United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter Results

Return on Assets of 1.43% and Return on Common Equity of 12.08%

GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) (“United”) today announced its fourth quarter financial results, which reflected solid year-over-year loan and deposit growth, improving operating efficiency and continued strong asset quality. For the quarter, diluted earnings per share was $0.56 compared with a net loss of $0.16 per diluted share a year ago due to the impact of tax reform. Operating diluted earnings per share, which exclude merger-related and other charges, was $0.57, an increase of 36% over the previous year. Profitability ratios continued to be strong – United ended the year with a 1.43% return on assets and a 12.08% return on common equity. On an operating basis, return on assets was 1.45% and return on tangible common equity was 15.88%.

Other key banking metrics were strong. The fourth quarter saw continued net interest margin expansion and 8% annualized loan growth, the strongest growth quarter in 2018. Deposit growth reflected the strength of United’s community banking franchise – total customer deposits increased $173 million for the fourth quarter and $414 million for the year. Mortgage production grew by nearly 4% compared to the fourth quarter last year and increased 20% for the full year compared to 2017. United’s SBA business also had a strong year, with production up 12% over 2017.

“The fourth quarter was a strong finish to an outstanding year,” said Lynn Harton, Chief Executive Officer. “Our full year return on assets was up 31 basis points on an operating basis and our operating earnings per share was up 31% over 2017. These impressive results do not come easily and are attributed to the hard work of our bankers, who continue to deliver the best service in the business. We are very pleased that their efforts are being recognized. Forbes included United on their list of the top 100 Best Banks in America for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, for the fifth straight year, we earned the top ranking for overall customer satisfaction by JD Power; our service was ranked as highest in the Southeast. We were also honored by our recognition in the ‘Best Banks to Work For’ program by American Banker for the second year in a row. This is a measure of employee satisfaction for all banks in the country, and we could not be more pleased by our team’s show of support for United. The strength of our culture and the strong momentum we see in the business gives me confidence that we will continue our strong performance into 2019 and continue to build long-term shareholder value.”

2018 Highlights:

  • 2018 earnings per diluted share was $2.07, a 125% increase over 2017, which included the impact of tax reform
    • Excluding merger-related and other charges and the 2017 impact of tax reform, earnings per diluted share for 2018 was $2.14 compared to $1.63 in 2017, an increase of 31%
  • Return on average assets was 1.35% in 2018, an increase of 73 basis points from 2017
    • Excluding merger-related and other charges and the 2017 impact of tax reform, return on average assets was 1.40%, an increase of 31 basis points from 2017
  • Efficiency ratio of 57.31% in 2018 improved 264 basis points as compared to 2017
    • Excluding merger-related and other charges, efficiency ratio of 55.94% improved 73 basis points as compared to 2017
  • End of period loans grew $647 million in 2018, up 8% over December 31, 2017
  • Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 12.2% at December 31, 2018, compared to 12.0% at December 31, 2017
  • Declared $0.58 per share in common dividends in 2018, up 53% over 2017
  • Completed the acquisition of Navitas Credit Corporation on February 1, 2018
  • Issued $100 million in subordinated debt in the first quarter and redeemed $7.4 million in high rate Trust Preferred securities in the fourth quarter
  • Completed our CEO transition plan, elevating H. Lynn Harton into the role as Jimmy Tallent retired into the Executive Chairman position
  • Added two new Board members, Jennifer Mann and Lance F. Drummond, adding significant experience and expertise to our oversight function

Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights:

  • Return on assets of 1.43%, or 1.45% excluding merger-related and other charges
  • Return on common equity of 12.1% or return on tangible common equity of 15.9%, which excludes merger-related and other charges
  • Loan growth, excluding planned runoff of the indirect portfolio, of 10% on an annualized basis
  • Loan production of $868 million, as compared to $644 million in the fourth quarter of 2017
  • Expansion of the net interest margin to 3.97%, up two basis points from the third quarter of 2018 and up 34 basis points from a year ago
  • Efficiency ratio of 56.73%, or 55.83% excluding merger-related and other charges
  • Net charge offs of nine basis points, consistent with last quarter’s result of seven basis points
  • Nonperforming assets of 0.20% of total assets, compared to 0.19% at September 30, 2018 and 0.23% at December 31, 2017

Conference Call

United will hold a conference call, Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the contents of this press release and to share business highlights for the quarter. To access the call, dial (877) 380-5665 and use the conference number 9381368.  The conference call also will be webcast and available for replay for 30 days by selecting “Events & Presentations” within the Investor Relations section of United’s website at www.ucbi.com.

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                                                      
Financial Highlights                                                      
Selected Financial Information                                                      
                                                       
                                  Fourth
    For the Twelve      
    2018     2017     Quarter
    Months Ended   YTD  
    Fourth     Third     Second     First     Fourth     2018-2017
    December 31,   2018-2017  
(in thousands, except per share data)   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter      Change
    2018     2017    Change  
INCOME SUMMARY                                                      
Interest revenue $ 133,854     $ 128,721     $ 122,215     $ 115,290     $ 106,757           $ 500,080     $ 389,720          
Interest expense   18,975       16,611       13,739       12,005       9,249             61,330       33,735          
Net interest revenue   114,879       112,110       108,476       103,285       97,508       18   % 438,750       355,985     23   %  
Provision for credit losses   2,100       1,800       1,800       3,800       1,200             9,500       3,800          
Noninterest income   23,045       24,180       23,340       22,396       21,928       5       92,961       88,260     5      
Total revenue   135,824       134,490       130,016       121,881       118,236       15       522,211       440,445     19      
Expenses   78,242       77,718       76,850       73,475       75,882       3       306,285       267,611     14      
Income before income tax expense   57,582       56,772       53,166       48,406       42,354       36       215,926       172,834     25      
Income tax expense   12,445       13,090       13,532       10,748       54,270             49,815       105,013          
Net income (loss)   45,137       43,682       39,634       37,658       (11,916 )           166,111       67,821          
Merger-related and other charges   1,234       592       2,873       2,646       7,358             7,345       14,662          
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (604 )     (141 )     (121 )     (628 )     (1,165 )           (1,494 )     (3,745 )        
Impact of remeasurement of deferred tax asset resulting from 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act                           38,199                   38,199          
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                             3,400          
Net income – operating (1) $   45,767     $   44,133     $   42,386     $   39,676     $   32,476       41     $   171,962     $   120,337       43      
                                                       
