Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): January 23, 2009

United Community Banks, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         
Georgia   No. 0-21656   No. 58-180-7304
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
63 Highway 515, P.O. Box 398
Blairsville, Georgia
  30512
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (706) 781-2265

 
Not applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 

 

1


 

Item 2.02 Results of Operation and Financial Condition
 
On January 23, 2009, United Community Banks, Inc. (the “Registrant”) issued a news release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 (the “News Release”). The News Release, including financial schedules, is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. In connection with issuing the News Release, on January 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. EST, the Registrant intends to hold a conference call/webcast to discuss the News Release.

The presentation of the Registrant’s financial results included operating performance measures, which are measures of performance determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Management included non-GAAP operating performance measures because it believes it is useful for evaluating the Registrant’s operations and performance over periods of time, and uses operating performance measures in managing and evaluating the Registrant’s business and intends to use it in discussions about the Registrant’s operations and performance. Operating performance measures exclude the effects of a special $15 million fraud related provision for loan losses recorded in the second quarter of 2007, an additional $3 million provision for loan losses recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007, $18 million in fraud related charge offs recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $870,000 and $2.1 million of merger-related charges in 2003 and 2004, respectively, because management feels that the events leading to the taking of the special provisions and charge offs and merger-related charges were isolated, non-recurring events and do not reflect overall trends in the Registrant’s earnings. Management believes these non-GAAP performance measures may provide users of the Registrant’s financial information with a meaningful measure for assessing the Registrant’s financial results and comparing those financial results to prior periods.

Operating performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative or substitute for, the Registrant’s performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

  (a)  
Financial statements: None

  (b)  
Pro forma financial information: None

  (c)  
Exhibits:

99.1 Press Release, dated January 23, 2009

 

2


 

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.

/s/ Rex S. Schuette                   
Rex S. Schuette
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

January 23, 2009

 

3


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit No.   Description
99.1
  Press Release, dated January 23, 2009

 

4

Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
Exhibit 99.1
(UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS LOGO)
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Rex S. Schuette
Chief Financial Officer
(706) 781-2266
Rex_Schuette@ucbi.com
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. ANNOUNCES
RESULTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER 2008
BLAIRSVILLE, GA — January 23, 2009 — United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) today announced a net loss of $46.7 million, or 99 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to net income of $4.2 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, for the same time last year. For the year 2008, the company had a net loss of $63.5 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $58.0 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, for 2007.
“Challenges in the housing market, particularly in Atlanta, continued to have a significant impact on our loan portfolio and earnings in the fourth quarter,” said Jimmy Tallent, president and chief executive officer. “We saw a rise in the level of classified and non-performing assets and further deterioration in property valuations. While we remain committed to moving through this down cycle as quickly as possible, it is clearly a very difficult environment.”
For the fourth quarter of 2008, loans were $5.7 billion, down $224 million from a year ago and down $125 million on a linked-quarter basis, reflecting the company’s continuing efforts to reduce exposure to the residential construction and housing markets. At December 31, 2008, residential construction loans were $1.5 billion, or 26 percent of total loans, a decrease of $350 million from a year ago and $117 million from the third quarter.
Taxable equivalent net interest revenue of $51.9 million reflected a decrease of $6.9 million from the third quarter of 2008 and $17.9 million from the fourth quarter of 2007. Taxable equivalent net interest margin was 2.70 percent compared with 3.17 percent for the third quarter of 2008 and 3.73 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

1


 

“Margin compression was primarily driven by actions taken late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter to build liquidity in a very fragile banking environment,” stated Tallent. “Banks were not lending to other banks and consumers were concerned about bank failures and FDIC insurance levels on their deposits. About two-thirds of the margin compression was due to our aggressive actions to build liquidity and the remaining third was due to the higher level of non-performing assets and the steep decline in the targeted federal funds rate impacting our asset sensitive balance sheet,” added Tallent.
“With liquidity improving late in the quarter we are letting brokered deposits run-off,” stated Tallent. Also, we have lowered our deposit pricing and widened the credit spreads on our prime based loans. With the actions we have taken and liquidity remaining stable, we expect a measurable improvement in our margin, approaching 3 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2009.”
The fourth quarter provision for loan losses was $85.0 million. Net charge-offs for the quarter were $74.0 million compared with $55.7 million for the third quarter of 2008. At quarter-end, non-performing assets totaled $250.5 million compared with $177.7 million at September 30, 2008. The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets at year-end and at the end of the third quarter was 2.94 percent and 2.20 percent, respectively.
“The down economic cycle continued to impact our credit quality, particularly within the Atlanta residential construction portfolio,” stated Tallent. “The rise in non-performing assets was primarily the result of continued deterioration in the Atlanta housing market and softened demand from buyers, given the deterioration of pricing and valuations. The environment is not getting better. Despite this, our strategy will be the same to recognize and move troubled assets through our process as quickly as possible. We expect to see the challenges continue in the quarters ahead and charge-offs to be elevated over historical levels as we work through our problem credits. But at all times, we will make the best economic decision for our company.”

 

2


 

Fee revenue of $10.7 million reflected a decrease of $5.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2007. Service charges and fees on deposit accounts of $7.7 million decreased $608,000 due to lower activity and transaction charges. Consulting fees were down $1.3 million from last year primarily due to the advisory consulting services’ assistance in United’s corporate-wide initiative to improve profitability and weakness in the financial services industry that affected sales efforts and delayed consulting contracts. The advisory consulting services were performed by a wholly-owned subsidiary and, therefore, eliminated from the consolidated fee revenue. “Late in the fourth quarter, we took an opportunity to lower funding costs by prepaying higher-rate Federal Home Loan Bank advances,” stated Tallent. “Securities gains of $838,000 partially offset $2.7 million in charges from the prepayment of the advances.” Other fee revenue of $1.4 million declined $684,000 due to lower earnings on bank-owned life insurance assets.
Operating expenses of $52.4 million reflected an increase of $3.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2007. This increase was primarily due to higher foreclosed property costs of $1.4 million and an increase in foreclosure-related professional legal fees of $504,000 and the FDIC increasing insurance premiums by $879,000. Salaries and employee benefit costs of $24.4 million declined $2.7 million from last year due to lower incentive compensation. This decrease was offset by an increase in other expenses of $3.1 million, including a $2.4 million accrual for contested costs on bank-owned life insurance assets and losses on deferred compensation assets of $700,000.
United continues to maintain a very strong capital position, which was bolstered by the completion of the sale on December 5, 2008 of $180 million in preferred stock and warrants to the U.S. Treasury through its Capital Purchase Program. In addition, the company privately placed $13 million of trust preferred securities on October 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, the company’s capital ratios were as follows: Tier I Risk-Based Capital of 11.2 percent; Leverage of 8.3 percent; and Total Risk-Based of 13.9 percent. Also, the average tangible equity-to-assets ratio was 6.6 percent and the average tangible common equity-to-assets ratio was 6.2 percent.
“We remain firmly committed to a strategy of aggressive disposition of problem credits, as we believe moving through this credit cycle as quickly as possible is the best course of action,” Tallent said. “Our strong capital position enables us to absorb losses without impairing the company’s financial soundness.”

