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<TITLE>UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.</TITLE>
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    <TD align="left" valign="top" nowrap>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;19, 2004.
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">File&nbsp;No.&nbsp;333-___________________</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>FORM S-8<BR>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.</B>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><I>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</I></DIV>


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    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Georgia</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>58-1807304</B></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(State or Other Jurisdiction of</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>(I.R.S. Employer</I></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>Incorporation or Organization)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><I>Identification Number)</I></TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>P.O. Box 398<BR>
63 Highway 515<BR>
Blairsville, Georgia 30512</B><BR>
<I>(Address of Issuer&#146;s Principal Executive Offices)</I>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan</B><BR>
<I>(Full Title of the Plan)</I>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Mr.&nbsp;Jimmy C. Tallent<BR>
President and Chief Executive Officer<BR>
P.O. Box 398<BR>
63 Highway 515<BR>
Blairsville, Georgia 30512<BR>
(706)785-2265</B><BR>
<I>(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)</I>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><I>Copies to:</I><BR>
<B>Mr.&nbsp;Richard R. Cheatham<BR>
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP<BR>
1100 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite&nbsp;2800<BR>
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-4530<BR>
(404)&nbsp;815-6500</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Calculation of Registration Fee</B>


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    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD colspan="17" align="left"><HR size="4" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>to be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Per Share</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registration Fee</B></TD>
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    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px">Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
Share</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,650,000</TD>
    <TD nowrap> <SUP>(1)</SUP></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">26.40</TD>
    <TD nowrap><SUP>(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">43,560,000</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">5519.05</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="17" align="left"><HR size="4" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">(1)&nbsp;In addition, pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416 of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement also relates to such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock of the Registrant as may be issuable in the event of a
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar changes in the
capital structure, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out,
split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation, or other
distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities,
or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of
the foregoing.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">(2)&nbsp;Determined in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h)&nbsp;of the Securities Act of
1933. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price and amount of registration
fee are based on $26.40 the average of the high and low price on Nasdaq on
November&nbsp;15, 2004.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;



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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

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<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#003">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g92055exv5.htm">EX-5 OPINION OF KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP.</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g92055exv23w1.htm">EX-23.1 CONSENT OF PORTER KEADLE MOORE, LLP.</A></TD></TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR align="center" size="1" noshade width="25%">


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">United Community Banks, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) files this Registration Statement
on Form S-8 in connection with an amendment to the United Community Banks, Inc.
2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;) to increase the number of
shares of common stock that may be issued under the Plan. The shares
authorized under the Plan have been increased by 1,650,000 from 1,303,000 to
2,953,000 (as adjusted for a two-for-one stock split effective in May&nbsp;2001 and
a three-for-two stock split effective in April&nbsp;2004, both in the form of a
stock dividend). The Company previously filed a registration statement on Form
S-8 (File No.&nbsp;333-99849) (the &#147;Prior Registration Statement&#148;) covering
1,303,000 shares of the Company&#146;s common stock initially authorized for
issuance under the Plan. The Prior Registration Statement continues and
remains effective as to those shares registered thereunder.



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INCORPORATION OF PRIOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT BY REFERENCE</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to Instruction E to Form S-8, the Company hereby incorporates by
reference into this Registration Statement the contents of the Prior
Registration Statement, including all amendments, attachments and exhibits
thereto.

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART II</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>


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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement are as follows:

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    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="87%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Description</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community Banks, Inc.,
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s
Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2001, File
No.&nbsp;0-21656, filed with the Commission on August&nbsp;14, 2001).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws of United Community Banks, Inc., dated
September&nbsp;12, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the
Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K, for the year ended December&nbsp;31,
1997, File No.&nbsp;0-21656, filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;27, 1998).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community
Banks, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.3 to the
Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4, File No.&nbsp;333-118893, filed
with the Commission on September&nbsp;9, 2004).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">United Community Banks, Inc.&#146;s 2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.3 to the Company&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8, File No.&nbsp;333-99849, filed with the
Commission on September&nbsp;19, 2002).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amendment to United Community Banks, Inc. 2000 Key Employee Stock Option
Plan, dated March&nbsp;5, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the
Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4, filed on September&nbsp;9, 2004).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).</TD>
</TR>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">2
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Blairsville, State of Georgia, on November&nbsp;19, 2004.


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3"><B>UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Jimmy C. Tallent&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">President and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>




<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jimmy
C. Tallent and Robert L. Head, Jr., and each of them acting alone, his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him in any and all
capacities, to execute any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to
this Registration Statement and to cause the same to be filed, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting to said attorneys-in-fact
and agents full power and authority to do so and perform each and every act and
thing whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said
attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on November&nbsp;19, 2004.

