<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000857855 <NAME> UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 65,416 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 8,455 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 454,024 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,075,811 <ALLOWANCE> 14,588 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,678,369 <DEPOSITS> 1,244,918 <SHORT-TERM> 108,434 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 10,495 <LONG-TERM> 203,735 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 21,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,394 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,678,369 <INTEREST-LOAN> 24,920 <INTEREST-INVEST> 5,853 <INTEREST-OTHER> 139 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 30,912 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 12,890 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,546 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 14,366 <LOAN-LOSSES> 890 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 2 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 11,196 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,607 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,093 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.41 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.14 <LOANS-NON> 1,316 <LOANS-PAST> 413 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,866 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 11,929 <CHARGE-OFFS> 129 <RECOVERIES> 76 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 14,588 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 14,588 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0