# United Community Banks: AI strategy

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/united-community
Last updated: Oct 25, 2026

*The Southeast's most-awarded bank for customer satisfaction has a CEO who says AI 'will have a positive impact on our business', credits it with saving customers millions in fraud losses, and is embedding it in contact-centre and branch-support systems after selling its equipment-finance arm for about $2.0 billion.*

## How is United Community using AI?

United Community Banks, the Greenville, South Carolina parent of United Community Bank with about $28 billion of assets, is one of the clearest AI voices in the rank-51-to-100 group because its chairman and CEO, Lynn Harton, put it in his 2025 shareholder letter: 'I believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on our business.' He wrote that the bank is 'already seeing benefits of AI in fraud prevention, with tools that have helped our customers avoid potentially millions of dollars in losses', that 'customer service tools powered by AI are making our contact center agents more efficient', and that the bank is 'working on embedding AI in our internal customer service systems as well, our branch support desk for example'. His main hope is capacity: every year 'dozens of great product or process improvement projects' are postponed for lack of resources, and AI-enabled productivity would let teams take more of them on. On the April 2026 earnings call he put a number on it: AI investments have had 'a strong payback', mostly through vendors; fraud losses have dropped by 50% over two years, partly because fraud vendors are heavy AI users; chatbots and other AI tools let the contact centre take more calls with the same number of agents; programmers do more work without new hires; and agentic AI for mundane processes such as flood checks is 'at just the conversational stage'. The 2025 10-K adds that AI 'present[s] new and significant cybersecurity safety risks that must be analyzed and addressed before implementation', including deep-fake fraud. Technology is run by chief information officer Mark Terry; fraud data and technology is led by vice president Micah Weaver, who spoke in August 2026 on putting AI agents to work in risk and compliance workflows. The strategy around it is simplification and in-market growth: in April 2026 United agreed to buy Peach State Bancshares of Gainesville, Georgia, for $100.8 million, closing on 1 August. In June 2026 United agreed to sell its equipment-finance business, Navitas Credit Corp., to funds managed by Wafra for about $1.9 billion in cash, a 7% premium to the loan portfolio's par value, with a one-time pre-tax benefit of $109 million; the sale completed on 1 September 2026 at about $2.0 billion; Harton said the bank had been restraining Navitas' growth to stay within self-imposed limits. Second-quarter 2026 GAAP earnings per share were $0.95, or $0.71 operating, up 8%, with 6.8% annualised loan growth and a sixth straight quarter of margin expansion. The service record is the brand: in March 2026 J.D. Power ranked United number one for retail banking customer satisfaction in the Southeast for the 12th time in 17 years. United Community Bank is a South Carolina state member bank supervised by the Federal Reserve; no AI vendor, model inventory or budget has been named.

## At a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lead bank | United Community Bank |
| Ticker | UCB |
| Headquarters | Greenville, SC |
| Consolidated assets | $28,988 million |
| Federal Reserve rank | 68 |
| Charter | South Carolina state member bank (Federal Reserve) |

## What AI partnerships and patents does United Community Banks have?

United Community's public AI record names two vendors: Microsoft, whose Copilot staff use internally, and Newgen, whose SBA lending platform the bank adopted in 2025 and which Newgen says includes AI-powered underwriting. Harton says most of the bank's AI comes through vendors and that its fraud vendors are heavy AI users, but names none. Micah Weaver spoke in an Alloy session on AI agents in risk operations; no Alloy contract is disclosed. No patents or published applications assigned to United Community Banks turned up in a Google Patents assignee search on 14 October 2026. No AI lab, cloud, GPU or data-platform partner is public. ([ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/), [Fintech Futures](https://fintechfutures.com/commercial-sme-lending/united-community-digitises-small-business-lending-with-newgen), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm), [American Banker (Partner Insights from Alloy)](https://americanbanker.com/partnerinsights/alloy/webinar/the-backlog-that-never-shrinks-scaling-risk-ops-with-ai), [Google Patents (USPTO)](https://patents.google.com/?assignee=%22United+Community+Banks%22))

| Item | What it is | Status | Date | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Copilot | Used across the bank, including wealth management, for presentations, notes and customer insights | In production | 2026-09-14 | [ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/) |
| Newgen SBA loan solution (NewgenONE) | SBA loan origination and servicing platform; AI-powered underwriting is Newgen's description | In production | 2025-05-14 | [Fintech Futures](https://fintechfutures.com/commercial-sme-lending/united-community-digitises-small-business-lending-with-newgen) |
| Fraud vendors (unnamed) | Harton: all the bank's fraud vendors are heavy AI users and most of its AI arrives through vendors | In production | 2026-04-21 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| US patents and applications | None found under the assignee name United Community Banks | None found | 2026-10-14 | [Google Patents (USPTO)](https://patents.google.com/?assignee=%22United+Community+Banks%22) |

