EXHIBIT 99

275 West Federal Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503-1203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

United Community Financial Corp. Announces Second Quarter Results

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (August 12, 2011) — United Community Financial Corp. (Company) (Nasdaq: UCFC), holding company of The Home Savings and Loan Company of Youngstown, Ohio (Home Savings), today reported a consolidated net loss of $1.8 million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2011. This compares to a net loss of $4.9 million, or $(0.16) per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The Company also reported cumulative net income of $1.2 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2011, as compared to a cumulative net loss of $10.0 million, or $(0.33) per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Selected second quarter results:

•

Delinquent loans declined $16.5 million to $141.8 million from the prior quarter

•

Nonperforming loans declined $6.8 million to $139.1 million from the prior quarter

•

Nonperforming assets declined $6.0 million to $182.8 million from the prior quarter

•

Home Savings’ Tier 1 leverage ratio decreased 4 basis points from the prior quarter to 8.40%, still exceeding its required regulatory threshold of 8.00%. Total Risk Based Capital increased 45 basis points from the prior quarter to 13.47%

•

Tangible book value per share at June 30, 2011 was $5.90, up from $5.72 at March 31, 2011

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $17.1 million compared to $18.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Total interest income decreased $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010, primarily as a result of a decrease of $204.1 million in the average balance of outstanding loans. The Company also experienced a decrease in the yield on net loans of 17 basis points. Total interest expense, however, decreased $2.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, as compared to the same quarter last year. The change was due primarily to reductions of $2.3 million in interest paid on deposits. The overall decrease in interest expense was attributable to a shift in deposit balances from certificates of deposit to relatively less expensive non-time deposits.

Net interest margin was 3.39% for the second quarter of 2011 compared with 3.30% for the second quarter of 2010.

Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2011, was $34.7 million compared to $35.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Total interest income decreased $6.4 million in the first six months of 2011 compared to the first six months of 2010, primarily as a result of a decrease of $209.6 million in the average balance of outstanding loans during the six month period ended June 30, 2011. The Company also experienced a decrease in the yield on net loans of 13 basis points. Total interest expense decreased $5.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, as compared to the same period last year. The change was due primarily to reductions of $5.3 million in interest paid on deposits.

Net interest margin was 3.45% for the first six months of 2011 compared with 3.29% for the first six months of 2010.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming loans at June 30, 2011 decreased to $139.1 million, compared to $145.9 million at March 31, 2011, a decrease of $6.8 million during the period. Additional declines were seen in both delinquent loans and nonaccrual loans during the same time period. Delinquent loans declined to $141.8 million at June 30, 2011 from $158.3 at March 31, 2011. During the same time period nonperforming assets decreased $6.0 million to $182.8 million.

Patrick W. Bevack, President and Chief Executive Officer of UCFC and Home Savings, commented that, “We are encouraged by the positive trend of decreasing past-due loans. Nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets were also down quarter over quarter. Continuing these trends and the resolution of problem assets remains our top priority.”

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased in the second quarter of 2011 to $5.3 million, as compared to $4.7 million in the second quarter of 2010. Affecting this comparison was the recognition of increased service fees during 2011. Service fees in the second quarter of 2010 were $424,000, but were negatively affected by a valuation allowance of $1.3 million for mortgage servicing rights; in the second quarter of 2011, the valuation allowance for such mortgage servicing rights were partially recovered, resulting in an $84,000 contribution to service fees. The second quarter of 2011 also reflected securities gains of $229,000, compared with $3.6 million that were recognized in the second quarter of 2010. Finally, the second quarter of 2011 included a gain of $2.7 million from a bulk mortgage loan sale.

Noninterest income decreased in the first half of 2011 to $9.3 million, as compared to the first half of 2010 of $11.3 million. Driving the decrease in noninterest income was the recognition of lower gains on the sale of securities and the gain recognized on the sale of Home Savings’ Findlay, Ohio branch in the prior year.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $15.9 million in the second quarter of 2011, compared to $17.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. The decrease in noninterest expense was triggered by lower salaries and employee benefits paid to employees. This decrease was caused primarily as a result of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan’s repayment in 2010 of the loan made by the Company to the ESOP.