PERFORMANCE MEASURES                                                      
Per common share:                                                      
Diluted net income (loss) – GAAP $ 0.56     $ 0.54     $ 0.49     $ 0.47     $ (0.16 )         $ 2.07     $ 0.92          
Diluted net income – operating  (1)   0.57       0.55       0.53       0.50       0.42       36       2.14       1.63     31      
Cash dividends declared   0.16       0.15       0.15       0.12       0.10       60       0.58       0.38     53      
Book value   18.24       17.56       17.29       17.02       16.67       9       18.24       16.67     9      
Tangible book value (3)   14.24       13.54       13.25       12.96       13.65       4       14.24       13.65     4      
                                                       
Key performance ratios:                                                      
Return on common equity – GAAP (2)(4)   12.08   % 11.96   % 11.20   % 11.11   % (3.57 ) %       11.60   %   5.67   %    
Return on common equity – operating (1)(2)(4)   12.25       12.09       11.97       11.71       9.73             12.01       10.07          
Return on tangible common equity – operating (1)(2)(3)(4)   15.88       15.81       15.79       15.26       11.93             15.69       12.02          
Return on assets – GAAP (4)   1.43       1.41       1.30       1.26       (0.40 )           1.35       0.62          
Return on assets – operating (1)(4)   1.45       1.42       1.39       1.33       1.10             1.40       1.09          
Dividend payout ratio – GAAP   28.57       27.78       30.61       25.53       (62.50 )           28.02       41.30          
Dividend payout ratio – operating (1)   28.07       27.27       28.30       24.00       23.81             27.10       23.31          
Net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent) (4)   3.97       3.95       3.90       3.80       3.63             3.91       3.52          
Efficiency ratio – GAAP   56.73       56.82       57.94       57.83       63.03             57.31       59.95          
Efficiency ratio – operating  (1)   55.83       56.39       55.77       55.75       56.92             55.94       56.67          
Average equity to average assets   11.35       11.33       11.21       11.03       11.21             11.24       10.71          
Average tangible equity to average assets (3)   9.04       8.97       8.83       8.82       9.52             8.92       9.29          
Average tangible common equity to average assets (3)   9.04       8.97       8.83       8.82       9.52             8.92       9.29          
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets (3)(5)   11.99       11.61       11.36       11.19       12.05             11.99       12.05          
                                                       
ASSET QUALITY                                                      
Nonperforming loans $ 23,778     $ 22,530     $ 21,817     $ 26,240     $ 23,658       1     $ 23,778     $ 23,658     1      
Foreclosed properties   1,305       1,336       2,597       2,714       3,234       (60 )     1,305       3,234     (60 )    
Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)   25,083       23,866       24,414       28,954       26,892       (7 )     25,083       26,892     (7 )    
Allowance for loan losses   61,203       60,940       61,071       61,085       58,914       4       61,203       58,914     4      
Net charge-offs   1,787       1,466       1,359       1,501       1,061       68       6,113       5,998     2      
Allowance for loan losses to loans   0.73   % 0.74   % 0.74   % 0.75   % 0.76   %       0.73   %   0.76   %      
Net charge-offs to average loans (4)   0.09       0.07       0.07       0.08       0.06             0.07       0.08          
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties   0.30       0.29       0.30       0.35       0.35             0.30       0.35          
NPAs to total assets   0.20       0.19       0.20       0.24       0.23             0.20       0.23          
                                                       
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)                                                      
Loans $ 8,306     $ 8,200     $ 8,177     $ 7,993     $ 7,560       10     $ 8,170     $ 7,150     14      
Investment securities   3,004       2,916       2,802       2,870       2,991             2,899       2,847     2      
Earning assets   11,534       11,320       11,193       11,076       10,735       7       11,282       10,162     11      
Total assets   12,505       12,302       12,213       12,111       11,687       7       12,284       11,015     12      
Deposits   10,306       9,950       9,978       9,759       9,624       7       10,000       8,950     12      
Shareholders’ equity   1,420       1,394       1,370       1,336       1,310       8       1,380       1,180     17      
Common shares – basic (thousands)   79,884       79,806       79,753       79,205       76,768       4       79,662       73,247     9      
Common shares – diluted (thousands)   79,890       79,818       79,755       79,215       76,768       4       79,671       73,259     9      
                                                       
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)                                                      
Loans $ 8,383     $ 8,226     $ 8,220     $ 8,184     $ 7,736       8     $ 8,383     $ 7,736     8      
Investment securities   2,903       2,873       2,834       2,731       2,937       (1 )     2,903       2,937     (1 )    
Total assets   12,573       12,405       12,386       12,264       11,915       6       12,573       11,915     6      
Deposits   10,535       10,229       9,966       9,993       9,808       7       10,535       9,808     7      
Shareholders’ equity   1,458       1,402       1,379       1,357       1,303       12       1,458       1,303     12      
Common shares outstanding (thousands)   79,234       79,202       79,138       79,123       77,580       2       79,234       77,580     2      
                                                       
(1)  Excludes merger-related and other charges which includes amortization of certain executive change of control benefits, the fourth quarter 2017 impact of remeasurement of United’s deferred tax assets following the passage of tax reform legislation and a first quarter 2017 release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI.  (2)  Net income less preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  (3)  Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization.  (4)  Annualized.  (5)  Fourth quarter 2018 ratio is preliminary.  
                                                       

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                      
Selected Financial Information                      
For the Years Ended December 31,                      
                       