## Key points

- CEO Lynn Harton's 2025 shareholder letter: AI 'will have a positive impact on our business'; fraud tools have saved customers 'potentially millions of dollars'.
- AI in production: fraud prevention and AI-powered contact-centre agent tools; AI being embedded in internal support systems such as the branch support desk.
- Stated goal is capacity: AI productivity to clear the backlog of postponed product and process projects.
- Navitas equipment-finance sale to Wafra agreed in June at about $1.9 billion cash (7% premium to par, $109 million pre-tax benefit expected); completed 1 September 2026 at about $2.0 billion.
- Q2 2026: GAAP EPS $0.95, operating EPS $0.71 (+8%); 6.8% annualised loan growth; sixth consecutive quarter of margin expansion.
- J.D. Power number one for retail banking satisfaction in the Southeast for the 12th time in 17 years (March 2026).
- Q1 2026 call: AI investments show 'a strong payback', mostly vendor-delivered; fraud losses down 50% over two years partly thanks to vendors' AI; contact-centre chatbots and AI tools handle more calls with the same agents; more programming without more programmers; agentic AI only at the conversational stage.
- 2025 10-K: AI and machine learning named as technology, competition, fraud (deep fakes) and cybersecurity risks; AI must be analysed for cyber risk before implementation.
- Bench: CIO Mark Terry (technology, data management, applications); VP of fraud data and technology Micah Weaver speaks on AI agents in risk operations.
- Peach State Bancshares ($788 million assets) bought for $100.8 million; merger completed 1 August 2026, systems conversion expected Q1 2027.
- SEC language on AI has grown each year: three mentions of 'artificial intelligence' or 'machine learning' in the FY2023 10-K (February 2024), nine in the FY2024 10-K and twelve in the FY2025 10-K, which adds deep-fake impersonation; the Q3 2025 10-Q has none, and the Q1 and Q2 2026 10-Qs mention AI only in the forward-looking-statements list.
- Only one of the last four earnings calls discusses AI: the Q4 2025 (January 2026) and Q2 2026 (July 2026) transcripts do not mention it, and in April a Raymond James analyst's question on AI spending drew Harton's 'strong payback' answer but no AI budget; the CFO's guide was expense growth of about 3.5% plus $1.0 million to $1.2 million a quarter of new-hire cost.
- The CIO owns the AI pipeline: ABA Banking Journal (September 2026) says the CIO is leading efforts to find internal projects and third-party AI tools to reduce fraud risk and administrative work and improve customer experience, while chief consumer and small business banking officer Abraham Cox says AI in wealth-customer interactions or decisions is not expected 'anytime soon' and staff use Microsoft Copilot internally.
- Governance sits in technology and risk: the CISO reports to the CIO and briefs the board Risk Committee quarterly; the 10-K requires new AI uses to be analysed for cyber risk before implementation; and the board includes George Bell, a former Truist senior technology manager, and Lance Drummond, a former TD Canada Trust executive vice president of operations and technology.
- The Navitas equipment-finance sale to Wafra funds completed on 1 September 2026 for about $2.0 billion in cash, and a securities repositioning on 8 September (about $2.6 billion sold at a 2.20% yield) leaves an expected net pre-tax loss of about $300 million and a third-quarter net loss.
- Two bank conversions in twelve months: American National Bank (about $80 million, completed 1 May 2025, converted 11 July 2025) and Peach State (completed 1 August 2026, conversion expected in the first quarter of 2027); on the Q4 2025 call (15 January 2026) Harton said the momentum came from 'the number of technology projects we're able to do without having to worry about integrations and conversions', and 2025 communications and equipment expense rose 12% to $55.2 million on new software contracts.

