<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000857855
<NAME> UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          48,510
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
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<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
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<ALLOWANCE>                                     11,929
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<SHORT-TERM>                                    26,520
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             19,574
<LONG-TERM>                                    202,631
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
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<COMMON>                                         7,394
<OTHER-SE>                                      79,356
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,498,599
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 93,133
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               14,408
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<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               109,139
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              56,640
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<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,372
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 800
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 41,098
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,740
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.64
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<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
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<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,288
<RECOVERIES>                                       493
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               11,929
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
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