(in thousands, except per share data)   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014  
INCOME SUMMARY                      
Interest revenue   $ 500,080     $ 389,720     $ 335,020     $ 278,532     $ 248,432  
Interest expense     61,330       33,735       25,236       21,109       25,551  
Net interest revenue     438,750       355,985       309,784       257,423       222,881  
Provision for credit losses     9,500       3,800       (800 )     3,700       8,500  
Noninterest income     92,961       88,260       93,697       72,529       55,554  
Total revenue     522,211       440,445       404,281       326,252       269,935  
Expenses     306,285       267,611       241,289       211,238       162,865  
Income before income tax expense     215,926       172,834       162,992       115,014       107,070  
Income tax expense (benefit)     49,815       105,013       62,336       43,436       39,450  
Net income     166,111       67,821       100,656       71,578       67,620  
Merger-related and other charges     7,345       14,662       8,122       17,995        
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges     (1,494 )     (3,745 )     (3,074 )     (6,388 )      
Impact of remeasurement of deferred tax asset resulting from 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act           38,199                    
Impairment of deferred tax asset on cancelled non-qualified stock options                 976              
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI           3,400                    
Net income – operating (1)   $   171,962     $   120,337     $   106,680     $   83,185     $   67,620  
                       
PERFORMANCE MEASURES                      
Per common share:                      
Diluted net income – GAAP   $ 2.07     $ 0.92     $ 1.40     $ 1.09     $ 1.11  
Diluted net income – operating  (1)     2.14       1.63       1.48       1.27       1.11  
Cash dividends declared     0.58       0.38       0.30       0.22       0.11  
Book value     18.24       16.67       15.06       14.02       12.20  
Tangible book value (3)     14.24       13.65       12.95       12.06       12.15  
                       
Key performance ratios:                      
Return on common equity – GAAP (2)     11.60   %   5.67   %   9.41   %   8.15   %   9.17 %
Return on common equity – operating (1)(2)     12.01       10.07       9.98       9.48       9.17  
Return on tangible common equity – operating (1)(2)(3)     15.69       12.02       11.86       10.24       9.32  
Return on assets – GAAP     1.35       0.62       1.00       0.85       0.91  
Return on assets – operating (1)     1.40       1.09       1.06       0.98       0.91  
Dividend payout ratio – GAAP     28.02       41.30       21.43       20.18       9.91  
Dividend payout ratio – operating (1)     27.10       23.31       20.27       17.32       9.91  
Net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent)     3.91       3.52       3.36       3.30       3.26  
Efficiency ratio – GAAP     57.31       59.95       59.80       63.96       58.26  
Efficiency ratio – operating  (1)     55.94       56.67       57.78       58.51       58.26  
Average equity to average assets     11.24       10.71       10.54       10.27       9.69  
Average tangible equity to average assets (3)     8.92       9.29       9.21       9.74       9.67  
Average tangible common equity to average assets (3)     8.92       9.29       9.19       9.66       9.60  
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets (3)(4)     11.99       12.05       11.84       12.82       13.82  
                       
ASSET QUALITY                      
Nonperforming loans   $ 23,778     $ 23,658     $ 21,539     $ 22,653     $ 17,881  
Foreclosed properties     1,305       3,234       7,949       4,883       1,726  
Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)     25,083       26,892       29,488       27,536       19,607  
Allowance for loan losses     61,203       58,914       61,422       68,448       71,619  
Net charge-offs     6,113       5,998       6,766       6,259       13,879  
Allowance for loan losses to loans     0.73   %   0.76   %   0.89   %   1.14   %   1.53 %
Net charge-offs to average loans     0.07       0.08       0.11       0.12       0.31  
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties     0.30       0.35       0.43       0.46       0.42  
NPAs to total assets     0.20       0.23       0.28       0.29       0.26  
                       
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)                      
Loans   $ 8,170     $ 7,150     $ 6,413     $ 5,298     $ 4,450  
Investment securities     2,899       2,847       2,691       2,368       2,274  
Earning assets     11,282       10,162       9,257       7,834       6,880  
Total assets     12,284       11,015       10,054       8,462       7,436  
Deposits     10,000       8,950       8,177       7,055       6,228  
Shareholders’ equity     1,380       1,180       1,059       869       720  
Common shares – basic (thousands)     79,662       73,247       71,910       65,488       60,588  
Common shares – diluted (thousands)     79,671       73,259       71,915       65,492       60,590  
                       
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)                      
Loans   $ 8,383     $ 7,736     $ 6,921     $ 5,995     $ 4,672  
Investment securities     2,903       2,937       2,762       2,656       2,198  
Total assets     12,573       11,915       10,709       9,616       7,558  
Deposits     10,535       9,808       8,638       7,873       6,335  
Shareholders’ equity     1,458       1,303       1,076       1,018       740  
Common shares outstanding (thousands)     79,234       77,580       70,899       71,484       60,259  
                       
(1)  Excludes merger-related and other charges which includes amortization of certain executive change of control benefits, the 2017 impact of remeasurement of United’s deferred tax assets following the passage of tax reform legislation, a 2017 release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI, a 2016 deferred tax asset impairment charge related to cancelled non-qualified stock options  and 2015 impairment losses on surplus bank property.  (2)  Net income less preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  (3)  Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization.  (4)  2018 ratio is preliminary.  
                       

