Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / United Community Banks

United Community Banks

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Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2015 Annual Report · United Community Banks
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2015Annual Report

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 (in millions, except per share data) 

CORE EARNINGS SUMMARY 
 Net interest revenue 

 Core fee revenue 

 Core operating expenses 

      Core earnings (pre-tax, pre-credit) 

 Provision for loan losses 

 Merger-related charges

 Impairment charge on property purchased for future branches 

 Securities gains, net 

 Loss on prepayment of borrowings 

 Other, net

 Income tax expense 

      Net income  

 Preferred dividends 

 2015 

 2014 

 $    258.7   

 $    224.4 

 71.5 

 192.6 

 137.6

 (3.7)

(12.0)

 (6.0)

2.3

 (1.3) 

 (.6)

 (44.7)

 71.6 

 (.1)

 54.9 

 162.1 

 117.2 

 (8.5)

 - 

 -

4.8

 (4.4) 

(.5)  

 (41.0)

 67.6 

 (.4)

      Net income available to common shareholders 

 $      71.5 

 $      67.2 

PER COMMON SHARE 
 Diluted earnings—operating1
 Diluted earnings

 Book value 

 Tangible book value 

PERFORMANCE MEASURES 
 Net interest margin 

 Allowance for loan losses to loans, excluding acquired loans

 Allowance for loan losses to loans—GAAP
 Return on assets—operating1
 Return on assets—GAAP

 Tangible common equity to assets (year-end)

 Tier I risk-based capital ratio (year-end)

AS OF YEAR-END 
 Loans 

 Investment securities 

 Total assets 

 Deposits 

 Shareholders’ equity 

 Common shares outstanding (thousands) 

 Beneficial owners 

 Employees 

 Banking offices 

 $       1.27 

 $       1.11 

1.09

14.02

 12.06 

1.11

 12.20 

 12.15 

 3.30  % 

 3.26  % 

1.35

1.14

 .98 

.85

 9.15 

11.45

1.53

1.53

.91

.91

9.74

12.06

 $    5,995 

 $    4,672 

 2,656

 9,626 

 7,881 

1,018 

 71,484 

18,400

1,932

 134

 2,198 

 7,567 

 6,327 

 740 

 60,259 

15,450

1,536

 103 

1 Excludes the effect of merger-related charges of $12.0 million and impairment charges of $6.0 million on real estate purchased in prior 
years for use as future branch sites, net of income tax benefit of $6.4 million. 

2   |   U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C . 2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T

 
 
 
 
 
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

2015 was an outstanding year for United Community Banks. We achieved strong 

organic growth in both loans and deposits, strengthened fee revenue through our 

government guaranteed and mortgage lending businesses and expanded strategically 

with significant acquisitions in targeted high-growth markets. Our competitive 

advantage of community bank service with large bank capabilities continued to serve 

us very well, and was strengthened with new specialty lending products. We produced 

loans totaling $2 billion, grew net loans by $444 million or 10 percent, and grew core 

deposits by 14 percent. And, once again, our bankers earned national recognition for 

superior customer service.

All of this and more during the year resulted in record financial performance. Net operating income, excluding 

merger-related and impairment charges, was $83.2 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, a 14 percent increase from 

a year ago. Return on equity increased from 9.32 percent in 2014 to 10.24 percent in 2015. Return on assets was 

.98 percent and hit our target of 1 percent during two of the four quarters. With that target now achieved, we 

have a more challenging goal of hitting 1.1 percent by the end of 2016. I am confident that we are up to the task.

Meanwhile, as a result of our multi-year focus on core deposit growth, and boosted by our acquisitions in 2015, 

more than 90 percent of our deposits are core deposit accounts.

ORGANIC GROW TH

I am very pleased with our organic growth during 2015. It is worth noting that both our 10 percent loan growth 

and 14 percent core transaction deposit growth exclude loans and deposits that were acquired in mergers. 

