UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
x     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2014
 
OR
 
o     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition Period from ___________ to ___________
 
Commission file number 001-35095
 
 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Georgia
 
58-1807304
(State of Incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
125 Highway 515 East
   
Blairsville, Georgia
 
30512
Address of Principal
Executive Offices
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
(706) 781-2265
 
 
(Telephone Number)
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
YES x  NO o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
YES x  NO o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o
   
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller Reporting Company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
 
YES o  NO x
 
Common stock, par value $1 per share 50,172,042 shares voting and 10,080,787 shares non-voting outstanding as of October 31, 2014.
 
 

 

 

         
INDEX
   
     
   
         
     
         
     
3
         
     
4
         
     
5
         
     
6
         
     
7
         
     
8
         
   
42
         
   
66
         
   
66
         
   
         
   
67
   
67
   
67
   
67
   
67
   
67
    68
 
2
 

 

Part I – Financial Information
 
Item 1 – Financial Statements
                         
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
                       
                       
                         
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Interest revenue:
                       
Loans, including fees
  $ 49,653     $ 50,162     $ 145,602     $ 151,827  
Investment securities, including tax exempt of $177, $202, $558 and $624
    12,346       9,887       36,118       29,905  
Deposits in banks and short-term investments
    934       1,007       2,757       2,793  
Total interest revenue
    62,933       61,056       184,477       184,525  
                                 
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits:
                               
NOW
    365       413       1,216       1,286  
Money market
    872       545       2,192       1,641  
Savings
    20       37       61       109  
Time
    1,721       2,630       5,510       8,871  
Total deposit interest expense
    2,978       3,625       8,979       11,907  
Short-term borrowings
    316       525       2,064       1,563  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    435       16       573       65  
Long-term debt
    2,642       3,003       7,914       8,331  
Total interest expense
    6,371       7,169       19,530       21,866  
Net interest revenue
    56,562       53,887       164,947       162,659  
Provision for credit losses
    2,000       3,000       6,700       62,500  
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses
    54,562       50,887       158,247       100,159  
                                 
Fee revenue:
                               
Service charges and fees
    8,202       8,456       24,627       23,831  
Mortgage loan and other related fees
    2,178       2,554       5,409       8,212  
Brokerage fees
    1,209       1,274       3,631       3,104  
Securities gains, net
    11             4,663       116  
Loss from prepayment of debt
                (4,446 )      
Other
    2,812       1,941       6,847       7,816  
Total fee revenue
    14,412       14,225       40,731       43,079  
Total revenue
    68,974       65,112       198,978       143,238  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    25,666       23,090       74,349       71,416  
Communications and equipment
    3,094       3,305       9,370       9,819  
Occupancy
    3,425       3,379       10,065       10,195  
Advertising and public relations
    894       962       2,659       2,937  
Postage, printing and supplies
    876       644       2,456       2,401  
Professional fees
    2,274       2,650       5,873       7,515  
Foreclosed property
    285       194       503       7,678  
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges
    1,131       2,405       3,909       7,415  
Amortization of intangibles
    313       427       1,061       1,623  
Other
    3,406       3,041       10,701       11,691  
Total operating expenses
    41,364       40,097       120,946       132,690  
    Net income before income taxes
    27,610       25,015       78,032       10,548  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    9,994       9,515       28,659       (246,681 )
Net income
    17,616       15,500       49,373       257,229  
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion
          3,059       439       9,166  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 17,616     $ 12,441     $ 48,934     $ 248,063  
                                 
Earnings per common share:
                               
     Basic
  $ .29     $ .21     $ .81     $ 4.24  
     Diluted
    .29       .21       .81       4.24  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
     Basic
    60,776       59,100       60,511       58,443  
     Diluted
    60,779       59,202       60,513       58,444  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
3
 

 

 
                                     
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
                                   
                             
             
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
Before-tax Amount
   
Tax
(Expense) Benefit
   
Net of Tax Amount
   
Before-tax Amount
   
Tax
(Expense) Benefit
   
Net of Tax Amount
 
Net income
  $ 27,610     $ (9,994 )   $ 17,616     $ 78,032     $ (28,659 )   $ 49,373  
Other comprehensive income:
                                               
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
                                               
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period
    (4,357 )     1,626       (2,731 )     10,696       (4,031 )     6,665  
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income
    (11 )     4       (7 )     (4,663 )     1,821       (2,842 )
Net unrealized gains (losses)
    (4,368 )     1,630       (2,738 )     6,033       (2,210 )     3,823  
Amortization of gains included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held-to-maturity
    468       (176 )     292       1,207       (453 )     754  
Net unrealized gains
    468       (176 )     292       1,207       (453 )     754  
Amounts reclassified into net income on cash flow hedges
    711       (277 )     434       1,381       (538 )     843  
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges
    412       (160 )     252       (5,967 )     2,322       (3,645 )
Net unrealized gains (losses)
    1,123       (437 )     686       (4,586 )     1,784       (2,802 )
Net actuarial gain on defined benefit pension plan
                      296       (115 )     181  
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan
    91       (36 )     55       274       (107 )     167  
Net defined benefit pension plan activity
    91       (36 )     55       570       (222 )     348  
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
    (2,686 )     981       (1,705 )     3,224       (1,101 )     2,123  
Comprehensive income
  $ 24,924     $ (9,013 )   $ 15,911     $ 81,256     $ (29,760 )   $ 51,496  
                                                 
2013
                                               
                                                 
Net income
  $ 25,015     $ (9,515 )   $ 15,500     $ 10,548     $ 246,681     $ 257,229  
Other comprehensive loss:
                                               
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities:
                                               
Unrealized holding losses arising during period
    (13,215 )     4,971       (8,244 )     (26,932 )     10,148       (16,784 )
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income
                      (116 )     45       (71 )
Adjustment of valuation allowance for the change in deferred taxes arising from unrealized gains and losses on available- for-sale securities and release of valuation allowance
                            (2,950 )     (2,950 )
Net unrealized losses
    (13,215 )     4,971       (8,244 )     (27,048 )     7,243       (19,805 )
Amortization of gains included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held-to-maturity
    (214 )     82       (132 )     (804 )     309       (495 )
Adjustment of valuation allowance for the change in deferred taxes arising from the amortization of gains included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held-to-maturity and release of valuation allowance
                            1,293       1,293  
Net unrealized losses
    (214 )     82       (132 )     (804 )     1,602       798  
Amounts reclassified into net income on cash flow hedges
    (58 )     23       (35 )     (902 )     351       (551 )
Unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges
    (3,369 )     1,321       (2,048 )     8,733       (3,386 )     5,347  
Adjustment of valuation allowance for the change in deferred taxes arising from unrealized gains and losses and amortization of gains included in net income on cash flow hedges and release of valuation allowance
                            13,698       13,698  
Net unrealized (losses) gains
    (3,427 )     1,344       (2,083 )     7,831       10,663       18,494  
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit pension plan
                      (415 )     161       (254 )
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan
    133       (52 )     81       398       (155 )     243  
Net defined benefit pension plan activity
    133       (52 )     81       (17 )     6       (11 )
Total other comprehensive loss
    (16,723 )     6,345       (10,378 )     (20,038 )     19,514       (524 )
Comprehensive income
  $ 8,292     $ (3,170 )   $ 5,122     $ (9,490 )   $ 266,195     $ 256,705  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
4
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
                 
                 
                   
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
ASSETS
                 
Cash and due from banks
  $ 75,268     $ 71,230     $ 70,986  
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
    117,399       119,669       131,147  
Short-term investments
    23,397       37,999       62,000  
Cash and cash equivalents
    216,064       228,898       264,133  
Securities available for sale
    1,789,667       1,832,217       1,963,424  
Securities held to maturity (fair value $440,311, $485,585 and $214,651)
    432,418       479,742       205,613  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    20,004       10,319       11,987  
Loans, net of unearned income
    4,568,886       4,329,266       4,267,067  
Less allowance for loan losses
    (71,928 )     (76,762 )     (80,372 )
Loans, net
    4,496,958       4,252,504       4,186,695  
Assets covered by loss sharing agreements with the FDIC
    3,253       22,882       31,207  
Premises and equipment, net
    160,454       163,589       165,993  
Bank owned life insurance
    81,101       80,670       80,537  
Accrued interest receivable
    19,908       19,598       18,199  
Goodwill and core deposit intangibles
    3,910       3,480       3,888  
Foreclosed property
    3,146       4,221       4,467  
Net deferred tax asset
    224,734       258,518       269,784  
Derivative financial instruments
    22,221       23,833       8,092  
Other assets
    52,051       44,948       29,274  
      Total assets
  $ 7,525,889     $ 7,425,419     $ 7,243,293  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Liabilities:
                       
Deposits:
                       
Demand
  $ 1,561,020     $ 1,388,512     $ 1,418,782  
NOW
    1,399,449       1,427,939       1,279,134  
Money market
    1,281,526       1,227,575       1,197,495  
       Savings
    287,797       251,125       249,044  
       Time:
                       
            Less than $100,000
    774,201       892,961       925,089  
            Greater than $100,000
    531,428       588,689       624,019  
       Brokered
    405,308       424,704       419,344  
                     Total deposits
    6,240,729       6,201,505       6,112,907  
Short-term borrowings
    6,001       53,241       53,769  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    330,125       120,125       125  
Long-term debt
    129,865       129,865       129,865  
Derivative financial instruments
    36,171       46,232       37,269  
Unsettled securities purchases
          29,562       11,610  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    46,573       49,174       45,531  
Total liabilities
    6,789,464       6,629,704       6,391,076  
Shareholders’ equity:
                       
    Preferred stock, $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
                       
         Series A; $10 stated value; 0, 0 and 21,700 shares issued and outstanding
                217  
         Series B; $1,000 stated value; 0, 105,000 and 180,000 shares issued and outstanding
          105,000       179,714  
         Series D; $1,000 stated value; 0, 16,613 and 16,613 shares issued and outstanding
          16,613       16,613  
Common stock, $1 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 50,167,191, 46,243,345 and 45,222,839 shares issued and outstanding
50,167       46,243       45,223  
    Common stock, non-voting, $1 par value; 26,000,000 shares authorized; 10,080,787, 13,188,206 and 14,189,006 shares issued and outstanding
    10,081       13,188       14,189  
    Common stock issuable; 354,961, 241,832 and 242,262 shares
    5,116       3,930       3,979  
    Capital surplus
    1,091,555       1,078,676       1,077,536  
    Accumulated deficit
    (402,773 )     (448,091 )     (461,090 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (17,721 )     (19,844 )     (24,164 )
        Total shareholders’ equity
    736,425       795,715       852,217  
        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 7,525,889     $ 7,425,419     $ 7,243,293  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
5
 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                                             
                                                   
Accumulated
       
    Preferred Stock          
Non-Voting
   
Common
               
Other
       
(in thousands, except share
 
Series
   
Series
   
Series
   
Common
   
Common
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Accumulated
   
Comprehensive
       
and per share data)
    A       B       D    
Stock
   
Stock
   
Issuable
   
Surplus
   
Deficit
   
Income (Loss)
   
Total
 
Balance, December 31, 2012
  $ 217     $ 178,557     $ 16,613     $ 42,424     $ 15,317     $ 3,119     $ 1,057,951     $ (709,153 )   $ (23,640 )   $ 581,405  
Net income
                                                            257,229               257,229  
Other comprehensive income
                                                                    (524 )     (524 )
Common stock issued to dividend reinvestment plan and employee benefit plans (49,830 shares)
                            50                       532                       582  
Conversion of non-voting common stock to voting (1,127,788 shares)
                            1,128       (1,128 )                                      
Warrant exercise (1,551,126 shares)
                            1,551                       17,838                       19,389  
Amortization of stock options and restricted stock awards
                                                    2,168                       2,168  
Vesting of restricted stock (51,995 shares issued, 115,664 shares deferred)
                            52               1,693       (1,900 )                     (155 )
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents
                                            132                               132  
Shares issued from deferred compensation plan (18,230 shares)
                            18               (965 )     947                        
Preferred stock dividends:
                                                                               
Series A
                                                            (9 )             (9 )
Series B
            1,157                                               (7,907 )             (6,750 )
Series D
                                                            (1,250 )             (1,250 )
Balance, September 30, 2013
  $ 217     $ 179,714     $ 16,613     $ 45,223     $ 14,189     $ 3,979     $ 1,077,536     $ (461,090 )   $ (24,164 )   $ 852,217  
Balance, December 31, 2013
  $     $ 105,000     $ 16,613     $ 46,243     $ 13,188     $ 3,930     $ 1,078,676     $ (448,091 )   $ (19,844 )   $ 795,715  
Net income
                                                            49,373               49,373  
Other comprehensive income
                                                                    2,123       2,123  
Redemption of Series B preferred stock (105,000 shares)
            (105,000 )                                                             (105,000 )
Redemption of Series D preferred stock (16,613 shares)
                    (16,613 )                                                     (16,613 )
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($.06 per share)
                                                            (3,616 )             (3,616 )
Common stock issued at market (640,000 shares)
                            640                       11,566                       12,206  
Common stock issued to dividend reinvestment plan and to employee benefit plans (25,284 shares)
                            25                       399                       424  
Conversion of non-voting common stock to voting (3,107,419 shares)
                            3,107       (3,107 )                                      
Amortization of stock options and restricted stock awards
                                                    3,315                       3,315  
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares surrendered to cover payroll taxes (137,920 shares issued, 115,609 shares deferred)
                            138               1,275       (2,658 )                     (1,245 )
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents
                                            182                               182  
Shares issued from deferred
compensation plan
(13,223 shares)
                            14               (271 )     257                        
Preferred stock dividends:
                                                                               
Series B
                                                            (159 )             (159 )
Series D
                                                            (280 )             (280 )
Balance, September 30, 2014
  $     $     $     $ 50,167     $ 10,081     $ 5,116     $ 1,091,555     $ (402,773 )   $ (17,721 )   $ 736,425  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
6
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
           
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
(in thousands)
 
2014
   
2013
 
Operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 49,373     $ 257,229  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    15,098       20,847  
Provision for credit losses
    6,700       62,500  
Stock based compensation
    3,315       2,168  
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
    28,112       (250,054 )
Securities gains, net
    (4,663 )     (116 )
Loss on prepayment of borrowings
    4,446        
Net (gains) losses on sales of foreclosed property
    (518 )     5,141  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Other assets and accrued interest receivable
    (12,334 )     16,225  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (16,813 )     31,562  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    (9,685 )     16,834  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    63,031       162,336  
Investing activities:
               
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
               
Proceeds from maturities and calls
    47,567       45,578  
Purchases
    (173 )     (8,481 )
Investment securities available-for-sale:
               
Proceeds from sales
    403,517       20,751  
Proceeds from maturities and calls
    176,423       399,304  
Purchases
    (552,025 )     (574,020 )
Net increase in loans
    (220,061 )     (288,514 )
Proceeds from note sales
    4,561       91,913  
Cash paid for acquisition
    (31,243 )      
Funds collected from FDIC under loss sharing agreements
    2,890       5,121  
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment
    2,488       3,550  
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (3,260 )     (7,533 )
Proceeds from sale of other real estate
    7,920       24,049  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (161,396 )     (288,282 )
Financing activities:
               
Net change in deposits
    39,224       160,767  
Net change in short-term borrowings
    (51,686 )     1,195  
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    930,000       650,000  
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    (720,000 )     (690,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of senior debt
          40,000  
Repayment of subordinated debentures
          (35,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment and employee benefit plans
    424       582  
Retirement of preferred stock
    (121,613 )      
Issuance of common stock
    12,206        
Proceeds from warrant exercise
          19,389  
Cash dividends on common stock
    (1,810 )      
Cash dividends on preferred stock
    (1,214 )     (8,003 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    85,531       138,930  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (12,834 )     12,984  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    228,898       251,149  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 216,064     $ 264,133  
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 20,598     $ 26,517  
Income taxes
    2,497       2,361  
Unsettled securities purchases
          11,610  
Transfers of loans to foreclosed property
    8,216       18,460  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
7
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 – Accounting Policies
 
The accounting and financial reporting policies of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and its subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and general banking industry practices.  The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited.  All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.  A more detailed description of United’s accounting policies is included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
In management’s opinion, all accounting adjustments necessary to accurately reflect the financial position and results of operations on the accompanying financial statements have been made. These adjustments are normal and recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair and accurate presentation. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any other interim periods.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain 2013 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation.  During the fourth quarter of 2013, United reclassified hedge ineffectiveness gains and losses from other fee revenue to net interest revenue.  The impact of the reclassification has been reflected in all periods and was not material to any period.
 
Note 2 –Accounting Standards Updates and Recently Adopted Standards
 
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  This ASU provides guidance on the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers.  The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  This guidance is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and will be applied retrospectively either to each prior reporting period or with a cumulative effect recognized at the date of initial application.  United is in the process of evaluating this guidance, but its effect on United’s financial condition or results of operations is not expected to be material.
 
In June 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings and Disclosures.  This ASU changes the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions to secured borrowing accounting.  For repurchase financing arrangements, the amendments require separate accounting for a transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty, which will result in secured borrowing accounting.  The ASU also requires new disclosures for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions and repurchase-to-maturity transactions.  The Update is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014.  United is currently evaluating the guidance’s impact on its financial position, results of operation and disclosures.
 
 In June 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.  This ASU requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award.  The standard is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on United’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
 
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-13, Consolidation, Measuring the Financial Assets and the Financial Liabilities of a Consolidated Collateralized Financing Entity.  This ASU addresses measurement differences in practice in both the initial consolidation and subsequent measurement of the financial assets and financial liabilities of a collateralized financing entity for a reporting entity that consolidates a collateralized financing entity.  Collateralized financing entities include collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”).  This ASU becomes effective for public business entities for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Although United holds CLOs in its investment securities portfolio, United is not required to consolidate any of the CLOs it currently holds.  Therefore this ASU is not currently applicable to United.
 
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-14, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, Classification of Certain Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure.  This ASU addresses diversity in practice related to how creditors classify government-guaranteed mortgage loans, including Federal Housing Administration or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed loans upon foreclosure.  The amendments in this ASU require that a mortgage loan be derecognized and that a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if the following conditions are met:  1) The loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure, 2) At the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim, and 3) At the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed.  Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on United’s financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
 
8
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging – Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity. This ASU was issued to eliminate the use of different methods currently used in practice to account for hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share. The amendments in this ASU apply to all entities that are issuers of, or investors in, hybrid financial instruments that are issued in the form of a share. The amendments in this ASU are to be applied on a modified retrospective basis to existing hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amendments are effective. Retrospective application is permitted to all relevant periods. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, is permitted. United is not an issuer of or an investor in hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share and therefore this ASU is not currently applicable to United.

 
Note 3 – Acquisition
 
On June 26, 2014, United completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Business Carolina, Inc., a specialty Small Business Administration (“SBA”) / United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) lender headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina.  On the closing date, United paid $31.2 million in cash for loans having a fair value on the purchase date of $24.8 million, accrued interest of $83,000, servicing rights with a fair value on the purchase date of $2.13 million, premises and equipment with a fair value on the purchase date of $2.60 million and goodwill in the amount of $1.49 million representing the premium paid over the fair value of the separately identifiable assets and liabilities acquired.  United has not identified any material separately identifiable intangible assets resulting from the acquisition.
 
Note 4 – Balance Sheet Offsetting
 
United enters into reverse repurchase agreements in order to invest short-term funds.  In addition, United enters into repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements with the same counterparty in transactions commonly referred to as collateral swaps that are subject to master netting agreements under which the balances are netted in the balance sheet in accordance with ASC 210-20, Offsetting.
 
The following table presents a summary of amounts outstanding under reverse repurchase agreements and derivative financial instruments including those entered into in connection with the same counterparty under master netting agreements as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
                                     
         
Gross
                         
   
Gross
   
Amounts
       
Gross Amounts not Offset
       
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
          in the Balance Sheet        
   
Recognized
   
Balance
 
Net Asset
 
Financial
   
Collateral
       
September 30, 2014
 
Assets
   
Sheet
 
Balance
 
Instruments
   
Received
 
Net Amount
 
                                     
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 392,000     $ (375,000 )   $ 17,000     $     $ (17,985 )   $  
Derivatives
    22,221             22,221       (2,093 )     (3,427 )     16,701  
Total
  $ 414,221     $ (375,000 )   $ 39,221     $ (2,093 )   $ (21,412 )   $ 16,701  
Weighted average interest rate of reverse repurchase agreements
    1.16 %                                        
                                               
           
Gross
                                 
   
Gross
   
Amounts
         
Gross Amounts not Offset
         
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
  Net     in the Balance Sheet          
   
Recognized
   
Balance
 
Liability
 
Financial
   
Collateral
         
   
Liabilities
   
Sheet
 
Balance
 
Instruments
   
Pledged
 
Net Amount
 
                                                 
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 375,000     $ (375,000 )   $     $     $     $  
Derivatives
    36,171             36,171       (2,093 )     (38,195 )      
Total
  $ 411,171     $ (375,000 )   $ 36,171     $ (2,093 )   $ (38,195 )   $  
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements
    .31 %                                        
 
9
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                     
         
Gross
                         
   
Gross
   
Amounts
       
Gross Amounts not Offset
       
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
          in the Balance Sheet        
   
Recognized
   
Balance
   
Net Asset
 
Financial
   
Collateral
       
December 31, 2013
 
Assets
   
Sheet
   
Balance
 
Instruments
   
Received
 
Net Amount
 
                                     
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 385,000     $ (350,000 )   $ 35,000     $     $ (38,982 )   $  
Derivatives
    23,833             23,833       (4,378 )     (2,912 )     16,543  
Total
  $ 408,833     $ (350,000 )   $ 58,833     $ (4,378 )   $ (41,894 )   $ 16,543  
Weighted average interest rate of reverse repurchase agreements
    1.09 %                                        
                                               
           
Gross
                                 
   
Gross
   
Amounts
         
Gross Amounts not Offset
         
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
   
Net
    in the Balance Sheet          
   
Recognized
   
Balance
   
Liability
 
Financial
   
Collateral
         
   
Liabilities
   
Sheet
   
Balance
 
Instruments
   
Pledged
 
Net Amount
 
                                                 
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 350,000     $ (350,000 )   $     $     $     $  
Derivatives
    46,232             46,232       (4,378 )     (38,145 )     3,709  
Total
  $ 396,232     $ (350,000 )   $ 46,232     $ (4,378 )   $ (38,145 )   $ 3,709  
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements
    .27 %                                        
                                               
           
Gross
                                 
   
Gross
   
Amounts
         
Gross Amounts not Offset
         
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
            in the Balance Sheet          
   
Recognized
   
Balance
   
Net Asset
 
Financial
   
Collateral
         
September 30, 2013 - Revised
 
Assets
   
Sheet
   
Balance
 
Instruments(1)
   
Received(2)
 
Net Amount
 
                                                 
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 405,000     $ (350,000 )   $ 55,000     $     $ (59,685 )   $  
Derivatives
    8,092             8,092       (3,765 )     (2,205 )     2,122  
Total
  $ 413,092     $ (350,000 )   $ 63,092     $ (3,765 )   $ (61,890 )   $ 2,122  
Weighted average interest rate of reverse repurchase agreements
    1.13 %                                        
                                               
           
Gross
                                 
   
Gross
   
Amounts
         
Gross Amounts not Offset
         
   
Amounts of
   
Offset on the
   
Net
    in the Balance Sheet          
   
Recognized
   
Balance
   
Liability
 
Financial
   
Collateral
         
   
Liabilities
   
Sheet
   
Balance
 
Instruments(1)
   
Pledged(2)
 
Net Amount
 
                                                 
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements
  $ 350,000     $ (350,000 )   $     $     $     $  
Derivatives
    37,269             37,269       (3,765 )     (29,011 )     4,493  
Total
  $ 387,269     $ (350,000 )   $ 37,269     $ (3,765 )   $ (29,011 )   $ 4,493  
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements
    .28 %                                        
 

(1)  United's original filings for the third, second and first quarters of 2013 contained an error and did not include amounts available for offset under master netting agreements for derivative financial instruments. Those amounts were $3.77 million, $4.30 million and $57,000, respectively, for the third, second and first quarters of 2013 and have been added to the balance sheet offsetting table for each respective period. United considers these revisions to be immaterial to the presentation of the financial statements for those quarters.