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                                        
Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation                                      
Selected Financial Information                                        
                                         
                                         
  2018   2017    For the Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
  Fourth   Third   Second   First   Fourth    
(in thousands, except per share data) Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014  
                                         
Expense reconciliation                                        
Expenses (GAAP) $ 78,242     $ 77,718     $ 76,850     $ 73,475     $ 75,882     $ 306,285     $ 267,611     $ 241,289     $ 211,238     $ 162,865    
Merger-related and other charges   (1,234 )     (592 )     (2,873 )     (2,646 )     (7,358 )     (7,345 )     (14,662 )     (8,122 )     (17,995 )        
Expenses – operating $ 77,008     $ 77,126     $ 73,977     $ 70,829     $ 68,524     $ 298,940     $ 252,949     $ 233,167     $ 193,243     $ 162,865    
                                         
Net income reconciliation                                        
Net income (loss) (GAAP) $ 45,137     $ 43,682     $ 39,634     $ 37,658     $ (11,916 )   $ 166,111     $ 67,821     $ 100,656     $ 71,578     $ 67,620    
Merger-related and other charges   1,234       592       2,873       2,646       7,358       7,345       14,662       8,122       17,995          
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (604 )     (141 )     (121 )     (628 )     (1,165 )     (1,494 )     (3,745 )     (3,074 )     (6,388 )        
Impact of tax reform on remeasurement of deferred tax asset                           38,199             38,199                      
Impairment of deferred tax asset on canceled non-qualified stock options                                             976                
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                       3,400                      
Net income – operating $ 45,767     $ 44,133     $ 42,386     $ 39,676     $ 32,476     $ 171,962     $ 120,337     $ 106,680     $ 83,185     $ 67,620    
                                         
Diluted income per common share reconciliation                                        
Diluted income (loss) per common share (GAAP) $ 0.56     $ 0.54     $ 0.49     $ 0.47     $ (0.16 )   $ 2.07     $ 0.92     $ 1.40     $ 1.09     $ 1.11    
Merger-related and other charges   0.01       0.01       0.04       0.03       0.08       0.07       0.14       0.07       0.18          
Impact of tax reform on remeasurement of deferred tax asset                           0.50             0.52                      
Impairment of deferred tax asset on canceled non-qualified stock options                                             0.01                
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                       0.05                      
Diluted income per common share – operating $ 0.57     $ 0.55     $ 0.53     $ 0.50     $ 0.42     $ 2.14     $ 1.63     $ 1.48     $ 1.27     $ 1.11    
                                         
Book value per common share reconciliation                                        
Book value per common share (GAAP) $ 18.24     $ 17.56     $ 17.29     $ 17.02     $ 16.67     $ 18.24     $ 16.67     $ 15.06     $ 14.02     $ 12.20    
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (4.00 )     (4.02 )     (4.04 )     (4.06 )     (3.02 )     (4.00 )     (3.02 )     (2.11 )     (1.96 )     (0.05 )  
Tangible book value per common share $ 14.24     $ 13.54     $ 13.25     $ 12.96     $ 13.65     $ 14.24     $ 13.65     $ 12.95     $ 12.06     $ 12.15    
                                         
Return on tangible common equity reconciliation                                        
Return on common equity (GAAP)   12.08   %   11.96   %   11.20   %   11.11   %   (3.57 ) %   11.60   %   5.67   %   9.41   %   8.15   %   9.17   %
Merger-related and other charges   0.17       0.13       0.77       0.60       1.86       0.41       0.92       0.48       1.33          
Impact of tax reform on remeasurement of deferred tax asset                           11.44             3.20                      
Impairment of deferred tax asset on canceled non-qualified stock options                                             0.09                
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                       0.28                      
Return on common equity – operating   12.25       12.09       11.97       11.71       9.73       12.01       10.07       9.98       9.48       9.17    
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   3.63       3.72       3.82       3.55       2.20       3.68       1.95       1.88       0.76       0.15    
Return on tangible common equity – operating   15.88   %   15.81   %   15.79   %   15.26   %   11.93   %   15.69   %   12.02   %   11.86   %   10.24   %   9.32   %
                                         
Return on assets reconciliation                                        
Return on assets (GAAP)   1.43   %   1.41   %   1.30   %   1.26   %   (0.40 ) %   1.35   %   0.62   %   1.00   %   0.85   %   0.91   %
Merger-related and other charges   0.02       0.01       0.09       0.07       0.20       0.05       0.09       0.05       0.13          
Impact of tax reform on remeasurement of deferred tax asset                           1.30             0.35                      
Impairment of deferred tax asset on canceled non-qualified stock options                                             0.01                
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                       0.03                      
Return on assets – operating   1.45   %   1.42   %   1.39   %   1.33   %   1.10   %   1.40   %   1.09   %   1.06   %   0.98   %   0.91   %
                                         
Dividend payout ratio reconciliation                                        
Dividend payout ratio (GAAP)   28.57   %   27.78   %   30.61   %   25.53   %   (62.50 ) %   28.02   %   41.30   %   21.43   %   20.18   %   9.91   %
Merger-related and other charges   (0.50 )     (0.51 )     (2.31 )     (1.53 )     12.04       (0.92 )     (5.65 )     (1.02 )     (2.86 )        
Impact of tax reform on remeasurement of deferred tax asset                           74.27             (11.61 )                    
Impairment of deferred tax asset on canceled non-qualified stock options                                             (0.14 )              
Release of disproportionate tax effects lodged in OCI                                       (0.73 )                    
Dividend payout ratio – operating   28.07   %   27.27   %   28.30   %   24.00   %   23.81   %   27.10   %   23.31   %   20.27   %   17.32   %   9.91   %
                                         
Efficiency ratio reconciliation                                        
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)   56.73   %   56.82   %   57.94   %   57.83   %   63.03   %   57.31   %   59.95   %   59.80   %   63.96   %   58.26   %
Merger-related and other charges   (0.90 )     (0.43 )     (2.17 )     (2.08 )     (6.11 )     (1.37 )     (3.28 )     (2.02 )     (5.45 )        
Efficiency ratio – operating   55.83   %   56.39   %   55.77   %   55.75   %   56.92   %   55.94   %   56.67   %   57.78   %   58.51   %   58.26   %
                                         
