<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