Company Description
United Community Banks, Inc. (UCBI) is a financial holding company for United Community, a commercial banking organization in the finance and insurance sector. The company is described as a top 100 U.S. financial institution that focuses on improving the financial health and well-being of its customers and the communities it serves. United Community operates across multiple southeastern states and offers banking, wealth management, and mortgage services.
According to company disclosures, United Community has assets in the tens of billions of dollars and operates more than 200 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition to its branch network, the company reports operating a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending or financing subsidiary, reflecting an emphasis on small business lending and equipment-related credit products.
United Community positions itself as a customer-focused bank. It has been referred to in historical descriptions as "the bank that service built" and emphasizes service quality as a core part of its identity. The company highlights recognition from third-party organizations for customer satisfaction, trust, workplace environment, and overall banking performance. These include repeated J.D. Power awards for customer satisfaction in consumer banking in the Southeast region, recognition by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Banks and America’s Best Banks, and inclusion by American Banker on lists of the "Best Banks to Work For." The company has also been recognized in the Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards for small business and middle market banking satisfaction, and by Newsweek as one of the Most Trusted Companies in America.
Business model and services
United Community’s business model is centered on commercial banking and related financial services. The company states that it provides a full range of banking, wealth management, and mortgage services. Earlier descriptions also reference personal banking, mortgage services, small business administration (SBA) loans, and risk-management solutions. Together, these offerings indicate a focus on consumer, small business, and commercial clients within its regional footprint, complemented by nationally focused SBA and equipment lending platforms.
As a financial holding company, United Community Banks, Inc. generates results through the performance of its banking subsidiary and related businesses. Company reports and earnings releases discuss net interest revenue, noninterest income, loan production, deposit levels, and measures such as net interest margin, efficiency ratio, return on assets, and return on equity. These disclosures reflect a traditional banking model in which interest income on loans and securities, funding costs on deposits and other liabilities, and fee-based income from services all contribute to overall performance.
Geographic footprint and scale
The company’s primary operating footprint is in the Southeastern United States. It reports hundreds of offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Over time, United Community has expanded in high-growth markets within this region, including markets in Alabama and Florida. The company has described itself as one of the strongest and most secure banks in the Southeast in earlier materials and as a top 100 U.S. financial institution in more recent disclosures.
United Community’s scale is reflected in its reported asset base of more than $26 billion and a deposit base in the tens of billions of dollars. It also reports loan balances in the tens of billions, investment securities portfolios, and shareholders’ equity measured in the billions. These figures, disclosed in periodic financial updates, provide context for the company’s role as a regional banking institution with a meaningful presence across its markets.
Stock listing and ticker information
Historically, United Community Banks, Inc. common stock traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol UCBI, with depositary shares for its 6.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, trading under the symbol UCBIO. In a later development, the company announced a transfer of its listing from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Following this transfer, the company’s common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol UCB, and its depositary shares trade under the symbol UCB PRI. An SEC filing confirms that United Community Banks, Inc. common stock, par value $1 per share, and the related depositary shares are registered on the New York Stock Exchange under these symbols.
This history means that the ticker UCBI is associated with United Community Banks, Inc. as its prior Nasdaq trading symbol, while more recent disclosures and SEC filings reference UCB and UCB PRI on the NYSE. Investors researching historical performance or older news releases may still encounter the UCBI symbol, particularly in earlier earnings announcements and dividend declarations.
Recognition and awards
United Community highlights multiple external recognitions in its public communications. The company reports that it has:
- Won the J.D. Power award for best customer satisfaction among consumer banks in the Southeast region multiple times, including being described as a nine-time and later a ten-time winner.
- Been recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Banks and one of America’s Best Banks.
- Been named by American Banker as one of the "Best Banks to Work For" over several consecutive years.
- Received multiple Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards, including national honors for overall satisfaction in small business banking and middle market banking.
- Been recognized by Newsweek as one of the Most Trusted Companies in America.
These recognitions are cited by the company as evidence of its focus on customer service, employee experience, and overall banking performance.
Financial reporting and performance metrics
In its regular earnings releases, United Community Banks, Inc. provides detailed financial information. The company reports net income, pre-tax pre-provision income, diluted earnings per share, return on assets, return on equity, return on tangible common equity, net interest margin, efficiency ratio, and asset quality measures such as nonperforming assets and net charge-offs. It also discloses loan production volumes, mortgage closings and rate locks, deposit trends, and capital ratios such as tangible common equity to tangible assets.
The company distinguishes between GAAP and "operating" results, excluding certain non-operating items such as merger-related charges, bond portfolio restructuring losses, FDIC special assessments, and specific gains or losses. It also provides reconciliations for non-GAAP performance measures, including operating net income, operating efficiency ratio, and return on tangible common equity. These disclosures are intended to provide additional insight into underlying performance trends.