Average equity to average assets reconciliation                                        
Average equity to assets (GAAP)   11.35   %   11.33   %   11.21   %   11.03   %   11.21   %   11.24   %   10.71   %   10.54   %   10.27   %   9.69   %
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (2.31 )     (2.36 )     (2.38 )     (2.21 )     (1.69 )     (2.32 )     (1.42 )     (1.33 )     (0.53 )     (0.02 )  
Average tangible equity to average assets   9.04       8.97       8.83       8.82       9.52       8.92       9.29       9.21       9.74       9.67    
Effect of preferred equity                                             (0.02 )     (0.08 )     (0.07 )  
Average tangible common equity to average assets   9.04   %   8.97   %   8.83   %   8.82   %   9.52   %   8.92   %   9.29   %   9.19   %   9.66   %   9.60   %
                                         
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets reconciliation (1)                                      
Tier 1 capital ratio (Regulatory)   12.41   %   12.25   %   11.94   %   11.61   %   12.24   %   12.41   %   12.24   %   11.23   %   11.45   %   12.06   %
Effect of other comprehensive income   (0.44 )     (0.68 )     (0.57 )     (0.50 )     (0.29 )     (0.44 )     (0.29 )     (0.34 )     (0.38 )     (0.35 )  
Effect of deferred tax limitation   0.28       0.30       0.33       0.42       0.51       0.28       0.51       1.26       2.05       3.11    
Effect of trust preferred   (0.26 )     (0.26 )     (0.34 )     (0.34 )     (0.36 )     (0.26 )     (0.36 )     (0.25 )     (0.08 )     (1.00 )  
Effect of preferred equity                                                   (0.15 )        
Basel III intangibles transition adjustment                           (0.05 )           (0.05 )     (0.06 )     (0.10 )        
Basel III disallowed investments                                                   0.03          
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets   11.99   %   11.61   %   11.36   %   11.19   %   12.05   %   11.99   %   12.05   %   11.84   %   12.82   %   13.82   %
                                         
(1)  Fourth quarter 2018 ratios are preliminary.                                        

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                    
Financial Highlights                          
Loan Portfolio Composition at Period-End                    
                           
                           
  2018
  2017   Linked
Quarter
Change
  Year over
Year
Change
   Fourth    Third    Second    First    Fourth    
(in millions) Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter    
LOANS BY CATEGORY                          
Owner occupied commercial RE $ 1,648   $ 1,673   $ 1,682   $ 1,898   $ 1,924   $ (25 )   $ (276 )
Income producing commercial RE   1,812     1,788     1,821     1,677     1,595     24       217  
Commercial & industrial   1,278     1,194     1,193     1,142     1,131     84       147  
Commercial construction   796     761     735     691     712     35       84  
Equipment financing   565     509     465     423         56       565  
Total commercial   6,099     5,925     5,896     5,831     5,362     174       737  
Residential mortgage   1,049     1,035     1,021     992     974     14       75  
Home equity lines of credit   694     702     708     712     731     (8 )     (37 )
Residential construction   211     198     195     190     183     13       28  
Consumer   330     366     400     459     486     (36 )     (156 )
Total loans $ 8,383   $ 8,226   $ 8,220   $ 8,184   $ 7,736     157       647  
                           
LOANS BY MARKET                          
North Georgia $ 981   $ 992   $ 1,001   $ 1,004   $ 1,019     (11 )     (38 )
Atlanta MSA   1,507     1,493     1,533     1,513     1,510     14       (3 )
North Carolina   1,072     1,078     1,067     1,037     1,049     (6 )     23  
Coastal Georgia   588     610     623     635     630     (22 )     (42 )
Gainesville MSA   247     235     230     231     248     12       (1 )
East Tennessee   477     460     474     473     475     17       2  
South Carolina   1,645     1,586     1,571     1,537     1,486     59       159  
Commercial Banking Solutions   1,658     1,530     1,444     1,438     961     128       697  
Indirect auto   208     242     277     316     358     (34 )     (150 )
Total loans $ 8,383   $ 8,226   $ 8,220   $ 8,184   $ 7,736     157       647  
                           

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                
Financial Highlights                    
Loan Portfolio Composition at Year-End                
                     
                     
(in millions)   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014
LOANS BY CATEGORY                    
Owner occupied commercial RE   $ 1,648   $ 1,924   $ 1,650   $ 1,571   $ 1,257
Income producing commercial RE     1,812     1,595     1,282     1,021     767
Commercial & industrial     1,278     1,131     1,070     785     710
Commercial construction     796     712     634     518     364
Equipment financing     565                
Total commercial     6,099     5,362     4,636     3,895     3,098
Residential mortgage     1,049     974     857     764     614
Home equity lines of credit     694     731     655     589     456
Residential construction     211     183     190     176     131
Consumer installment     330     486     583     571     373
Total loans   $ 8,383   $ 7,736   $ 6,921   $ 5,995   $ 4,672
                     
                     
LOANS BY MARKET                    
North Georgia   $ 981   $ 1,019   $ 1,097   $ 1,125   $ 1,163
Atlanta MSA     1,507     1,510     1,399     1,259     1,243
North Carolina     1,072     1,049     545     549     553
Coastal Georgia     588     630     581     537     456
Gainesville MSA     247     248     248     254     257
East Tennessee     477     475     504     504     280
South Carolina     1,645     1,486     1,233     819     30
Commercial Banking Solutions     1,658     961     855     492     421
Indirect auto     208     358     459     456     269
Total loans   $ 8,383   $ 7,736   $ 6,921   $ 5,995   $ 4,672
                     

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                                                  
Financial Highlights                                                        
Credit Quality                                                        
                                                         
                                                         
    Fourth Quarter 2018
    Third Quarter 2018
    Second Quarter 2018
   
    Nonperforming
    Foreclosed
  Total     Nonperforming
    Foreclosed
  Total     Nonperforming
    Foreclosed
  Total    
(in thousands)   Loans     Properties   NPAs     Loans     Properties   NPAs     Loans     Properties   NPAs    
                                                   