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    <TD width="63%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Jimmy C. Tallent</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director<BR>
(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Rex S. Schuette<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Rex S. Schuette</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(Principal Financial Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Alan H. Kumler<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Alan H. Kumler</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief<BR>
Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Robert L. Head, Jr.<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Robert L. Head, Jr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Chairman of the Board</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ W.C. Nelson, Jr.<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
W.C. Nelson, Jr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Vice Chairman of the Board</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ A. William Bennett<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
A. William Bennett</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Robert H. Blalock<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Robert H. Blalock</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Guy W. Freeman<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Guy W. Freeman</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">3
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="63%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Thomas C. Gilliland<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Thomas C. Gilliland</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Charles Hill<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Charles Hill</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Hoyt O. Holloway<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Hoyt O. Holloway</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Clarence W. Mason, Sr.<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Clarence W. Mason, Sr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Tim Wallis<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Tim Wallis</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">4
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="65%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="85%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit Number</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Description</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5).</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature
page of this Registration Statement).</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">5
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC", "cik": "0000857855", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "581807304", "state-of-incorporation": "GA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-120623", "film-number": "041157457"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 398, 59 HIGHWAY 515", "city": "BLAIRSVILLE", "state": "GA", "zip": "30512", "phone": "5818073041"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 398", "street2": "HIGHWAY 515", "city": "BLAIRSVILLE", "state": "GA", "zip": "30512"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "UNION BANCSHARES INC /GA/", "date-changed": "19600201"}}
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2004.
File No. 333-___________________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Georgia
58-1807304
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
Identification Number)
P.O. Box 398
63 Highway 515
Blairsville, Georgia 30512
(Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices)
2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Mr. Jimmy C. Tallent
President and Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 398
63 Highway 515
Blairsville, Georgia 30512
(706)785-2265
(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Mr. Richard R. Cheatham
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
1100 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 2800
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-4530
(404) 815-6500
Calculation of Registration Fee
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities
Amount to
Offering Price
Aggregate
Amount of
to be Registered
be Registered
Per Share
Offering Price
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
Share
1,650,000
(1)
$
26.40
(2)
$
43,560,000
$
5519.05
(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement also relates to such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock of the Registrant as may be issuable in the event of a
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar changes in the
capital structure, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out,
split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation, or other
distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities,
or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of
the foregoing.
(2) Determined in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act of
1933. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price and amount of registration
fee are based on $26.40 the average of the high and low price on Nasdaq on
November 15, 2004.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-5 OPINION OF KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP.
EX-23.1 CONSENT OF PORTER KEADLE MOORE, LLP.
Table of Contents
United Community Banks, Inc. (the "Company") files this Registration Statement
on Form S-8 in connection with an amendment to the United Community Banks, Inc.
2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") to increase the number of
shares of common stock that may be issued under the Plan. The shares
authorized under the Plan have been increased by 1,650,000 from 1,303,000 to
2,953,000 (as adjusted for a two-for-one stock split effective in May 2001 and
a three-for-two stock split effective in April 2004, both in the form of a
stock dividend). The Company previously filed a registration statement on Form
S-8 (File No. 333-99849) (the "Prior Registration Statement") covering
1,303,000 shares of the Company's common stock initially authorized for
issuance under the Plan. The Prior Registration Statement continues and
remains effective as to those shares registered thereunder.
INCORPORATION OF PRIOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT BY REFERENCE
Pursuant to Instruction E to Form S-8, the Company hereby incorporates by
reference into this Registration Statement the contents of the Prior
Registration Statement, including all amendments, attachments and exhibits
thereto.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
The exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement are as follows:
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community Banks, Inc.,
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, File
No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2001).
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of United Community Banks, Inc., dated
September 12, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31,
1997, File No. 0-21656, filed with the Commission on March 27, 1998).
4.3
Amended to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of United Community
Banks, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-118893, filed
with the Commission on September 9, 2004).
4.4
United Community Banks, Inc.'s 2000 Key Employee Stock Option Plan
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-99849, filed with the
Commission on September 19, 2002).
4.5
Amendment to United Community Banks, Inc. 2000 Key Employee Stock Option
Plan, dated March 5, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed on September 9, 2004).
5
Opinion of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP.
23.1
Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP.
23.2
Consent of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit 5).
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement).
2
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Blairsville, State of Georgia, on November 19, 2004.
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
By:
/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent
Jimmy C. Tallent
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jimmy
C. Tallent and Robert L. Head, Jr., and each of them acting alone, his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him in any and all
capacities, to execute any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to
this Registration Statement and to cause the same to be filed, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting to said attorneys-in-fact
and agents full power and authority to do so and perform each and every act and
thing whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said
attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on November 19, 2004.
/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent
Jimmy C. Tallent
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Rex S. Schuette
Rex S. Schuette
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Alan H. Kumler
Alan H. Kumler
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Robert L. Head, Jr.
Robert L. Head, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
/s/ W.C. Nelson, Jr.
W.C. Nelson, Jr.
Vice Chairman of the Board
/s/ A. William Bennett
A. William Bennett
Director
/s/ Robert H. Blalock
Robert H. Blalock
Director
/s/ Guy W. Freeman
Guy W. Freeman
Director
3
Table of Contents
/s/ Thomas C. Gilliland
Thomas C. Gilliland
Director
/s/ Charles Hill
Charles Hill
Director
/s/ Hoyt O. Holloway
Hoyt O. Holloway
Director
/s/ Clarence W. Mason, Sr.
Clarence W. Mason, Sr.
Director
/s/ Tim Wallis
Tim Wallis
Director
4
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
Description
5
Opinion of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP.
23.1
Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP.
23.2
Consent of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP (included in Exhibit 5).
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature
page of this Registration Statement).
5