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Published: 2022-01-19 00:00:00 ET
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Exhibit 99.1

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

For more information:

 

Jefferson Harralson

Chief Financial Officer

(864) 240-6208

Jefferson_Harralson@ucbi.com

 

United Community Banks, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter Results

GAAP EPS of $0.55, Return on Assets of 0.96% and Return on Common Equity of 9.3%

 

GREENVILLE, SC – January 18, 2022 - United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) (United) today announced that net income for the fourth quarter was $52.0 million and pre-tax, pre-provision income was $65.6 million. Diluted earnings per share of $0.55 for the quarter represented a decrease of $0.11 or 17%, from the fourth quarter a year ago, and represented a decrease of $0.27 or 33% from the third quarter of 2021. On an operating basis, United’s diluted earnings per share of $0.64 was down 6% from the year ago quarter. The primary driver of the reduced earnings in both periods is lower levels of accretion from PPP loans, as those loans have continued to decline due to success in executing the forgiveness process. Additionally, in the third quarter, charges associated with the Aquesta acquisition, such as merger charges and a $3.27 million provision to establish an initial allowance for credit losses for acquired Aquesta loans, reduced GAAP earnings by approximately $9 million or ten cents per share. On an operating basis, United’s ROA was 1.10% and its return on tangible common equity was 13.9%. On a pre-tax, pre-provision basis, operating return on assets was 1.40% for the quarter. Highlights for the quarter include strong annualized organic loan growth (excluding PPP and loans received through the Aquesta acquisition) of 7% and 17% annualized organic deposit growth.

 

Chairman and CEO Lynn Harton stated, “We are very pleased by United’s performance this quarter and in 2021. In the quarter, both loan and deposit growth were strong and noninterest income benefited from strong, but seasonally lower, mortgage production and a great SBA quarter.” Harton continued, “On the strategic front, we completed the acquisition of Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. and Aquesta Bank on October 1, boosting our Charlotte presence and adding the Wilmington, North Carolina market, both of which are growth markets that fit well with our footprint and culture. We also completed the operational conversion of Aquesta in mid-November, bringing the United brand to these great markets. We are proud that this outstanding team of bankers has joined us and we believe that they are a great fit for United.  Finally, while not included in the quarterly results, on January 1 we completed the acquisition of Reliant Bancorp, Inc., expanding our Tennessee presence into the fast-growing Nashville MSA with a very high performance organization.”

 

Total loans increased by $569 million during the quarter—impacted by $501 million of loans from the Aquesta acquisition. Excluding the effect of PPP loans and loans received from the Aquesta acquisition, core organic loan growth was 7% annualized. Core transaction deposits grew by $948 million during the quarter, or 28% annualized. Excluding deposits received from the Aquesta acquisition, core transaction deposits grew by 10% annualized. United’s cost of deposits decreased by 1 basis point to 0.06%. The net interest margin decreased by 31 basis points from the third quarter due mainly to lower PPP loan fee accretion and an increase in liquid assets due to the continued deposit growth.

 

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Mr. Harton concluded, “I believe 2022 will be another great year for United. We enter the year with strong business momentum, led by an outstanding team of engaged bankers throughout the company. I am very proud that in October, and for the fifth consecutive year, United was named one of the Best Banks to Work for in 2021 across the nation by American Banker. One of our most important measures of success for us is to “Be a Great Place to Work for Great People”. Banking is a service and experience business and success begins with creating an organization where the best people can be fulfilled and build a career.”

 

2021 Financial Highlights:

 

Full year EPS of $2.97, an increase of 55% compared to 2020; full year operating EPS of $3.09, an increase of 56% from 2020

 

Return on assets of 1.37%, or 1.42% on an operating basis

 

Pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets of 1.65% on an operating basis

 

Return on common equity of 13.1%

 

Return on tangible common equity of 17.3% on an operating basis

 

Completed the mergers with FinTrust on July 1 and Aquesta Financial Corporation and its bank subsidiary Aquesta Bank on October 1

 

A release of provision for credit losses of $37.6 million compared to a provision of $80.4 million in 2020, mostly due to the improved economic forecasts

 

Loan growth of $389 million or $346 million excluding loans acquired from Aquesta and PPP payoffs

 

Core transaction deposits were up $2.8 billion compared to 2020; excluding Aquesta, 2021 core transaction deposits were up $2.2 billion, or 19.2%

 

Net interest margin of 3.07%, which was down 48 basis points from last year due to a number of factors, including lower PPP fee accretion, the low rate environment, and increasing balance sheet liquidity

 

Continued strong mortgage rate locks of $3.1 billion compared to a record of $3.3 billion a year ago

 

Noninterest income was up $1.7 million or 1% as an increase in wealth management fees and gains from loan sales offset the $17.6 million decline in mortgage fees

 