## Timeline

- Sep 18, 2026 — **Customer guidance on AI-enabled scams** A business-banking guide says AI-empowered tools are making social-engineering scams more convincing and that United continues to invest heavily in fraud prevention and detection tools. ([United Community](https://ucbi.com/support/learning-center/ach-fraud-protect-your-business-from-payment-fraud-and-account-takeover))
- Sep 14, 2026 — **Named as a Microsoft Copilot adopter** ABA Banking Journal reports that United's bankers, including in wealth management, use Microsoft Copilot internally for presentations and notes; chief consumer and small business banking officer Abraham Cox said the bank does not anticipate deploying AI in wealth-customer interactions or decision-making anytime soon. ([ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/))
- Sep 8, 2026 — **Balance-sheet repositioning completed** United reclassified $2.2 billion of held-to-maturity securities, sold about $2.6 billion at a 2.20% weighted yield and expects a pre-tax loss of about $300 million, net of a $64 million pre-tax gain on Navitas. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23781/pdf))
- Sep 1, 2026 — **Navitas sale completed** About $2.0 billion in cash from Wafra funds, a 7% premium to the loan portfolio's par value; Harton says the sale sharpens focus on core Southeastern markets and reduces the risk profile. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23736/pdf))
- Aug 15, 2026 — **Fraud technology lead on AI agents in risk operations** VP of fraud data and technology Micah Weaver joins an Alloy session on putting AI agents to work in risk and compliance workflows with humans in the loop. ([American Banker (Partner Insights from Alloy)](https://americanbanker.com/partnerinsights/alloy/webinar/the-backlog-that-never-shrinks-scaling-risk-ops-with-ai))
- Aug 5, 2026 — **Q2 10-Q: AI only in the forward-looking statements** The second-quarter 10-Q, like the first-quarter filing of 6 May, mentions AI and machine learning once, as a driver of 'substantial expenditures to keep pace with regulatory initiatives and the rapid technological changes'. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000076/ucbi-20260630.htm), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000017/ucbi-20260331.htm))
- Aug 3, 2026 — **Peach State merger completed** Effective 1 August 2026; core systems conversion to United Community's expected in the first quarter of 2027. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-completion-merger-peach))
- Jul 21, 2026 — **Q2 call: no AI discussion** The Motley Fool transcript of the call has no reference to AI; management reports 37 net new revenue producers since 30 September 2025, a sales force about 17% larger. ([The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/07/21/ucb-ucb-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript))
- Jul 21, 2026 — **Second-quarter 2026 earnings** GAAP EPS $0.95; operating EPS $0.71; margin up for sixth straight quarter. ([United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/21/3330328/0/en/united-community-banks-inc-reports-second-quarter-earnings.html))
- Jun 12, 2026 — **Navitas sale agreement carries AI representations** The purchase agreement filed with the 8-K has the equipment-finance company state that it complies with data-privacy, AI and security requirements and has policies for the ethical and safe deployment of AI technologies; the reinsurance company states it does not develop, train or use AI technologies. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000110465926073197/tm2617702d1_ex2-1.htm))
- Jun 12, 2026 — **Navitas equipment-finance sale agreed** About $1.9 billion cash to Wafra funds; closing expected Q3 2026. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-agreement-sell-equipment))
- May 15, 2026 — **Executive team named in a merger employee update** A Rule 425 weekly update for Peach State staff lists CIO Mark Terry, chief risk officer Rob Edwards and, not pictured, head of operations Gene Gibson among the executive leadership. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/8ddff500-224d-464a-a106-85ed374e647b))
- Apr 21, 2026 — **Peach State Bancshares acquisition agreed** $100.8 million in cash and stock for a $788 million-asset Gainesville, Georgia bank; number-one share in Hall County. ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/ucb-to-add-heft-near-atlanta-with-latest-bank-deal))
- Apr 21, 2026 — **Q1 call: AI's 'strong payback'** Fraud losses down 50% over two years partly thanks to vendors' AI; contact-centre chatbots take more calls with the same agents; AI-assisted programming; agentic AI for processes such as flood checks at the conversational stage. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm))
- Apr 21, 2026 — **First-quarter 2026 earnings** Net income $84.3 million; revenue growth and solid loan growth. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23271/pdf))
- Apr 1, 2026 — **Proxy letter: AI for productivity, fraud and product innovation** The DEF 14A letter says AI offers meaningful opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen fraud prevention and accelerate product and process innovation, and lists 'implementing new deposit and lending platforms' among 2025 investments; the board includes a former Truist senior technology manager and a former TD Canada Trust operations and technology executive. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/bda0e7d0-71ef-4c2a-bb46-2a505f29accd))
- Mar 31, 2026 — **2025 annual report: CEO on AI's positive impact** Fraud savings, contact-centre tools, branch support desk, capacity. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760))
- Mar 26, 2026 — **12th J.D. Power award in 17 years** Most-awarded bank for customer satisfaction in the Southeast. ([United Community](https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/(clone)-12th-jd-power-award-in-17-years))
- Feb 17, 2026 — **2025 10-K: AI as technology, fraud and cyber risk** AI 'present[s] new and significant cybersecurity safety risks that must be analyzed and addressed before implementation'; AI and quantum computing could exacerbate fraud, including deep-fake impersonation. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm))
- Jan 15, 2026 — **Q4 2025 call: 'We can fund whatever technology we need'** Asked about M&A, Harton says scale does not buy technology and that at United's size technology is probably easier to implement than at a larger bank; AI is not discussed on the call, and the 2025 efficiency ratio improved 264 basis points. ([The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/01/15/united-community-banks-ucb-earnings-transcript))
- Nov 13, 2025 — **Climbs 32 spots on Best Banks to Work For** Ninth consecutive year of recognition; No. 50. ([United Community](https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/best-banks-to-work-for-2025))
- Jul 14, 2025 — **American National Bank conversion complete** All ANB accounts and services moved to United's systems and brand; the Oakland Park branch now operates as United Community. ([United Community](https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/united-community-completes-transition-of-american-national-bank))
- May 14, 2025 — **SBA lending moves to Newgen platform** Fintech Futures reports that the $27.7 billion-asset bank chose Newgen's SBA loan solution on the NewgenONE platform, which Newgen says includes AI-powered underwriting capabilities and customisable credit policies. ([Fintech Futures](https://fintechfutures.com/commercial-sme-lending/united-community-digitises-small-business-lending-with-newgen))
- May 1, 2025 — **American National Bank merger completed** ANB's single Oakland Park branch merged into United Community Bank; core systems, signage and branding were to convert on the weekend of 11 July 2025. ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-completion-merger-anb))
- Mar 27, 2025 — **11th J.D. Power award** Number one in the Southeast for satisfaction, trust and people. ([United Community](https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/united-community-earns-11th-jd-power-award))
- Feb 27, 2025 — **FY2024 10-K: AI becomes a technology-change and cyber risk** Nine mentions of artificial intelligence or machine learning; new technologies such as AI 'present new and significant cybersecurity safety risks that must be analyzed and addressed before implementation'. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785525000057/ucbi-20241231.htm))
- Dec 3, 2024 — **American National Bank acquisition agreed** All-stock deal valued at about $80 million for an Oakland Park, Florida bank with $439 million of assets; completion expected in the second quarter of 2025. ([United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/03/2990505/34434/en/United-Community-Banks-Inc-and-ANB-Holdings-Inc-the-Parent-of-American-National-Bank-Announce-Merger-Agreement.html))
- Feb 23, 2024 — **FY2023 10-K: AI named as a fraud risk and a wealth-management competitor** Three mentions of artificial intelligence: AI and quantum computing could exacerbate fraud, and AI-based applications are beginning to compete in personal advice, including wealth management. ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785524000010/ucbi-20231231.htm))

