United Community Banks, Inc. Expands Into Renewable Energy Lending

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga., July 24, 2017 -- United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCBI) today announced the addition of Clayton Summers who joins United’s lending team to focus on the renewable energy sector. Summers has more than 18 years of banking industry experience and deep expertise in renewable energy finance.

“We are pleased to welcome Clayton and his expertise to our team” said Rich Bradshaw, President of United’s newly renamed Commercial Banking Solutions area. “Renewable energy offers an exciting opportunity for us and we look forward to being able to fulfill the financing needs of this important growing energy segment.”

Summers joins United after a lengthy and successful career in commercial and investment banking. Most recently, he served as a relationship manager with financial institutions in Charlotte, N.C. and developed a focus on assisting the renewable energy industry, including solar developers and energy tech companies. Summers has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree in business administration from Wake Forest University.

“The Renewable Energy lending team will be part of Commercial Banking Solutions, formerly known as Specialized Lending,” said Lynn Harton, President and Chief Operating Officer of United. “When this group was created in 2014, we knew that adding specialized commercial lending expertise to our best-in-class community banking would be a success. With Rich Bradshaw’s leadership, the group has continually met expectations and is now a significant contributor to United’s profitability and growth. Given that the group contains a diversified set of commercial services bringing ‘large bank’ lending expertise to our clients, we believe that ‘Commercial Banking Solutions’ gives better clarity to its purpose.”

In addition to Renewable Energy, Commercial Banking Solutions will continue to include the traditional commercial lending areas of Middle Market, Asset Based, Income Property, Senior Care, SBA and Builder Finance. As Commercial Banking Solutions president, Bradshaw will continue to lead and oversee the development of these business lines while continuing to assess potential new services as well. 

About United Community Banks, Inc.
United Community Banks, Inc. is a $10.7 billion-asset registered bank holding company based in Blairsville, Georgia. The company’s banking subsidiary, United Community Bank, is one of the southeast region’s largest full-service banks, operating 134 offices in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The bank specializes in personalized community banking services for individuals, small businesses and corporations. Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products including mortgage, advisory and treasury management. Respected national research firms consistently recognize United Community Bank for outstanding customer service. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, J.D. Power ranked United Community Bank first in customer satisfaction in the Southeast. In 2017, for the fourth consecutive year, Forbes magazine included United on its list of the 100 Best Banks in America. Additional information about the company and the bank’s full range of products and services can be found at www.ucbi.com.

For more information:

Jefferson Harralson
Chief Financial Officer
706-781-2265
[email protected]

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Emily Moseley
Crawford Strategy
864-232-2302
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