Efficiency ratio of 55.8%, or 53.8% on an operating basis

 

Net charge-offs of $38,000

 

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights:

 

Net income of $52.0 million and pre-tax, pre-provision income of $65.6 million

 

EPS decreased by 17% compared to fourth quarter 2020 on a GAAP basis and 6% on an operating basis; compared to third quarter 2021, EPS decreased by 33% on a GAAP basis and 23% on an operating basis due to lower PPP accretion and a smaller provision release in the fourth quarter

 

Return on assets of 0.96%, or 1.10% on an operating basis

 

Pre-tax, pre-provision return on assets of 1.40% on an operating basis

 

Return on common equity of 9.3%

 

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Return on tangible common equity of 13.9% on an operating basis

 

A release of provision for credit losses of $647,000 which reduced the allowance for loan losses to 0.87% of loans from 0.89% in the third quarter

 

Loan production of $1.3 billion, resulting in core loan growth of 7%, annualized for the quarter, excluding the impact of $122 million in PPP loans being forgiven and the addition of $501 million in loans from Aquesta

 

Core transaction deposits were up $948 million; excluding Aquesta, fourth quarter core transaction deposits grew $333 million or 10% annualized

 

Net interest margin of 2.81% was down 31 basis points from the third quarter, due to lower PPP fee accretion, continued strong deposit growth and an earning asset mix change toward cash and securities

 

Mortgage closings of $522 million compared to $609 million a year ago; mortgage rate locks of $695 million compared to $792 million a year ago

 

Noninterest income was down $2.9 million on a linked quarter basis, primarily driven by lower mortgage fees

 

Noninterest expenses increased by $12.4 million compared to the third quarter on a GAAP basis and by $3.9 million on an operating basis, mostly due to adding the operating expenses of Aquesta which was acquired on October 1

 

Efficiency ratio of 62.1%, or 56.5% on an operating basis

 

Net charge-offs of $248,000 or 1 basis point as a percent of average loans, down 1 basis point from the net charge-offs experienced in the third quarter

 

Nonperforming assets of 0.16% of total assets, down 7 basis points compared to September 30, 2021

 

Quarterly common shareholder dividend of $0.20 per share declared during the quarter, an increase of 11% year-over-year

 

Completed the acquisition of Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Aquesta”) with $756 million in assets on October 1, 2021; this acquisition is expected to add $0.08 in EPS accretion in 2022 with cost savings fully phased in

 

Completed the acquisition of Reliant Bancorp, Inc. (“Reliant”) with $3.0 billion in assets on January 1, 2022; this acquisition is expected to add $0.15 in EPS accretion in 2022 and $0.22 in 2023 with cost savings fully phased in

 

Conference Call

 

United will hold a conference call on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the contents of this press release and to share business highlights for the quarter. Participants can pre-register for the conference call by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10162699/f0590f1c98. Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may dial in by calling 1-866-777-2509. Participants are encouraged to dial in 15 minutes prior to the call start time. 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.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Selected Financial Information

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

    2021     2020     Fourth
Quarter
    For the Twelve Months
Ended December 31,
    YTD 2021-  
    Fourth
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    First
Quarter
    Fourth Quarter     2021- 2020
Change
    2021     2020     2020
Change
 
INCOME SUMMARY                                                                        
Interest revenue   $ 143,768     $ 147,675     $ 145,809     $ 141,542     $ 156,071             $ 578,794     $ 557,996          
Interest expense     6,213       6,636       7,433       9,478       10,676               29,760       56,237          
Net interest revenue     137,555       141,039       138,376       132,064       145,395       (5 )%     549,034       501,759       9 %
(Release of) provision for credit losses     (647 )     (11,034 )     (13,588 )     (12,281 )     2,907               (37,550 )     80,434          
Noninterest income     37,177       40,095       35,841       44,705       41,375       (10 )     157,818       156,109       1  
Total revenue     175,379       192,168       187,805       189,050       183,863       (5 )     744,402       577,434       29  
Expenses     109,156       96,749       95,540       95,194       106,490       3       396,639       367,989       8  
Income before income tax expense     66,223       95,419       92,265       93,856       77,373               347,763       209,445          
Income tax expense     14,204       21,603       22,005       20,150       17,871               77,962       45,356          
Net income     52,019       73,816       70,260       73,706       59,502               269,801       164,089          
Merger-related and other charges     9,912       1,437       1,078       1,543       2,452               13,970       7,018          
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges     (2,265 )     (328 )     (246 )     (335 )     (552 )             (3,174 )     (1,340 )        
Net income - operating (1)   $ 59,666     $ 74,925     $ 71,092     $ 74,914     $ 61,402       (3 )   $ 280,597     $ 169,767       65  
                                                                         