## Where AI runs

| Use case | What | Status | Detail | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Fraud detection](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#fraud) | AI fraud-prevention tools | In production | Credited with helping customers avoid potentially millions of dollars in losses. | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760) |
| [Third-party & vendor AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#third-party-vendors) | Vendor-delivered AI | In production | Most of the bank's AI comes through vendors; its fraud vendors are heavy AI users, and fraud losses fell 50% over two years partly as a result. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| [AI-generated code & coding agents](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#ai-generated-code) | AI-assisted programming | In production | More programming work done without adding programmers. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| [Model risk management](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#model-risk) | AI risk-factor disclosure | In production | The 10-K names AI and machine learning in the technology-change and competition risk factors, says AI and quantum computing could exacerbate fraud, and requires AI's cybersecurity risks to be analysed before implementation. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | Agentic AI for mundane processes | Announced | Processes such as flood checks identified as candidates; discussions only. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| [Customer-facing chatbots](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#customer-chatbots) | AI-powered contact-centre agent tools | In production | Efficiency tools for agents while maintaining service quality; chatbots and other AI-enabled tools let the contact centre take more calls with the same number of agents. | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | AI in internal support systems | Rolling out | Branch support desk and other internal customer-service systems; internal staff use Microsoft Copilot for presentations and notes. | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760), [ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | Capacity-building through AI productivity | Announced | Clearing postponed product and process improvement projects. | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760) |
| [Cybersecurity](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#cybersecurity) | AI cyber-risk review before implementation | In production | The 10-K says new AI uses present cybersecurity risks that must be analysed and addressed before implementation; the CISO reports to the CIO and briefs the board Risk Committee every quarter. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm) |
| [Credit scoring & underwriting](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#credit-underwriting) | SBA lending platform with vendor-described AI underwriting | In production | Newgen's SBA loan solution handles origination, renewals and modifications; Newgen describes AI-powered underwriting capabilities, and United has not said which AI features it uses. | [Fintech Futures](https://fintechfutures.com/commercial-sme-lending/united-community-digitises-small-business-lending-with-newgen) |
| [AML / KYC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#aml-kyc) | AI agents in risk and compliance operations | Announced | VP of fraud data and technology Micah Weaver joined an Alloy session on AI agents for AML investigation and KYC review with humans in the loop; no deployment at United is disclosed. | [American Banker (Partner Insights from Alloy)](https://americanbanker.com/partnerinsights/alloy/webinar/the-backlog-that-never-shrinks-scaling-risk-ops-with-ai) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | CIO-led search for internal AI projects | Announced | Candidates named are fraud-risk reduction, administrative work, customer experience, HR policy access and, in wealth, internal lookup of mortgage guidelines; Cox says AI in wealth-customer interactions is not planned soon. | [ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | AI terms in the Navitas sale agreement | In production | The equipment-finance company represents that it has policies for the ethical and safe deployment of AI technologies; the reinsurance company represents that it does not use AI technologies. | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000110465926073197/tm2617702d1_ex2-1.htm) |

