SEC Filing | United Community Banks, Inc.

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2007


o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from to

Commission file number 0-21656

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Georgia		58-1807304

(State of Incorporation)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification
		No.)

63 Highway 515
Blairsville, Georgia		30512

Address of Principal Executive Offices		(Zip Code)

(706 ) 781-2265

(Telephone Number)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES þ NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

YES o NO þ

Common stock, par value $1 per share: 43,037,840 shares
outstanding as of March 31, 2007

INDEX


PART I — Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006			2

Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2007 (unaudited), December 31, 2006 (audited) and March 31, 2006 (unaudited)			3

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006			4

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006			5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			6

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.			10

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.			25

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.			25

PART II — Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.			26
Item 1A. Risk Factors.			26
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.			26
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.			26
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.			26
Item 5. Other Information.			26
Item 6. Exhibits.			26
EX-31.1 CERTIFICATION BY JIMMY C. TALLENT
EX-31.2 CERTIFICATION BY REX S. SCHUETTE
EX-32 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS BY THE CEO AND CFO

Part I — Financial Information

Item 1 — Financial Statements

UNITED CO M M UNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2007		2006

Interest revenue:
Loans, including fees	$	114,073	$	86,606
Investment securities:
Taxable		13,968		11,318
Tax exempt		447		514
Federal funds sold and deposits in banks		58		158

Total interest revenue		128,546		98,596


Interest expense:
Deposits:
NOW		10,627		5,987
Money market		2,540		1,200
Savings		309		228
Time		41,625		25,386

Total deposit interest expense		55,101		32,801
Federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, & other short-term borrowings		1,817		1,482
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		4,801		6,629
Long-term debt		2,204		2,153

Total interest expense		63,923		43,065

Net interest revenue		64,623		55,531
Provision for loan losses		3,700		3,500

Net interest revenue after provision for loan losses		60,923		52,031


Fee revenue:
Service charges and fees		7,253		6,353
Mortgage loan and other related fees		2,223		1,513
Consulting fees		1,747		1,584
Brokerage fees		944		850
Securities gains (losses), net		207		(3	)
Other		2,008		1,461

Total fee revenue		14,382		11,758

Total revenue		75,305		63,789


Operating expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits		28,317		23,884
Communications and equipment		3,812		3,376
Occupancy		3,191		2,932
Advertising and public relations		2,016		1,888
Postage, printing and supplies		1,660		1,516
Professional fees		1,479		1,161
Amortization of intangibles		564		503
Other		3,802		3,203

Total operating expenses		44,841		38,463

Income before income taxes		30,464		25,326
Income taxes		11,119		9,287

Net income	$	19,345	$	16,039

Net income available to common shareholders	$	19,340	$	16,034


Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	.45	$	.40
Diluted		.44		.39
Dividends per common share		.09		.08
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		43,000		40,088
Diluted		43,912		41,190

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheet


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)	2007			2006			2006
	(unaudited)			(audited)			(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	159,543		$	158,348		$	150,378
Interest-bearing deposits in banks		22,644			12,936			12,259

Cash and cash equivalents		182,187			171,284			162,637

Securities available for sale		1,150,424			1,107,153			983,846
Mortgage loans held for sale		31,633			35,325			18,455
Loans, net of unearned income		5,402,198			5,376,538			4,584,155
Less allowance for loan losses		68,804			66,566			55,850

Loans, net		5,333,394			5,309,972			4,528,305

Premises and equipment, net		150,332			139,716			120,021
Accrued interest receivable		60,677			58,291			41,895
Goodwill and other intangible assets		166,073			167,058			118,149
Other assets		111,882			112,450			97,288

Total assets	$	7,186,602		$	7,101,249		$	6,070,596

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Demand	$	675,969		$	659,892		$	653,624
NOW		1,406,287			1,307,654			1,106,106
Money market		277,184			255,862			171,328
Savings		176,891			175,631			176,205
Time:
Less than $100,000		1,619,865			1,650,906			1,308,698
Greater than $100,000		1,366,360			1,397,245			1,029,464
Brokered		319,131			325,696			303,013

Total deposits		5,841,687			5,772,886			4,748,438

Federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings		77,367			65,884			167,369
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		464,072			489,084			510,602
Long-term debt		113,151			113,151			111,869
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		51,869			43,477			46,904

Total liabilities		6,548,146			6,484,482			5,585,182


Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par value; $10 stated value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 32,200, 32,200 and 32,200 shares issued and outstanding		322			322			322
Common stock, $1 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 43,037,840, 42,890,863 and 40,119,288 shares issued and outstanding		43,038			42,891			40,119
Common stock issuable; 35,154, 29,821 and 16,549 shares		1,043			862			451
Capital surplus		273,575			270,383			195,382
Retained earnings		321,721			306,261			263,384
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,243	)		(3,952	)		(14,244	)

Total shareholders’ equity		638,456			616,767			485,414

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,186,602		$	7,101,249		$	6,070,596

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended March 31,


													Accumulated
					Common								Other
	Preferred		Common		Stock		Capital			Retained			Comprehensive
(in thousands, except share and per share data)	Stock		Stock		Issuable		Surplus			Earnings			Income (Loss)			Total

Balance, December 31, 2005	$	322	$	40,020	$	271	$	193,355		$	250,563		$	(11,845	)	$	472,686

Comprehensive income:
Net income											16,039						16,039
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized holding losses on available for sale securities, net of deferred tax benefit and reclassification adjustment														(2,257	)		(2,257	)
Unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of deferred tax benefit														(142	)		(142	)


Comprehensive income											16,039			(2,399	)		13,640
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($.08 per share)											(3,213	)					(3,213	)
Exercise of stock options (32,780 shares)				33				228									261
Common stock issued to Dividend Reinvestment Plan and employee benefit plans (45,298 shares)				45				1,187									1,232
Amortization of stock option and restricted stock awards								633									633
Vesting of restricted stock (21,357 shares)				21				(21	)								—
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents						180											180
Dividends declared on preferred stock ($.15 per share)											(5	)					(5	)


Balance, March 31, 2006	$	322	$	40,119	$	451	$	195,382		$	263,384		$	(14,244	)	$	485,414

Balance, December 31, 2006	$	322	$	42,891	$	862	$	270,383		$	306,261		$	(3,952	)	$	616,767
Comprehensive income:
Net income											19,345						19,345
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized holding gains on available for sale securities, net of deferred tax expense and reclassification adjustment														2,000			2,000
Unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of deferred tax expense														709			709


Comprehensive income											19,345			2,709			22,054
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($.09 per share)											(3,880	)					(3,880	)
Exercise of stock options (72,703 shares)				73				629									702
Common stock issued to Dividend Reinvestment Plan and employee benefit plans (52,914 shares)				53				1,693									1,746
Amortization of stock options and restricted stock								729									729
Vesting of restricted stock (21,360 shares)				21				(21	)								—
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents						181											181
Tax benefit from options exercised								162									162
Dividends declared on preferred stock ($.15 per share)											(5	)					(5	)


Balance, March 31, 2007	$	322	$	43,038	$	1,043	$	273,575		$	321,721		$	(1,243	)	$	638,456

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2007			2006

Operating activities:
Net income	$	19,345		$	16,039
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		3,372			3,564
Provision for loan losses		3,700			3,500
Stock based compensation		729			633
(Gain) loss on sale of securities available for sale		(207	)		3
Gain on sale of other assets		(207	)		(48	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Other assets and accrued interest receivable		(1,143	)		(2,807	)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		8,340			1,436
Mortgage loans held for sale		3,692			3,880

Net cash provided by operating activities		37,621			26,200


Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale		915			7,649
Proceeds from maturities and calls of securities available for sale		78,934			24,265
Purchases of securities available for sale		(120,125	)		(29,267	)
Net increase in loans		(29,622	)		(189,161	)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment		635			218
Purchases of premises and equipment		(13,549	)		(9,575	)
Proceeds from sale of other real estate		1,804			735

Net cash used by investing activities		(81,008	)		(195,136	)


Financing activities:
Net change in deposits		68,801			270,838
Net change in federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings		11,483			44,488
Proceeds from FHLB advances		425,000			200,000
Repayments of FHLB advances		(450,000	)		(325,000	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		702			261
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment and employee benefit plans		1,746			1,232
Cash dividends on common stock		(3,437	)		(2,811	)
Cash dividends on preferred stock		(5	)		(5	)

Net cash provided by financing activities		54,290			189,003


Net change in cash and cash equivalents		10,903			20,067

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		171,284			142,570


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	182,187		$	162,637

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

United Community Banks, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 — Accounting Policies

The accounting and financial reporting policies of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and its subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and general banking industry practices. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. A more detailed description of United’s accounting policies is included in the 2006 annual report filed on Form 10-K.

