Ameris Bancorp
Annual Report 2008

Plain-text annual report

BUILDING VALUE OVER TIME THROUGH CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS IN LOCAL MARKETS. Ameris Bancorp 2008 Annual Report EVERY DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER.get Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Valued Shareholder: The banking industry has experienced unprecedented events in the past year. Companies that have been financial icons have been forced out of business or into mergers with others. This environment is one we have never before seen. Although operating in the worst recession since the Great Depression, our Company did experience growth in 2008, and we are forecasting minimal growth in 2009. Our efforts remain centered on continued strength during this crisis. We plan to grow our Company with sound, profitable relationships. Successful campaigns in 2008 resulted in new deposit accounts and many opportunities to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Reported earnings for 2008 were negative; however, we are proud of our core earnings stream which was sufficient to cover the majority of historic highs in credit losses. We continue our conservative approach related to the loan loss reserve, accruing provisions that were 50% more than net charge-offs in 2008. We make no excuses for our portfolio quality. Credit costs are exorbitant, and steps for immediate improvement are underway. The right lending philosophy is in place, backed by strong credit administration that is focused on managing and minimizing risk. Actions to restructure and improve our Company in recent years have proven to be very important and timely. These included workforce reductions, closing unprofitable branches, consolidating operational functions across our entire footprint, a reduction in common dividends, and a formalized leadership development initiative for over one-third of our management. The media has enhanced the spotlight on several companies regarding executive compensation, especially in the face of these difficult times. Salaries of all executive officers remain frozen – no salary increases have been administered or bonuses paid for the past two years. Late in the year, we participated in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program to help stabilize the banking industry. Although the Company’s financial strength and capital levels were deemed sufficient for most recessionary trends, management decided to accept the new capital in order to provide additional strength to continue growing and lending in our local markets. Management was cautious and prudent about the length and severity of the economic downturn and believed that the capital would provide a cushion if economic activity did not improve. With a conservative approach, our Company is in a “do-business” mode, and Ameris Bank is acquiring customers in four states and 39 southeastern communities. However, we will not increase risk on our balance sheet or burden our resources. We remain committed to our community-banking model that creates a win-win-win for shareholders, customers and employees. We believe that we have positioned the Company well, creating a solid foundation that will be a springboard into the future. I am proud to serve as your Chief Executive Officer and of my association with the outstanding team of employees and directors who comprise our Ameris Bancorp family. We take pride in knowing that our Company is strong and our customers’ deposits are safe, and we believe we will survive this economic chaos to emerge as a stronger company. We will be better bankers knowing that we have learned valuable lessons that will be remembered and lead us to a higher level of performance. We are respectful of the trust shareholders place in Ameris Bancorp through your investments, a trust that will never be taken for granted. We sincerely thank you. Respectfully, Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. / President and Chief Executive Officer FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2008 Deposits (In thousands of dollars) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Liquidity Pressures Eased by Growth in Local Market Deposits. Ameris Bank’s focus on growing local market deposits was particularly important in 2008 as liquidity pressures in the banking industry reached record levels. Total deposits grew 15% during 2008, approximately three times faster than growth in loans. This support and vote of confidence from our local customers sets Ameris Bank apart from the competition and underscores the importance of relationships in our business model. $986,224 $1,375,232 $1,710,163 $1,757,265 $2,013,525 Loan Growth, Despite a Challenging Environment. Ameris Bank is still in a “do-business” mode. Although the economic environment yielded fewer quality deals than in the past, we still grew our loan portfolio 5%. Every dollar that the Company loaned in 2008 was invested in our local markets. We believe the local market knowledge our bankers possess gives us an edge on deal selection and risk management. Improved Capital Strength. Economic forecasting and risk management led the Company to strengthen its capital ratios for several years. This added strength, together with a reduced dividend, allowed the Company to avoid a dilutive common offering during the harshest part of the recent downturn and carried the Company through to its participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program. The stronger levels of common equity along with the new preferred stock investment placed the Company’s capital strength at the 78th percentile against our FDIC peer group. Loans (In thousands of dollars) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 $877,074 $1,186,601 $1,442,951 $1,614,048 $1,695,777 Shareholders’ Equity (In thousands of dollars) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 $120,939 $148,703 $178,732 $191,249 $239,359 T OTA L A S S ET S - $ 2 . 4 1 B I L L I O N This Annual Report contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “anticipate” and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates which they were made. Ameris Bancorp undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (cid:31) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 or (cid:31) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______________ to_______________. Commission File Number 001-13901 AMERIS BANCORP (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) GEORGIA (State of incorporation) 58-1456434 (IRS Employer ID No.) 310 FIRST ST., SE MOULTRIE, GA 31768 (Address of principal executive offices) (229) 890-1111 (Registrant’s telephone number) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, Par Value $1 Per Share Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:31) No ⌧ Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act. Yes (cid:31) No ⌧ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ⌧ No (cid:31) Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (cid:31) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b- 2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer (cid:31) Accelerated filer ⌧ Non-accelerated filer (cid:31) Smaller reporting company (cid:31) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act). Yes (cid:31) No ⌧ As of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by nonaffiliates of the registrant was approximately $160.4 million. 1  As of February 10, 2008, the registrant had outstanding 13,573,440 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE The information required by Part III of this Annual Report is incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report. 2 AMERIS BANCORP TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Item 1. Business Item 1A Risk Factors Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments Item 2. Properties Item 3. Legal Proceedings Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders Page 5 18 23 23 24 24 PART II Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 24 Item 6. Selected Financial Data Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Item 9A. Controls and Procedures Item 9B. Other Information PART III Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Item 11. Executive Compensation Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 26 28 48 48 49 50 52 53 54 54 54 54 55 3 CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”) under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere, including information incorporated herein by reference to other documents, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond our control and which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential” and other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this report and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Exchange Act. All written or oral forward-looking statements that are made by or are attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. Our forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this report or the respective date of the document from which they are incorporated herein by reference. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report, or after the respective dates on which such statements otherwise are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 4 PART I As used in this Annual Report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Ameris” and the “Company” mean Ameris Bancorp and its subsidiaries (unless the context indicates another meaning). ITEM 1. BUSINESS GENERAL OVERVIEW We are a financial holding company whose business is conducted primarily through our wholly-owned banking subsidiary, which provides a full range of banking services to its retail and commercial customers located primarily in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. Ameris was incorporated on December 18, 1980 as a Georgia corporation. The Company’s executive office is located at 310 First St., S.E., Moultrie, Georgia 31768, its telephone number is (229) 890-1111 and its internet address is http://www.amerisbank.com. We operate 50 domestic banking offices with no foreign activities. At December 31, 2008, we had approximately $2.41 billion in total assets, $1.70 billion in total loans, $2.01 billion in total deposits and stockholders’ equity of $239.4 million. Ameris’ deposits are insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. THE PARENT COMPANY Our primary business as a bank holding company is to manage the business and affairs of our banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank (the “Bank”). As a bank holding company, we perform certain shareholder and investor relations functions and seek to provide financial support, if necessary, to our subsidiary. AMERIS BANK Our principal subsidiary is the Bank. The Bank, headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, operates branches in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. These branches serve distinct communities in our business areas with autonomy but do so as one bank, leveraging our favorable geographic footprint in an effort to acquire more customers. CAPITAL TRUST SECURITIES On September 20, 2006, the Company completed a private placement of an aggregate of $36 million of trust preferred securities. The placement occurred through a newly formed Delaware statutory trust subsidiary of Ameris, Ameris Statutory Trust I (the “Trust”). The trust preferred securities carry a quarterly adjustable interest rate of 1.63% over three-month LIBOR. The trust preferred securities mature on December 15, 2036 and are redeemable at the Company’s option beginning September 15, 2011. The terms of the trust preferred securities are set forth in that certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of September 20, 2006 among Ameris, Wilmington Trust Company, as institutional trustee and Delaware trustee, and the administrators named therein. The payments of distributions on and redemption or liquidation of the trust preferred securities issued by the Trust are guaranteed by Ameris pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement dated as of September 20, 2006 between Ameris and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee. The net proceeds to Ameris from the placement of the trust preferred securities by the Trust were primarily used to redeem outstanding trust preferred securities issued by Ameris on November 8, 2001. These trust preferred securities were redeemed on September 30, 2006 for $35.6 million. On December 16, 2005, Ameris purchased First National Banc, Inc. which had formed during 2004 First National Banc Statutory Trust I, a subsidiary whose sole purpose was to issue $5,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 2.80% through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. These trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date after five years, beginning in April, 2009. There are certain circumstances (as described in the trust documents) under which the securities may be redeemed within the first five years at the Company’s option. See Notes to Ameris’ Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report for a further discussion regarding the issuance of these trust preferred securities. 5 BUSINESS STRATEGY Our business strategy is to establish Ameris as a major financial institution in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. Management has pursued this objective through an acquisition-oriented growth strategy and a prudent operating strategy. Our operating model allows the Company to put substantial resources in front of customers when possible with efforts to minimize the expense of our operations. We are continuously evaluating our structure to maximize opportunities to perfect the balance between efficiency and customer service. Our markets are managed by senior level, experienced decision makers in a decentralized structure that differentiates us from our larger competitors. Management believes that this structure, along with involvement in and knowledge of our local markets, will continue to provide growth and assist in managing risk throughout our Company. We have maintained our focus on a long-term focus on a strategy of expanding and diversifying our franchise in terms of revenues, profitability and asset size. Our growth over the past several years has been enhanced significantly by bank acquisitions. We expect to continue to take advantage of the consolidation in the financial services industry and enhance our franchise through future acquisitions. We intend to grow within our existing markets, to branch into or acquire financial institutions in existing markets and to branch into or acquire financial institutions in other markets consistent with our capital availability and management abilities. BANKING SERVICES Lending Activities General. The Company maintains a diversified loan portfolio by providing a broad range of commercial and retail lending services to business entities and individuals. We provide agricultural loans, commercial business loans, commercial and residential real estate construction and mortgage loans, consumer loans, revolving lines of credit and letters of credit. The Company also originates first mortgage residential mortgage loans and generally enters into a commitment to sell these loans in the secondary market. We make no foreign or energy-related loans. At December 31, 2008, Ameris’ loan portfolio totaled $1.70 billion, representing approximately 70.5% of our total assets of $2.41 billion. For additional discussion of our loan portfolio, see “Management’s Discussion of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Loan Portfolio.” Commercial Real Estate Loans. This portion of our loan portfolio has grown significantly over the past few years and represents the largest segment of our loan portfolio. These loans are generally extended for acquisition, development or construction of commercial properties. The loans are underwritten with an emphasis on the viability of the project, the borrower’s ability to meet certain minimum debt service requirements and an analysis and review of the collateral and guarantors. Residential Real Estate Mortgage Loans. Ameris originates adjustable and fixed-rate residential mortgage loans. These mortgage loans are generally originated under terms and conditions consistent with secondary market guidelines. Some of these loans will be placed in the Company’s loan portfolio; however, a majority are sold to the secondary mortgage market. The residential real estate mortgage loans that are included in the Company’s loan portfolio are usually owner-occupied and generally amortized over a 10 to 20 year period with three to five year maturity or repricing. Agricultural Loans. Our agricultural loans are extended to finance crop production, the purchase of farm-related equipment or farmland and the operations of dairies and poultry producers. Agricultural loans typically involve seasonal balance fluctuations. Although we typically look to an agricultural borrower’s cash flow as the principal source of repayment, agricultural loans are also generally secured by a security interest in the crops or the farm-related equipment and, in some cases, an assignment of crop insurance and mortgage on real estate. The lending officer visits the borrower regularly during the growing season and re- evaluates the loan in light of the borrower’s updated cash flow projections. A portion of our agricultural loans are guaranteed by the FSA Guaranteed Loan Program. Commercial and Industrial Loans. General commercial and industrial loans consist of loans made primarily to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of goods, service companies and other industries. These loans are made for acquisition, expansion and working capital purposes and may be secured by real estate, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, personal guarantees or other assets. The Company monitors these loans by requesting submission of corporate and personal financial statements and income tax returns. The Company has also generated loans which are guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”). SBA loans are generally underwritten in the same manner as conventional loans generated for the Bank’s portfolio. Periodically, a portion of the loans that are secured by the guaranty of the SBA will be sold in the secondary market. Management believes that making such loans helps the local community and also provides Ameris with a source of income and solid future lending relationships as such businesses grow and prosper. The primary repayment risk for commercial loans is the failure of the business due to economic or financial factors. 