Noninterest expense was $32.4 million in the first six months of 2011, compared to $34.3 million in the first six months of 2010. The decrease in noninterest expense for the period was affected by lower salaries and employee benefits paid to employees.

Capital and Book Value

Home Savings’ Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.40% as of June 30, 2011, compared to 8.44% at March 31, 2011. The Company’s total risk-based capital ratio was 13.47% at June 30, 2011, as compared to 13.02% at March 31, 2011. Tangible book value per share at June 30, 2011 was $5.90, up from $5.72 at March 31, 2011.

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)

		June 30,				December 31,
		2011				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and deposits with banks		$	25,085			$	18,627
Federal funds sold and other			30,413				18,480
Total cash and cash equivalents			55,498				37,107
Securities:
Available for sale, at fair value			392,749				362,042
Loans held for sale			4,824				10,870
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $46,223 and $50,883, respectively			1,509,399				1,649,486
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost			26,464				26,464
Premises and equipment, net			21,489				22,076
Accrued interest receivable			7,201				7,720
Real estate owned and other repossessed assets			43,685				40,336
Core deposit intangible			412				485
Cash surrender value of life insurance			27,822				27,303
Other assets			12,876				13,409
Total assets		$	2,102,419			$	2,197,298
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest bearing		$	1,559,045			$	1,551,210
Non-interest bearing			138,752				138,571
Total deposits			1,697,797				1,689,781
Borrowed funds:
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			96,365				202,818
Repurchase agreements and other			98,962				97,797
Total borrowed funds			195,327				300,615
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance			15,963				20,668
Accrued interest payable			838				809
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			9,352				9,370
Total liabilities			1,919,277				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 30,968,960 and 30,937,704 shares, respectively, outstanding			142,513				142,318
Retained earnings			111,910				111,049
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			923				(4,778	)
Treasury stock, at cost, 6,835,497 and 6,866,753 shares, respectively			(72,204	)			(72,534	)
Total shareholders’ equity			183,142				176,055
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	2,102,419			$	2,197,298

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

		For the Three Months Ended								For the Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Interest income
Loans		$	21,421			$	24,918			$	43,931			$	50,761
Loans held for sale			41				69				107				139
Securities:
Available for sale			3,094				2,896				5,941				5,481
Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends			294				294				594				594
Other interest earning assets			13				8				22				15
Total interest income			24,863				28,185				50,595				56,990
Interest expense
Deposits			6,081				8,408				12,412				17,726
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			796				875				1,621				1,723
Repurchase agreements and other			928				931				1,850				1,854
Total interest expense			7,805				10,214				15,883				21,303
Net interest income			17,058				17,971				34,712				35,687
Provision for loan losses			8,244				10,310				10,436				22,760
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			8,814				7,661				24,276				12,927
Non-interest income
Non-deposit investment income			308				484				662				912
Service fees and other charges			1,588				424				3,041				2,175
Net gains (losses):
Securities available for sale			229				3,671				1,542				6,514
Other -than-temporary loss on equity securities
Total impairment loss			(28	)			—				(38	)			—
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings			(28	)			—				(38	)			—
Mortgage banking income			3,128				651				3,750				1,037
Real estate owned and other repossessed assets			(1,362	)			(1,755	)			(2,354	)			(3,239	)
Gain on retail branch sale			—				—				—				1,387
Other income			1,437				1,270				2,685				2,519
Total non-interest income			5,300				4,745				9,288				11,305
Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits			7,686				9,105				15,370				17,279
Occupancy			856				839				1,761				1,843
Equipment and data processing			1,624				1,720				3,318				3,387
Franchise tax			402				503				871				1,014
Advertising			141				147				262				369
Amortization of core deposit intangible			36				45				73				93
Deposit insurance premiums			1,057				1,459				2,462				2,920
Professional fees			293				940				1,255				1,973
Real estate owned and other repossessed asset expenses			891				1,024				1,764				1,631
Other expenses			2,924				1,509				5,262				3,750
Total non-interest expenses			15,910				17,291				32,398				34,259
Income (loss) before income taxes			(1,796	)			(4,885	)			1,166				(10,027	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			—				—				—				—
Net income (loss)		$	(1,796	)		$	(4,885	)		$	1,166			$	(10,027	)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic		$	(0.06	)		$	(0.16	)			0.04				(0.33	)
Diluted			(0.06	)			(0.16	)			0.04				(0.33	)

