EXHIBIT 99

275 West Federal Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503-1203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:		Investor Contact:
Colleen Scott Vice President of Marketing Home Savings (330) 742-0638 cscott@homesavings.com		James R. Reske Chief Financial Officer United Community Financial Corp. (330) 742-0592 jreske@ucfconline.com

United Community Financial Corp. Announces First Quarter Profit

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (April 26, 2011) — United Community Financial Corp. (Company) (Nasdaq: UCFC), holding company of The Home Savings and Loan Company of Youngstown, Ohio (Home Savings), today reported consolidated net income of $3.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This compares to a net loss of $5.1 million, or $(0.17) per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Selected first quarter results:

•

Delinquent loans declined $7.3 million to $158.3 million from the prior quarter

•

Net interest margin increased 32 basis points to 3.49% from the prior quarter

•

Home Savings’ Tier 1 leverage ratio increased 60 basis points from the prior quarter to 8.44%

•

Home Savings’ Total Risk Based Capital increased 48 basis points from the prior quarter to 13.02%

•

Book value per share and tangible book value per share increased $0.04 and $0.05, respectively, from the prior quarter to $5.73 and $5.72, respectively

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2011, was $17.7 million, which was unchanged from a year earlier. Total interest income decreased $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010, primarily as a result of a decrease of $215.3 million in the average balance of outstanding loans. Total interest expense, however, also decreased by a comparable amount of $3.0 million for the first quarter of 2011, as compared to the same quarter last year. The decline was due to a reduction in interest paid on deposits due to changes in the deposit portfolio composition and lower rates paid on certificates of deposit.

Net interest margin was 3.49% for the first quarter of 2011 compared with 3.28% for the first quarter of 2010 and 3.17% from December 31, 2010.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming loans at March 31, 2011 increased to $145.9 million, compared to $139.5 million at December 31, 2010, an increase of $6.3 million during the period. Real estate owned and other repossessed assets were $42.9 million at March 31, 2011 and $40.3 million at December 31, 2010.

Patrick W. Bevack, President and Chief Executive Officer of UCFC and Home Savings, commented that, “While we are pleased with the progress made in the first quarter with a return to profitability, we will continue to focus on our key initiative of improving asset quality. We are encouraged that delinquent loans decreased for the second consecutive quarter; however, seeking resolution to problem assets remains the number one priority and vital to our long term success.”

Noninterest Income

In the first quarter of 2011, the Company recognized noninterest income of $4.0 million, compared to $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company realized $1.3 million in securities gains compared to $2.8 million in the same quarter of 2010. Further affecting the comparison was the $1.4 million gain recognized on the sale of Home Savings’ Findlay, Ohio branch in the first quarter of 2010.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $16.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared to $17.0 million in the first quarter of 2010. The decreased expense in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the same quarter last year is primarily a result of lower salaries and employee benefit expenses. The decline in salaries and employee benefits are due to lower expenses recognized for incentives, and the suspension of matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) plan.

Capital and Book Value

Home Savings’ Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.44% as of March 31, 2011, compared to 7.84% at December 31, 2010. The Company’s total risk-based capital ratio was 13.02% at March 31, 2011, as compared to 12.54% at December 31, 2010. Book value per share and tangible book value per share at March 31, 2011 were $5.73 and $5.72, respectively.

Home Savings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and operates 38 full-service banking offices and seven loan production offices located throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Additional information on the Company and Home Savings may be found on the Company’s web site: 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” 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.

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Unaudited)

		March 31,				December 31,
		2011				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and deposits with banks		$	18,497			$	18,627
Federal funds sold and other			20,181				18,480
Total cash and cash equivalents			38,678				37,107
Securities:
Available for sale, at fair value			289,388				362,042
Loans held for sale			2,531				10,870
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $46,415 and $50,883, respectively			1,620,094				1,649,486
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost			26,464				26,464
Premises and equipment, net			21,760				22,076
Accrued interest receivable			7,684				7,720
Real estate owned and other repossessed assets			42,873				40,336
Core deposit intangible			448				485
Cash surrender value of life insurance			27,560				27,303
Other assets			37,600				13,409
Total assets		$	2,115,080			$	2,197,298
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest bearing		$	1,568,161			$	1,551,210
Non-interest bearing			144,362				138,571
Total deposits			1,712,523				1,689,781
Borrowed funds:
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			100,954				202,818
Repurchase agreements and other			100,446				97,797
Total borrowed funds			201,400				300,615
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance			13,219				20,668
Accrued interest payable			905				809
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			9,662				9,370
Total liabilities			1,937,709				2,021,243
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock-no par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized and unissued			—				—
Common stock-no par value; 499,000,000 shares authorized; 37,804,457 shares issued and 30,951,032 and 30,937,704 shares, respectively, outstanding			142,404				142,318
Retained earnings			113,911				111,049
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(6,551	)			(4,778	)
Treasury stock, at cost, 6,853,425 and 6,866,753 shares, respectively			(72,393	)			(72,534	)
Total shareholders’ equity			177,371				176,055
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	2,115,080			$	2,197,298