Pre-tax pre-provision income (5)   $ 65,576     $ 84,385     $ 78,677     $ 81,575     $ 80,280       (18 )   $ 310,213     $ 289,879       7  
                                                                         
PERFORMANCE MEASURES                                                                        
Per common share:                                                                        
Diluted net income - GAAP   $ 0.55     $ 0.82     $ 0.78     $ 0.82     $ 0.66       (17 )   $ 2.97     $ 1.91       55  
Diluted net income - operating (1)     0.64       0.83       0.79       0.83       0.68       (6 )     3.09       1.98       56  
Common stock cash dividends declared     0.20       0.20       0.19       0.19       0.18       11       0.78       0.72       8  
Book value     23.63       23.25       22.81       22.15       21.90       8       23.63       21.90       8  
Tangible book value (3)     18.42       18.68       18.49       17.83       17.56       5       18.42       17.56       5  
Key performance ratios:                                                                        
Return on common equity - GAAP (2)(4)     9.32 %     14.26 %     14.08 %     15.37 %     12.36 %             13.14 %     9.25 %        
Return on common equity - operating (1)(2)(4)     10.74       14.48       14.25       15.63       12.77               13.68       9.58          
Return on tangible common equity - operating (1)(2)(3)(4)     13.93       18.23       17.81       19.68       16.23               17.33       12.24          
Return on assets - GAAP (4)     0.96       1.48       1.46       1.62       1.30               1.37       1.04          
Return on assets - operating (1)(4)     1.10       1.50       1.48       1.65       1.34               1.42       1.07          
Return on assets -pre-tax pre-provision (4)(5)     1.21       1.70       1.64       1.80       1.77               1.58       1.85          
Return on assets -pre-tax pre-provision, excluding merger related and other charges (1)(4)(5)     1.40       1.73       1.67       1.83       1.82               1.65       1.90          
Net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent) (4)     2.81       3.12       3.19       3.22       3.55               3.07       3.55          
Efficiency ratio - GAAP     62.12       53.11       54.53       53.55       56.73               55.80       55.71          
Efficiency ratio - operating (1)     56.48       52.33       53.92       52.68       55.42               53.83       54.64          
Equity to total assets     10.61       10.89       11.04       10.95       11.29               10.61       11.29          
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (3)     8.09       8.53       8.71       8.57       8.81               8.09       8.81          
ASSET QUALITY                                                                        
Nonperforming loans   $ 32,812     $ 44,923     $ 46,123     $ 55,900     $ 61,599       (47 )   $ 32,812     $ 61,599       (47 )
Foreclosed properties     43       412       224       596       647       (93 )     43       647       (93 )
Total nonperforming assets (“NPAs”)     32,855       45,335       46,347       56,496       62,246       (47 )     32,855       62,246       (47 )
Allowance for credit losses - loans and leases     102,532       99,620       111,616       126,866       137,010       (25 )     102,532       137,010       (25 )
Allowance for credit losses - total     113,524       110,875       122,460       135,592       147,568       (23 )     113,524       147,568       (23 )
Net charge-offs     248       551       (456 )     (305 )     1,515       (84 )     38       18,316       (100 )
Allowance for credit losses - loans and leases to loans     0.87 %     0.89 %     0.98 %     1.09 %     1.20 %             0.87 %     1.20 %        
Allowance for credit losses - total to loans     0.97       0.99       1.08       1.16       1.30               0.97       1.30          
Net charge-offs to average loans (4)     0.01       0.02       (0.02 )     (0.01 )     0.05                     0.17          
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties     0.28       0.41       0.41       0.48       0.55               0.28       0.55          
NPAs to total assets     0.16       0.23       0.25       0.30       0.35               0.16       0.35          
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)                                                                        
Loans   $ 11,689     $ 11,205     $ 11,617     $ 11,433     $ 11,595       1     $ 11,486     $ 10,467       10  
Investment securities     5,544       5,122       4,631       3,991       3,326       67       4,830       2,752       76  
Earning assets     19,542       18,078       17,540       16,782       16,394       19       17,996       14,226       27  
Total assets     20,863       19,322       18,792       18,023       17,698       18       19,258       15,467       25  
Deposits     18,037       16,637       16,132       15,366       15,057       20       16,550       13,135       26  
Shareholders’ equity     2,223       2,119       2,060       2,025       1,994       11       2,107       1,821       16  
Common shares - basic (thousands)     89,916       87,211       87,289       87,322       87,258       3       87,940       83,184       6  
Common shares - diluted (thousands)     90,089       87,355       87,421       87,466       87,333       3       88,097       83,248       6  
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)                                                                        
Loans   $ 11,760     $ 11,191     $ 11,391     $ 11,679     $ 11,371       3     $ 11,760     $ 11,371       3  
Investment securities     5,653       5,335       4,928       4,332       3,645       55       5,653       3,645       55  
Total assets     20,947       19,481       18,896       18,557       17,794       18       20,947       17,794       18  
Deposits     18,241       16,865       16,328       15,993       15,232       20       18,241       15,232       20  
Shareholders’ equity     2,222       2,122       2,086       2,031       2,008       11       2,222       2,008       11  
Common shares outstanding (thousands)     89,350       86,559       86,665       86,777       86,675       3       89,350       86,675       3  

 

(1) Excludes merger-related and other charges.