## Disclosed numbers

| Measure | Value | As of | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Navitas sale price | ≈ $1.9 billion cash (7% premium to par) | Jun 12, 2026 | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-agreement-sell-equipment), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/united-community-to-sell-a-high-achieving-equipment-finance-unit) |
| Q2 2026 EPS, GAAP / operating | $0.95 / $0.71 | Jul 21, 2026 | [United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/21/3330328/0/en/united-community-banks-inc-reports-second-quarter-earnings.html) |
| 2025 net income, GAAP / operating | $328.1 million / $336.1 million | Mar 31, 2026 | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760) |
| J.D. Power Southeast satisfaction awards | 12 in 17 years | Mar 26, 2026 | [United Community](https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/(clone)-12th-jd-power-award-in-17-years) |
| Fraud losses, change over two years (partly attributed to vendors' AI) | −50% | Apr 21, 2026 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |
| Peach State Bancshares acquisition | $100.8 million (cash and stock); seller assets $788 million | Apr 21, 2026 | [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/ucb-to-add-heft-near-atlanta-with-latest-bank-deal) |
| Navitas revenue, 2025 | $166 million | Jun 12, 2026 | [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/united-community-to-sell-a-high-achieving-equipment-finance-unit) |
| Operating earnings per share, 2025 / revenue | $2.71 (+18%) / more than $1 billion for the first time | Apr 1, 2026 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/bda0e7d0-71ef-4c2a-bb46-2a505f29accd) |
| Full-time equivalent employees | 3,070 at 31 December 2025 (2,979 a year earlier) | Dec 31, 2025 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm) |
| Communications and equipment expense, 2025 | $55.2 million, up 12% on $49.2 million (new software contracts, volume-based increases) | Dec 31, 2025 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm) |
| Mentions of 'artificial intelligence' or 'machine learning' in the 10-K (count of the filed text) | 3 (FY2023), 9 (FY2024), 12 (FY2025) | Feb 17, 2026 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785524000010/ucbi-20231231.htm), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785525000057/ucbi-20241231.htm), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm) |
| Net new revenue producers since 30 September 2025 | 37 (sales force about 17% larger) | Jul 21, 2026 | [The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/07/21/ucb-ucb-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript) |
| Navitas sale proceeds, completed | ≈ $2.0 billion cash; $64 million pre-tax gain | Sep 8, 2026 | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23736/pdf), [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23781/pdf) |
| Securities repositioning | ≈ $2.6 billion sold at 2.20%; ≈ $300 million expected pre-tax loss, net | Sep 8, 2026 | [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23781/pdf) |
| Expense growth guide, April 2026 | ≈ 3.5%, plus $1.0 million to $1.2 million a quarter from new hires | Apr 21, 2026 | [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm) |

## Quotes

> "I believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on our business. We are already seeing benefits of AI in fraud prevention, with tools that have helped our customers avoid potentially millions of dollars in losses." — Lynn Harton, Chairman, CEO and President, Mar 31, 2026 ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760))

> "I am most hopeful about AI's potential to make our teams more efficient and effective." — Lynn Harton, Chairman, CEO and President, Mar 31, 2026 ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760))

> "So far, I would say our AI investments have been very good and have a strong payback. For example, most of our AI at this time is coming in through vendors." — Lynn Harton, Chairman, CEO and President, Apr 21, 2026 ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm))