6 Consumer Loans. Our consumer loans include motor vehicle, home improvement, home equity, student and signature loans and small personal credit lines. The terms of these loans typically range from 12 to 60 months and vary based upon the nature of collateral and size of the loan. These loans are generally secured by various assets owned by the consumer. Credit Administration We have sought to maintain a comprehensive lending policy that meets the credit needs of each of the communities served by the Bank, including low and moderate-income customers, and to employ lending procedures and policies consistent with this approach. All loans are subject to our corporate loan policy, which is reviewed annually and updated as needed. The loan policy provides that lending officers have sole authority to approve loans of various amounts commensurate with their seniority and experience. Our local market Presidents have discretion to approve loans in varying principal amounts up to established limits. Our regional credit officers review and approve loans that exceed each President’s lending authority. Individual lending authorities are assigned by the Company’s Senior Credit Officer, as is the maximum limit of new extensions of credit that may be approved in each market. These approval limits are reviewed annually by the Company and adjusted as needed. All extensions of credit in excess of a market’s approval limit are reviewed by one of two regional credit officers. When the request for approval exceeds the authority level of the regional credit officer, the approval of the Company’s Director of Credit Administration and/or the Company’s loan committee are required. All new loans or modifications to existing loans in excess of $250,000 are reviewed quarterly by the Company’s credit administration department with the lender responsible for the credit. In addition, our ongoing loan review program subjects the portfolio to sampling and objective review by an assigned loan reviewer who is independent of the originating loan officer. Each lending officer has authority to make loans only in the market area in which his or her Bank office is located and its contiguous counties. Occasionally, Ameris’ Loan Committee will approve a loan for purposes outside of the market areas of the Bank, provided the Bank has a previously established relationship with the borrower. Our lending policy requires analysis of the borrower’s projected cash flow and ability to service the debt. We actively market our services to qualified lending customers in both the commercial and consumer sectors. Our commercial lending officers actively solicit the business of new companies entering the market as well as longstanding members of that market’s business community. Through personalized professional service and competitive pricing, we have been successful in attracting new commercial lending customers. At the same time, we actively advertise our consumer loan products and continually seek to make our lending officers more accessible. The Bank continually monitors its loan portfolio to identify areas of concern and to enable management to take corrective action when necessary. Local market Presidents, lending officers and local boards meet periodically to review all past due loans, the status of large loans and certain other credit or economic related matters. Individual lending officers are responsible for collection of past due amounts and monitoring any changes in the financial status of the borrowers. 7 Investment Activities Our investment policy is designed to maximize income from funds not needed to meet loan demand in a manner consistent with appropriate liquidity and risk management objectives. Under this policy, our Company may invest in federal, state and municipal obligations, corporate obligations, public housing authority bonds, industrial development revenue bonds, Government Sponsored Entities (“GSEs”) securities and satisfactorily rated trust preferred obligations. Investments in our portfolio must satisfy certain quality criteria. Our Company’s investments must be “investment-grade” as determined by either Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s. Investment securities where the Company has determined a certain level of credit risk are periodically reviewed to determine the financial condition of the issuer and to support the Company’s decision to continue holding the security. Our Company may purchase non-rated municipal bonds only if the issuer of such bonds is located in the Company’s general market area and such bonds are determined by the Company to have a credit risk no greater than the minimum ratings referred to above. Industrial development authority bonds, which normally are not rated, are purchased only if the issuer is located in the Company’s market area and if the bonds are considered to possess a high degree of credit soundness. Traditionally, the Company has purchased and held investment securities with very high levels of credit quality, favoring investments backed by direct or indirect guarantees of the U.S. Government. While our investment policy permits our Company to trade securities to improve the quality of yields or marketability or to realign the composition of the portfolio, the Bank historically has not done so to any significant extent. During the fourth quarter of 2008, management realigned a small portion of the portfolio into securities with more favorable terms which were the result of market conditions. Our investment committee implements the investment policy and portfolio strategies and monitors the portfolio. Reports on all purchases, sales, net profits or losses and market appreciation or depreciation of the bond portfolio are reviewed by our Board of Directors each month. Once a year, the written investment policy is reviewed by the Company’s Board of Directors and updated as needed. The Company’s securities are held in safekeeping accounts at approved correspondent banks. Deposits The Company provides a full range of deposit accounts and services to both retail and commercial customers. These deposit accounts have a variety of interest rates and terms and consist of interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing accounts, including commercial and retail checking accounts, regular interest-bearing savings accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts and certificates of deposit. Our Bank obtains most of its deposits from individuals and businesses in its market areas. Generally, our Bank has not needed to offer rates significantly higher than our competition to attract new deposits or to retain existing business. During 2008, interest costs on deposits did not fall commensurately with the indices that they normally track as liquidity issues have affected banks of all sizes. In the future as liquidity concerns ease, increasing competition among banks in our market areas may keep these costs higher than levels historically experienced. Brokered time deposits are deposits obtained by utilizing an outside broker that is paid a fee. The Bank utilizes the brokered deposits to accomplish several purposes, such as (1) acquiring a certain maturity and dollar amount without repricing the Bank’s current customers which could increase or decrease the overall cost of deposits, and (2) acquiring certain maturities and dollar amounts to help manage interest rate risk. Other Funding Sources The Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) allows the Company to obtain advances through its credit program. These advances are secured by securities owned by the Company and held in safekeeping by the FHLB, FHLB stock owned by the Company and certain qualifying residential mortgages. The Company also enters into repurchase agreements. These repurchase agreements are treated as short term borrowings and are reflected on the balance sheet as such. Use of Derivatives The Company seeks to provide a stable net interest income despite changes in interest rates. In its review of interest rate risk, the Company regularly considers the use of derivatives to protect interest income on loans or to create a structure in institutional borrowings that limits the Company’s cost. At December 31, 2008, the Company had two interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $70 million. These interest rate floors are classified as cash flow hedges against certain variable rate loans on the Company’s balance sheet. The hedges are indexed to prime rate as are the variable rate loans and have a strike rate of 7.00%. During 2008, the Company received approximately $1.3 million of interest payments which have been classified as interest income on loans. 8 CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS On November 21, 2008, the Company, pursuant to the Capital Purchase Plan (the “CPP”) established under the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”), issued and sold to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”), for an aggregate cash purchase price of $52 million, (i) 52,000 shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and (ii) a ten-year warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 679,443 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $11.48 per share. Proceeds from the issuance of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant have been allocated based on the relative market values of each. As a result of the Company’s participation in the CPP, the Company is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the EESA. These rules and regulations include certain limitations on compensation for senior executives, dividend payments and payments to senior executives upon termination of employment, as well as certain obligations of the Company to increase its efforts to reduce the number of foreclosures of primary residences. The Company considered several factors when deciding whether to participate in the CPP. Although the Company’s common equity and earnings stream was deemed sufficient to withstand certain severe recessionary trends, management was unsure how deep the economic downturn would be or how severe its impact would be on the Company. Also, certain strategies concerning growth and continued customer acquisition efforts might have been reduced had opportunities for additional capital strength, such as the opportunity presented by the CPP, not materialized. The limitations on executive compensation imposed by the EESA are substantially those that management had accepted as practical prior to the Company’s participation in the CPP. These limitations include the reduction of cash incentives, limitations on excessive severance payments and the implementation of a system allowing for the “claw back” of bonuses received while relying on financial performance later determined to be erroneous. On December 29, 2006, Ameris acquired by merger Islands Bancorp and its banking subsidiary, Islands Community Bank, N.A. (collectively, “Islands”). Islands was headquartered in Beaufort, South Carolina where it operated a single branch with satellite loan production offices in Bluffton, South Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. The acquisition of Islands was significant to the Company, as Ameris had recruited senior level talent that would be instrumental in executing a growth strategy designed to build a meaningful franchise in South Carolina’s top markets. The consideration for the acquisition was a combination of cash and Ameris common stock with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $19.0 million. The total consideration consisted of $5.1 million in cash and approximately 494,000 shares of Ameris common stock with a value of approximately $13.9 million. Islands’ results of operations for 2006 are not included in Ameris’ consolidated financial results because the acquisition’s effective time was after the close of business on the last day of the fiscal year. On December 16, 2005, Ameris acquired all the issued and outstanding common shares of First National Banc, Inc., the parent company of First National Bank, in St. Mary’s, Georgia and First National Bank, in Orange Park, Florida (collectively “FNB”). The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and, accordingly, the results from FNB’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements beginning December 17, 2005. The aggregate purchase price for FNB was $35.3 million, including cash of $13.1 million and the common stock valued at $22.2 million. On November 30, 2004, Ameris acquired Citizens Bancshares, Inc., a $54.3 million holding company headquartered in Crawfordville, Florida (“Citizens”). Citizens’ banking offices in Crawfordville, Panacea and Sopchoppy gave the Bank a presence in the panhandle of Florida. Cash exchanged in this transaction for 100% of the stock of Citizens was $11.5 million. On August 31, 2005, Ameris announced its intentions to begin consolidating its subsidiary bank charters across Georgia, Alabama and northern Florida into a single charter. In addition to the charter consolidation effort, the Company announced its intentions to re-brand the Company and its surviving bank subsidiary with a single identity - Ameris Bank. The re-branding process was completed during 2006. During 2007, the Company consolidated its loan processing and maintenance functions as well as all deposit operations into service centers close to our corporate headquarters. This effort centralized mostly non-customer contact rolls and allows our banks to focus almost entirely on sales, customer service and acquisition of new customers. MARKET AREAS AND COMPETITION The banking industry in general and in the southeastern United States specifically, is highly competitive and dramatic changes continue to occur throughout the industry. Our market areas of Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina have experienced strong economic and population growth over the past twenty to thirty years. In recent years however, intense market demands, economic pressures, fluctuating interest rates and increased customer awareness of product and service differences among financial institutions have forced banks to diversify their services and become more cost effective. Over the past few years, our Bank has faced strong competition in attracting deposits at profitable levels. In addition, intense demand for loans has not only impacted the interest rates and fees normally earned, but has also impacted underwriting criteria thought to be safe from historical standards such as debt to income and loan to value. Competition for deposits comes from other commercial banks, thrift institutions, mortgage bankers, finance companies, credit unions and issuers of securities such as brokerage firms. Interest rates, convenience of office locations and marketing are all significant factors in our Bank’s competition for deposits. 9 Competition for loans comes from other commercial banks, thrift institutions, savings banks, insurance companies, consumer finance companies, credit unions and other institutional lenders. In order to remain competitive, our Bank has varied interest rates and loan fees to some degree as well as increased the number and complexity of services provided. We have not varied or altered our underwriting standards in response to competitor willingness to do so and in some markets have not been able to experience the growth in loans that we would have preferred. Competition is affected by the general availability of lendable funds, general and local economic conditions, current interest rate levels and other factors that are not readily predictable. Competition among providers of financial products and services continues to increase with consumers having the opportunity to select from a growing variety of traditional and nontraditional alternatives. The industry continues to rapidly consolidate, which affects competition by eliminating some franchise of acquirers. Management expects that competition will become more intense in the future due to changes in state and federal laws and regulations and the entry of additional bank and nonbank competitors. See “Supervision and Regulation.” institutions, while strengthening regional and local the EMPLOYEES At December 31, 2008, the Company employed approximately 595 full time equivalent employees. We consider our relationship with our employees to be satisfactory. We have adopted one retirement plan for our employees, the Ameris Bancorp 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. This plan provides deferral of compensation by our employees and contributions by Ameris. Ameris and our Bank made contributions for all eligible employees in 2008. We also maintain a comprehensive employee benefits program providing, among other benefits, hospitalization and major medical insurance and life insurance. Management considers these benefits to be competitive with those offered by other financial institutions in our market areas. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining group. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Company makes loans to our directors and their affiliates and to banking officers. These loans are made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions and do not involve more than normal credit risk. At December 31, 2008, we had $1.7 billion in total loans outstanding of which $8.3 million were outstanding to certain directors and their affiliates. Company policy provides for no loans to executive officers. SUPERVISION AND REGULATION General We are extensively regulated under federal and state law. Generally, these laws and regulations are intended to protect depositors and not shareholders. The following is a summary description of certain provisions of certain laws that affect the regulation of bank holding companies and banks. The discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable laws and regulations. Changes in such laws and regulations may have a material effect on our business and prospects. Federal Bank Holding Company Regulation and Structure As a bank holding company, we are subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act and to the supervision, examination and reporting requirements of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Our Bank has a Georgia state charter and is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the “GDBF”). The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before: • it may acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after the acquisition, the bank holding company will directly or indirectly own or control more than 5% of the voting shares of the bank; • it or any of its subsidiaries, other than a bank, may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank; or • it may merge or consolidate with any other bank holding company. 10 The Bank Holding Company Act further provides that the Federal Reserve may not approve any transaction that would result in a monopoly or that would substantially lessen competition in the banking business, unless the public interest in meeting the needs of the communities to be served outweighs the anti-competitive effects. The Federal Reserve is also required to consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the bank holding companies and banks involved and the convenience and needs of the communities to be served. Consideration of financial resources generally focuses on capital adequacy, and consideration of convenience and needs issues focuses, in part, on the performance under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, both of which are discussed elsewhere in more detail. The Bank Holding Company Act generally prohibits a bank holding company from engaging in activities other than banking; managing or controlling banks or other permissible subsidiaries and acquiring or retaining direct or indirect control of any company engaged in any activities other than activities closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks. The activities in which holding companies and their affiliates are permitted to engage were substantially expanded by the Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act, which was signed on November 12, 1999. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act repeals the anti-affiliation provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act to permit the common ownership of commercial banks, investment banks and insurance companies. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also amends the Bank Holding Company Act to permit a financial holding company to, among other things, engage in any activity that the Federal Reserve determines to be (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity or (ii) complementary to a financial activity and not a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally. The Federal Reserve must consult with the Secretary of the Treasury in determining whether an activity is financial in nature or incidental to a financial activity. Holding companies may continue to own companies conducting activities which had been approved by federal order or regulation on the day before the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act was enacted. Effective August 24, 2000, pursuant to a previously-filed election with the Federal Reserve, Ameris became a financial holding company. In determining whether a particular activity is permissible, the Federal Reserve considers whether performing the activity can be expected to produce benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects, such as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices. The Federal Reserve has the power to order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or control of any subsidiary when the continuation of the activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that bank holding company. Our Bank is also subject to numerous state and federal statutes and regulations that affect its business, activities and operations and is supervised and examined by state and federal bank regulatory agencies. The FDIC and the GDBF regularly examine the operations of our Bank and are given the authority to approve or disapprove mergers, consolidations, the establishment of branches and similar corporate actions. These agencies also have the power to prevent the continuance or development of unsafe or unsound banking practices or other violations of law. Payment of Dividends and Other Restrictions Ameris is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. While there are various legal and regulatory limitations under federal and state law on the extent to which our Bank can pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to Ameris, the principal source of Ameris’ cash revenues is dividends from our Bank. The prior approval of applicable regulatory authorities is required if the total dividends declared by the Bank in any calendar year exceeds 50% of the Bank’s net profits for the previous year. The relevant federal and state regulatory agencies also have authority to prohibit a state member bank or bank holding company, which would include Ameris and the Bank, from engaging in what, in the opinion of such regulatory body, constitutes an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting its business. The payment of dividends could, depending upon the financial condition of the subsidiary, be deemed to constitute an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting its business. 11 Under Georgia law, the prior approval of the GDBF is required before any cash dividends may be paid by a state bank if: (i) total classified assets at the most recent examination of such bank exceed 80% of the equity capital (as defined, which includes the reserve for loan losses) of such bank; (ii) the aggregate amount of dividends declared or anticipated to be declared in the calendar year exceeds 50% of the net profits (as defined) for the previous calendar year; or (iii) the ratio of equity capital to adjusted total assets is less than 6%. There were no amounts of retained earnings of our Bank available for payment of cash dividends under applicable regulations without obtaining governmental approval as of December 31, 2008. In addition, our Bank is subject to limitations under Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act with respect to extensions of credit to, investments in and certain other transactions with Ameris. Furthermore, loans and extensions of credit are also subject to various collateral requirements. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies, which expresses the Federal Reserve’s view that a bank holding company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that the holding company’s net income for the past year is sufficient to cover both the cash dividends and a rate of earning retention that is consistent with the holding company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. The Federal Reserve also indicated that it would be inappropriate for a holding company experiencing serious financial problems to borrow funds to pay dividends. Furthermore, under the prompt corrective action regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve may prohibit a bank holding company from paying any dividends if one or more of the holding company’s bank subsidiaries are classified as undercapitalized. Bank holding companies are required to give the Federal Reserve prior written notice of any purchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the gross consideration for the purchase or redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of their consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve may disapprove such a purchase or redemption if it determines that the proposal would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice or would violate any law, regulation, Federal Reserve order or any condition imposed by, or written agreement with, the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, under rules and regulations of the EESA to which the Company is subject, no dividends may be declared or paid on the Common Stock unless the dividends due with respect to Preferred Shares have been paid in full. Moreover, the consent of the Treasury will be required for any increase in the per share dividends on the Common Stock beyond the per share dividend declared prior to October 14, 2008 ($0.05 per share per quarter) until the third anniversary of the date of the Treasury’s investment in the Preferred Shares, unless prior to the third anniversary, the Preferred Shares are redeemed or the Treasury has transferred all of its Preferred Shares to third parties. Capital Adequacy We must comply with the Federal Reserve’s established capital adequacy standards, and our Bank is required to comply with the capital adequacy standards established by the FDIC. The Federal Reserve has promulgated two basic measures of capital adequacy for bank holding companies: a risk-based measure and a leverage measure. A bank holding company must satisfy all applicable capital standards to be considered in compliance. The risk-based capital standards are designed to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profile among banks and bank holding companies, account for off-balance-sheet exposure and minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance-sheet items are assigned to broad risk categories, each with appropriate weights. The resulting capital ratios represent capital as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets and off-balance-sheet items. 12 The minimum guideline for the ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets is 8%. At least half of total capital must be comprised of Tier 1 Capital, which is common stock, undivided profits, minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries and noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, less goodwill and certain other intangible assets. The remainder may consist of Tier 2 Capital, which is subordinated debt, other preferred stock and a limited amount of loan loss reserves. Since 2001, our consolidated capital ratios have been increased due to the issuance of trust preferred securities. At December 31, 2008, all of our trust preferred securities were included in Tier 1 Capital. At December 31, 2008, Ameris’ total risk-based capital ratio and its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio were 13.25% and 11.99%, respectively. In addition, the Federal Reserve has established minimum leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to average assets, less goodwill and certain other intangible assets, of 3% for bank holding companies that meet specified criteria. All other bank holding companies generally are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of 4%. Ameris’ ratio at December 31, 2008 was 9.42% and at December 31, 2007 was 8.39%. The guidelines also provide that bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above intangible assets. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve has indicated that it will consider a “tangible Tier 1 Capital leverage ratio” and other indicia of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities. The Federal Reserve has not advised Ameris of any specific minimum leverage ratio or tangible Tier 1 Capital leverage ratio applicable to it. the minimum supervisory levels without significant reliance on Our Bank is subject to risk-based and leverage capital requirements adopted by the FDIC that are substantially similar to those adopted by the Federal Reserve for bank holding companies. Our Bank was in compliance with applicable minimum capital requirements as of December 31, 2008. Neither Ameris nor its Bank has been advised by any federal banking agency of any specific minimum capital ratio requirement applicable to it. Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on taking brokered deposits and certain other restrictions on its business. As described below, the FDIC can impose substantial additional restrictions upon FDIC-insured depository institutions that fail to meet applicable capital requirements. 13 Acquisitions As an active acquirer, we must comply with numerous laws related to our acquisition activity. Under the Bank Holding Company Act, a bank holding company may not directly or indirectly acquire ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of any bank or merge or consolidate with another bank holding company without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. Current federal law authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies without geographic limitation. Furthermore, a bank headquartered in one state is authorized to merge with a bank headquartered in another state, as long as neither of the states has opted out of such interstate merger authority prior to such date, and subject to any state requirement that the target bank shall have been in existence and operating for a minimum period of time, not to exceed five years, and to certain deposit market-share limitations. After a bank has established branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction, the bank may establish and acquire additional branches at any location in the state where a bank headquartered in that state could have established or acquired branches under applicable federal or state law. FDIC Insurance Assessments The FDIC insures the deposits of the Bank up to prescribed limits for each depositor. The amount of FDIC assessments paid by each Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) member institution is based on its relative risks of default as measured by regulatory capital ratios and other factors. Specifically, the assessment rate is based on the institution’s capitalization risk category and supervisory subgroup category. The Company’s insurance assessment during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $932,000, $201,000 and $239,000. The Company is reasonably sure that 2009’s assessment will represent a significant increase over the assessment in 2008 due to the increasing level of bank failures and the resulting claims on the BIF. An institution’s capitalization risk category is based on the FDIC’s determination of whether the institution is well capitalized, adequately capitalized or less than adequately capitalized. An institution’s supervisory subgroup category is based on the FDIC’s assessment of the financial condition of the institution and the probability that FDIC intervention or other corrective action will be required. The FDIC may terminate insurance of deposits upon a finding that a institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (or “FDI Act”) requires the federal regulatory agencies to take “prompt corrective action” if a depository institution does not meet minimum capital requirements. The FDI Act establishes five capital tiers: “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized”. A depository institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its capital levels compare to various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. The federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted regulations establishing relevant capital measurers and relevant capital levels applicable to FDIC-insured banks. The relevant capital measures are the Total Capital ratio, Tier 1 Capital ratio and the leverage ratio. Under the regulations, a FDIC-insured bank will be: · “well capitalized” if it has a Total Capital ratio of 10% or greater, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 6% or greater and a leverage ratio of 5% or greater and is not subject to any order or written directive by the appropriate regulatory authority to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure; · “adequately capitalized” if it has a Total Capital ratio of 8% or greater, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of 4% or greater and a leverage ratio of 4% or greater (3% in certain circumstances) and is not “well capitalized”; · “undercapitalized” if it has a Total Capital ratio of less than 8%, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of less than 4% or a leverage ratio of less than 4% (3% in certain circumstances); · “significantly undercapitalized” if it has a Total Capital ratio of less than 6%, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of less than 3% or a leverage ratio of less than 3%; and · “critically undercapitalized” if its tangible equity is equal to or less than 2% of average quarterly tangible assets. 