(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) Excludes income tax expense and provision for credit losses.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation Selected Financial Information

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

   2021   2020   Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
   Fourth Quarter   Third Quarter   Second Quarter   First Quarter   Fourth Quarter   2021   2020 
Expense reconciliation                                   
Expenses (GAAP)  $109,156   $96,749   $95,540   $95,194   $106,490   $396,639   $367,989 
Merger-related and other charges   (9,912)   (1,437)   (1,078)   (1,543)   (2,452)   (13,970)   (7,018)
Expenses - operating  $99,244   $95,312   $94,462   $93,651   $104,038   $382,669   $360,971 
                                    
Net income to operating income reconciliation                                   
Net income (GAAP)  $52,019   $73,816   $70,260   $73,706   $59,502   $269,801   $164,089 
Merger-related and other charges   9,912    1,437    1,078    1,543    2,452    13,970    7,018 
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (2,265)   (328)   (246)   (335)   (552)   (3,174)   (1,340)
Net income - operating  $59,666   $74,925   $71,092   $74,914   $61,402   $280,597   $169,767 
                                    
Net income to pre-tax pre-provision income reconciliation                                   
Net income (GAAP)  $52,019   $73,816   $70,260   $73,706   $59,502   $269,801   $164,089 
Income tax expense   14,204    21,603    22,005    20,150    17,871    77,962    45,356 
(Release of) provision for credit losses   (647)   (11,034)   (13,588)   (12,281)   2,907    (37,550)   80,434 
Pre-tax pre-provision income  $65,576   $84,385   $78,677   $81,575   $80,280   $310,213   $289,879 
                                    
Diluted income per common share reconciliation                                   
Diluted income per common share (GAAP)  $0.55   $0.82   $0.78   $0.82   $0.66   $2.97   $1.91 
Merger-related and other charges   0.09    0.01    0.01    0.01    0.02    0.12    0.07 
Diluted income per common share - operating  $0.64   $0.83   $0.79   $0.83   $0.68   $3.09   $1.98 
                                    
Book value per common share reconciliation                                   
Book value per common share (GAAP)  $23.63   $23.25   $22.81   $22.15   $21.90   $23.63   $21.90 
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (5.21)   (4.57)   (4.32)   (4.32)   (4.34)   (5.21)   (4.34)
Tangible book value per common share  $18.42   $18.68   $18.49   $17.83   $17.56   $18.42   $17.56 
                                    
Return on tangible common equity reconciliation                                   
Return on common equity (GAAP)   9.32%   14.26%   14.08%   15.37%   12.36%   13.14%   9.25%
Merger-related and other charges   1.42    0.22    0.17    0.26    0.41    0.54    0.33 
Return on common equity - operating   10.74    14.48    14.25    15.63    12.77    13.68    9.58 
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   3.19    3.75    3.56    4.05    3.46    3.65    2.66 
Return on tangible common equity - operating   13.93%   18.23%   17.81%   19.68%   16.23%   17.33%   12.24%
                                    
Return on assets reconciliation                                   
Return on assets (GAAP)   0.96%   1.48%   1.46%   1.62%   1.30%   1.37%   1.04%
Merger-related and other charges   0.14    0.02    0.02    0.03    0.04    0.05    0.03 
Return on assets - operating   1.10%   1.50%   1.48%   1.65%   1.34%   1.42%   1.07%
                                    
Return on assets to return on assets- pre-tax pre-provision reconciliation                                   
Return on assets (GAAP)   0.96%   1.48%   1.46%   1.62%   1.30%   1.37%   1.04%
Income tax expense   0.26    0.45    0.47    0.46    0.40    0.40    0.29 
(Release of) provision for credit losses   (0.01)   (0.23)   (0.29)   (0.28)   0.07    (0.19)   0.52 
Return on assets - pre-tax pre-provision   1.21    1.70    1.64    1.80    1.77    1.58    1.85 
Merger-related and other charges   0.19    0.03    0.03    0.03    0.05    0.07    0.05 
Return on assets - pre-tax pre-provision, excluding merger-related and other charges   1.40%   1.73%   1.67%   1.83%   1.82%   1.65%   1.90%
                                    
