Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB) (the “Company” or “Ameris”) today reported net income of $116.1 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared with $106.0 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

For the year-to-date period ending September 30, 2026, the Company reported net income of $278.0 million, or $4.13 per diluted share, compared with $303.8 million, or $4.41 per diluted share, for the same period in 2025.

Commenting on the Company’s results, Palmer Proctor, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Ameris delivered another strong quarter, reflecting our consistent focus on profitable growth, expense discipline and prudent balance sheet management. We achieved a net interest margin of 3.87%, with mid-single-digit growth in average earning assets and deposits. Return on average assets exceeded 1.60%, and our efficiency ratio improved to below 50%. Our capital position, core funding base and credit reserves remain strong, providing a solid foundation as macroeconomic conditions evolve. We remain measured in our approach to growth, maintaining disciplined underwriting and carefully allocating capital. We are confident in the strength of our Southeast franchise and remain focused on deepening customer relationships and driving disciplined organic growth. As always, our strategic decisions will be guided by the best long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis (TE) was $258.6 million in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of $5.2 million, or 2.0%, from last quarter and $19.7 million, or 8.2%, compared with the third quarter of 2025. The Company's average earning assets increased during the quarter by $300.5 million, or 4.5% annualized, primarily due to an increase of $260.0 million in average portfolio loans outstanding and an increase of $99.3 million in the average balance of investment securities, which was partially offset by a decrease of $80.7 million in average loans held for sale.

The Company's net interest margin was 3.87% for the third quarter of 2026, a decrease of one basis point from the second quarter of 2026 and a seven basis point improvement from the third quarter of 2025.

Yields on earning assets increased one basis point during the quarter to 5.62%, compared with 5.61% in the second quarter of 2026. This increase is primarily related to a three basis point increase in yield on portfolio loans outstanding and a 29 basis point increase in yield on loans held for sale, which was partially offset by a 10 basis point decrease in yield on taxable investment securities during the third quarter of 2026.

The Company’s total cost of funds increased three basis points to 1.94% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 1.91% in the second quarter of 2026, and improved 11 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2025. Deposit costs increased five basis points during the third quarter of 2026 to 1.82%, compared with 1.77% in the second quarter of 2026. The cost of interest-bearing deposits during the quarter was 2.58%, an increase of six basis points compared with the second quarter of 2026.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income decreased $9.4 million, or 12.7%, in the third quarter of 2026 to $64.2 million, compared with $73.5 million for the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by a $7.2 million decrease in gain on securities. Mortgage banking activity decreased $3.3 million, or 10.1%, to $29.2 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $32.5 million for the second quarter of 2026. Total production in the retail mortgage division decreased $157.9 million, or 13.7%, to $994.4 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $1.15 billion for the second quarter of 2026. The retail mortgage open pipeline was $439.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 2026, compared with $609.3 million at the end of the second quarter of 2026. Gain on sale spreads increased to 2.09% in the third quarter of 2026 from 2.04% for the second quarter of 2026. Equipment finance activity increased $1.4 million, or 15.7%, to $10.4 million, compared with $8.9 million for the second quarter of 2026. Gain on securities was $230,000 for the third quarter of 2026, compared with $7.4 million for the second quarter of 2026. Other noninterest income decreased $317,000, or 3.3%, in the third quarter of 2026 to $9.2 million, compared with $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2026.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense decreased $84.0 million, or 34.6%, to $158.7 million during the third quarter of 2026, compared with $242.7 million for the second quarter of 2026. The decrease was driven by a litigation expense accrual decline of $80.8 million. Adjusted noninterest expense⁽¹⁾ decreased $2.5 million, or 1.5%, compared with the second quarter of 2026, primarily due to decreased mortgage compensation and legal expenses. Management continues to focus on delivering high performing operating efficiency, reflected by an adjusted efficiency ratio⁽¹⁾ of 49.15% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 50.42% in the second quarter of 2026 and 49.62% in the third quarter of 2025.

Income Tax Expense

The Company's effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2026 was 22.9%, compared with 22.1% for the second quarter of 2026, with the increased rate resulting primarily from the relative impact of higher pre-tax earnings compared with the second quarter of 2026.

Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets at September 30, 2026 were $28.55 billion, compared with $28.49 billion at June 30, 2026 and $27.52 billion at December 31, 2025. During the third quarter of 2026, loans, net of unearned income, increased by $173.1 million, or 3.1% annualized. Loans held for sale decreased to $398.5 million at September 30, 2026 from $623.2 million at December 31, 2025. Debt securities available-for-sale totaled $2.48 billion, compared with $2.46 billion at June 30, 2026 and $2.21 billion at December 31, 2025.

At September 30, 2026, total deposits were $22.91 billion, compared with $22.59 billion at June 30, 2026 and $22.38 billion at December 31, 2025. During the third quarter of 2026, deposits increased $319.4 million, or 5.6% annualized, with interest bearing deposits increasing by $407.2 million and noninterest-bearing deposits decreasing by $87.8 million. The increase in end of period balances was driven primarily by an increase of $399.7 million in money market accounts and an increase of $129.5 million in brokered CDs, which was partially offset by a decrease of $79.8 million in retail CDs. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 29.2% of total deposits at September 30, 2026, compared with 28.7% at December 31, 2025.

Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2026 totaled $4.12 billion, an increase of $48.2 million, or 1.2%, from December 31, 2025. The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily the result of earnings of $278.0 million during the first nine months of 2026, largely offset by share repurchases, dividends declared and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of $97.6 million resulting from changes in interest rates on the Company's investment portfolio. Tangible book value per share⁽¹⁾ increased $1.47 per share, or 4.4% annualized, during the first nine months of 2026 to $45.65 at September 30, 2026. Tangible common equity as a percentage of tangible assets was 11.14% at September 30, 2026, compared with 11.37% at the end of 2025.

Credit Quality

During the third quarter of 2026, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $12.6 million, compared with a provision of $17.3 million in the second quarter of 2026. The allowance for credit losses on loans was 1.62% of loans at September 30, 2026, unchanged from the end of 2025. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased seven basis points to 0.54% during the quarter. Approximately $38.8 million, or 25.2%, of the nonperforming assets at September 30, 2026 were GNMA-guaranteed mortgage loans, which present minimal loss exposure for the Company. Excluding these government-guaranteed loans, nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased five basis points to 0.40% at September 30, 2026, compared with 0.35% at the end of the second quarter of 2026. The net charge-off ratio was 19 basis points for the third quarter of 2026, compared with 20 basis points for the second quarter of 2026.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company's board of directors, on October 16, 2026, authorized the Company to repurchase up to $200.0 million of its outstanding common stock. Repurchases of shares, which are authorized to occur through October 31, 2027, will be made, if at all, in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made from time to time in the open market or by negotiated transactions. The amount and timing of repurchases will be based on a variety of factors, including share acquisition price, regulatory limitations and other market and economic factors. The program does not require the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares. The board's authorization is a continuation and replenishment of the Company's previously announced share repurchase program which was set to expire on October 31 and under which the Company has repurchased $134.6 million of its outstanding common stock in the past 12 months.

Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, October 23, 2026, to discuss the Company's results and answer appropriate questions. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-481-2939. The conference call ID is Ameris Bancorp. A replay of the call will be available beginning one hour after the end of the conference call until October 30, 2026. To listen to the replay, dial 1-855-669-9658. The conference replay access code is 7791097. The financial information discussed will be available on the Investor Relations page of the Ameris Bank website at ir.amerisbank.com. Participants also may listen to a live webcast of the presentation by visiting the link on the Investor Relations page of the Ameris Bank website.