(2)  United's original filings for the third, second and first quarters of 2013 contained an error and did not include amounts pledged by counterparties as collateral on reverse repurchase agreement positions. Those amounts were $59.7 million, $53.7 million and $87.5 million, respectively, for the third, second and first quarters of 2013 and have been added to the balance sheet offsetting table for each respective period in the current year presentation. In addition, in the original filings for the third and second quarters of 2013, the amounts reported by United as collateral pledged on derivative financial positions were reported net of collateral received on asset derivative positions. The amounts for those periods have been reported separately as collateral received and collateral pledged in the current year presentation. Additionally, upon further analysis, United updated collateral balances for the third quarter 2013 resulting in a net increase in the collateral pledged position of $1.23 million. United considers these revisions to be immaterial to the presentation of the financial statements for those quarters.

10
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 5 – Securities
 
The amortized cost basis, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of securities held-to-maturity at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands).
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 50,248     $ 3,849     $     $ 54,097  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    382,170       7,299       3,255       386,214  
                                 
Total
  $ 432,418     $ 11,148     $ 3,255     $ 440,311  
                                 
As of December 31, 2013
                               
                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 51,733     $ 2,718     $ 42     $ 54,409  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    428,009       6,690       3,523       431,176  
                                 
Total
  $ 479,742     $ 9,408     $ 3,565     $ 485,585  
                                 
As of September 30, 2013
                               
                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 51,745     $ 2,723     $ 53     $ 54,415  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    153,868       6,767       399       160,236  
                                 
Total
  $ 205,613     $ 9,490     $ 452     $ 214,651  
(1)    All are residential type mortgage-backed securities
                         
 
The following table summarizes held-to-maturity securities in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
 
                                                 
Mortgage-backed securities
  $ 189,223     $ 3,147     $ 2,798     $ 108     $ 192,021     $ 3,255  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 189,223     $ 3,147     $ 2,798     $ 108     $ 192,021     $ 3,255  
                                                 
As of December 31, 2013
                                               
                                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 1,595     $ 42     $     $     $ 1,595     $ 42  
Mortgage-backed securities
    259,870       3,523                   259,870       3,523  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 261,465     $ 3,565     $     $     $ 261,465     $ 3,565  
                                                 
As of September 30, 2013
                                               
                                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 4,825     $ 53     $     $     $ 4,825     $ 53  
Mortgage-backed securities
    8,009       399                   8,009       399  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 12,834     $ 452     $     $     $ 12,834     $ 452  
 
Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation.  Consideration is given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, among other factors.  In analyzing an issuer’s financial condition, management considers whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and industry analysts’ reports.  No impairment charges were recognized during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2013, securities available-for-sale with a fair value of $301 million were transferred to held-to-maturity.  The securities were transferred at their fair value on the date of transfer.  The unrealized loss of $8.31 million on the transferred securities is being amortized into interest revenue as an adjustment to the yield on those securities over the remaining life of the transferred securities.
 
11
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The cost basis, unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 are presented below (in thousands).

         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
                         
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 105,385     $ 245     $ 608     $ 105,022  
State and political subdivisions
    19,686       666       31       20,321  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    1,029,881       15,010       9,899       1,034,992  
Corporate bonds
    165,558       1,427       1,733       165,252  
Asset-backed securities
    458,569       3,629       154       462,044  
Other
    2,036                   2,036  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,781,115     $ 20,977     $ 12,425     $ 1,789,667  
                                 
As of December 31, 2013
                               
                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 22,558     $ 823     $ 139     $ 23,242  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    1,145,800       13,296       13,749       1,145,347  
Corporate bonds
    255,316       1,304       6,324       250,296  
Asset-backed securities
    409,086       2,535       988       410,633  
Other
    2,699                   2,699  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,835,459     $ 17,958     $ 21,200     $ 1,832,217  
                                 
As of September 30, 2013
                               
                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 22,781     $ 893     $ 150     $ 23,524  
Mortgage-backed securities (1)
    1,390,280       14,469       21,432       1,383,317  
Corporate bonds
    255,391       936       9,376       246,951  
Asset-backed securities
    306,961       1,836       1,559       307,238  
Other
    2,394                   2,394  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,977,807     $ 18,134     $ 32,517     $ 1,963,424  
(1)    All are residential type mortgage-backed securities                          
 
The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
As of September 30, 2014
 
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
 
                                     
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 104,777     $ 608     $     $     $ 104,777     $ 608  
State and political subdivisions
                3,638       31       3,638       31  
Mortgage-backed securities
    126,445       844       265,426       9,055       391,871       9,899  
Corporate bonds
    49,547       414       34,657       1,319       84,204       1,733  
Asset-backed securities
    57,716       137       9,952       17       67,668       154  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 338,485     $ 2,003     $ 313,673     $ 10,422     $ 652,158     $ 12,425  
                                                 
As of December 31, 2013
                                               
                                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 4,539     $ 139     $     $     $ 4,539     $ 139  
Mortgage-backed securities
    334,996       6,480       175,865       7,269       510,861       13,749  
Corporate bonds
    137,318       4,494       54,130       1,830       191,448       6,324  
Asset-backed securities
    164,933       722       22,370       266       187,303       988  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 641,786     $ 11,835     $ 252,365     $ 9,365     $ 894,151     $ 21,200  
 
12
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
         
Unrealized
 
As of September 30, 2013
 
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
   
Fair Value
   
Loss
 
                                                 
State and political subdivisions
  $ 4,533     $ 148     $ 10     $ 2     $ 4,543     $ 150  
Mortgage-backed securities
    533,681       17,958       100,534       3,474       634,215       21,432  
Corporate bonds
    115,511       6,463       53,042       2,913       168,553       9,376  
Asset-backed securities
    79,015       869       56,181       690       135,196       1,559  
Total unrealized loss position
  $ 732,740     $ 25,438     $ 209,767     $ 7,079     $ 942,507     $ 32,517  
 
At September 30, 2014, there were 90 available-for-sale securities and 25 held-to-maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position.  United does not intend to sell nor believes it will be required to sell securities in an unrealized loss position prior to the recovery of their amortized cost basis.  Unrealized losses at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates.  Unrealized losses at September 30, 2013 were primarily related to changes in interest rates; however, the unrealized losses in corporate bonds also reflect downgrades in the underlying securities ratings since the time of acquisition.  The bonds remain above investment grade and have recovered much of their initial market value loss. Therefore, United does not consider them to be impaired.
 
The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2014, by contractual maturity, are presented in the following table (in thousands).

   
Available-for-Sale
   
Held-to-Maturity
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
 
                         
U.S. Treasury Securities:
                       
1 to 5 years
  $ 86,203     $ 85,841     $     $  
5 to 10 years
    19,182       19,181              
      105,385       105,022              
State and political subdivisions:
                               
Within 1 year
    6,330       6,427       1,000       1,023  
1 to 5 years
    10,414       10,863       18,595       19,949  
5 to 10 years
    2,094       2,130     20,161       21,726  
More than 10 years
    848       901       10,492       11,399  
      19,686       20,321       50,248       54,097  
Corporate bonds:
                               
1 to 5 years
    48,756       48,189              
5 to 10 years
    115,802       116,763              
More than 10 years
    1,000       300              
      165,558       165,252              
Asset-backed securities:
                               
Within 1 year
    9,993       10,007              
1 to 5 years
    86,608       87,916              
5 to 10 years
    242,393       244,069              
More than 10 years
    119,575       120,052              
      458,569       462,044              
Other:
                               
More than 10 years
    2,036       2,036              
      2,036       2,036              
Total securities other than mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Within 1 year
    16,323       16,434       1,000       1,023  
1 to 5 years
    231,981       232,809       18,595       19,949  
5 to 10 years
    379,471       382,143       20,161       21,726  
More than 10 years
    123,459       123,289       10,492       11,399  
Mortgage-backed securities
    1,029,881       1,034,992       382,170       386,214  
    $ 1,781,115     $ 1,789,667     $ 432,418     $ 440,311  
 
13
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers and borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
Realized gains and losses are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold. The following table summarizes securities sales activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Proceeds from sales
  $ 13,290     $ 5,000     $ 403,517     $ 20,751  
Gross gains on sales
  $ 11     $     $ 5,795     $ 116  
Gross losses on sales
                (1,132 )      
Net gains on sales of securities
  $ 11     $     $ 4,663     $ 116  
Income tax expense attributable to sales
  $ 4     $     $ 1,821     $ 45  

Securities with a carrying value of $1.38 billion, $1.53 billion and $1.34 billion were pledged to secure public deposits and other secured borrowings at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, respectively.
 
Note 6 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses
Major classifications of loans as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, are summarized as follows (in thousands).
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,153,933     $ 1,133,543     $ 1,129,152  
Income producing ommercial real estate
    604,727       623,167       613,619  
Commercial & industrial
    649,853       471,961       457,414  
Commercial construction
    180,794       148,903       137,146  
Total commercial
    2,589,307       2,377,574       2,337,331  
Residential mortgage
    865,568       875,077       888,679  
Home equity lines of credit
    458,819       440,887       420,616  
Residential construction
    307,178       328,579       317,789  
Consumer installment
    105,345       111,045       116,535  
Indirect auto
    242,669       196,104       186,117  
Total loans
    4,568,886       4,329,266       4,267,067  
Less allowance for loan losses
    (71,928 )     (76,762 )     (80,372 )
Loans, net
  $ 4,496,958     $ 4,252,504     $ 4,186,695  
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, loans with a carrying value of $2.21 billion, $1.77 billion and $1.94 billion, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure FHLB advances and other contingent funding sources.
 
The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio as of the end of the period.  In 2013, United established an allowance for unfunded commitments separate from the allowance for loan losses due to significant growth in unfunded loan commitments.  The allowance for unfunded commitments is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.  Combined, the allowance for loan losses and allowance for unfunded commitments are referred to as the allowance for credit losses.
 
14
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The following table presents the balance and activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands).
 
    2014  
                     
Allocation
             
   
Beginning
   
Charge-
          of          
Ending
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Balance
   
Offs
   
Recoveries
   
Unallocated
   
Provision
   
Balance
 
                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 17,804     $ (832 )   $ 86     $       (1,758 )   $ 15,300  
Income producing commercial real estate
    11,761       (598 )     494             (866 )     10,791  
Commercial & industrial
    3,885       (30)     372             (1,009 )     3,218  
Commercial construction
    4,067       (104 )     1             1,686       5,650  
Residential mortgage
    16,763       (1,357)     240             1,940       17,586  
Home equity lines of credit
    6,338       (405 )     50             (1,144 )     4,839  
Residential construction
    11,208       (753 )     41             2,358       12,854  
Consumer installment
    599       (449 )     256             333       739  
Indirect auto
    823       (178 )     11             295       951  
Unallocated
                                   
Total allowance for loan losses
    73,248       (4,706 )     1,551             1,835       71,928  
Allowance for unfunded commitments
    2,165                         165       2,330  
Total allowance for credit losses
  $ 75,413     $ (4,706 )   $ 1,551     $     $ 2,000     $ 74,258  
 
                     
Allocation
             
   
Beginning
   
Charge-
          of          
Ending
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Balance
   
Offs
   
Recoveries
   
Unallocated
   
Provision
   
Balance
 
                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 17,164     $ (2,116 )   $ 2,929     $ 1,278     $ (3,955 )   $ 15,300  
Income producing commercial real estate
    7,174       (1,435 )     691         688       3,673       10,791  
Commercial & industrial
    6,527       (2,005 )     1,263       318       (2,885 )     3,218  
Commercial construction
    3,669       (236 )     1       388       1,828       5,650  
Residential mortgage
    15,446       (5,738 )     597       1,452       5,829       17,586  
Home equity lines of credit
    5,528       (2,032 )     218       391       734       4,839  
Residential construction
    12,532       (3,004 )     410       1,728       1,188       12,854  
Consumer installment
    1,353       (1,580 )     974             (8 )     739  
Indirect auto
    1,126       (344 )     38             131       951  
Unallocated
    6,243                   (6,243 )            
Total allowance for loan losses
    76,762       (18,490 )     7,121             6,535       71,928  
Allowance for unfunded commitments
    2,165                         165       2,330  
Total allowance for credit losses
  $ 78,927     $ (18,490 )   $ 7,121     $     $ 6,700     $ 74,258  
 
In the first quarter of 2014, United modified its allowance for loan losses methodology to incorporate a loss emergence period.  The increase in precision resulting from the use of the loss emergence period led to the full allocation of the portion of the allowance that had previously been unallocated.
 
15
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                               
      2013  
                               
 
   Beginning
   
Charge-
               
Ending
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Balance
   
Offs
 
Recoveries
 
Provision
   
Balance
 
                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 15,785     $ (1,712 )   $ 71     $ (78 )   $ 14,066  
Income producing commercial real estate
    7,023       (216 )           3,262       10,069  
Commercial & industrial
    8,054       (826 )     690       14       7,932  
Commercial construction
    4,275       (134 )     1       (324 )     3,818  
Residential mortgage
    14,498       (918 )     229       1,335       15,144  
Home equity lines of credit
    5,529       (388 )     2       415       5,558  
Residential construction
    17,322       (1,096 )     24       (1,908 )     14,342  
Consumer installment
    1,515       (345 )     210       (31 )     1,349  
Indirect auto
    875       (74 )     9       258       1,068  
Unallocated
    6,969                   57       7,026  
Total allowance for loan losses
    81,845       (5,709 )     1,236       3,000       80,372  
Allowance for unfunded commitments
                             
Total allowance for credit losses
  $ 81,845     $ (5,709 )   $ 1,236     $ 3,000     $ 80,372  
 
 
     Beginning
   
Charge-
                   
Ending
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
    Balance    
Offs
 
Recoveries
 
Provision
   
Balance
 
                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 17,265     $ (23,444 )   $ 1,296     $ 18,949     $ 14,066  
Income producing commercial real estate
    10,582       (10,678 )     260       9,905       10,069  
Commercial & industrial
    5,537       (18,581 )     1,368       19,608       7,932  
Commercial construction
    8,389       (6,484 )     60       1,853       3,818  
Residential mortgage
    19,117       (8,272 )     479       3,820       15,144  
Home equity lines of credit
    7,525       (2,108 )     170       (29 )     5,558  
Residential construction
    26,662       (22,608 )     57       10,231       14,342  
Consumer installment
    2,527       (1,521 )     891       (548 )     1,349  
Indirect auto
    220       (170 )     20       998       1,068  
Unallocated
    9,313                   (2,287 )     7,026  
Total allowance for loan losses
    107,137       (93,866 )     4,601       62,500       80,372  
Allowance for unfunded commitments
                             
Total allowance for credit losses
  $ 107,137     $ (93,866 )   $ 4,601     $ 62,500     $ 80,372  

 
16
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The following table represents the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment and the balance of the allowance for loan losses assigned to each segment based on the method of evaluating the loans for impairment as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
   
September 30, 2013
 
                                                       
   
Individually
   
Collectively
         
Individually
   
Collectively
         
Individually
   
Collectively
       
   
Evaluated for
   
Evaluated for
   
Ending
   
Evaluated for
   
Evaluated for
   
Ending
   
Evaluated for
   
Evaluated for
   
Ending
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Balance
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Balance
   
Impairment
   
Impairment
   
Balance
 
                                                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 2,125     $ 13,175     $ 15,300     $ 1,023     $ 16,141     $ 17,164     $ 770     $ 13,296     $ 14,066  
Income producing commercial real estate  
    2,380       8,411       10,791       990       6,184       7,174       1,205       8,864       10,069  
Commercial & industrial
    26       3,192       3,218       66       6,461       6,527       546       7,386       7,932  
Commercial construction
    1,164       4,486       5,650       112       3,557       3,669       150       3,668       3,818  
Residential mortgage
    3,501       14,085       17,586       2,914       12,532       15,446       2,008       13,136       15,144  
Home equity lines of credit
    51       4,788       4,839       5       5,523       5,528             5,558       5,558  
Residential construction
    1,037       11,817       12,854       688       11,844       12,532       662       13,680       14,342  
Consumer installment
    23       716       739       224       1,129       1,353       11       1,338       1,349  
Indirect auto
          951       951             1,126       1,126             1,068       1,068  
Unallocated
                            6,243       6,243             7,026       7,026  
Total allowance for loan losses
    10,307       61,621       71,928       6,022       70,740       76,762       5,352       75,020       80,372  
Allowance for unfunded commitments
          2,330       2,330             2,165       2,165                    
Total allowance for credit losses
  $ 10,307     $ 63,951     $ 74,258     $ 6,022     $ 72,905     $ 78,927     $ 5,352     $ 75,020     $ 80,372  
                                                                         
Loans Outstanding
                                                                       
                                                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 33,635     $ 1,120,298     $ 1,153,933     $ 32,969     $ 1,100,574     $ 1,133,543     $ 31,138     $ 1,098,014     $ 1,129,152  
Income producing commercial real estate
    26,120       578,607       604,727       27,239       595,928       623,167       23,325       590,294       613,619  
Commercial & industrial
    4,540       645,313       649,853       4,217       467,744       471,961       4,105       453,309       457,414  
Commercial construction
    12,127       168,667       180,794       13,715       135,188       148,903       13,478       123,668       137,146  
Residential mortgage
    18,778       846,790       865,568       20,167       854,910       875,077       18,970       869,709       888,679  
Home equity lines of credit
    531       458,288       458,819       505       440,382       440,887             420,616       420,616  
Residential construction
    13,055       294,123       307,178       14,808       313,771       328,579       14,121       303,668       317,789  
Consumer installment
    245       105,100       105,345       999       110,046       111,045       204       116,331       116,535  
Indirect auto
          242,669       242,669             196,104       196,104             186,117       186,117  
Total loans
  $ 109,031     $ 4,459,855     $ 4,568,886     $ 114,619     $ 4,214,647     $ 4,329,266     $ 105,341     $ 4,161,726     $ 4,267,067  
 
United considers all substandard loan relationships that are on nonaccrual with a balance of $500,000 or greater and all troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) to be individually impaired.  In addition, United reviews all accruing substandard loan relationships greater than $2 million to determine if the loan is individually impaired.  A loan is considered individually impaired when, based on current events and circumstances, it is probable that all amounts due, according to the contractual terms of the loan, will not be collected.  All TDRs are considered individually impaired regardless of accrual status.  Impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.  A specific reserve is established for individually impaired loans for the amount of calculated impairment.  Interest payments received on individually impaired nonaccrual loans are applied as a reduction of the outstanding principal balance.  For impaired loans not on nonaccrual status, interest is accrued according to the terms of the loan agreement.  Loans are evaluated for individual impairment quarterly and specific reserves are established in the allowance for loan losses for any measured specific impairment on individually impaired loans.
 
Each quarter, United’s management prepares an analysis of the allowance for credit losses to determine the appropriate balance that measures and quantifies the amount of probable incurred loss in the loan portfolio.  The allowance is comprised of specific reserves on individually impaired loans, which are determined as described above, and general reserves which are determined based on historical loss experience as adjusted for current trends and economic conditions multiplied by a loss emergence period factor.  United uses eight quarters of historical loss experience weighted toward the most recent four quarters to determine the loss factors to be used in the reserve calculation for loans evaluated in the aggregate.  Eight quarters has been determined to be an appropriate time period as it is recent enough to be relevant to current conditions and covers a length of time sufficient to minimize distortions caused by nonrecurring and unusual activity that might otherwise influence a shorter time period.  In previous periods, the weighted average was calculated by multiplying each quarter’s annualized historical net charge-off rate by 1 through 8, with 8 representing the most recent quarter and 1 representing the oldest quarter.  United adopted this method of weighting quarterly loss rates to capture the rapidly deteriorating credit conditions in its loss factors during the financial crisis.  Now that credit conditions have begun to stabilize, management concluded in the first quarter of 2014 that it was appropriate to apply a more level weighting moving forward to capture the full range and impacts of credit losses experienced during the most recent economic and credit cycle.  For the four most recent quarters, United applied a weighting factor of 1.75.  For the four oldest quarters, United applied a weighting of 1.00 for each quarterly loss factor.  Management believes the current weightings are more appropriate to measure the unconfirmed losses incurred within the loan portfolio.
 
17
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Also, beginning in the first quarter of 2014, United updated its measurement of the loss emergence period in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses.  The rapidly deteriorating credit conditions during the peak of the credit cycle shortened the length of time between management’s estimation of the incurrence of a loss and its recognition as a charge-off.  In most cases, the loss emergence period was within a twelve month period which made the use of annualized loss factors appropriate for measuring the amount of incurred yet unconfirmed credit losses within the loan portfolio.  As United has moved out beyond the peak of the financial crisis, management has observed that the loss emergence period has extended. United calculates the loss emergence period for each pool of loans based on the average length of time between the date a loan first exceeds 30 days past due and the date the loan is charged off.
 
The updates to the weightings to the eight quarters of loss history and the update to our estimation of the loss emergence period did not have a material effect on the total allowance for loan losses or the provision for loan losses for the first nine months of 2014.  These updates resulted in the full allocation of the previously unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses.
 
On junior lien home equity loans, United has limited ability to monitor the delinquency status of the first lien unless the first lien is also held by United.  As a result, United applies the weighted average historical loss factor for this category and appropriately adjusts it to reflect the increased risk of loss from these credits.
 
Management carefully reviews the resulting loss factors for each category of the loan portfolio and evaluates whether qualitative adjustments are necessary to take into consideration recent credit trends such as increases or decreases in past due, nonaccrual, criticized and classified loans, acceleration or delays in timing of recognition of losses that may affect historical loss emergence periods, and other macro environmental factors such as changes in unemployment rates, lease vacancy rates and trends in property values and absorption rates.
 
United’s management believes that its method of determining the balance of the allowance for loan losses provides a reasonable and reliable basis for measuring and reporting losses that are inherent in the loan portfolio as of the reporting date.
 
When a loan officer determines that a loan is uncollectible, he or she is responsible for recommending that the loan be charged off.  Full or partial charge-offs may also be recommended by the Collections Department, the Special Assets Department and the Foreclosure / OREO department.  Nonaccrual real estate loans that are collateral dependent are generally charged down to 80% of the appraised value of the underlying collateral at the time they are placed on nonaccrual status.
 
A committee consisting of the Chief Risk Officer, Senior Risk Officer and the Senior Credit Officers meets monthly to review charge-offs that have occurred during the previous month.
 
18
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Closed-end retail loans (installment and residential mortgage loans) and open-end (revolving) retail loans past due 90 cumulative days are charged off unless the loan is secured and in process of collection (within the next 90 days).The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
   
September 30, 2013
 
               
Allowance
               
Allowance
               
Allowance
 
   
Unpaid
         
for Loan
   
Unpaid
         
for Loan
   
Unpaid
         
for Loan
 
   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Losses
   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Losses
   
Principal
   
Recorded
   
Losses
 
   
Balance
   
Investment
   
Allocated
   
Balance
   
Investment
   
Allocated
   
Balance
   
Investment
   
Allocated
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                                                     
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 11,370     $ 10,370     $     $ 17,717     $ 14,458     $     $ 18,423     $ 15,059     $  
Income producing commercial real estate  
    9,872       9,872               12,644       9,747             6,643       5,325        
Commercial & industrial
    2,178       1,560             2,252       2,252             235       235        
Commercial construction
                      974       974             1,127       1,127        
Total commercial
    23,420       21,802             33,587       27,431             26,428       21,746        
Residential mortgage
    1,319       954             4,496       3,634             4,768       3,729        
Home equity lines of credit
                                                     
Residential construction
    5,460       4,172             9,462       7,807             9,101       7,364        
Consumer installment
                                                     
Indirect auto
                                                     
Total with no related allowance recorded
    30,199       26,928             47,545       38,872             40,297       32,839        
                                                                         
With an allowance recorded:
                                                                       
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    24,828       23,265       2,125       18,595       18,513       1,023       16,163       16,079       770  
Income producing commercial real estate
    16,797       16,248       2,380       17,490       17,490       990       20,020       18,000       1,205  
Commercial & industrial
    2,980       2,980       26       2,248       1,965       66       4,002       3,870       546  
Commercial construction
    12,281       12,127       1,164       12,821       12,741       112       12,430       12,351       150  
Total commercial
    56,886       54,620       5,695       51,154       50,709       2,191       52,615       50,300       2,671  
Residential mortgage
    18,657       17,824       3,501       17,119       16,533       2,914       15,598       15,241       2,008  
Home equity lines of credit
    531       531       51       505       505       5                    
Residential construction
    9,427       8,883       1,037       8,469       7,001       688       7,257       6,757       662  
Consumer installment
    245       245       23       999       999       224       214       204       11  
Indirect auto
                                                     
Total with an allowance recorded
    85,746       82,103       10,307       78,246       75,747       6,022       75,684       72,502       5,352  
Total
  $ 115,945     $ 109,031     $ 10,307     $ 125,791     $ 114,619     $ 6,022     $ 115,981     $ 105,341     $ 5,352  
 
There were no loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 or September 30, 2013.  Nonaccrual loans include both homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually evaluated impaired loans.  United’s policy is to place loans on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, the principal and interest on a loan is not likely to be repaid in accordance with the loan terms or when the loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well secured and in the process of collection.  When a loan is classified on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current interest revenue.  Principal and interest payments received on a nonaccrual loan are applied to reduce outstanding principal.
 
