United Community launches comprehensive Wealth Management division
United Community Wealth is led by industry veteran Brendon Tripodo who joined United in 2023. Tripodo has more than 30 years of industry experience including a background in sales management, organizational design and merger integration. Tripodo received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The Ohio State University, followed by an MBA from John Carrol University.
"The launch of United Community Wealth represents our commitment to providing financial services that grow and evolve with our customers’ needs," said Tripodo, United Community Wealth president. “By bringing together these specialized capabilities under one umbrella, we can better serve our customers at every stage of their financial journey."
United Community Wealth encompasses two distinct service lines: United Community Private Wealth and United Community Advisors, both of which are tailored to meet specific customer needs and preferences.
United Community Private Wealth focuses on high-net-worth individuals and families, offering discretionary investment management, trust administration, estate planning and financial planning services. The division provides specialized expertise in business succession planning alongside traditional banking and lending solutions. Complementing these services, United Community Insurance specializes in complex insurance solutions for both individuals and businesses, including life insurance, disability coverage and long-term care planning.
United Community Advisors delivers personalized investment and financial guidance through a branch-based approach. Services include fee-based advisory services, full-service brokerage capabilities and customized investment solutions, making wealth management accessible to a broader customer base.
"The introduction of United Community Wealth is a pivotal moment for our bank as we broaden the ways we can support our customers’ financial journeys,” said Abraham Cox, chief consumer and small business banking officer. “As we continue to evolve and enhance our services, this new division will allow us to provide more comprehensive solutions, helping both consumers and businesses thrive in a changing financial landscape. This expansion strengthens our commitment to being a trusted partner, delivering the right guidance at the right time for all of our customers."
Leading the new division will be:
- Jared Newman, United Community Private Wealth Regional Director (N.C., Ga., S.C., Tenn.)
- Nora Bagby, United Community Private Wealth Regional Director (Fla., Ala.)
- Mark Curtis, Program Director, United Community Advisory
- Philip Rich, United Community Private Wealth Managing Director, Investment Management
- Alisha Kamadia, United Community Private Wealth Managing Director, Trust Administration
- Mike Ison, President, United Community Insurance
- Rob Port, United Community Wealth Managing Director, Operations/Innovation
- Lance Hopegill, United Community Wealth Managing Director, Sales & Strategy
For more information about United Community Wealth and its services, please visit here.
About United Community Banks, Inc.
United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top 100 U.S. financial institution that is committed to improving the financial health and well-being of its customers and the communities it serves. United Community provides a full range of banking, wealth management and mortgage services. As of December 31, 2024, United Community Banks, Inc. had $27.7 billion in assets, 199 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending subsidiary. In 2024, United Community became a 10-time winner of J.D. Power’s award for the best customer satisfaction among consumer banks in the Southeast region and was recognized as the most trusted bank in the Southeast. In 2024, United was named by American Banker as one of the “Best Banks to Work For” for the eighth consecutive year and was recognized in the Greenwich Excellence and Best Brands Awards, receiving 15 awards that included national honors for overall satisfaction in small business banking and middle market banking. Forbes has also consistently listed United Community as one of the World’s Best Banks and one of America’s Best Banks. Additional information about United can be found at ucbi.com.