In management’s opinion, all accounting adjustments necessary to accurately reflect the financial position and results of operations on the accompanying financial statements have been made. These adjustments are normal and recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair and accurate presentation. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any other interim periods.

Note 2 — Stock-Based Compensation

United has an equity compensation plan that allows for grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards (also referred to as “nonvested stock” awards), stock awards, performance share awards or stock appreciation rights. Options granted under the plan can have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant. The general terms of the plan include a vesting period (usually four years) with an exercisable period not to exceed ten years. Certain option and restricted stock awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the plan). As of March 31, 2007, approximately 829,000 additional awards could be granted under the plan before amended at the annual meeting of shareholders. The Amended and Restated 2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan that was approved by shareholders at the annual meeting on April 25, 2007 increased this amount to 2,511,000. Through March 31, 2007, only incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options and restricted stock awards had been granted under the plan.

The following table shows stock option activity for the first quarter of 2007.


						Weighted-
						Average
				Weighted-		Remaining		Aggregate
	Number of			Average Exercise		Contractual		Intrinisic
Options	Shares			Price		Term		Value ($000)
Outstanding at December 31, 2006		2,549,823		$	19.05
Granted		1,000			32.49
Exercised		(72,703	)		9.66
Forfeited		(10,750	)		25.02
Expired		(1,250	)		28.02

Outstanding at March 31, 2007		2,466,120		$	19.30		6.3	$	33,263


Exercisable at March 31, 2007		1,421,411		$	14.99		4.9	$	25,307

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted in the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 was $8.80 and $7.52, respectively. The fair value of each option granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. The key assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock options are presented in the table below.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2007			2006
Expected volatility		20	%		22	%
Expected dividend yield		1.1	%	1.1% to 1.2%
Expected life (in years)		6.25			6.25
Risk-free rate		4.7	%	4.3% to 4.6%

United’s stock trading history began in March of 2002 when United listed on the Nasdaq National Market. For 2007 and 2006, expected volatility was determined using United’s historical monthly volatility over the period beginning in March of 2002 through the end of the last completed year. Compensation expense for stock options was $486,000 and $427,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which was net of deferred tax benefits of $114,000 and $38,000, respectively. The amount of compensation expense for both periods was determined based on the fair value of the options at the time of grant, multiplied by the number of options granted that were expected to vest, which was then amortized, net of any applicable tax benefit, over the vesting period. The forfeiture rate for options is estimated to be approximately 3% per year. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006 was $1,693,000 and $640,000, respectively.

The table below presents the activity in restricted stock awards for the first quarter of 2007.


				Weighted-
	Number of			Average Grant-
Restricted Stock	Shares			Date Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2006		78,440		$	25.85
Vested		(21,360	)		22.92

Outstanding at March 31, 2007		57,080		$	26.95

Compensation expense for restricted stock is based on the fair value of restricted stock awards at the time of grant, which is equal to the value of United’s common stock on the date of grant. The value of restricted stock grants that are expected to vest is amortized into expense over the vesting period. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, compensation expense of $129,000 and $168,000, respectively, was recognized related to restricted stock awards. The total intrinsic value of the restricted stock was $1.9 million at March 31, 2007.

As of March 31, 2007, there was $5.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options and restricted stock awards granted under the plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. The aggregate grant date fair value of options and restricted stock awards that vested during the quarter ended March 31, 2007, was $522,000.

Note 3 — Common Stock Issued / Common Stock Issuable

United provides a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (DRIP) to its shareholders. Under the plan, shareholders of record can voluntarily reinvest all or a portion of their cash dividends into shares of United’s common stock, as well as purchase additional stock through the plan for cash. United’s 401(k) retirement plan regularly purchases shares of United’s common stock directly from United. In addition, United has an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) that allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock at a 5% discount, with no commission charges. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, United issued 52,914 shares and 45,298 shares, respectively, and increased capital by $1.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, through these programs.

In the fourth quarter of 2005, United began offering its common stock as an investment option in its deferred compensation plan. The common stock component of the deferred compensation plan is accounted for as an equity instrument and is reflected in the consolidated financial statements as common stock issuable. At March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, 35,154 shares and 16,549 shares, respectively, are issuable under the deferred compensation plan.

Note 4 — Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31.

(in thousands, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2007		2006
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding		43,000		40,088

Net income available to common shareholders	$	19,340	$	16,034

Basic earnings per share	$	.45	$	.40

Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding		43,000		40,088
Net effect of the assumed exercise of stock options based on the treasury stock method using average market price for the period		878		716
Common stock issuable under deferred compensation plan		34		14
Effect of conversion of subordinated debt		—		372

Total weighted average shares and common stock equivalents outstanding		43,912		41,190

Net income available to common shareholders	$	19,340	$	16,034
Income effect of conversion of subordinated debt, net of tax		—		38

Net income, adjusted for effect of conversion of subordinated debt, net of tax	$	19,340	$	16,072

Diluted earnings per share	$	.44	$	.39

Note 5 — Mergers and Acquisitions

At March 31, 2007, accrued merger costs of $385,000 remained unpaid relating to acquisitions closed in 2006 and 2004. The severance and related costs include change in control payments for which payment had been deferred. Professional fees include remaining legal fees related to the business combination completed during the fourth quarter of 2006. Contract termination costs include amounts claimed by service providers as a result of early termination of service contracts related to the acquisitions completed during 2004. During the first quarter, the one contract termination charge that was in dispute was resolved, and goodwill was reduced accordingly. A reconciliation of the activities in 2007 related to accrued merger costs is below (in thousands):

Activity with accrued merger cost
For the three months ended March 31, 2007


						Amounts
	Beginning		Purchase			Charged to		Amounts			Ending
	Balance		Adjustments			Earnings		Paid			Balance
Severance and related costs	$	577	$	—		$	—	$	(200	)	$	377
Professional fees		47		—			—		(39	)		8
Contract termination costs		804		(785	)		—		(19	)		—

Totals	$	1,428	$	(785	)	$	—	$	(258	)	$	385

On February 6, 2007, United announced a definitive agreement to acquire Gwinnett Commercial Group, Inc. (“Gwinnett Commercial”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary First Bank of the South. At December 31, 2006, Gwinnett Commercial had total assets and deposits of $675 million and $583 million, respectively. First Bank of the South has five banking offices in metro Atlanta.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gwinnett Commercial’s shareholders will receive $32.5 million in cash consideration and 5.7 million shares of United common stock. Based on United Community Banks’ 30 day average closing price of $32.35 on February 2, 2007, the transaction has an aggregate value of approximately $216.6 million. The transaction, which is subject to shareholder approval, is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 2007.

Note 6 — Reclassification

Certain amounts for the comparative periods of 2006 have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.

Note 7 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (SFAS No. 159), The Fair Value for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. This statement is expected to expand the use of fair value measurement, which is consistent with the FASB’s long-term measurement objective for accounting for financial instruments. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to apply SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. United expects to adopt this standard beginning January 1, 2008. The financial statement impact is being evaluated, however, it is not expected to be material to United’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

United adopted Financial Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, on January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 had no affect on United’s financial statements. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 totaled $2.0 million. All of this amount would increase income from continuing operations, and thus impact United’s effective tax rate, if ultimately recognized into income. Unrecognized state income tax benefits are reported net of their related deferred federal income tax benefit.