Capital and dividends
United Community’s communications describe a capital structure that includes common stock and preferred stock. The company’s Board of Directors has approved recurring quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, with per-share dividend amounts disclosed in earnings and dividend announcements. It has also declared quarterly dividends on its 6.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, with the corresponding amount per depositary share specified in public releases.
An SEC Form 8-K filing describes a later decision by United Community Banks, Inc. to redeem all outstanding shares of its 6.875% Series I Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock and the associated depositary shares. The filing details the redemption date, redemption price per share of preferred stock, the aggregate liquidation preference, and the simultaneous redemption of the related depositary shares through the Depository Trust Company. After the redemption date, the rights of holders of the preferred stock and related depository receipts cease and terminate, except for certain surviving rights described in the filing.
Risk management and asset quality
Company earnings materials emphasize asset quality and risk management. United Community reports on nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets, the allowance for credit losses relative to loans, and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans. It also discusses provisions for credit losses and the impact of credit quality on earnings. In some periods, the company notes specific transactions or portfolios, such as bond portfolio restructuring or particular credit exposures, that affect results.
Management commentary in earnings releases references a conservative approach to underwriting and portfolio management, particularly in light of macroeconomic uncertainties, interest rate environments, and broader economic conditions. The company discusses balancing growth with discipline in loan and deposit pricing and managing its balance sheet to address interest rate volatility.
Historical positioning and customer focus
Earlier descriptions of United Community Banks, Inc. highlight its origins and regional focus in the Southeast, noting that it has operated since the mid-20th century and historically branded itself as "the bank that service built." The company emphasizes a philosophy of delivering exceptional banking service and improving the lives of residents in the communities it serves. It has described itself as one of the strongest and most secure banks in the Southeast and, at one point, as the third-largest traditional bank holding company in the state of Georgia, with more than 100 locations across several southeastern states.
Over time, United Community has expanded its footprint and product set while continuing to highlight customer satisfaction and community orientation. The combination of regional branch presence, specialized national lending platforms, and recognition for service and workplace quality forms a central part of the company’s narrative in its public communications.
FAQs about United Community Banks, Inc. (UCBI / UCB)
- What does United Community Banks, Inc. do?
United Community Banks, Inc. is the financial holding company for United Community, which operates as a commercial banking organization. The company states that it provides a full range of banking, wealth management, and mortgage services, along with a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending or financing subsidiary. - Where does United Community operate?
United Community reports that it has offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It describes itself as a top 100 U.S. financial institution with a significant presence in the Southeast. - How is United Community’s stock listed?
Historically, United Community Banks, Inc. common stock traded on Nasdaq under the symbol UCBI, and depositary shares for its Series I preferred stock traded as UCBIO. The company later announced a transfer of its listing to the New York Stock Exchange, where its common stock trades under the symbol UCB and its depositary shares trade under UCB PRI. An SEC filing confirms these NYSE symbols. - What types of banking services does United Community offer?
Company descriptions state that United Community offers personal and commercial banking services, mortgage services, wealth management, SBA lending through a national franchise, and equipment lending or financing through a national subsidiary. Earlier materials also mention risk-management solutions. - How large is United Community in terms of assets?
In recent public disclosures, United Community reports total assets in the range of approximately $26–27 billion. These asset levels place it among regional banking institutions with a sizable presence in its markets. - What awards and recognitions has United Community received?
United Community cites multiple recognitions, including repeated J.D. Power awards for customer satisfaction in consumer banking in the Southeast, Forbes listings as one of the World’s Best Banks and America’s Best Banks, American Banker "Best Banks to Work For" honors, Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards for small business and middle market banking satisfaction, and Newsweek recognition as one of the Most Trusted Companies in America. - Does United Community pay dividends?
Yes. The company’s Board of Directors has approved recurring quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, with specific per-share amounts disclosed in dividend announcements. It has also declared quarterly dividends on its 6.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I, with corresponding amounts per depositary share. - What happened to United Community’s Series I preferred stock?
An SEC Form 8-K filing reports that United Community Banks, Inc. announced the redemption of all outstanding shares of its 6.875% Series I Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock and the associated depositary shares. The filing specifies the redemption date, redemption price, aggregate liquidation preference, and the process for redeeming the depositary shares through the Depository Trust Company. - How does United Community describe its approach to risk and growth?
In earnings releases, management commentary emphasizes disciplined loan and deposit pricing, conservative underwriting, and careful balance sheet management. The company discusses managing through interest rate volatility and economic uncertainty while pursuing growth in loans, deposits, and targeted business lines. - Is UCBI still an active ticker?
Company announcements indicate that United Community Banks, Inc. transferred its listing from Nasdaq, where it traded as UCBI, to the New York Stock Exchange, where it trades as UCB. Historical documents and older news may still reference UCBI, but more recent SEC filings and listing information use the NYSE symbols UCB and UCB PRI.