 

3


 

“In the coming year, we will be intently focused on working through this credit cycle, improving our margin, growing core deposits and reducing expenses,” Tallent concluded.
Conference Call
United Community Banks will hold a conference call today, Friday, January 23, 2009, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the contents of this news release and to share business highlights for the quarter. The telephone number for the conference call is (877) 723-9518 and the pass code is “UCBI.” The conference call will also be available by web cast within the Investor Relations section of the company’s web site at www.ucbi.com.
About United Community Banks, Inc.
Headquartered in Blairsville, United Community Banks is the third-largest bank holding company in Georgia. United Community Banks has assets of $8.5 billion and operates 27 community banks with 107 banking offices located throughout north Georgia, the Atlanta region, coastal Georgia, western North Carolina and east Tennessee. The company specializes in providing personalized community banking services to individuals and small to mid-size businesses. United Community Banks also offers the convenience of 24-hour access through a network of ATMs, telephone and on-line banking. United Community Banks common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol UCBI. Additional information may be found at the company’s web site at www.ucbi.com.
Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements, as defined by Federal Securities Laws, including statements about financial outlook and business environment. These statements are provided to assist in the understanding of future financial performance and such performance involves risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Any such statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of some factors that may cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results, please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 4 of United Community Banks, Inc.’s annual report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
# # #

(Tables Follow)

 

4


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Financial Highlights
Selected Financial Information
                                                                         
                                            Fourth              
    2008     2007     Quarter     For the Twelve     YTD  
(in thousands, except per share   Fourth     Third     Second     First     Fourth     2008-2007     Months Ended     2008-2007  
data; taxable equivalent)   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Change     2008     2007     Change  
INCOME SUMMARY
                                                                       
Net interest revenue
    51,873       58,791       61,753       66,287       69,730       (26) %     238,704       274,483       (13 )%
Provision for loan losses (1)
    85,000       76,000       15,500       7,500       26,500               184,000       37,600          
Fee revenue
    10,718       13,121       15,105       14,197       16,100       (33 )     53,141       62,651       (15 )
 
                                                         
Total operating revenue
    (22,409 )     (4,088 )     61,358       72,984       59,330       (138 )     107,845       299,534       (64 )
Operating expenses
    52,439       56,970       49,761       47,529       49,336       6       206,699       190,061       9  
 
                                                         
(Loss) income before taxes
    (74,848 )     (61,058 )     11,597       25,455       9,994     NM       (98,854 )     109,473     NM  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (28,101 )     (21,184 )     4,504       9,377       3,960               (35,404 )     40,482          
 
                                                         
Net operating (loss) income
    (46,747 )     (39,874 )     7,093       16,078       6,034     NM       (63,450 )     68,991     NM  
Fraud loss provision, net of tax (1)
                            1,833                     10,998          
 
                                                         
Net (loss) income
    (46,747 )     (39,874 )     7,093       16,078       4,201     NM       (63,450 )     57,993     NM  
Preferred stock dividends
    712       4       4       4       4               724       18          
 
                                                         
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (47,459 )   $ (39,878 )   $ 7,089     $ 16,074     $ 4,197     NM     $ (64,174 )   $ 57,975     NM  
 
                                                         
 
                                                                       
OPERATING PERFORMANCE (1)
                                                                       
Earnings (loss) per common share:
                                                                       
Basic
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .13     NM     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.50     NM  
Diluted
    (.99 )     (.84 )     .15       .34       .13     NM       (1.35 )     1.48     NM  
Return on tangible equity (2)(3)(4)
  NM %   NM %     5.86 %     13.16 %     5.06 %             (12.37) %     14.23 %        
Return on assets (4)
  NM     NM       .34       .78       .29               (.76 )     .89          
 
                                                                       
GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES
                                                                       
Per common share:
                                                                       
Basic earnings (loss)
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .09     NM     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.26     NM  
Diluted earnings (loss)
    (.99 )     (.84 )     .15       .34       .09     NM       (1.35 )     1.24     NM  
Cash dividends declared
                .09       .09       .09     NM       .18       .36       (50 )
Stock dividends declared
    .09       .09                       NM       .18             100  
Book value
    16.95       17.12       17.75       18.50       17.70       (4 )     16.95       17.70       (4 )
Tangible book value (3)
    10.39       10.48       11.03       11.76       10.92       (5 )     10.39       10.92       (5 )
 
                                                                       
Key performance ratios:
                                                                       
Return on equity (2)(4)
  NM %   NM %     3.41 %     7.85 %     2.01 %             (7.82) %     7.79 %        
Return on assets
    (2.20 )     (1.95 )     .34       .78       .20               (.76 )     .75          
Net interest margin (4)
    2.70       3.17       3.32       3.55       3.73               3.18       3.88          
Efficiency ratio
    81.34       79.35       65.05       59.05       57.67               70.49       56.53          
Cash dividend payout ratio
                60.00       26.47       100.00               (13.33 )     28.57          
Equity to assets
    10.08       10.28       10.33       10.30       10.20               10.25       9.61          
Tangible equity to assets (3)
    6.59       6.65       6.77       6.73       6.58               6.69       6.63          
Tangible common equity to assets (3)
    6.23       6.65       6.77       6.73       6.58               6.59       6.63          
 