The gross additional interest revenue that would have been earned if the loans classified as nonaccrual had performed in accordance with the original terms was approximately $705,000 and $346,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $1.37 million and $1.69 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The gross additional interest revenue that would have been earned for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 had performing TDRs performed in accordance with the original terms is immaterial.
 
19
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The average balances of impaired loans and income recognized on impaired loans while they were considered impaired are presented below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands).

      2014       2013  
         
Interest
               
Interest
       
         
Revenue
   
Cash Basis
         
Revenue
   
Cash Basis
 
         
Recognized
   
Interest
         
Recognized
   
Interest
 
   
Average
   
During
   
Revenue
   
Average
   
During
   
Revenue
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Balance
   
Impairment
   
Received
   
Balance
   
Impairment
   
Received
 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 33,715     $ 430     $ 448     $ 31,695     $ 737     $ 861  
Income producing commercial real estate
    26,622       325       341       23,608       599       600  
Commercial & industrial
    4,698       43       85       4,189       114       104  
Commercial construction
    12,203       119       96       13,501       244       246  
Total commercial
    77,238       917       970       72,993       1,694       1,811  
Residential mortgage
    19,235       215       215       18,548       425       435  
Home equity lines of credit
    538       6       5       522       11       11  
Residential construction
    13,146       130       130       14,136       346       307  
Consumer installment
    251       4       5       214       7       7  
Indirect auto
                                   
Total
  $ 110,408     $ 1,272     $ 1,325     $ 106,413     $ 2,483     $ 2,571  
                                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 31,460     $ 1,191     $ 1,219     $ 37,732     $ 1,836     $ 2,049  
Income producing commercial real estate
    26,299       953       991       38,328       1,077       1,077  
Commercial & industrial
    4,314       135       186       8,821       333       803  
Commercial construction
    12,086       335       338       14,620       509       593  
Total commercial
    74,159       2,614       2,734       99,501       3,755       4,522  
Residential mortgage
    20,384       672       670       19,382       860       841  
Home equity lines of credit
    531       16       17       524       22       21  
Residential construction
    13,315       452       455       14,219       850       882  
Consumer installment
    345       16       19       228       17       17  
Indirect auto
                                   
Total
  $ 108,734     $ 3,770     $ 3,895     $ 133,854     $ 5,504     $ 6,283  
 
20
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 by class of loans (in thousands).

      Loans Past Due    
Loans Not
       
As of September 30, 2014
 
30 - 59 Days
   
60 - 89 Days
   
> 90 Days
   
Total
   
Past Due
   
Total
 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 2,769     $ 257     $ 947     $ 3,973     $ 1,149,960     $ 1,153,933  
Income producing commercial real estate
    417       991     $ 226       1,634       603,093       604,727  
Commercial & industrial
    900       103       861       1,864       647,989       649,853  
Commercial construction
    123       182             305       180,489       180,794  
Total commercial
    4,209       1,533       2,034       7,776       2,581,531       2,589,307  
Residential mortgage
    6,985       3,136       2,563       12,684       852,884       865,568  
Home equity lines of credit
    1,566       373       375       2,314       456,505       458,819  
Residential construction
    1,262       329       2,803       4,394       302,784       307,178  
Consumer installment
    995       322       191       1,508       103,837       105,345  
Indirect auto
    278       83       200       561       242,108       242,669  
Total loans
  $ 15,295     $ 5,776     $ 8,166     $ 29,237     $ 4,539,649     $ 4,568,886  
As of December 31, 2013
                                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,845     $ 705     $ 2,017     $ 4,567     $ 1,128,976     $ 1,133,543  
Income producing commercial real estate
    3,879       2,092       530       6,501       616,666       623,167  
Commercial & industrial
    2,349       223       88       2,660       469,301       471,961  
Commercial construction
    94       190       235       519       148,384       148,903  
Total commercial
    8,167       3,210       2,870       14,247       2,363,327       2,377,574  
Residential mortgage
    9,011       2,832       4,140       15,983       859,094       875,077  
Home equity lines of credit
    2,056       430       941       3,427       437,460       440,887  
Residential construction
    1,335       588       1,375       3,298       325,281       328,579  
Consumer installment
    1,058       358       24       1,440       109,605       111,045  
Indirect auto
    185       65       42       292       195,812       196,104  
Total loans
  $ 21,812     $ 7,483     $ 9,392     $ 38,687     $ 4,290,579     $ 4,329,266  
As of September 30, 2013
                                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,332     $ 910     $ 1,896     $ 4,138     $ 1,125,014     $ 1,129,152  
Income producing commercial real estate
    694       373       533       1,600       612,019       613,619  
Commercial & industrial
    763       191       93       1,047       456,367       457,414  
Commercial construction
    16             235       251       136,895       137,146  
Total commercial
    2,805       1,474       2,757       7,036       2,330,295       2,337,331  
Residential mortgage
    7,672       2,467       4,279       14,418       874,261       888,679  
Home equity lines of credit
    1,177       610       373       2,160       418,456       420,616  
Residential construction
    3,705       418       924       5,047       312,742       317,789  
Consumer installment
    633       19       94       746       115,789       116,535  
Indirect auto
    220       84       55       359       185,758       186,117  
Total loans
  $ 16,212     $ 5,072     $ 8,482     $ 29,766     $ 4,237,301     $ 4,267,067  
 
As of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013, $9.82 million, $5.64 million and $4.72 million, respectively, of specific reserves were allocated to customers whose loan terms have been modified in TDRs.  United committed to lend additional amounts totaling up to $38,000, $6,000 and $3,000 as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, respectively, to customers with outstanding loans that are classified as TDRs.
 
The modification of the terms of the TDRs included one or a combination of the following:  a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan or an extension of the amortization period that would not otherwise be considered in the current market for new debt with similar risk characteristics; a permanent reduction of the principal amount; a restructuring of the borrower’s debt into an A/B note structure where the A note would fall within the borrower’s ability to pay and the remainder would be included in the B note, or a mandated bankruptcy restructuring.
 
21
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The following table presents information on TDRs including the number of loan contracts restructured and the pre- and post-modification recorded investment (dollars in thousands).

   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
   
September 30, 2013
 
         
Pre-
   
Post-
         
Pre-
   
Post-
         
Pre-
   
Post-
 
       
Modification
 
Modification
       
Modification
 
Modification
       
Modification
 
Modification
 
   
Number
 
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
   
Number
 
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
   
Number
 
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
 
   
of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
   
of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
   
of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
 
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
 
                                                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    52     $ 27,811     $ 26,248       45     $ 24,064     $ 22,399       45     $ 25,829     $ 24,368  
Income producing commercial real estate
    32       19,652       19,104       32       20,900       18,268       32       22,134       18,795  
Commercial & industrial
    33       2,941       2,941       36       3,527       3,245       34       3,051       2,919  
Commercial construction
    14       11,238       11,084       13       13,122       13,042       12       12,904       12,825  
Total commercial
    131       61,642       59,377       126       61,613       56,954       123       63,918       58,907  
Residential mortgage
    160       19,555       18,356       133       20,117       18,852       115       18,511       17,408  
Home equity lines of credit
    4       531       531       3       505       505       5       521       521  
Residential construction
    50       10,916       10,084       57       12,459       10,452       55       12,360       10,290  
Consumer installment
    20       245       245       26       203       203       36       214       204  
Indirect auto
                                                     
Total loans
    365       92,889       88,593       345       94,897     $ 86,966       334       95,524       87,330  
 
Loans modified under the terms of a TDR during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are presented in the table below.  In addition, the following table presents loans modified under the terms of a TDR that became 90 days or more delinquent during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, that were initially restructured within one year prior to becoming delinquent (dollars in thousands).
 
      New Troubled Debt Restructurings        New Troubled Debt Restructurings  
      for the Three Months Ended September 30,       for the Nine Months Ended September 30,  
                     
Modified Within the
                     
Modified Within the
 
                     
Previous Twelve Months
                     
Previous Twelve Months
 
                     
that Have Subsequently
                     
that Have Subsequently
 
         
Pre-
  Post-    
Defaulted During the
        Pre-   Post-    
Defaulted During the Nine
 
       
Modification
 
Modification
   
Three Months Ended
       
Modification
 
Modification
   
Months Ended
 
       
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
   
September 30, 2014
       
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
   
September 30, 2014
 
   
Number of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
   
Number of
 
Recorded
   
Number of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
   
Number of
 
Recorded
 
2014
 
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
                                                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    2     $ 747     $ 747           $       9     $ 4,139     $ 4,139     $ 1     $ 104  
Income producing commercial real estate
                                  5       1,992       1,992              
Commercial & industrial
    6       452       452                   10       782       782       2       54  
Commercial construction
                                  2       471       471              
Total commercial
    8       1,199       1,199                   26       7,384       7,384       3       158  
Residential mortgage
    10       778       673       2       139       33       2,924       2,778       8       871  
Home equity lines of credit
                                  1       36       36              
Residential construction
                                  3       1,124       1,124              
Consumer installment
                                  5       226       226              
Indirect auto
                                                           
Total loans
    18     $ 1,977     $ 1,872       2     $ 139       68     $ 11,694     $ 11,548       11     $ 1,029  
 
                           
Modified Within the
                         
Modified Within the
 
                           
Previous Twelve Months
                         
Previous Twelve Months
 
                           
that Have Subsequently
                         
that Have Subsequently
 
           
Pre-
   
Post-
   
Defaulted During the
           
Pre-
   
Post-
 
Defaulted During the Nine
 
         
Modification
 
Modification
   
Three Months Ended
         
Modification
 
Modification
 
Months Ended
 
         
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
   
September 30, 2013
         
Outstanding
 
Outstanding
 
September 30, 2013
 
   
Number of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
   
Number of
 
Recorded
   
Number of
 
Recorded
 
Recorded
 
Number of
 
Recorded
 
2013
 
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
   
Contracts
 
Investment
 
Investment
 
Contracts
 
Investment
 
                                                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    1     $ 1,841     $ 741           $       11     $ 5,923     $ 4,823     $ 1     $ 432  
Income producing commercial real estate
                                  7       6,009       6,009              
Commercial & industrial
    1       68       68                   10       883       777       1       35  
Commercial construction
                                                    2       1,454  
Total commercial
    2       1,909       809                   28       12,815       11,609       4       1,921  
Residential mortgage
    16       2,365       2,207       1       533       29       5,129       4,827       3       641  
Home equity lines of credit
                                                           
Residential construction
    3       727       727       1       414       10       1,850       1,721       3       531  
Consumer installment
    1       7       7       2       9       5       28       28       5       29  
Indirect auto
                                                           
Total loans
    22     $ 5,008     $ 3,750       4     $ 956       72     $ 19,822     $ 18,185       15     $ 3,122  
 
Collateral dependent TDRs that subsequently default and are placed on nonaccrual are charged down to the fair value of the collateral consistent with United’s policy for nonaccrual loans.  Impairment on TDRs that are not collateral dependent continues to be measured on discounted cash flows regardless of whether the loan has subsequently defaulted.
 
22
 

 


UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
As of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows (in thousands).
 
               
Substandard
   
Doubtful /
       
As of September 30, 2014
 
Pass
   
Watch
   
Performing
   
Nonaccrual
   
Loss
   
Total
 
                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,076,822     $ 25,098     $ 49,857     $ 2,156     $     $ 1,153,933  
Income producing commercial real estate
    563,451       17,319       22,215       1,742             604,727  
Commercial & industrial
    637,160       3,602       7,498       1,593             649,853  
Commercial construction
    174,443       2,356       3,847       148             180,794  
Total commercial
    2,451,876       48,375       83,417       5,639             2,589,307  
Residential mortgage
    803,937       10,300       42,981       8,350             865,568  
Home equity lines of credit
    450,026             8,073       720             458,819  
Residential construction
    284,491       7,389       11,755       3,543             307,178  
Consumer installment
    102,460             2,746       139             105,345  
Indirect auto
    242,315                   354             242,669  
Total loans
  $ 4,335,105     $ 66,064     $ 148,972     $ 18,745     $     $ 4,568,886  
As of December 31, 2013
                                               
                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,054,924     $ 29,714     $ 43,083     $ 5,822     $     $ 1,133,543  
Income producing commercial real estate
    575,597       10,410       34,642       2,518               623,167  
Commercial & industrial
    456,563       5,382       9,589       427             471,961  
Commercial construction
    120,852       10,932       16,758       361             148,903  
Total commercial
    2,207,936       56,438       104,072       9,128             2,377,574  
Residential mortgage
    793,381       25,944       44,022       11,730             875,077  
Home equity lines of credit
    426,052       5,420       7,967       1,448               440,887  
Residential construction
    298,685       11,526       14,104       4,264             328,579  
Consumer installment
    107,029       1,229       2,538       249             111,045  
Indirect auto
    196,104                               196,104  
Total loans
  $ 4,029,187     $ 100,557     $ 172,703     $ 26,819     $     $ 4,329,266  
As of September 30, 2013
                                               
                                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,046,900     $ 35,948     $ 39,946     $ 6,358     $     $ 1,129,152  
Income producing commercial real estate
    556,963       19,403       35,596       1,657             613,619  
Commercial & industrial
    436,401       10,062       10,342       609             457,414  
Commercial construction
    109,332       10,560       16,911       343             137,146  
Total commercial
    2,149,596       75,973       102,795       8,967             2,337,331  
Residential mortgage
    808,574       23,277       45,493       11,335             888,679  
Home equity lines of credit
    406,575       5,193       7,679       1,169             420,616  
Residential construction
    283,197       14,943       15,552       4,097             317,789  
Consumer installment
    112,706       1,162       2,147       520             116,535  
Indirect auto
    186,117                               186,117  
Total loans
  $ 3,946,765     $ 120,548     $ 173,666     $ 26,088     $     $ 4,267,067  
 
Risk Ratings
 
United categorizes commercial loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as:  current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current industry and economic trends, among other factors.  United analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk.  This analysis is performed on a continual basis.  United uses the following definitions for its risk ratings:
 
Watch.  Loans in this category are presently protected from apparent loss; however, weaknesses exist that could cause future impairment, including the deterioration of financial ratios, past due status and questionable management capabilities.  These loans require more than the ordinary amount of supervision. Collateral values generally afford adequate coverage, but may not be immediately marketable.
 
Substandard.  These loans are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or by the collateral pledged.  Specific and well-defined weaknesses exist that may include poor liquidity and deterioration of financial ratios.  The loan may be past due and related deposit accounts experiencing overdrafts.  There is the distinct possibility that United will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected. If possible, immediate corrective action is taken.
 
23
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Doubtful.  Specific weaknesses characterized as Substandard that are severe enough to make collection in full highly questionable and improbable.  There is no reliable secondary source of full repayment.
 
Loss.  Loans categorized as Loss have the same characteristics as Doubtful; however, probability of loss is certain.  Loans classified as Loss are charged off.
 
Consumer Purpose Loans.  Beginning in the first quarter of 2014, United began to apply a pass / fail grading system to all consumer purpose loans.  Under the pass / fail grading system, consumer purpose loans meeting the criteria of substandard are classified as “fail” and all other loans are classified as “pass”.  For reporting purposes, consumer purpose loans classified as “fail” are reported in the performing substandard or nonaccrual columns and all other consumer purpose loans are reported in the “pass” column.  The first quarter grading change resulted in decreases in loans categorized as “watch” for the consumer installment, residential mortgage and home equity lines of credit loan classifications.  Loan balances reported in the “watch” column for residential mortgage in the first quarter are generally commercial purpose loans secured by the borrower’s residence.
 
Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.
 
The following table presents the recorded investment (unpaid principal less amounts charged off) in nonaccrual loans by loan class as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
      Nonaccrual Loans  
   
September 30,
 
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
 
2013
   
2013
 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 2,156     $ 5,822     $ 6,358  
Income producing commercial real estate
    1,742       2,518       1,657  
Commercial & industrial
    1,593       427       609  
Commercial construction
    148       361       343  
Total commercial
    5,639       9,128       8,967  
Residential mortgage
    8,350       11,730       11,335  
Home equity lines of credit
    720       1,448       1,169  
Residential construction
    3,543       4,264       4,097  
Consumer installment
    139       249       520  
Indirect auto
    354              
Total
  $ 18,745     $ 26,819     $ 26,088  
                         
Balance as a percentage of unpaid principal
    68.6 %     65.3 %     61.6 %
 
Note 7 – Foreclosed Property
 
Major classifications of foreclosed properties at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 are summarized as follows (in thousands).
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
Commercial real estate
  $ 1,350     $ 1,287     $ 1,130  
Commercial construction
                376  
Total commercial
    1,350       1,287       1,506  
Residential mortgage
    1,954       3,380       2,420  
Residential construction
    588       736       1,981  
Total foreclosed property
    3,892       5,403       5,907  
Less valuation allowance
    (746 )     (1,182 )     (1,440 )
Foreclosed property, net
  $ 3,146     $ 4,221     $ 4,467  
                         
Balance as a percentage of original loan unpaid principal
    54.5 %     44.5 %     41.5 %
 
24
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Activity in the valuation allowance for foreclosed property for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
           
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
    2014    
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 741     $ 3,602     $ 1,182     $ 6,954  
Additions charged to expense
    108       329       690       2,739  
Disposals
    (103 )     (2,491 )     (1,126 )     (8,253 )
Balance at end of period
  $ 746     $ 1,440     $ 746     $ 1,440  
 
Expenses related to foreclosed property for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is presented in the following table (in thousands).
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  September 30,  
September 30,
 
 
2014
  2013  
2014
 
2013
 
Net (gain)/loss on sales
  $ (264 )   $ 513   $ (1,208 )   $ 3,563  
Provision for unrealized losses
    108       329       690       2,739  
Operating expenses
    441       (648 )     1,021       1,376  
Total foreclosed property expense
  $ 285     $ 194     $ 503     $ 7,678  
 
 
25
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 8 – Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 
The following table presents the details regarding amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands).
 
   
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other
   
      Comprehensive Income    
 
For the three months ended
 
For the nine months ended
   
Details about Accumulated Other
 
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
Affected Line Item in the Statement
Comprehensive Income Components
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Where Net Income is Presented
                           
Realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities:
                         
    $ 11     $     $ 4,663     $ 116  
Securities gains, net
      (4 )           (1,821 )     (45 )
Tax expense
    $ 7     $     $ 2,842     $ 71  
Net of tax
     
Amortization of (losses) gains included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held to maturity:
   
    $ (468 )   $ 214     $ (1,207 )   $ 803  
Investment securities interest revenue
      176       (83 )     453       (310 )
Tax benefit (expense)
    $ (292 )   $ 131     $ (754 )   $ 493  
Net of tax
             
Amounts included in net income on derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges:
           
Effective portion of interest rate contracts
  $     $ 10     $     $ 850  
Loan interest revenue
Ineffective portion of interest rate contracts
          48             52  
Loan interest revenue
Effective portion of interest rate contracts
    (317 )           (764 )      
Brokered deposit interest expense
Amortization of losses on de-designated positions
    (81 )           (105 )      
Money market deposit interest expense
Amortization of losses on de-designated positions
    (313 )           (512 )      
Brokered deposit interest expense
      (711 )     58       (1,381 )     902  
Total before tax
      277       (23 )     538       (351 )
Tax or benefit (expense)
    $ (434 )   $ 35     $ (843 )   $ 551  
Net of tax
 
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan
Prior service cost
  $ (91 )   $ (91 )   $ (274 )   $ (273 )
Salaries and employee benefits expense
Actuarial losses
          (42 )           (126 )
Salaries and employee benefits expense
      (91 )     (133 )     (274 )     (399 )
Total before tax
      36       52       107       155  
Tax benefit
    $ (55 )   $ (81 )   $ (167 )   $ (244 )
Net of tax
                                   
Total reclassifications for the period
  $ (774 )   $ 85     $ 1,078     $ 871  
Net of tax
                                   
Amounts shown above in parentheses reduce earnings
                                 
 
Note 9 – Earnings Per Share
 
United is required to report on the face of the consolidated statement of income, earnings per common share with and without the dilutive effects of potential common stock issuances from instruments such as options, convertible securities and warrants. Basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period while the effects of potential common shares outstanding during the period are included in diluted earnings per common share.
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, United accrued dividends on preferred stock, including accretion of discounts, as shown in the following table (in thousands).
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Series A - 6% fixed
  $     $ 3     $     $ 9  
Series B - 5% fixed until December 6, 2013, 9% thereafter
          2,641       159       7,907  
Series D - LIBOR plus 9.6875%, resets quarterly
          415       280       1,250  
Total preferred stock dividends
  $     $ 3,059     $ 439     $ 9,166  
 
Series B preferred stock was issued at a discount. Dividend amounts shown include discount accretion for each period.
 
The preferred stock dividends were subtracted from net income in order to arrive at net income available to common shareholders.  All of United’s preferred stock was redeemed during the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.
 
26
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands, except per share data).
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 17,616     $ 12,441     $ 48,934     $ 248,063  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    60,776       59,100       60,511       58,443  
Effect of dilutive securities
                               
Stock options
    3       1       2       1  
Warrants
          101              
Diluted
    60,779       59,202       60,513       58,444  
                                 
Income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ .29     $ .21     $ .81     $ 4.24  
Diluted
  $ .29     $ .21     $ .81     $ 4.24  
 
At September 30, 2014, United had the following potentially dilutive stock options and warrants outstanding: a warrant to purchase 219,909 common shares at $61.40 per share originally issued to the U.S. Treasury; 305,291 common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options granted to employees with a weighted average exercise price of $95.98; 801,334 shares issuable upon completion of vesting of restricted stock awards; and warrants to purchase common stock equivalent junior preferred stock that would be convertible into 1,411,765 common shares exercisable at $21.25 per share granted to Fletcher International Ltd. (“Fletcher”) in connection with a 2010 asset purchase and sale agreement.  On March 5, 2014, United announced that it and the Chapter 11 Trustee for Fletcher had agreed to settle all potential claims and counterclaims between them relating to or arising out of, among other things, their respective rights and obligations under such warrants.  Pursuant to the settlement agreement with Fletcher, United has agreed to repurchase the warrants and resolve all claims between the parties.  The settlement agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby have been approved by the bankruptcy court and are no longer subject to appeal. As noted in Note 12, in November 2014, the settlement was completed and the net proceeds were paid to Fletcher.
 
27
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
At September 30, 2013, United had the following potentially dilutive stock options and warrants outstanding: a warrant to purchase 219,909 common shares at $61.40 per share originally issued to the U.S. Treasury; 371,449 common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options granted to employees with a weighted average exercise price of $98.54; 1,073,259 shares issuable upon completion of vesting of restricted stock awards; warrants to purchase common stock equivalent junior preferred stock that would be convertible into 1,411,765 common shares exercisable at $21.25 per share granted to Fletcher in connection with a 2010 asset purchase and sale agreement.
 
Note 10 – Derivatives and Hedging Activities
 
Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
United is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  United principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. United manages interest rate risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its investment securities portfolio and wholesale funding and through the use of derivative financial instruments.  Specifically, United enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates.  United’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of United’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to United’s loans, investment securities, wholesale borrowings and deposits.
 
In conjunction with the FASB’s fair value measurement guidance, United made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of its derivative financial instruments that are subject to master netting agreements on a gross basis.
 