It is United’s policy to recognize interest and penalties accrued relative to unrecognized tax benefits in their respective federal or state income taxes accounts. As of January 1, 2007, $403,000 in interest and penalties had been accrued.

United and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as filing various returns in the states where its banking offices are located. The Company’s filed income tax returns are no longer subject to examination by taxing authorities for years before 2003.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements regarding United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”), including, without limitation, statements relating to United’s expectations with respect to revenue, credit losses, levels of nonperforming assets, expenses, earnings and other measures of financial performance. Words such as “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans”, “targets” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond United’s control). The following factors, among others, could cause United’s financial performance to differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements:

	•		our recent operating results may not be indicative of future operating results;

	•		our corporate culture has contributed to our success and, if we cannot maintain this culture as we grow, we could lose the productivity fostered by our culture, which could harm our business;

	•		our business is subject to the success of the local economies in which we operate;

	•		we may face risks with respect to future expansion and acquisitions or mergers;

	•		changes in prevailing interest rates may negatively affect our net income and the value of our assets;

	•		our concentration of construction and land development loans is subject to unique risks that could adversely affect our earnings;

	•		if our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses, our earnings would decrease;

	•		competition from financial institutions and other financial service providers may adversely affect our profitability;

	•		business increases, productivity gains and other investments are lower than expected or do not occur as quickly as anticipated;

	•		competitive pressures among financial services companies increase significantly;

	•		the strength of the United States economy in general and/or the strength of the local economies of the states in which United conducts operations changes;

	•		trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, change;

	•		inflation or market conditions fluctuate;

	•		conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets deteriorate;

	•		financial services laws and regulations change;

	•		technology changes and United fails to adapt to those changes;

	•		consumer spending and saving habits change;

	•		unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings occur; and

	•		United is unsuccessful at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Additional information with respect to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements may also be included in other reports that United files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. United cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. United does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q.

Overview

The following discussion is intended to provide insight into the financial condition and results of operations of United and its subsidiaries and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.

United is a bank holding company registered with the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 that was incorporated under the laws of the state of Georgia in 1987 and commenced operations in 1988. At March 31, 2007, United had total consolidated assets of $7.2 billion, total loans of $5.4 billion, total deposits of $5.8 billion and stockholders’ equity of $638.5 million.

United’s activities are primarily conducted by its wholly-owned Georgia and North Carolina banking subsidiaries (which are collectively referred to as the “Banks” in this discussion) and Brintech, Inc., a consulting firm providing professional services to the financial services industry.

Net income was $19.3 million during the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 21% from the $16.0 million earned during the first quarter of 2006. Diluted earnings per common share was $.44 for the first quarter of 2007, compared to $.39 for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 13%. Return on tangible equity for the first quarter of 2007 was 17.18%, compared to 17.66% for the first quarter of 2006. Return of assets for the first quarter of 2007 was 1.11% as compared to 1.09% for the first quarter of 2006.

Earnings were driven by strong loan growth over the last nine months of 2006. During the first quarter of 2007, United saw a slow down in loan growth, particularly construction loans for acquisition and development projects. Developers have seen some buildup of lot inventory, and therefore, demand has slowed in this area. Deposit growth was strong during the quarter, as United continued to fund loan growth and pay down wholesale borrowings.

Credit quality remains strong for the quarter with net charge offs as a percentage of average loans and nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets remaining at the low end of United’s historical ranges.

Fee revenue rose a strong 22% reflecting increases in every category compared to the first quarter of 2006. Operating expenses were up 17% from the first quarter of 2006, and two de novo offices were opened during the quarter.

Critical Accounting Policies

The accounting and reporting policies of United Community Banks and its subsidiaries are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and conform to general practices within the banking industry. The more critical accounting and reporting policies include United’s accounting for the allowance for loan losses. In particular, United’s accounting policies relating to the allowance for loan losses involve the use of estimates and require significant judgment to be made by management. Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in United’s consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. See “Asset Quality and Risk Elements” herein for additional discussion of United’s accounting methodologies related to the allowance.

Table 1 — Financial Highlights
Selected Financial Information


																First
	2007			2006												Quarter
(in thousands, except per share	First			Fourth			Third			Second			First			2007-2006
data; taxable equivalent)	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Change

INCOME SUMMARY
Interest revenue	$	129,028		$	123,463		$	116,304		$	107,890		$	99,038
Interest expense		63,923			60,912			55,431			49,407			43,065

Net interest revenue		65,105			62,551			60,873			58,483			55,973			16	%
Provision for loan losses		3,700			3,700			3,700			3,700			3,500
Fee revenue		14,382			13,215			12,146			11,976			11,758			22

Total revenue		75,787			72,066			69,319			66,759			64,231			18
Operating expenses		44,841			42,521			41,441			39,645			38,463			17

Income before taxes		30,946			29,545			27,878			27,114			25,768			20
Income taxes		11,601			11,111			10,465			10,185			9,729

Net income	$	19,345		$	18,434		$	17,413		$	16,929		$	16,039			21

PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Per common share:
Basic earnings	$	.45		$	.45		$	.43		$	.42		$	.40			13
Diluted earnings		.44			.44			.42			.41			.39			13
Cash dividends declared		.09			.08			.08			.08			.08			13
Book value		14.83			14.37			13.07			12.34			12.09			23
Tangible book value ⁽²⁾		11.06			10.57			10.16			9.50			9.25			20

Key performance ratios:
Return on tangible equity ^(1)(2)(3)		17.18	%		17.49	%		17.29	%		17.68	%		17.66	%
Return on equity ⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾		12.48			13.26			13.22			13.41			13.25
Return on assets ⁽³⁾		1.11			1.10			1.09			1.10			1.09
Net interest margin ⁽³⁾		3.99			3.99			4.07			4.07			4.06
Efficiency ratio		56.56			55.93			56.46			56.27			56.79
Dividend payout ratio		20.00			17.78			18.60			19.05			20.00
Equity to assets		8.80			8.21			8.04			7.95			8.04
Tangible equity to assets ⁽²⁾		6.66			6.46			6.35			6.22			6.24

ASSET QUALITY
Allowance for loan losses	$	68,804		$	66,566		$	60,901		$	58,508		$	55,850
Non-performing assets		14,290			13,654			9,347			8,805			8,367
Net charge-offs		1,462			1,930			1,307			1,042			1,245
Allowance for loan losses to loans		1.27	%		1.24	%		1.23	%		1.22	%		1.22	%
Non-performing assets to total assets		.20			.19			.14			.14			.14
Net charge-offs to average loans ⁽³⁾		.11			.15			.11			.09			.11

AVERAGE BALANCES
Loans	$	5,402,860		$	5,134,721		$	4,865,886		$	4,690,196		$	4,505,494			20
Investment securities		1,153,208			1,059,125			1,029,981			1,039,707			1,038,683			11
Earning assets		6,599,035			6,225,943			5,942,710			5,758,697			5,574,712			18
Total assets		7,092,710			6,669,950			6,350,205			6,159,152			5,960,801			19
Deposits		5,764,426			5,517,696			5,085,168			4,842,389			4,613,810			25
Shareholders’ equity		624,100			547,419			510,791			489,821			478,960			30
Common shares outstanding:
Basic		43,000			41,096			40,223			40,156			40,088
Diluted		43,912			42,311			41,460			41,328			41,190
AT PERIOD END
Loans	$	5,402,198		$	5,376,538		$	4,965,365		$	4,810,277		$	4,584,155			18
Investment securities		1,150,424			1,107,153			980,273			974,524			983,846			17
Earning assets		6,640,564			6,565,730			6,012,987			5,862,614			5,633,381			18
Total assets		7,186,602			7,101,249			6,455,290			6,331,136			6,070,596			18
Deposits		5,841,687			5,772,886			5,309,219			4,976,650			4,748,438			23
Shareholders’ equity		638,456			616,767			526,734			496,297			485,414			32
Common shares outstanding		43,038			42,891			40,269			40,179			40,119


(1)		Net income available to common shareholders, which excludes preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

(2)		Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization.