Efficiency ratio reconciliation                                   
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)   62.12%   53.11%   54.53%   53.55%   56.73%   55.80%   55.71%
Merger-related and other charges   (5.64)   (0.78)   (0.61)   (0.87)   (1.31)   (1.97)   (1.07)
Efficiency ratio - operating   56.48%   52.33%   53.92%   52.68%   55.42%   53.83%   54.64%
                                    
Tangible common equity to tangible assets reconciliation                                   
Equity to total assets (GAAP)   10.61%   10.89%   11.04%   10.95%   11.29%   10.61%   11.29%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (2.06)   (1.87)   (1.82)   (1.86)   (1.94)   (2.06)   (1.94)
Effect of preferred equity   (0.46)   (0.49)   (0.51)   (0.52)   (0.54)   (0.46)   (0.54)
Tangible common equity to tangible assets   8.09%   8.53%   8.71%   8.57%   8.81%   8.09%   8.81%
                                    
Allowance for credit losses - total to loans reconciliation                                   
Allowance for credit losses - total to loans (GAAP)   0.97%   0.99%   1.08%   1.16%   1.30%   0.97%   1.30%
Effect of PPP loans       0.01    0.04    0.10    0.08        0.08 
Allowance for credit losses - total to loans, excluding PPP loans   0.97%   1.00%   1.12%   1.26%   1.38%   0.97%   1.38%

 

5

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Financial Highlights

Loan Portfolio Composition at Period-End

(in millions)

 

   2021   2020   Linked   Year over 
   Fourth
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Second
Quarter
   First
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter
   Quarter
Change
   Year Change 
LOANS BY CATEGORY                                   
Owner occupied commercial RE  $2,322   $2,149   $2,149   $2,107   $2,090   $173   $232 
Income producing commercial RE   2,601    2,542    2,550    2,599    2,541    59    60 
Commercial & industrial   1,822    1,729    1,762    1,760    1,853    93    (31)
Paycheck protection program   88    150    472    883    646    (62)   (558)
Commercial construction   1,015    947    927    960    967    68    48 
Equipment financing   1,083    1,017    969    913    864    66    219 
     Total commercial   8,931    8,534    8,829    9,222    8,961    397    (30)
Residential mortgage   1,638    1,533    1,473    1,362    1,285    105    353 
Home equity lines of credit   694    661    661    679    697    33    (3)
Residential construction   359    321    289    272    281    38    78 
Consumer   138    142    139    144    147    (4)   (9)
     Total loans  $11,760   $11,191   $11,391   $11,679   $11,371   $569   $389 
                                    
LOANS BY MARKET (1)                                   
North Georgia  $944   $961   $962   $982   $955   $(17)  $(11)
Atlanta   2,030    1,930    1,938    1,953    1,889    100    141 
North Carolina   1,895    1,427    1,374    1,326    1,281    468    614 
Coastal Georgia   588    621    605    597    617    (33)   (29)
Gainesville   216    220    224    222    224    (4)   (8)
East Tennessee   373    383    394    398    415    (10)   (42)
South Carolina   2,235    2,145    2,107    1,997    1,947    90    288 
Florida   1,148    1,113    1,141    1,160    1,435    35    (287)
Commercial Banking Solutions   2,331    2,391    2,646    3,044    2,608    (60)   (277)
     Total loans  $11,760   $11,191   $11,391   $11,679   $11,371   $569   $389 

 

6

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Financial Highlights

Loan Portfolio Composition at Year-End

(in millions)

 

   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017 
LOANS BY CATEGORY                         
Owner occupied commercial RE  $2,322   $2,090   $1,720   $1,648   $1,924 
Income producing commercial RE   2,601    2,541    2,008    1,812    1,595 
Commercial & industrial   1,822    1,853    1,221    1,278    1,131 
Paycheck protection program   88    646             
Commercial construction   1,015    967    976    796    712 
Equipment financing   1,083    864    745    565     
     Total commercial   8,931    8,961    6,670    6,099    5,362 
Residential mortgage   1,638    1,285    1,118    1,049    974 
Home equity lines of credit   694    697    661    694    731 
Residential construction   359    281    236    211    183 
Consumer   138    147    128    330    486 
     Total loans  $11,760   $11,371   $8,813   $8,383   $7,736 
                          
LOANS BY MARKET                         
North Georgia  $944   $955   $967   $981   $1,019 
Atlanta   2,030    1,889    1,762    1,507    1,510 
North Carolina   1,895    1,281    1,156    1,072    1,049 
Coastal Georgia   588    617    631    588    630 
Gainesville   216    224    246    247    248 
East Tennessee   373    415    421    477    475 
South Carolina   2,235    1,947    1,708    1,645    1,486 
Florida   1,148    1,435             
Commercial Banking Solutions   2,331    2,608    1,922    1,658    961 
Indirect auto               208    358 
     Total loans  $11,760   $11,371   $8,813   $8,383   $7,736 

 

7

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Financial Highlights

Credit Quality

(in thousands)

