A Georgia Banker's Second Term as President

Back in the president's chair.

Lynn Harton has worked in financial services for three decades and had been president and chief executive of The South Financial Group in Greenville, S.C., until it was purchased by TD Bank in 2010.

He resurfaced by joining United Community Banks Inc. (UCBI) of Blairsville, Ga., as chief operating officer of its banking unit, United Community Bank, in 2012.

And this week, the bank promoted him to president.

"Lynn has done a fabulous job for United," Jimmy Tallent, the parent company's president and CEO, said in a news release Tuesday. "He understands our culture and values and has been an integral part in setting the company's direction and goals with enthusiasm and energy."

Things have been looking up for the overall United Community, which with $7.4 billion of assets is the third-largest bank holding company in Georgia. It reported a fourth-quarter profit of $15.9 million. It also recently redeemed $180 million of preferred stock issued under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program without issuing additional equity and had its informal memorandums of understanding terminated by regulators.

But there is no rest for the weary at a community bank. Harton will keep his COO duties, and no doubt will have to sweep the lobby on occasion.