14 An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than is indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. As of December 31, 2008, our Bank had capital levels that qualify as “well capitalized” under such regulations. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act allows bank holding companies that are “well managed” and “well capitalized” and whose depositor subsidiaries have “satisfactory” or better Community Reinvestment Act ratings to become financial holding companies that may engage in a substantially broader range of non-banking activities than is otherwise permissible, including insurance underwriting and securities activities. As previously stated, Ameris became a financial holding company effective August 24, 2000. The FDIC Act generally prohibits an FDIC-insured bank from making a capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its holding company if the bank would thereafter be “undercapitalized.” “Undercapitalized” banks are subject to growth limitations and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. The federal regulators may not accept a capital plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the bank’s capital. In addition, for a capital restoration plan to be acceptable, the bank’s parent holding company must guarantee that the institution will comply with such capital restoration plan. The aggregate liability of the parent holding company is limited to the lesser of: (i) an amount equal to 5% of the bank’s total assets at the time it became “undercapitalized”; and (ii) the amount which is necessary (or would have been necessary) to bring the institution into compliance with all capital standards applicable with respect to such institution as of the time it fails to comply with the plan. If a bank fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly undercapitalized.” “Significantly undercapitalized” insured banks may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become “adequately capitalized”, requirements to reduce total assets and the cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. “Critically undercapitalized” institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator. A bank that is not “well capitalized” is also subject to certain limitations relating to so-called “brokered” deposits. Community Reinvestment Act The Community Reinvestment Act requires federal bank regulatory agencies to encourage financial institutions to meet the credit needs of low and moderate-income borrowers in their local communities. An institution’s size and business strategy determines the type of examination that it will receive. Large, retail-oriented institutions are examined using a performance-based lending, investment and service test. Small institutions are examined using a streamlined approach. All institutions may opt to be evaluated under a strategic plan formulated with community input and pre-approved by the bank regulatory agency. The Community Reinvestment Act regulations provide for certain disclosure obligations. Each institution must post a notice advising the public of its right to comment to the institution and its regulator on the institution’s Community Reinvestment Act performance and to review the institution’s Community Reinvestment Act public file. Each lending institution must maintain for public inspection a file that includes a listing of branch locations and services, a summary of lending activity, a map of its communities and any written comments from the public on its performance in meeting community credit needs. The Community Reinvestment Act requires public disclosure of a financial institution’s written Community Reinvestment Act evaluations. This promotes enforcement of Community Reinvestment Act requirements by providing the public with the status of a particular institution’s community reinvestment record. 15 The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act made various changes to the Community Reinvestment Act. Among other changes, Community Reinvestment Act agreements with private parties must be disclosed and annual Community Reinvestment Act reports must be made available to a bank’s primary federal regulator. A bank holding company will not be permitted to become a financial holding company and no new activities authorized under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act may be commenced by a holding company or by a bank financial subsidiary if any of its bank subsidiaries received less than a “satisfactory” Community Reinvestment Act rating in its latest Community Reinvestment Act examination. Consumer Protection Laws The Bank is subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect borrowers and promote lending to various sectors of the economy and population. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and state law counterparts. Federal law currently contains extensive customer privacy protection provisions. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, at the inception of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. These provisions also provide that, except for certain limited exceptions, an institution may not provide such personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that such information may be so provided and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. Federal law makes it a criminal offense, except in limited circumstances, to obtain or attempt to obtain customer information of a financial nature by fraudulent or deceptive means. Additional Legislative and Regulatory Matters On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed into law the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”). Among its other provisions, the USA PATRIOT Act requires each financial institution: (i) to establish an anti-money laundering program; (ii) to establish due diligence policies, procedures and controls with respect to its private banking accounts involving foreign individuals and certain foreign banks; and (iii) to avoid establishing, maintaining, administering or managing correspondent accounts in the United States for, or on behalf of, foreign banks that do not have a physical presence in any country. The USA PATRIOT Act also requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe by regulation minimum standards that financial institutions must follow to verify the identity of customers, both foreign and domestic, when a customer opens an account. In addition, the USA PATRIOT Act contains a provision encouraging cooperation among financial institutions, regulatory authorities and law enforcement authorities with respect to individuals, entities and organizations engaged in, or reasonably suspected of engaging in, terrorist acts or money laundering activities. On July 30, 2002, the President signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), which mandated a variety of reforms intended to address corporate and accounting fraud. Sarbanes-Oxley also provided for the establishment of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), which enforces auditing, quality control and independence standards for firms that audit Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting companies. Sarbanes-Oxley imposes higher standards for auditor independence and restricts provision of consulting services by auditing firms to companies they audit and in addition, certain audit partners must be rotated periodically. Sarbanes-Oxley requires chief executive officers and chief financial officers, or their equivalents, to certify to the accuracy of periodic reports filed with the SEC, subject to civil and criminal penalties if they knowingly or willfully violate this certification requirement. In addition, under Sarbanes-Oxley, counsel is required to report specific violations. Directors and executive officers must report most changes in their ownership of a company’s securities and executives have restrictions on trading and loans. Sarbanes-Oxley also increases the oversight and authority of audit committees of publicly traded companies. Although Ameris has incurred and will continue to incur additional expense in complying with the provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley and the related rules, management does not expect that such compliance will have a material impact on Ameris’ financial condition or results of operation. 16 Fiscal and Monetary Policy Banking is a business which depends on interest rate differentials for success. In general, the difference between the interest paid by a bank on its deposits and its other borrowings, and the interest received by a bank on its loans and securities holdings, constitutes the major portion of a bank’s earnings. Thus, our earnings and growth will be subject to the influence of economic conditions generally, both domestic and foreign, and also to the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve regulates the supply of money through various means, including open market dealings in United States government securities, the discount rate at which banks may borrow from the Federal Reserve and the reserve requirements on deposits. The nature and timing of any changes in such policies and their effect on Ameris cannot be predicted. Current and future legislation and the policies established by federal and state regulatory authorities will affect our future operations. Banking legislation and regulations may limit our growth and the return to our investors by restricting certain of our activities. In addition, capital requirements could be changed and have the effect of restricting our activities or requiring additional capital to be maintained. We cannot predict what changes, if any, will be made to existing federal and state legislation and regulations or the effect that such changes may have on our business. Federal Home Loan Bank System Our Company has a correspondent relationship with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”), which is one of 12 regional Federal Home Loan Banks (or “FHLBs”) that administer the home financing credit function of savings companies. Each FHLB serves as a reserve or central bank for its members within its assigned region. FHLBs are funded primarily from proceeds derived from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system and make loans to members (i.e., advances) in accordance with policies and procedures, established by the Board of Directors of the FHLB which are subject to the oversight of the Federal Housing Finance Board. All advances from the FHLB are required to be fully secured by sufficient collateral as determined by the FHLB. In addition, all long-term advances are required to provide funds for residential home financing. FHLB provides certain services to our Company such as processing checks and other items, buying and selling federal funds, handling money transfers and exchanges, shipping coin and currency, providing security and safekeeping of funds or other valuable items and furnishing limited management information and advice. As compensation for these services, our Company maintains certain balances with FHLB in interest-bearing accounts. Under federal law, the FHLBs are required to provide funds for the resolution of troubled savings companies and to contribute to low and moderately-priced housing programs through direct loans or interest subsidies on advances targeted for community investment and low and moderate-income housing projects. Title 6 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, entitled the Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization Act of 1999 (called the “FHLB Modernization Act”), amended the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to allow voluntary membership and modernized the capital structure and governance of the FHLBs. The capital structure established under the FHLB Modernization Act sets forth leverage and risk-based capital requirements based on permanence of capital. It also requires some minimum investment in the stock of the FHLBs of all member entities. Capital includes retained earnings and two forms of stock: Class A stock redeemable within six months upon written notice and Class B stock redeemable within five years upon written notice. The FHLB Modernization Act also reduced the period of time in which a member exiting the FHLB system must stay out of the system. 17 Real Estate Lending Evaluations The federal regulators have adopted uniform standards for evaluations of loans secured by real estate or made to finance improvements to real estate. Banks are required to establish and maintain written internal real estate lending policies consistent with safe and sound banking practices and appropriate to the size of the institution and the nature and scope of its operations. The regulations establish loan to value ratio limitations on real estate loans. Our Company’s loan policies establish limits on loan to value ratios that are equal to or less than those established in such regulations. Changing Regulatory Structure The laws and regulations affecting banks and bank holding companies are in a state of change. The rules and the regulatory agencies in this area have changed significantly over recent years, and there is reason to expect that similar changes will continue in the future. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these changes. One of the major additional burdens imposed on the banking industry is the increased authority of federal agencies to regulate the activities of federal and state banks and their holding companies. The Federal Reserve and the FDIC have extensive authority to police unsafe or unsound practices and violations of applicable laws and regulations by depository institutions and their holding companies. These agencies can assess civil money penalties. Other laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley have expanded the agencies’ authority in recent years, and the agencies have not yet fully tested the limits of their powers. In addition, the GDBF possesses broad enforcement powers to address violations of Georgia’s banking laws by banks chartered in Georgia. Economic Environment The policies of regulatory authorities, including the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve, have a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the means available to the Federal Reserve to affect the money supply are open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits. The Federal Reserve’s monetary policies have materially affected the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of these policies on the business and earnings of our Company cannot be predicted. ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS An investment in the Common Stock of Ameris is subject to risks inherent in the Company’s business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect Ameris are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations. This Annual Report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors. If any of the following risks actually occurs, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of the Common Stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment. 18 Recent negative developments in the financial services industry and U.S. and global credit markets may adversely impact the Company’s operations and results. Negative developments in the capital markets since the latter half of 2007 and the expectation of the general economic downturn continuing through 2009 have resulted in uncertainty in the financial markets in general. Loan portfolio performances have deteriorated at many institutions resulting from, among other factors, a weak economy and a decline in the value of the collateral supporting their loans. The competition for the Company’s deposits has increased significantly due to liquidity concerns at many of these same institutions. Stock prices of bank holding companies, like Ameris, have been negatively affected by the current condition of the financial markets, as has the Company’s ability, if needed, to raise capital or borrow in the debt markets. As a result, there is a potential for new federal or state laws and regulations regarding lending and funding practices and liquidity standards, and financial institution regulatory agencies are expected to be very aggressive in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations. Negative developments in the financial services industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those developments could adversely impact the Company’s operations, including the Company’s ability to originate or sell loans, and adversely impact the Company’s financial performance. The soundness of other financial institutions could adversely affect Ameris. The Company’s ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other relationships. The Company has exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and it routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, mutual and hedge funds, and other institutional clients. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, have led to market-wide liquidity problems and could lead to losses or defaults by the Company or by other institutions. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of a counterparty or client. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by the Company cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the financial instrument exposure due to the Company. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. There can be no assurance that enacted legislation or any proposed federal programs will stabilize the U.S. financial system and such legislation and programs may adversely affect Ameris. On October 3, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the EESA. The legislation was the result of a proposal by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to the U.S. Congress in response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets and threats to investment banks and other financial institutions. In addition, on October 14, 2008, the Treasury established the CPP, pursuant to which the Treasury would make senior preferred stock investments in participating financial institutions. The Company has elected to participate in the CPP. There can be no assurance, however, as to the actual impact that the EESA and its implementing regulations or any other governmental program will have on the financial markets or the Company’s participation in the CPP. The failure of the EESA or the U.S. government to stabilize the financial markets and a continuation or worsening of current financial market conditions could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and access to credit or the trading price of the Common Stock. Contemplated and proposed legislation, state and federal programs, and increased government control or influence may adversely affect the Company by increasing the uncertainty in the Company’s lending operations and expose the Company to increased losses, including legislation that would allow bankruptcy courts to permit modifications to mortgage loans on a debtor’s primary residence, moratoriums on a mortgagor’s right to foreclose on property, and requirements that fees be paid to register other real estate owned property. Statutes and regulations may be altered that may potentially increase the Company’s costs to service and underwrite mortgage loans. Additionally, federal intervention and operation of formerly private institutions may adversely affect the Company’s rights under contracts with such institutions and the way in which the Company conducts business in certain markets. The impact on the Company of recently enacted legislation, in particular the EESA and its implementing regulations, cannot be predicted at this time. The programs established or to be established under the EESA and the Troubled Asset Relief Program may have adverse effects upon the Company. Because the Company participates in the CPP, the Company is subject to increased regulation, and the Company may face additional regulations or changes to regulations to which the Company is subject as a result of its participation. Compliance with such regulation may increase the Company’s costs and limit the Company’s ability to pursue business opportunities. For example, participation in the CPP limits (without the consent of the Treasury) the Company’s ability to 19 increase its dividend or to repurchase the Common Stock for so long as any securities issued under the CPP remain outstanding. Also, the cumulative dividend payable under the Preferred Shares that the Company issued to the Treasury pursuant to the CPP increases from 5% to 9% after five (5) years. Additionally, the Company may not deduct interest paid on the Preferred Shares for income tax purposes. Participating in the CPP also subjects the Company to additional executive compensation restrictions. These restrictions are discussed in greater detail in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2009 (the “Proxy Statement”), portions of which are incorporated by reference into Part III, Item 11 “Executive Compensation” of this Annual Report. Treasury “stress tests” and other actions may adversely affect bank operations and the value of the Common Stock. On February 10, 2009, the Secretary of the Treasury outlined a plan to restore stability to the financial system. This announcement included reference to a plan by the Treasury to conduct “stress tests” of banks which received funds under the CPP and similar Treasury programs. The methods and procedures to be used by the Treasury in conducting its “stress tests,” how these methods and procedures will be applied, and the significance or consequence of such tests presently are not known. Any of these or their consequences could adversely affect the Company, its bank operations and the value of the Common Stock, among other things. Changes in interest rates could adversely impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s earnings and cash flows are largely dependent upon its net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense paid on interest- bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowed funds. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of Ameris, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest the Company receives on loans and securities and the amount of interest it pays on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect the Company’s ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities and the average duration of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, the Company’s net interest income and, therefore, its earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings. Although management believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. If the Company has higher loan losses than it has allowed for, its earnings could materially decrease. The Company’s loan customers may not repay loans according to their terms, and the collateral securing the payment of loans may be insufficient to assure repayment. Ameris may therefore experience significant credit losses which could have a material adverse effect on its operating results. Ameris makes various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of its loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of loans. In determining the size of the allowance for loan losses, the Company relies on many factors including its previous experience and its evaluation of economic conditions. If assumptions prove to be incorrect, the current allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio and adjustment may be necessary to allow for different economic conditions or adverse developments in the loan portfolio. Consequently, a problem with one or more loans could require the Company to significantly increase the level of its provision for loan losses. In addition, federal and state regulators periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses and may require it to increase its provision for loan losses or recognize further loan charge-offs. Material additions to the allowance would materially decrease the Company’s net income. Ameris has a high concentration of loans secured by real estate and a downturn in the real estate market, for any reason, could result in losses and materially and adversely affect business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects. A significant portion of the Company’s loan portfolio is dependent on real estate. In addition to the financial strength and cash flow characteristics of the borrower in each case, often loans are secured with real estate collateral. At December 31, 2008, approximately 83.9% of loans have commercial or residential real estate as a component of collateral. The real estate in each case provides an alternate source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower and may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended. Further adverse changes in the economy affecting values of real estate generally or in Ameris’ primary markets specifically could significantly the collateral upon foreclosure. Furthermore, it is likely that, in a decreasing real estate market, Ameris would be required to increase its allowance for loan losses as occurred in 2008, causing material strain on recurring levels of net income. If the Company is required to liquidate the collateral securing a loan to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values or to increase its allowance for loan losses, its profitability and financial condition could be adversely impacted. the value of collateral and ability to sell impair 20 Ameris operates in a highly regulated environment and may be adversely impacted by changes in law and regulations. Ameris, primarily through its Bank, is subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not shareholders. These regulations affect the Company’s lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect the Company in substantial, unpredictable and adverse ways. Such changes could subject the Company to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products the Company may offer and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. While the Company has policies and procedures designed to prevent any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur. Ameris relies on dividends from its banking subsidiary for most of its revenue. Ameris is a separate and distinct legal entity from its subsidiaries. It receives substantially all of its revenue from dividends from the Bank. These dividends are the principal source of funds to pay dividends on the Common Stock and interest and principal on the Company’s debt. Various federal and/or state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay to the Company. Also, the Company’s right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not be able to service debt, pay obligations or pay dividends on the Common Stock and its business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. Ameris’ Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws may prevent or delay a takeover by another company. Ameris’ Articles of Incorporation permit Ameris’ Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without shareowner action. The ability to issue preferred stock could discourage a company from attempting to obtain control of Ameris by means of a tender offer, merger, proxy contest or otherwise. Additionally, Ameris’ Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws divide Ameris’ Board of Directors into three classes, as nearly equal in size as possible, with staggered three-year terms. One class is elected each year. The classification of Ameris’ Board of Directors could make it more difficult for a company to acquire control of Ameris. Ameris is also subject to certain provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code and Ameris’ Articles of Incorporation which relate to business combinations with interested shareholders. Ameris operates in a highly competitive industry and market areas. Ameris faces substantial competition in all areas of its operations from a variety of different competitors, many of whom are larger and may have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national, regional and community banks within the various markets in which the Bank operates. Ameris also faces competition from many other types of financial institutions, including, without limitation, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, factoring companies and other financial intermediaries. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Banks, securities firms and insurance companies can merge under the umbrella of a financial holding company, which can offer virtually any type of financial service, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both agency and underwriting) and merchant banking. Also, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. Many of the Company’s competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures. Additionally, due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services as well as better pricing for those products and services than the Company can. 21 The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including, among other things: · the ability to develop, maintain and build upon long-term customer relationships based on quality service, high ethical standards and safe, sound assets; · the ability to expand the Company’s market position; · the scope, relevance and pricing of products and services offered to meet customer needs and demands; · the rate at which the Company introduces new products and services relative to its competitors; · customer satisfaction with the Company’s level of service; and · industry and general economic trends. Failure to perform in any of these areas could significantly weaken the Company’s competitive position, which could adversely affect the Company’s growth and profitability, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Potential acquisitions may disrupt the Company’s business and dilute shareholder value. Acquiring other banks, businesses or branches involves various risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things: · potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of the target company; · exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company; · difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of the target company; · potential disruption to the Company’s business; · potential diversion of the Company’s management’s time and attention; · the possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company; · difficulty in estimating the value of the target company; and · potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company. Ameris has recently acquired other financial institutions and often evaluates additional merger and acquisition opportunities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions and financial services companies. As a result, merger or acquisition discussions and, in some cases, negotiations may take place and future mergers or acquisitions involving cash, debt or equity securities of the Company may occur at any time. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values, and, therefore, some dilution of the Company’s tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in connection with any future transaction. Furthermore, failure to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence and/or other projected benefits and synergies from an acquisition could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. 22 Ameris continually encounters technological change. The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. The Company’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to address the needs of its customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in the Company’s operations. Many of the Company’s competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. The Company may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business and, in turn, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Ameris may not be able to attract and retain skilled people. The Company’s success depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by the Company can be intense and the Company may not be able to hire people or to retain them. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of the Company’s key personnel could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business because of their skills, knowledge of the Company’s market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel. Financial services companies depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties. In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, the Company may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. The Company may also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business and, in turn, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES Ameris’ corporate headquarters is located at 310 First St. SE, Moultrie, Georgia 31768. The Company occupies approximately 6,300 square feet at this location plus an additional 37,248 square feet used for support services for banking operations including credit, sales and operational support, as well as audit and loan review services. In addition to its corporate headquarters, Ameris operates 50 office or branch locations, of which 37 are owned and 13 are subject to either building or ground leases. At December 31, 2008, there were no significant encumbrances on the offices, equipment or other operational facilities owned by Ameris and the Bank. 23 ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS From time to time, the Company and the Bank are parties to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business operations, including the case described below. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that current litigation will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations or cash flows. On December 12, 2008, the Supreme Court of Alabama reversed and dismissed a judgment against Ameris Bank (f/k/a Southland Bank) entered previously on June 15, 2006 in the amount of $7.1 million. It was the Supreme Court’s conclusion that Ameris Bank and other defendants in the case were entitled to a judgment as a matter of law and as such, the case should not have been submitted to the jury. It is the opinion of management and our legal counsel that the matter is closed. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SHAREHOLDERS No matters were submitted to a vote of our shareholders during the fourth quarter of 2008. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES Market Price of Common Stock “The “Common Stock” is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “ABCB”. The following table sets forth: (i) the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock as quoted on NASDAQ during 2008 and 2007; and (ii) the amount of quarterly dividends declared on the Common Stock during the periods indicated. The high and low sales prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. Quarter Ended 2008 High Low Close Dividend March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Quarter Ended 2007 March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Dividends $ $ $ 16.55 16.48 15.07 14.21 12.60 8.70 7.82 7.19 $ $ 16.06 8.70 14.85 11.85 .14 .14 .05 .05 High Low Close Dividend $ 28.48 25.74 23.22 18.81 23.38 21.89 17.85 13.83 $ $ 24.48 22.47 18.08 16.85 .14 .14 .14 .14 Restrictions on the Company’s payment of dividends in respect of the Common Stock are discussed in Part 1, Item 1 “Business” of this Annual Report. Holders of Common Stock As of February 11, 2009, there were approximately 2,380 holders of record of the Common Stock. The Company believes that a portion of Common Stock outstanding is held either in nominee name or street name brokerage accounts; therefore, the Company is unable to determine the number of beneficial owners of the Common Stock. 24 Performance Graph Set forth below is a line graph comparing the change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Common Stock against the cumulative return of the NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index and the index of NASDAQ Bank Stocks for the five- year period commencing December 31, 2003, and ending December 31, 2008. This line graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2003 and reinvestment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders. Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return (Assumes Initial Investment of $100) $250 $200 $150 $100 $50 $0 12/31/2003 12/31/2004 12/31/2005 12/31/2006 12/31/2007 12/31/2008 Ameris Bancorp NASDAQ Stock Market (US Companies) NASDAQ Banks Source: Zack’s Investment Research 25 Pursuant to the regulations of the Commission, this performance graph is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed filed with the Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following table presents selected consolidated financial information for Ameris. The data set forth below is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Ameris. The acquisitions of Citizens on November 30, 2004, FNB on December 15, 2005 and Islands on December 31, 2006 have significantly affected the comparability of selected financial data. Specifically, since these acquisitions were accounted for using the purchase method, the assets of the acquired institutions were recorded at their fair values, the excess purchase price over the net fair value of the assets was recorded as goodwill and the results of operations for these businesses have been included in the Company’s results since the date these acquisitions were completed. Accordingly, the level of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations for these acquisitions have significantly affected the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Discussion of these acquisitions can be found in the “Corporate Restructuring and Business Combinations” section of Part 1, Item 1. of this Annual Report and in Note 3 – Business Combinations in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere herein. Year Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) Selected Balance Sheet Data: Total assets Total loans, gross Total deposits $ 2,407,090 $ 2,112,063 $ 2,047,542 $ 1,697,209 $ 1,267,993 1,695,777 1,614,048 1,442,951 1,186,601 877,074 2,013,525 1,757,265 1,710,163 1,375,232 986,224 Investment Securities Available for Sale 367,894 289,382 283,192 235,145 213,948 Stockholders’ equity 239,359 191,249 178,732 148,703 120,939 Selected Income Statement Data: Interest income Interest expense Net interest income $ 129,008 $ 146,077 $ 124,111 $ 79,539 $ 56,343 70,999 54,150 26,934 64,365 19,375 72,665 75,078 69,961 52,605 44,990 Provision for loan losses 35,030 11,321 2,837 1,651 Other income Other expenses 19,149 17,592 19,262 13,530 62,753 58,896 53,129 43,607 1,786 13,023 36,505 Income/(loss) before income taxes (5,969) 22,453 33,257 20,877 19,722 Income tax expense/(benefit) (2,053) 7,300 11,129 7,149 6,621 Net income/(loss) $ (3,916) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 $ 13,728 $ 13,101 Preferred stock dividends Net income/(loss) available 328 - - - - to common shareholders $ (4,244) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 $ 13,728 $ 13,101 Per Share Data: Net income - basic Net income – diluted Common Book value Tangible common book value Common Dividends 1.12 $ 1.11 1.71 $ 1.68 1.15 $ 1.14 1.12 1.11 14.06 13.19 11.48 10.28 9.67 0.56 8.73 0.56 7.64 0.56 7.90 0.47 $ (0.31) $ (0.31) 14.06 9.74 0.38 26 Year Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) Profitability Ratios: Net income to average total assets (0.19) % 0.74 % 1.22 % 1.04 % 1.12% Net income to average common stockholders’ equity Net interest margin Efficiency ratio Loan Quality Ratios: (2.22) 3.65 68.35 8.13 4.02 63.55 13.9 4.25 59.55 10.87 4.31 65.94 11.19 4.15 62.93 Net charge-offs to total loans 1.36 % 0.53 % 0.09 % 0.03 % 0.22% Reserve for loan losses to total loans and OREO Nonperforming assets to total loans and OREO Reserve for loan losses to nonperforming loans Reserve for loan losses to total 2.33 4.13 1.71 1.60 1.72 0.61 1.88 0.90 1.77 0.70 60.62 145.72 361.54 232.57 274.7 nonperforming assets 56.52 106.47 281.93 207.68 253.32 Liquidity Ratios: Loans to total deposits Average loans (TE) to average earnings assets (TE) Noninterest-bearing deposits to total deposits Capital Adequacy Ratios: Common stockholders’ equity to 84.22 % 91.85 % 84.38 % 86.28 % 88.93% 82.32 10.36 81.72 9.36 79.39 12.96 77.32 80.91 14.6 15.22 total assets 7.91 % 9.06 % 8.73 % 8.76 % Common stock dividend payout ratio NM 50.00 32.94 48.7 9.54% 41.96 27 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW The Company’sAmeris Bancorp’s performance in 2008 was impacted by a number of significant items. Credit costs (net charge- offs and provisions for loan losses) were at record high levels for the Bank in 2008 as residential real estate values continued to fall. Our Florida markets were especially vulnerable to declining values and activity and accounted for more than 50% of 2008’s provision for loan losses. In addition to a general slow-down in real estate activity, our industry dealt with tighter liquidity than had been seen in prior years. The lower levels of available liquidity in the marketplace led to unusually high borrowing costs that kept interest expense at elevated levels through most of 2008. Balance sheet growth was limited in 2008 compared to recent years. The combination of fewer loan opportunities and the Company’s efforts to reduce its exposure in certain loan concentrations caused the growth in loans to be held to approximately 5%. The majority of the Company’s deposit growth was limited to time deposits although some markets enjoyed success selling a high yield checking account. The Company has focused a significant amount of resources towards improving its deposit mix and funding a significant majority of its future growth with low-cost or transaction based deposit accounts. The importance of strong capital and liquidity was highlighted in the last half of the year as a growing number of larger regional banks and investment banks suffered and were in some cases, merged with other institutions. Ameris had managed strong liquidity and capital levels proactively for several years before the crisis began. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company took steps to further bolster its capital and liquidity positions. On the capital front, the Company elected to participate in the CPP and issued $52 million of preferred shares to the Treasury. This transaction with the Treasury is discussed in detail elsewhere in this Annual Report. For liquidity, the Company adopted an aggressive stance on local deposits and had several fourth quarter campaigns that raised approximately $200 million in incremental, local market deposits. For the year ended December 31, 2008, Ameris reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $4.2 million or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.2 million, or $1.11 per diluted share in 2007. Net interest income decreased during the year ended December 31, 2008 by 3.2% to $72.7 million compared to $75.1 million for year ended December 31, 2007. The Company’s net interest margin decreased from 4.02% in 2007 to 3.65% in 2008. The decline was primarily related to borrowing costs that remained somewhat elevated as asset yields fell commensurately with national indices that reached historic lows. Non-interest income grew during the year 8.5% to $19.1 million from $17.6 million during 2007. The majority of this increase related to increases in service charges on deposit accounts which increased to $13.9 million in 2008 compared to $12.5 million in 2007. This increase in service charges related to increases in the number of account holders subject to charges as well as minor increases in various fee schedules. Total operating expenses grew 6.6% in 2008 to $62.8 million, compared to $58.9 million in 2007. Salaries and benefits during 2008 were $31.7 million, an increase of 6.2% as compared to $29.8 million in 2007. These increases are mostly the result of expansion efforts in larger markets where the Company opened nine offices during 2008. Occupancy and equipment expense increased during 2008 to $8.1 million, an increase of 7.0% as compared to 2007. This increase also relates to expansion efforts in larger markets, the costs of which were offset to some degree by savings from branch closings during 2008. Provisions for loan losses in 2008 were significantly higher than levels incurred in 2007 as the economic conditions of our local economies were affected by slowing real estate activity and lower real estate values. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded $35.0 million in provision for loan losses compared to $11.3 million in 2007, an increase of $23.7 million. Net charge-offs were also higher in 2008 at $23.0 million or 1.36% of average loans, compared to $8.5 million or 0.53% of average loans in 2007. 28 CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES Ameris has established certain accounting and financial reporting policies to govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in the preparation of our financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management which have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; management considers these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions made by management, actual results could differ from the judgments and estimates adopted by management which could have a material impact on the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the results of Ameris’ operations. We believe the following accounting policies applied by Ameris represent critical accounting policies. Allowance for Loan Losses We believe the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable loan losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. Calculation of the allowance for loan losses represents a critical accounting estimate due to the significant judgment, assumptions and estimates related to the amount and timing of estimated losses, consideration of subjective environmental factors and the amount and timing of cash flows related to impaired loans. Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination processes, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance for loan losses based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Considering current information and events regarding a borrower’s ability to repay its obligations, management considers a loan to be impaired when the ultimate collectability of all amounts due, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, is in doubt. When a loan is considered to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or if the loan is collateral-dependent, the fair value of the collateral is used to determine the amount of impairment. Impairment losses are included in the allowance for loan losses through a charge to the provision for losses on loans. Subsequent recoveries are credited to the allowance for loan losses. Cash receipts for accruing loans are applied to principal and interest under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Cash receipts on impaired loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued are applied first to principal and then to interest income. 29 Certain economic and interest rate factors could have a material impact on the determination of the allowance for loan losses. An increase in interest rates by the Federal Reserve would favorably impact our net interest margin. An improving economy could result in the expansion of businesses and creation of jobs which would positively affect Ameris’ loan growth and improve our gross revenue stream. Conversely, certain factors could result from an expanding economy which could increase our credit costs and adversely impact our net earnings. A significant rapid rise in interest rates could create higher borrowing costs and shrinking corporate profits which could have a material impact on a borrower’s ability to pay. We will continue to concentrate on maintaining a high quality loan portfolio through strict administration of our loan policy. Another factor that we have considered in the determination of the allowance for loan losses is loan concentrations to individual borrowers or industries. We had two credit relationships that exceed our in-house credit limit of $5.0 million. Total exposure to these two credits is $14.8 million. A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is in the commercial real estate and residential real estate sectors. Those loans are secured by real estate in Ameris’ primary market areas. A substantial portion of other real estate owned is located in those same markets. Therefore, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of our loan portfolio and the recovery of a substantial portion of the carrying amount of other real estate owned are susceptible to changes to market conditions in Ameris’ primary market area. Income Taxes SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” requires the asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for deferred income taxes. We use the asset and liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes and provide deferred income taxes for all significant income tax temporary differences. See Note 12 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as depreciation and the provision for loan losses, for tax and financial reporting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities that are included in our consolidated balance sheet. We must also assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or adjust this allowance in a period, we must include an expense within the tax provisions in the statement of income. We have recorded on our consolidated balance sheet net deferred tax assets of $10.9 million, which includes amounts relating to loss carryforwards. We believe there will be sufficient taxable income in the future to allow us to utilize these loss carryforwards in the tax jurisdictions where they exist. 30 Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangibles In our financial statements, we have recorded $58.4 million of goodwill and other intangible assets, which represents the amount by which the price we paid for acquired businesses exceeds the fair value of tangible assets acquired plus the liabilities assumed. We evaluate long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, specifically identifiable intangibles and goodwill, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets might not be recoverable. Factors that could trigger impairment include significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets and significant negative industry or economic trends. The determination of whether impairment has occurred is based on an estimate of undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets as compared to the carrying value of the assets. If impairment has occurred, the amount of the impairment loss recognized would be determined by estimating the fair value of the assets and recording a loss if the fair value was less than the book value. During 2008, the Company determined there was the potential for impairment due to significant declines in the Company’s market value. As a result, the Company engaged an independent party who reviewed business strategies as well as current and forecasted levels of earnings and capital. The study indicated that the Company’s goodwill was not impaired and as a result, no adjustments were made to the carrying value of goodwill. In determining the existence of impairment factors, our assessment is based on market conditions, operational performance and legal factors of our Company. Our review of factors present and the resulting appropriate carrying value of our goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets are subject to judgments and estimates that management is required to make. Future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that our goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets might be impaired. In accordance with accounting rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), no goodwill was expensed in 2008, 2007 or 2006. NET INCOME/(LOSS) AND EARNINGS PER SHARE In 2008, we reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $4.