The table below presents the fair value of United’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 (in thousands).
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
                 
          Fair Value  
   
Balance Sheet
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
Interest Rate Products
 
Location
 
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
Cash flow hedge of money market deposits
 
Other assets
  $ 1,349     $ 4,782     $ 3,580  
Fair value hedge of corporate bonds
 
Other assets
          3,939       2,709  
        $ 1,349     $ 8,721     $ 6,289  
                             
Cash flow hedge of short-term debt
 
Other liabilities
  $     $ 3,368     $ 3,247  
Cash flow hedge of money market deposits
 
Other liabilities
                431  
Fair value hedge of brokered CD’s
 
Other liabilities
    10,201       19,970       28,748  
Fair value hedge of corporate bonds
 
Other liabilities
          2,308       3,025  
        $ 10,201     $ 25,646     $ 35,451  
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
                       
        Fair Value  
   
Balance Sheet
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
Interest Rate Products
 
Location
   2014      2013      2013  
Customer swap positions
 
Other assets
  $ 2,067     $ 898     $ 1,096  
Dealer offsets to customer swap positions
 
Other assets
    475       1,347       707  
Bifurcated embedded derivatives
 
Other assets
    14,780       12,867        
Offsetting positions for de-designated cash flow hedges
 
Other assets
    3,550              
        $ 20,872     $ 15,112     $ 1,803  
                             
Customer swap positions
 
Other liabilities
  $ 475     $ 1,347     $ 707  
Dealer offsets to customer swap positions
 
Other liabilities
    2,087       915       1,111  
Dealer offsets to bifurcated embedded derivatives
 
Other liabilities
    19,858       18,324        
De-designated cash flow hedge of brokered CDs
 
Other liabilities
    2,645              
De-designated cash flow hedge of money market deposits
 
Other liabilities
    905              
        $ 25,970     $ 20,586     $ 1,818  
 
28
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Derivative contracts that are not accounted for as hedging instruments under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and are described as “customer derivatives,” are between United and certain commercial loan customers with offsetting positions to dealers under a back-to-back swap program.  United also has three interest rate swap contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments but are economic hedges of market linked brokered certificates of deposit.  The market linked brokered certificates of deposit contain embedded derivatives that are bifurcated from the host instruments and marked to market through earnings.  The marks on the market linked swaps and the bifurcated embedded derivatives tend to move in opposite directions with changes in 90-day LIBOR and therefore provide an effective economic hedge.
 
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
 
United’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to net interest revenue and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements.  To accomplish this objective, United uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  At September 30, 2014, United’s interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involved the payment of fixed-rate amounts to a counterparty in exchange for United receiving variable-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.  United’s current cash flow hedges are for the purpose of converting variable rate deposits and wholesale borrowings to a fixed rate to protect United in a rising rate environment.  At September 30, 2014, United had two swap contracts outstanding with a total notional amount of $275 million that were designated as cash flow hedges of indexed money market accounts.  One of the swaps with a notional amount of $175 million is forward starting and will become effective later in 2015.  At December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, United had three swap contracts outstanding with a total notional amount of $200 million that were designated as cash flow hedges of future issuances of three-month brokered deposits or other LIBOR based floating rate wholesale borrowings, and three swap contracts outstanding with a total notional amount of $375 million that were designated as cash flow hedges of indexed money market accounts.  During the second quarter of 2014, United de-designated swaps with a notional of $400 million and put on offsetting positions which had a similar effect to terminating the positions.  Changes in United’s balance sheet composition and interest rate risk position made the hedges no longer necessary as protection against rising interest rates.  The loss remaining in other comprehensive income on the de-designated swaps is being amortized into earnings over the original term of the swaps as the forecasted transactions that the swaps were originally designated to hedge are still expected to occur.
 
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.  Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense when the swaps become effective, as interest payments are made on United’s LIBOR based, variable-rate wholesale borrowings and indexed deposit accounts.  United’s active forward starting cash flow hedges of floating rate liabilities began interest settlements in the first quarter of 2014.  United recognized $12,000 in hedge ineffectiveness gains and $73,000 in hedge ineffectiveness losses, respectively, in interest expense on active cash flow hedges during the third quarter and first nine months of 2014.  United recognized $33,000 in hedge ineffectiveness gains during the third quarter and first nine months of 2013.  United expects that $3.77 million will be reclassified as an increase to deposit interest expense over the next twelve months related to these cash flow hedges.
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, United accelerated the reclassification of $48,000 and $53,000, respectively, in gains from terminated positions, as a result of the forecasted transactions becoming probable not to occur.  These amounts were recognized in loan interest revenue as hedge ineffectiveness.
 
Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
 
United is exposed to changes in the fair value of certain of its fixed rate investments and obligations due to changes in interest rates. United uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in fair value on these instruments attributable to changes in interest rates.  Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of brokered deposits involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for United making variable rate payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount.  Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of fixed rate investments involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for United making fixed rate payments over the life of the instrument without the exchange of the underlying notional amount.  At September 30, 2014, United had 16 interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $199 million that were designated as fair value hedges of interest rate risk.  These contracts were pay-variable / receive-fixed swaps hedging changes in the fair value of fixed rate brokered time deposits resulting from changes in interest rates.  At September 30, 2013, United had 27 interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $387 million that were designated as fair value hedges.  At September 30, 2013, eight of the interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $86 million were receive-variable / pay-fixed swaps that were used for the purpose of hedging changes in the fair value of corporate bonds resulting from changes in interest rates.  These swaps were cancelled and the bonds were sold in the second quarter of 2014.  The other 19 were pay-variable / receive-fixed swaps hedging changes in fair value of fixed rate brokered time deposits resulting from changes in interest rates.
 
29
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
For derivatives designated and that qualify as fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. United includes the gain or loss on the hedged items in the same income statement line item as the offsetting loss or gain on the related derivatives.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 United recognized net losses of $312,000 and $937,000, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, United recognized net gains of $38,000 and $241,000, respectively, related to ineffectiveness of the fair value hedging relationships.  United also recognized net reductions of interest expense of $1.04 million and $3.47 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and net reductions of interest expense of $2.47 million and $4.73 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 related to United’s fair value hedges of brokered time deposits, which include net settlements on the derivatives.  United recognized reductions of interest revenue on securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 in the amount of $955,000 related to United’s fair value hedges of corporate bonds that were terminated in the second quarter of 2014.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, United recognized reductions of interest revenue on securities in the amounts of $516,000 and $811,000, respectively related to United’s fair value hedges of corporate bonds.
 
Tabular Disclosure of the Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Income Statement
 
The tables below present the effect of United’s derivative financial instruments on the consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
 
Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships (in thousands).
 
   
Location of Gain
 
Amount of Gain (Loss)
   
Amount of Gain (Loss)
 
   
(Loss) Recognized
 
Recognized in Income
   
Recognized in Income
 
   
in Income on
 
on Derivative
   
on Hedged Item
 
   
Derivative
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
                           
Fair value hedges of brokered CD’s
 
Interest expense
  $ (37 )   $ (2,849 )   $ (275 )   $ 2,872  
Fair value hedges of corporate bonds
 
Interest revenue
          109             (94 )
        $ (37 )   $ (2,740 )   $ (275 )   $ 2,778  
Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                   
Fair value hedges of brokered CD’s
 
Interest expense
  $ 10,078     $ (20,134 )   $ (10,691 )   $ 19,988  
Fair value hedges of corporate bonds
 
Interest revenue
    (2,487 )     4,338       2,163       (3,951 )
        $ 7,591     $ (15,796 )   $ (8,528 )   $ 16,037  
 
In certain cases, the estate of deceased brokered certificate of deposit holders may put the certificate of deposit back to the issuing bank at par upon the death of the holder.  When these estate puts occur, a gain or loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the par amount of the deposits put back.  The change in the fair value of brokered time deposits that are being hedged in fair value hedging relationships reported in the table above includes gains and losses from estate puts and such gains and losses are included in the amount of reported ineffectiveness gains or losses.
 
30
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships (in thousands).
                                 
 
Amount of Gain (Loss)
                             
 
Recognized in Other
 
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
               
    Comprehensive  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on
 
 
Income on Derivative
 
Income into Income
 
Derivative
 
    (Effective Portion)  
(Effective Portion)
 
(Ineffective Portion)
 
    2014    
2013
 
Location
 
2014
 
2013
 
Location
 
2014
 
2013
 
                                   
Three Months Ended September 30,
                                 
             
Interest revenue
  $     $ 58                
             
Interest expense
    (711 )                    
Interest rate swaps
  $ 412     $ (3,507 )
Total
  $ (711 )   $ 58  
Interest expense
  $ 12     $ (33 )
                                             
Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                           
                 
Interest revenue
  $     $ 902                    
                 
Interest expense
    (1,381 )                        
Interest rate swaps
  $ (5,967 )   $ 8,595  
Total
  $ (1,381 )   $ 902  
Interest expense
  $ (73 )   $ 46  
 
31
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
 
United manages its credit exposure on derivatives transactions by entering into a bilateral credit support agreement with each counterparty.  The credit support agreements require collateralization of exposures beyond specified minimum threshold amounts.  The details of these agreements, including the minimum thresholds, vary by counterparty.  As of September 30, 2014, collateral totaling $38.2 million was pledged toward derivatives in a liability position.
 
United’s agreements with each of its derivative counterparties contain a provision where if either party defaults on any of its indebtedness, then it could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.  The agreements with derivatives counterparties also include provisions that if not met, could result in United being declared in default.  United has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if United fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution or is subject to a prompt corrective action directive, the counterparty could terminate the derivative positions and United would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements.
 
Note 11 – Stock-Based Compensation
 
United has an equity compensation plan that allows for grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards (also referred to as “nonvested stock” awards), stock awards, performance share awards or stock appreciation rights.  Options granted under the plan can have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant.  The general terms of the plan include a vesting period (usually four years) with an exercisable period not to exceed ten years.  Certain options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the plan).  As of September 30, 2014, 529,000 additional awards could be granted under the plan. Through September 30, 2014, incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, base salary stock grants and performance share awards have been granted under the plan.
 
The following table shows stock option activity for the first nine months of 2014.
                         
               
Weighted-
       
               
Average
   
Aggregate
 
         
Weighted-
   
Remaining
   
Intrinisic
 
         
Average Exercise
   
Contractual
   
Value
 
Options
 
Shares
   
Price
   
Term (Years)
    ($000)  
                           
Outstanding at December 31, 2013
    350,772     $ 97.87                
Expired
    (45,481 )     110.57                
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
    305,291       95.98       2.9     $ 59  
                                 
Exercisable at September 30, 2014
    299,041       97.70       2.8       41  
 
The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model.  Key assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted to employees during the first nine months of 2013 are shown below.  No stock options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
       
 
Nine Months Ended
  September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
       
Expected volatility
NA
 
30.00%
Expected dividend yield
NA
 
0.00%
Expected life (in years)
NA
 
6.25
Risk-free rate
NA
 
2.01%
 
Most of United’s outstanding stock options were granted prior to the economic downturn during which time United’s stock price decreased sharply.  The lower stock price has rendered most of United’s outstanding options severely out of the money and potentially worthless to the grantee.  Therefore, historical exercise patterns do not provide a reasonable basis for determining the expected life of new option grants.  United therefore uses the formula provided by the SEC in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to determine the expected life of options.
 
32
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
United recognized $5,000 in compensation expense related to stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Compensation expense relating to stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was a reduction of expense of $56,000 due to the reversal of previously recognized expense on grants that did not vest.  The amount of compensation expense was determined based on the fair value of the options at the time of grant, multiplied by the number of options granted that were expected to vest, which was then amortized over the vesting period.  The forfeiture rate for new options issued is estimated to be approximately 3% per year.  No options were exercised during the first nine months of 2014 or 2013.
 
The table below presents restricted stock activity for the first nine months of 2014.
         
Weighted-
 
         
Average Grant-
 
Restricted Stock
 
Shares
   
Date Fair Value
 
             
Outstanding at December 31, 2013
    1,073,676     $ 13.73  
Granted
    55,066       17.73  
Excercised
    (324,108 )     12.24  
Cancelled
    (3,300 )     13.18  
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
    801,334       14.61  
                 
Vested at September 30, 2014
    7,580       9.90  
 
Compensation expense for restricted stock is based on the fair value of restricted stock awards at the time of grant, which is equal to the value of United’s common stock on the date of grant.  The value of restricted stock grants that are expected to vest is amortized into expense over the vesting period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, compensation expense of $3.23 million and $2.01 million, respectively, was recognized related to restricted stock awards.  In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $76,000 and $118,000, respectively, was recognized in other operating expense for restricted stock units granted to members of United’s board of directors.  The total intrinsic value of outstanding restricted stock awards was $13.2 million at September 30, 2014.
 
As of September 30, 2014, there was $10.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and restricted stock awards granted under the plan.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years.  The aggregate grant date fair value of options and restricted stock awards that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was $3.83 million.
 
Note 12 – Common and Preferred Stock Issued / Common Stock Issuable
 
United sponsors a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (“DRIP”) that allows participants who already own United’s common stock to purchase additional shares directly from United.  The DRIP also allows participants to automatically reinvest their quarterly dividends in additional shares of common stock without a commission.  No shares were issued through the DRIP in 2013 as the DRIP was suspended during that time.  The DRIP was re-activated following United’s reinstatement of its quarterly dividend in the second quarter of 2014.  In the third quarter of 2014, no shares were issued through the DRIP.
 
United’s 401(k) retirement plan regularly purchases shares of United’s common stock directly from United.  In addition, United has an Employee Stock Purchase Program that allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock at a 5% discount, with no commission charges.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, United issued 25,284 and 49,830 shares, respectively, and increased capital by $424,000 and $582,000, respectively, through these programs.
 
United offers its common stock as an investment option in its deferred compensation plan.  United also allows for the deferral of restricted stock awards.  The common stock component of the deferred compensation plan is accounted for as an equity instrument and is reflected in the consolidated financial statements as common stock issuable.  The deferred compensation plan does not allow for diversification once an election is made to invest in United’s common stock and settlement must be accomplished in shares at the time the deferral period is completed. At September 30, 2014 and 2013, 354,961 and 242,262 shares of common stock, respectively, were issuable under the deferred compensation plan.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014, United redeemed all of its outstanding preferred stock.  The preferred stock was redeemed at par and did not result in any gain or loss.  The redemptions were funded from a combination of dividends from United Community Bank, borrowings on United’s holding company line of credit and cash on hand.
 
33
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Pursuant to its settlement agreement with Fletcher, United agreed to deliver 640,000 shares of its common stock and cash that, together with the common stock, would have a combined fair value of $12 million.  On March 25, 2014, to satisfy its obligations under the settlement agreement, United completed the sale of 640,000 shares of common stock and received approximately $12.2 million in net proceeds after discounts and expenses, $12.0 million of which is payable to Fletcher once the settlement is completed.  In November 2014, the settlement was completed and the net proceeds were paid to Fletcher.
 
Note 13 – Income Taxes
 
The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $9.99 million and $28.7 million, respectively, which represents effective tax rates of 36.2% and 36.7%, respectively.  The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $9.52 million and a net benefit of $247 million, respectively.  The net income tax benefit for the first nine months of 2013 reflects the reversal of a $272 million valuation allowance on United’s net deferred tax asset.  At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the valuation allowance on United’s net deferred tax asset was $4.45 million, $4.10 million and $4.61 million, respectively.  Management assesses the valuation allowance recorded against its net deferred tax asset at each reporting period.  The determination of whether a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset is appropriate is subject to considerable judgment and requires an evaluation of all the positive and negative evidence.
 
In the second quarter of 2013, United reversed $272 million of the valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset.  United had established a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset in 2010 due to the realization of significant losses and uncertainty about United’s future earnings forecasts.
 
United evaluated the need for a valuation allowance again at September 30, 2014.  Based on the assessment of all the positive and negative evidence, management concluded that it is more likely than not that nearly all of its net deferred tax asset will be realized based upon future taxable income.  The remaining valuation allowance of $4.45 million is related to specific state income tax credits that have short carryforward periods and are expected to expire unused.  The positive evidence considered by management in arriving at the conclusion that a full valuation allowance is not necessary included consecutive profitable quarters beginning with the fourth quarter of 2011, United’s strong pre-crisis earnings history and growth in pre-tax, pre-credit earnings, which demonstrate demand for United’s products and services, and United’s significant improvement in credit measures, which improve both the sustainability of profitability and management’s ability to forecast future credit losses.  The negative evidence previously considered by management included a three-year cumulative loss position and United’s and United Community Bank’s informal memorandums of understanding with the bank regulatory agencies.  The informal memorandums of understanding were terminated in the fourth quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014 and United was no longer in a three-year cumulative loss position effective with the first quarter of 2014, based on a rolling twelve quarters.
 
The valuation allowance could fluctuate in future periods based on the assessment of the positive and negative evidence.  Management’s conclusion at September 30, 2014 that it was more likely than not that United’s net deferred tax asset of $225 million will be realized is based upon management’s estimate of future taxable income.  Management’s estimate of future taxable income is based on internal forecasts that consider historical performance, various internal estimates and assumptions, as well as certain external data all of which management believes to be reasonable although inherently subject to significant judgment.  If actual results differ significantly from the current estimates of future taxable income, even if caused by adverse macro-economic conditions, the valuation allowance may need to be increased for some or all of its net deferred tax asset.  Such an increase to the net deferred tax asset valuation allowance could have a material adverse effect on United’s financial condition and results of operations.
 
United is subject to income taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions.  United’s federal and state income tax returns are filed on a consolidated basis.  Currently, no years for which United filed a federal income tax return are under examination by the IRS, and there are no state tax examinations currently in progress.  United is no longer subject to income tax examinations from state and local income tax authorities for years before 2010.  Although United is unable to determine the ultimate outcome of future examinations, United believes that the liability recorded for uncertain tax positions is appropriate.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $4.10 million, $4.50 million and $4.45 million, respectively.  In the first quarter of 2014, United adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.  ASU No. 2013-11 requires unrecognized tax benefits to be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset unless certain conditions are present.  Prior to adoption, unrecognized tax benefits were presented as a component of the current tax liability payable.  Upon adoption, United reclassified $4.59 million in unrecognized tax benefits from other liabilities to its net deferred tax asset.  The reclassification resulted in decreases in United’s net deferred tax asset and other liabilities.
 
34
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 14 – Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
 
Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, United uses a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Level 1     Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that United has the ability to access.
 
Level 2     Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
 
Level 3     Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption based on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. United’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.
 
Securities Available-for-Sale
 
Investment securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets and money market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored entities, municipal bonds, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities and are valued based on observable inputs that are observable in the market and can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the securities. Securities classified as Level 3 are valued based on estimates obtained from broker-dealers.
 
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities
 
Included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet are assets related to employee deferred compensation plans. The assets associated with these plans are invested in mutual funds and classified as Level 1. Deferred compensation liabilities, also classified as Level 1, are carried at the fair value of the obligation to the employee, which mirrors the fair value of the invested assets and is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
 
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market value. The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics.
 
Loans
 
United does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for loan losses is established.  Loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement are considered impaired. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, management measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, a creditor may measure impairment based on a loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if repayment of the loan is dependent upon the sale of the underlying collateral.  Those impaired loans not requiring an allowance represent loans for which the fair value of the expected repayments or collateral exceed the recorded investments in such loans. Impaired loans where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or a current appraised value, United records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, United records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 3.
 
35
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Foreclosed Assets
 
Foreclosed assets are adjusted to fair value, less cost to sell, upon transfer of the loans to foreclosed assets. Subsequently, foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or a current appraised value, United records the foreclosed asset as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, United records the foreclosed asset as nonrecurring Level 3.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
United uses interest rate swaps and interest rate floors to manage its interest rate risk.  The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities.  The fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts and the discounted expected variable cash payments.  The variable cash payments are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.
 
The fair values of interest rate options are determined using the market standard methodology of discounting the future expected cash receipts that would occur if variable interest rates fell below the strike rate of the floors.  The variable interest rates used in the calculation of projected receipts on the floor are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities.  To comply with the provisions of ASC 820, United incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements.  In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, United has considered the effect of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees.
 
Although United has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties.  However, as of September 30, 2014, United had assessed the significance of the effect of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives.  As a result, United has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
36
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
The table below presents United’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (in thousands).
                         
September 30, 2014
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Securities available for sale:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $     $ 105,022     $     $ 105,022  
State and political subdivisions
          20,321             20,321  
Mortgage-backed securities
          1,034,992             1,034,992  
Corporate bonds
          164,952       300       165,252  
Asset-backed securities
          462,044             462,044  
Other
          2,036             2,036  
Deferred compensation plan assets
    3,734                   3,734  
Derivative financial instruments
          22,221             22,221  
Total assets
  $ 3,734     $ 1,811,588     $ 300     $ 1,815,622  
Liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plan liability
  $ 3,734     $     $     $ 3,734  
Brokered certificates of deposit
          175,053             175,053  
Derivative financial instruments
          36,171             36,171  
Total liabilities
  $ 3,734     $ 211,224     $     $ 214,958  
                                 
December 31, 2013
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                               
Securities available for sale
                               
State and political subdivisions
  $     $ 23,242     $     $ 23,242  
Mortgage-backed securities
          1,145,347             1,145,347  
Corporate bonds
          249,946       350       250,296  
Asset-backed securities
          410,633             410,633  
Other
          2,699             2,699  
Deferred compensation plan assets
    3,496                   3,496  
Derivative financial instruments
          23,833             23,833  
Total assets
  $ 3,496     $ 1,855,700     $ 350     $ 1,859,546  
Liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plan liability
  $ 3,496     $     $     $ 3,496  
Brokered certificates of deposit
          173,657             173,657  
Derivative financial instruments
          46,232             46,232  
Total liabilities
  $ 3,496     $ 219,889     $     $ 223,385  
 
37
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                         
September 30, 2013
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Securities available for sale:
                       
State and political subdivisions
  $     $ 23,524     $     $ 23,524  
Mortgage-backed securities
          1,383,317             1,383,317  
Corporate bonds
          246,601       350       246,951  
Asset-backed securities
          307,238             307,238  
Other
          2,394             2,394  
Deferred compensation plan assets
    3,203                   3,203  
Derivative financial instruments
          8,092             8,092  
Total assets
  $ 3,203     $ 1,971,166     $ 350     $ 1,974,719  
Liabilities:
                               
Deferred compensation plan liability
  $ 3,203     $     $     $ 3,203  
Brokered certificates of deposit
          273,282             273,282  
Derivative financial instruments
          37,269             37,269  
Total liabilities
  $ 3,203     $ 310,551     $     $ 313,754  
 
The following table shows a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs that are classified as Level 3 values (in thousands).
                         
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
Securities Available for Sale
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 300     $ 350     $ 350     $ 350  
Amounts included in earnings
                       
Paydowns / sales
                (50 )      
Balance at end of period
  $ 300     $ 350     $ 300     $ 350  
 
At September 30, 2014, United had one security that has a Level 3 valuation.  It is a trust preferred security in a community bank that has shown deteriorating financial condition during the financial crisis, and is currently deferring interest payments.  Since the investment is not actively traded, there is no recent trade activity upon which to assess value.  The value assigned to the investment is based on a sales price estimate from a broker.  The investment has a par amount of $1 million.  The investment is carried at its original cost basis of $1 million with a $700,000 negative mark to fair value through other comprehensive income.  United does not consider this investment to be other-than-temporarily impaired, as the community bank was recapitalized by a private equity investment that management believes will result in full payment at maturity.
 
United had a second trust preferred security in another community bank that was acquired by United through an acquisition of another financial institution.  The investment was recorded at its par amount of $1 million at the time of the acquisition which was estimated to be its fair value.  During the financial crisis, the community bank discontinued the payment of interest.  United considered the investment to be other than temporarily impaired and recorded a $950,000 impairment charge to write the asset down to its estimated value of $50,000.  In the second quarter of 2014, United sold the investment for $200,000 and recorded a gain from the sale of $150,000.
 
38
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 
United may be required, from time to time, to measure certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  These include assets that are measured at the lower of cost or market that were recognized at fair value below cost at the end of the period.  The table below presents United’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (in thousands).
                         
September 30, 2014
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets
                       
Loans
  $     $     $ 85,827     $ 85,827  
Foreclosed properties
                2,204       2,204  
Total
  $     $     $ 88,031     $ 88,031  
December 31, 2013
                               
Assets
                               
Loans
  $     $     $ 82,798     $ 82,798  
Foreclosed properties
                3,747       3,747  
Total
  $     $     $ 86,545     $ 86,545  
September 30, 2013
                               
Assets
                               
Loans
  $     $     $ 76,393     $ 76,393  
Foreclosed properties
                3,898       3,898  
Total
  $     $     $ 80,291     $ 80,291  
 
Loans that are reported above as being measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are generally impaired loans that have either been partially charged off or have specific reserves assigned to them.  Nonaccrual impaired loans that are collateral dependent are generally written down to 80% of appraised value which considers the estimated costs to sell.  Specific reserves are established for impaired loans based on appraised value of collateral or discounted cash flows.  Foreclosed properties that are included above as measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are those properties that resulted from a loan that had been charged down or have been written down subsequent to foreclosure.  Foreclosed properties are generally recorded at the lower of 80% of appraised value or 90% of the asking price which considers the estimated cost to sell.
 
Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value
 
For financial instruments that have quoted market prices, those quotes are used to determine fair value.  Financial instruments that have no defined maturity, have a remaining maturity of 180 days or less, or reprice frequently to a market rate, are assumed to have a fair value that approximates the reported book value, after taking into consideration any applicable credit risk.  If no market quotes are available, financial instruments are valued by discounting the expected cash flows using an estimated current market interest rate for the financial instrument.  For off-balance sheet derivative instruments, fair value is estimated as the amount that United would receive or pay to terminate the contracts at the reporting date, taking into account the current unrealized gains or losses on open contracts.
 