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
		2011				2011				2010				2010				2010
		(In thousands, except per share data)
Financial Data
Total assets		$	2,102,419			$	2,115,080			$	2,197,298			$	2,317,948			$	2,314,109
Total loans, net			1,509,399				1,620,094				1,649,486				1,726,381				1,786,038
Total securities			392,749				289,388				362,042				390,636				307,154
Total deposits			1,697,797				1,712,523				1,689,781				1,685,033				1,696,531
Total shareholders’ equity			183,142				177,371				176,055				201,333				212,691
Net interest income			17,058				17,654				16,888				18,786				17,971
Provision for loan losses			8,244				2,192				22,551				17,116				10,310
Noninterest income, excluding other-than-temporary impairment losses			5,328				3,998				6,487				4,159				4,745
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings			28				10				14				44				—
Noninterest expense			15,910				16,488				18,372				15,700				17,291
Income tax expense (benefit)			—				—				(231	)			—				—
Net income (loss)			(1,796	)			2,962				(17,331	)			(9,915	)			(4,885	)
Share Data
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	(0.06	)		$	0.10			$	(0.56	)		$	(0.32	)		$	(0.16	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share			(0.06	)			0.10				(0.56	)			(0.32	)			(0.16	)
Book value per share			5.91				5.73				5.69				6.51				6.88
Tangible book value per share			5.90				5.72				5.67				6.49				6.87
Market value per share			1.27				1.33				1.34				1.33				1.68
Shares outstanding at end of period			30,969				30,951				30,938				30,925				30,898
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic			30,932				30,917				30,906				30,899				30,039
Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted			30,932				30,919				30,906				30,899				30,039
Key Ratios
Return on average assets			-0.34	%			0.55	%			-3.06	%			-1.70	%			-0.85	%
Return on average equity			-3.95	%			6.56	%			-33.91	%			-18.41	%			-8.91	%
Net interest margin			3.39	%			3.49	%			3.17	%			3.42	%			3.30	%
Efficiency ratio			67.49	%			77.12	%			78.08	%			66.80	%			82.92	%
Capital Ratios
Tier 1 leverage ratio			8.40	%			8.44	%			7.84	%			8.23	%			8.71	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			12.20	%			11.74	%			11.26	%			11.85	%			11.90	%
Total risk-based capital ratio			13.47	%			13.02	%			12.54	%			13.12	%			13.16	%
Equity to assets			8.71	%			8.39	%			8.01	%			8.69	%			9.19	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets			8.69	%			8.37	%			7.99	%			8.67	%			9.17	%

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
		2011				2011				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Loan Portfolio Composition
Real Estate Loans
One-to four-family residential		$	693,435			$	762,065			$	757,426			$	778,005			$	779,565
Multi-family residential*			129,767				131,246				135,771				136,681				138,875
Nonresidential*			307,702				328,772				331,390				355,914				383,882
Land*			25,515				25,624				25,138				25,413				26,217
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			87,827				88,075				108,583				117,297				133,534
Multi-family and nonresidential*			5,524				11,201				15,077				14,537				14,870
Total real estate loans			1,249,770				1,346,983				1,373,385				1,427,847				1,476,943
Consumer Loans			266,075				272,478				279,453				289,296				295,007
Commercial Loans			38,354				45,772				46,304				48,902				53,566
Total Loans			1,554,199				1,665,233				1,699,142				1,766,045				1,825,516
Less:
Allowance for loan losses			46,223				46,415				50,883				40,884				40,728
Deferred loan costs, net			(1,423	)			(1,276	)			(1,227	)			(1,220	)			(1,250	)
Total			44,800				45,139				49,656				39,664				39,478
Loans, net		$	1,509,399			$	1,620,094			$	1,649,486			$	1,726,381			$	1,786,038