Contributors to loan growth have included specialized lending products—including commercial real estate, 

SBA, asset-based lending, middle market and builder finance—that customers want but often cannot find 

at their local bank. These specialty loans have grown from $76 million in 2011 to $492 million at the end of 

2015, helping diversify our portfolio. We provide them through a “hub and spoke” model, with specialized 

lending experts teaming with our community banks. This entrepreneurial approach increases our value to local 

businesses, serves as a competitive advantage and is consistent with our positioning as a community bank with 

large bank resources.

Fee revenue was another large contributor to increased profitability, with growth of $17 million or 30 percent. 

Gains from SBA loan sales more than doubled to $6.3 million; mortgage and related fees grew 81 percent to 

$13.6 million, and service charges and fees grew by 11 percent to $37 million.

  U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C .  2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T   |   3 

GROW TH THROUGH ACQUISITIONS

Consistent with our strategy of expanding in attractive southeastern markets, we completed two 

acquisitions in 2015—our first in several years and among the largest in our history. Both banks are solid 

franchises and share our mission of high performance built on outstanding customer service.

In May we welcomed MoneyTree Corporation and its subsidiary First National Bank, doubling our presence 

along the high-growth Interstate-75 corridor from Cleveland to Knoxville, Tennessee. First National Bank 

devoted more than 100 years to building deep ties in these communities, both as a bank and as a corporate 

citizen. Our combined team is focused on realizing the strong opportunities in these markets.

Palmetto Bancshares, the largest community bank 

based in the Upstate area of South Carolina, joined  

the United team in September. Palmetto Bank boosted 

our presence in this dynamic region from one location 

in Greenville to 25 locations in nine counties in and 

around the Greenville and Spartanburg MSAs, which 

includes the Interstate-85 corridor. The Upstate is 

South Carolina’s fastest-growing region, with a vibrant 

economy and high quality of life. Palmetto Bank was 

founded in 1906 and, like First National Bank, built loyal 

relationships on respectful and caring service over 

more than a century.

Consistent with our strategy 
of expanding in attractive 
southeastern markets, we 
completed two acquisitions  
in 2015—our first in several 
years and among the largest 
in our history. 

We believe Coastal South Carolina presents a tremendous growth opportunity, and, to that end, we are 

very excited about a new, recently-announced agreement to acquire Tidelands Bancshares. Tidelands 

has $466 million in assets and a strong presence in the Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head 

markets—all three of which are among the top 10 fastest-growing MSAs in the United States. This is 

a terrific fit with the new presence we established in Charleston during the fourth quarter with a loan 

production office under the leadership of Dixon Woodward. Dixon previously served as president of the 

Coastal South Carolina region for one of the ten largest banks in North America. He and his strong team 

are off to a great start, exceeding our own expectations. Partnering with Tidelands and their talented 

bankers will provide them with a much stronger local base for establishing the United brand and 

growing the business. We expect this transaction to close in the third quarter of 2016.

We could not be happier to have these remarkable organizations join our team. They bring strong 

franchises with attractive and stable deposit market shares. Most of all they bring the exceptional 

people who have carried on their banks’ legacies of service. They are perfect cultural fits with United, 

sharing our community banking philosophy of staying close to customers by always being there to 

anticipate their financial needs and serve them well.

4   |   U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C . 2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T

Knoxville

Asheville

Raleigh

40

Chattanooga

Blairsville

Gainesville

Atlanta

Charlotte

Greenville

Columbia

Charleston

Myrtle Beach

Hilton Head Island

Savannah

Brunswick

E X I S T I N G   L O C AT I O N S

T I D E L A N D S   L O C AT I O N S

UNITED SERVICE: “BEST- IN - CL ASS”

Once again our bankers earned recognition for unsurpassed customer satisfaction in our peer group 

of banks with $5 billion to $15 billion in assets. Customer loyalty has continued to rank best-in-class 

and actually increased during 2015, according to research firm Customer Service Profiles. The overall 

customer experience was best-in-class as well, due to our bankers’ expertise and genuine concern for 

every customer. Further, United finished first in the J.D. Power Retail Banking Satisfaction Study for the 

Southeast Region.

