Sec Form 4 Filing - METZ CRAIG @ UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC - 2012-01-20

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person METZ CRAIG 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC [ UCBI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP (Last) (First) (Middle) 130 KOLBE DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/20/2012 (Street) BLAIRSVILLE, GA30512-4755 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 675 D Common Stock (RSU's) 01/03/2013 A 2,500 A $ 0 9,858 ( 1 ) ( 2 ) D Common Shares Issuable 4,477 ( 1 ) ( 3 ) D Common Stock 9,020 ( 4 ) I By 401k

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other METZ CRAIG 130 KOLBE DRIVE BLAIRSVILLE, GA30512-4755 EVP Signatures Lois J. Rich by Power of Attorney 02/11/2013 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )2,500 RSUs granted 6/20/11 were rescinded.. Also reflects the following reclassifications of RSUs to Common Shares Issuable under the United Community Banks Deferred Compensation Plan: 91 RSUs which vested on January 31, 2012; and 3,667 RSUs which vested on July 9, 2012. ( 2 )2013 Restricted Stock Units vest equally on June 20, 2013 and June 20, 2014. ( 3 )Acquired pursuant to The United Community Banks Deferred Compensation Plan. The number of shares can fluctuate with the stock's market price. The units are to be settled in United Community Banks common stock at the NAV after termination of employment, or earlier if so indicated. ( 4 )Includes pre-arranged semi-monthly payroll purchases.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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