United Community Banks CFO Harralson to Retire After Nearly a Decade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 28 2026
0mins
Should l Buy UCB?
Source: seekingalpha
- Executive Retirement: United Community Banks' CFO Jefferson Harralson announced his retirement at the end of the year after nearly a decade, which may impact the company's financial management and strategic direction.
- Transition Support: Harralson will continue in his role until retirement to assist in the transition for the new CFO, ensuring stability and continuity during the leadership change.
- Successor Search: The bank has engaged Korn Ferry for a nationwide search for his successor, indicating the company's commitment to executive selection and aiming to find a suitable candidate to maintain financial health and strategic execution.
- Financial Performance: Despite potential uncertainties from Harralson's retirement, United Community Banks reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.70 and revenue of $276.5 million in Q1, exceeding expectations and demonstrating the company's robust financial performance.
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Analyst Views on UCB
Wall Street analysts forecast UCB stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 33.940
Low
34.00
Averages
114.43
High
349.72
Current: 33.940
Low
34.00
Averages
114.43
High
349.72
About UCB
United Community Banks, Inc. is the financial holding company for United Community (the Bank). The Bank offers a full range of banking, mortgage and wealth management services. The Bank operates approximately 200 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It also manages a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment finance subsidiary, extending its reach to businesses across the country. It provides a range of financial products and services to the commercial, retail, governmental, educational, energy, healthcare and real estate sectors. This includes a variety of deposit products, secured and unsecured loans, mortgage loans, payment and commerce solutions, equipment finance services, wealth management, trust services, private banking, investment advisory services, insurance services, and other related financial services. These products and services are delivered through a variety of channels.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
United Community Banks Acquires Candel Therapeutics for $2.2 Billion
- Acquisition Scale: United Community Banks has agreed to acquire Candel Therapeutics for up to $2.2 billion, with $2 billion paid upfront and an additional $200 million contingent on future milestones, aimed at strengthening its pipeline for immune-related disease treatments.
- Expected Timeline: The deal is anticipated to close between late Q2 and early Q3 of 2026, reflecting UCB's confidence and strategic positioning in the future biologics sector.
- Manageable Financial Impact: UCB stated that the financial impact of the acquisition will be manageable, with its 2026 outlook remaining unchanged, projecting steady revenue and profit growth, indicating a positive outlook for future development.
- Candel's Drug Progress: Candel's main drug, cizutamig, is currently undergoing several Phase 1 clinical trials aimed at helping the immune system target harmful cells, further enhancing UCB's innovative capabilities in the biopharmaceutical field.
See More
Three Stocks to Watch Under $50
- UCB's Growth Concerns: United Community Banks (UCB) has shown only 7.6% annual revenue growth over the past two years, which is below banking sector standards, indicating potential risks to profitability that could affect investor confidence.
- SLM's Market Challenges: Sallie Mae (SLM) has experienced flat sales over the past two years, with an annual EPS growth of only 3.1%, significantly trailing the peer group average, reflecting a lack of competitiveness in its products and services during the current market cycle.
- NRDS's Strong Performance: NerdWallet (NRDS) achieved an impressive 27.8% annual revenue growth over the past five years, and its stock buybacks propelled EPS growth to 252%, showcasing its robust competitive position and profitability in the market.
- Investment Opportunity Analysis: In the current market environment, UCB and SLM present concerning performance metrics, while NRDS demonstrates strong growth potential, prompting investors to carefully assess the investment value of these stocks.
See More
United Community Banks CFO Harralson to Retire After Nearly a Decade
- Executive Retirement: United Community Banks' CFO Jefferson Harralson announced his retirement at the end of the year after nearly a decade, which may impact the company's financial management and strategic direction.
- Transition Support: Harralson will continue in his role until retirement to assist in the transition for the new CFO, ensuring stability and continuity during the leadership change.
- Successor Search: The bank has engaged Korn Ferry for a nationwide search for his successor, indicating the company's commitment to executive selection and aiming to find a suitable candidate to maintain financial health and strategic execution.
