Press Release Details

BLAIRSVILLE, GA, Jan 05, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) announced today an updated outlook on credit quality for the fourth quarter of 2008.

United expects its fourth quarter loan loss provision and charge-offs to remain at elevated levels due to continued credit deterioration and current economic conditions, particularly in the residential construction portfolio in the Atlanta market. United also expects to increase its loan loss reserve for the quarter. The estimate for the fourth quarter loan loss provision is $85 million, with an expected $74 million in charge-offs and an $11 million build-up in the allowance for loan losses to 2.14% of total loans.

United plans to release fourth quarter 2008 financial results on January 23, 2009, before the stock market opens. The company will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on the same day to discuss its financial results, business highlights and outlook. To access the call dial 877-723-9518 and use the password 'UCBI.' The conference call will also be webcast and can be accessed by selecting 'Calendar of Events' within the Investor Relations section of the company's website, 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 $8.3 billion and operates 27 community banks with 108 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.

For more information:
Rex S. Schuette
Chief Financial Officer
(706) 781-2266
Email Contact

SOURCE: United Community Banks, Inc.

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