NONPERFORMING ASSETS BY CATEGORY                                              
Owner occupied CRE   $ 6,421       $ 170       $ 6,591       $ 4,884       $ 183       $ 5,067       $ 5,772       $ 812       $ 6,584      
Income producing CRE     1,160                 1,160         1,194         156         1,350         991         455         1,446      
Commercial & industrial     1,417                 1,417         1,516                 1,516         2,180                 2,180      
Commercial construction     605         421         1,026         825         522         1,347         613         576         1,189      
Equipment financing     2,677                 2,677         1,181                 1,181         1,075                 1,075      
Total commercial     12,280         591         12,871         9,600         861         10,461         10,631         1,843         12,474      
Residential mortgage     8,035         654         8,689         8,928         424         9,352         7,918         184         8,102      
Home equity lines of credit     2,360         60         2,420         2,814                 2,814         1,812         550         2,362      
Residential construction     288                 288         455         51         506         637         20         657      
Consumer     815                 815         733                 733         819                 819      
Total NPAs   $ 23,778       $ 1,305       $ 25,083       $ 22,530       $ 1,336       $ 23,866       $ 21,817       $ 2,597       $ 24,414      
                                                         
NONPERFORMING ASSETS BY MARKET                                              
North Georgia   $ 6,527       $ 286       $ 6,813       $ 7,170       $ 361       $ 7,531       $ 7,583       $ 640       $ 8,223      
Atlanta MSA     1,578                 1,578         1,778         132         1,910         1,928         132         2,060      
North Carolina     3,259         743         4,002         3,690         480         4,170         3,029         750         3,779      
Coastal Georgia     1,491                 1,491         1,498                 1,498         943                 943      
Gainesville MSA     479                 479         212                 212         186                 186      
East Tennessee     1,147                 1,147         1,403         128         1,531         1,473         143         1,616      
South Carolina     4,123         276         4,399         3,280         235         3,515         3,093         362         3,455      
Commercial Banking Solutions   4,448                 4,448         2,871                 2,871         2,831         570         3,401      
Indirect auto     726                 726         628                 628         751                 751      
Total NPAs   $ 23,778       $ 1,305       $ 25,083       $ 22,530       $ 1,336       $ 23,866       $ 21,817       $ 2,597       $ 24,414      
                                                         
NONPERFORMING ASSETS ACTIVITY                                                  
Beginning Balance   $ 22,530       $ 1,336       $ 23,866       $ 21,817       $ 2,597       $ 24,414       $ 26,240       $ 2,714       $ 28,954      
Acquisitions                                                                          
Loans placed on non-accrual   5,829                 5,829         5,759                 5,759         3,612                 3,612      
Payments received     (2,780 )               (2,780 )       (3,095 )               (3,095 )       (5,314 )               (5,314 )    
Loan charge-offs     (933 )               (933 )       (1,588 )               (1,588 )       (2,065 )               (2,065 )    
Foreclosures     (868 )       955         87         (363 )       454         91         (656 )       984         328      
Property sales             (1,019 )       (1,019 )               (1,659 )       (1,659 )               (1,029 )       (1,029 )    
Write downs             (112 )       (112 )               (166 )       (166 )               (106 )       (106 )    
Net gains on sales             145         145                 110         110                 34         34      
Ending Balance   $ 23,778       $ 1,305       $ 25,083       $ 22,530       $ 1,336       $ 23,866       $ 21,817       $ 2,597       $ 24,414      
                                                         
    Fourth Quarter 2018     Third Quarter 2018     Second Quarter 2018                      
           Net Charge-
             Net Charge-
             Net Charge-
                       
           Offs to          Offs to          Offs to                    
    Net    Average   Net    Average   Net    Average                    
(in thousands)   Charge-Offs
  Loans (1)   Charge-Offs
  Loans (1)   Charge-Offs
  Loans (1)                    
                                       
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY CATEGORY                                                  
Owner occupied CRE   $ (52 )       (0.01 ) %   $ (251 )       (0.06 ) %   $ (578 )       (0.13 ) %                    
Income producing CRE     399         0.09         1                 1,421         0.33                        
Commercial & industrial     (149 )       (0.05 )       418         0.14         16         0.01                        
Commercial construction     (230 )       (0.12 )       (43 )       (0.02 )       (107 )       (0.06 )                      
Equipment financing     599         0.44         482         0.39         (49 )       (0.04 )                      
Total commercial     567         0.04         607         0.04         703         0.05                        
Residential mortgage     290         0.11         171         0.07         11                                
Home equity lines of credit     382         0.22         279         0.16         21         0.01                        
Residential construction     (36 )       (0.07 )       (164 )       (0.33 )       (58 )       (0.12 )                      
Consumer     584         0.67         573         0.60         682         0.64                        
Total   $ 1,787         0.09       $ 1,466         0.07       $ 1,359         0.07                        
                                                         
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY MARKET                                                    
North Georgia   $ 543         0.22   %   $ 483         0.19   %   $ 246         0.10   %                    
Atlanta MSA     (159 )       (0.04 )       99         0.03         103         0.03                        
North Carolina     68         0.03         (87 )       (0.03 )       1,268         0.48                        
Coastal Georgia     (86 )       (0.06 )       24         0.02         19         0.01                        
Gainesville MSA     333         0.56         (48 )       (0.08 )       (2 )                              
East Tennessee     (111 )       (0.09 )       (1 )               76         0.06                        
South Carolina     57         0.01         418         0.11         (1,057 )       (0.27 )                      
Commercial Banking Solutions   948         0.23         403         0.11         381         0.11                        
Indirect auto     194         0.34         175         0.27         325         0.44                        
Total   $ 1,787         0.09       $ 1,466         0.07       $ 1,359         0.07                        
                                                         
(1)  Annualized.                                                        

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)                
                 
    Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,
  December 31, 
(in thousands, except per share data)   2018   2017   2018   2017
                 
Interest revenue:                
Loans, including fees   $ 112,087   $ 87,234     $ 420,383     $ 315,050
Investment securities, including tax exempt of $1,140, $909, $4,189, and $2,216     21,237     19,023       77,685       72,388
Deposits in banks and short-term investments     530     500       2,012       2,282
Total interest revenue     133,854     106,757       500,080       389,720
                 