 

   2021 
   Fourth
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Second
Quarter
 
NONACCRUAL LOANS               
Owner occupied RE  $2,714   $4,945   $6,128 
Income producing RE   7,588    13,462    13,100 
Commercial & industrial   5,429    8,507    8,563 
Commercial construction   343    1,202    1,229 
Equipment financing   1,741    1,845    1,771 
Total commercial   17,815    29,961    30,791 
Residential mortgage   13,313    13,222    13,485 
Home equity lines of credit   1,212    1,364    1,433 
Residential construction   420    260    307 
Consumer   52    116    107 
Total  $32,812   $44,923   $46,123 

 

   2021 
   Fourth Quarter   Third Quarter   Second Quarter 
(in thousands)  Net Charge-
Offs
   Net Charge-
Offs to Average
Loans (1)
   Net Charge-
Offs
   Net Charge-
Offs to Average
Loans (1)
   Net Charge-
Offs
   Net Charge-
Offs to Average
Loans (1)
 
NET CHARGE-OFFS BY CATEGORY                              
Owner occupied RE  $(255)   (0.04)%  $(93)   (0.02)%  $(103)   (0.02)%
Income producing RE   (98)   (0.01)   45    0.01    (213)   (0.03)
Commercial & industrial   339    0.07    (91)   (0.02)   60    0.01 
Commercial construction   (354)   (0.14)   (123)   (0.05)   (293)   (0.12)
Equipment financing   781    0.29    512    0.21    301    0.13 
Total commercial   413    0.02    250    0.01    (248)   (0.01)
Residential mortgage   (169)   (0.04)   51    0.01    (194)   (0.05)
Home equity lines of credit   (118)   (0.07)   (102)   (0.06)   (112)   (0.07)
Residential construction   (17)   (0.02)   (37)   (0.05)   (33)   (0.05)
Consumer   139    0.39    389    1.11    131    0.37 
Total  $248    0.01   $551    0.02   $(456)   (0.02)

 

(1)Annualized.

 

8

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   December 31,
2021
   December 31,
2020
 
ASSETS          
Cash and due from banks  $144,244   $148,896 
Interest-bearing deposits in banks   2,147,266    1,459,723 
Federal funds and other short-term investments   27,000     
Cash and cash equivalents   2,318,510    1,608,619 
Debt securities available-for-sale   4,496,824    3,224,721 
Debt securities held-to-maturity (fair value $1,148,804 and $437,193, respectively)   1,156,098    420,361 
Loans held for sale at fair value   44,109    105,433 
Loans and leases held for investment   11,760,346    11,370,815 
Less allowance for credit losses - loans and leases   (102,532)   (137,010)
Loans and leases, net   11,657,814    11,233,805 
Premises and equipment, net   245,296    218,489 
Bank owned life insurance   217,713    201,969 
Accrued interest receivable   42,999    47,672 
Net deferred tax asset   41,322    38,411 
Derivative financial instruments   42,480    86,666 
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net   472,407    381,823 
Other assets   211,199    226,405 
Total assets  $20,946,771   $17,794,374 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Liabilities:          
Deposits:          
Noninterest-bearing demand  $6,956,981   $5,390,291 
NOW and interest-bearing demand   4,252,209    3,346,490 
Money market   4,183,354    3,550,335 
Savings   1,215,779    950,854 
Time   1,442,498    1,704,290 
Brokered   190,358    290,098 
Total deposits   18,241,179    15,232,358 
Long-term debt   247,360    326,956 
Derivative financial instruments   25,145    29,003 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   210,842    198,527 
Total liabilities   18,724,526    15,786,844 
Shareholders' equity:          
Preferred stock, $1 par value: 10,000,000 shares authorized;
Series I, $25,000 per share liquidation preference; 4,000 shares issued and outstanding
   96,422    96,422 
Common stock, $1 par value; 200,000,000 and 150,000,000 shares authorized, respectively;
89,349,826 and 86,675,279 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
   89,350    86,675 
Common stock issuable; 595,705 and 600,834 shares, respectively   11,288    10,855 
Capital surplus   1,721,007    1,638,999 
Retained earnings   330,654    136,869 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income   (26,476)   37,710 
Total shareholders’ equity   2,222,245    2,007,530 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $20,946,771   $17,794,374 

 