                                                                       
ASSET QUALITY
                                                                       
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 122,271     $ 111,299     $ 91,035     $ 89,848     $ 89,423             $ 122,271     $ 89,423          
Net charge-offs (1)
    74,028       55,736       14,313       7,075       13,012               151,152       21,834          
Non-performing loans (NPLs)
    190,723       139,266       123,786       67,728       28,219               190,723       28,219          
OREO
    59,768       38,438       28,378       22,136       18,039               59,768       18,039          
 
                                                         
Total non-performing assets (NPAs)
    250,491       177,704       152,164       89,864       46,258               250,491       46,258          
Allowance for loan losses to loans (1)
    2.14 %     1.91 %     1.53 %     1.51 %     1.51 %             2.14 %     1.51 %        
Net charge-offs to average loans (1)(4)
    5.09       3.77       .97       .48       .87               2.57       .38          
NPAs to loans and OREO
    4.35       3.03       2.55       1.50       .78               4.35       .78          
NPAs to total assets
    2.94       2.20       1.84       1.07       .56               2.94       .56          
 
                                                                       
AVERAGE BALANCES
                                                                       
Loans
  $ 5,784,139     $ 5,889,168     $ 5,933,143     $ 5,958,296     $ 5,940,230       (3 )   $ 5,890,889     $ 5,734,608       3  
Investment securities
    1,508,808       1,454,740       1,507,240       1,485,515       1,404,796       7       1,489,036       1,277,935       17  
Earning assets
    7,662,536       7,384,287       7,478,018       7,491,480       7,424,992       3       7,504,186       7,070,900       6  
Total assets
    8,449,097       8,146,880       8,295,748       8,305,621       8,210,120       3       8,299,330       7,730,530       7  
Deposits
    6,982,229       6,597,339       6,461,361       6,051,069       6,151,476       14       6,524,457       6,028,625       8  
Shareholders’ equity
    851,956       837,487       856,727       855,659       837,195       2       850,426       742,771       14  
Common shares — basic
    47,844       47,417       47,158       47,052       47,273               47,369       45,948          
Common shares — diluted
    47,844       47,417       47,249       47,272       47,652               47,369       46,593          
 
                                                                       
AT PERIOD END
                                                                       
Loans
  $ 5,704,861     $ 5,829,937     $ 5,933,141     $ 5,967,839     $ 5,929,263       (4 )   $ 5,704,861     $ 5,929,263       (4 )
Investment securities
    1,617,187       1,400,827       1,430,588       1,508,402       1,356,846       19       1,617,187       1,356,846       19  
Total assets
    8,520,765       8,072,543       8,264,051       8,386,255       8,207,302       4       8,520,765       8,207,302       4  
Deposits
    7,003,624       6,689,335       6,696,456       6,175,769       6,075,951       15       7,003,624       6,075,951       15  
Shareholders’ equity
    989,382       816,880       837,890       871,452       831,902       19       989,382       831,902       19  
Common shares outstanding
    48,009       47,596       47,096       47,004       46,903               48,009       46,903          
     
(1)  
Excludes effect of special $15 million fraud related provision for loan losses recorded in the second quarter of 2007, an additional $3 million provision in the fourth quarter of 2007, and $18 million of related loan charge-offs recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 which were all related to a failed real estate development and are considered non-recurring.
 
(2)  
Net income available to common shareholders, which excludes preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
(3)  
Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization.
 
(4)  
Annualized.
 
NM  
— Not meaningful.

 

5


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Selected Financial Information
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                         
(in thousands, except per share data;                                                   5 Year  
taxable equivalent)   2008     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     CAGR(4)  
INCOME SUMMARY
                                                       
Net interest revenue
    238,704       274,483       237,880       196,799       152,998       128,089       13 %
Provision for loan losses
    184,000       37,600       14,600       12,100       7,600       6,300          
Fee revenue
    53,141       62,651       49,095       46,148       39,539       38,184       7  
 
                                           
Total revenue
    107,845       299,534       272,375       230,847       184,937       159,973       (8 )
Operating expenses (1)
    206,699       190,061       162,070       140,808       110,974       97,251       16  
 
                                           
(Loss) income before taxes
    (98,854 )     109,473       110,305       90,039       73,963       62,722     NM  
Income taxes
    (35,404 )     40,482       41,490       33,297       26,807       23,247          
 
                                           
Net operating (loss) income
    (63,450 )     68,991       68,815       56,742       47,156       39,475     NM  
Fraud loss provision, net of tax
          10,998                                  
Merger-related charges, net of tax
                            565       1,357          
 
                                           
Net (loss) income
    (63,450 )     57,993       68,815       56,742       46,591       38,118     NM  
Preferred stock dividends
    724       18       19       23       9       66          
 
                                           
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (64,174 )   $ 57,975     $ 68,796     $ 56,719     $ 46,582     $ 38,052     NM  
 
                                           
 
                                                       
OPERATING PERFORMANCE (1)
                                                       
Earnings (loss) per common share:
                                                       
Basic
  $ (1.35 )   $ 1.50     $ 1.70     $ 1.47     $ 1.31     $ 1.15     NM  
Diluted
    (1.35 )     1.48       1.66       1.43       1.27       1.12     NM  
Return on tangible equity (2)(3)
    (12.37 )%     14.23 %     17.52 %     18.99 %     19.74 %     19.24 %        
Return on assets
    (.76 )     .89       1.09       1.04       1.07       1.06          
Efficiency ratio
    70.49       56.53       56.35       57.77       57.65       58.39          
Cash dividend payout ratio
    (13.33 )     24.00       18.82       19.05       18.32       17.39          
 
                                                       
GAAP PERFORMANCE
                                                       
Per common share:
                                                       
Basic earnings (loss)
  $ (1.35 )   $ 1.26     $ 1.70     $ 1.47     $ 1.29     $ 1.11     NM  
Diluted earnings (loss)
    (1.35 )     1.24       1.66       1.43       1.25       1.08     NM  
Cash dividends declared (rounded)
    .18       .36       .32       .28       .24       .20       (2 )
Stock dividends declared
    .18                                   NM  
Book value
    16.95       17.73       14.37       11.80       10.39       8.47       15  
Tangible book value (3)
    10.39       10.94       10.57       8.94       7.34       6.52       10  
 
