<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000857855 <NAME> United Community Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 110,555 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 13,780 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 521,733 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,335,406 <ALLOWANCE> 16,765 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,060,360 <DEPOSITS> 1,586,532 <SHORT-TERM> 74,143 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 10,454 <LONG-TERM> 273,270 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 21,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,034 <OTHER-SE> 86,927 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,060,360 <INTEREST-LOAN> 86,367 <INTEREST-INVEST> 20,834 <INTEREST-OTHER> 970 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 108,171 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 44,175 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 57,906 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 50,265 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,064 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (21) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 40,770 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,087 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,394 <EPS-BASIC> 0.33 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.32 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.10 <LOANS-NON> 1,006 <LOANS-PAST> 823 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 6,540 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 12,680 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,297 <RECOVERIES> 496 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 16,765 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 16,765 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0