The bottom line is that United bankers are never satisfied until their customers are. They consistently 

live their core value of treating people the way they want to be treated. They are truly our foundation, 

our spirit and the reason for our success.

While we are on the subject of exceptional people, Steven J. Goldstein recently retired from our board of 

directors after four years of dedicated service. Steven has been a terrific asset for United, having served as 

chair of our risk committee among many other contributions. Also, Nicholas B. Paumgarten has chosen not 

to seek re-election to the board and will end his service after the 2016 Annual Meeting. We deeply appreciate 

Steven and Nick’s dedicated service and many contributions, and wish them all the best.

Kenneth L. Daniels, whom we welcomed to our board of directors during the fourth quarter of 2015, will 

succeed Steven as chairman of the risk committee. Ken, who is greatly respected as a banking leader 

and risk professional, has executive-level experience in portfolio management, regulatory requirements, 

policy development and data integrity. His professional experience and personal integrity make him a 

fine addition to our board.

  U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C .  2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T   |   5 

PROGRESS AND PL ANNING

We have made tremendous progress. In 2014 we invested in markets, talent and products to 

strengthen our franchise and drive performance. In 2015 we began reaping financial benefits from 

these investments, even as we strengthened and added to them consistent with our growth strategy. 

We made our first acquisitions since 2007, building and enhancing the United presence in exceptional 

markets. We have added talent for leadership and expertise, both in markets and products and services. 

We have added products that our customers want and need, that differentiate us from our competition, 

and that diversify income sources.

To address the integrity of customer information, we are investing in cybersecurity. This is a top priority; 

you are well aware of data breaches in various industries and organizations worldwide. We work continually 

to protect customer data on numerous fronts, including intelligence sharing and systems monitoring 

partnerships with IBM, the FDIC, the FBI and other third parties. Internally we have risk assessments, 

information security training and testing, and security and fraud information on our website.

In regard to regulatory compliance, we are nearing $10 billion in assets, a milestone of sorts though 

we measure our success not in asset size but in customer satisfaction, financial performance and 

shareholder value. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the $10 billion threshold brings heightened regulatory 

expectations and related costs. Planning ahead, in 2015 we engaged outside firms to assist with 

independent reviews of and enhancements to our compliance areas. We saw this as a necessary 

investment to support future growth and expansion opportunities. Our expected financial benefits 

associated with the Tidelands acquisition will more than offset the earnings per share decrease we 

anticipate during the first full quarter of the new regulations. Further, crossing the $10 billion mark will 

subject us to the Durbin Amendment of the Dodd Frank Act. The Durbin Amendment places limits on 

the interchange fees banks can charge merchants for debit card transactions. This will lead to some 

loss of revenue. We expect this to happen in the third quarter of 2017. While these additional regulatory 

costs and revenue limits are just part of the cost of growth, we believe the operational efficiencies to be 

realized over a larger organization will offset most of the impact.

LOOKING FORWARD

We have good reason to be optimistic. We have strong leadership throughout our markets, a culture of 

service and best-in-class customer satisfaction. Seventy percent of our footprint is now in high-growth 

metropolitan areas where we contribute to and benefit from economic development. Between 2016 

and 2021 the average population growth in the seven MSAs we serve is expected to be 5.5 percent, 

compared to 3.7 percent for the U.S. as a whole. Our selective expansion in these and other markets, 

and our ability to increase value for customers, serve our goals of improving financial performance and 

increasing shareholder value.

6   |   U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C . 2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T

Investments in markets, products and talent will continue. Our focus is and always has been to continue 

to build the company from within through organic growth. As consolidation continues in our industry, 

acquisitions will be part of our balanced growth strategy. We are expanding and diversifying our loan 

portfolio with emphasis on commercial and industrial, owner-occupied commercial real estate and 

specialized lending. Our focus continues as well on fee revenue, with investments in mortgage, advisory 

services and SBA capabilities. And, as always, we are recruiting and training exceptional people whose 

skills and character are invaluable to external and internal customers.

