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Charleston Business

Rich Bradshaw Promoted to President of United Community Bank

Feb 22, 2021 05:04PM ● By David Dykes

United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCBI) said Rich Bradshaw has been named president of its subsidiary United Community Bank, recognizing what company officials said are his increased contributions to the company’s growth and strategy.

Bradshaw will also retain his current title as the bank’s chief banking officer, a position he has held since 2019.

In his new role, Bradshaw is responsible for oversight and management of the bank’s diverse and substantial commercial lines of business, all 160 retail bank office locations across the five-state footprint and the fast-growing mortgage division.

Lynn Harton will remain chairman, chief executive officer and president of the holding company, United Community Banks, Inc. and chief executive officer of the subsidiary bank.

“On behalf of the board of directors, we are pleased to recognize Rich’s increased role in our success. Rich’s national reputation and regional contribution proves that he is truly one of the best talents in the banking industry and is a strong leader for our organization. He continuously demonstrates a high level of commitment to improving the lives of our customers,” said Harton. “Our decade of working together has shown that Rich’s capacity to deliver on results will be instrumental in the continued growth of United.” 

In his nearly seven years at United, Bradshaw developed and grew the bank’s commercial banking solutions (CBS) division to over $1.8 billion in 2019.

CBS includes the bank’s commercial real estate, middle market, asset-based lending, renewable energy, 501c3 and senior care lines of business.

The division also includes the growth of the United’s SBA lending program, which is one of the largest in volume SBA divisions in the Southeast. That has resulted in United approving and funding over 15,000 PPP loans for $1.75 billion dollars for existing and new customers. 

In 2019, Bradshaw was given additional responsibility of the branch network and other revenue producing businesses when he became chief banking officer.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to work under Lynn’s leadership and help to execute the ambitious strategic vision we have for United Community Bank. I truly enjoy the ability to work closely with our customers and make a difference in their financial success,” said Bradshaw. “I work with an outstanding group of leaders and bankers and I am excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Bradshaw is a retired, decorated commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve Intelligence Program and served five years of active duty as a captain in the U.S. Air Force.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in management and holds an MBA from Pepperdine University.

He has served several terms on the board of directors and executive committee for NAGGL (National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders) and received the organization’s annual Distinguished Service Award in 2014.

He is past president of the board of directors for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. He has also been president of the board for Greenville Literacy Association.

United Community Banks, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia, with executive offices in Greenville.

United is one of the largest full-service financial institutions in the Southeast, with $17.8 billion in assets, and 160 offices in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

United Community Bank, United’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, specializes in community banking services for individuals, small businesses and companies throughout its geographic footprint, including Florida under the brand Seaside Bank and Trust.