                                                       
Key performance ratios:
                                                       
Return on equity (2)
    (7.82 )%     7.79 %     13.28 %     13.46 %     14.39 %     14.79 %        
Return on assets
    (.76 )     .75       1.09       1.04       1.05       1.02          
Net interest margin
    3.18       3.88       4.05       3.85       3.71       3.68          
Cash dividend payout ratio
    (13.33 )     28.57       18.82       19.05       18.60       18.02          
Equity to assets
    10.25       9.61       8.06       7.63       7.45       7.21          
Tangible equity to assets (3)
    6.69       6.63       6.32       5.64       5.78       6.02          
Tangible common equity to assets (3)
    6.59       6.63       6.32       5.64       5.78       6.03          
 
                                                       
ASSET QUALITY
                                                       
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 122,271     $ 89,423     $ 66,566     $ 53,595     $ 47,196     $ 38,655          
Net charge-offs (1)
    151,152       21,834       5,524       5,701       3,617       4,097          
Non-performing loans (NPLs)
    190,723       28,219       12,458       11,997       8,031       6,627          
OREO
    59,768       18,039       1,196       998       694       962          
 
                                           
Total non-performing assets (NPAs)
    250,491       46,258       13,654       12,995       8,725       7,589          
Allowance for loan losses to loans (1)
    2.14 %     1.51 %     1.24 %     1.22 %     1.26 %     1.28 %        
Net charge-offs to average loans (1)
    2.57       .38       .12       .14       .11       .15          
NPAs to loans and OREO
    4.35       .78       .25       .30       .23       .25          
NPAs to total assets
    2.94       .56       .19       .22       .17       .19          
 
                                                       
AVERAGE BALANCES
                                                       
Loans
  $ 5,890,889     $ 5,734,608     $ 4,800,981     $ 4,061,091     $ 3,322,916     $ 2,753,451       16  
Investment securities
    1,489,036       1,277,935       1,041,897       989,201       734,577       667,211       17  
Earning assets
    7,504,186       7,070,900       5,877,483       5,109,053       4,119,327       3,476,030       17  
Total assets
    8,299,330       7,730,530       6,287,148       5,472,200       4,416,835       3,721,284       17  
Deposits
    6,524,457       6,028,625       5,017,435       4,003,084       3,247,612       2,743,087       19  
Shareholders’ equity
    850,426       742,771       506,946       417,309       329,225       268,446       26  
Common shares — Basic
    47,369       45,948       40,413       38,477       36,071       34,132       7  
Common shares — Diluted
    47,369       46,593       41,575       39,721       37,273       35,252       6  
 
                                                       
AT YEAR END
                                                       
Loans
  $ 5,704,861     $ 5,929,263     $ 5,376,538     $ 4,398,286     $ 3,734,905     $ 3,015,997       14  
Investment securities
    1,617,187       1,356,846       1,107,153       990,687       879,978       659,891       20  
Total assets
    8,520,765       8,207,302       7,101,249       5,865,756       5,087,702       4,068,834       16  
Deposits
    7,003,624       6,075,951       5,772,886       4,477,600       3,680,516       2,857,449       20  
Shareholders’ equity
    989,382       831,902       616,767       472,686       397,088       299,373       27  
Common shares outstanding
    48,009       46,903       42,891       40,020       38,168       35,289       6  
     
(1)  
Excludes pre-tax provision for fraud-related loan losses and related charge-offs of $18 million, or $.24 per diluted common share, recorded in 2007 and pre-tax merger-related charges totaling $.9 million, or $.02 per diluted common share, recorded in 2004 and $2.1 million, or $.04 per diluted common share, recorded in 2003.
 
(2)  
Net income available to common stockholders, which excludes preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
(3)  
Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization.
 
(4)  
Compound annual growth rate.
 
NM  
— Not meaningful.

 

6


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Financial Highlights
Loan Portfolio Composition at Period-End
                                                         
    2008     2007     Linked     Year over  
    Fourth     Third     Second     First     Fourth     Quarter     Year  
(in millions)   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Change(1)     Change  
LOANS BY CATEGORY
                                                       
Commercial (sec. by RE)
  $ 1,627     $ 1,604     $ 1,584     $ 1,526     $ 1,476       6 %     10 %
Commercial construction
    500       509       522       548       527       (7 )     (5 )
Commercial & industrial
    410       425       417       437       418       (14 )     (2 )
 
                                             
Total commercial
    2,537       2,538       2,523       2,511       2,421             5  
Residential construction
    1,479       1,596       1,745       1,791       1,829       (29 )     (19 )
Residential mortgage
    1,526       1,528       1,494       1,491       1,502       (1 )     2  
Consumer / installment
    163       168       171       175       177       (12 )     (8 )
 
                                             
Total loans
  $ 5,705     $ 5,830     $ 5,933     $ 5,968     $ 5,929       (9 )     (4 )
 
                                             
 
                                                       
LOANS BY MARKET
                                                       
Atlanta MSA
  $ 1,706     $ 1,800     $ 1,934     $ 1,978     $ 2,002       (21 )%     (15 )%
Gainesville MSA
    420       426       422       415       400       (6 )     5  
North Georgia
    2,040       2,066       2,065       2,071       2,060       (5 )     (1 )
Western North Carolina
    810       815       819       816       806       (2 )      
Coastal Georgia
    464       458       436       439       416       5       12  
East Tennessee
    265       265       257       249       245             8  
 
                                             
Total loans
  $ 5,705     $ 5,830     $ 5,933     $ 5,968     $ 5,929       (9 )     (4 )
 
                                             
 
                                                       
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
                                                       
Dirt loans
                                                       
Acquisition & development
  $ 484     $ 516     $ 569     $ 583     $ 592       (25 )%     (18 )%
Land loans
    153       142       139       130       126       31       21  
Lot loans
    358       385       401       406       407       (28 )     (12 )
 
                                             
Total
    995       1,043       1,109       1,119       1,125       (18 )     (12 )
 
                                             
 