As we grow our business we have not lost sight of who we are and how we have achieved our success. 

At our core we remain a community bank—focused on providing the best possible service for our 

customers and communities. Superior service includes convenience, which requires state-of-the-art 

delivery systems. Thirty percent of our transactions are now technology-driven, and that number will 

grow with shifts in demographics and preferences. Consequently we are investing in state-of-the-art 

teller platforms, telecommunications and mobile banking to enhance the customer experience as 

well as operational efficiency. While banking will always remain a people business, we must vigilantly 

anticipate and serve the full range of customer needs for service access.

Our 2015 results are a testimony to the devotion and perseverance of our bankers. Integrating two new 

banks into our system is no small task while continuing to do what they always do—provide the highest 

level of service to our customers and communities. Service isn’t just what they do; it is who they are. 

They believe their purpose is to serve others, and I am honored to be a member of their team.

Our investments in people, products, markets and infrastructure have built strong momentum on a 

solid foundation. We are excited about the opportunities ahead. Most importantly we are grateful for 

your support, and are dedicated always to increasing the value of your investment in United.

  Sincerely,

  Jimmy Tallent

  U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C .  2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T   |   7 

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

 (in thousands, except per share data) 

INTEREST REVENUE
  Loans, including fees
  Investment securities:
    Taxable
    Tax exempt
  Deposits in banks and short-term investments
      Total interest revenue
INTEREST EXPENSE
  Deposits:
    NOW
    Money market
    Savings
    Time
      Total deposit interest expense
  Short-term borrowings
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances
  Long-term debt
      Total interest expense
      Net interest revenue
Provision for credit losses
      Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses
FEE REVENUE
  Service charges and fees
  Mortgage loan and other related fees
  Brokerage fees
  Gains from sales of government guaranteed loans
  Securities gains, net
  Losses from prepayment of borrowings
  Other
      Total fee revenue
         Total revenue
OPERATING EXPENSES
  Salaries and employee benefits
  Occupancy
  Communications and equipment
  FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges
  Professional fees
  Postage, printing and supplies
  Advertising and public relations 
  Amortization of intangibles
  Foreclosed property
  Merger-related and other charges
  Other
      Total operating expenses
      Income before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
      Net income
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion

2015

2014

2013

 $  223,256 

 $  196,279 

 $  200,893 

 51,143 
 705 
 3,428
 278,532 

 1,505 
 3,466 
 98 
 3,756 
 8,825
 364 
 1,743 
 10,177 
 21,109 
 257,423 
 3,700 
 253,723 

 36,825 
 13,592 
 5,041 
 6,276 
 2,255 
 (1,294)
 9,834 
 72,529 
  326,252  

 116,688 
 15,372 
 15,273 
 5,106 
 10,175 
 4,273 
 3,667 
 2,444 
 32 
 17,995 
 20,213 
 211,238  
  115,014  
  43,436  
  71,578  
 67

 47,755 
 738 
 3,660 
 248,432 

 1,651 
 3,060 
 81 
 7,133 
 11,925 
 2,160 
 912 
 10,554 
 25,551 
 222,881 
 8,500 
 214,381 

 33,073 
 7,520 
 4,807 
 2,615 
 4,871 
 (4,446)
 7,114 
 55,554 
 269,935 

 100,941 
 13,513 
 12,523 
 4,792 
 7,907 
 3,542 
 3,461 
 1,348 
 634 
-
 14,204 
 162,865 
 107,070 
 39,450 
 67,620 
 439 

 40,331 
 827 
 3,789 
 245,840 

 1,759 
 2,210 
 133 
 10,464 
 14,566 
 2,071 
 68 
 10,977 
 27,682 
 218,158 
 65,500 
 152,658 

 31,997 
 9,925 
 4,465 
 - 
 186 
 - 
 10,025 
 56,598 
 209,256 

 96,233 
 13,930 
 13,233 
 9,219 
 9,617 
 3,283 
 3,718 
 2,031 
 7,869 
-
 15,171 
 174,304 
 34,952 
 (238,188)
 273,140 
 12,078 