9

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

   Three Months Ended
December 31,
   Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
   2021   2020   2021   2020 
Interest revenue:                    
Loans, including fees  $123,473   $141,351   $505,734   $494,212 
Investment securities, including tax exempt of $2,293, $2,055, $8,978 and $7,043   19,442    14,507    70,972    62,074 
Deposits in banks and short-term investments   853    213    2,088    1,710 
Total interest revenue   143,768    156,071    578,794    557,996 
Interest expense:                    
Deposits:                    
NOW and interest-bearing demand   1,310    1,495    5,468    7,735 
Money market   1,102    2,196    5,380    13,165 
Savings   60    48    217    169 
Time   392    2,689    3,780    20,703 
Deposits   2,864    6,428    14,845    41,772 
Short-term borrowings               3 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1        3    28 
Long-term debt   3,348    4,248    14,912    14,434 
Total interest expense   6,213    10,676    29,760    56,237 
Net interest revenue   137,555    145,395    549,034    501,759 
Provision for credit losses   (647)   2,907    (37,550)   80,434 
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses   138,202    142,488    586,584    421,325 
Noninterest income:                    
Service charges and fees   8,613    8,508    33,868    32,401 
Mortgage loan gains and related fees   10,910    18,974    58,446    76,087 
Wealth management fees   6,117    3,221    18,998    9,240 
Gains from other loan sales, net   3,761    1,531    11,267    5,420 
Securities gains, net   42    2    83    748 
Other   7,734    9,139    35,156    32,213 
Total noninterest income   37,177    41,375    157,818    156,109 
Total revenue   175,379    183,863    744,402    577,434 
Noninterest expenses:                    
Salaries and employee benefits   60,986    61,824    241,443    224,060 
Occupancy   7,489    7,082    28,619    25,791 
Communications and equipment   7,850    7,687    29,829    27,149 
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges   1,878    1,594    7,398    5,982 
Professional fees   6,080    4,029    20,589    18,032 
Lending and loan servicing expense   2,351    2,468    10,859    10,993 
Outside services - electronic banking   2,670    1,997    9,481    7,513 
Postage, printing and supplies   1,939    1,793    7,110    6,779 
Advertising and public relations   1,760    9,891    5,910    15,203 
Amortization of intangibles   1,103    1,042    4,045    4,168 
Merger-related and other charges   9,912    2,452    13,970    7,018 
Other   5,138    4,631    17,386    15,301 
Total noninterest expenses   109,156    106,490    396,639    367,989 
Net income before income taxes   66,223    77,373    347,763    209,445 
Income tax expense   14,204    17,871    77,962    45,356 
Net income  $52,019   $59,502   $269,801   $164,089 
Preferred stock dividends   1,718    1,719    6,875    3,533 
Earnings allocated to participating securities   317    532    1,657    1,287 
Net income available to common shareholders  $49,984   $57,251   $261,269   $159,269 
                     
Net income per common share:                    
Basic  $0.56   $0.66   $2.97   $1.91 
Diluted   0.55    0.66    2.97    1.91 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   89,916    87,258    87,940    83,184 
Diluted   90,089    87,333    88,097    83,248 

 

10

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

For the Three Months Ended December 31,

(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))

 

   2021   2020 
   Average
Balance
   Interest   Average
Rate
   Average
Balance
   Interest   Average
Rate
 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $11,689,412   $123,250    4.18%  $11,595,484   $140,687    4.83%
Taxable securities (3)   5,156,563    17,149    1.33    3,039,275    12,452    1.64 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   387,638    3,080    3.18    286,490    2,759    3.85 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   2,308,241    1,322    0.23    1,472,668    1,132    0.31 
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   19,541,854    144,801    2.94    16,393,917    157,030    3.81 
                               
Noninterest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for loan losses   (103,167)             (138,313)          
Cash and due from banks   141,967              143,694           
Premises and equipment   245,869              218,349           
Other assets (3)   1,036,760              1,080,180           
Total assets  $20,863,283             $17,697,827           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW and interest-bearing demand  $4,080,621    1,310    0.13   $3,281,984    1,495    0.18 
Money market   4,323,851    1,102    0.10    3,698,734    2,196    0.24 
Savings   1,187,134    60    0.02    918,623    48    0.02 
Time   1,461,231    567    0.15    1,748,099    2,711    0.62 
Brokered time deposits   65,556    (175)   (1.06)   83,750    (22)   (0.10)
Total interest-bearing deposits   11,118,393    2,864    0.10    9,731,190    6,428    0.26 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   51            54         
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,426    1    0.28             
Long-term debt   247,251    3,348    5.37    327,236    4,248    5.16 
Total borrowed funds   248,728    3,349    5.34    327,290    4,248    5.16 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   11,367,121    6,213    0.22    10,058,480    10,676    0.42 
                               
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                              
Noninterest-bearing deposits   6,918,279              5,325,858           
Other liabilities   354,665              319,158           
Total liabilities   18,640,065              15,703,496           
Shareholders’ equity   2,223,218              1,994,331           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $20,863,283             $17,697,827           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $138,588             $146,354      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             2.72%             3.39%
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             2.81%             3.55%

 

(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%, 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 on which 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 $1.64 million in 2021 and pretax unrealized gains of $72.6 million in 2020 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.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.

Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,

(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))

 

   2021   2020 
   Average
Balance
   Interest   Average
Rate
   Average
Balance
   Interest   Average
Rate
 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $11,485,876   $504,015    4.39%  $10,466,653   $492,223    4.70%
Taxable securities (3)   4,446,712    61,994    1.39    2,532,750    55,031    2.17 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   382,915    12,059    3.15    219,668    9,458    4.31 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   1,680,151    4,784    0.28    1,007,059    4,753    0.47 
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   17,995,654    582,852    3.24    14,226,130    561,465    3.95 
                               
Non-interest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for loan losses   (121,586)             (106,812)          
Cash and due from banks   139,728              136,702           
Premises and equipment   230,276              217,751           
Other assets (3)   1,013,956              993,584           
Total assets  $19,258,028             $15,467,355           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW and interest-bearing demand  $3,610,601    5,468    0.15   $2,759,383    7,735    0.28 
Money market   3,972,358    5,380    0.14    3,023,928    13,165    0.44 
Savings   1,095,071    217    0.02    821,344    169    0.02 
Time   1,529,072    3,663    0.24    1,832,319    20,146    1.10 
Brokered time deposits   67,230    117    0.17    97,788    557    0.57 
Total interest-bearing deposits   10,274,332    14,845    0.14    8,534,762    41,772    0.49 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   44            1,220    3    0.25 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,195    3    0.25    749    28    3.74 
Long-term debt   276,492    14,912    5.39    274,069    14,434    5.27 
Total borrowed funds   277,731    14,915    5.37    276,038    14,465    5.24 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   10,552,063    29,760    0.28    8,810,800    56,237    0.64 
                               
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                              
Noninterest-bearing deposits   6,276,094              4,600,152           
Other liabilities   322,566              235,120           
Total liabilities   17,150,723              13,646,072           
Shareholders’ equity   2,107,305              1,821,283           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $19,258,028             $15,467,355           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $553,092             $505,228      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             2.96%             3.31%
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             3.07%             3.55%

 

(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%, 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 on which 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 gains of $28.7 million in 2021 and $67.3 million in 2020 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.

 

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About United Community Banks, Inc.

 

United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQGS: UCBI) provides a full range of banking, wealth management and mortgage services for relationship-oriented consumers and business owners. The company, known as “The Bank That SERVICE Built,” has been recognized nationally for delivering award-winning service. At December 31, 2021, United had $20.9 billion in assets and 171 offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee along with a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending subsidiary. Through its January 1, 2022 acquisition of Reliant Bancorp and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Reliant Bank, United added $3 billion in assets and 25 banking offices in high growth markets in Tennessee. In 2021, J.D. Power ranked United highest in customer satisfaction with retail banking in the Southeast, marking seven out of the last eight years United earned the coveted award. United was also named one of the "Best Banks to Work For" by American Banker in 2021 for the fifth consecutive year based on employee satisfaction. Forbes included United in its inaugural list of the World’s Best Banks in 2019 and again in 2020. Forbes also recognized United on its 2021 list of the 100 Best Banks in America for the eighth consecutive year. United also received five Greenwich Excellence Awards in 2020 for excellence in Small Business Banking, including a national award for Overall Satisfaction. Additional information about United 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,” “pre-tax, pre-provision 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,” “return on assets - pre-tax, pre-provision, excluding merger-related and other charges,” “return on assets - pre-tax, pre-provision,” “operating efficiency ratio,” and “tangible common equity to tangible 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

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In general, forward-looking statements usually may be identified through use of words such as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue” and “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, and include statements related to the accretive value of each of the Aquesta and Reliant acquisitions to United’s earnings. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and represent management’s beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters addressed; they are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. 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.

 

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Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to (1) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from the Aquesta and Reliant acquisitions may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption of customer, supplier, employee or other business partner relationships as a result of the Aquesta and Reliant acquisitions, (3) the possibility that the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the acquisition of Reliant may be greater than anticipated, (4) reputational risk and the reaction of the companies’ customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the acquisitions of Aquesta and Reliant, (5) the risks relating to the integration of Reliant’s operations into the operations of United, including the risk that such integration will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected, (6) the risk of potential litigation or regulatory action related to the acquisitions of Aquesta and Reliant, (7) the risks associated with United’s pursuit of future acquisitions, (8) the risk of expansion into new geographic or product markets, (9) the dilution caused by United’s issuance of additional shares of its common stock in the acquisitions of Aquesta and Reliant, and (10) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions. Further information regarding additional factors which could affect the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be found in the cautionary language included under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and other documents subsequently filed by United with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Many of these factors are beyond United’s ability to control or predict. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, shareholders and investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this communication, and United undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for United to predict their occurrence or how they will affect United or Reliant.

 

United qualifies all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

# # #

 

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