> "Our contact center, where we have chatbots and other AI-enabled tools, we're seeing the ability to take more calls with the same number of agents." — Lynn Harton, Chairman, CEO and President, Apr 21, 2026 ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm))

> "It's really hard with all the momentum we've got now, the number of technology projects we're able to do without having to worry about integrations and conversions." — Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO, Jan 15, 2026 ([The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/01/15/united-community-banks-ucb-earnings-transcript))

> "The only thing that scale really gets you, it's not technology. We can fund whatever technology we need. In fact, at our size, it's probably easier to implement than it is if you're larger." — Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO, Jan 15, 2026 ([The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/01/15/united-community-banks-ucb-earnings-transcript))

> "As we think about the next steps in agentic AI, I think there are clearly possibilities for some of our kind of more mundane processes, for example, flood and other things where we could get some benefit from AI. That's at just the conversational stage now." — Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO, Apr 21, 2026 ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm))

> "Every year, we have dozens of great product or process improvement projects that we must postpone due to resource constraints." — Lynn Harton, Chairman, CEO and President, Mar 31, 2026 ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760))

> "In a controlled, internal fashion, can we use AI to digest all this information?" — Abraham Cox, Chief Consumer and Small Business Banking Officer, Sep 14, 2026 ([ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/))

## Who runs AI

- **Lynn Harton** — Chairman, CEO and President ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/h-lynn-harton)) ([United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760), [United Community Banks](https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-agreement-sell-equipment), [United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/21/3330328/0/en/united-community-banks-inc-reports-second-quarter-earnings.html), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm))
- **Mark Terry** — Chief Information Officer (technology, data management and applications; leads the search for AI projects and tools; the CISO reports to him) ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-terry-22a6196)) ([United Community Banks (investor relations)](https://ir.ucbi.com/managers/mark-terry), [ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm))
- **Micah Weaver** — Vice President, Fraud Data and Technology ([LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-weaver1)) ([American Banker (Partner Insights from Alloy)](https://americanbanker.com/partnerinsights/alloy/webinar/the-backlog-that-never-shrinks-scaling-risk-ops-with-ai))
- **Rob Edwards** — Chief Risk Officer (executive team; joins earnings calls) ([The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/07/21/ucb-ucb-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript), [United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/8ddff500-224d-464a-a106-85ed374e647b))
- **Gene Gibson** — Head of Operations ([United Community Banks (SEC filings)](https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/8ddff500-224d-464a-a106-85ed374e647b))
- **Abraham Cox** — Chief Consumer and Small Business Banking Officer (retail, wealth and product management; spokesman on cautious internal AI use) ([United Community Banks (investor relations)](https://ir.ucbi.com/managers/abraham-cox), [ABA Banking Journal](https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/))

## Open AI roles

Data as of Oct 25, 2026 (2026-10-25) · read from the bank's own careers site, re-checked weekly.

1 open AI-related posting on [the careers site](https://www.ucbi.com/careers) as of Oct 25, 2026. A snapshot of current openings, not a source: postings close.

- [AI Development and Enablement Analyst](https://careers-ucbi.icims.com/jobs/2437/ai-development-and-enablement-analyst/job)

## Which AI vendors and fintechs does United Community work with?

| Company | What United Community uses it for | Status | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Microsoft 365 Copilot](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/vendors/microsoft-copilot) | Bankers, including in wealth management, use Microsoft Copilot for presentations, notes and communications. | In production | [Enterprise AI assistants](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-tools/enterprise-ai-assistants) |

Each vendor and fintech page cites the source for the relationship. [AI tools for banks](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-tools) · [fintech and neobank AI dossiers](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/fintech).

## Regulators it answers to

- [Federal Reserve](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/federal-reserve) — United Community Bank is a state member bank; Fed model-risk and third-party guidance govern the fraud and contact-centre AI tools. See [SR 11-7](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-11-7), [SR 23-4](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-23-4).
- [CFPB](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/cfpb) — AI in customer service and fraud decisions carries UDAAP and chatbot-guidance exposure. See [CFPB Chatbots in Consumer Finance (issue spotlight, 2023)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-chatbots-in-consumer-finance-2023), [ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-ecoa-regulation-b-adverse-action).
- [FDIC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/fdic) — Deposit-insurance supervision and interagency third-party guidance apply to vendor AI. See [FDIC FIL-29-2023](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-29-2023).

## What the record suggests

### The CEO letter is the disclosure template

A paragraph naming fraud, contact centre and internal support with a capacity rationale is more than most $30 billion banks give; the next step is a named leader and metrics.