      Net income available to common shareholders

 $     71,511 

 $    67,181 

 $261,062 

Income per common share:
     Basic
     Diluted
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
     Basic
     Diluted

8   |   U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C . 2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T

 $         1.09 
 1.09 

 $         1.11 
 1.11 

 $         4.44 
 4.44 

 65,488 
 65,492 

 60,588 
 60,590 

 58,787 
 58,845 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 (in thousands, except share data) 

ASSETS
Cash and due from banks
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
Short-term investments
      Cash and cash equivalents
Securities available-for-sale
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value $371,658 and $425,233)
Mortgage loans held for sale
Loans, net of unearned income
    Less allowance for loan losses
        Loans, net
Premises and equipment, net
Bank owned life insurance
Accrued interest receivable
Net deferred tax asset
Derivative financial instruments
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Other assets
            Total assets

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
   Deposits:
      Demand
      NOW
      Money market
      Savings
      Time
      Brokered
            Total deposits
   Repurchase agreements
   Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   Long-term debt
   Derivative financial instruments
   Unsettled securities purchases
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities
            Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders’ equity:
   Preferred stock, $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
      Series H, $1,000 stated value; 9,992 and 0 shares issued and outstanding
   Common stock, $1 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
        66,198,477 and 50,178,605 shares issued and outstanding
   Common stock, non-voting, $1 par value; 26,000,000 shares authorized;
        5,285,516 and 10,080,787 shares issued and outstanding
   Common stock issuable; 458,953 and 357,983 shares
   Capital surplus
   Accumulated deficit
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss
            Total shareholders’ equity
            Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2015

2014

 $        86,912 
 153,451 
 - 
 240,363 
 2,291,511 
 364,696 
 24,231 
 5,995,441 
 (68,448)
 5,926,993 
 178,165 
 105,493 
 25,786 
 197,613 
 20,082 
147,420
103,755
 $9,626,108  

 $        77,180 
 89,074 
 26,401 
 192,655 
 1,782,734 
 415,267 
 13,737 
 4,672,119 
 (71,619)
 4,600,500 
 159,390 
 81,294 
 20,103 
 215,503 
 20,599 
 3,641 
 61,563
 $ 7,566,986 

 $  2,204,755 
 1,975,884 
 1,599,637 
 471,129 
1,282,803
 346,881 
 7,881,089  
 16,640 
 430,125 
 165,620 
 28,825 
-
 85,524 
 8,607,823 

 $  1,574,317 
 1,504,887 
 1,273,283 
 292,308 
1,256,706
 425,011 
 6,326,512 
 6,000 
 270,125 
 129,865 
 31,997 
 5,425
 57,485 
 6,827,409 

 9,992 

 - 

 66,198 

 50,178 

 5,286 
 6,779 
 1,286,361 
 (330,879)
 (25,452)
 1,018,285 
 $9,626,108 

 10,081 
 5,168 
 1,080,508 
 (387,568)
 (18,790)
 739,577 
 $ 7,566,986 

  U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C .  2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T   |   9 

SELECTED DATA—QUARTERLY SUMMARY

(in millions, except per share data; taxable equivalent)

CORE EARNINGS SUMMARY
Net interest revenue
Core fee revenue (1)
     Core revenue (1)
Core operating expenses (2)
     Core earnings (pre-tax, pre-credit) (1)(2)
Provision for loan losses
Merger-related charges
Impairment charge on property purchased for future branches
Other, net
Income tax expense

Net income

Preferred dividends
      Net income available to common shareholders

 2015

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

 $   74.0 
 20.8 
 94.8 
 56.5 
 38.3 
 (.3)
 (3.1)
 (6.0)
.6    
 (11.3)
 18.2 
 -   
 $  18.2 

 $   65.7 
 18.5 
 84.2 
 48.8 
 35.4 
 (.7)
 (5.7)
 -   
 -   
 (11.1)
 17.9 
 (.1)
 $  18.0 