Interest expense:                
Deposits:                
NOW and interest-bearing demand     3,073     1,433       7,390       3,365
Money market     4,078     2,095       12,097       7,033
Savings     33     46       150       135
Time     7,006     2,272       19,906       6,529
Total deposit interest expense     14,190     5,846       39,543       17,062
Short-term borrowings     340     175       1,112       352
Federal Home Loan Bank advances     794     1,492       6,345       6,095
Long-term debt     3,651     1,736       14,330       10,226
Total interest expense     18,975     9,249       61,330       33,735
Net interest revenue     114,879     97,508       438,750       355,985
Provision for credit losses     2,100     1,200       9,500       3,800
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses     112,779     96,308       429,250       352,185
                 
Noninterest income:                
Service charges and fees     9,166     8,770       35,997       38,295
Mortgage loan and other related fees     3,082     4,885       19,010       18,320
Brokerage fees     1,593     1,068       5,191       4,633
Gains from sales of SBA/USDA loans     2,493     3,102       9,277       10,493
Securities gains (losses), net     646     (148 )     (656 )     42
Other     6,065     4,251       24,142       16,477
Total noninterest income     23,045     21,928       92,961       88,260
Total revenue     135,824     118,236       522,211       440,445
                 
Noninterest expenses:                
Salaries and employee benefits     45,631     41,042       181,015       153,098
Communications and equipment     6,206     5,217       21,277       19,660
Occupancy     5,842     5,542       22,781       20,344
Advertising and public relations     1,650     895       5,991       4,242
Postage, printing and supplies     1,520     1,825       6,416       5,952
Professional fees     4,105     3,683       15,540       12,074
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges     1,814     1,776       8,491       6,534
Amortization of intangibles     1,420     1,760       6,846       4,845
Merger-related and other charges     965     6,841       5,414       13,901
Other     9,089     7,301       32,514       26,961
Total noninterest expenses     78,242     75,882       306,285       267,611
Net income before income taxes     57,582     42,354       215,926       172,834
Income tax expense     12,445     54,270       49,815       105,013
Net income   $ 45,137   $ (11,916 )   $ 166,111     $ 67,821
                 
Net income available to common shareholders   $ 44,801   $ (11,986 )   $ 164,927     $ 67,250
                 
Earnings per common share:                
Basic     0.56     (0.16 )     2.07       0.92
Diluted     0.56     (0.16 )     2.07       0.92
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                
Basic     79,884     76,768       79,662       73,247
Diluted     79,890     76,768       79,671       73,259
                 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.        
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)        
         
    December 31,   December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)   2018   2017
         
ASSETS        
Cash and due from banks   $ 126,083     $ 129,108  
Interest-bearing deposits in banks     201,182       185,167  
Cash and cash equivalents     327,265       314,275  
Debt securities available for sale     2,628,467       2,615,850  
Debt securities held to maturity (fair value $268,803 and $321,276)     274,407       321,094  
Loans held for sale (includes $18,935 and $26,252 at fair value)     18,935       32,734  
Loans and leases, net of unearned income     8,383,401       7,735,572  
Less allowance for loan and lease losses     (61,203 )     (58,914 )
Loans, net     8,322,198       7,676,658  
Premises and equipment, net     206,140       208,852  
Bank owned life insurance     192,616       188,970  
Accrued interest receivable     35,413       32,459  
Net deferred tax asset     64,224       88,049  
Derivative financial instruments     24,705       22,721  
Goodwill and other intangible assets     324,072       244,397  
Other assets     154,750       169,401  
Total assets   $ 12,573,192     $ 11,915,460  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
Liabilities:        
Deposits:        
Noninterest-bearing demand   $ 3,210,220     $ 3,087,797  
NOW and interest-bearing demand     2,274,775       2,131,939  
Money market     2,097,526       2,016,748  
Savings     669,886       651,742  
Time     1,598,391       1,548,460  
Brokered     683,715       371,011  
Total deposits     10,534,513       9,807,697  
Short-term borrowings           50,000  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances     160,000       504,651  
Long-term debt     267,189       120,545  
Derivative financial instruments     26,433       25,376  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     127,503       103,857  
Total liabilities     11,115,638       10,612,126  
Shareholders’ equity:        
Common stock, $1 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 79,234,077 and 77,579,561 shares issued and outstanding     79,234       77,580  
Common stock issuable; 674,499 and 607,869 shares     10,744       9,083  
Capital surplus     1,499,584       1,451,814  
Accumulated deficit     (90,419 )     (209,902 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (41,589 )     (25,241 )
Total shareholders’ equity     1,457,554       1,303,334  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 12,573,192     $ 11,915,460  
         

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                      
Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis                
For the Three Months Ended December 31,                      
                       
  2018   2017
    Average      Avg.       Average      Avg.  
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))   Balance      Interest  Rate       Balance      Interest  Rate  
Assets:                      
Interest-earning assets:                      
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2) $ 8,306,270     $ 112,020 5.35 %   $ 7,560,451     $ 87,285 4.58 %
Taxable securities (3)   2,843,085       20,097 2.83       2,853,671       18,114 2.54  
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   161,284       1,535 3.81       137,080       1,488 4.34  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   222,931       845 1.52       184,287       676 1.47  
                       
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   11,533,570       134,497 4.63       10,735,489       107,563 3.98  
Noninterest-earning assets:                      
Allowance for loan losses   (61,992 )             (59,508 )        
Cash and due from banks   125,066               120,478          
Premises and equipment   214,590               209,042          
Other assets (3)   694,215               681,308          
Total assets $ 12,505,449             $ 11,686,809          
                       
