-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OXqRyMsfKaqJaP5JgDjDWUWZwwBrwKngtKn61CfdOjHEyYIcypfYMiELDuubOgar
 uNhQtevNPIf8k2AFkHaT+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-059491.txt : 20041217
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-059491.hdr.sgml : 20041217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041217101657
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-059491
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192931
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				550796470
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1310
		STREET 2:		1128 SOUTH MAIN ST
		CITY:			GRAHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27253
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3362261223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1310
		STREET 2:		1128 SOUTH MAIN ST
		CITY:			GRAHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27253

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTERSON JOHN KNOX
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241544

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50018
		FILM NUMBER:		041210041

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALAMANCE NATIONAL BANK
		STREET 2:		1128 SOUTH MAIN STREET
		CITY:			GRAHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27253
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3362261223
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd61878.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001192931</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTDF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241544</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATTERSON JOHN KNOX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1128 SOUTH MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27253</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock $1 par</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13203</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William E. Swing, Jr. POA for John Knox Patterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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