The short maturity of United’s assets and liabilities results in having a significant number of financial instruments whose fair value equals or closely approximates carrying value.  Such financial instruments are reported in the following balance sheet captions: cash and cash equivalents, mortgage loans held for sale and short-term borrowings.  The fair value of securities available-for-sale equals the balance sheet value.  Due to the short-term settlement of accrued interest receivable and payable, the carrying amount closely approximates fair value.
 
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument.  These estimates do not reflect the premium or discount on any particular financial instrument that could result from the sale of United’s entire holdings.  Because no ready market exists for a significant portion of United’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on many judgments.  These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision.  Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
 
39
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments.  Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include the mortgage banking operation, brokerage network, deferred income taxes, premises and equipment and goodwill.  In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.
 
Off-balance sheet financial instruments (commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit) are generally short-term and at variable rates.  Therefore, both the carrying amount and the estimated fair value associated with these instruments are immaterial.
 
The carrying amount and fair values for other financial instruments that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis in United’s balance sheet at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands).
                               
   
Carrying
    Fair Value Level  
September 30, 2014
 
Amount
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                             
Securities held to maturity
  $ 432,418     $     $ 440,311     $     $ 440,311  
Loans, net
    4,496,958                   4,437,039       4,437,039  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    20,004             20,253             20,253  
Liabilities:
                                       
Deposits
    6,240,729             6,228,804             6,228,804  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    330,125             330,134             330,134  
Long-term debt
    129,865                   132,636       132,636  
                                         
December 31, 2013
                                       
Assets:
                                       
Securities held to maturity
    479,742             485,585             485,585  
Loans, net
    4,252,504                   4,165,591       4,165,591  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    10,319             10,529             10,529  
Liabilities:
                                       
Deposits
    6,201,505             6,204,815             6,204,815  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    120,125             120,125             120,125  
Long-term debt
    129,865                   130,262       130,262  
                                         
September 30, 2013
                                       
Assets:
                                       
Securities held to maturity
    205,613             214,651             214,651  
Loans, net
    4,186,695                   4,095,666       4,095,666  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    11,987             11,979             11,979  
Liabilities:
                                       
Deposits
    6,112,907             6,117,769             6,117,769  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    125             125             125  
Long-term debt
    129,865                   129,197       129,197  
 
40
 

 

 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies
 
United and the Bank are parties to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of their customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of financial instruments.  The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit written is represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. United uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it uses for underwriting on-balance sheet instruments. In most cases, collateral or other security is required to support financial instruments with credit risk.
 
The following table summarizes, as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the contractual amount of off-balance sheet instruments (in thousands):
                   
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
   
September 30, 2013
 
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
                 
Commitments to extend credit
  $ 852,635     $ 747,170     $ 677,891  
Letters of credit
    20,534       19,846       9,818  
 
United, in the normal course of business, is subject to various pending and threatened lawsuits in which claims for monetary damages are asserted.  Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, or the range of any possible loss, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the ultimate aggregate liability, if any, arising from these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on United’s financial position or results of operations.
 
41
 

 

 
Item 2.          Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Forward-looking Statements
 
This Form 10-Q 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, (the “Exchange Act”), about United and its subsidiaries. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “projects”, “plans”, “goal”, “targets”, “potential”, “estimates”, “pro forma”, “seeks”, “intends”, or “anticipates”, the negative thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements include discussions of strategy, financial projections, guidance and estimates (including their underlying assumptions), statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of various transactions or events, and statements about the future performance, operations, products and services of United and its subsidiaries. We caution our shareholders and other readers not to place undue reliance on such statements.
 
Our businesses and operations are and will be subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Consequently, actual results and experiences may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experiences to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as well as the following factors:
 
the condition of the general business and economic environment;
the results of our internal credit stress tests may not accurately predict the impact on our financial condition if the economy were to deteriorate;
our ability to maintain profitability;
our ability to fully realize the balance of our net deferred tax asset, including net operating loss carryforwards;
the risk that we may be required to increase the valuation allowance on our net deferred tax asset in future periods;
the condition of the banking system and financial markets;
our ability to raise capital as may be necessary;
our ability to maintain liquidity or access other sources of funding;
changes in the cost and availability of funding;
the success of the local economies in which we operate;
our lack of geographic diversification;
our concentrations of residential and commercial construction and development loans and commercial real estate loans are subject to unique risks that could adversely affect our earnings;
changes in prevailing interest rates may negatively affect our net income and the value of our assets and other interest rate risks;
our accounting and reporting policies;
if our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses;
losses due to fraudulent and negligent conduct of our loan customers, third party service providers or employees;
risks related to our communications and information systems, including risks with respect to cybersecurity breaches;
our reliance on third parties to provide key components of our business infrastructure and services required to operate our business;
competition from financial institutions and other financial service providers;
risks with respect to our ability to successfully expand and complete acquisitions and integrate businesses and operations that are acquired;
if the conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets deteriorate;
the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and related regulations;
changes in laws and regulations or failures to comply with such laws and regulations;
changes in regulatory capital and other requirements;
the costs and effects of litigation, examinations, investigations, or similar matters, or adverse facts and developments related thereto, including possible dilution;
regulatory or judicial proceedings, board resolutions, informal memorandums of understanding or formal enforcement actions imposed by regulators that may occur;
changes in tax laws, regulations and interpretations or challenges to our income tax provision; and
our ability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures.
 
Additional information with respect to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements may also be included in other reports that United files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  United cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  United does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q.
 
42
 

 

 
Overview
 
The following discussion is intended to provide insight into the results of operations and financial condition of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and its subsidiaries and should be read in conjunction with United’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
 
United is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 that was incorporated under the laws of the state of Georgia in 1987 and commenced operations in 1988.  At September 30, 2014, United had total consolidated assets of $7.53 billion, total loans of $4.57 billion, total deposits of $6.24 billion, and shareholders’ equity of $736 million.
 
United’s activities are primarily conducted by its wholly-owned Georgia banking subsidiary, United Community Bank (the “Bank”).  The Bank’s operations are conducted under a community bank model that operates 28 “community banks” with local bank presidents and boards in north Georgia, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia metropolitan statistical area, the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan statistical area, coastal Georgia, western North Carolina, east Tennessee and the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, South Carolina metropolitan statistical area.
 
Included in management’s discussion and analysis are certain non-GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”)) performance measures.  United’s management believes that non-GAAP performance measures are useful in analyzing United’s financial performance trends and therefore this section will refer to non-GAAP performance measures.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in the table on page 46.
 
United reported net income of $17.6 million for the third quarter of 2014.  This compared to net income of $15.5 million for the third quarter of 2013.  Diluted earnings per common share were $.29 for the third quarter of 2014, compared to diluted earnings per common share of $.21 for the third quarter of 2013.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, United reported net income of $49.4 million.  This compared to net income of $257 million for the first nine months of 2013.  Diluted earnings per common share were $.81 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to diluted earnings per common share of $4.24 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
Year-to-date 2013 earnings were significantly impacted by the reversal of a $272 million valuation allowance on United’s net deferred tax asset and a large bulk sale of classified assets, both of which took place in the second quarter of 2013.  The effects of these two events on the income statement were significant increases in the provision for loan losses and foreclosed property expense from the classified asset sales and the recognition of a tax benefit in the income tax line from the valuation allowance reversal.
 
Taxable equivalent net interest revenue was $57.0 million for the third quarter of 2014, compared to $54.3 million for the same period of 2013.  Net interest margin increased from 3.26% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to 3.32% for the same period in 2014.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, taxable equivalent net interest revenue was $166 million compared to $164 million for the same period of 2013.  Net interest margin decreased from 3.32% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to 3.25% for the same period in 2014.  The margin decrease for the year-to-date comparison was driven by pricing pressures on new and renewed loans and resulting lower yields on loans.  In the second quarter of 2014, United executed a number of balance sheet management activities, including restructuring interest rate swaps, selling investment securities and repaying high cost wholesale borrowings with the intent of improving the net interest margin and increasing net interest revenue.  These balance sheet management activities, along with strong third quarter loan growth, had the desired effect of increasing the third quarter 2014 net interest revenue and net interest margin.
 
United’s provision for loan losses was $2.00 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $3.00 million for the same period in 2013.  Net charge-offs for the third quarter of 2014 were $3.16 million, compared to $4.47 million for the third quarter of 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, United’s provision for loan losses was $6.70 million, compared to $62.5 million for the same period of 2013.  The sales of approximately $151 million in classified loans in the second quarter of 2013 resulted in a high level of charge-offs and provision for loan losses in 2013.  Following this accelerated disposition of classified assets in the second quarter of 2013, as well as generally improving credit conditions, United has experienced a lower level of net charge-offs and provision for loan losses beginning with the third quarter of 2013 through the third quarter of 2014.
 
As of September 30, 2014, United’s allowance for loan losses was $71.9 million, or 1.57% of loans, compared to $80.4 million, or 1.88% of loans, at September 30, 2013.  Nonperforming assets of $21.9 million decreased to .29% of total assets at September 30, 2014 from .42% as of September 30, 2013, due to ongoing improving credit conditions.  During the third quarter of 2014, $7.67 million in loans were placed on nonaccrual compared with $9.96 million in the third quarter of 2013.
 
Fee revenue of $14.4 million increased $187,000, or 1%, from the third quarter of 2013.  The increase was due primarily to $945,000 in gains from the sales of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans in the third quarter of 2014.  United began selling the guaranteed portion of SBA / United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) loans in the second quarter of 2014 as part of its emphasis on growing the SBA lending business.  The gains from the sales of SBA loans were partially offset by decreases in overdraft charges and interchange fees and lower mortgage revenue, brokerage and customer derivatives fees.  The decrease in mortgage fees is due to a lower level of refinancing activity compared with a year ago due to rising long-term interest rates.  Despite the lower mortgage fees compared with last year, new purchase mortgage activity has been increasing in recent quarters.  Fee revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $40.7 million, down $2.35 million from the same period of 2013 due primarily to a $2.80 million decrease in mortgage fees.  Mortgage refinancing activity has declined as long-term interest rates started to rise.  Other fee revenue for the nine months was down $2.13 million from the same period in 2013 mostly due to a $1.43 million gain from bank owned life insurance and a $468,000 gain from the sale of low income housing tax credits both received in the second quarter of 2013.
 
43
 

 

 
For the third quarter of 2014, operating expenses of $41.4 million were up $1.27 million from the third quarter of 2013.  The increase was due primarily to higher salaries and benefits expense which were up $2.58 million from a year ago mostly due to the investment in additional staff and new teams to expand the specialized lending area as well as higher incentive compensation in connection with increased lending activities and improvement in earnings performance.  Partially offsetting the increase in salaries and benefits was a $1.27 million decrease in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance assessment.  United’s FDIC assessment rate was reduced following the termination of the Bank’s informal memorandum of understanding with the FDIC late in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Improvements in credit measures have further lowered United’s assessment rate since that time.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, operating expenses totaled $121 million, an $11.7 million decrease from the same period of 2013.  With the exception of salaries and employee benefits and postage, printing and supplies, expenses are down in every category.  Foreclosed property costs, which were elevated from the accelerated disposition of classified assets in the second quarter of 2013, were down $7.18 million from the first nine months of 2013.  Professional fees and the FDIC insurance assessment were also down significantly from a year ago as a result of improving credit conditions and the termination of United’s and the Bank’s informal memorandums of understanding with the bank regulatory agencies.
 
Recent Developments
 
On June 26, 2014, United completed the purchase of Business Carolina, Inc., an SBA/USDA lending operation in Columbia, South Carolina.  The purchase resulted in the addition of approximately $25 million in SBA/USDA loans to United’s portfolio.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The accounting and reporting policies of United are in accordance with GAAP and conform to general practices within the banking industry.  The more critical accounting and reporting policies include United’s accounting for the allowance for loan losses, fair value measurements, and income taxes which involve the use of estimates and require significant judgments to be made by management.  Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in United’s consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations.  See “Asset Quality and Risk Elements” herein for additional discussion of United’s accounting methodologies related to the allowance for loan losses.
 
GAAP Reconciliation and Explanation
 
This Form 10-Q contains non-GAAP financial measures, which are performance measures determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include, among others the following: taxable equivalent interest revenue, taxable equivalent net interest revenue, tangible book value per share, tangible equity to assets, tangible common equity to assets and tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets.  Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes they are useful for evaluating our operations and performance over periods of time, as well as in managing and evaluating our business and in discussions about our operations and performance. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with a meaningful measure for assessing our financial results and credit trends, as well as comparison to financial results for prior periods. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled financial measures used by other companies.  A reconciliation of these operating performance measures to GAAP performance measures is included in on the table on page 46.
 
Results of Operations
 
United reported net income of $17.6 million for the third quarter of 2014.  This compared to net income of $15.5 million for the same period in 2013.  For the third quarter of 2014, diluted earnings per common share were $.29 compared to $.21 for the third quarter of 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, United reported net income of $49.4 million compared to net income of $257 million for the same period in 2013.  Diluted earnings per common share were $.81 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared with diluted earnings per share of $4.24 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Net income and earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were elevated by the recognition of United’s substantial tax benefits with the reversal of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  The effect of the tax benefit on net income was partially offset by higher net charge-offs and a pre-tax loss resulting from the accelerated disposition of classified assets in the second quarter of 2013.
 
44
 

 

 
                                                       
Table 1 - Financial Highlights
                 
Selected Financial Information
                                 
Third
   
For the Nine
       
    2014    
2013
   
Quarter
   
Months Ended
   
YTD
 
(in thousands, except per share
 
Third
   
Second
   
First
   
Fourth
   
Third
    2014-2013    
September 30,
    2014-2013  
data; taxable equivalent)
 
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Change
    2014     2013    
Change
 
INCOME SUMMARY
                                                             
Interest revenue
  $ 63,338     $ 61,783     $ 60,495     $ 61,695     $ 61,426             $ 185,616     $ 185,628          
Interest expense
    6,371       6,833       6,326       5,816       7,169               19,530       21,866          
Net interest revenue
    56,967       54,950       54,169       55,879       54,257       5 %     166,086       163,762       1 %
Provision for credit losses
    2,000       2,200       2,500       3,000       3,000               6,700       62,500          
Fee revenue
    14,412       14,143       12,176       13,519       14,225       1       40,731       43,079       (5 )
Total revenue
    69,379       66,893       63,845       66,398       65,482               200,117       144,341          
Operating expenses
    41,364       40,532       39,050       41,614       40,097       3       120,946       132,690       (9 )
Income before income taxes
    28,015       26,361       24,795       24,784       25,385       10       79,171       11,651          
Income tax expense (benefit)
    10,399       10,004       9,395       8,873       9,885               29,798       (245,578 )        
Net income
    17,616       16,357       15,400       15,911       15,500       14       49,373       257,229          
Preferred dividends and discount accretion
                439       2,912       3,059               439       9,166          
Net income available to common
shareholders
  $ 17,616     $ 16,357     $ 14,961     $ 12,999     $ 12,441       42     $ 48,934     $ 248,063          
                                                                         
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
                                                                       
Per common share:
                                                                       
Diluted income
  $ .29     $ .27     $ .25     $ .22     $ .21       38     $ .81     $ 4.24          
Book value
    12.15       11.94       11.66       11.30       10.99       11       12.15       10.99       11  
Tangible book value (2)
    12.10       11.91       11.63       11.26       10.95       11       12.10       10.95       11  
                                                                         
Key performance ratios:
                                                                       
Return on common equity (1)(3)
    9.41 %     8.99 %     8.64 %     7.52 %     7.38 %             9.02 %     64.29
%
 
 
 
Return on assets (3)
    .95       .88       .85       .86       .86               .89       4.93          
Net interest margin (3)
    3.32       3.21       3.21       3.26       3.26               3.25       3.32          
Efficiency ratio
    57.96       58.65       59.05       60.02       58.55               58.54       64.19          
Equity to assets
    9.85       9.61       9.52       11.62       11.80               9.66       9.91          
Tangible equity to assets (2)
    9.83       9.58       9.50       11.59       11.76               9.64       9.85          
Tangible common equity to assets (2)
    9.83       9.58       9.22       8.99       9.02               9.55       7.04          
Tangible common equity to risk- weighted assets (2)
    14.10       13.92       13.63       13.18       13.34               14.10       13.34          
                                                                         
ASSET QUALITY *
                                                                       
Non-performing loans
  $ 18,745     $ 20,724     $ 25,250     $ 26,819     $ 26,088             $ 18,745     $ 26,088          
Foreclosed properties
    3,146       2,969       5,594       4,221       4,467               3,146       4,467          
Total non-performing assets (NPAs)
    21,891       23,693       30,844       31,040       30,555               21,891       30,555          
Allowance for loan losses
    71,928       73,248       75,223       76,762       80,372               71,928       80,372          
Net charge-offs
    3,155       4,175       4,039       4,445       4,473               11,369       89,265          
Allowance for loan losses to loans
    1.57 %     1.66 %     1.73 %     1.77 %     1.88 %             1.57 %     1.88
%
 
 
 
Net charge-offs to average loans (3)
    .28       .38       .38       .41       .42               .35       2.84          
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties
    .48       .54       .71       .72       .72               .48       .72          
NPAs to total assets
    .29       .32       .42       .42       .42               .29       .42          
                                                                         
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)
                                                                       
Loans
  $ 4,446     $ 4,376     $ 4,356     $ 4,315     $ 4,250       5     $ 4,393     $ 4,234       4  
Investment securities
    2,231       2,326       2,320       2,280       2,178       2       2,292       2,160       6  
Earning assets
    6,820       6,861       6,827       6,823       6,615       3       6,836       6,590       4  
Total assets
    7,374       7,418       7,384       7,370       7,170       3       7,392       6,974       6  
Deposits
    6,143       6,187       6,197       6,190       5,987       3       6,176       5,972       3  
Shareholders’ equity
    726       713       703       856       846       (14 )     714       691       3  
Common shares - basic (thousands)
    60,776       60,712       60,059       59,923       59,100               60,511       58,443          
Common shares - diluted (thousands)
    60,779       60,714       60,061       59,925       59,202               60,513       58,444          
                                                                         
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)
                                                                       
Loans *
  $ 4,569     $ 4,410     $ 4,356     $ 4,329     $ 4,267       7     $ 4,569     $ 4,267       7  
Investment securities
    2,222       2,190       2,302       2,312       2,169       2       2,222       2,169       2  
Total assets
    7,526       7,352       7,398       7,425       7,243       4       7,526       7,243       4  
Deposits
    6,241       6,164       6,248       6,202       6,113       2       6,241       6,113       2  
Shareholders’ equity
    736       722       704       796       852       (14 )     736       852       (14 )
Common shares outstanding (thousands)
    60,248       60,139       60,092       59,432       59,412               60,248       59,412          
 
(1)     Net income available to common shareholders, which is net of preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). (2) Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization. (3) Annualized.
 
*     Excludes loans and foreclosed properties covered by loss sharing agreements with the FDIC.
 
45
 

 

 
                                           
Table 1 Continued - Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation
                         
Selected Financial Information
                                         
    2014    
2013
   
For the Nine Months
 
(in thousands, except per share
 
Third
   
Second
   
First
   
Fourth
   
Third
   
Ended September 30,
 
data; taxable equivalent)
 
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
Quarter
   
2014
   
2013
 
Interest revenue reconciliation
                                         
Interest revenue - taxable equivalent
  $ 63,338     $ 61,783     $ 60,495     $ 61,695     $ 61,426     $ 185,616     $ 185,628  
Taxable equivalent adjustment
    (405 )     (377 )     (357 )     (380 )     (370 )     (1,139 )     (1,103 )
Interest revenue (GAAP)
  $ 62,933     $ 61,406     $ 60,138     $ 61,315     $ 61,056     $ 184,477     $ 184,525  
                                                         
Net interest revenue reconciliation
                                                       
Net interest revenue - taxable equivalent
  $ 56,967     $ 54,950     $ 54,169     $ 55,879     $ 54,257     $ 166,086     $ 163,762  
Taxable equivalent adjustment
    (405 )     (377 )     (357 )     (380 )     (370 )     (1,139 )     (1,103 )
Net interest revenue (GAAP)
  $ 56,562     $ 54,573     $ 53,812     $ 55,499     $ 53,887     $ 164,947     $ 162,659  
                                                         
Total revenue reconciliation
                                                       
Total operating revenue
  $ 69,379     $ 66,893     $ 63,845     $ 66,398     $ 65,482     $ 200,117     $ 144,341  
Taxable equivalent adjustment
    (405 )     (377 )     (357 )     (380 )     (370 )     (1,139 )     (1,103 )
Total revenue (GAAP)
  $ 68,974     $ 66,516     $ 63,488     $ 66,018     $ 65,112     $ 198,978     $ 143,238  
                                                         
Income before taxes reconciliation
                                                       
Income before taxes
  $ 28,015     $ 26,361     $ 24,795     $ 24,784     $ 25,385     $ 79,171     $ 11,651  
Taxable equivalent adjustment
    (405 )     (377 )     (357 )     (380 )     (370 )     (1,139 )     (1,103 )
Income before taxes (GAAP)
  $ 27,610     $ 25,984     $ 24,438     $ 24,404     $ 25,015     $ 78,032     $ 10,548  
                                                         
Income tax expense (benefit) reconciliation
                                                       
Income tax expense (benefit)
  $ 10,399     $ 10,004     $ 9,395     $ 8,873     $ 9,885     $ 29,798     $ (245,578 )
Taxable equivalent adjustment
    (405 )     (377 )     (357 )     (380 )     (370 )     (1,139 )     (1,103 )
Income tax expense (benefit) (GAAP)
  $ 9,994     $ 9,627     $ 9,038     $ 8,493     $ 9,515     $ 28,659     $ (246,681 )
                                                         
Book value per common share reconciliation
                                                       
Tangible book value per common share
  $ 12.10     $ 11.91     $ 11.63     $ 11.26     $ 10.95     $ 12.10     $ 10.95  
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles
    .05       .03       .03       .04       .04       .05       .04  
Book value per common share (GAAP)
  $ 12.15     $ 11.94     $ 11.66     $ 11.30     $ 10.99     $ 12.15     $ 10.99  
                                                         
Average equity to assets reconciliation
                                                       
Tangible common equity to assets
    9.83 %     9.58 %     9.22 %     8.99 %     9.02 %     9.55 %     7.04 %
Effect of preferred equity
                .28       2.60       2.74       .09       2.81  
Tangible equity to assets
    9.83       9.58       9.50       11.59       11.76       9.64       9.85  
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles
    .02       .03       .02       .03       .04       .02       .06  
Equity to assets (GAAP)
    9.85 %     9.61 %     9.52 %     11.62 %     11.80 %     9.66 %     9.91 %
                   
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets reconciliation
                 
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets
    14.10 %     13.92 %     13.63 %     13.18 %     13.34 %     14.10 %     13.34 %
Effect of other comprehensive income
    .34       .53       .36       .39       .49       .34       .49  
Effect of deferred tax limitation
    (3.39 )     (3.74 )     (3.92 )     (4.26 )     (4.72 )     (3.39 )     (4.72 )
Effect of trust preferred
    1.02       1.04       1.03       1.04       1.09       1.02       1.09  
Effect of preferred equity
                      2.39       4.01             4.01  
Tier I capital ratio (Regulatory)
    12.07 %     11.75 %     11.10 %     12.74 %     14.21 %     12.07 %     14.21 %
 
Net Interest Revenue (Taxable Equivalent)
 
Net interest revenue (the difference between the interest earned on assets and the interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds) is the single largest component of total revenue.  United actively manages this revenue source to provide optimal levels of revenue while balancing interest rate, credit and liquidity risks.  Taxable equivalent net interest revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $57.0 million, up $2.71 million from the third quarter of 2013.  Higher interest revenue on the investment securities portfolio and lower interest costs on deposits and borrowed funds were responsible for the increase in net interest revenue.  United continues to focus on loan and deposit pricing in an effort to maintain a steady level of net interest revenue.
 
While average loans increased $196 million, or 5%, from the third quarter of last year, the yield on loans decreased 24 basis points, reflecting the continuing effect of the low interest rate environment and pricing competition for a limited number of quality lending opportunities.
 
