<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000857855 <NAME> UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 26,467 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 12,855 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 70,012 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 74,626 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 74,346 <LOANS> 558,325 <ALLOWANCE> 7,369 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 779,565 <DEPOSITS> 680,337 <SHORT-TERM> 33,138 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 6,588 <LONG-TERM> 10,736 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 6,260 <OTHER-SE> 42,506 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 779,565 <INTEREST-LOAN> 38,786 <INTEREST-INVEST> 6,709 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 45,495 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 21,644 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 22,862 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 22,633 <LOAN-LOSSES> 915 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 17 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,001 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,655 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,725 <EPS-PRIMARY> .91 <EPS-DILUTED> .91 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.76 <LOANS-NON> 728 <LOANS-PAST> 81 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,545 <CHARGE-OFFS> 364 <RECOVERIES> 274 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 7,370 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 7,370 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 7,370