Kroll Bond Rating Agency affirmed the senior unsecured debt rating of BBB+, subordinated debt rating of BBB and short-term debt rating of K2 for Blairsville, Ga.-based United Community Banks Inc.

The deposit and senior unsecured debt ratings of A-, subordinated debt rating of BBB+, and short-term deposit and debt ratings of K2 for the company's unit, United Community Bank, were also affirmed.

The outlook for all long-term ratings is stable.

Kroll said the ratings continue to reflect United Community Banks' "solid and experienced" management team, which the agency believes has been instrumental in improving the company's risk management framework and execution after the global financial crisis. The company and its creditors should be well-served in the uncertain economic environment related to the coronavirus pandemic, given the "important revamp" of essential controls and "recognizable discipline" on credit risk management, according to Kroll.

The stable outlook on the long-term ratings reflects that Kroll expects the company to see asset quality metrics better than peers during the current economic environment and to maintain solid core capitalization.