(3)		Annualized.

Results of Operations

Net income was $19.3 million for the first quarter of 2007, an increase of $3.3 million, or 21%, from the same period in 2006. Diluted operating earnings per share was $.44 for the first quarter of 2007, compared with $.39 for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 13%. Return on tangible equity for the first quarter was 17.18% for 2007, compared with 17.66% for 2006. Return on assets for the first quarter was 1.11% for 2007, compared with 1.09% for 2006.

Net Interest Revenue (Taxable Equivalent)

Net interest revenue (the difference between the interest earned on assets and the interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds) is the single largest component of total revenue. United actively manages this revenue source to provide an optimal level of revenue while balancing interest rate, credit and liquidity risks. Net interest revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $65.1 million, up $9.1 million, or 16% over last year. The increase for the first quarter of 2007 was driven by strong loan growth during 2006. Average loans increased $897.4 million, or 20%, from the first quarter of last year. This loan growth was due to the high loan demand across all markets (particularly during the last nine months of 2006), the generation of loans at de novo offices and the acquisition of Southern National in the fourth quarter of 2006. The quarter-end loan balances increased $818 million compared with March 31, 2006 which resulted in an 18% growth rate. This increase includes $266.5 million from the acquisition of Southern and $8.1 million from the acquisition of two branches in western North Carolina. Excluding acquisitions, core loan growth was 12% reflecting solid growth across all of United’s markets with increases of $215.8 million was in North Georgia, $83.7 million in western North Carolina, $142.6 million in the metro Atlanta market, $49.2 million in east Tennessee, and $52.2 million in the coastal Georgia markets.

Average interest-earning assets for the first quarter of 2007 increased $1.024 billion, or 18%, over the same period in 2006. The increase reflects the strong organic loan growth and the acquisition of Southern National during the fourth quarter of 2006, as well as an increase in the investment securities portfolio. The majority of the increase in interest-earning assets was funded by interest-bearing sources resulting in increases in average interest-bearing liabilities of approximately $956.2 million as compared with March 31, 2006.

The banking industry uses two ratios to measure relative profitability of net interest revenue. The net interest rate spread measures the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The interest rate spread eliminates the impact of non-interest-bearing deposits and gives a direct perspective on the effect of market interest rate movements. The net interest margin is defined as net interest revenue as a percent of average total interest-earning assets and takes into account the positive impact of investing non interest-bearing deposits and capital.

For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the net interest spread was 3.43% and 3.56%, respectively, while the net interest margin was 3.99% and 4.06%, respectively. Since June of 2004, the Federal Reserve has increased the federal funds rate seventeen times for a total of 425 basis points, the last four of these increases occurring in the first six months of 2006. During the last half of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007, deposit pricing has outpaced loan pricing and caused the net interest margin to compress by 7 basis points. For the first quarter of 2007, the rise in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities has exceeded the rise in the average rate on interest-earning assets by 13 basis points compared with the first quarter of 2006, resulting in the lower net interest spread. This compression of the spread was primarily attributed to anticipated pricing competition for deposits during most of 2006. United was able to remain competitive in deposit pricing and still gather deposits below wholesale borrowing rates during most of 2006 and into 2007.

The increases in the prime and federal funds rates, which effect variable rate assets and liabilities, along with the loan growth mentioned above, were the two primary reasons for the increases in the net interest margin and net interest revenue. Most of the loan growth added over the last year was prime-based, adjusted daily. At March 31, 2007, United had approximately $3.1 billion in loans indexed to the daily Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal compared with $2.6 billion a year ago. At March 31, 2007 and 2006, United had receive-fixed swap contracts with a total notional value of $505 million and $339 million, respectively, which were used to reduce United’s exposure to changes in interest rates that were accounted for as cash flow hedges of prime-based loans. United also has three receive-fixed/pay 1-month LIBOR interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $45 million that are being accounted for as fair value hedges of brokered time deposits and fixed rate Federal Home Loan Advances. In addition to the swap contracts, United has purchased interest rate floors having a total notional amount of $500 million for which it paid premiums totaling $13 million that are being accounted for as cash flow hedges of daily repricing, primed-based loans. While the swap contracts hedge our portfolio against the risks of lower interest rates, they will reduce the benefit of interest rate increases in the future. The use of swap contracts is more fully explained in the Interest Rate Sensitivity Management section of this report beginning on page 21.

The average yield on interest-earning assets for the first quarter of 2007 was 7.92%, compared with 7.19% in the first quarter of 2006. Loan yields were up 76 basis points, compared with the first quarter of 2006, due primarily to the growing level of prime-based, adjusted daily loans.

The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the first quarter was 4.49%, an increase of 86 basis points from the same period in 2006. The increase reflects the impact of rising rates on United’s floating rate sources of funding and increased deposit pricing in selected products and all markets.

The following table shows the relationship between interest revenue and expense and the average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Table 2 — Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Three Months Ended March 31,


	2007								2006
	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⁾	$	5,402,860		$	113,868		8.55	%	$	4,505,494		$	86,495		7.79	%
Taxable securities ⁽³⁾		1,109,847			13,968		5.03			989,683			11,318		4.57
Tax-exempt securities ^{(1) (3)}		43,361			735		6.78			49,000			846		6.90
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets		42,967			457		4.25			30,535			379		4.96


Total interest-earning assets		6,599,035			129,028		7.92			5,574,712			99,038		7.19

Non-interest-earning assets:
Allowance for loan losses		(68,187	)							(54,825	)
Cash and due from banks		120,637								122,486
Premises and equipment		146,832								115,590
Other assets ⁽³⁾		294,393								202,838

Total assets	$	7,092,710							$	5,960,801

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW	$	1,322,818		$	10,627		3.26		$	1,082,342		$	5,987		2.24
Money market		261,753			2,540		3.94			163,404			1,200		2.98
Savings		175,275			309		.71			175,796			228		.53
Time less than $100,000		1,641,507			19,796		4.89			1,270,078			12,035		3.84
Time greater than $100,000		1,385,401			17,916		5.24			979,665			10,409		4.31
Brokered		334,753			3,913		4.74			315,090			2,942		3.79

Total interest-bearing deposits		5,121,507			55,101		4.36			3,986,375			32,801		3.34


Federal funds purchased and other borrowings		139,256			1,817		5.29			128,602			1,482		4.67
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		395,746			4,801		4.92			586,722			6,629		4.58
Long-term debt		113,234			2,204		7.89			111,869			2,153		7.81

Total borrowed funds		648,236			8,822		5.52			827,193			10,264		5.03

Total interest-bearing liabilities		5,769,743			63,923		4.49			4,813,568			43,065		3.63

Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
Non-interest-bearing deposits		642,919								627,436
Other liabilities		55,948								40,837

Total liabilities		6,468,610								5,481,841
Shareholders’ equity		624,100								478,960

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		7,092,710								5,960,801

Net interest revenue				$	65,105							$	55,973

Net interest-rate spread							3.43	%							3.56	%


Net interest margin ⁽⁴⁾							3.99	%							4.06	%


(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 $10.0 million and $14.2 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively, 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.

The following table shows the relative impact on net interest revenue for changes in the average outstanding balances (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the rates earned and paid on such assets and liabilities (rate). Variances resulting from a combination of changes in rate and volume are allocated in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each category.