Average interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2014 increased $205 million, or 3%, from the same period in 2013, which was due primarily to the increase in loans and securities.  Average investment securities for the third quarter of 2014 increased $54.7 million from a year ago consistent with general growth in the balance sheet.  The average yield on the investment portfolio increased 40 basis points from a year ago, mostly due to changes in the asset mix resulting from portfolio restructuring activities executed in the second quarter of 2014.  Also contributing to the higher securities portfolio yield was slowing prepayment activity in the mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) portfolio which was mostly purchased at a premium.  The slowing prepayment activity resulted from rising long-term interest rates which slowed the rate of mortgage refinancing activity.  Generally, increased prepayment activity resulting from low mortgage rates accelerates the amortization of premiums causing a reduction in the yield on the bonds.
 
46
 

 

 
During the second quarter of 2014, United sold approximately $237 million in securities which were mostly low-yielding variable-rate collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and fixed rate corporate bonds that had been swapped to a floating rate.  Improvement in the credit spreads on corporate bonds allowed United to sell the securities at an attractive gain that was used to repay $44 million in  structured repurchase agreements that were paying a 4% interest rate.  About $120 million of the proceeds from the sales of securities were reinvested in fixed rate MBS and higher yielding floating rate collateralized loan obligations to offset the impact of the decrease in interest revenue on the sold securities.  These actions in the second quarter of 2014, along with strong loan growth in the third quarter, were primarily responsible for increasing net interest revenue and improving the net interest margin in the third quarter of 2014.
 
Also in the second quarter of 2014, as a result of improvement in the interest sensitivity position, United effectively terminated $300 million notional in pay fixed forward starting swaps that were serving as cash flow hedges of LIBOR based wholesale borrowings and indexed money market deposits.  The swaps were entered into in 2012 in anticipation of rising interest rates and had forward start dates that took effect in the first and second quarters of 2014.  Changes in United’s balance sheet since that time made the hedges no longer necessary to achieve a neutral interest sensitivity position.  The termination of the cash flow hedges in the second quarter of 2014 lowered United’s deposit and wholesale borrowings costs and also contributed to the increase in net interest revenue and improvement in the net interest margin.
 
The above noted securities transactions, along with slowing prepayment activity in United’s mortgage backed securities, which were mostly purchased at a premium, increased the overall yield in the investment portfolio.  The higher investment securities yields completely offset the decline in loan yields, which kept the average yield on interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2014 equal to the third quarter of 2013.  The yield on other interest-earning assets increased 41 basis points although the average balance declined from the third quarter of 2013.  United utilizes reverse repurchase agreements, including collateral swap transactions, where the company enters into a repurchase agreement and reverse repurchase agreement simultaneously with the same counterparty subject to a master netting agreement.  In these transactions, the offsetting balances are netted on the balance sheet.
 
Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $150 million, or 3%, from the third quarter of 2013.  Average noninterest bearing deposits increased $173 million from the third quarter of 2013 to the third quarter of 2014.  The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the third quarter of 2014 was .50% compared to .58 for the same period of 2013, reflecting United’s concerted efforts to reduce deposit pricing.  During the second quarter of 2014, in conjunction with balance sheet restructuring activities, United prepaid approximately $44 million in other borrowings that were costing approximately 4%.  Also contributing to the overall lower rate on interest-bearing liabilities was a shift in the mix of deposits away from more expensive time deposits toward lower-rate transaction deposits.
 
The banking industry uses two ratios to measure relative profitability of net interest revenue.  The net interest spread measures the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.  The interest rate spread eliminates the effect of non-interest-bearing deposits and gives a direct perspective on the effect of market interest rate movements.  The net interest margin is an indication of the profitability of a company’s balance sheet, and is defined as net interest revenue as a percent of average total interest-earning assets, which includes the positive effect of funding a portion of interest-earning assets with customers’ non-interest-bearing deposits and stockholders’ equity.
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the net interest spread was 3.19% and 3.11%, respectively, while the net interest margin was 3.32% and 3.26%, respectively.  The increase in both ratios reflects the impact of the second quarter 2014 balance sheet management activities described above as well as growth in the loan portfolio.
 
For the first nine months of 2014, net interest revenue was $166 million, a decrease of $2.32 million, or 1%, from the first nine months of 2013.  Average earning assets increased $246 million, or 4%, during the first nine months of 2014, compared to the same period a year ago.  The yield on earning assets decreased 13 basis points from 3.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, to 3.63% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, due to declining loan yields.  The lower loan portfolio yield reflects competitive pricing pressure on new and renewed loans.  Investment yields increased 26 basis points for the first nine months of 2014 compared to the first nine months of 2013, which helped offset some of the decrease on loan yields.  The increase in the securities portfolio yield is due to the second quarter 2014 balance sheet restructuring activities described above and slowing prepayment activity in the mortgage backed securities portfolio.  The rate on interest bearing liabilities over the same period decreased 9 basis points.  The combined effect of the lower yield on interest earning assets, which was not completely offset by the increase in the investment securities yield and the reduction in rates paid on interest bearing liabilities, resulted in the net interest margin decreasing 7 basis points from the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
 
47
 

 

 
The following table shows the relationship between interest revenue and expense, and the average amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
                                     
Table 2 - Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
    2014     2013  
   
Average
         
Avg.
   
Average
         
Avg.
 
(dollars in thousands, taxable equivalent)
 
Balance
   
Interest
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Interest
   
Rate
 
Assets:
                                   
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans, net of unearned income (1)(2)
  $ 4,445,947     $ 49,853       4.45 %   $ 4,249,892     $ 50,265       4.69 %
Taxable securities (3)
    2,212,116       12,169       2.20       2,157,448       9,685       1.80  
Tax-exempt securities (1)(3)
    18,794       290       6.17       20,913       331       6.32  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning
assets
    143,169       1,026       2.87       186,544       1,145       2.46  
                                                 
Total interest-earning assets
    6,820,026       63,338       3.69       6,614,797       61,426       3.69  
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (74,146 )                     (83,408 )                
Cash and due from banks
    71,224                       63,890                  
Premises and equipment
    161,315                       166,906                  
Other assets (3)
    395,184                       407,912                  
Total assets
  $ 7,373,603                     $ 7,170,097                  
                                                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
NOW
  $ 1,331,806       365       .11     $ 1,222,334       413       .13  
Money market
    1,387,042       872       .25       1,328,661       545       .16  
Savings
    282,746       20       .03       248,937       37       .06  
Time less than $100,000
    791,289       876       .44       952,320       1,369       .57  
Time greater than $100,000
    542,216       827       .61       644,264       1,229       .76  
Brokered time deposits
    278,330       18       .03       233,842       32       .05  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    4,613,429       2,978       .26       4,630,358       3,625       .31  
                                                 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings
    53,713       316       2.33       67,292       525       3.10  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    227,190       435       .76       32,082       16       .20  
Long-term debt
    129,865       2,642       8.07       144,601       3,003       8.24  
Total borrowed funds
    410,768       3,393       3.28       243,975       3,544       5.76  
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    5,024,197       6,371       .50       4,874,333       7,169       .58  
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Non-interest-bearing deposits
    1,530,011                       1,356,792                  
Other liabilities
    92,986                       93,247                  
Total liabilities
    6,647,194                       6,324,372                  
Shareholders’ equity
    726,409                       845,725                  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 7,373,603                     $ 7,170,097                  
                                                 
Net interest revenue
          $ 56,967                     $ 54,257          
Net interest-rate spread
                    3.19 %                     3.11 %
                                                 
Net interest margin (4)
                    3.32 %                     3.26 %
 
(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 39%, 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 where 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 $7.42 million in 2014 and pretax unrealized losses of $10.6 million in 2013 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.
 
48
 

 

 
The following table shows the relationship between interest revenue and expense, and the average amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
                                     
Table 3 - Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
                   
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                   
    2014     2013  
   
Average
         
Avg.
   
Average
         
Avg.
 
(dollars in thousands, taxable equivalent)
 
Balance
   
Interest
   
Rate
   
Balance
   
Interest
   
Rate
 
Assets:
                                   
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans, net of unearned income (1)(2)
  $ 4,392,895     $ 146,156       4.45 %   $ 4,233,531     $ 152,073       4.80 %
Taxable securities (3)
    2,272,639       35,560       2.09       2,138,725       29,281       1.83  
Tax-exempt securities (1)(3)
    19,515       914       6.24       21,411       1,022       6.36  
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets
    150,782       2,986       2.64       196,445       3,252       2.21  
                                                 
Total interest-earning assets
    6,835,831       185,616       3.63       6,590,112       185,628       3.76  
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                               
Allowance for loan losses
    (76,148 )                     (100,154 )                
Cash and due from banks
    65,744                       63,879                  
Premises and equipment
    161,843                       168,144                  
Other assets (3)
    404,654                       252,275                  
Total assets
  $ 7,391,924                     $ 6,974,256                  
                                                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                               
NOW
  $ 1,367,713       1,216       .12     $ 1,256,684       1,286       .14  
Money market
    1,375,064       2,192       .21       1,297,792       1,641       .17  
Savings
    272,696       61       .03       242,807       109       .06  
Time less than $100,000
    828,694       2,822       .46       997,193       4,686       .63  
Time greater than $100,000
    561,167       2,610       .62       670,821       4,086       .81  
Brokered time deposits
    300,374       78       .03       201,599       99       .07  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    4,705,708       8,979       .26       4,666,896       11,907       .34  
                                                 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings
    91,320       2,064       3.02       70,512       1,563       2.96  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    169,392       573       .45       41,352       65       .21  
Long-term debt
    129,865       7,914       8.15       131,491       8,331       8.47  
Total borrowed funds
    390,577       10,551       3.61       243,355       9,959       5.47  
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    5,096,285       19,530       .51       4,910,251       21,866       .60  
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Non-interest-bearing deposits
    1,469,967                       1,305,133                  
Other liabilities
    111,522                       68,312                  
Total liabilities
    6,677,774                       6,283,696                  
Shareholders’ equity
    714,150                       690,560                  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 7,391,924                     $ 6,974,256                  
                                                 
Net interest revenue
          $ 166,086                     $ 163,762          
Net interest-rate spread
                    3.12 %                     3.16 %
                                                 
Net interest margin (4)
                    3.25 %                     3.32 %
 
(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 39%, 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 where 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 $1.59 million in 2014 and pretax unrealized gains of $7.96 million in 2013 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.
 
49
 

 

 
The following table shows the relative effect on net interest revenue for changes in the average outstanding amounts (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the rates earned and paid on such assets and liabilities (rate).  Variances resulting from a combination of changes in rate and volume are allocated in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each category.
                               
Table 4 - Change in Interest Revenue and Expense on a Taxable Equivalent Basis                          
(in thousands)
                                   
             
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
September 30, 2014
 
   
Compared to 2013
   
Compared to 2013
 
   
Increase (decrease)
   
Increase (decrease)
 
   
Due to Changes in
   
Due to Changes in
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Total
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Total
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Loans
  $ 2,262     $ (2,674 )   $ (412 )   $ 5,582     $ (11,499 )   $ (5,917 )
Taxable securities
    251       2,233       2,484       1,913       4,366       6,279  
Tax-exempt securities
    (33 )     (8 )     (41 )     (89 )     (19 )     (108 )
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets
    (292 )     173       (119 )     (836 )     570       (266 )
Total interest-earning assets
    2,188       (276 )     1,912       6,570       (6,582 )     (12 )
                                                 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
NOW accounts
    35       (83 )     (48 )     108       (178 )     (70 )
Money market accounts
    25       302       327       102       449       551  
Savings deposits
    4       (21 )     (17 )     12       (60 )     (48 )
Time deposits less than $100,000
    (209 )     (284 )     (493 )     (709 )     (1,155 )     (1,864 )
Time deposits greater than $100,000
    (177 )     (225 )     (402 )     (603 )     (873 )     (1,476 )
Brokered deposits
    5       (19 )     (14 )     37       (58 )     (21 )
  Total interest-bearing deposits
    (317 )     (330 )     (647 )     (1,053 )     (1,875 )     (2,928 )
Federal funds purchased & other borrowings
    (94 )     (115 )     (209 )     470       31       501  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    286       133       419       370       138       508  
Long-term debt
    (301 )     (60 )     (361 )     (102 )     (315 )     (417 )
  Total borrowed funds
    (109 )     (42 )     (151 )     738       (146 )     592  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    (426 )     (372 )     (798 )     (315 )     (2,021 )     (2,336 )
                                                 
Increase in net interest revenue
  $ 2,614     $ 96     $ 2,710     $ 6,885     $ (4,561 )   $ 2,324  
 
Provision for Credit Losses
 
The provision for credit losses is based on management’s evaluation of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and corresponding analysis of the allowance for credit losses at quarter-end.  The provision for credit losses was $2.00 million and $6.70 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, compared to $3.00 million and $62.5 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2013.  The amount of provision recorded in each period was the amount required such that the total allowance for loan losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover incurred losses in the loan portfolio.  The provision for loan losses for the first nine months of 2014 was significantly lower than the first nine months of 2013, due to the second quarter 2013 classified asset dispositions and overall improvement in the portfolio credit quality.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, net loan charge-offs as an annualized percentage of average outstanding loans were .28% and .42%, respectively, compared to .42% and 2.84%, respectively, for the same periods in 2013.
 
In the fourth quarter of 2013, United established an allowance for unfunded loan commitments which is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.  The allowance for unfunded commitments represents probable incurred losses on unfunded loan commitments that are expected to result in outstanding loan balances.  The allowance for unfunded loan commitments was established through the provision for credit losses.
 
Over the past two years, United has experienced significant improvement in credit quality and corresponding credit measures.  During the second quarter of 2013 United sold classified assets totaling approximately $172 million, including a bulk sale of $131 million.  The classified asset sales and a general improving trend reduced United’s nonperforming assets to $21.9 million as of September 30, 2014.  Additional discussion on credit quality and the allowance for loan losses is included in the “Asset Quality and Risk Elements” section of this report on page 56.
 
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Fee Revenue
 
Fee revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $14.4 million and $40.7 million, respectively, an increase of $187,000, or 1%, compared to the third quarter of 2013, and a decrease of $2.35 million, or 5%, from the year-to-date period of 2013. The following table presents the components of fee revenue for the third quarters and first nine months of 2014 and 2013.
                                                 
Table 5 - Fee Revenue
                                               
(in thousands)
                                               
   
Three Months Ended
               
Nine Months Ended
             
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
2014
   
2013
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Overdraft fees
  $ 3,071     $ 3,203     $ (132 )     (4 )   $ 8,935     $ 9,226     $ (291 )     (3 )
Debit card and interchange fees
    3,811       3,952       (141 )     (4 )     11,318       10,818       500       5  
Other service charges and fees
    1,320       1,301       19       1       4,374       3,787       587       16  
Service charges and fees
    8,202       8,456       (254 )     (3 )     24,627       23,831       796       3  
Mortgage loan and related fees
    2,178       2,554       (376 )     (15 )     5,409       8,212       (2,803 )     (34 )
Brokerage fees
    1,209       1,274       (65 )     (5 )     3,631       3,104       527       17  
Gains on sales of SBA loans
    945             945               1,689             1,689          
Customer derivatives
    179       442       (263 )     (60 )     650       1,182       (532 )     (45 )
Securities gains, net
    11             11               4,663       116       4,547          
Loss on prepayment of borrowings
                              (4,446 )           (4,446 )        
Other
    1,688       1,499       189       13       4,508       6,634       (2,126 )     (32 )
Total fee revenue
  $ 14,412     $ 14,225     $ 187       1     $ 40,731     $ 43,079     $ (2,348 )     (5 )
 
Service charges and fees of $8.20 million were down $254,000, or 3%, from the third quarter of 2013.  For the first nine months of 2014, service charges and fees of $24.6 million were up $796,000, or 3%, from the same period in 2013.  The decrease for the third quarter of 2014 is due to lower overdraft fees and debit card interchange fees which were down due to lower transaction volume.  Transaction volume in debit card interchange fees has been steadily increasing but dipped slightly in the third quarter of 2014.  The increasing trend in debit card interchange fees is reflected in the increase for the nine month period.  The increase in other service charges and fees for the nine month period reflects new service fees that went into effect January 1, 2014.  Overdraft fees continue to decline as customer utilization of our courtesy overdraft services decreases.
 
Mortgage loans and related fees for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 were down $376,000, or 3%, and $2.80 million, or 34%, respectively, from the same periods in 2013.  In the third quarter of 2014, United closed 492 loans totaling $84.2 million compared with 487 loans totaling $76.6 million in the third quarter of 2013.  Year-to-date mortgage production in 2014 amounted to 1,202 loans totaling $199 million, compared to 1,559 loans totaling $242 million for the same period in 2013.  Mortgage refinancing activity has slowed due to rising long-term interest rates; however, United has continued to experience growth in new purchase mortgages.  United had $53.0 million and $129 million, respectively, in new purchase mortgage originations in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, compared with $42.3 million and $108 million, respectively, for the same periods a year ago.  New purchase mortgages represented 63% of the third quarter production compared with 59% a year ago and increased as a percentage of total production due to lower refinancing activity but also due to an increase in the amount of new purchase mortgages.
 
Brokerage fees decreased $65,000, or 5%, from the third quarter of 2013 but were up $527,000, or 17%, compared to the first nine months of 2013.  The decrease in the third quarter of 2014 reflects market conditions in the brokerage business.  The growth in brokerage fees year–to-date reflects United’s focus on growing the brokerage business.
 
In the third quarter of 2014, United recognized $945,000 in gains from the sales of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans.  Year-to-date, United recognized gains of $1.69 million from the sales of SBA loans.  United has been actively growing its SBA lending business with the hiring of new leadership and lenders who specialize in government guaranteed loan programs such as SBA and USDA loans.  United’s SBA/USDA lending strategy includes selling a portion of the loan production each quarter.  United began selling the guaranteed portion of loans in the second quarter of 2014.  United retains the servicing rights on the sold loans and earns a fee for servicing the loans.  In the third quarter, United sold loans with a principal balance of $7.39 million at prices ranging from 106.68% to 113.87% of par.  Year-to-date, United sold loans with a principal balance of $12.5 million for premiums ranging from 106.68% to 115.55% of par.
 
Customer derivative fees of $179,000 were down $263,000 from the third quarter of 2013 and were down $532,000 compared to the first nine months of 2013.  Management believes the decrease is a reflection of the interest rate environment resulting in a weakening of customer demand for this product.
 
United recognized net securities gains of $11,000 in the third quarter of 2014.  For the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, net securities gains totaled $4.66 million and $116,000, respectively.  For the first nine months of 2014, United also recognized $4.45 million in charges from the prepayment of a structured repurchase agreement.  The securities gains and structured repurchase agreement prepayment charges in 2014 were offsetting and were part of the same overall balance sheet management activities that were intended to improve the securities portfolio yield and lower the overall cost of wholesale borrowings going forward.
 
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Other fee revenue of $1.69 million for the third quarter of 2014 was down $189,000, or 13%, from the third quarter of 2013.  For the first nine months of 2014, other fee revenue of $4.51 million was down $2.13 million, or 32%, from the same period in 2013.  In 2013, United recorded a $1.43 million death benefit on a bank-owned life insurance policy as well as $468,000 in gains from the sale of low income housing tax credits.
 
Operating Expenses
 
The following table presents the components of operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
                                                 
Table 6 - Operating Expenses
                                               
(in thousands)
                                               
   
Three Months Ended
               
Nine Months Ended
             
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
2014
   
2013
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Salaries and employee benefits
  $ 25,666     $ 23,090     $ 2,576       11     $ 74,349     $ 71,416     $ 2,933       4  
Communications and equipment
    3,094       3,305       (211 )     (6 )     9,370       9,819       (449 )     (5 )
Occupancy
    3,425       3,379       46       1       10,065       10,195       (130 )     (1 )
Advertising and public relations
    894       962       (68 )     (7 )     2,659       2,937       (278 )     (9 )
Postage, printing and supplies
    876       644       232       36       2,456       2,401       55       2  
Professional fees
    2,274       2,650       (376 )     (14 )     5,873       7,515       (1,642 )     (22 )
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges
    1,131       2,405       (1,274 )     (53 )     3,909       7,415       (3,506 )     (47 )
Amortization of intangibles
    313       427       (114 )     (27 )     1,061       1,623       (562 )     (35 )
Other
    3,406       3,041       365       12       10,701       11,691       (990 )     (8 )
Total excluding foreclosed property expenses
    41,079       39,903       1,176       3       120,443       125,012       (4,569 )     (4 )
Net losses on sales of foreclosed properties
    (264 )     (648 )     384               (1,208 )     2,402       (3,610 )        
Foreclosed property write downs
    108       329       (221 )             690       2,739       (2,049 )        
Foreclosed property maintenance expenses
    441       513       (72 )     (14 )     1,021       2,537       (1,516 )     (60 )
Total operating expenses
  $ 41,364     $ 40,097     $ 1,267       3     $ 120,946     $ 132,690     $ (11,744 )     (9 )
 
Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2014 totaled $41.4 million, up $1.27 million, or 3%, from the third quarter of 2013.  The increase mostly reflects higher salaries and employee benefits expense, partially offset by a lower FDIC insurance assessment.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, operating expenses totaled $121 million, a decrease of $11.7 million, or 9%, from the same period in 2013.  Excluding foreclosed property costs, total operating expenses were $41.1 million and $120 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September30, 2014, up $1.18 million, or 3%, from the third quarter of 2013, and down $4.57 million, or 4%, from the first nine months of 2013.
 
Salaries and employee benefits for the third quarter of 2014 were $25.7 million, up $2.58 million, or 11%, from the same period of 2013.  The increase was due to a number of factors including investments in additional staff and new teams to expand the specialized lending and new talent in other key areas, higher incentives due to increased loan production and obtaining higher earnings performance targets.  For the first nine months of 2014, salaries and employee benefits of $74.3 million were up $2.93 million, or 4%, from the first nine months of 2013.  The year-to-date increase is due to the same factors that caused the third quarter increase.  Headcount totaled 1,515 at September 30, 2014, up 16 from 2013.
 
Communications and equipment expense of $3.09 million for the third quarter of 2014 was down $211,000, or 6%, from the third quarter of 2013.  For the first nine months of 2014, communications and equipment expense was down $449,000, or 5%, from a year ago.  The decreases reflect lower software maintenance contract costs.
 
Occupancy expense of $3.43 million for the third quarter of 2014 was up $46,000, or 1%, from the third quarter of 2013.  The increase from a year ago was due to higher rent and utilities charges mostly related to new locations.  For the first nine months, occupancy expense of $10.1 was down $130,000, or 1%, compared to the same period of 2013.  The decrease was primarily related to lower depreciation, maintenance and utilities costs.
 
Advertising and public relations expense of $894,000, and $2.66 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, was down $68,000, or 7%, and down $278,000, or 9%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2013.  The decreases reflect management’s efforts to control discretionary spending.
 
Postage, printing and supplies expense of $876,000 for the third quarter of 2014 was up $232,000, or 36%, from the third quarter of 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, postage, printing and supplies expense of $2.46 million was up $55,000, or 2%, from the same period of 2013.  The increase is due to higher printing and forms charges related to increased business activity.
 
Professional fees for the third quarter of 2014 of $2.27 million were down $376,000, or 14%, from the same period in 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, professional fees of $5.87 million, were down $1.64 million, or 22%.  The decrease was due primarily to lower legal fees and fewer consulting projects that are in process.  Legal costs associated with the classified asset sales in 2013 resulted in higher expenses in the prior year.
 
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FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges of $1.13 million and $3.91 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 were down $1.27 million and $3.51 million, respectively, from the same periods of 2013.  The decreases reflect a lower deposit insurance assessment rate following the termination of the Bank’s informal memorandum of understanding with the FDIC and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance in the fourth quarter of 2013.
 
Other expense of $3.41 million for the third quarter of 2014 increased $365,000, or 12%, from the third quarter of 2013.  The increase is due to higher travel and entertainment costs and lending support costs associated with the increase in lending activity.  Year-to-date, other expense of $10.7 million decreased $990,000, or 8%, from the first nine months of 2013.  The decrease from prior periods was due primarily to lower problem credit related appraisal and lending support costs as well as lower ATM network provider costs.
 
Net gains on sales of foreclosed property totaled $264,000 for the third quarter of 2014, compared to net gains on sale of $648,000 for the third quarter of 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net gains on sales were $1.21 million, compared to net losses on sales of $2.40 million for the same period of the prior year.  Net losses were elevated in 2013 due to the classified asset sales that occurred in the second quarter of 2013.  Foreclosed property write-downs for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 were $108,000 and $690,000, respectively, compared to $329,000 and $2.74 million, respectively, a year ago.  Foreclosed property write downs in 2013 were elevated prior to the accelerated disposition of classified assets in the second quarter of 2013.  Foreclosed property maintenance expenses include legal fees, property taxes, marketing costs, utility services, maintenance and repair charges and totaled $441,000 and $1.02 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 compared with $513,000 and $2.54 million, respectively, a year ago.  These costs continue to decline with the decrease in the number of foreclosed properties held by United.
 
