8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):           January 17, 2007          

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

OHIO	0-024399	34-1856319
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer I.D. No.)

275 Federal Plaza West, Youngstown, Ohio 44503-1203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (330) 742-0500

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

     (c) On January 17, 2007, the Boards of Directors of United Community Financial Corporation (“UCFC”) and The Home Savings and Loan Company (“Home Savings”) announced promotions for David G. Lodge, age 67, Patrick W. Bevack, age 60, and Patrick A. Kelly, age 48. A copy of the press release issued by UCFC and Home Savings to announce the promotions is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

     (d) On January 17, 2007, the Board of Directors of UCFC elected Richard J. Buoncore to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Herbert F. Schuler. Mr. Buoncore’s term expires in 2008. Mr. Buoncore was appointed to the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee of the UCFC Board of Directors. A copy of the press release issued by UCFC to announce the election of Mr. Buoncore is attached as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press Release of United Community dated January 19, 2007.               Included herewith.
99.2	Press Release of United Community dated January 19, 2007.               Included herewith.

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
	By:	/s/ Patrick A. Kelly
		Patrick A. Kelly Chief Financial Officer
Date: January 23, 2007

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

United Community Financial Corp. and Home Savings
Announce Executive Management Promotions

     YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (January 19, 2007) — The Home Savings and Loan Company, a subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp. (UCFC), announces the promotions of David G. Lodge to President and Chief Operating Officer of United Community Financial Corp., Patrick W. Bevack to President and Chief Operating Officer of Home Savings and Patrick A Kelly to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Home Savings, effective January 17, 2007. Douglas M. McKay will remain Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for both UCFC and Home Savings.

     Lodge’s responsibilities at the holding company level include strategic planning for Home Savings and Butler Wick, wholly-owned subsidiaries of UCFC, as well as direct involvement with merger and acquisition activity. He will continue to serve as a Board Member for UCFC.

     Since 2000, Lodge served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Home Savings. Prior to joining Home Savings, Lodge held the same position for twelve years at Metropolitan Bank & Trust, which was headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. He also held various senior-level positions during his 28-year tenure with Cardinal Federal Savings Bank, including Executive Vice President/Retail Banking Group Manager and Senior Vice President/Retail Products Manager.

     Lodge is a graduate of Leadership School at the University of Connecticut and the School for Executive Development at the University of Washington. He also serves as a Trustee for the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, Youngstown Business Incubator, Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corporation, Neighborhood Housing, Inc., the Cleveland Playhouse and University Circle, Inc. Lodge and his family currently reside in Aurora, Ohio.

     As President and Chief Operating Officer for Home Savings, Bevack is responsible for actively implementing and controlling Home Savings’ organizational and fiscal objectives, as well as directing its activities in accordance with its established corporate objectives. He has also been appointed to the Home Savings Board of Directors.

     With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Bevack most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Home Savings, where he joined as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending in 2000. Prior to that time, Bevack served as Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary at Metropolitan Bank & Trust, Executive Vice President at Transohio Savings Bank and Senior Vice President of Operations at Cardinal Federal Savings Bank.

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     Bevack earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and his Master’s degree in Finance from Cleveland State University. He is a member of Ohio’s Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association and Cleveland Area Board of Realtors. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Wick Neighbors, Inc. Bevack and his family currently reside in Highland Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

     Kelly is serving as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Home Savings, in addition to continuing to serve in the same capacities at UCFC, which he has done since 2003. He will also remain a Senior Vice President at Home Savings whom he has been with since 1983. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Kelly remains a board member for Home Savings and Butler Wick Corp.

     Kelly has remained active in a number of civic organizations in the community including, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, Humility of Mary Health Partners (HMHP) Board of Trustees, St. Charles Church Finance Committee and 2006 Chairman of The American Cancer Society Tri-County Golf Classic. Additionally, he is a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA).

     Kelly received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University and his MBA from The University of Cincinnati. He also received his Financial Management Diploma from The School for Bank Administration (BAI) at the University of Wisconsin. He currently resides in Canfield, Ohio, with his family.

     Home Savings operates 37 full-service banking offices and five loan production offices located throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Butler Wick has 21 offices providing full service retail brokerage, capital markets or trust services throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Additional information on UCFC, Home Savings and Butler Wick may be found on UCFC’s web site: www.ucfconline.com.

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

United Community Financial Corp. announces new Board Member

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (1/19/07) — United Community Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: UCFC), holding company for The Home Savings Loan Company and Butler Wick Corp., is pleased to welcome Richard J. Buoncore as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Buoncore’s appointment, which was effective January 17, 2007, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of long-time Board Member, Herbert Shuler.

     Buoncore, currently a Managing Partner of BC Investment Partners LLC, previously served as Chief Executive Officer for Victory Capital Management and as its President and Chief Operating Officer prior to that time.

     A graduate of Fordham University, Buoncore is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the AICPA and NYS Society of CPA’s. He holds a number of Security Industry Registrations, including Registered Security Representative (Series 7), Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63) and Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65).

     Buoncore is Chairman of The First Tee of Cleveland, an organization formed to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. He is also a member of Fordham University’s Board of Trustees, serving on the Athletic and Investment Committees. Buoncore and his family reside in Aurora, Ohio.

     Home Savings operates 37 full-service banking offices and five loan production offices located throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Butler Wick has 21 offices providing full service retail brokerage, capital markets or trust services throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Additional information on UCFC, Home Savings and Butler Wick may be found at www.ucfconline.com.

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