Table 3 — Change in Interest Revenue and Expense on a Taxable Equivalent Basis

(in thousands)


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
	Compared to 2006
	Increase (decrease)
	Due to Changes in
	Volume			Rate			Total
Interest-earning assets:
Loans	$	18,358		$	9,015		$	27,373
Taxable securities		1,450			1,200			2,650
Tax-exempt securities		(97	)		(14	)		(111	)
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets		138			(60	)		78

Total interest-earning assets		19,849			10,141			29,990


Interest-bearing liabilities:
NOW accounts		1,528			3,112			4,640
Money market accounts		874			466			1,340
Savings deposits		(1	)		82			81
Time deposits less than $100,000		4,016			3,745			7,761
Time deposits greater than $100,000		4,925			2,582			7,507
Brokered deposits		193			778			971

Total interest-bearing deposits		11,535			10,765			22,300

Federal funds purchased & other borrowings		129			206			335
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		(2,287	)		459			(1,828	)
Long-term debt		26			25			51

Total borrowed funds		(2,132	)		690			(1,442	)

Total interest-bearing liabilities		9,403			11,455			20,858


Increase in net interest revenue	$	10,446		$	(1,314	)	$	9,132

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2007, compared with $3.5 million for the same period in 2006. Net loan charge-offs as an annualized percentage of average outstanding loans for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was .11%, as compared with .11% for the first quarter of 2006. Net loan charge-offs continued at low levels; however, management expects net charge-offs to move higher within the Company’s historical six-year range of .11% to .25%.

The provision for loan losses is based on management’s evaluation of losses inherent in the loan portfolio and the corresponding analysis of the allowance for loan losses at quarter-end. Although United’s credit quality indicators such as the relative level of nonperforming assets and net charge-offs remain at the low end United’s historical ranges, other factors considered in management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses support the higher provision for loan losses. The primary factors affecting the increase in the provision for loan losses from a year ago include an increasing concentration of construction and land development loans, the increasing size of individual credit exposures, the effect of rising interest rates on United’s substantially floating rate loan portfolio and slowing economic conditions in the residential real estate market. Additional discussion on loan quality and the allowance for loan losses is included in the Asset Quality section of this report.

Fee Revenue

Fee revenue for the first quarter of 2007 totaled $14.4 million, an increase of $2.6 million, or 22% from 2006. Fee revenue accounted for approximately 19% of total revenue for the first quarter of 2007, compared with 18% for the first quarter of 2006, which reflects the strong growth in fee revenue sources. United continues to focus on increasing fee revenue through new products and services. The following table presents the components of fee revenue for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006.

Table 4 — Fee Revenue
For the Three and Three Months Ended March 31,

(dollars in thousands)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2007		2006			Change
Service charges and fees	$	7,253	$	6,353			14	%
Mortgage loan and other related fees		2,223		1,513			47
Consulting fees		1,747		1,584			10
Brokerage fees		944		850			11
Securities gains (losses), net		207		(3	)
Other		2,008		1,461			37

Total	$	14,382	$	11,758			22

Service charges and fees for the first quarter of 2007 increased $900,000, or 14% from 2006. This increase was primarily due to growth in transactions and new accounts resulting from core deposit programs, growth in overdraft products, and the cross-selling of other products and services. ATM and debit card usage fees were $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 31% from 2006. This increase is the result of a larger customer base added through acquisitions, de novo growth and core deposit programs.

Mortgage loans and related fees of $2.2 million for the quarter were up $710,000, or 47%, from 2006. Mortgage loan originations of $109 million for the first quarter of 2007 were up $32 million, or 42% from 2006, reflecting a continuation of favorable rate environment during the first quarter of 2007. The increase in the amount of originations was assisted by improved pricing. Substantially all originated residential mortgages were sold into the secondary market, including the right to service these loans.

Consulting fees of $1.7 million were up $163,000, a 10% increase from the first three months of 2006. The increase was primarily due to growth in advisory services.

Brokerage fees of $944,000 were up $94,000, or 11%, from the first three months of 2006. This increase was due primarily to an increase in the customer base resulting from acquisitions and de novo expansion and strong market activity.

Other fee revenue of $2.0 million increased $547,000, or 37% from 2006. This increase is primarily due to $225,000 of recoveries related to overpaid interest on brokered deposits and a $207,000 gain from the sale of a potential office site in Tennessee.

Operating Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, total operating expenses were $44.8 million, an increase of 17%, compared with $38.5 million in 2006. The following table presents the components of operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Table 5 — Operating Expenses
For the Three and Three Months Ended March 31,

(dollars in thousands)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2007		2006		Change
Salaries and employee benefits	$	28,317	$	23,884		19	%
Communications and equipment		3,812		3,376		13
Occupancy		3,191		2,932		9
Advertising and public relations		2,016		1,888		7
Postage, printing and supplies		1,660		1,516		9
Professional fees		1,479		1,161		27
Amortization of intangibles		564		503
Other		3,802		3,203		19

Total	$	44,841	$	38,463		17

Salaries and employee benefits for the first quarter of 2007 totaled $28.3 million, an increase of $4.4 million, or 19%, over the same period in 2006. De novo expansion and acquisitions accounted for approximately 49% of the increase, with the remainder due to higher costs for stock options and insurance and other health-care related expenses, as well as an increase in staff to support business growth. At March 31, 2007, total staff was 1,950, an increase of 215 employees from the first quarter of 2006. Of this increase, 78 staff members, or 36%, were added through de novo expansion and 41 staff members, or 19%, were added through acquisitions.

Communication and equipment expense for the first quarter of 2007 was up $436,000, or 13%, from 2006. This increase is the result of higher software and equipment costs associated with de novo expansion and further investments in technology to support business growth and additional banking offices.

Occupancy expense for the first quarter of 2007 was up $259,000, or 9%, from 2006. The majority of this increase was the result of higher facilities costs and maintenance expenses resulting from additional banking offices added through de novo expansion.

Advertising and public relations expense for the first quarter of 2007 was up $128,000, or 7%, from 2006. A portion of the increase relates to additional costs of sponsorships designed to increase brand awareness, while the remainder of the increase reflects the cost associated with initiatives designed to raise core deposits and ongoing efforts to generate brand awareness in new markets added by de novo expansion and the recent acquisition of Southern National.

Postage, printing and supplies expense for the first quarter of 2007 was up $144,000, or 9%, from 2006. The primary increase is from higher cost of postage and courier costs resulting from the growing number of offices, both through acquisitions and de novos.

Professional fees increased $318,000, or 27%, from 2006. Increasing legal costs associated with the loan workouts, along with the higher cost of outsourced services contributed to this increase.

Other expense increased by $599,000, or 19%, from 2006. The majority of this increase is the result of higher costs of with ATMs and internet banking activities associated with continued business growth within existing markets and de novo expansion.

The efficiency ratio measures total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue, excluding the provision for loan losses and net securities gains or losses. United’s efficiency ratio for the first quarter was 56.56% compared with 56.79% for the first quarter of 2006. The decrease is primarily the result of the strong growth in net interest revenue and fee revenue, which was offset in part by higher costs for additional de novo locations. United’s efficiency ratio remained within management’s long-term efficiency goal of 56% — 58%.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $11.1 million for the first quarter, as compared with $9.3 million for the first quarter of 2006, representing a 36.5% and 36.7% effective tax rate, respectively. The effective tax rates were lower than the statutory tax rates primarily due to interest and revenue on certain investment securities and loans that are exempt from income taxes, tax exempt fee revenue and tax credits received on affordable housing investments. Additional information regarding income taxes can be found in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements filed with United’s 2006 Form 10-K.

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets at March 31, 2007 were $7.2 billion, compared with $6.1 billion at March 31, 2006. Average total assets for the first quarter of 2007 were $7.1 billion, up $1.1 billion from average assets in the first quarter of 2006.

Loans

The following table presents a summary of the loan portfolio.

