UNITED STATES
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                            FORM 10-Q

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

           For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 1996

                                OR

      [ ] 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                               58-180-7304
- ------------------------                -------------------
(State of incorporation)                (I.R.S. Employer
                                        Identification No.)

P.O. Box 398, 59 Highway 515
Blairsville, Georgia                              30512
- -------------------------------                ----------
(Address of principal executive                (Zip Code)
  offices)

                          (404) 745-2151
                        ------------------
                        (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 XX  NO   
                             ----
      Common stock, par value $1 per share: 6,260,280 shares
                 outstanding as of July 31, 1996



          UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                              INDEX


                                                               Page

PART I Financial Information

 Item 1. Financial Statements

   Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 1996
       and December 31, 1995                                    3

   Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three Months and 
       Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995                  4

   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months
       Ended June 30, 1996 and 1995                             5

   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                   7

 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations                             9



PART II Other Information

   Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                   11

   Item 2. Changes in Securities                               11

   Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities                     11

   Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 11
       
   Item 5. Other Information                                   11

   Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                    11



                               -2-

                                  UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
                                            Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                                     (Unaudited)
June 30, December 31, 1996 1995 -------- ------------ ASSETS (In Thousands) Cash and due from banks $ 22,176 20,758 Federal funds sold 10,720 11,230 --------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents 32,896 31,988 --------- -------- Securities held to maturity (estimated fair value of $75,493 and $79,650) 76,097 78,821 Securities available for sale 52,786 65,046 Mortgage loans held for sale 7,604 12,048 Loans 502,465 444,092 Less: Allowance for loan losses (7,153) (6,545) --------- -------- Loans, net 495,312 437,547 --------- -------- Premises and equipment 16,035 15,997 Accrued interest receivable 7,034 6,462 Other assets 12,468 11,760 --------- -------- $ 700,232 659,669 ========= ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Deposits: Demand $ 68,372 62,753 Interest-bearing demand 125,707 114,825 Savings 40,222 38,947 Time 387,851 374,131 --------- -------- Total deposits 622,152 590,656 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 4,577 3,676 Federal Home Loan Bank advances 14,860 9,001 Long-term debt 10,744 11,309 Convertible subordinated debentures 1,000 1,000 --------- -------- Total liabilities 653,333 615,642 --------- -------- Stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock -- -- Common Stock, $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 6,260,280 shares issued and outstanding 6,260 6,260 Capital surplus 14,520 14,520 Net unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities available for sale, net of tax (447) 251 Retained earnings 26,566 22,996 --------- -------- Total stockholders' equity 46,899 44,027 --------- -------- $700,232 659,669 ========= ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 3 UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30 1996 1995 1996 1995 --------- --------- --------- --------- (In Thousands Except Per Share Data) Interest income: Interest and fees on loans $ 12,872 10,528 24,930 18,995 Interest on deposits with other banks 12 20 34 23 Interest on federal funds sold 194 379 417 497 Interest on investment securities: U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government agencies 1,476 1,271 3,089 1,970 State, county and municipal 469 391 933 917 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total interest income 15,023 12,589 29,403 22,402 --------- --------- --------- --------- Interest expense: Interest on deposits: Demand 1,014 913 2,018 1,728 Savings 262 270 520 499 Time 5,705 5,095 11,567 8,613 --------- --------- --------- --------- 6,981 6,278 14,105 10,840 Long-term debt, subordinated debentures, FHLB advances, and federal funds purchased 363 508 725 993 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total interest expense 7,344 6,786 14,830 11,833 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net interest income 7,679 5,803 14,573 10,569 Provision for loan losses 288 214 567 420 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 7,391 5,589 14,006 10,149 --------- --------- --------- --------- Noninterest income: Service charges and fees 664 518 1,273 900 Securities gains, net (16) 14 