 $   61.3 
 17.2 
 78.5 
 45.1 
 33.4 
 (.9)
 (3.2)
 -   
 -   
 (11.5)
 17.8 
 -   
 $  17.8 

 $   57.6 
 15.1 
 72.7 
 42.2 
 30.5 
 (1.8)
 -   
 -   
 (.2)
 (10.8)
 17.7 
 (.4)
 $  18.1 

 2014 
Q4

 $   58.3 
 14.6 
 72.9 
 42.1 
 30.8 
 (1.8)
 -   
 -   
 .5
 (11.3)
 18.2 
 -   
 $  18.2 

PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Per common share:
    Diluted earnings - operating (3) 
    Diluted earnings - GAAP
    Book value
    Tangible book value (4)

Key performance ratios:
    Net interest margin (5)
    Return on assets —operating (3)(5)
    Return on assets—GAAP (5)
    Return on tangible common equity—operating (3)(5)(6)
    Return on common equity—operating (3)(5)(6)
    Return on common equity—GAAP (5)(6)
    Tangible equity to assets (period-end) (4)
    Tangible common equity to assets (period-end) (4)

ASSET QUALITY 
Non-performing loans
Foreclosed properties
    Total non-performing assets (NPAs)
Allowance for loan losses
Net charge-offs
Allowance for loan losses to loans, excluding acquired loans
Allowance for loan losses to loans
Net charge-offs to average loans (5)
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties
NPAs to total assets

AT PERIOD END
  Loans
  Investment securities
  Total assets
  Deposits
  Shareholders’ equity
  Common shares outstanding

 $       .33 
 .25 
 14.02 
 12.06 

 $       .33 
 .27 
 13.95 
 12.08 

 $       .32 
 .28 
 12.95 
 12.66 

 $       .29 
 .29 
 12.58 
 12.53 

 $       .30 
 .30 
 12.20 
 12.15 

 3.34  % 
 .99 
 .76 
 10.87 
 9.18 
 7.02 
 9.26 
 9.15 

 3.26  % 
 1.00 
 .82 
 10.29 
 9.54 
 7.85 
 9.48 
 9.37 

 3.30  % 
 1.00 
 .89 
 10.20 
 9.90 
 8.83 
 9.84 
 9.72 

 3.31  % 
 .94 
 .94 
 9.46 
 9.34 
 9.34 
 9.93 
 9.93 

 3.31  % 
 .96 
 .96 
 9.74 
 9.60 
 9.60 
 9.74 
 9.74 

 $     22.6 
 4.9 
 27.5 
 68.4 
 1.3 
1.35  % 
1.14 
 .09 
 .46 
 .29 

 $     20.0 
 7.7 
 27.7 
 69.1 
 1.4 
1.37  % 
1.15 
 .10 
 .46 
 .29 

 $     18.8 
 2.4 
 21.2 
 70.1 
 1.0 
1.42  % 
1.36 
 .08 
 .41 
 .26 

 $     19.0 
 1.2 
 20.2 
 70.0 
 2.6 
1.46  % 
1.46 
 .22 
 .42 
 .26 

 $     17.9 
 1.7 
 19.6 
 71.6 
 2.5 
1.53  % 
1.53 
 .22 
 .42 
 .26 

 $  5,995 
 2,656 
 9,626 
 7,881 
 1,018 
 71.5 

 $  6,024 
 2,457 
 9,414 
 7,905 
 1,013 
 71.5 

 $  5,174 
 2,322 
 8,246 
 6,808 
 827 
 62.7 

 $  4,788 
 2,201 
 7,664 
 6,438 
 764 
 60.3 

 $  4,672 
 2,198 
 7,567 
 6,327 
 740 
 60.3 

1 Excludes net securities gains and losses from the prepayment of borrowings.     2 Excludes foreclosed property costs, merger-related charges, impairment charges on real 
estate purchased in prior years for future branch sites, severance costs, the partial reversal of an earlier provision for litigation settlement and amounts paid to the FDIC to settle 
United’s loss sharing agreement.     3 Excludes the after-tax effect of merger-related charges and impairment charges on real estate purchased in prior years for future branch 
sites.  4 Excluded the effect of acquisition related intangible assets.    5 Annualized.     6 Net income available to common shareholders, which is net of preferred dividends, divided 
by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