Income Taxes
 
Income tax expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 was $9.99 million and $28.7 million, respectively, as compared with income tax expense of $9.52 million and income tax benefit of $247 million, respectively, for the same periods of 2013.  The effective tax rate (as a percentage of pre-tax earnings) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was 36.2% and 36.7%, respectively.  The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2013 was 38%.  The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 was not meaningful due to the reversal of the full valuation allowance on United’s net deferred tax asset.  For the remainder of 2014, United expects to record income tax expense at an effective tax rate of approximately 37%.
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases including operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.  Net deferred tax assets (deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities and valuation allowance) are reported in the consolidated balance sheet as a component of total assets.
 
Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, requires that companies assess whether a valuation allowance should be established against their deferred tax assets based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard.  The determination of whether a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is appropriate is subject to considerable judgment and requires an evaluation of all positive and negative evidence with more weight given to evidence that can be objectively verified.  Each quarter, management considers both positive and negative evidence and analyzes changes in near-term market conditions as well as other factors which may impact future operating results.
 
At September 30, 2014, United reported a net deferred tax asset of $225 million, net of a valuation allowance of $4.45 million that related to specific state income tax credits that have short carryforward periods and therefore are expected to expire before they can be utilized.  This compared to a deferred tax asset of $259 million, net of a valuation allowance of $4.10 million at December 31, 2013 and $270 million, net of a valuation allowance of $4.61 million at September 30, 2013.
 
In the second quarter of 2013, United reversed a $275 million valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset following the achievement of six consecutive quarters of profitability.  The positive earnings results through the second quarter of 2013 and improving credit measures provided an objective basis for a conclusion that profitability was sustainable and improving.  In addition, the second quarter 2013 sale of classified assets improved United’s ability to project credit costs and forecast profitability going forward by removing the assets that were most likely to drive future credit losses.  As a result of this discretionary distressed asset sale and continuing improvement in credit quality, United’s classified asset ratio (classified assets as a percentage of Tier 1 capital and the allowance for loan losses) improved to 24% at September 30, 2014 from 27% at December 31, 2013 and 26% at September 30, 2013.
 
Based on all evidence considered, as of September 30, 2014, management again concluded it was more likely than not that our net deferred tax asset of $225 million would be realized.  With continuous improvements in credit quality, quarterly earnings for the past ten quarters have closely followed management’s forecast for these periods, excluding the impact of the discretionary classified asset sales in the second quarter of 2013.  The improvement in management’s ability to produce reliable forecasts, continuous and significant improvements in credit quality, and a sustained period of profitability were given appropriate weighting in our analysis, and such evidence was considered sufficient to overcome the weight of the negative evidence related to the significant operating losses in prior years.
 
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In addition to such positive evidence at September 30, 2014, United has also reduced the amount of credit risk inherent in its loan portfolio by reducing its concentration of construction loans and improving its overall loan portfolio diversification.  These changes place United in a strong position to manage through the ongoing weakness in the economy.  United also has a long record of positive earnings and accurate earnings forecasts prior to the recent economic downturn and is currently in a strong capital position.  Effective in the first quarter of 2014, based on a rolling twelve quarters, United is no longer in a three-year cumulative loss position which had previously been considered a significant piece of negative evidence.
 
Management expects to generate higher levels of future taxable income and believes this will allow for full utilization of United’s net federal operating loss carryforwards within four to six years, which is well within the statutory carryforward periods.  In determining whether management’s projections of future taxable income are reliable, management considered objective evidence supporting the forecast assumptions as well as recent experience demonstrating management’s ability to reasonably project future results of operations.  Further, while the banking environment is expected to remain challenging due to economic and other uncertainties, management believes that it can confidently forecast future taxable income at sufficient levels over the future period of time that United has available to realize its September 30, 2014 deferred tax asset.
 
Additional information regarding income taxes, including a reconciliation of the differences between the recorded income tax provision and the amount of income tax computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes, can be found in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements filed with United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
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Balance Sheet Review
 
Total assets at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 were $7.53 billion, $7.43 billion and $7.24 billion, respectively.  Average total assets for the third quarter of 2014 were $7.37 billion, up from $7.17 billion in the third quarter of 2013.
 
The following table presents a summary of the loan portfolio.
 
Table 7 - Loans Outstanding (excludes loans covered by loss share agreement)
(in thousands)
                   
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
By Loan Type
                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 1,153,933     $ 1,133,543     $ 1,129,152  
Income producing commercial real estate
    604,727       623,167       613,619  
Commercial & industrial
    649,853       471,961       457,414  
Commercial construction
    180,794       148,903       137,146  
Total commercial
    2,589,307       2,377,574       2,337,331  
Residential mortgage
    865,568       875,077       888,679  
Home equity lines of credit
    458,819       440,887       420,616  
Residential construction
    307,178       328,579       317,789  
Consumer installment
    105,345       111,045       116,535  
Indirect auto
    242,669       196,104       186,117  
Total loans
  $ 4,568,886     $ 4,329,266     $ 4,267,067  
                         
As a percentage of total loans:
                       
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    25 %     26 %     27 %
Income producing commercial real estate
    13       14       14  
Commercial & industrial
    14       11       11  
Commercial construction
    4       3       3  
Total commercial
    56       54       55  
Residential mortgage
    19       20       21  
Home equity lines of credit
    10       10       10  
Residential construction
    7       8       7  
Consumer installment
    3       3       3  
Indirect auto
    5       5       4  
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %
                         
By Geographic Location
                       
North Georgia
  $ 1,168,307     $ 1,240,234     $ 1,261,751  
Atlanta MSA
    1,289,267       1,275,139       1,246,433  
North Carolina
    553,028       571,971       574,667  
Coastal Georgia
    443,803       423,045       421,488  
Gainesville MSA
    253,878       254,655       253,004  
East Tennessee
    280,534       279,587       277,059  
South Carolina / Corporate
    337,400       88,531       46,548  
Indirect auto
    242,669       196,104       186,117  
Total loans
  $ 4,568,886     $ 4,329,266     $ 4,267,067  
 
Substantially all of United’s loans are to customers located in the immediate market areas of its community banks in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina, including customers who have a seasonal residence in United’s market areas.  More than 75% of the loans are secured by real estate.  At September 30, 2014, total loans, excluding loans that are covered by loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, were $4.57 billion, an increase of $302 million, or 7%, from September 30, 2013.  Despite the weak economy and lagging loan demand, United has continued to pursue lending opportunities.  Commercial and industrial loans are up due to United’s focus on growing business loans.  Much of the growth has come through United’s corporate lending initiatives in Greenville, South Carolina including United’s focus on SBA / USDA, commercial real estate, corporate, asset-based and health care industry lending.  Home equity loans increased due primarily to a successful home equity line promotion.  Indirect auto loans have increased due to additional purchases of loan pools for this portfolio.
 
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Asset Quality and Risk Elements
 
United manages asset quality and controls credit risk through review and oversight of the loan portfolio as well as adherence to policies designed to promote sound underwriting and loan monitoring practices.  United’s credit administration function is responsible for monitoring asset quality and Board-approved portfolio limits, establishing credit policies and procedures and enforcing the consistent application of these policies and procedures among all of the community banks.  Additional information on the credit administration function is included in Item 1 under the heading Loan Review and Nonperforming Assets in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
United classifies performing loans as “substandard” when there are well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize the repayment by the borrower and there is a distinct possibility that United could sustain some loss if the deficiency is not corrected.
 
United’s home equity lines generally require the payment of interest only for a set period after origination.  After this initial period, the outstanding balance begins amortizing and requires the payment of both principal and interest.  At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the funded portion of home equity lines totaled $459 million, $441 million, and $421 million, respectively.
 
Approximately 3% of the home equity loans at September 30, 2014 were amortizing.  Of the $459 million in balances outstanding at September 30, 2014, $287 million, or 62%, were first liens.  At September 30, 2014, 59% of the total available home equity lines were drawn upon.
 
United monitors the performance of its home equity loans and lines secured by second liens similar to other consumer loans and utilizes assumptions specific to these loans in determining the necessary allowance.  United also receives notification when the first lien holder is in the process of foreclosure and upon that notification, United obtains valuations to determine if any additional charge-offs or reserves are warranted.
 
The table below presents performing substandard loans for the last five quarters.
 
Table 8 - Performing Substandard Loans
                             
(dollars in thousands)
                             
   
September 30,
   
June 30,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2014
   
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
By Category
                             
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 49,857     $ 48,222     $ 47,526     $ 43,083     $ 39,946  
Income producing commercial real estate
    22,215       24,633       36,799       34,642       35,596  
Commercial & industrial
    7,498       5,647       8,141       9,589       10,342  
Commercial construction
    3,847       4,406       5,281       16,758       16,911  
Total commercial
    83,417       82,908       97,747       104,072       102,795  
Residential mortgage
    42,981       41,856       43,572       44,022       45,493  
Home equity
    8,073       7,562       7,662       7,967       7,679  
Residential construction
    11,755       12,872       12,977       14,104       15,552  
Consumer installment
    2,062       1,776       2,310       2,538       2,147  
Indirect auto
    684       562       597              
Total
  $ 148,972     $ 147,536     $ 164,865     $ 172,703     $ 173,666  
By Market
                                       
North Georgia
  $ 66,780     $ 66,709     $ 69,584     $ 69,510     $ 74,456  
Atlanta MSA
    34,699       32,975       32,008       43,171       44,650  
North Carolina
    18,465       19,619       21,735       18,954       20,768  
Coastal Georgia
    17,368       17,427       18,354       18,561       10,729  
Gainesville MSA
    2,016       2,832       14,911       14,916       14,820  
East Tennessee
    7,643       7,412       7,676       7,591       8,243  
South Carolina / Corporate
    1,317                          
Indirect auto
    684       562       597              
Total loans
  $ 148,972     $ 147,536     $ 164,865     $ 172,703     $ 173,666  
 
At September 30, 2014, performing substandard loans totaled $149 million and increased $1.44 million from the prior quarter-end, and decreased $24.7 million from a year ago.  Performing substandard loans have been on a downward trend as credit conditions have continued to improve and problem credits are resolved.
 
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Reviews of substandard performing and nonperforming loans, troubled debt restructures, past due loans and larger credits, are conducted periodically but not less than on a quarterly basis with management and are designed to identify risk migration and potential charges to the allowance for loan losses.  These reviews are presented by the responsible lending officers and specific action plans are discussed along with the financial strength of borrowers, the value of the applicable collateral, past loan loss experience, anticipated loan losses, changes in risk profile, the effect of prevailing economic conditions on the borrower along with other factors specific to the borrower and its industry.  In addition to United’s internal loan review, United also uses third party loan review specialists to provide an objective and independent review of the loan portfolio.
 
The following table presents a summary of the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
 
Table 9 - Allowance for Loan Losses
                       
(in thousands)
                       
   
Three Months Ended 
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended 
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
  $ 73,248     $ 81,845     $ 76,762     $ 107,137  
Charge-offs:
                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    832       1,712       2,116       23,444  
Income producing commercial real estate
    598       216       1,435       10,678  
Commercial & industrial
    30       826       2,005       18,581  
Commercial construction
    104       134       236       6,484  
Residential mortgage
    1,357       918       5,738       8,272  
Home equity lines of credit
    405       388       2,032       2,108  
Residential construction
    753       1,096       3,004       22,608  
Consumer installment
    449       345       1,580       1,521  
Indirect auto
    178       74       344       170  
Total loans charged-off
    4,706       5,709       18,490       93,866  
Recoveries:
                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate
    86       71       2,929       1,296  
Income producing commercial real estate
    494             691       260  
Commercial & industrial
    372       690       1,263       1,368  
Commercial construction
    1       1       1       60  
Residential mortgage
    240       229       597       479  
Home equity lines of credit
    50       2       218       170  
Residential construction
    41       24       410       57  
Consumer installment
    256       210       974       891  
Indirect auto
    11       9       38       20  
Total recoveries
    1,551       1,236       7,121       4,601  
Net charge-offs
    3,155       4,473       11,369       89,265  
Provision for loan losses
    1,835       3,000       6,535       62,500  
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
  $ 71,928     $ 80,372     $ 71,928     $ 80,372  
Allowance for unfunded commitments at beginning of period
  $ 2,165     $     $ 2,165     $  
Provision for losses on unfunded commitments
    165             165        
Allowance for unfunded commitments at end of period
    2,330             2,330        
Allowance for credit losses
  $ 74,258     $ 80,372     $ 74,258     $ 80,372  
Total loans: *
                               
At period-end
  $ 4,568,886     $ 4,267,067     $ 4,568,886     $ 4,267,067  
Average
    4,445,947       4,225,014       4,380,327       4,206,279  
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of period-end loans
    1.57 %     1.88 %     1.57 %     1.88 %
As a percentage of average loans (annualized):
                               
Net charge-offs
    .28       .42       .35       2.84  
Provision for loan losses
    .16       .28       .20       1.99  
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans
    384       308       384       308  
* Excludes loans covered by loss sharing agreements with the FDIC
                               
   
The provision for credit losses charged to earnings was based upon management’s judgment of the amount necessary to maintain the allowance at a level appropriate to reflect the probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date.  The amount each quarter is dependent upon many factors, including growth and changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, net charge-offs, delinquencies, management’s assessment of loan portfolio quality, the value of collateral, and other macro-economic factors and trends.  The evaluation of these factors is performed quarterly by management through an analysis of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses.  The decreases in the provision and the level of the allowance for loan losses compared to the previous periods reflects stabilizing trends in substandard loans, leading to an expectation that charge-off levels will continue to decline.  Further, the declining balance of the allowance for loan losses over the last several quarters reflects an overall improving trend in credit quality of the loan portfolio.
 
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The allowance for credit losses, which includes a portion related to unfunded commitments, totaled $74.3 million at September 30, 2014, compared with $78.9 million at December 31, 2013, and $80.4 million at September 30, 2013.  At September 30, 2014, the allowance for loan losses was $71.9 million, or 1.57% of loans, compared with $76.8 million, or 1.77% of total loans, at December 31, 2013 and $80.4 million, or 1.88% of loans, at September 30, 2013.
 
Management believes that the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2014 reflects the probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and unfunded loan commitments.  This assessment involves uncertainty and judgment; therefore, the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses cannot be determined with precision and may be subject to change in future periods.  The amount of any changes could be significant if management’s assessment of loan quality or collateral values change substantially with respect to one or more loan relationships or portfolios. In addition, bank regulatory authorities, as part of their periodic examination of the Bank, may require adjustments to the provision for credit losses in future periods if, in their opinion, the results of their review warrant such additions.  See the “Critical Accounting Policies” section for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.
 
Nonperforming Assets
 
The table below summarizes nonperforming assets, excluding assets covered by the loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC.  Those assets have been excluded from nonperforming assets, as the loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC and purchase price adjustments to reflect credit losses effectively eliminate the likelihood of recognizing any losses on the covered assets.
 
Table 10 - Nonperforming Assets
                 
(in thousands)
                 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2013
 
Nonperforming loans
  $ 18,745     $ 26,819     $ 26,088  
Foreclosed properties (OREO)
    3,146       4,221       4,467  
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 21,891     $ 31,040     $ 30,555  
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans
    .41 %     .62 %     .61 %
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and OREO
    .48       .72       .72  
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets
    .29       .42       .42  
 
At September 30, 2014, nonperforming loans were $18.7 million compared to $26.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $26.1 million at September 30, 2013.  Nonperforming loans have steadily decreased in dollar amount and as a percentage of total loans.  In addition, the second quarter of 2013 classified asset sales further reduced nonperforming assets.  Nonperforming assets, which include nonperforming loans and foreclosed real estate, totaled $21.9 million at September 30, 2014 compared with $31.0 million at December 31, 2013 and $30.6 million at September 30, 2013.  United sold $2.35 million of foreclosed properties and added $2.16 million in new foreclosures during the third quarter of 2014.
 
United’s policy is to place loans on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, the principal and interest on a loan is not likely to be repaid in accordance with the loan terms or when the loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well secured and in the process of collection.  When a loan is classified on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current interest revenue.  Principal and interest payments received on a nonaccrual loan are applied to reduce outstanding principal.
 
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The following table summarizes nonperforming assets by category and market.  As with Tables 7, 8, 9 and 10, assets covered by the loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC related to the acquisition of SCB are excluded from this table.
 
Table 11 - Nonperforming Assets by Quarter
                                     
(in thousands)
                                                     
                                                       
   
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
September 30, 2013
   
Nonaccrual
   
Foreclosed
   
Total
   
Nonaccrual
   
Foreclosed
   
Total
   
Nonaccrual
   
Foreclosed
   
Total
 
   
Loans
   
Properties
   
NPAs
   
Loans
   
Properties
   
NPAs
   
Loans
   
Properties
   
NPAs
 
BY CATEGORY
                                                     
Owner occupied commercial real estate
  $ 2,156     $ 1,024     $ 3,180     $ 5,822     $ 832     $ 6,654     $ 6,358     $ 591     $ 6,949  
Income producing commercial real estate
    1,742       42       1,784       2,518             2,518       1,657       139       1,796  
Commercial & industrial
    1,593             1,593       427             427       609             609  
Commercial construction
    148             148       361             361       343       376       719  
Total commercial
    5,639       1,066       6,705       9,128       832       9,960       8,967       1,106       10,073  
Residential mortgage
    8,350       1,769       10,119       11,730       2,684       14,414       11,335       1,679       13,014  
Home equity
    720       90       810       1,448       389       1,837       1,169       475       1,644  
Residential construction
    3,543       221       3,764       4,264       316       4,580       4,097       1,207       5,304  
Consumer installment
    139             139       249             249       520             520  
Indirect auto
    354             354                                      
Total NPAs
  $ 18,745     $ 3,146     $ 21,891     $ 26,819     $ 4,221     $ 31,040     $ 26,088     $ 4,467     $ 30,555  
Balance as a % of
                                                                       
Unpaid Principal
    68.6 %     54.5 %     66.1 %     65.3 %     44.5 %     61.4 %     61.6 %     41.5 %     57.6 %
BY MARKET
                                                                       
North Georgia
  $ 7,392     $ 1,717     $ 9,109     $ 12,352     $ 2,494     $ 14,846     $ 13,652     $ 1,726     $ 15,378  
Atlanta MSA
    1,724       364       2,088       2,830       684       3,514       3,096       1,026       4,122  
North Carolina
    4,919       398       5,317       6,567       683       7,250       5,680       762       6,442  
Coastal Georgia
    781       160       941       2,342       173       2,515       995       928       1,923  
Gainesville MSA
    1,403       85       1,488       928       -       928       1,036             1,036  
East Tennessee
    1,227       245       1,472       1,800       187       1,987       1,629       25       1,654  
South Carolina
    945       177       1,122                                      
Indirect auto
    354             354                                      
Total NPAs
  $ 18,745     $ 3,146     $ 21,891     $ 26,819     $ 4,221     $ 31,040     $ 26,088     $ 4,467     $ 30,555  
 
Nonperforming assets have decreased in nearly every category and market from a year ago and the beginning of the year.  The decreases reflect improving credit conditions.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013, United had $88.6 million, $87.0 million and $87.3 million, respectively, in loans with terms that have been modified in troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”).  Included therein were $6.4 million, $8.25 million and $7.48 million, respectively, of TDRs that were not performing in accordance with their modified terms and were included in nonperforming loans.  The remaining TDRs with an aggregate balance of $82.2 million, $78.7 million and $79.8 million, respectively, were performing according to their modified terms and are therefore not considered to be nonperforming assets.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, there were $109 million, $115 million and $105 million, respectively, of loans classified as impaired under the definition outlined in the Accounting Standards Codification, including TDRs which are by definition considered impaired.  Included in impaired loans at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 was $26.9 million, $38.9 million and $32.8 million, respectively, that did not require specific reserves or had previously been charged down to net realizable value.  The balance of impaired loans at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 of $82.1 million, $75.7 million and $72.5 million, respectively, had specific reserves that totaled $10.3 million, $6.02 million and $5.35 million, respectively.  The average recorded investment in impaired loans for the third quarters of 2014 and 2013 was $110 million and $106 million, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the average recorded investment in impaired loans was $109 million and $134 million, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, United recognized $1.27 million and $3.77 million, respectively, in interest revenue on impaired loans compared to $2.48 million and $5.50 million, respectively, for the same periods of the prior year.  United’s policy is to discontinue the recognition of interest revenue for loans classified as impaired under ASC 310-10-35, Receivables, when a loan meets the criteria for nonaccrual status.  Impaired loans increased 4% from September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2014, due primarily to the higher level of TDRs.
 
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The table below summarizes activity in nonperforming assets by quarter.  Assets covered by loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC related to the acquisition of SCB, are not included in this table.
 
Table 12 - Activity in Nonperforming Assets
                             
(in thousands)
                                   
                                     
   
Third Quarter 2014
 
Third Quarter 2013
   
Nonaccrual
 
Foreclosed
   
Total
   
Nonaccrual
   
Foreclosed
   
Total
 
   
Loans
 
Properties
   
NPAs
   
Loans
   
Properties
   
NPAs
 
Beginning Balance
  $ 20,724     $ 2,969     $ 23,693     $ 27,864     $ 3,936     $ 31,800  
Loans placed on non-accrual
    7,665             7,665       9,959             9,959  
Payments received
    (3,129 )           (3,129 )     (3,601 )           (3,601 )
Loan charge-offs
    (4,353 )           (4,353 )     (5,395 )           (5,395 )
Foreclosures
    (2,162 )     2,162             (2,739 )     2,739        
Capitalized costs
          209       209             7       7  
Property sales
          (2,350 )     (2,350 )           (2,534 )     (2,534 )
Write downs
          (108 )     (108 )           (329 )     (329 )
Net gains on sales
          264       264             648       648  
Ending Balance
  $ 18,745     $ 3,146     $ 21,891     $ 26,088     $ 4,467     $ 30,555  
                                                 
   
First Nine Months 2014
 
First Nine Months 2013
   
Nonaccrual
   
Foreclosed
   
Total
   
Nonaccrual
      Foreclosed    
Total
 
   
Loans
   
Properties
   
NPAs
   
Loans
      Properties    
NPAs
 
Beginning Balance
  $ 26,819     $ 4,221     $ 31,040     $ 109,894     $ 18,264     $ 128,158  
Loans placed on non-accrual
    26,497             26,497       32,824             32,824  
Payments received
    (8,822 )           (8,822 )     (58,347 )           (58,347 )
Loan charge-offs
    (17,533 )           (17,533 )     (39,823 )           (39,823 )
Foreclosures
    (8,216 )     8,216             (18,460 )     18,460        
Capitalized costs
          209       209             116       116  
Note / property sales
          (10,018 )     (10,018 )           (27,232 )     (27,232 )
Write downs
          (690 )     (690 )           (2,739 )     (2,739 )
Net gains (losses) on sales
          1,208       1,208             (2,402 )     (2,402 )
Ending Balance
  $ 18,745     $ 3,146     $ 21,891     $ 26,088     $ 4,467     $ 30,555  
 
Foreclosed property is initially recorded at fair value, less estimated costs to sell.  If the fair value, less estimated costs to sell at the time of foreclosure, is less than the loan balance, the deficiency is charged against the allowance for loan losses.  If the lesser of fair value, less estimated costs to sell or the listed selling price, less the costs to sell, of the foreclosed property decreases during the holding period, a valuation allowance is established with a charge to foreclosed property expense.  When the foreclosed property is sold, a gain or loss is recognized on the sale for the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the property.  Financed sales of foreclosed property are accounted for in accordance with ASC 360-20, Real Estate Sales.  For the third quarter of 2014, United transferred $2.16 million of loans into foreclosed property through foreclosures.  During the same period, proceeds from sales of foreclosed property were $2.35 million, which includes $483,000 in sales that were financed by United.
 
Investment Securities
 
The composition of the investment securities portfolio reflects United’s investment strategy of maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity while providing a relatively stable source of revenue.  The investment securities portfolio also provides a balance to interest rate risk and credit risk in other categories of the balance sheet while providing a vehicle for the investment of available funds, furnishing liquidity, and supplying securities to pledge as required collateral for certain deposits and borrowings, including repurchase agreements.  Total investment securities at September 30, 2014 increased $53.0 million from a year ago.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, United had securities held-to-maturity with a carrying amount of $432 million, $480 million, and $206 million, respectively, and securities available-for-sale totaling $1.80 billion, $1.83 billion, and $1.96 billion, respectively. At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and September 30, 2013, the securities portfolio represented approximately 30%, 31%, and 30% of total assets, respectively.
 
