<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS AMENDED SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000857855
<NAME> UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          60,414
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 8,420
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    143,894
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          69,559
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            70,845
<LOANS>                                        823,324
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,153,357
<DEPOSITS>                                     977,079
<SHORT-TERM>                                    33,011
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,274
<LONG-TERM>                                     60,890
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,385
<OTHER-SE>                                      67,728
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,153,357
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 76,722
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               11,416
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,642
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                89,780
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              42,868
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              46,548
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           43,232
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,634
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 426
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 32,077
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,501
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      15,501
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,735
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.46
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.64
<LOANS-NON>                                        515
<LOANS-PAST>                                       536
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,125
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      797
<RECOVERIES>                                       390
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,352
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         10,352