1 0   |   U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C . 2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T

   
   
   
   
   
CORPORATE INFORMATION

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Analysts and investors seeking financial 
information should contact: 
Rex S. Schuette 
Executive Vice President and CFO 
706-781-2265 
rex_schuette@ucbi.com

This Annual Report contains forward looking 
statements that involve risk and uncertainty 
and actual results could differ materially from 
the anticipated results or other expectations 
expressed in the forward-looking statements. 
A discussion of factors that could cause actual 
results to differ materially from those expressed 
in the forward-looking statements is included in 
the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission.

This Annual Report also contains financial 
measures that were prepared on a basis different 
from accounting principles generally accepted 
in the United States (“GAAP”). References to 
operating earnings, pre-tax, pre-credit earnings 
and core earnings are non-GAAP financial 
measures. Management has included such 
non-GAAP financial measures because such non-
GAAP measures exclude certain non-recurring 
revenue and expense items and therefore 
provide a meaningful basis for analyzing financial 
trends. A reconciliation of these measures to 
financial measures determined using GAAP is 
included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

STOCK PRICE

Quarter

High

Low

Close

Average Daily 
Volume

2014

2015

4th

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

 $   19.50 

 $   15.16 

 $   18.94 

 262,598 

 $    19.53 

 $   16.48 

 $   18.88 

 21.23 

 22.23 

 22.23 

 17.91 

 18.58 

 18.61 

 20.87 

 20.44 

 19.49 

234,966 

 328,887 

 319,884 

 376,214 

INVESTOR INFORMATION
Investor information including this 
report, Form 10-K, quarterly financial 
results, press releases and various other 
reports are available at ir.ucbi.com. 
Alternatively, shareholders may contact 
Investor Relations at 866-270-5900 or 
investor_relations@ucbi.com.

STOCK EXCHANGE
United Community Banks, Inc. (Ticker: 
UCBI) common stock is listed for trading on 
the NASDAQ Global Select Market. 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED 
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Atlanta, GA

LEGAL COUNSEL
Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, GA

REGISTRAR TRANSFER AGENT 
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co. 
17 Battery Park, 8th Floor 
New York, NY 10004 
212-509-4000  |  continentalstock.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 
EMPLOYER
United Community Banks is an equal 
opportunity employer. All matters 
regarding recruiting, hiring, training, 
compensation, benefits, promotions, 
transfers and other personnel policies will 
remain free from discriminatory practices.

United Community Banks, Inc. ©2016

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
W.C. Nelson, Jr. 
Lead Director 
Co-Owner and Operator
Nelson Tractor Co.

Jimmy C. Tallent
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

Robert H. Blalock
Chief Executive Officer 
Blalock Insurance Agency, Inc.

L. Cathy Cox
President 
Young Harris College

Kenneth L Daniels
Retired Chief Credit Risk  
and Policy Officer 
BB&T Corporation

H. Lynn Harton
President, Chief Operating Officer

Nicholas B. Paumgarten
Founder 
Corsair Capital

Thomas A. Richlovsky
Retired Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer 
National City Corporation

Tim R. Wallis
Owner and President
Wallis Printing Company

Robert L. Head, Jr.
Director Emeritus
Owner 
Head Westgate

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Jimmy C. Tallent
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

H. Lynn Harton
President, Chief Operating Officer

Rex S. Schuette
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer

Bill M. Gilbert
President, Community Banking

Robert A. Edwards 
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Credit Officer 

Bradley J. Miller
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel

Richard W. Bradshaw 
President, Specialized Lending

  U N I T E D   C O M M U N I T Y   B A N K S ,  I N C .  2015  A N N UA L   R E P O R T    |   11 

ucbi.com