### Selling Navitas frees balance sheet and attention

Exiting a growth-constrained specialty business concentrates the franchise on relationship banking, where the AI use cases named already sit.

### Satisfaction leadership is the thing to protect

Twelve J.D. Power awards mean any AI in service must be measured against the metric that defines the brand.

### Fraud savings claims invite quantification

'Potentially millions' is a headline; examiners and investors will want the model, the vendor and the false-positive rate.

## FAQ

### Does United Community Bank use AI?

Yes. CEO Lynn Harton's 2025 shareholder letter says AI fraud-prevention tools have helped customers avoid potentially millions of dollars in losses, AI-powered tools make contact-centre agents more efficient, and the bank is embedding AI in internal support systems such as its branch support desk. On the April 2026 earnings call he added that most of the bank's AI comes through vendors, that fraud losses fell 50% over two years partly because of it, and that AI also helps its programmers; agentic AI is only being discussed. No vendor or budget has been named.

### Who runs technology and AI at United Community?

There is no chief AI officer. CEO Lynn Harton speaks for the bank's AI use; Mark Terry, chief information officer, leads technology infrastructure, data management, application support and project management; Micah Weaver, vice president of fraud data and technology, represents the bank on AI in fraud and risk operations.

### What is United Community doing with Navitas?

In June 2026 it agreed to sell its equipment-finance business, Navitas Credit Corp. and NLFC Reinsurance, to funds managed by Wafra for about $1.9 billion in cash, a 7% premium to par, completed on 1 September 2026 for about $2.0 billion in cash. Management said the sale refocuses United on Southeastern relationship banking.

### Who leads AI at United Community Banks?

United Community has no chief AI officer or named head of AI. Chairman and CEO Lynn Harton speaks for AI use, setting out the fraud, contact-centre and programming uses in the 2025 annual report letter and on the April 2026 call. Chief information officer Mark Terry, who leads technology, data management and applications, is leading the search for internal AI projects and third-party tools, according to ABA Banking Journal. Micah Weaver, vice president of fraud data and technology, represents the bank on AI agents in risk operations. Chief risk officer Rob Edwards and head of operations Gene Gibson sit on the executive team. No chief data officer is named in the sources reviewed.

### What do United Community's SEC filings say about AI?

AI is treated as a risk and a competitor, not as a programme. The 10-K mentions artificial intelligence or machine learning three times for 2023, nine for 2024 and twelve for 2025. The latest says AI could exacerbate fraud, that AI-enabled 'deep fake' impersonation raises cyber risk, and that new AI uses must be analysed and addressed before implementation. The Q1 and Q2 2026 10-Qs mention AI only in the forward-looking-statements list. The Navitas sale agreement adds representations on the safe and ethical use of AI technologies at the equipment-finance unit.

### Does United Community hold AI patents or name AI partners?

No patents or published applications assigned to United Community Banks turned up in a Google Patents assignee search on 14 October 2026. The named AI-related vendors are Microsoft, whose Copilot staff use internally for presentations and notes according to ABA Banking Journal, and Newgen, whose SBA lending platform the bank adopted in 2025 and which Newgen says includes AI-powered underwriting. Harton says most of the bank's AI arrives through vendors, mainly fraud vendors, and none of those is named. Weaver spoke in an Alloy session on AI agents, but no Alloy contract is disclosed.