- Financial Performance: Despite potential uncertainties from Harralson's retirement, United Community Banks reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.70 and revenue of $276.5 million in Q1, exceeding expectations and demonstrating the company's robust financial performance.
See More
United Community Bank Announces CFO Retirement and Successor Search
- Executive Retirement Announcement: United Community Bank has announced that CFO Jefferson Harralson will retire after nine years, agreeing to stay until year-end to ensure a smooth transition, highlighting the company's commitment to leadership stability.
- Successor Search Initiated: The bank has engaged Korn Ferry, a leading global organizational consulting firm, to assist in finding Harralson's replacement, indicating a strategic focus on future leadership planning.
- Strong Financial Position: As of March 31, 2026, United Community Bank reported $28.2 billion in assets and operates 200 offices, demonstrating its robust presence and influence in the U.S. financial market.
- Customer Satisfaction Leadership: United Community Bank has received multiple J.D. Power awards for retail banking customer satisfaction, winning in 12 of the last 17 years, reflecting its competitive edge in customer service and market positioning.
See More
United Community Banks Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings
- Net Income Growth: United Community Banks reported a net income exceeding $84 million for Q1 2026, with an EPS of $0.69, marking a 19% increase from Q1 2025, which significantly enhances investor confidence in the company's profitability.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The bank achieved an annualized loan growth rate of 4.5% for the quarter, alongside a $237 million increase in customer deposits, reflecting strong competitive momentum that supports future business expansion.
- Capital Returns: The company continued to return capital to shareholders through a $0.25 quarterly dividend and a $37 million stock repurchase, demonstrating robust cash flow and commitment to shareholder value, which further enhances the attractiveness of its stock in the market.
- Stable Credit Quality: Non-performing assets as a percentage of loans stood at 50 basis points, down 1 basis point from the previous year, indicating effective risk management and strengthening the bank's resilience amid economic fluctuations.
See More
United Community Banks Q1 2026 Earnings Highlights
- Net Income Growth: United Community Banks reported net income of over $84 million in Q1 2026, with an EPS of $0.69 and an operating EPS of $0.70, reflecting strong performance driven by a 4.5% annualized loan growth and net interest margin expansion.
- Capital Return Measures: The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 and a $37 million stock repurchase, alongside plans to redeem $100 million in subordinated debt in Q2, enhancing shareholder returns and improving capital structure flexibility.
- Acquisition Plans: UCB plans to acquire Peach State Bank for approximately $100 million, with the bank holding about $800 million in assets, expecting 40% cost savings and a projected $0.09 EPS accretion in 2027, indicating a proactive strategy to expand market share.
- Outlook: Management expects net interest margin to increase by 3 to 5 basis points in Q2 and remains optimistic about loan growth in the 5% to 6% range, demonstrating the company's potential for growth in a competitive market environment.
See More
United Community Banks Acquires Candel Therapeutics for $2.2 Billion
- Acquisition Scale: United Community Banks has agreed to acquire Candel Therapeutics for up to $2.2 billion, with $2 billion paid upfront and an additional $200 million contingent on future milestones, aimed at strengthening its pipeline for immune-related disease treatments.
- Expected Timeline: The deal is anticipated to close between late Q2 and early Q3 of 2026, reflecting UCB's confidence and strategic positioning in the future biologics sector.
- Manageable Financial Impact: UCB stated that the financial impact of the acquisition will be manageable, with its 2026 outlook remaining unchanged, projecting steady revenue and profit growth, indicating a positive outlook for future development.
- Candel's Drug Progress: Candel's main drug, cizutamig, is currently undergoing several Phase 1 clinical trials aimed at helping the immune system target harmful cells, further enhancing UCB's innovative capabilities in the biopharmaceutical field.
See More
Three Stocks to Watch Under $50
- UCB's Growth Concerns: United Community Banks (UCB) has shown only 7.6% annual revenue growth over the past two years, which is below banking sector standards, indicating potential risks to profitability that could affect investor confidence.
