United Community Bank history

The North Carolina bank added branches in Andrews, Franklin and Waynesville in 1995.

Other acquisitions included assets of a bank in Cornelia and First Clayton Bank and Trust in 1997.

In 1999, UCB paid $7.1 million plus other costs for Bank of Adairsville parent Adairsville Bancshares, and also acquired 1st Floyd Bank.

In 2000, North Point Bancshares Inc., Independent Bancshares Inc. and consultant Brintech, Inc. were acquired and Lendmark Financial Services Inc. purchased the consumer finance division.

Both of these became part of United Community Bank (Georgia) in 2001.

UCB was listed on Nasdaq in 2002.

In 2003, First Georgia Holding Inc. was acquired for about $42 million, and UCB also acquired First Central Bank of Lenoir City, Tennessee.

In 2004, when assets reached $5 billion, acquisitions included Fairbanco Holding Co. for $24.7 million, Eagle National Bank for $12.4 million, Liberty National Bancshares Inc. for $42.5 million.

The first public stock offering came in 2005.

In 2006, Southern National Bank parent Southern Bancorp was acquired for stock valued at $67.8 million and merged into United Community Bank, and two Sylva, North Carolina offices were purchased from First Charter Bank, giving UCB 19 North Carolina locations.

In 2007, First Bank of the South parent Gwinnett Commercial Group was acquired for $222.9 million.

In 2009, UCB purchased assets and most liabilities of Southern Community Bank, with the FDIC paying $31 million.

In 2014, UCB purchased assets of Business Carolina Inc. for $31.3 million.

In 2015, UCB acquired MoneyTree Corporation and its wholly owned bank subsidiary, First National Bank, of Lenoir City, TN.

In 2018, NLFC Holdings Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary Navitas Credit Corp. were acquired for $130 million.

On October 1, 2021, UCB announced the closing of the purchase of Aquesta Financial Holdings Inc., based in Cornelius, North Carolina, for $131 million in a cash-and-stock deal.