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:                      
Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Interest-bearing deposits:                      
NOW and interest-bearing demand $ 2,046,224       3,073 0.60     $ 2,078,239       1,433 0.27  
Money market   2,215,444       4,078 0.73       2,243,279       2,095 0.37  
Savings   675,265       33 0.02       636,057       46 0.03  
Time   1,584,011       4,297 1.08       1,476,362       1,918 0.52  
Brokered time deposits   490,748       2,709 2.19       115,235       354 1.22  
Total interest-bearing deposits   7,011,692       14,190 0.80       6,549,172       5,846 0.35  
                       
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   55,095       340 2.45       39,704       175 1.75  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   140,869       794 2.24       458,028       1,492 1.29  
Long-term debt   272,313       3,651 5.32       120,885       1,736 5.70  
Total borrowed funds   468,277       4,785 4.05       618,617       3,403 2.18  
                       
Total interest-bearing liabilities   7,479,969       18,975 1.01       7,167,789       9,249 0.51  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                      
Noninterest-bearing deposits   3,294,385               3,074,898          
Other liabilities   311,461               134,211          
Total liabilities   11,085,815               10,376,898          
Shareholders’ equity   1,419,634               1,309,911          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 12,505,449             $ 11,686,809          
                       
Net interest revenue (FTE)     $ 115,522           $ 98,314    
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)       3.62 %         3.47 %
                       
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)       3.97 %         3.63 %
                       
(1)  Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 26% in 2018 and 39% in 2017, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)  Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)  Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost.  Pretax unrealized losses of $59.5 million in 2018 and pretax unrealized gains of $3.32 million in 2017 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)  Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.
                       

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.                      
Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis                
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,                      
                       
  2018   2017
   Average     Avg.      Average     Avg.  
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))  Balance    Interest Rate      Balance    Interest Rate  
Assets:                      
Interest-earning assets:                      
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2) $ 8,170,143     $ 420,001 5.14 %   $ 7,150,211     $ 315,138 4.41 %
Taxable securities (3)   2,745,715       73,496 2.68       2,761,983       70,172 2.54  
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   152,855       5,641 3.69       85,415       3,627 4.25  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   213,137       2,968 1.39       164,314       2,966 1.81  
                       
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   11,281,850       502,106 4.45       10,161,923       391,903 3.86  
Noninterest-earning assets:                      
Allowance for loan losses   (61,443 )             (60,602 )        
Cash and due from banks   135,345               107,053          
Premises and equipment   216,646               198,970          
Other assets (3)   711,671               607,174          
Total assets $ 12,284,069             $ 11,014,518          
                       
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:                      
Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Interest-bearing deposits:                      
NOW and interest-bearing demand $ 2,018,404       7,390 0.37     $ 1,950,827       3,365 0.17  
Money market   2,206,643       12,097 0.55       2,136,336       7,033 0.33  
Savings   672,735       150 0.02       591,831       135 0.02  
Time   1,547,221       12,585 0.81       1,338,859       5,417 0.40  
Brokered time deposits   347,072       7,321 2.11       108,891       1,112 1.02  
Total interest-bearing deposits   6,792,075       39,543 0.58       6,126,744       17,062 0.28  
                       
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   57,376       1,112 1.94       26,856       352 1.31  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   328,871       6,345 1.93       576,472       6,095 1.06  
Long-term debt   290,004       14,330 4.94       156,327       10,226 6.54  
Total borrowed funds   676,251       21,787 3.22       759,655       16,673 2.19  
                       
Total interest-bearing liabilities   7,468,326       61,330 0.82       6,886,399       33,735 0.49  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                      
Noninterest-bearing deposits   3,207,625               2,823,005          
Other liabilities   227,980               124,832          
Total liabilities   10,903,931               9,834,236          
Shareholders’ equity   1,380,138               1,180,282          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 12,284,069             $ 11,014,518          
                       
Net interest revenue (FTE)     $ 440,776           $ 358,168    
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)       3.63 %         3.37 %
                       
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)       3.91 %         3.52 %
                       
(1)  Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 26% in 2018 and 39% in 2017, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)  Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)  Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost.  Pretax unrealized losses of $45.2 million in 2018 and pretax unrealized gains of $4.33 million in 2017 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)  Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.          
                       

About United Community Banks, Inc.

United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia, with executive offices in Greenville SC.  The company’s banking subsidiary, United Community Bank, with $12.5 billion in assets is one of the southeast region’s largest full-service banks, operating 149 offices in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.  The bank specializes in personalized community banking services for individuals, small businesses and corporations.  Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products including mortgage, advisory, and treasury management.  Respected national research firms consistently recognize United Community Bank for outstanding customer service.  For the last five years, J.D. Power has ranked United Community Bank first in customer satisfaction in the Southeast.  In 2018, for the fifth consecutive year, Forbes magazine included United on its list of the 100 Best Banks in America.  Additional information about the company and the bank’s full range of products and services can be found at www.ucbi.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release, including the accompanying financial statement tables, contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.  This financial information includes certain operating performance measures, which exclude merger-related and other charges that are not considered part of recurring operations, such as “operating net income,” “operating net income per diluted common share,” “operating earnings per share,” “tangible book value per common share,” “operating return on common equity,” “operating return on tangible common equity,” “operating return on assets,” “operating dividend payout ratio,” “operating efficiency ratio,” “average tangible equity to average assets,” “average tangible common equity to average assets” and “tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets.”  These non-GAAP measures are included because United believes they may provide useful supplemental information for evaluating United’s underlying performance trends.  These measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies.  To the extent applicable, reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP are included with the accompanying financial statement tables.

Caution About Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise and are not statements of historical fact. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue” and “potential” or the negative of these terms or words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of United and its management about future events. Although United believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of United will not differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements; such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time and could cause actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results and or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to the factors and risk influences contained in the cautionary language included under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in United’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other periodic reports subsequently filed by United with the SEC, available on the SEC website, www.sec.gov. For any forward-looking statements made in this press release, United claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

For more information:
Jefferson Harralson
Chief Financial Officer
(864) 240-6208
[email protected]