15 3 Mortgage loan and related fees 390 338 857 629 Other noninterest income 137 73 350 399 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total noninterest income 1,175 943 2,495 1,931 --------- --------- --------- --------- Noninterest expense: Salaries and employee benefits 3,166 2,525 6,101 4,608 Occupancy 835 682 1,627 1,279 Deposit insurance premiums 6 268 17 489 Other noninterest expense 1,656 1,089 3,269 1,916 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total noninterest expense 5,663 4,564 11,014 8,292 --------- --------- --------- --------- Earnings before income taxes 2,903 1,968 5,487 3,788 Income taxes 1,008 590 1,917 1,153 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net earnings $ 1,895 1,378 3,570 2,635 ========= ========= ========= ========= Net earnings per common share $ 0.30 0.25 0.57 0.47 Weighted average shares outstanding 6,260,280 5,589,365 6,260,280 5,589,365
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 4 UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 1996 1995 -------- -------- (In Thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 3,570 2,635 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation, amortization and accretion 1,201 832 Provision for loan losses 567 422 Gain on sale of investment securities (15) (2) Change in assets and liabilities: Interest receivable (572) (744) Interest payable (490) 470 Other assets (563) (1,158) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,022 43 Change in mortgage loans held for sale 4,444 (207) -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities 9,164 2,291 -------- -------- Cash flows from investing activities: Cash acquired in consolidation of White County Bank - 8,508 Proceeds from maturities and calls of securities held to maturity 8,911 4,447 Purchases of securities held to maturity (7,476) (4,675) Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale 11,949 7,979 Proceeds from maturities and calls of securities available for sale 20,171 3,826 Purchases of securities available for sale (19,787) (30,526) Net increase in loans (58,349) (33,205) Proceeds from sales of other real estate 35 - Purchase of bank premises and equipment (616) (1,255) -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities (45,162) (44,901) -------- -------- Cash flows from financing activities: Net change in demand and savings deposits 17,892 13,214 Net change in time deposits 13,721 63,704 Net increase in federal funds purchased - (8,300) Proceeds from long-term debt - 258 Repayments of long-term debt (565) (630) Proceeds from FHLB advances 6,000 7,346 Repayments of FHLB advances (141) (2,389) Dividends paid - - -------- -------- Net cash provided by financing activities 36,907 73,203 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 909 30,593 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 31,988 14,570 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 32,897 45,163 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for: Interest $ 15,320 11,363 Income taxes $ 1,800 1,075 Schedule of noncash investing and financing activities: Change in dividends payable $ - - Transfers of loans to other real estate owned $ 444 5 Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale $ (698) 430
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 5 UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements The accompanying consolidated financial statements have not been audited. The results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year or any other interim periods. The accounting principals followed by United Community Banks, Inc. ("United") and its bank subsidiaries and the methods of applying these principals conform with generally accepted accounting principals and with general practices within the banking industry. Certain principals which significantly affect the determination of financial position, results of operation and cash flows are summarized below and in United's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995. (1) Basis of Presentation --------------------- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Union County Bank (UCB), Citizens Bank (Citizens), Peoples Bank (Peoples), Towns County Bank (Towns) and White County Bank (White) . All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain items in prior period's financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current financial statement presentation. The consolidated financial information furnished herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the results of operations and financial position for the periods covered herein and are normal and recurring in nature. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in United's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995. (2) Earnings Per Share ------------------ Earnings per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Fully diluted earnings per share are not presented because the assumed conversion of the subordinated debentures do not result in material dilution. (3) Acquisition of Branch Offices ----------------------------- On May 25, 1995, United executed a Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire certain assets and deposit liabilities of the Franklin and Waynesville, North Carolina branch offices of Nations Bank, N.A. These branch offices had total assets of $14.8 million, total loans of $11.1 million and total deposits of $26.1 million as of October 19, 1995, the date of closing. -6- On June 6, 1996, United executed a Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire certain assets and deposit liabilities of the Cornelia, Georgia branch office of the First National Bank of Commerce. This branch office had total assets of $29 million, total loans of $28 million and total deposits of $21 million as of June 30, 1996. This acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter. (4) Recently Issued Accounting Standards ------------------------------------ During 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. This new standard became effective January 1, 1996, and will require United to disclose the fair value of employee stock options granted in 1995 and subsequent years. Since United will not be required to record the options at fair market value, management does not expect this new standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. (5) Net Earnings Per Common Share ----------------------------- Net earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. The assumed conversion of the convertible subordinated debentures and exercise of stock options do not result in material dilution. All share and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the October 1995, five-for-one split, effected in the form of a stock dividend, paid on November 6, 1995. -7- Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Results of Operations OVERVIEW Net earnings for the six months ended June 30, 1996 increased to $3.6 million or 35 percent over net earnings for the first six months of 1995. Net earnings per common share for the first six months also increased 21 percent from the same period in 1995 to $.57. Net interest income increased 38 percent for the six months ended June 30, 1996 over the same period of 1995 to 14.6 million. For the first half of 1996, the provision for loan losses increased 35 percent to $567.000 for the six month period. Noninterest income and expense rose 22 percent and 31 percent respectively over the first half of 1995. NET INTEREST INCOME Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 1996 increased $4 million over the first half of 1995. This increase was the result of a $7 million, or 31 percent increase in interest income, offest by a $3 million, or 25 percent increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was due to an increase in average earning assets of $141 million coupled with an increase in the average yield on earning assets from 8.73 percent to 8.89 percent. Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 1996, increased $3 million , or 25 percent from the prior year, due primarily to a 30% increase in average core deposits. NET INTEREST MARGIN The difference between the overall interest income on earning assets and the interest expense paid on all funding sources, including noninterest bearing deposits, is referred to as the net interest margin. For the first six months of 1996 the net interest margin was 4.63 percent compared to 4.36 percent for the same period in 1995. This 27 basis point increase resulted from a stable rate environment as well as a favorable change in the core deposit mix. NONINTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE Noninterest income for the first six months of 1996 increased $451 thousand, or 22 percent over the same period in 1995. Service charges on deposits increased over $372 thousand, or 41 percent during the first six months, principally as a result of an increased number of depoist accounts being serviced. This increase is a result of continued growth and the White County and the Citizens branch banking acquisitions. Mortgage loan and related fees increased $228 thousand, or 36% as a result of declining rate environment for a majority of the first six months of 1996. Gains on investment securities sold during the first quarter of 1996 were not material. -8- Noninterest expenses increased $2.6 million, during the first six months of 1996 over the same period in 1995. Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.6 million, or 34 percent, for the first half. The increase in salaries and benefits was the result of an additional 57 employees compared to the same period in 1995. The number of employees increased primarily as a result of the White County acquisition as well as the branch banking facilities acquired by Citizens as discussed earlier. Net occupancy expense increased $348 thousand due primarily to an increase in the depreciation and other occupancy expenses associated with the increased number of banking facilities. FDIC deposit insurance premiums decreased $472 thousand as a result of the recalculated FDIC assessment. Other noninterest expense, including stationary and supplies and advertising , increased $1.2 million during the first half of 1996. INCOME TAXES Income tax expense increased during the first half of 1996 compared to the same period in 1995 by $767 thousand. The effective tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1995 were 35 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The increases are due primarily to the combined efforts of increased levels of pretax income, and a lower mix of tax-exempt securities held in the investment portfolio. Management expects the trend of an increasing effective tax rate to continue. PROVISION AND ALLOWANCE FOR POSSIBLE LOAN LOSSES The provision for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 1996 increased 35 percent to $567 thousand from the $420 thousand reported for the same period in 1995. Management considers the size and character of the loan portfolio, changes in nonperforming and past due loans, historical loan loss experience, the existing risk of individual loans, concentrations of loans to specific borrowers and existing and prospective economic conditions when determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 1996 was $7.2 million compared to $6.5 million at December 31, 1995. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to loans outstanding at June 30, 1996 was 1.42 percent compared to 1.48 percent at December 31, 1995. The reduction in the ratio reflects the improvement in the quality of United's loan portfolio and a reduction in the net charge-offs. It is management's belief that the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable loss in the portfolio. NONPERFORMING ASSETS AND PAST DUE LOANS Nonperforming assets, comprised of nonaccrual loans, other real estate owned and loans for which payments are more than 90 days past due, decreased $900 thousand to $ 1.3 million at June 30, 1996 from $2.2 million at December 31, 1995. In addition, Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and other real estate owned improved to .26 percent at March 31, 1996 from .48 percent at December 31, 1995. -9- United regularly monitors selected accruing loans for which general economic conditions or changes within a particular industry could cause the borrowers financial difficulties. This continuous monitoring of the loan portfolio and the related identification of loans with a high degree of credit risk are essential parts of United's credit management. Management continues to emphasize maintaining a low level of nonperforming assets and returning current nonperfroming assets to an earning status. At June 30, 1996, management was unaware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that will have or that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on United's liquidity, capital resources or operations. Financial Condition OVERVIEW Total assets at June 30, 1996 were $700 million representing a $40 million or a 6 percent increase from December 31, 1995 and a $101 million or a 17 percent increase from June 30, 1995. ASSETS AND FUNDING At June 30, 1995, earning assets totaled $650 million, an increase of $38 million from December 31, 1995. The earning assets mix improved slightly in the first six months with loans representing 77% of the total earning assets as compared to 73% percent at December 31, 1995. Interest bearing deposits at June 30, 1996 increased $26 million from December 31, 1995, while non-interest bearing deposits increased over $5.7 million since December 31, 1995. At June 30, 1996, deposits accounted for 89 percent of United's funding, from 90 percent at December 31, 1995. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 1996. For the first half of 1996, net cash used from investing activities of $45.2 million consisted of proceeds from maturities of investments securities of $29.1 million, proceeds from sales of investment securities of $12 million, and offset by cash outflows of $27.3 million in investment securities purchases, a $58.3 million increase in loans outstanding and purchase of bank premises and equipment of $616 thousand. Net cash provided by financing activities consisted largely of $31.6 million increase in deposit and time accounts, $6 million from additional FHLB advances, and were offset slightly by payments of $706 thousand on United's long- term debt and FHLB repayments. Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 1996, was 6.70 percent of total assets compared to 6.67 percent at December 31, 1995. The slight increase since year end 1995 reflects the asset growth of $40 million and the change of $698 thousand in the unrealized loss in United's available for sale investment portfolio offset by retained earnings from the first six months of 1996. -10- UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings - None ----------------- Item 2. Changes in Securities - On April 24, 1996 at the Annual Meeting -------------------- of Shareholders, the United Shareholders voted to eliminate the preemptive rights of the holders of Common Stock. Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities - None ------------------------------ Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders -------------------------------------------------- a) United Community Banks, Inc. 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held April 24, 1996 b) The following slate of directors was elected to serve the current year term: James A. Brackett, Jr. Hoyt O . Holloway Billy M. Decker P. Deral Horne Thomas C. Gilliland Clarence W. Mason, Jr. Robert L. Head, Jr. W.C. Nelson, Jr. Charles E. Hill Jimmy C. Tallent c) The shareholders of United voted to eliminate the preemptive rights of the holders of Common Stock. 5,161,802 (82.45%) shares were voted for the proposal, no shares were voted against the proposal, 22,860 (.37%) shares abstained from the vote and 1,075,618 (17.1) shares did not vote. No matters, other than the election of the above slate of directors and the above referenced proposal to elimination the preemptive rights, were voted on at the annual meeting. Item 5. Other Information - None ----------------- Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. -------------------------------- (a) Exhibits. Exhibit 27 -Financial Data Schedule (b) Reports on Form 8-K. There were no reports on Form 8-K. -11- UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 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. By: /s/ Jimmy C. Tallent Jimmy C. Tallent, President (Principal Executive Officer) Date: August 10, 1996 By: /s/ Christopher J. Bledsoe Christopher J. Bledsoe Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Date: August 10, 1996 -12-
 

9 0000857855 UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS 1,000 6-MOS DEC-31-1996 JAN-31-1996 JUN-30-1996 22,176 0 10,720 0 52,786 76,097 75,493 510,069 (7,153) 700,232 622,152 14,860 4,577 10,744 0 0 6,260 40,639 700,232 24,930 4,473 0 29,403 14,105 14,830 14,573 567 15 3,269 5,487 5,487 0 0 3,570 .57 .57 4.63 1,050 171 0 0 6,545 117 158 7,153 7,153 0 7,153