- SLM's Market Challenges: Sallie Mae (SLM) has experienced flat sales over the past two years, with an annual EPS growth of only 3.1%, significantly trailing the peer group average, reflecting a lack of competitiveness in its products and services during the current market cycle.
- NRDS's Strong Performance: NerdWallet (NRDS) achieved an impressive 27.8% annual revenue growth over the past five years, and its stock buybacks propelled EPS growth to 252%, showcasing its robust competitive position and profitability in the market.
- Investment Opportunity Analysis: In the current market environment, UCB and SLM present concerning performance metrics, while NRDS demonstrates strong growth potential, prompting investors to carefully assess the investment value of these stocks.
See More
United Community Banks CFO Harralson to Retire After Nearly a Decade
- Executive Retirement: United Community Banks' CFO Jefferson Harralson announced his retirement at the end of the year after nearly a decade, which may impact the company's financial management and strategic direction.
- Transition Support: Harralson will continue in his role until retirement to assist in the transition for the new CFO, ensuring stability and continuity during the leadership change.
- Successor Search: The bank has engaged Korn Ferry for a nationwide search for his successor, indicating the company's commitment to executive selection and aiming to find a suitable candidate to maintain financial health and strategic execution.
- Financial Performance: Despite potential uncertainties from Harralson's retirement, United Community Banks reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.70 and revenue of $276.5 million in Q1, exceeding expectations and demonstrating the company's robust financial performance.
See More
United Community Bank Announces CFO Retirement and Successor Search
- Executive Retirement Announcement: United Community Bank has announced that CFO Jefferson Harralson will retire after nine years, agreeing to stay until year-end to ensure a smooth transition, highlighting the company's commitment to leadership stability.
- Successor Search Initiated: The bank has engaged Korn Ferry, a leading global organizational consulting firm, to assist in finding Harralson's replacement, indicating a strategic focus on future leadership planning.
- Strong Financial Position: As of March 31, 2026, United Community Bank reported $28.2 billion in assets and operates 200 offices, demonstrating its robust presence and influence in the U.S. financial market.
- Customer Satisfaction Leadership: United Community Bank has received multiple J.D. Power awards for retail banking customer satisfaction, winning in 12 of the last 17 years, reflecting its competitive edge in customer service and market positioning.
See More
United Community Banks Reports Strong Q1 2026 Earnings
- Net Income Growth: United Community Banks reported a net income exceeding $84 million for Q1 2026, with an EPS of $0.69, marking a 19% increase from Q1 2025, which significantly enhances investor confidence in the company's profitability.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The bank achieved an annualized loan growth rate of 4.5% for the quarter, alongside a $237 million increase in customer deposits, reflecting strong competitive momentum that supports future business expansion.
- Capital Returns: The company continued to return capital to shareholders through a $0.25 quarterly dividend and a $37 million stock repurchase, demonstrating robust cash flow and commitment to shareholder value, which further enhances the attractiveness of its stock in the market.
- Stable Credit Quality: Non-performing assets as a percentage of loans stood at 50 basis points, down 1 basis point from the previous year, indicating effective risk management and strengthening the bank's resilience amid economic fluctuations.
See More
United Community Banks Q1 2026 Earnings Highlights
- Net Income Growth: United Community Banks reported net income of over $84 million in Q1 2026, with an EPS of $0.69 and an operating EPS of $0.70, reflecting strong performance driven by a 4.5% annualized loan growth and net interest margin expansion.
- Capital Return Measures: The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.25 and a $37 million stock repurchase, alongside plans to redeem $100 million in subordinated debt in Q2, enhancing shareholder returns and improving capital structure flexibility.
- Acquisition Plans: UCB plans to acquire Peach State Bank for approximately $100 million, with the bank holding about $800 million in assets, expecting 40% cost savings and a projected $0.09 EPS accretion in 2027, indicating a proactive strategy to expand market share.
- Outlook: Management expects net interest margin to increase by 3 to 5 basis points in Q2 and remains optimistic about loan growth in the 5% to 6% range, demonstrating the company's potential for growth in a competitive market environment.
See More