                                                       
House loans
                                                       
Spec
    347       393       450       460       473       (47 )%     (27 )%
Sold
    137       160       186       212       231       (58 )     (41 )
 
                                             
Total
    484       553       636       672       704       (50 )     (31 )
 
                                             
Total residential construction
  $ 1,479     $ 1,596     $ 1,745     $ 1,791     $ 1,829       (29 )     (19 )
 
                                             
 
                                                       
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION — ATLANTA MSA
                                                       
Dirt loans
                                                       
Acquisition & development
  $ 167     $ 185     $ 232     $ 252     $ 258       (39 )%     (35 )%
Land loans
    56       47       50       50       52       77       8  
Lot loans
    86       103       117       117       117       (66 )     (26 )
 
                                             
Total
    309       335       399       419       427       (31 )     (28 )
 
                                             
 
                                                       
House loans
                                                       
Spec
    189       227       271       271       280       (67 )%     (33 )%
Sold
    40       49       58       71       77       (73 )     (48 )
 
                                             
Total
    229       276       329       342       357       (68 )     (36 )
 
                                             
Total residential construction
  $ 538     $ 611     $ 728     $ 761     $ 784       (48 )     (31 )
 
                                             
     
(1)  
Annualized.

 

7


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Financial Highlights
Loan Portfolio Composition at Year-End
                                                 
(in millions)   2008     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
LOANS BY CATEGORY
                                               
Commercial (sec. by RE)
  $ 1,627     $ 1,476     $ 1,230     $ 1,055     $ 966     $ 777  
Commercial construction
    500       527       470       358       239       164  
Commercial & industrial
    410       418       296       237       212       190  
 
                                   
Total commercial
    2,537       2,421       1,996       1,650       1,417       1,131  
Residential construction
    1,479       1,829       1,864       1,381       1,066       763  
Residential mortgage
    1,526       1,502       1,338       1,206       1,102       982  
Consumer / installment
    163       177       179       161       150       140  
 
                                   
Total loans
  $ 5,705     $ 5,929     $ 5,377     $ 4,398     $ 3,735     $ 3,016  
 
                                   
 
                                               
LOANS BY MARKET
                                               
Atlanta MSA
  $ 1,706     $ 2,002     $ 1,651     $ 1,207     $ 1,061     $ 662  
Gainesville MSA
    420       400       354       249              
North Georgia
    2,040       2,060       2,034       1,790       1,627       1,481  
Western North Carolina
    810       806       773       668       633       548  
Coastal Georgia
    464       415       358       306       274       222  
East Tennessee
    265       246       207       178       140       103  
 
                                   
Total loans
  $ 5,705     $ 5,929     $ 5,377     $ 4,398     $ 3,735     $ 3,016  
 
                                   

 

8


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Financial Highlights
Credit Quality
                                                                         
    Fourth Quarter 2008     Third Quarter 2008     Second Quarter 2008  
    Nonaccrual             Total     Nonaccrual             Total     Nonaccrual             Total  
(in thousands)   Loans     OREO     NPAs     Loans     OREO     NPAs     Loans     OREO     NPAs  
NPAs BY CATEGORY
                                                                       
Commercial (sec. by RE)
  $ 15,188     $ 2,427     $ 17,615     $ 9,961     $ 854     $ 10,815     $ 4,610     $ 593     $ 5,203  
Commercial construction
    1,513       2,333       3,846       2,924       375       3,299       3,027       1,859       4,886  
Commercial & industrial
    1,920             1,920       1,556             1,556       2,950             2,950  
 
                                                     
Total commercial
    18,621       4,760       23,381       14,441       1,229       15,670       10,587       2,452       13,039  
Residential construction
    144,836       48,572       193,408       102,095       32,453       134,548       90,283       22,075       112,358  
Residential mortgage
    25,574       6,436       32,010       21,335       4,756       26,091       21,792       3,851       25,643  
Consumer / installment
    1,692             1,692       1,395             1,395       1,124             1,124  
 
                                                     
Total NPAs
  $ 190,723     $ 59,768     $ 250,491     $ 139,266     $ 38,438     $ 177,704     $ 123,786     $ 28,378     $ 152,164  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
NPAs BY MARKET
                                                                       
Atlanta MSA
  $ 105,476     $ 42,336     $ 147,812     $ 80,805     $ 27,011     $ 107,816     $ 89,327     $ 15,196     $ 104,523  
Gainesville MSA
    16,208       1,110       17,318       15,105       648       15,753       4,885       12       4,897  
North Georgia
    31,631       12,785       44,416       20,812       8,337       29,149       16,117       8,277       24,394  
Western North Carolina
    18,509       2,986       21,495       13,432       1,509       14,941       9,838       990       10,828  
Coastal Georgia
    11,863       138       12,001       3,682       601       4,283       1,575       3,871       5,446  
East Tennessee
    7,036       413       7,449       5,430       332       5,762       2,044       32       2,076  
 
                                                     
Total NPAs
  $ 190,723     $ 59,768     $ 250,491     $ 139,266     $ 38,438     $ 177,704     $ 123,786     $ 28,378     $ 152,164  
 
                                                     
                                                 
    Fourth Quarter 2008     Third Quarter 2008     Second Quarter 2008  
            Net Charge-             Net Charge-             Net Charge-  
            Offs to             Offs to             Offs to  
    Net     Average     Net     Average     Net     Average  
(in thousands)   Charge-Offs     Loans(1)     Charge-Offs     Loans(1)     Charge-Offs     Loans(1)  
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY CATEGORY
                                               
Commercial (sec. by RE)
  $ 4,460       1.10 %   $ 257       .06 %   $ 424       .11 %
Commercial construction
    1,442       1.14       225       .17       125       .09  
Commercial & industrial
    3,416       3.24       1,018       .96       398       .38  
 
                                         
Total commercial
    9,318       1.46       1,500       .24       947       .15  
Residential construction
    57,882       14.93       50,228       11.94       10,343       2.36  
Residential mortgage
    5,852       1.52       3,332       .88       2,576       .70  
Consumer / installment
    976       2.34       676       1.58       447       1.05  
 
                                         
Total
  $ 74,028       5.09     $ 55,736       3.77     $ 14,313       .97  
 
                                         
 
                                               
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY MARKET
                                               
Atlanta MSA
  $ 49,309       10.80 %   $ 48,313       10.08 %   $ 10,682       2.22 %
Gainesville MSA
    7,994       8.60       1,470       1.49       360       .34  
North Georgia
    9,872       1.91       4,567       .88       1,829       .36  
Western North Carolina
    2,371       1.16       855       .42       279       .14  
Coastal Georgia
    3,150       2.70       249       .22       980       .90  
East Tennessee
    1,332       2.02       282       .43       183       .29  
 
                                         
Total
  $ 74,028       5.09     $ 55,736       3.77     $ 14,313       .97  
 
                                         
     
(1)  
Annualized.

