EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.9

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as this “AGREEMENT”), is entered into this 1st day of July, 2005, by and between United Community Bank, a savings bank chartered under the laws of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the “BANK”), and James W. Kittle, an individual (hereinafter referred to as the “EMPLOYEE”);

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, as a result of the skill, knowledge and experience of the EMPLOYEE, the Board of Directors of the BANK desires to retain the services of the EMPLOYEE as the Senior Vice President of Lending of the Bank;

WHEREAS, the EMPLOYEE desires to serve as the Senior Vice President of Lending of the BANK; and

WHEREAS, the EMPLOYEE and the BANK desire to enter into this AGREEMENT to set forth the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between the BANK and the EMPLOYEE;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, the BANK and the EMPLOYEE hereby agree as follows:

1. Employment and Term.

(a) Term. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this AGREEMENT, the BANK hereby employs the EMPLOYEE, and the EMPLOYEE hereby accepts employment, as the Senior Vice President of Lending of the BANK. The term of this AGREEMENT shall commence on July 1, 2005, and shall end on June 30, 2007, unless extended by the BANK, with the consent of the EMPLOYEE, as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 1 (hereinafter referred to, together with such extensions, as the “TERM”).

(b) Extension. On or before each anniversary of the date of this AGREEMENT, the Board of Directors of the BANK shall review this AGREEMENT and, upon approval by the Board of Directors, shall extend the term of this AGREEMENT for a one-year period beyond the then effective expiration date. Any such extension shall be subject to the written consent of the EMPLOYEE. The Board of Directors shall document its reasons for extending the term of this AGREEMENT in the minutes of the meeting at which such action is taken.

2. Duties of the EMPLOYEE.

(a) General Duties and Responsibilities. The EMPLOYEE shall serve as the Senior Vice President of Lending of the BANK. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the EMPLOYEE shall perform all duties and shall have all powers which are

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commonly incident to the office of Senior Vice President of Lending or which, consistent therewith, are delegated to him by the Board of Directors.

(b) Devotion of Entire Time to the Business of the BANK. The EMPLOYEE shall devote his entire productive time, ability and attention during normal business hours throughout the TERM to the faithful performance of his duties under this AGREEMENT. The EMPLOYEE shall not directly or indirectly render any services of a business, commercial or professional nature to any person or organization other than the BANK or any subsidiary of the BANK without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the EMPLOYEE shall not be precluded from (i) vacations and other leave time in accordance with Section 3(d) below, (ii) reasonable participation in community, civic, charitable or similar organizations, (iii) reasonable participation in industry-related activities, including, but not limited to, attending state and national trade association meetings and serving as an officer, director or trustee of a state or national trade association or Federal Home Loan Bank, (iv) serving as an officer or director of any subsidiary of the BANK and receiving a salary, director’s fees or other compensation or benefits, as appropriate, or (v) pursuing personal investments which do not interfere or conflict with the performance of the EMPLOYEE’s duties to the BANK.

3. Compensation.

(a) Base Salary. The EMPLOYEE shall receive during the TERM an annual salary payable in equal installments not less often than monthly. The amount of such annual salary shall be $89,407.00 until changed by the Board of Directors of the BANK in accordance with Section 3(b) below.

(b) Periodic Salary Review. The annual salary of the EMPLOYEE shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors from time to time throughout the TERM, but not less often than once every three years, and shall be set at an amount not less than $89,407.00, based upon the EMPLOYEE’s individual performance and such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate (hereinafter referred to as the “PERIODIC REVIEW”). The results of the PERIODIC REVIEW shall be reflected in the minutes of the Board of Directors.

(c) Employee Benefit Programs. During the TERM, the EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to participate in all formally established employee benefit, bonus, pension and profit sharing plans and similar programs that are maintained by the BANK from time to time and all employee benefit plans or programs hereafter adopted in writing by the Board of Directors for which senior management personnel of the BANK are eligible, including any employee stock ownership plan, stock option plan or other stock benefit plan (hereinafter collectively referred to as “BENEFIT PLANS”), in accordance with the terms and conditions of such BENEFIT PLANS. Notwithstanding any statement to the contrary contained elsewhere in this AGREEMENT, the BANK may at any time discontinue or terminate any BENEFIT PLAN now existing or hereafter adopted, to the extent permitted by the terms of such BENEFIT PLAN, and shall not be required to compensate the EMPLOYEE for such discontinuance or tetinination to the extent such discontinuance or termination pertains to all employees of the BANK who are eligible participants at the time.

