Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  GILBERT BILL M
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/16/2005		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC [UCBI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4545 BROOK GREEN COURT		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

BLAIRSVILLE, GA 30512		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 13,943 (1)
D
 
Common Stock 845.907
I
By 401K
Common Stock 825 (2)
I
Joanna R. Gilbert

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option to Purchase Common Stock 04/18/2001(3) 04/18/2011 Common Stock 3,000 $ 11.67 D  
Option to Purchase Common Stock 03/11/2002(4) 03/11/2012 Common Stock 6,900 $ 13 D  
Option to Purchase Common Stock 04/17/2004(5) 04/17/2013 Common Stock 8,250 $ 16.39 D  
Option to Purchase Common Stock 04/28/2005(6) 04/28/2014 Common Stock 7,000 $ 24.07 D  
Option to Purchase Common Stock 05/16/2006(7) 05/16/2015 Common Stock 4,500 $ 23.1 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
GILBERT BILL M
4545 BROOK GREEN COURT
BLAIRSVILLE, GA 30512		       Senior Vice President  

Signatures

Lois J. Rich, Power of Attorney 05/23/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 1,200 restricted shares issued 5/16/05, which vest over four consecutive years at 25% on the anniversary date of January 31, beginning in the year 2006.
(2) Includes 825 shares owned by Mr. Gilbert's spouse for which he claims beneficial ownership.
(3) 2001 Options vest over five consecutive years at 20% beginning the date of grant.
(4) 2002 Options vest over five consecutive years at 20% beginning the date of grant.
(5) 2003 Options vest over four consecutive years at 25% each anniversary date.
(6) 2004 Options vest over four consecutive years at 25% each anniversary date.
(7) 2005 Options vest over four consecutive years at 25% each anniversary date.

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