 

9


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Operating Earnings to GAAP Earnings Reconciliation — Presented Only For Periods Where Non-GAAP
Earnings Measures Are Shown
                                                                         
    2008     2007        
    Fourth     Third     Second     First     Fourth     Years Ended December 31,  
(in thousands, except per share data)   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     2008     2007     2004     2003  
 
                                                                       
Special provision for fraud related loan losses
  $     $     $     $     $ 3,000     $     $ 18,000     $     $  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Merger-related charges included in expenses:
                                                                       
Salaries and employee benefits — severance and related costs
                                              203       135  
Professional fees
                                              407       885  
Contract termination costs
                                              119       566  
Other merger-related expenses
                                              141       502  
 
                                                     
Total merger-related charges
                                              870       2,088  
 
                                                     
Pre-tax earnings impact of non-operating charges
                            3,000             18,000       870       2,088  
Income tax effect of special provision
                            1,167             7,002       305       731  
 
                                                     
After-tax effect of special provision
  $     $     $     $     $ 1,833     $     $ 10,998     $ 565     $ 1,357  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation
                                                                       
Operating net income (loss)
  $ (46,747 )   $ (39,874 )   $ 7,093     $ 16,078     $ 6,034     $ (63,450 )   $ 68,991     $ 47,156     $ 39,475  
After-tax effect of special provision and merger-related charges
                            (1,833 )           (10,998 )     (119 )     (566 )
 
                                                     
Net income (loss) (GAAP)
  $ (46,747 )   $ (39,874 )   $ 7,093     $ 16,078     $ 4,201     $ (63,450 )   $ 57,993     $ 47,037     $ 38,909  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Reconciliation
                                                                       
Basic operating earnings (loss) per share
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .13     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.50     $ 1.31     $ 1.15  
Per share effect of special provision and merger-related charges
                            (.04 )           (.24 )     (.02 )     (.04 )
 
                                                     
Basic earnings (loss) per share (GAAP)
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .09     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.26     $ 1.29     $ 1.11  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Reconciliation
                                                                       
Diluted operating earnings (loss) per share
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .13     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.48     $ 1.27     $ 1.12  
Per share effect of special provision and merger-related charges
                            (.04 )           (.24 )     (.02 )     (.04 )
 
                                                     
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP)
  $ (.99 )   $ (.84 )   $ .15     $ .34     $ .09     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.24     $ 1.25     $ 1.08  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Provision for Loan Losses Reconciliation
                                                                       
Operating provision for loan losses
  $ 85,000     $ 76,000     $ 15,500     $ 7,500     $ 26,500     $ 184,000     $ 37,600     $ 7,600     $ 6,300  
Special provision for fraud related loan losses
                            3,000             18,000              
 
                                                     
Provision for loan losses (GAAP)
  $ 85,000     $ 76,000     $ 15,500     $ 7,500     $ 29,500     $ 184,000     $ 55,600     $ 7,600     $ 6,300  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Nonperforming Assets Reconciliation
                                                                       
Nonperforming assets excluding fraud-related assets
  $ 247,719     $ 174,227     $ 148,219     $ 85,182     $ 40,956     $ 247,719     $ 40,956     $ 8,725     $ 7,589  
Fraud-related loans and OREO included in nonperforming assets
    2,772       3,477       3,945       4,682       5,302       2,772       5,302              
 
                                                     
Nonperforming assets (GAAP)
  $ 250,491     $ 177,704     $ 152,164     $ 89,864     $ 46,258     $ 250,491     $ 46,258     $ 8,725     $ 7,589  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Allowance for Loan Losses Reconciliation
                                                                       
Allowance for loan losses excluding special fraud-related allowance
  $ 122,271     $ 111,299     $ 91,035     $ 89,848     $ 89,423     $ 122,271     $ 89,423     $ 47,196     $ 38,655  
Fraud-related allowance for loan losses
                                                     
 
                                                     
Allowance for loan losses (GAAP)
  $ 122,271     $ 111,299     $ 91,035     $ 89,848     $ 89,423     $ 122,271     $ 89,423     $ 47,196     $ 38,655  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Net Charge Offs Reconciliation
                                                                       
Net charge offs excluding charge off of fraud-related loans
  $ 74,028     $ 55,736     $ 14,313     $ 7,075     $ 13,012     $ 151,152     $ 21,834     $ 3,617     $ 4,097  
Fraud-related loans charged off
                            18,000             18,000              
 
                                                     
Net charge offs (GAAP)
  $ 74,028     $ 55,736     $ 14,313     $ 7,075     $ 31,012     $ 151,152     $ 39,834     $ 3,617     $ 4,097  
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Allowance for Loan Losses to Loans Ratio Reconciliation
                                                                       
Allowance for loan losses to loans ratio excluding fraud-related allowance
    2.14 %     1.91 %     1.53 %     1.51 %     1.51 %     2.14 %     1.51 %     1.26 %     1.28 %
Portion of allowance assigned to fraud-related loans
                                                     
 
                                                     
Allowance for loan losses to loans ratio (GAAP)
    2.14 %     1.91 %     1.53 %     1.51 %     1.51 %     2.14 %     1.51 %     1.26 %     1.28 %
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets Ratio Reconciliation
                                                                       
Nonperforming assets to total assets ratio excluding fraud-related assets
    2.91 %     2.16 %     1.79 %     1.02 %     .50 %     2.91 %     .50 %     .17 %     .19 %
Fraud-related nonperforming assets
    .03       .04       .05       .05       .06       .03       .06              
 