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Interest income
Loans		$	22,510			$	25,843
Loans held for sale			66				70
Securities:
Available for sale			2,847				2,585
Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends			300				300
Other interest earning assets			9				7
Total interest income			25,732				28,805
Interest expense
Deposits			6,331				9,318
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			825				848
Repurchase agreements and other			922				923
Total interest expense			8,078				11,089
Net interest income			17,654				17,716
Provision for loan losses			2,192				12,450
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			15,462				5,266
Non-interest income
Non-deposit investment income			354				428
Service fees and other charges			1,453				1,751
Net gains (losses):
Securities available for sale			1,313				2,843
Other -than-temporary loss on equity securities
Total impairment loss			(10	)			—
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income			—				—
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings			(10	)			—
Mortgage banking income			622				386
Real estate owned and other repossessed assets			(992	)			(1,484	)
Gain on retail branch sale			—				1,387
Other income			1,248				1,249
Total non-interest income			3,988				6,560
Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits			7,684				8,174
Occupancy			905				1,004
Equipment and data processing			1,694				1,667
Franchise tax			469				511
Advertising			121				222
Amortization of core deposit intangible			37				48
Deposit insurance premiums			1,405				1,461
Professional fees			962				1,033
Real estate owned and other repossessed asset expenses			873				607
Other expenses			2,338				2,241
Total non-interest expenses			16,488				16,968
Income (loss) before income taxes			2,962				(5,142	)
Income taxes expense (benefit)			—				—
Net income (loss)		$	2,962			$	(5,142	)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic—continuing operations		$	0.10			$	(0.17	)
Basic—discontinued operations			—				—
Basic			0.10				(0.17	)
Diluted—continuing operations			0.10				(0.17	)
Diluted—discontinued operations			—				—
Diluted			0.10				(0.17	)

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2011				2010				2010				2010				2010
		(In thousands, except per share data)
Financial Data
Total assets		$	2,115,080			$	2,197,298			$	2,317,948			$	2,314,109			$	2,279,719
Total loans, net			1,620,094				1,649,486				1,726,381				1,786,038				1,823,899
Total securities			289,388				362,042				390,636				307,154				272,239
Total deposits			1,712,523				1,689,781				1,685,033				1,696,531				1,728,592
Total shareholders’ equity			177,371				176,055				201,333				212,691				214,482
Net interest income			17,654				16,888				18,786				17,971				17,716
Provision for loan losses			2,192				22,551				17,116				10,310				12,450
Noninterest income, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses			3,998				6,487				4,159				4,745				6,560
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings			10				14				44				—				—
Noninterest expense			16,488				18,372				15,700				17,291				16,968
Income tax expense (benefit)			—				(231	)			—				—				—
Net income (loss)			2,962				(17,331	)			(9,915	)			(4,885	)			(5,142	)
Share Data
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	0.10			$	(0.56	)		$	(0.32	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.17	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share			0.10				(0.56	)			(0.32	)			(0.16	)			(0.17	)
Book value per share			5.73				5.69				6.51				6.88				6.94
Tangible book value per share			5.72				5.67				6.49				6.87				6.92
Market value per share			1.33				1.34				1.33				1.68				1.50
Shares outstanding at end of period			30,951				30,938				30,925				30,898				30,898
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic			30,917				30,906				30,899				30,039				29,955
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted			30,919				30,906				30,899				30,039				29,955
Key Ratios
Return on average assets			0.55	%			-3.06	%			-1.70	%			-0.85	%			-0.90	%
Return on average equity			6.56	%			-33.91	%			-18.41	%			-8.91	%			-9.18	%
Net interest margin			3.49	%			3.17	%			3.42	%			3.30	%			3.28	%
Efficiency ratio			77.12	%			78.08	%			66.80	%			82.92	%			78.59	%
Capital Ratios
Tier 1 leverage ratio			8.44	%			7.84	%			8.23	%			8.71	%			8.47	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			11.74	%			11.26	%			11.85	%			11.90	%			11.47	%
Total risk-based capital ratio			13.02	%			12.54	%			13.12	%			13.16	%			12.73	%
Equity to assets			8.39	%			8.01	%			8.69	%			9.19	%			9.41	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets			8.37	%			7.99	%			8.67	%			9.17	%			9.38	%

