit (i.e., remote capture) technology, enhancements to our internet banking delivery channel (e.g., increased bandwidth) and improvements in data security and business continuity. Occupancy expenses increased $317 thousand, or 22.8%, and were principally attributable to increased facilities costs associated with the Company’s continued expansion. Some of these increased costs include depreciation, rental expenses and to a lesser extent, utility costs. The Company moved into its new 70,000 square foot operations center, in Caroline County, during the second quarter of 2007. These costs did not exist in the first quarter of 2007 for comparative purposes. The first quarter of 2008 contained approximately $137 thousand of depreciation related to this new operations center. Of the increase in occupancy costs, approximately $156 thousand were attributable to the acquisition of six bank branch

facilities and one de novo bank branch, as stated above. Furniture and equipment expenses increased $84 thousand, or 7.1%, and were attributable to the related depreciation and software costs of the purchased branches, one de novo bank branch and the new operations center.

On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense declined by $14 thousand, or .1%, to $19.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Lower operating expenses were partially offset by increases in salaries and wages. Increases in salaries of $1.1 million, or 10.8%, were primarily attributable to increased mortgage segment commissions and higher group insurance costs as well as normal compensation increases. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company incurred lower operating expenses of approximately $1.1 million, or 15.1%, principally due to lower communications, marketing and advertising costs as well as ATM processing charges.

Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2008, approximately $220 thousand of conversion costs were charged to expense and currently are reflected in the caption “Other operating expenses” in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. These costs primarily related to system conversion costs of merging Prosperity Bank & Trust Company into Union Bank and Trust Company during the first quarter of 2008. By comparison, the Company incurred similar conversion costs of $147 thousand during the fourth quarter of 2007.

BALANCE SHEET

At March 31, 2008, total assets were approximately $2.4 billion compared to $2.1 billion and $2.3 billion at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Net loans increased $191.6 million, or 12.1%, from March 31, 2007, and increased $44.9 million, or 2.6% from the quarter ended December 31, 2007. Total cash and cash equivalents increased $4.6 million to $59.4 million at March 31, 2008 from $54.9 million a year ago, and increased $1.2 million from $58.3 million as of December 31, 2007. Deposits increased $65.7 million, or 3.9%, and increased $73.2 million, or 4.4%, from March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2007, respectively, primarily due to the issuance of approximately $40 million in brokered certificates of deposit in the first quarter of 2008, and to a lesser extent higher NOW and money market account balances. Total borrowings (including repos) decreased by $20.6 million to $392.1 million from December 31, 2007, but increased $162.9 million from the same quarter a year ago. The Company’s equity to assets ratio was 9.08% at March 31, 2008.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

Mortgage Segment

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the mortgage segment reported a net loss of $30 thousand, a $109 thousand improvement from a $139 thousand net loss for the same quarter in 2007. A decline in interest rates drove refinancing activity during the quarter as originations increased 12.2% from the same period last year, resulting in an increase in loan revenue of $654 thousand. Total noninterest expenses increased $538 thousand. Of this increase, $420 thousand related to salaries and benefits, a function of increased commission expense as a result of increased loan originations. Other operating expenses increased $61 thousand principally as a result of loan related costs and additional branches added since the same period last year.

On a linked quarter basis, mortgage segment net income improved by $300 thousand from a net loss of $330 thousand to a net loss of $30 thousand. Revenue from the sale of loans increased

$681 thousand, or 29.4%, while originations rose 19.6% as loan profit margins improved due to consumer demand for more profitable loan products. Salaries and wages increased $357 thousand correlating to the increase in originations. Operating expenses and occupancy expenses both decreased $144 thousand and $27 thousand, respectively, from the prior quarter. The decline in operating expenses related primarily to cost cutting measures and lower repurchases of loans than in the previous quarter.

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QUARTERLY DIVIDEND DECLARATION

The Board of Directors of Union Bankshares Corporation (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: UBSH - News) has declared a quarterly dividend of $.185 per share. This dividend is a 2.78% increase over the $.18 dividend paid on May 31, 2007 and matches the dividend paid on February 28, 2008. Based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on April 17, 2008 ($18.88) the dividend yield is 3.92%. The dividend is payable on May 31, 2008 to shareholders of record as of May 19, 2008.

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ABOUT UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION

Union Bankshares Corporation is one of the largest community banking organizations based in Virginia, providing full service banking to the Northern, Central, Rappahannock, Tidewater and Northern Neck regions of Virginia through its bank subsidiaries, Union Bank and Trust Company (38 locations in the counties of Albemarle, Caroline, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Hanover, Henrico, King George, King William, Nelson, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland and the cities of Fredericksburg and Charlottesville); Northern Neck State Bank (9 locations in the counties of Richmond, Westmoreland, Essex, Northumberland and Lancaster); Rappahannock National Bank (7 locations in Washington, Front Royal, Middleburg, Warrenton, and Winchester) and Bay Community Bank (4 locations in Williamsburg, Newport News and Grafton). Union Bank and Trust Company also operates a loan production office in Manassas. Union Investment Services, Inc. provides full brokerage services; Union Mortgage Group, Inc. provides a full line of mortgage products; and Union Insurance Group, LLC offers various lines of insurance products. Bay Community Bank also owns a non-controlling interest in Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC.

Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.ubsh.com. The shares of the Company are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “UBSH”.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this report may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “anticipate” or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of the Company and its management about future events. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are

based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance or achievements of the Company will not differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the effects of and changes in: general economic conditions, the interest rate environment, legislative and regulatory requirements, competitive pressures, new products and delivery systems, inflation, changes in the stock and bond markets, technology, and consumer spending and savings habits. The Company does not update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

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UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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UNION BANKSHARES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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AVERAGE BALANCES, INCOME AND EXPENSES, YIELDS AND RATES (TAXABLE EQUIVALENT BASIS)