Table 6 — Loans Outstanding
(dollars in thousands)


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2007			2006			2006
Commercial (commercial and industrial)	$	315,246		$	295,698		$	251,111
Commercial (secured by real estate)		1,227,075			1,229,910			1,088,516

Total commercial		1,542,321			1,525,608			1,339,627
Construction and land development		2,336,260			2,333,585			1,856,542
Residential mortgage		1,353,444			1,337,728			1,226,152
Installment		170,173			179,617			161,834

Total loans	$	5,402,198		$	5,376,538		$	4,584,155


As a percentage of total loans:
Commercial (commercial and industrial)		6	%		6	%		5	%
Commercial (secured by real estate)		23			23			24

Total commercial		29			29			29
Construction and land development		43			43			40
Residential mortgage		25			25			27
Installment		3			3			4

Total		100	%		100	%		100	%

At March 31, 2007, total loans were $5.4 billion, an increase of $818.0 million, or 18%, from March 31, 2006. During 2006, United experienced strong loan growth in all markets, with particular strength in construction loans secured by real estate. The growth rate slowed in the first quarter of 2007 due to an oversupply of lot inventory within United’s markets which slowed construction activity for acquisition and development projects. Substantially all loans are to customers located in the immediate market areas of the Community Banks in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Approximately $480 million, or 59%, of the increase in loans from the first quarter of 2006 were in construction and land development loans.

Asset Quality and Risk Elements

United manages asset quality and controls credit risk through close review and oversight of the loan portfolio as well as adherence to policies designed to promote sound underwriting and loan monitoring practices. United’s credit administration function is responsible for monitoring asset quality, establishing credit policies and procedures and enforcing the consistent application of these policies and procedures at all of the Community Banks. Additional information on the credit administration function is included in Item 1 under the heading Loan Review and Non-performing Assets in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The provision for loan losses charged to earnings was based upon management’s judgment of the amount necessary to maintain the allowance at a level adequate to absorb probable losses at quarter-end. The amount each period is dependent upon many factors including growth and changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, net charge-offs, delinquencies, management’s assessment of loan portfolio quality, the value of collateral, and other economic factors and trends. The evaluation of these factors is performed quarterly by management through an analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

Reviews of non-performing loans, past due loans and larger credits, designed to identify potential charges to the allowance for loan losses, as well as determine the adequacy of the allowance, are conducted on a regular basis during the quarter. These reviews are performed by the responsible lending officers, as well as a separate loan review department, and consider such factors as the financial strength of borrowers, the value of the applicable collateral, past loan loss experience, anticipated loan losses, growth in the loan portfolio, prevailing economic conditions and other factors. United also uses external loan review to supplement the activities of the loan review department and to ensure the independence of the loan review process.

The following table presents a summary of the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Table 7 — Summary of Loan Loss Experience

(dollars in thousands)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2007			2006
Balance beginning of period	$	66,566		$	53,595
Loans charged-off		(1,966	)		(1,883	)
Recoveries		504			638

Net charge-offs		(1,462	)		(1,245	)
Provision for loan losses		3,700			3,500

Balance end of period	$	68,804		$	55,850


Total loans:
At period end	$	5,402,198		$	4,584,155
Average		5,402,860			4,505,494
As a percentage of average loans (annualized):
Net charge-offs		.11	%		.11	%
Provision for loan losses		.27			.31
Allowance as a percentage of period end loans		1.27			1.22
Allowance as a percentage of period end non-performing loans		559			883

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2007 is adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio. This assessment involves uncertainty and judgment; therefore, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses cannot be determined with precision and may be subject to change in future periods. In addition, bank regulatory authorities, as part of their periodic examination of the Banks, may require adjustments to the provision for loan losses in future periods if, in their opinion, the results of their review warrant such additions.

Non-performing Assets

The table below summarizes non-performing assets.

Table 8 — Non-Performing Assets

(dollars in thousands)


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2007			2006			2006
Non-accrual loans	$	12,319		$	12,458		$	6,322
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing		—			—			—

Total non-performing loans		12,319			12,458			6,322
Other real estate owned		1,971			1,196			2,045

Total non-performing assets	$	14,290		$	13,654		$	8,367


Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans		.23	%		.23	%		.14	%
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets		.20			.19			.14

Non-performing loans totaled $12.3 million at March 31, 2007, compared with $12.5 million at December 31, 2006 and $6.3 million at March 31, 2006. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans increased 9 basis points from March 31, 2006 and remained flat with December 31, 2006. Non-performing assets, which include non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate, totaled $14.3 million at March 31, 2007, compared with $13.7 million at December 31, 2006 and $8.4 million at March 31, 2006.

United’s policy is to place loans on non-accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the principal and interest on a loan is not likely to be repaid in accordance with the loan terms or when the loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, interest previously accrued, but not collected, is reversed against current interest revenue. Depending on management’s evaluation of the borrower and loan collateral, interest revenue on a non-accrual loan may be recognized on a cash basis as payments are received. There were no commitments to lend additional funds to customers whose loans were on non-accrual status at March 31, 2007.

At March 31, 2007 and 2006, there were $2.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of loans classified as impaired under the definition outlined in SFAS No. 114. Specific reserves allocated to these impaired loans totaled $490,000 million at March 31, 2007, and $357,000 at March 31, 2006. The average recorded investment in impaired loans for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, was $3.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Interest revenue recognized on loans while they were impaired for the first three months of 2007 was $18,000 compared with $14,000 for the same period in 2006.

Investment Securities

The composition of the investment securities portfolio reflects United’s investment strategy of maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity while providing a relatively stable source of revenue. The investment securities portfolio also provides a balance to interest rate risk and credit risk in other categories of the balance sheet while providing a vehicle for the investment of available funds, furnishing liquidity, and supplying securities to pledge as required collateral for certain deposits.

Total investment securities available for sale at quarter-end increased $167 million from a year ago. The investment portfolio is used as a supplemental tool to stabilize interest rate sensitivity and increase net interest revenue. The growth in the investment securities portfolio was consistent with growth in the rest of the balance sheet. At March 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2006, the securities portfolio accounted for approximately 16% of total assets.

The investment securities portfolio primarily consists of U.S. Government agency securities, U.S. Government sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities, non-agency mortgage-backed securities, and municipal securities. Mortgage-backed securities rely on the underlying pools of mortgage loans to provide a cash flow of principal and interest. The actual maturities of these securities will differ from the contractual maturities because loans underlying the securities may prepay. Decreases in interest rates will generally cause an acceleration of prepayment levels. In a declining interest rate environment, United may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from these prepayments in assets that have comparable yields. In a rising rate environment, the opposite occurs. Prepayments tend to slow and the weighted average life extends. This is referred to as extension risk which can lead to lower levels of liquidity due to the delay of timing of cash receipts and can result in the holding of a below market yielding asset for a longer time period.

Deposits

Total deposits at March 31, 2007 were $5.8 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 23%, from March 31, 2006. Total non-interest-bearing demand deposit accounts of $676 million increased $22 million, or 3.4%, and interest-bearing demand and savings accounts of $1.9 billion increased $407 million, or 28%, reflecting the success of United’s initiatives to raise core deposits and the acquisitions of Southern National and two banking offices in western North Carolina.

Total time deposits as of March 31, 2007 were $3.0 billion, an increase of $648 million, or 28%, from the first quarter of 2006. Time deposits less than $100,000 totaled $1.6 billion, compared with $1.3 billion a year ago, an increase of 24%. Time deposits of $100,000 and greater totaled $1.4 billion compared with $1.0 billion at March 31, 2006, an increase of 33%. United utilizes “brokered” time deposits, issued in certificates of less than $100,000, as an alternative source of cost-effective funding. Brokered time deposits outstanding at March 31, 2007 were $319 million compared with $303 million at March 31, 2006, an increase of 5%.

Wholesale Funding

At March 31, 2007, both of the Banks were shareholders in a Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). Through this affiliation, FHLB secured advances totaled $464 million and $511 million at March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. United anticipates continued utilization of this short and long-term source of funds. FHLB advances outstanding at March 31, 2007 had both fixed and floating interest rates ranging from 2.85% to 6.59%. Additional information regarding FHLB advances, including scheduled maturities, is provided in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in United’s 2006 Form 10-K.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Management

The absolute level and volatility of interest rates can have a significant impact on United’s profitability. The objective of interest rate risk management is to identify and manage the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changing interest rates, in order to achieve United’s overall financial goals. Based on economic conditions, asset quality and various other considerations, management establishes tolerance ranges for interest rate sensitivity and manages within these ranges.