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2011				2010				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Loan Portfolio Composition
Real Estate Loans
One-to four-family residential		$	762,065			$	757,426			$	778,005			$	779,565			$	777,380
Multi-family residential*			131,246				135,771				136,681				138,875				143,992
Nonresidential*			328,772				331,390				355,914				383,882				389,407
Land*			25,624				25,138				25,413				26,217				25,122
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			88,075				108,583				117,297				133,534				161,625
Multi-family and nonresidential*			11,201				15,077				14,537				14,870				14,682
Total real estate loans			1,346,983				1,373,385				1,427,847				1,476,943				1,512,208
Consumer Loans			272,478				279,453				289,296				295,007				301,457
Commercial Loans			45,772				46,304				48,902				53,566				56,726
Total Loans			1,665,233				1,699,142				1,766,045				1,825,516				1,870,391
Less:
Allowance for loan losses			46,415				50,883				40,884				40,728				47,768
Deferred loan costs, net			(1,276	)			(1,227	)			(1,220	)			(1,250	)			(1,276	)
Total			45,139				49,656				39,664				39,478				46,492
Loans, net		$	1,620,094			$	1,649,486			$	1,726,381			$	1,786,038			$	1,823,899

		At or for the quarters ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2011				2010				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Deposit Portfolio Composition
Checking accounts
Interest bearing checking accounts		$	110,711			$	110,092			$	103,204			$	104,905			$	101,068
Non-interest bearing checking accounts			144,362				138,571				128,702				126,437				125,741
Total checking accounts			255,073				248,663				231,906				231,342				226,809
Savings accounts			234,295				218,946				214,197				212,778				210,091
Money market accounts			318,395				311,692				310,884				310,506				300,610
Total non-time deposits			807,763				779,301				756,987				754,626				737,510
Retail certificates of deposit			904,760				910,480				928,046				939,568				988,747
Brokered certificates of deposit			—				—				—				2,337				2,335
Total certificates of deposit			904,760				910,480				928,046				941,905				991,082
Total deposits		$	1,712,523			$	1,689,781			$	1,685,033			$	1,696,531			$	1,728,592
Certificates of deposit as a percent of total deposits			52.83	%			53.88	%			55.08	%			55.52	%			57.33	%

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2011				2010				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Allowance For Loan Losses
Beginning balance		$	50,883			$	40,884			$	40,728			$	47,768			$	42,287
Provision			2,192				22,551				17,116				10,310				12,450
Net chargeoffs			(6,660	)			(12,552	)			(16,960	)			(17,350	)			(6,969	)
Ending balance		$	46,415			$	50,883			$	40,884			$	40,728			$	47,768
Net Charge-offs
Real Estate Loans
One-to four-family		$	924			$	1,483			$	1,834			$	2,318			$	998
Multi-family			163				1,819				160				1,067				1,585
Nonresidential			1,038				6,923				7,041				25				1,951
Land			504				284				11				—				318
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			2,295				669				6,595				11,924				1,018
Multi-family and nonresidential			—				(1	)			—				310				—
Total real estate loans			4,924				11,177				15,641				15,644				5,870
Consumer Loans			856				639				905				1,330				904
Commercial Loans			880				736				414				376				195
Total		$	6,660			$	12,552			$	16,960			$	17,350			$	6,969

		At or for the quarters ended
		March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2011				2010				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming Loans
Real Estate Loans
One-to four family residential		$	29,062			$	27,417			$	27,505			$	30,279			$	30,054
Multi-family residential			8,239				10,983				12,443				8,816				7,885
Nonresidential			37,353				39,838				44,561				48,653				36,083
Land			6,722				5,188				5,943				5,943				11,627
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			46,139				44,021				40,000				49,146				42,963
Multi-family and nonresidential			382				2,414				2,414				2,414				382
Total real estate loans			127,897				129,861				132,866				145,251				128,994
Consumer Loans			4,224				3,725				3,543				3,482				3,898
Commercial Loans			13,735				5,945				6,304				6,407				5,672
Total Loans		$	145,856			$	139,531			$	142,713			$	155,140			$	138,564
Total Nonperforming Loans and Nonperforming Assets
Past due 90 days and on nonaccrual status		$	112,705			$	117,499			$	126,062			$	129,534			$	131,951
Past due 90 days and still accruing			2,868				6,330				4,253				2,628				536
Past due 90 days			115,573				123,829				130,315				132,162				132,487
Past due less than 90 days and on nonaccrual			30,283				15,702				12,398				22,978				6,077
Total Nonperforming Loans			145,856				139,531				142,713				155,140				138,564
Other Real Estate Owned			42,386				39,914				39,963				41,470				34,605
Repossessed Assets			487				422				334				576				813
Total Nonperforming Assets		$	188,729			$	179,867			$	183,010			$	197,186			$	173,982
Total Troubled Debt Restructured Loans
Non-accruing		$	24,420			$	11,240			$	14,934			$	10,855			$	8,764
Accruing			30,129				33,331				13,254				18,214				23,153
Total		$	54,549			$	44,571			$	28,188			$	29,069			$	31,917