		At or for the quarters ended
		June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
		2011				2011				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Deposit Portfolio Composition
Checking accounts
Interest bearing checking accounts		$	112,412			$	110,711			$	110,092			$	103,204			$	104,905
Non-interest bearing checking accounts			138,752				144,362				138,571				128,702				126,437
Total checking accounts			251,164				255,073				248,663				231,906				231,342
Savings accounts			245,838				234,295				218,946				214,197				212,778
Money market accounts			322,955				318,395				311,692				310,884				310,506
Total non-time deposits			819,957				807,763				779,301				756,987				754,626
Retail certificates of deposit			877,840				904,760				910,480				928,046				939,568
Brokered certificates of deposit			—				—				—				—				2,337
Total certificates of deposit			877,840				904,760				910,480				928,046				941,905
Total deposits		$	1,697,797			$	1,712,523			$	1,689,781			$	1,685,033			$	1,696,531
Certificates of deposit as a percent of total deposits			51.70	%			52.83	%			53.88	%			55.08	%			55.52	%

UNITED COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP.
SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

		At or for the quarters ended
		June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
		2011				2011				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Allowance For Loan Losses
Beginning balance		$	46,415			$	50,883			$	40,884			$	40,728			$	47,768
Provision			8,244				2,192				22,551				17,116				10,310
Net chargeoffs			(8,436	)			(6,660	)			(12,552	)			(16,960	)			(17,350	)
Ending balance		$	46,223			$	46,415			$	50,883			$	40,884			$	40,728
Net Charge-offs
Real Estate Loans
One-to four-family		$	501			$	924			$	1,483			$	1,834			$	2,318
Multi-family			1,451				163				1,819				160				1,067
Nonresidential			1,873				1,038				6,923				7,041				25
Land			233				504				284				11				—
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			1,159				2,295				669				6,595				11,924
Multi-family and nonresidential			101				—				(1	)			—				310
Total real estate loans			5,318				4,924				11,177				15,641				15,644
Consumer Loans			642				856				639				905				1,330
Commercial Loans			2,476				880				736				414				376
Total		$	8,436			$	6,660			$	12,552			$	16,960			$	17,350
		At or for the quarters ended
		June 30,				March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,
		2011				2011				2010				2010				2010
		(Dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming Loans
Real Estate Loans
One-to four family residential		$	28,776			$	29,062			$	27,417			$	27,505			$	30,279
Multi-family residential			6,414				8,239				10,983				12,443				8,816
Nonresidential			36,382				37,353				39,838				44,561				48,653
Land			8,316				6,722				5,188				5,943				5,943
Construction Loans
One-to four-family residential and land development			43,389				46,139				44,021				40,000				49,146
Multi-family and nonresidential			382				382				2,414				2,414				2,414
Total real estate loans			123,659				127,897				129,861				132,866				145,251
Consumer Loans			5,781				4,224				3,725				3,543				3,482
Commercial Loans			9,650				13,735				5,945				6,304				6,407
Total Loans		$	139,090			$	145,856			$	139,531			$	142,713			$	155,140
Total Nonperforming Loans and Nonperforming Assets
Past due 90 days and on nonaccrual status		$	122,856			$	112,705			$	117,499			$	126,062			$	129,534
Past due 90 days and still accruing			1,121				2,868				6,330				4,253				2,628
Past due 90 days			123,977				115,573				123,829				130,315				132,162
Past due less than 90 days and on nonaccrual			15,112				30,283				15,702				12,398				22,978
Total Nonperforming Loans			139,089				145,856				139,531				142,713				155,140
Other Real Estate Owned			43,009				42,386				39,914				39,963				41,470
Repossessed Assets			676				487				422				334				576
Total Nonperforming Assets		$	182,774			$	188,729			$	179,867			$	183,010			$	197,186
Total Troubled Debt Restructured Loans
Accruing		$	30,546			$	30,129			$	33,331			$	13,254			$	18,214
Non-accruing			28,066				24,420				11,240				14,934				10,855
Total		$	58,612			$	54,549			$	44,571			$	28,188			$	29,069