5 Real American Dividend Heroes

These great American companies also are solid payout performers

Jul 31, 2012, 5:45 am EDT | By James Brumley, InvestorPlace Contributor

United Bankshares

What list of dividend payers would be complete without a banking stock on it? However, United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) is far from the name most investors might expect to see on the list.

With a market cap of only $1.17 billion, the regional (mid-Atlantic) banking name is dwarfed by bigger banking brothers. But that 5.2% dividend yield is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s the biggest payout you’ll find right now in the Real America Index.

Oh, and just in case you were worried the dividend is forever in jeopardy, it’s not. United Bankshares recently was named to the Dividend Channel’s “S.A.F.E. 25″ list — an accolade given based on a two-decade-long track record of dividend growth.