Net interest revenue is influenced by changes in the level of interest rates. United manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies established by the Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”). ALCO meets regularly and has responsibility for approving asset/liability management policies, formulating and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet positioning and/or earnings, and reviewing United’s interest rate sensitivity.

One of the tools management utilizes to estimate the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changes in interest rates is an interest rate simulation model. Such estimates are based upon a number of assumptions for various scenarios, including the level of balance sheet growth, deposit repricing characteristics and the rate of prepayments. The simulation model measures the potential change in net interest revenue over a twelve-month period under various interest rate scenarios. United’s baseline scenario assumes rates remain flat (“flat rate scenario”) over the next twelve months and is the scenario that all others are compared to in order to measure the change in net interest revenue. United runs ramp scenarios that assume gradual increases and decreases of 200 basis points each over the next twelve months. United’s policy for net interest revenue simulation is limited to a change from the flat rate scenario of less than 10% for the up or down 200 basis point ramp scenarios over twelve months. At March 31, 2007, United’s simulation model indicated that a 200 basis point increase in rates over the next twelve months would cause an approximate 1.5% increase in net interest revenue and a 200 basis point decrease in rates over the next twelve months would cause an approximate .30% decrease in net interest revenue.

In order to manage its interest rate sensitivity, United uses off-balance sheet contracts that are considered derivative financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments can be a cost and capital effective means of modifying the repricing characteristics of on-balance sheet assets and liabilities. At March 31, 2007, United was a party to interest rate swap contracts under which it pays a variable rate and receives a fixed rate, and interest rate floor contracts in which United pays a premium to a counterparty who agrees to pay United the difference between a variable rate and a strike rate if the variable rate falls below the strike rate.

The following table presents the interest rate swap contracts outstanding at March 31, 2007.

Table 9 — Derivative Financial Instruments
As of March 31, 2007
(dollars in thousands)


			Rate
	Notional		Received /
Type/Maturity	Amount		Floor Rate			Rate Paid			Fair Value ⁽⁶⁾
Fair Value Hedges:
LIBOR Swaps (Brokered CDs)
September 29, 2008 ⁽¹⁾	$	10,000		5.25	%		5.31	%	$	27
November 3, 2008 ⁽²⁾		10,000		5.00			5.05			33

Total LIBOR Swaps:		20,000		5.13			5.18			60


FHLB Advances Swaps
January 5, 2009 ⁽³⁾	$	25,000		5.06			5.21			79

Total FHLB Advances Swaps:		25,000		5.06			5.21			79

Total Fair Value Hedges		45,000		5.09			5.20			139


Cash Flow Hedges:
Prime Swaps (Prime Loans)⁽⁴⁾
November 5, 2007		50,000		8.41			8.25			21
February 1, 2008		50,000		8.40			8.25			50
April 17, 2008		50,000		8.25			8.25			43
April 17, 2008		50,000		8.25			8.25			41
May 1, 2008		50,000		8.33			8.25			98
May 1, 2008		50,000		8.34			8.25			102
August 4, 2008		50,000		8.32			8.25			154
November 4, 2008		100,000		8.32			8.25			431
February 1, 2009		25,000		8.31			8.25			133
May 4, 2009		30,000		8.29			8.25			206

Total Prime Swaps:		505,000		8.32			8.25			1,279

Prime Floors (Prime Loans) ⁽⁵⁾
February 1, 2009		25,000		8.75						431
May 1, 2009		25,000		8.75						501
August 1, 2009		75,000		8.75						1,708
November 1, 2009		75,000		8.75						1,916
February 4, 2010		100,000		8.75						2,845
May 4, 2010		100,000		8.75						3,111
August 1, 2010		50,000		8.75						1,681
August 4, 2010		50,000		8.75						1,684

Total Prime Floors:		500,000								13,877

Total Cash Flow Hedges:		1,005,000								15,156


Total Derivative Contracts	$	1,050,000							$	15,295


(1)		Rate Paid equals 1-Month LIBOR minus .0075

(2)		Rate Paid equals 1-Month LIBOR minus .2725

(3)		Rate Paid equals 1-Month LIBOR minus .1100

(4)		Rate Paid equals Prime rate as of March 31, 2007

(5)		Floor contracts receive cash payments equal to the floor rate less the prime rate (6) Excludes accrued interest

United’s derivative financial instruments are classified as either cash flow or fair value hedges. The change in fair value of cash flow hedges is recognized in other comprehensive income. Fair value hedges recognize currently in earnings both the impact of the change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument and the offsetting impact of the change in fair value of the hedged asset or liability. At March 31, 2007, United had interest rate swap contracts with a total notional amount of $505 million that were designated as cash flow hedges of prime based loans. United had interest rate floor contracts with a total notional of $500 million that were also designated as cash flow hedges of prime based loans. United also has three receive fixed, pay LIBOR swap contracts with a total notional of $45 million that were accounted for as fair value hedges of brokered deposits and fixed rate FHLB advances.

United’s policy requires all derivative financial instruments be used only for asset/liability management through the hedging of specific transactions or positions, and not for trading or speculative purposes. Management believes that the risk associated with using derivative financial instruments to mitigate interest rate risk sensitivity is minimal and should not have any material unintended impact on the financial condition or results of operations. In order to mitigate potential credit risk, from time to time United may require the counterparties to derivative contracts to pledge securities as collateral to cover the net exposure.

Liquidity Management

The objective of liquidity management is to ensure that sufficient funding is available, at reasonable cost, to meet the ongoing operational cash needs and to take advantage of revenue producing opportunities as they arise. While the desired level of liquidity will vary depending upon a variety of factors, it is the primary goal of United to maintain a sufficient level of liquidity in all expected economic environments. Liquidity is defined as the ability to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management involves maintaining United’s ability to meet the daily cash flow requirements of the Banks’ customers, both depositors and borrowers.

The primary objectives of asset/liability management are to provide for adequate liquidity in order to meet the needs of customers and to maintain an optimal balance between interest-sensitive assets and interest-sensitive liabilities; so that United can also meet the investment requirements of its shareholders as market interest rates change. Daily monitoring of the sources and uses of funds is necessary to maintain a position that meets both requirements.

The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments and the maturities and sales of securities. Mortgage loans held for sale totaled $31.6 million at March 31, 2007, and typically turn over every 45 days as the closed loans are sold to investors in the secondary market.

The liability section of the balance sheet provides liquidity through interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposit accounts. Federal funds purchased, FHLB advances and securities sold under agreements to repurchase are additional sources of liquidity and represent United’s incremental borrowing capacity. These sources of liquidity are generally short-term in nature and are used as necessary to fund asset growth and meet other short-term liquidity needs.

United has available a line of credit and a joint credit agreement at its holding company with other financial institutions totaling $75 million. At March 31, 2007, United had no outstanding balances on these credit facilities. United had sufficient qualifying collateral to increase FHLB advances by $432 million at March 31, 2007. United’s internal policy limits brokered deposits to 25% of total non-brokered deposits. At March 31, 2007, United had the capacity to increase brokered deposits by $1.062 billion and still remain within this limit.

As disclosed in United’s consolidated statement of cash flows, net cash provided by operating activities was $37.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The major contributors in this category were net income of $19.3 million, depreciation, amortization and accretion of $3.4 million, provision for loan losses of $3.7 million, stock based compensation of $729,000, a decrease in mortgage loans held for sale of $3.7 million, an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $8.3 million, which was partially offset by an increase in other assets of $1.1 million. Net cash used by investing activities of $81.0 million consisted primarily of a net increase in loans totaling $29.6 million, purchases of premises and equipment of $13.5 million, and $120.1 million used to purchase investment securities, partially offset by proceeds from sales of securities of $915,000, maturities and calls of investment securities of $78.9 million, and sales of premises, equipment and other real estate of $2.4 million. Net cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of a net increase in deposits of $68.8 million, a net increase in federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings of $11.5 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in FHLB advances of $25.0 million, cash dividends paid of $3.4 million and proceeds from exercise of stock options and common stock issued for employee benefit plans of $2.4 million. In the opinion of management, the liquidity position at March 31, 2007 is sufficient to meet its expected cash flow requirements.