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(d) Vacation and Sick Leave. The EMPLOYEE shall be entitled, without loss of pay, to be absent voluntarily from the performance of his duties under this AGREEMENT, in accordance with the policies periodically established by the Board of Directors for senior management officials of the BANK. The EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to annual sick leave as established by the Board of Directors for senior management officials of the BANK.

(e) Expenses. In addition to any compensation received under Section 3(d), the BANK shall pay or reimburse the EMPLOYEE for all reasonable travel, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties under this AGREEMENT, including participation in industry-related activities.

4. Termination of Employment.

(a) General. The employment of the EMPLOYEE shall terminate at any time during the TERM (i) at the option of the BANK, upon the delivery by the BANK of written notice of termination to the EMPLOYEE, or (ii) at the option of the EMPLOYEE, upon delivery by the EMPLOYEE of written notice of termination to the BANK if, in connection with a CHANGE OF CONTROL (hereinafter defined), the present capacity or circumstances in which the EMPLOYEE is employed are materially adversely changed (including, but not limited to, a material reduction in responsibilities or authority or the assignment of duties or responsibilities substantially inconsistent with those normally associated with the position of Senior Vice President of Lending of the BANK, change of title, the requirement that the EMPLOYEE regularly perform his principal executive functions more than thirty-five (35) miles from his primary office immediately preceding the CHANGE OF CONTROL or the EMPLOYEE’s compensation or other benefits provided under this AGREEMENT are reduced, unless the benefit reductions are part of a company-wide reduction. For purposes of this AGREEMENT, an event shall be deemed to have occurred “in connection with a CHANGE OF CONTROL” if such event occurs within one year before or after a CHANGE OF CONTROL. The following subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 4(a) shall govern the obligations of the BANK to the EMPLOYEE upon the occurrence of the events described in such subparagraphs:

(A) Termination for CAUSE. In the event that the BANK terminates the employment of the EMPLOYEE during the TERM because of the EMPLOYEE’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure or refusal to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned in this AGREEMENT, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or other minor offenses), or final cease-and-desist order or material breach of any provision of this AGREEMENT (hereinafter collectively referred to as “CAUSE”), the EMPLOYEE shall not receive, and shall have no right to receive, any compensation or other benefits for any period after such termination.

(B) Termination in Connection with CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that the employment of the EMPLOYEE is terminated by the BANK in connection with a CHANGE OF CONTROL for any reason other than CAUSE or is terminated by the EMPLOYEE as provided in Section 4(a)(ii) above, then the following shall occur:

(I) The BANK shall promptly pay to the EMPLOYEE or to his beneficiaries, dependents or estate an amount equal to the product of 2.99 multiplied by the EMPLOYEE’s “base amount” as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as “SECTION 280G”);

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(II) The EMPLOYEE, his dependents, beneficiaries and estate shall continue to be covered at the BANK’s expense under all health, life, disability and other benefit plans of the BANK in which the EMPLOYEE was a participant prior to the effective date of the termination of his employment as if the EMPLOYEE were still employed under this AGREEMENT until the earlier of the expiration of the TERM or the date on which the EMPLOYEE is included in another employer’s benefit plans as a full-time employee; and

(III) The EMPLOYEE shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this AGREEMENT by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall any amounts received from other employment or otherwise by the EMPLOYEE offset in any manner the obligations of the BANK hereunder, except as specifically stated in subparagraph (II) above.

(C) Termination Not in Connection with CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that the employment of the EMPLOYEE is terminated before the expiration of the TERM for any reason other than death, termination for CAUSE or termination in connection with a CHANGE OF CONTROL, then the following shall occur: