<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000857855 <NAME> United Community Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 82,294 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 170 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 548,670 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,459,469 <ALLOWANCE> 18,922 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,174,621 <DEPOSITS> 1,668,485 <SHORT-TERM> 166,710 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 20,149 <LONG-TERM> 199,821 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 21,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,034 <OTHER-SE> 90,422 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,174,621 <INTEREST-LOAN> 34,484 <INTEREST-INVEST> 8,745 <INTEREST-OTHER> 202 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 43,431 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 19,185 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,565 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 18,866 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,546 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 5 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 14,397 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,613 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 3,824 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,824 <EPS-BASIC> 0.48 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.47 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.85 <LOANS-NON> 1,946 <LOANS-PAST> 247 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,529 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,722 <CHARGE-OFFS> 533 <RECOVERIES> 187 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 18,922 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,922 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 18,922