                                                     
Nonperforming assets to total assets ratio (GAAP)
    2.94 %     2.20 %     1.84 %     1.07 %     .56 %     2.94 %     .56 %     .17 %     .19 %
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Net Charge Offs to Average Loans Ratio Reconciliation
                                                                       
Net charge offs to average loans ratio excluding fraud-related loans
    5.09 %     3.77 %     .97 %     .48 %     .87 %     2.57 %     .38 %     .11 %     .15 %
Charge offs of fraud-related loans
                            1.20             .31              
 
                                                     
Net charge offs to average loans ratio (GAAP)
    5.09 %     3.77 %     .97 %     .48 %     2.07 %     2.57 %     .69 %     .11 %     .15 %
 
                                                     
 
                                                                       
Operating Expenses Reconciliation
                                                                       
Operating expenses (operating basis)
  $ 52,439     $ 56,970     $ 47,961     $ 47,529     $ 49,336     $ 206,699     $ 190,061     $ 110,974     $ 97,251  
Merger-related charges
                                              870       2,088  
 
                                                     
Operating expenses (GAAP)
  $ 52,439     $ 56,970     $ 47,961     $ 47,529     $ 49,336     $ 206,699     $ 190,061     $ 111,844     $ 99,339  
 
                                                     

 

10


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands, except per share data)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
 
                               
Interest revenue:
                               
Loans, including fees
  $ 86,409     $ 121,248     $ 385,959     $ 482,333  
Investment securities:
                               
Taxable
    18,640       18,296       74,405       64,377  
Tax exempt
    324       405       1,464       1,718  
Federal funds sold, commercial paper and deposits in banks
    2,508       336       2,880       608  
 
                       
Total interest revenue
    107,881       140,285       464,708       549,036  
 
                       
 
                               
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits:
                               
NOW
    6,045       10,999       28,626       45,142  
Money market
    3,124       4,314       10,643       15,396  
Savings
    204       417       764       1,653  
Time
    41,512       40,934       158,268       167,400  
 
                       
Total deposit interest expense
    50,885       56,664       198,301       229,591  
Federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements and other short-term borrowings
    445       6,010       7,699       16,236  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    2,358       6,275       13,026       22,013  
Long-term debt
    2,873       2,089       9,239       8,594  
 
                       
Total interest expense
    56,561       71,038       228,265       276,434  
 
                       
Net interest revenue
    51,320       69,247       236,443       272,602  
Provision for loan losses
    85,000       29,500       184,000       55,600  
 
                       
Net interest (loss) revenue after provision for loan losses
    (33,680 )     39,747       52,443       217,002  
 
                       
 
                               
Fee revenue:
                               
Service charges and fees
    7,742       8,350       31,683       31,433  
Mortgage loan and other related fees
    1,528       1,720       7,103       8,537  
Consulting fees
    1,260       2,577       7,046       8,946  
Brokerage fees
    645       1,064       3,457       4,095  
Securities gains, net
    838       1,364       1,315       3,182  
Losses on prepayment of borrowings
    (2,714 )     (1,078 )     (2,714 )     (2,242 )
Other
    1,419       2,103       5,251       8,700  
 
                       
Total fee revenue
    10,718       16,100       53,141       62,651  
 
                       
Total revenue
    (22,962 )     55,847       105,584       279,653  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    24,441       27,116       110,574       115,153  
Communications and equipment
    3,897       3,890       15,490       15,483  
Occupancy
    3,663       3,489       14,988       13,613  
Advertising and public relations
    1,358       1,873       6,117       7,524  
Postage, printing and supplies
    1,763       1,546       6,296       6,365  
Professional fees
    2,313       1,809       7,509       7,218  
Foreclosed property
    5,238       3,850       19,110       4,980  
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges
    1,980       1,101       6,020       2,780  
Amortization of intangibles
    745       771       3,009       2,739  
Other
    7,041       3,891       17,586       14,206  
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    52,439       49,336       206,699       190,061  
 
                       
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (75,401 )     6,511       (101,115 )     89,592  
Income tax (benefit) expense
    (28,654 )     2,310       (37,665 )     31,599  
 
                       
Net (loss) income
    (46,747 )     4,201       (63,450 )     57,993  
Preferred stock dividends
    712       4       724       18  
 
                       
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders
  $ (47,459 )   $ 4,197     $ (64,174 )   $ 57,975  
 
                       
 
                               
(Loss) earnings per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (.99 )   $ .09     $ (1.35 )   $ 1.26  
Diluted
    (.99 )     .09       (1.35 )     1.24  
Cash dividends per common share
    .00       .09       .18       .36  
Stock dividends per common share
    .09       .00       .18       .00  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    47,844       47,273       47,369       45,948  
Diluted
    47,844       47,652       47,369       46,593  

 

11


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
                 
    December 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands, except share and per share data)   2008     2007  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
ASSETS
               
 
               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 116,395     $ 157,549  
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
    8,417       62,074  
Federal funds sold, commercial paper and short-term investments
    368,609        
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents
    493,421       219,623  
 
               
Securities available for sale
    1,617,187       1,356,846  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    20,334       28,004  
Loans, net of unearned income
    5,704,861       5,929,263  
Less allowance for loan losses
    122,271       89,423  
 
           
Loans, net
    5,582,590       5,839,840  
 
               
Premises and equipment, net
    179,160       180,088  
Accrued interest receivable
    46,088       62,828  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    321,798       325,305  
Other assets
    260,187       194,768  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 8,520,765     $ 8,207,302  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Deposits:
               
Demand
  $ 654,036     $ 700,941  
NOW
    1,543,385       1,474,818  
Money market
    466,750       452,917  
Savings
    170,275       186,392  
Time:
               
Less than $100,000
    1,953,235       1,573,604  
Greater than $100,000
    1,422,974       1,364,763  
Brokered
    792,969       322,516  
 
           
Total deposits
    7,003,624       6,075,951  
 
               
Federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings
    108,411       638,462  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    235,321       519,782  
Long-term debt
    150,986       107,996  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    33,041       33,209  
 
