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): February 16, 2016

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 Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

275 West Federal Street, 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):

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

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

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

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

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 16, 2016, United Community Financial Corp. (“UCFC”) issued a press release to announce the completion of the acquisition of James & Sons Insurance, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99	Press release dated February 16, 2016

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/ Jude J. Nohra
	Jude J. Nohra, General Counsel & Secretary

Date: February 17, 2016

EX-99

Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:	Investor Contact:
Colleen Scott	Gary M. Small
Vice President, Director of Marketing	President and Chief Executive Officer
Home Savings	(330) 742-0472
(330) 718-4050
cscott@homesavings.com

United Community Financial Corp. Completes Acquisition of

James & Sons Insurance

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio—(February 16, 2016)— United Community Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: UCFC), holding company of The Home Savings and Loan Company, announced that it completed its acquisition of James & Sons Insurance on January 29, 2016.

Gary M. Small, President and CEO of Home Savings and UCFC, said, “I’d like to thank the management teams of Home Savings and James & Sons for all their efforts in closing the deal within a week of announcement. Again, we are very pleased to be partnering with the James & Sons organization. In the coming months, we will be working on integrating James & Sons with Home Savings in order to maximize this tremendous opportunity.”

This transaction marks the initial step in the formation of The Home Savings Insurance Group. Home Savings looks forward to expansion of the insurance business via organic growth coupled with a selective acquisition strategy.

James & Sons Insurance is a local insurance agency established in 1921. Operating independently, they work with regional and national insurance companies offering coverage at the most competitive rates available. James & Sons offers a wide variety of insurance products for business and residential customers, which include, auto, homeowners, life-health, commercial, surety bonds, aviation and much more. For more information on the agency visit http://www.jamesandsonsins.com/

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp., Home Savings operates 31 full-service banking offices located throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Additional information on UCFC and Home Savings may be found at www.ucfconline.com.

When used in this press release, the words or phrases “believes,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project”, “will have” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including changes in economic conditions in the Company’s market area, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, fluctuations in interest rates, demand for loans in the Company’s market area, and competition that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company advises readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause the Company’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release publicly the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.