The investment securities portfolio primarily consists of U.S. government sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities, non-agency mortgage-backed securities, corporate securities, municipal securities and asset-backed securities.  Mortgage-backed securities rely on the underlying pools of mortgage loans to provide a cash flow of principal and interest.  The actual maturities of these securities will usually differ from contractual maturities because loans underlying the securities can prepay.  Decreases in interest rates will generally cause an acceleration of prepayment levels.  In a declining or prolonged low interest rate environment, United may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from these prepayments in assets that have comparable yields.  In a rising rate environment, the opposite occurs - prepayments tend to slow and the weighted average life extends.  This is referred to as extension risk which can lead to lower levels of liquidity due to the delay of cash receipts and can result in the holding of a below market yielding asset for a longer period of time.  United’s asset-backed securities include securities that are backed by student loans and collateralized loan obligations.
 
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Management evaluates its securities portfolio each quarter to determine if any security is considered to be other than temporarily impaired.  In making this evaluation, management considers its ability and intent to hold securities to recover current market losses.  Losses on United’s fixed income securities at September 30, 2014 primarily reflect the effect of changes in interest rates.  United did not recognize any other than temporary impairment losses on its investment securities during the third quarter or first nine months of 2014 or 2013.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, 31%, 41% and 39%, respectively, of the securities portfolio was invested in floating-rate securities or fixed-rate securities that were swapped to floating rates in order to manage exposure to rising interest rates.
 
Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangibles
 
Goodwill represents the premium paid for acquired companies above the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including separately identifiable intangible assets.
 
United’s core deposit intangibles representing the value of United’s acquired deposit base, are amortizing intangible assets that are required to be tested for impairment only when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may exist.  There were no events or circumstances that led management to believe that any impairment exists in United’s goodwill or other intangible assets.
 
Deposits
 
United has initiated several programs to improve core earnings by growing customer transaction deposit accounts and lowering overall pricing on deposit accounts to improve its net interest margin and increase net interest revenue.  The programs were successful in increasing core transaction deposit accounts and allowing for the reduction of more costly time deposit balances as United’s funding needs decreased due to lower loan demand.  United’s high level of service, as evidenced by its strong customer satisfaction scores, has been instrumental in attracting and retaining deposits.
 
Total customer deposits, excluding brokered deposits, as of September 30, 2014 were $5.84 billion, an increase of $142 million from September 30, 2013.  Total core deposits (demand, NOW, money market and savings deposits, excluding public funds deposits) of $3.71 billion increased $299 million, or 9%, from a year ago, due to the success of core deposit programs and general industry trends.
 
Total time deposits, excluding brokered deposits, as of September 30, 2014 were $1.31 billion, down $243 million from September 30, 2013.  Time deposits less than $100,000 totaled $774 million, a decrease of $150 million, or 16%, from a year ago.  Time deposits of $100,000 and greater totaled $531 million as of September 30, 2014, a decrease of $92.6 million, or 15%, from September 30, 2013.  United continued to offer low rates on certificates of deposit, allowing balances to decline as United’s funding needs declined due to weak loan demand and a shift to lower cost transaction account deposits.
 
Brokered deposits totaled $405million as of September 30, 2014, a decrease of $14.0 million from a year ago.  United has actively added long-term deposits to diversify our funding base.  These are typically swapped to LIBOR minus a spread, which achieves low cost funding within our interest rate risk parameters.
 
Wholesale Funding
 
The Bank is a shareholder in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”).  Through this affiliation, FHLB secured advances totaled $330 million, $120 million and $125,000, respectively, as of September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013.  United anticipates continued use of this short and long-term source of funds.  Additional information regarding FHLB advances is provided in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
At September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, United had $6.00 million, $53.2 million and $53.8 million, respectively, in other short-term borrowings outstanding.  United takes advantage of these additional sources of liquidity when rates are favorable compared to other forms of short-term borrowings, such as FHLB advances and brokered deposits.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
There have not been any material changes to United’s contractual obligations since December 31, 2013.
 
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Interest Rate Sensitivity Management
 
The absolute level and volatility of interest rates can have a significant effect on United’s profitability.  The objective of interest rate risk management is to identify and manage the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changing interest rates, in order to achieve United’s overall financial goals.  Based on economic conditions, asset quality and various other considerations, management establishes tolerance ranges for interest rate sensitivity and manages within these ranges.
 
United’s net interest revenue, and the fair value of its financial instruments, are influenced by changes in the level of interest rates.  United limits its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies developed by the Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) and approved by the Board of Directors.  ALCO meets periodically and has responsibility for formulating and recommending asset/liability management policies to the Board of Directors, formulating and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet positioning and/or earnings, and reviewing United’s interest rate sensitivity.
 
One of the tools management uses to estimate and manage the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changes in interest rates is an asset/liability simulation model.  Resulting estimates are based upon a number of assumptions for each scenario, including loan and deposit re-pricing characteristics and the rate of prepayments.  ALCO periodically reviews the assumptions for accuracy based on historical data and future expectations; however, actual net interest revenue may differ from model results.  The primary objective of the simulation model is to measure the potential change in net interest revenue over time using multiple interest rate scenarios.  The base scenario assumes rates remain flat and is the scenario to which all others are compared in order to measure the change in net interest revenue.  Policy limits are based on immediate rate shock scenarios, as well as gradually rising and falling rate scenarios, which are all compared to the base scenario.  Another commonly analyzed scenario is a most-likely scenario that projects the expected change in rates based on the slope of the forward yield curve.  Other scenarios analyzed may include delayed rate shocks, yield curve steepening or flattening, or other variations in rate movements.  While the primary policy scenarios focus on a twelve month time frame, longer time horizons are also modeled.  All policy scenarios assume a static balance sheet.
 
United’s policy is based on the 12-month impact on net interest revenue of interest rate shocks and ramps that increase or decrease from 100 to 400 basis points from the base scenario.  In the shock scenarios, rates immediately change the full amount at the scenario onset.  In the ramp scenarios, rates change by 25 basis points per month.  United’s policy limits the change in net interest revenue over the first 12 months to a 5% decrease for each 100 basis point change in the increasing and decreasing rate ramp and shock scenarios.  Historically low rates on September 30, 2014 and 2013 made use of the down scenarios problematic.  The following table presents United’s interest sensitivity position at September 30, 2014 and 2013.
 
Table 13 - Interest Sensitivity
                       
   
Increase (Decrease) in Net Interest Revenue from Base Scenario at
 
    September 30,  
    2014   2013  
Change in Rates
 
Shock
   
Ramp
   
Shock
   
Ramp
 
200 basis point increase
    2.0
%
    2.1 %     5.9 %     6.1 %
25 basis point decrease
    (2.1 )     (2.1 )     (3.4 )     (3.4 )
 
Interest rate sensitivity is a function of the re-pricing characteristics of the portfolio of assets and liabilities.  These re-pricing characteristics are the time frames within which the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are subject to change in interest rates either at replacement, re-pricing or maturity during the life of the instruments.  Interest rate sensitivity management focuses on the maturity structure of assets and liabilities and their re-pricing characteristics during periods of changes in market interest rates.  Effective interest rate sensitivity management seeks to ensure that both assets and liabilities respond to changes in interest rates on a net basis within an acceptable timeframe, thereby minimizing the effect of interest rate changes on net interest revenue.
 
United may have some discretion in the extent and timing of deposit re-pricing depending upon the competitive pressures in the markets in which it operates.  Changes in the mix of earning assets or supporting liabilities can either increase or decrease the net interest margin without affecting interest rate sensitivity.  The interest rate spread between an asset and its supporting liability can vary significantly even when the timing of re-pricing for both the asset and the liability remains the same, due to the two instruments re-pricing according to different indices.  This is commonly referred to as basis risk.
 
In order to manage interest rate sensitivity, United periodically enters into off-balance sheet contracts that are considered derivative financial instruments.  Derivative financial instruments can be a cost-effective and capital-effective means of modifying the re-pricing characteristics of on-balance sheet assets and liabilities.  These contracts generally consist of interest rate swaps under which United pays a variable rate (or fixed rate, as the case may be) and receives a fixed rate (or variable rate, as the case may be).
 
United’s derivative financial instruments that are designated as accounting hedges are classified as either cash flow or fair value hedges.  The change in fair value of cash flow hedges is recognized in other comprehensive income.  Fair value hedges recognize in earnings both the effect of the change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument and the offsetting effect of the change in fair value of the hedged asset or liability associated with the particular risk of that asset or liability being hedged.  United has other derivative financial instruments that are not designated as accounting hedges but are used for interest rate risk management purposes and as an effective economic hedge.  Derivative financial instruments that are not accounted for as an accounting hedge are marked to market through earnings.
 
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In addition to derivative instruments, United uses a variety of balance sheet instruments to manage interest rate risk such as Investment Portfolio holdings, wholesale funding, and bank-issued deposits.
 
The following table presents United’s outstanding derivative positions at September 30, 2014.
                           
Table 14 - Derivative Financial Instruments
                         
(in thousands)
                         
                           
   
Number of
         
Fair Value (6)
 
Type of Instrument
 
Contracts
 
Notional
 
Purpose
 
Asset
   
Liability
 
                         
Fair value hedges of fixed rate brokered deposit (accounting hedge)
               
Receive fixed cancellable swaps (1)
  16     $ 199,000  
Low cost funding
  $     $ 10,201  
De-designated former cash flow hedges
                   
Pay fixed swaps (2)
  4       300,000  
De-designated cash flow hedge
          3,550  
Offsetting positions to de-designated former cash flow hedges
                   
Receive fixed swaps (2)
  4       300,000  
Offset to de-designated cash flow hedge
    3,550        
Cash flow hedges of LIBOR indexed money market deposits
(accounting hedge)
 
Pay fixed swaps (3)
  2       275,000  
Protection from rising interest rates
    1,349          
Customer swap positions
                               
Receive fixed swaps (4)
  68       177,890  
Provide customer with fixed rate loan
    2,067       475  
Dealer offset to customer swap positions
                       
Pay fixed swaps (4)
  68       177,890  
Protection from rising interest rates
    475       2,087  
Bifurcated derivatives embedded in hybrid host instruments
             
Pay steepener rate cancellable swap (5)
  3       96,425  
Low cost funding
    14,780        
Interest rate swaps not designated as accounting hedges
             
Receive steepener rate cancellable swap (5)
  3       96,425  
Low cost funding
          19,858  
          $ 1,622,630       $ 22,221     $ 36,171  
 
(1) United uses these swaps as part of a program to provide a low cost non-collateralized source of funds.  The swaps hedge fixed rate brokered deposits with step up rates that increase over time that are mirrored in the receive rate of the swaps.  The variable pay rates on these swaps are based on three-month LIBOR at spreads of minus 20 to minus 65 basis points.  The counterparties have the right to call the instruments at any time generally after six months to one year following inception.  United has a similar option in the hedged brokered deposit.
 
(2) These swaps are forward starting and became effective in the first and second quarters of 2014.  They were originally entered into to convert three month LIBOR-based floating rate borrowings and one month LIBOR-based money market deposits to fixed rates for a three-year term in order to provide protection from rising short-term interest rates.  In the second quarter of 2014, United determined that the interest rate protection was no longer needed and de-designated these swaps as hedges and entered into mirror image offsetting positions to effectively terminate the hedging relationship.
 
(3) These swaps are forward starting and become effective in the third quarter of 2014 and the second quarter of 2015.  They convert one month LIBOR-based money market deposits to fixed rates for terms of three to eight years.  They are used for protection against rising interest rates.
 
(4) United offers interest rate swaps to customers seeking fixed rate loans under a back to back swap program.  United enters into offsetting swap positions with qualified dealers simultaneously with the customer swap.  Customer swaps and the offsetting dealer swap positions are marked to market through other fee revenue.
 
(5) United offers market linked certificates of deposit through broker dealers.  The rate paid on these hybrid instruments is based on a formula derived from the spread betweeen the long and short ends of the constant maturity swap ("CMS") rate curve.  This type of instrument is referred to as a steepener since it derives its value from the slope of the CMS curve.  United has determined that these hybrid instruments contain an embedded swap contract which has been bifurcated from the host contract.  United enters into a swap with a swap dealer simultaneously where the receive rate on the swap mirrors the pay rate on the brokered deposit.  The bifurcated derivative and the stand alone swap are both marked to market through other fee revenue.  Although these instruments are not treated as an accounting hedge, the swap acts as an effective economic hedge of the steepener index in the brokered deposit.
 
(6) Market values presented here do not include accrued interest.
 
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From time to time, United will terminate derivative positions when conditions change and the position is no longer necessary to manage United’s overall sensitivity to changes in interest rates.  In those situations where the terminated contract was in an effective hedging relationship at the time of termination and the hedging relationship is expected to remain effective throughout the original term of the contract, the resulting gain or loss is amortized over the remaining life of the original contract.  For swap contracts, the gain or loss is amortized over the remaining original contract term using the straight line method of amortization.  In addition, United’s forward starting active cash flow hedges of floating rate liabilities have begun or will begin interest settlements over the next twelve months.  United expects that $3.77 million will be reclassified as an increase to deposit interest expense over the next twelve months related to these cash flow hedges.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2013, United reclassified hedge ineffectiveness gains and losses from other fee revenue to net interest revenue.  This reclassification has been reflected in all prior period results.
 
United’s policy requires all non-customer facing derivative financial instruments be used only for asset/liability management through the hedging of specific transactions or positions, and not for trading or speculative purposes.  Management believes that the risk associated with using derivative financial instruments to mitigate interest rate risk sensitivity is minimal and should not have any material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.  In order to mitigate potential credit risk, from time to time United may require the counterparties to derivative contracts to pledge securities as collateral to cover the net exposure.
 
Liquidity Management
 
The objective of liquidity management is to ensure that sufficient funding is available, at a reasonable cost, to meet the ongoing operational cash needs and to take advantage of revenue producing opportunities as they arise.  While the desired level of liquidity will vary depending upon a variety of factors, it is the primary goal of United to maintain a sufficient level of liquidity in all expected economic environments.  To assist in determining the adequacy of its liquidity, United performs a variety of liquidity stress tests including idiosyncratic, systematic and combined scenarios for both moderate and severe events.  Liquidity is defined as the ability to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities.  Liquidity management involves maintaining United’s ability to meet the daily cash flow requirements of the Bank’s customers, both depositors and borrowers.  United maintains an unencumbered liquid asset reserve to ensure its ability to meet its obligations.  The size of the reserve is determined through severe liquidity stress testing and covers a 30 day period.
 
In addition, because United is a separate entity and apart from the Bank, it must provide for its own liquidity.  United is responsible for the payment of dividends declared for its common and preferred shareholders, and interest and principal on any outstanding debt or trust preferred securities.  United currently has internal capital resources to meet these obligations.  Substantially all of United’s liquidity is obtained from subsidiary service fees and dividends from the Bank, which are limited by applicable law.  In recent years, when the bank was unable to pay dividends to United, liquidity was obtained from external sources (debt and equity issuances) to meet its needs.
 
Two key objectives of asset/liability management are to provide for adequate liquidity in order to meet the needs of customers and to maintain an appropriate balance between interest-sensitive assets and interest-sensitive liabilities to optimize net interest revenue.  Daily monitoring of the sources and uses of funds is necessary to maintain a position that meets both requirements.
 
The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments and the maturities and sales of securities, as well as the ability to use these as collateral for borrowings on a secured basis.  We also maintain excess funds in short-term interest-bearing assets that provide additional liquidity.  Mortgage loans held for sale totaled $20.0 million at September 30, 2014, and typically turn over every 45 days as the closed loans are sold to investors in the secondary market.
 
The liability section of the balance sheet provides liquidity through interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposit accounts.  Federal funds purchased, Federal Reserve short-term borrowings, FHLB advances and securities sold under agreements to repurchase are additional sources of liquidity and represent United’s incremental borrowing capacity.  These sources of liquidity are generally short-term in nature and are used as necessary to fund asset growth and meet other short-term liquidity needs.
 
At September 30, 2014, United had cash and cash equivalent balances of $216 million and had sufficient qualifying collateral to increase FHLB advances by $516 million and Federal Reserve discount window capacity of $607 million.  United also has the ability to raise substantial funds through brokered deposits.  In addition to these wholesale sources, United has the ability to attract retail deposits by competing more aggressively on pricing.
 
As disclosed in United’s consolidated statement of cash flows, net cash provided by operating activities was $63.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The net income of $49.4 million for the nine month period included the deferred income tax expense of $28.1 million, and non-cash expenses for the following: provision for credit losses of $6.70 million, depreciation, amortization and accretion of $15.1 million and stock-based compensation expense of $3.32 million.  These sources of cash from operating activities were offset by the following uses of cash:  increase in other assets of $12.3 million, increase in mortgage loans held for sale of $9.69 million and a decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $16.8 million.  Net cash used in investing activities of $161.4 million consisted primarily of a $220 million net increase in loans, purchases of investment securities totaling $552 million, and $31.2 million paid for the acquisition of Business Carolina Inc.  These uses of cash were partially offset by $47.6 million in proceeds from maturities and calls of investment securities held-to-maturity, $404 million in proceeds from the sale of investment securities available-for-sale and $176 million in proceeds from maturities and calls of investment securities available-for-sale.  Net cash provided by financing activities of $85.5 million consisted primarily of a net increase in deposits of $39.2 million, a net $210 million increase in FHLB advances and $12.2 million in proceeds from the issuance of common stock.  These sources of cash were partially offset by $122 million in payments to redeem preferred stock, $1.80 million in dividends to common shareholders and a $51.7 million decrease in short-term borrowings.  In the opinion of management, United’s liquidity position at September 30, 2014, was sufficient to meet its expected cash flow requirements.
 
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Capital Resources and Dividends
 
Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2014 was $736 million, a decrease of $59.3 million from December 31, 2013 due to United’s redemption of all of its previously-outstanding preferred stock.  Accumulated other comprehensive loss, which includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, the unrealized gains and losses on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges and unamortized prior service cost and actuarial gains and losses on United’s modified retirement plan, is excluded in the calculation of regulatory capital adequacy ratios.  Excluding the change in the accumulated other comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity decreased $61.4 million from December 31, 2013.
 
As of September 30, 2014, United no longer had any preferred stock outstanding.  On December 27, 2013, United redeemed $75 million of its $180 million in outstanding Series B Preferred Stock at par.  The remaining $105 million of United’s Series B Preferred Stock was redeemed at par on January 10, 2014.  United funded both redemptions by utilizing cash on hand, cash dividends from the Bank and short-term debt.  On March 3, 2014, United redeemed all of its outstanding $16.6 million in Series D Preferred Stock at par.
 
In 2010, United granted a warrant to Fletcher to purchase common stock equivalent junior preferred stock that would be convertible into 1,411,765 common shares, exercisable at a price equivalent to $21.25 per share (the "Warrant"). In November 2014, United completed a settlement whereby United repurchased the Warrant in November 2014 and retired any obligation to issue shares under the Warrant.
 
The Federal Reserve has issued guidelines for the implementation of risk-based capital requirements by U.S. banks and bank holding companies.  These risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off-balance sheet.  Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers that are used in conjunction with risk-weighted assets to determine the risk-based capital ratios.  The guidelines require an 8% total risk-based capital ratio, of which 4% must be Tier 1 capital.  However, to be considered well-capitalized under the guidelines, a 10% total risk-based capital ratio is required, of which 6% must be Tier 1 capital.
 
Under the risk-based capital guidelines, assets and credit equivalent amounts of derivatives and off-balance sheet items are assigned to one of several broad risk categories based on the obligor, or the guarantor, if relevant, or the nature of the collateral.  The aggregate dollar amount in each risk category is then multiplied by the risk weight associated with the category.  The resulting weighted values from each of the risk categories are added together, and generally this sum is the company’s total risk weighted assets.  Risk-weighted assets for purposes of United’s capital ratios are calculated under these guidelines.
 
A minimum leverage ratio is required in addition to the risk-based capital standards and is defined as Tier 1 capital divided by average assets adjusted for goodwill and deposit-based intangibles.  Although a minimum leverage ratio of 3% is required, the Federal Reserve requires a bank holding company to maintain a leverage ratio greater than 3% if it is experiencing or anticipating significant growth or is operating with less than well-diversified risks in the opinion of the Federal Reserve.  The Federal Reserve uses the leverage and risk-based capital ratios to assess capital adequacy of banks and bank holding companies.
 
United’s Tier 1 capital excludes other comprehensive income, and consists of shareholders’ equity and qualifying capital securities, less goodwill and deposit-based intangibles.  Tier 2 capital components include supplemental capital items such as a qualifying allowance for loan losses and qualifying subordinated debt.  Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital components is referred to as Total Risk-Based capital.
 
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The following table shows United’s capital ratios, as calculated under regulatory guidelines, at September 30, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013.
                                                 
Table 15 - Capital Ratios
                                     
(dollars in thousands)
                                     
   
Regulatory
 
United Community Banks, Inc.
                 
   
Guidelines
  (Consolidated)   United Community Bank  
         
Well
   
September 30,
  December 31,  
September 30,
  September 30,  
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
   
Minimum
   
Capitalized
   
2014
      2013       2013       2014       2013
 
 
2013
 
Risk-based ratios:
                                               
Tier I capital
    4.0 %     6.0 %     12.07 %     12.74 %     14.29 %     12.58 %     13.55 %     14.48 %
Total capital
    8.0       10.0       13.32       13.99       15.54       13.83       14.81       15.74  
Leverage ratio
    3.0       5.0       8.72       9.08       10.03       9.08       9.61       10.17  
Tier I capital
                  $ 627,523     $ 649,162     $ 695,802     $ 652,748     $ 686,687     $ 704,591  
Total capital
                    692,641       713,063       756,925       717,730       750,216       765,646  
Risk-weighted assets
                    5,200,260       5,097,091       4,870,582       5,189,322       5,066,948       4,865,066  
Average total assets
                    7,193,763       7,150,360       6,936,300       7,185,923       7,142,050       6,925,099  
 
United’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “UCBI”.  Below is a quarterly schedule of high, low and closing stock prices and average daily volume for 2014 and 2013.
                                             
Table 16 - Stock Price Information
                                           
    2014   2013  
                     
Avg Daily
                     
Avg Daily
 
   
High
   
Low
   
Close
   
Volume
   
High
   
Low
   
Close
   
Volume
 
First quarter
  $ 20.28     $ 15.74     $ 19.41       494,205     $ 11.57     $ 9.59     $ 11.34       195,803  
Second quarter
    19.87       14.86       16.37       308,486       12.94       10.15       12.42       184,922  
Third quarter
    18.42       15.42       16.46       331,109       16.04       12.15       14.99       341,270  
Fourth quarter
                                    18.56       14.82       17.75       421,948  
 
Effect of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
A bank’s asset and liability structure is substantially different from that of an industrial firm in that primarily all assets and liabilities of a bank are monetary in nature with relatively little investment in fixed assets or inventories.  Inflation has an important effect on the growth of total assets and the resulting need to increase equity capital at higher than normal rates in order to maintain an appropriate equity to assets ratio.
 
United’s management believes the effect of inflation on financial results depends on United’s ability to react to changes in interest rates, and by such reaction, reduce the inflationary effect on performance.  United has an asset/liability management program to manage interest rate sensitivity.  In addition, periodic reviews of banking services and products are conducted to adjust pricing in view of current and expected costs.
 
Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
 
There have been no material changes in United’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk as of September 30, 2014 from that presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The interest rate sensitivity position at September 30, 2014 is included in management’s discussion and analysis on page 62 of this report.
 
Item 4.          Controls and Procedures
 
United’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, supervised and participated in an evaluation of United’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2014.  Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, United’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective in accumulating and communicating information to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures of that information under the SEC’s rules and forms and that the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed or submitted by United under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
 
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There were no significant changes in the internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.
 
Part II.          Other Information
 
Item 1.          Legal Proceedings
 
In the ordinary course of operations, United and the Bank are defendants in various legal proceedings.  Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, United and the Bank are subject to regulatory examinations and investigations.  Based on our current knowledge and advice of counsel, in the opinion of management there is no such pending or threatened legal matter in which an adverse decision could result in a material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of United.
 
Item 1A.       Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
Item 2.          Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds – None
 
Item 3.          Defaults upon Senior Securities – None
 
Item 4.          Mine Safety Disclosures – None
 
Item 5.          Other Information – None
 
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Item 6.          Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
31.1
Certification by Jimmy C. Tallent, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2
Certification by Rex S. Schuette, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
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Signatures
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
   
 
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
   
 
/s/ Jimmy C. Tallent                                         
 
Jimmy C. Tallent
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
(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 and
Chief Accounting Officer
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
   
 
Date:  November 10, 2014
 
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