           
Total liabilities
    7,531,383       7,375,400  
 
           
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
               
Series A; $10 stated value; 25,800 and 25,800 shares issued and outstanding
    258       258  
Series B; $1,000 stated value; 180,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2008
    173,180        
Common stock, $1 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 48,809,301 and 48,809,301 shares issued
    48,809       48,809  
Common stock issuable; 129,304 and 73,250 shares
    2,908       2,100  
Capital surplus
    460,708       462,881  
Retained earnings
    265,405       347,391  
Treasury stock; 799,892 and 1,905,921 shares, at cost
    (16,465 )     (43,798 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    54,579       14,261  
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    989,382       831,902  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 8,520,765     $ 8,207,302  
 
           

 

12


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

For the Three Months Ended December 31,
                                                 
    2008     2007  
    Average             Avg.     Average             Avg.  
(dollars in thousands, taxable equivalent)   Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
Assets:
                                               
Interest-earning assets:
                                               
Loans, net of unearned income (1)(2)
  $ 5,784,139     $ 86,530       5.95 %   $ 5,940,230     $ 121,161       8.09 %
Taxable securities (3)
    1,478,427       18,640       5.04       1,366,507       18,296       5.36  
Tax-exempt securities (1)(3)
    30,381       530       6.98       38,289       666       6.96  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets
    369,589       2,734       2.96       79,966       645       3.23  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest-earning assets
    7,662,536       108,434       5.64       7,424,992       140,768       7.53  
 
                                       
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (109,956 )                     (89,797 )                
Cash and due from banks
    116,463                       147,500                  
Premises and equipment
    179,807                       177,445                  
Other assets (3)
    600,247                       549,980                  
 
                                           
Total assets
  $ 8,449,097                     $ 8,210,120                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
NOW
  $ 1,534,370     $ 6,045       1.57     $ 1,491,091     $ 10,999       2.93  
Money market
    424,940       3,124       2.92       483,289       4,314       3.54  
Savings
    174,186       204       .47       191,133       417       .87  
Time less than $100,000
    1,916,811       18,524       3.84       1,583,989       19,392       4.86  
Time greater than $100,000
    1,448,818       14,558       4.00       1,362,812       17,467       5.08  
Brokered
    818,100       8,430       4.10       322,963       4,075       5.01  
 
                                       
Total interest-bearing deposits
    6,317,225       50,885       3.20       5,435,277       56,664       4.14  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings
    109,712       445       1.61       466,408       6,010       5.11  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    284,860       2,358       3.29       531,196       6,275       4.69  
Long-term debt
    146,746       2,873       7.79       143,814       2,089       5.76  
 
                                       
Total borrowed funds
    541,318       5,676       4.17       1,141,418       14,374       5.00  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    6,858,543       56,561       3.28       6,576,695       71,038       4.29  
 
                                           
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Non-interest-bearing deposits
    665,004                       716,199                  
Other liabilities
    73,594                       80,031                  
 
                                           
Total liabilities
    7,597,141                       7,372,925                  
Shareholders’ equity
    851,956                       837,195                  
 
                                           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 8,449,097                     $ 8,210,120                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net interest revenue
          $ 51,873                     $ 69,730          
 
                                           
Net interest-rate spread
                    2.36 %                     3.24 %
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net interest margin (4)
                    2.70 %                     3.73 %
 
                                           
     
(1)  
Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 39%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
 
(2)  
Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued.
 
(3)  
Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized losses of $3.6 million in 2008 and $799 thousand in 2007 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
 
(4)  
Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

13


 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
                                                 
    2008     2007  
    Average             Avg.     Average             Avg.  
(dollars in thousands, taxable equivalent)   Balance     Interest     Rate     Balance     Interest     Rate  
Assets:
                                               
Interest-earning assets:
                                               
Loans, net of unearned income (1)(2)
  $ 5,890,889     $ 386,132       6.55 %   $ 5,734,608     $ 481,590       8.40 %
Taxable securities (3)
    1,455,206       74,405       5.11       1,236,595       64,377       5.21  
Tax-exempt securities (1)(3)
    33,830       2,406       7.11       41,340       2,826       6.84  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets
    124,261       4,026       3.24       58,357       2,124       3.64  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest-earning assets
    7,504,186       466,969       6.22       7,070,900       550,917       7.79  
 
                                       
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (97,385 )                     (81,378 )                
Cash and due from banks
    131,778                       135,021                  
Premises and equipment
    180,857                       164,153                  
Other assets (3)
    579,894                       441,834                  
 
                                           
Total assets
  $ 8,299,330                     $ 7,730,530                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
NOW
  $ 1,491,419     $ 28,626       1.92     $ 1,406,655     $ 45,142       3.21  
Money market
    426,988       10,643       2.49       399,838       15,396       3.85  
Savings
    182,067       764       .42       188,560       1,653       .88  
Time less than $100,000
    1,724,036       71,844       4.17       1,619,332       79,317       4.90  
Time greater than $100,000
    1,457,397       62,888       4.32       1,377,915       71,467       5.19  
Brokered
    565,111       23,536       4.16       337,323       16,616       4.93  
 
                                       
Total interest-bearing deposits
    5,847,018       198,301       3.39       5,329,623       229,591       4.31  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings
    324,634       7,699       2.37       308,372       16,236       5.27  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    410,605       13,026       3.17       455,620       22,013       4.83  
Long-term debt
    120,442       9,239       7.67       122,555       8,594       7.01  
 
                                       
Total borrowed funds
    855,681       29,964       3.50       886,547       46,843       5.28  
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    6,702,699       228,265       3.41       6,216,170       276,434       4.45  
 
                                           
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Non-interest-bearing deposits
    677,439                       699,002                  
Other liabilities
    68,766                       72,587                  
 
                                           
Total liabilities
    7,448,904                       6,987,759                  
Shareholders’ equity
    850,426                       742,771                  
 
                                           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 8,299,330                     $ 7,730,530                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net interest revenue
          $ 238,704                     $ 274,483          
 
                                           
Net interest-rate spread
                    2.81 %                     3.34 %
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net interest margin (4)
                    3.18 %                     3.88 %
 
                                           
     
(1)  
Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 39%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
 
(2)  
Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued.
 
(3)  
Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized gains of $3.3 million in 2008 and pretax unrealized losses of $8.1 million in 2007 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
 
(4)  
Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

14