United Community Bank Foundation nears $3 million in community giving, marks milestone anniversary

The Foundation has awarded 1,146 grants to 753 organizations across its Southeast footprint

GREENVILLE, S.C., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Community Bank Foundation is marking its fifth anniversary by sharing the impact it's made to build stronger communities throughout the Southeast. To date, the Foundation has awarded $2.96 million through 1,146 grants across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"We launched the United Community Bank Foundation with a clear purpose to strengthen the financial health of the communities we serve," said United Community Bank Foundation CEO Lynn Harton. "This milestone reflects the leadership and commitment of our employees who understand the needs of their communities because they live there, work there, and serve alongside the organizations making a difference."

Five years of local impact
The United Community Bank Foundation is organized around four pillars identified by United employees: economic empowerment, housing strategies, artistic expression and youth development. Employees nominate the organizations they actively volunteer with, giving them a direct voice in the causes that matter the most while keeping Foundation dollars focused on local needs.

United's Together for Good Council, a companywide volunteer group, helps drive participation and advance social impact programs throughout United's footprint. This approach also carries through to how the Foundation deploys team members for volunteer opportunities. Four times a year, Better Together Weeks engage employees in volunteerism across the four pillars.

Through United's employee-led model, the Foundation has supported more than 750 organizations, from small-business development and financial education programs to affordable housing initiatives and arts organizations including:

Economic empowerment – In Greenville, S.C., the Foundation has supported CommunityWorks, a nonprofit lender providing small-business loans, down payment assistance and financial coaching to entrepreneurs who don't qualify for conventional bank financing.

Housing strategies – The Foundation has partnered with Habitat for Humanity affiliates across its footprint since the Foundation's earliest years, contributing $94,700 to 15 affiliates in 15 counties in a single year and sending more than 100 United volunteers to build sites.

Artistic expression – In Huntsville, Ala., United has supported the Huntsville Museum of Art for nearly a decade through both funding and board service.

Youth development – The Foundation has long supported the Boys & Girls Club of South-Central Tennessee, which works directly with local schools to tailor programs to students' needs and reports a 100 percent graduation rate among participating seniors.

Additionally, United's dedication to financial education earned national recognition with the American Bankers Association Foundation's Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism, honoring the work done during National Financial Literacy Month.

During that time, United's team led more than 150 workshops tailored to students, teachers, small-business owners, retirees, veterans and others, reaching over 13,400 individuals. These sessions opened the door for people to learn, feel confident about their finances and build their future. To further bolster its commitment, the Foundation awarded $30,000 in grants to organizations that support financial education.

The Foundation's local, employee-driven model also provides the ability to move fast during a crisis.

After Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in 2024, the Foundation committed $350,000 in grants to Samaritan's Purse, the American Red Cross and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Emergency and Disaster Response Fund, and other local nonprofits aiding recovery efforts across the region, reaching nearly a dozen local communities that were affected.

At the same time, United employees kept serving customers and neighbors, even as many faced damaged homes, vehicles and other personal losses.

The response was the Foundation's largest single commitment at the time. It reflected United's longstanding approach to community service while meeting local needs with financial support, employee leadership and direct involvement.

As the Foundation enters its next five years, it remains committed to supporting organizations that create opportunity, strengthen financial well-being and help communities respond, recover and grow.

Learn more about the United Community Bank Foundation at ucbi.com.

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About United Community
United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top-100 U.S. financial institution committed to building stronger communities and improving the financial health and well-being of its customers. United Community offers a full range of banking, mortgage and wealth management services. As of June 30, 2026, United Community Banks, Inc. had $29.1 billion in assets and operated 200 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company also manages a nationally recognized SBA lending franchise, extending its reach to businesses across the country. United Community is the most awarded bank in the Southeast for Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power, earning more awards than any other bank in the region, including recognition in 12 of the last 17 years. The company has also been named one of the "Best Banks to Work For" by American Banker for nine consecutive years. In commercial banking, United earned multiple 2026 Greenwich Best Bank awards for Small Business Banking. Forbes has consistently named United among the World's Best and America's Best Banks. Learn more at ucbi.com.

SOURCE United Community