Jimmy Tallent, 59, has more than 37 years of banking experience. In 1984, he was named President of United Community Bank – Union County in Blairsville, GA (formerly Union County Bank), which held assets of just $42 million. Five years later, in 1989, the bank marked its $100 million milestone. And, under Tallent's guidance, the United Community Banks, Inc. holding company was also established that year. Today, United Community Banks is a $7.0 billion bank holding company with 27 community banks and 106 offices serving communities across north and coastal Georgia, metro Atlanta, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. During March 2002, United's common stock was listed on the Nasdaq National Market and in July 2002 was listed in the Russell 2000 index. Tallent is a member of the State Board for the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and serves as a Trustee of Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. He is a former member of the Global Health Action Board of Directors and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Tallent has also served as the State YMCA Finance Chairman.

The Georgia Economic Developers Association presented its Spirit of Georgia Award to Mr. Tallent in 1999. GEDA makes the award annually to a Georgia business executive "who has demonstrated superior ability, originality, potential impact, and courage in business development." For five consecutive years Georgia Trend magazine recognized Tallent as one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians."

Most recently, Tallent was honored on June 14, 2007, with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Financial Services in the Alabama/ Georgia /Tennessee region.

A native of Habersham County, Georgia, Tallent attended Young Harris College and Piedmont College. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Banking School in Athens.