## Sources (33)

1. United Community earns 11th J.D. Power Award in the last 16 years — United Community, Mar 27, 2025. https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/united-community-earns-11th-jd-power-award
2. United Community Climbs 32 Spots on American Banker's 2025 Best Banks to Work For List — United Community, Nov 13, 2025. https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/best-banks-to-work-for-2025
3. United Community Earns 12th JD Power Award in 17 Years — United Community, Mar 26, 2026. https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/(clone)-12th-jd-power-award-in-17-years
4. United Community Banks, Inc. 2025 Annual Report — United Community Banks, Mar 31, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/5e8f9b22-d28d-4070-bc4f-b896c20ae760
5. United Community Banks, Inc. Reports First Quarter Earnings — United Community Banks, Apr 21, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23271/pdf
6. United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Agreement to Sell Equipment Finance Business, Consisting of Navitas Credit Corp. and NLFC Reinsurance Corp., to Funds Managed by Wafra Inc. — United Community Banks, Jun 12, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-agreement-sell-equipment
7. United Community Banks, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings — United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire), Jul 21, 2026. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/21/3330328/0/en/united-community-banks-inc-reports-second-quarter-earnings.html
8. Banks' wealth units pursue AI — carefully — ABA Banking Journal, Sep 14, 2026. https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/09/banks-wealth-units-pursue-ai-carefully/
9. United Community Banks, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Feb 17, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000008/ucbi-20251231.htm
10. United Community Banks first-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (filed under Rule 425) — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Apr 21, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000010/earningscalltranscript42126.htm
11. UCB to add heft near Atlanta with latest bank deal — American Banker, Apr 21, 2026. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/ucb-to-add-heft-near-atlanta-with-latest-bank-deal
12. United Community to sell a high-achieving equipment-finance unit — American Banker, Jun 12, 2026. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/united-community-to-sell-a-high-achieving-equipment-finance-unit
13. United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Completion Of Merger With Peach State Bancshares, Inc., The Parent Company Of Peach State Bank & Trust — United Community Banks, Aug 3, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-completion-merger-peach
14. The backlog that never shrinks: Scaling risk ops with AI — American Banker (Partner Insights from Alloy), Aug 15, 2026. https://americanbanker.com/partnerinsights/alloy/webinar/the-backlog-that-never-shrinks-scaling-risk-ops-with-ai
15. Mark Terry — United Community Banks (investor relations), Sep 24, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/managers/mark-terry
16. United Community Banks, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Feb 23, 2024. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785524000010/ucbi-20231231.htm
17. United Community Banks, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Feb 27, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785525000057/ucbi-20241231.htm
18. United Community Banks, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 — United Community Banks (SEC filings), May 6, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000017/ucbi-20260331.htm
19. United Community Banks, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Aug 5, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000085785526000076/ucbi-20260630.htm
20. United Community Banks, Inc. 2026 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A) — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Apr 1, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/bda0e7d0-71ef-4c2a-bb46-2a505f29accd
21. United Community Banks, Inc. and ANB Holdings, Inc., the Parent of American National Bank, Announce Merger Agreement — United Community Banks (GlobeNewswire), Dec 3, 2024. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/03/2990505/34434/en/United-Community-Banks-Inc-and-ANB-Holdings-Inc-the-Parent-of-American-National-Bank-Announce-Merger-Agreement.html
22. United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Completion of Merger With ANB Holdings, Inc., The Parent of American National Bank — United Community Banks, May 1, 2025. https://ir.ucbi.com/news-releases/news-release-details/united-community-banks-inc-announces-completion-merger-anb
23. United Community completes transition of American National Bank — United Community, Jul 14, 2025. https://ucbi.com/news-and-press-releases/press-release-archive/united-community-completes-transition-of-american-national-bank
24. United Community digitises small business lending with Newgen — Fintech Futures, May 14, 2025. https://fintechfutures.com/commercial-sme-lending/united-community-digitises-small-business-lending-with-newgen
25. UCB Q4 2025 earnings call transcript (United Community Banks) — The Motley Fool, Jan 15, 2026. https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/01/15/united-community-banks-ucb-earnings-transcript
26. UCB (UCB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript — The Motley Fool, Jul 21, 2026. https://fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/07/21/ucb-ucb-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript
27. Form 425 filed by United Community Banks, Inc. (Peach State employee update, 15 May 2026) — United Community Banks (SEC filings), May 15, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/static-files/8ddff500-224d-464a-a106-85ed374e647b
28. Equity Purchase Agreement for the sale of Navitas Credit Corp. and NLFC Reinsurance Corp. (Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K) — United Community Banks (SEC filings), Jun 12, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/857855/000110465926073197/tm2617702d1_ex2-1.htm
29. United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Completion of Sale of Navitas Equipment Finance Business to Funds Managed by Wafra Inc. — United Community Banks, Sep 1, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23736/pdf
30. United Community Banks, Inc. Announces Completion of Strategic Initiatives That Simplify and Strengthen Balance Sheet; Increased Share Repurchase Authorization — United Community Banks, Sep 8, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/node/23781/pdf
31. Abraham A. Cox — United Community Banks (investor relations), Jul 17, 2026. https://ir.ucbi.com/managers/abraham-cox
32. Protect Your Business from Payment Fraud and Account Takeover — United Community, Sep 18, 2026. https://ucbi.com/support/learning-center/ach-fraud-protect-your-business-from-payment-fraud-and-account-takeover
33. Google Patents assignee search for United Community Banks (no matching assignee found) — Google Patents (USPTO), Oct 14, 2026. https://patents.google.com/?assignee=%22United+Community+Banks%22

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