Capital Resources and Dividends

Shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2007 was $638.5 million, an increase of $153 million, or 32%, from March 31, 2006. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is not included in the calculation of regulatory capital adequacy ratios. Excluding the change in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity increased $140 million, or 28%, from March 31, 2006. Dividends of $3.9 million, or $.09 per share, were declared on common stock during the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 21% from the amount declared in the same period in 2006 due to a 13% increase in the dividend rate and an increase in the number of outstanding shares. The dividend payout ratio was 20% for the first quarters of 2007 and 2006. Although, United retains a portion of its earnings in order to provide a cost effective source of capital for continued growth and expansion, the company recognizes that cash dividends are an important component of shareholder value, and therefore, provides for cash dividends when earnings and capital levels permit.

United’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of United’s outstanding common stock for the general corporate purposes. At March 31, 2007, 1,000,000 shares may be repurchased under the current authorization through December 31, 2007.

United’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “UCBI”. Below is a quarterly schedule of high, low and closing stock prices and average daily volume for 2007 and 2006.

Table 10 — Stock Price Information


	2007								2006
							Avg Daily								Avg Daily
	High		Low		Close		Volume		High		Low		Close		Volume
First quarter	$	34.98	$	30.81	$	32.79		232,269	$	29.64	$	26.02	$	28.15		59,252
Second quarter										31.26		27.02		30.44		92,937
Third quarter										33.10		27.51		30.05		86,495
Fourth quarter										33.37		29.03		32.32		87,626

The increase in the average daily trading volume in the first quarter of 2007 resulted from United’s inclusion in Standard & Poors’ SmallCap 600 index on March 9, 2007.

The following table presents the quarterly cash dividends declared in 2007 and 2006 and the respective payout ratios as a percentage of basic earnings per share, which excludes merger-related charges.

Table 11 — Dividend Payout Information


	2007				2006
	Dividend		Payout %		Dividend		Payout %
First quarter	$	.09		20	$	.08		20
Second quarter						.08		19
Third quarter						.08		19
Fourth quarter						.08		18

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has issued guidelines for the implementation of risk-based capital requirements by U.S. banks and bank holding companies. These risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off-balance sheet. Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers that are used in conjunction with risk-adjusted assets to determine the risk based capital ratios. The guidelines require an 8% total risk-based capital ratio, of which 4% must be Tier I capital. To be considered well capitalized under the guidelines, a 10% total risk-based capital ratio is required, of which 6% must be Tier I capital.

A minimum leverage ratio is required in addition to the risk-based capital standards and is defined as Tier I capital divided by average assets adjusted for goodwill and deposit-based intangibles. Although a minimum leverage ratio of 3% is required for the highest-rated bank holding companies which are not undertaking significant expansion programs, the Federal Reserve Board requires a bank holding company to maintain a leverage ratio greater than 3% if it is experiencing or anticipating significant growth or is operating with less than well-diversified risks in the opinion of the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board uses the leverage and risk-based capital ratios to assess capital adequacy of banks and bank holding companies.

The following table shows United’s capital ratios, as calculated under regulatory guidelines, at March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Table 12 — Capital Ratios
(dollars in thousands)


	2007						2006
	Actual			Regulatory			Actual			Regulatory
	Amount			Minimum			Amount			Minimum
Tier I Leverage:
Amount	$	523,749		$	207,863		$	427,034		$	175,415
Ratio		7.56	%		3.00	%		7.30	%		3.00	%

Tier I Risk-Based:
Amount	$	523,749		$	224,610		$	427,034		$	192,230
Ratio		9.33	%		4.00	%		8.89	%		4.00	%

Total Risk-Based:
Amount	$	659,053		$	449,220		$	552,484		$	384,459
Ratio		11.74	%		8.00	%		11.50	%		8.00	%

United’s Tier I capital excludes other comprehensive income, and consists of stockholders’ equity and qualifying capital securities less goodwill and deposit-based intangibles. Tier II capital components include supplemental capital items such as a qualifying allowance for loan losses and qualifying subordinated debt. Tier I capital plus Tier II capital components is referred to as Total Risk-Based capital.

The capital ratios of United and the Banks currently exceed the minimum ratios as defined by federal regulators. United monitors these ratios to ensure that United and the Banks remain above regulatory minimum guidelines.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

A bank’s asset and liability structure is substantially different from that of an industrial firm in that primarily all assets and liabilities of a bank are monetary in nature with relatively little investment in fixed assets or inventories. Inflation has an important impact on the growth of total assets and the resulting need to increase equity capital at higher than normal rates in order to maintain an appropriate equity to assets ratio.

United’s management believes the impact of inflation on financial results depends on United’s ability to react to changes in interest rates and, by such reaction, reduce the inflationary impact on performance. United has an asset/liability management program to manage interest rate sensitivity. In addition, periodic reviews of banking services and products are conducted to adjust pricing in view of current and expected costs.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

There have been no material changes in United’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk as of March 31, 2007 from that presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. The interest rate sensitivity position at March 31, 2007 is included in management’s discussion and analysis on page 21 of this report.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

United’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, supervised and participated in an evaluation of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2007. Based on, and as of the date of, that evaluation, United’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective in accumulating and communicating information to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures of that information under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed or submitted by United under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

There were no significant changes in the internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of operations, United and the Banks are defendants in various legal proceedings. In the opinion of management, there is no pending or threatened proceeding in which an adverse decision could result in a material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of United.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in United’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds — None

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities — None

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders — None

Item 5. Other Information — None

Item 6. Exhibits

	3.1		Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community Banks, Inc., (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2001).

	3.2		Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community Banks, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-118893, filed with the Commission on September 9, 2004).

	3.3		Amended and Restated Bylaws of United Community Banks, Inc., dated September 12, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on March 27, 1998).

	4.1		See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 for provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which define the rights of the Shareholders.

	10.1		Amendment No. 1 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Amended and Restated 2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Form 8-K date April 13, 2007, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on April 13, 2007).

	10.2		United Community Banks, Inc.’s Amended and Restated 2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Form 8-K dated May 1, 2007, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on May 1, 2007).

	10.3		United Community Banks, Inc.’s Management Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United Community Banks, Inc.’s Form 8-K dated May 1, 2007, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on May 1, 2007).

	31.1		Certification by Jimmy C. Tallent, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	31.2		Certification by Rex S. Schuette, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

	32		Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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 thereunto duly authorized.


	UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
	*/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent*
	Jimmy C. Tallent
	President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)


	*/s/ Rex S. Schuette*
	Rex S. Schuette
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)


	*/s/ Alan H. Kumler*
	Alan H. Kumler
	Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
	Date: May 9, 2007

EX-31.1 CERTIFICATION BY JIMMY C. TALLENT

Exhibit 31.1

I, Jimmy C. Tallent, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Community Banks, Inc. (the “registrant”), certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the registrant;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(f) and 15d — 15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



	By:	*/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent*
		Jimmy C. Tallent
		President and Chief Executive Officer
	Date: May 9, 2007

EX-31.2 CERTIFICATION BY REX S. SCHUETTE

Exhibit 31.2

I, Rex S. Schuette, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Community Banks, Inc. (the “registrant”), certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the registrant;

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



	By:	*/s/ Rex S. Schuette*
		Rex S. Schuette
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	Date: May 9, 2007

EX-32 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS OF CEO AND CFO

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jimmy C. Tallent, President and Chief Executive Officer of United, and I, Rex S. Schuette, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

	(1)		The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

	(2)		The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of United.



	By:	*/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent*
		Jimmy C. Tallent
		President and Chief Executive Officer


	By:	*/s/ Rex S. Schuette*
		Rex S. Schuette
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	Date: May 9, 2007

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