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.2 million, or $1.11 per diluted share in 2007 and $22.1 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, in 2006. Our return on average assets was (0.19%), 0.74% and 1.22% in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Our return on average stockholders’ equity was (2.22%), 8.14% and 13.90% in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. EARNING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Average earning assets in 2008 increased 7.8% to $2.03 billion as compared to 2007. The earning asset and interest-bearing liability mix is constantly monitored to maximize the net interest margin and therefore increase return on assets and shareholders equity. The following statistical information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report and in the documents incorporated herein by reference. 31 The following tables set forth the amount of our interest income or interest expense for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the average interest rate for total interest-earning assets and total interest-bearing liabilities, net interest spread and net yield on average interest-earning assets. Federally tax-exempt income is presented on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 35% federal tax rate. Year Ended December 31, 2008 Interest Average Income/ Balance Expense Average Yield/ Rate Paid Average Balance 2007 Interest Income/ Expense Average Yield/ Rate Paid Average Balance 2006 Interest Income/ Expense Average Yield/ Rate Paid (Dollars in Thousands) 8.24% 4.69 5.32 7.54 2.18% 4.42 4.32 4.66 8.20 3.76 3.78% 4.25% ASSETS Interest-earning assets: Loans Investment securities Short-term assets $ 1,667,483 $114,186 309,109 15,517 507 49,082 6.85 % $ 1,536,243 $ 129,376 14,785 298,036 5.02 2,349 45,634 1.03 8.42% $ 1,308,405 $107,809 12,550 267,343 4.96 3,843 72,183 5.15 Total earning assets 2,025,674 130,210 6.43 1,879,913 146,510 7.79 1,647,931 124,202 Non-earning assets 175,362 175,015 165,839 Total assets $ 2,201,036 $ 2,054,928 $ 1,813,770 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ Interest-bearing liabilities: Savings and interest-bearing demand deposits Time deposits Other borrowings FHLB advances Trust preferred securities Total interest-bearing liabilities 656,876 $ 11,611 968,124 40,331 497 22,294 1,500 102,641 2,404 42,269 1.77 % $ 4.17 2.22 1.46 5.69 634,287 $ 18,014 44,367 874,609 16,425 722 4,732 92,570 3,164 42,269 2.84% $ 5.07 4.40 5.11 7.49 521,783 $ 11,397 34,202 773,089 514 11,910 4,246 91,119 3,791 41,841 1,792,204 56,343 3.14 1,660,160 70,999 4.28 1,439,742 54,150 Demand deposits Other liabilities Stockholders’ equity 198,422 13,566 196,844 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,201,036 192,575 15,880 186,313 194,150 20,684 159,194 $ 2,054,928 $ 1,813,770 Interest rate spread Net interest income Net interest margin 3.29 % $ 73,867 $ 75,511 3.65 % 3.52% 4.02% $ 70,052 32 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Net Interest Income Net interest income represents the amount by which interest income on interest-bearing assets exceeds interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income is the largest component of our income and is affected by the interest rate environment and the volume and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Our interest-earning assets include loans, investment securities, interest-bearing deposits in banks and federal funds sold. Our interest-bearing liabilities include deposits, other short-term borrowings, FHLB advances and subordinated debentures. 2008 compared with 2007: For the year ended December 31, 2008, interest income was $129.0 million, a decrease of $17.1 million, or 11.7%, compared to the same period in 2007. Average earning assets increased $145.8 million, or 7.8%, to $2.03 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $1.88 billion as of December 31, 2007. Yield on average earning assets on a taxable equivalent basis for 2007 decreased to 6.43% compared to 7.79% for the year ended December 31, 2007. The change in yields on earning assets during 2008 resulted from a lower interest rate environment in 2008 than in 2007 with benchmark interest rates falling to historic lows as well as increased levels of non-accrual loans where foregone interest income was approximately $4.6 million. Interest expense on deposits and other borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $56.3 million, compared to $71.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. During 2008, average funding increased $137.9 million or 7.4%. The majority of this growth in average total funding was in time deposits which increased 10.7%. Average non-deposit borrowings increased 10.5% during 2008 as the Company used these lines more aggressively to counter the higher costs of deposits. During 2008, yields on average deposit borrowings fell to 2.85% from 3.67% in 2007. Although the fall in deposit yields was significant, its level relative to falling interest income was not sufficient to preserve normal levels of net interest margin. As the year came to a close, yields on deposit borrowings began to react positively to government intervention aimed at increasing liquidity levels. Non-deposit borrowings decreased substantially from 5.70% in 2007 to 2.63% in 2008 as the majority of these deposits are tied to national rate indices that fell during 2008 to historically low levels. On a taxable-equivalent basis, net interest income for 2008 was $74.0 million compared to $75.5 million in 2007, a decrease of 2.0%. The Company’s net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, decreased to 3.65% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 4.02% in the prior year. 2007 compared with 2006: Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $146.1 million, an increase of $22.0 million, or 17.7%, compared to the same period in 2006. Average earning assets increased $232.0 million, or 14.1%, to $1.88 billion for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $1.65 billion as of December 31, 2006. The yield on average earning assets on a taxable equivalent basis for 2007 increased to 7.79% compared to 7.54% and 6.53% for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in yields on earning assets during 2007 is primarily attributed to better pricing opportunities on fixed rate loans with steady levels of benchmark interest rates for variable rate loans. Interest expense on deposits and other borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $71.0, a $16.9 million increase from the year ended December 31, 2006. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $217.9 million, or 13.3% to end the year at $1.85 billion. Rates on average interest-bearing liabilities rose to 3.83% from 3.29% and 2.60% as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Our Company aggressively manages our cost of funds to achieve a balance between high levels of profitability and acceptable levels of growth. On a taxable-equivalent basis, net interest income for 2007 was $75.5 million compared to $70.1 million in 2006, an increase of 7.7%. The Company’s net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, decreased to 4.02% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to 4.25% as of December 31, 2006. Opportunities to improve the net interest margin proved limited during the year due to an interest rate environment dominated by an inverted yield curve, that gave way to falling short term rates late in 2007. 33 Year Ended December 31, 2008 vs. 2007 2007 vs. 2006 Increase (Decrease) Changes Due To Rate Volume Increase (Decrease) Changes Due To Rate Volume (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ (15,190) $ (26,284) 185 (2,019) (28,118) 732 (1,842) (16,300) $ 11,094 547 177 11,818 $ $ 21,567 2,235 (1,494) 22,308 18,798 1,434 (1,416) 18,816 2,769 801 (78) 3,492 Increase (decrease) in: Income from earning assets: Interest and fees on loans Interest on securities: Short-term assets Total interest income Expense from interest-bearing liabilities: Interest on savings and interest- bearing demand deposits Interest on time deposits Interest on other borrowings Interest on FHLB advances Interest on trust preferred securities Total interest expense (6,403) (4,035) (225) (3,232) (760) (14,656) (7,045) (8,776) (483) (3,747) (760) (20,811) 642 4,741 258 515 - 6,156 6,617 10,164 208 486 (627 ) 16,848 2,444 4,484 195 68 35 7,226 4,173 5,680 13 418 (662) 9,622 Net interest income $ (1,644) $ (7,307) $ 5,662 $ 5,460 $ 11,590 $ (6,130) Provision for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for loan losses. The provision for loan losses is based on management’s evaluation of the size and composition of the loan portfolio, the level of non- performing and past due loans, historical trends of charged-off loans and recoveries, prevailing economic conditions and other factors management deems appropriate. As these factors change, the level of loan loss provision may change. Decreases in credit quality during 2008 resulted in a provision for loan losses of $35.0 million, compared to $11.3 million for 2007 and $2.8 million in 2006. Net charge-offs in 2008 were also elevated from historical levels at 1.36% of average loans compared to 0.53% in 2007 and 0.10% in 2006. At December 31, 2008, non-performing assets amounted to $70.2 million or 4.13% of total loans and OREO compared to 1.58% at December 31, 2007. Other real estate was approximately $4.7 million as of December 31, 2008, reflecting a 32.2% decline from the year ago period. The Company’s reserve for loan losses at December 31, 2008 was $39.7 million or 2.34% of total loans, compared to $27.6 million and 1.71% and 1.72% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively Non-interest income Following is a comparison of non-interest income for 2008, 2007 and 2006. 2008 2006 Years Ended December 31, 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) 12,455 $ 3,093 (297) 2,341 17,592 $ 13,916 $ 3,180 316 1,737 19,149 $ 11,538 2,208 (308) 5,824 19,262 Service charges on deposit accounts Mortgage banking activities Gain (loss) on sale of securities Other income $ $ 34 2008 compared with 2007: Total non-interest income in 2008 was $19.1 million compared to $17.6 million in 2007, an increase of 8.9%. The majority of the increase in non-interest income related to growth in service charges on deposit accounts. For the year ended December 31, 2008, service charges increased to $13.9 million, an increase of 11.7% as compared to 2007. During 2008, the Company significantly increased the numbers of deposit accounts subject to service charges and made minor changes to certain fees schedules. Mortgage income increased only slightly to $3.2 million in 2008 as compared to $3.1 million in 2007. Mortgage activity in 2008 was impacted measurably by the declining economic conditions that impacted residential real estate. 2007 compared with 2006: The non-interest income component of total revenue grew 8.4% to $17.9 million in 2007 (excluding gains on sales of charters in 2006 and losses on investment sales in both years). Service charges and fees on deposit accounts grew 7.9% to $12.5 million as the Company increased certain fees and charges. In addition to increasing fees, the Company significantly increased the number of low-cost deposit accounts in virtually every market. Mortgage origination and related fees increased substantially during 2007 as the Company more than doubled its sales force, mostly in the last half of 2007. While total revenue from mortgage related activities increased 40.1% to $3.1 million during 2007, contribution to net earnings was limited due to various start-up costs. Non-interest expense Following is a comparison of non-interest expense for 2008, 2007 and 2006. Salaries and employee benefits Equipment and occupancy Amortization of intangible assets Data processing and communication costs Business restructuring Advertising and public relations Postage & Delivery Printing & Supplies Legal Fees Other Professional Fees Directors fees Other expense 2008 Years Ended December 31, 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) 2006 $ $ 31,700 $ 8,069 1,170 6,457 - 3,091 1,420 1,270 537 1,306 743 6,990 62,753 $ 29,844 $ 7,540 1,297 6,496 - 2,536 1,336 1,060 527 1,307 787 6,166 58,896 $ 27,043 6,836 1,107 7,273 1,452 2,040 1,240 895 376 1,541 793 2,533 53,129 35 2008 compared with 2007: For the year ended December 31, 2008, total operating expenses were $62.8 million compared to $59.0 million in 2007, an increase of 6.4%. Salaries and benefits increased 6.2% in 2008 to $31.7 million compared to $29.8 million in 2007. Continued expansion in certain metro markets during 2008 led to additional staff and personnel costs. Offsetting some of this expense was the Company’s previous announcements to close four branches in smaller markets. Equipment and occupancy expenses increased to $8.1 million in 2008 as a result of the expansion efforts. This level of equipment and occupancy expenses was 8.0% higher than the $7.5 million recorded during 2007. Data processing and communications costs remained unchanged at $6.5 million during 2008 and 2007. Advertising and marketing expenses increased substantially as the Company worked to significantly increase deposit levels. During 2008, total advertising and marketing costs were $3.1 million, compared to $2.5 million in 2007. The Company’s advertising efforts were successful in significantly increasing deposit levels and liquidity ratios during 2008. 2007 compared with 2006: Total operating expenses grew 10.9% in 2007 to $58.9 million compared to $53.1 million in 2006. Several factors impacted operating expenses in 2007, the largest factor being the Company’s South Carolina initiative, which accounted for approximately $4.5 million in incremental costs during 2007. Equipment and occupancy expenses increased approximately 10.3% to $7.5 million as additional offices in South Carolina and Florida were opened in 2007. Advertising-related expenses in 2007 increased approximately $500,000 to $2.5 million as the Company expanded its marketing efforts in existing markets and promoted its products in new and existing markets. Marketing costs are not expected to moderate or fall in 2008 as the Company has planned events surrounding openings in several new markets across its footprint and increased marketing around mortgage and treasury services. Expenses associated with data processing and communications costs decreased 10.7% during 2007. In 2007, the Company re- negotiated certain portions of its communications contracts with its provider that allowed for improved network capacity at more attractive levels. Income Taxes: Federal income tax expense is influenced by the amount of taxable income, the amount of tax-exempt income and the amount of non-deductible expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company reported an income tax benefit of $2.05 million. This compares to income tax expenses of $7.30 million and $11.13 million for the years ended 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate was 34%, 33% and 33% for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. LOANS Management believes that our loan portfolio is adequately diversified. The loan portfolio contains no foreign or energy-related loans or significant concentrations in any one industry. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 83.9% of our loan portfolio was secured by real estate. The amount of loans outstanding at the indicated dates is shown in the following table according to type of loans. December 31, 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in Thousands) Commercial, financial & agricultural $ Real estate – construction & development Real estate – commercial & farmland Real estate - residential Consumer installment loans Other Less reserve for possible loan losses 200,421 $ 162,887 1,070,483 189,203 64,707 8,076 1,695,777 39,652 205,141 $ 174,576 996,517 157,334 69,099 11,381 171,904 $ 161,050 $ 157,260 883,583 147,789 73,218 9,197 73,639 719,367 142,609 79,239 10,697 1,614,048 27,640 1,442,951 1,186,601 24,863 22,294 Loans, net $ 1,656,125 $ 1,586,408 $ 1,418,088 $ 1,164,307 $ 128,303 39,516 504,335 126,985 66,779 11,156 877,074 15,493 861,581 36 Total loans as of December 31, 2008 are shown in the following table according to their contractual maturity. Contractual Maturity in: One Year or Less Over One Year through Five Years Over Five Years (Dollars in Thousands) Total Commercial, financial & agricultural $ Real estate – construction & development Real estate – commercial & farmland Real estate - residential Consumer installment loans Other 100,032 $ 114,059 426,049 39,277 15,999 3,328 74,463 $ 26,014 515,295 80,491 43,103 3,538 25,926 $ 22,814 129,139 69,435 5,605 1,210 200,421 162,887 1,070,483 189,203 64,707 8,076 698,744 742,904 254,129 1,695,777 The following table summarizes loans at December 31, 2008 with maturity dates after one year which (1) have predetermined interest rates and (2) have floating or adjustable interest rates. Predetermined interest rates Floating or adjustable interest rates (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 561,990 435,043 997,033 ALLOWANCE AND PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES The allowance for loan losses represents a reserve for inherent losses in the loan portfolio. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is evaluated periodically based on a review of all significant loans, with a particular emphasis on non-accruing, past due and other loans that management believes might be potentially impaired or warrant additional attention. We segregate our loan portfolio by type of loan and utilize this segregation in evaluating exposure to risks within the portfolio. In addition, based on internal reviews and external reviews performed by independent auditors and regulatory authorities, we further segregate our loan portfolio by loan grades based on an assessment of risk for a particular loan or group of loans. Certain reviewed loans are assigned specific allowances when a review of relevant data determines that a general allocation is not sufficient or when the review affords management the opportunity to fine tune the amount of exposure in a given credit. In establishing allowances, management considers historical loan loss experience but adjusts this data with a significant emphasis on data such as current loan quality trends, current economic conditions and other factors in the markets where the Bank operates. Factors considered include among others, current valuations of real estate in our markets, unemployment rates, the effect of weather conditions on agricultural related entities and other significant local economic events, such as major plant closings. We have developed a methodology for determining the adequacy of the loan loss reserve which is monitored by the Company’s Senior Credit Officer. Procedures provide for the assignment of a risk rating for every loan included in our total loan portfolio, with the exception of credit card receivables and overdraft protection loans which are treated as pools for risk rating purposes. The risk rating schedule provides eight ratings of which four ratings are classified as pass ratings and four ratings are classified as criticized ratings. Each risk rating is assigned a percent factor to be applied to the loan balance to determine the adequate amount of reserve. Many of the larger loans require an annual review by an independent loan officer and are often reviewed by independent third parties. As a result of these loan reviews, certain loans may be assigned specific reserve allocations. Other loans that surface as problem loans may also be assigned specific reserves. Past due loans are assigned risk ratings based on the number of days past due. The calculation of the allowance for loan losses, including underlying data and assumptions, is reviewed regularly by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer as well as the Director of Internal Audit. During periodic reviews of the Company’s methodology, the Company determined that additional reserves were potentially necessary to compensate for an increasingly negative economic outlook that prompted a few loan relationships to move to non- performing status very quickly. The Company established an unallocated, economic related reserve in the amount of $5 million that represents only that portion of the allowance for loan losses not allocated to specific loans. While the Company is confident in the reserve methodology and its application relative to loan grades assigned to individual credits, management believed it was appropriate and prudent to establish the unallocated, economic oriented reserve component through a charge to the provision for loan losses. 37 R/E Commercial & Farmland R/E Construction & Development The following table sets forth the breakdown of the allowance for loan losses by loan category for the periods indicated. Management believes the allowance can be allocated only on an approximate basis. The allocation of the allowance to each category is not necessarily indicative of future losses and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in any other category. 2008 2007 At December 31, 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) 2005 2004 % of Total Loans Amount Amount % of Total Loans Amount % of Total Loans % of Total Loans Amount Amount % of Total Loans Commercial, financial, and agricultural $ 4,675 11 % $ 3,830 13 % $ 3,792 12 % $ 4,215 14 % $ 3,030 15 % 20,770 63 17,199 62 14,307 61 12,713 61 8,314 58 4,907 10 3,487 11 3,293 11 1,270 6 553 Total Commercial 30,352 84 24,516 86 21,392 84 18,198 81 11,897 R/E Residential Consumer Installment Unallocated 3,285 11 1,015 5,000 5 - 2,078 1,046 - 10 4 - 2,325 1,146 - 10 2,585 12 1,986 6 1,511 - - 7 - 1,610 - 5 78 14 8 - $ 39,652 100 % $ 27,640 100 % $ 24,863 100 % $ 22,294 100 % $ 15,493 100 % The following table presents an analysis of our loan loss experience for the periods indicated: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 (Dollars in Thousands) December 31, Average amount of loans outstanding $ 1,667,483 $ 1,536,243 $ 1,308,174 $ 952,647 $ 855,205 Balance of reserve for possible loan losses at beginning of period $ 27,640 $ 24,863 $ 22,294 $ 15,493 $ 14,963 Charge-offs: Commercial real estate, financial and agricultural (18,711) Residential real estate Consumer Installment Recoveries: Commercial real estate, financial and agricultural Residential real estate Consumer Installment Net charge-offs (4,514) (1,115) 733 199 390 (8,735) (623) (1,057) (1,726 ) (1,444 ) (967 ) 1,339 1,595 120 412 745 505 (649 ) (543 ) (963 ) 601 644 532 (1,639) (382) (1,555) 464 483 718 (23,018) (8,544) (1,292 ) (378 ) (1,911) Additions to reserve charged to operating expenses 35,030 11,321 2,837 Allowance for loan losses of acquired subsidiary - - 1,024 1,651 5,528 1,786 655 Balance of reserve for possible loan losses at end of period $ 39,652 $ 27,640 $ 24,863 $ 22,294 $ 15,493 Ratio of net loan charge-offs to average loans 1.36% 0.53 % 0.10% 0.04 % 0.22% 38 NONPERFORMING LOANS A loan is placed on non-accrual status when, in management’s judgment, the collection of the interest income appears doubtful. Interest receivable that has been accrued in prior years and is subsequently determined to have doubtful collectability is charged to the allowance for possible loan losses. Interest on loans that are classified as non-accrual is recognized when received. Past due loans are loans whose principal or interest is past due 90 days or more. In some cases, where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulties, loans may be restructured to provide terms significantly different from the original contractual terms. 2008 2007 December 31, 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) 2005 2004 Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis $ 65,414 $ 18,468 $ 6,877 $ 9,586 $ 5,640 Installment loans and term loans contractually past due ninety days or more as to interest or principal payments and still accruing 2 4 - - 44 During 2008, loans tied to the housing industry, (Acquisition, Development and Construction loans) came under severe strain as housing prices fell sharply and sales activity slowed. Certain markets, where housing prices had risen sharply in recent years, suffered greater corrections than others. The Company’s exposure to certain housing related loans primarily in northern Florida resulted in deteriorating credit quality and caused most of the increase in non-accrual loans seen above. LIQUIDITY AND RATE SENSITIVITY Liquidity management involves the matching of the cash flow requirements of customers, who may be either depositors desiring to withdraw funds or borrowers needing assurance that sufficient funds will be available to meet their credit needs, and the ability of our Company to meet those needs. We seek to meet liquidity requirements primarily through management of short-term investments (principally interest-bearing deposits in banks) and monthly amortizing loans. Another source of liquidity is the repayment of maturing single payment loans. In addition, our Company maintains relationships with correspondent banks including the FHLB and FRB, which could provide funds on short notice, if needed. A principal objective of our asset/liability management strategy is to minimize its exposure to changes in interest rates by matching the maturity and repricing horizons of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. This strategy is overseen in part through the direction of our Asset and Liability Committee (the “ALCO Committee”) which establishes policies and monitors results to control interest rate sensitivity. 39 As part of our interest rate risk management policy, the ALCO Committee examines the extent to which its assets and liabilities are “interest rate sensitive” and monitors its interest rate-sensitivity “gap”. An asset or liability is considered to be interest rate sensitive if it will reprice or mature within the time period analyzed, usually one year or less. The interest rate-sensitivity gap is the difference between the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities scheduled to mature or reprice within such time period. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest rate-sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest rate-sensitive liabilities. A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest rate-sensitive liabilities exceeds the interest rate-sensitive assets. During a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income, while a positive gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, a negative gap would tend to result in an increase in net interest income, while a positive gap would tend to adversely affect net interest income. If our assets and liabilities were equally flexible and moved concurrently, the impact of any increase or decrease in interest rates on net interest income would be minimal. A simple interest rate “gap” analysis by itself may not be an accurate indicator of how net interest income will be affected by changes in interest rates. Accordingly, the ALCO Committee also evaluates how the repayment of particular assets and liabilities is impacted by changes in interest rates. Income associated with interest-earning assets and costs associated with interest-bearing liabilities may not be affected uniformly by changes in interest rates. In addition, the magnitude and duration of changes in interest rates may have a significant impact on net interest income. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may not react identically to changes in market interest rates. Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities fluctuate in advance of changes in general market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in general market rates. In addition, certain assets, such as adjustable rate mortgage loans, have features (generally referred to as “interest rate caps”) which limit changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. In the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels also could deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the interest rate gap. The ability of many borrowers to service their debts also may decrease in the event of an interest rate increase. We manage the mix of asset and liability maturities in an effort to control the effects of changes in the general level of interest rates on net interest income. Except for its effect on the general level of interest rates, inflation does not have a material impact on the portfolio due to the rate variability and short-term maturities of its earning assets. In particular, approximately 66.5% of the loan portfolio is comprised of loans which mature or reprice within one year or less. Mortgage loans, primarily with five to fifteen year maturities, are also made on a variable rate basis with rates being adjusted every one to five years. Additionally, 15.5% of the investment portfolio has a contractual maturity within one year or less although a higher percentage has the possibility of a call. The following table sets forth the distribution of the repricing of our earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as of December 31, 2008, the interest rate sensitivity gap (i.e., interest rate sensitive assets divided by interest rate sensitivity liabilities), the cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap ratio (i.e., interest rate sensitive assets divided by interest rate sensitive liabilities) and the cumulative sensitivity gap ratio. The table also sets forth the time periods in which earning assets and liabilities will mature or may reprice in accordance with their contractual terms. However, the table does not necessarily indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on the net interest margin since the repricing of various categories of assets and liabilities is subject to competitive pressures and the needs of our customers. In addition, various assets and liabilities indicated as repricing within the same period may in fact reprice at different times within such period and at different rates. 40 At December 31, 2008 Maturing or Repricing Within Zero to Three Months Three Months to One Year One to Five Years Over Five Years Total Earning assets: Short-term assets Investment securities Loans Interest-bearing liabilities: Interest-bearing demand deposits Savings Time deposits Other borrowings FHLB advances Trust preferred securities Interest rate sensitivity gap Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap $ $ $ (Dollars in Thousands) - $ - $ 144,383 $ 411 965,319 57,116 160,390 63,105 499,843 249,050 70,225 - $ 144,383 369,682 1,695,777 1,110,113 217,506 562,948 319,275 2,209,842 616,724 52,991 304,597 32,416 65,000 42,269 - - 725,816 - 2,000 - - - 104,859 - - - - - 6 - - - 616,724 52,991 1,135,278 32,416 67,000 42,269 1,113,997 727,816 104,859 6 1,946,678 (3,884) $ (510,310) $ 458,089 $ 319,269 $ 263,164 (3,884) $ (514,194) $ (56,105) $ 263,164 Interest rate sensitivity gap ratio 0.99 0.30 5.37 NM Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap ratio 0.99 0.72 1.02 1.13 INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO Following is a summary of the carrying value of investment securities available for sale as of the end of each reported period: December 31, 2008 2007 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) U. S. Government sponsored agencies State and municipal securities Corporate debt securities Mortgage-backed securities $ 132,646 $ 18,302 11,618 205,328 18,320 9,498 191,641 18,934 9,829 151,818 69,923 $ 101,863 $ 367,894 $ 289,382 $ 282,444 41 The amounts of securities available for sale in each category as of December 31, 2008 are shown in the following table according to contractual maturity classifications: (1) one year or less, (2) after one year through five years, (3) after five years through ten years and (4) after ten years. U. S. Treasury and Other U. S. Government Agencies and Corporations State and Political Subdivisions Amount Yield (1) Amount Yield (1)(2) (Dollars in Thousands) $ 56,037 46,673 29,936 - 1.42% $ 3.61 4.85 - 1,268 9,701 4,217 3,116 $ 132,646 2.94% $ 18,302 3.75% 3.70 3.83 3.96 3.78% Maturity: One year or less After one year through five years After five years through ten years After ten years (1) Yields were computed using coupon interest, adding discount accretion or subtracting premium amortization, as appropriate, on a ratable basis over the life of each security. The weighted average yield for each maturity range was computed using the acquisition price of each security in that range. (2) Yields on securities of state and political subdivisions are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis, using a tax rate of 35%. The investment portfolio consists of securities, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, which are classified as available for sale and recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of the related deferred tax effect. The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the life of the securities. Realized gains and losses, determined on the basis of the cost of specific securities sold, are included in earnings on the settlement date. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. The Company’s methodology for determining whether other-than-temporary impairment losses exist include management considering (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. Substantially all of the unrealized losses on debt securities are related to changes in interest rates and do not affect the expected cash flows of the issuer or underlying collateral. All unrealized losses are considered temporary because each security carries an acceptable investment grade and the Company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity. 42 DEPOSITS Average amount of various deposit classes and the average rates paid thereon are presented below: Year Ended December 31, 2008 2007 Amount Rate Amount Rate (Dollars in Thousands) Noninterest-bearing demand NOW Money Market Savings Time Total deposits $ 198,422 278,217 324,311 54,348 968,124 $ 1,823,422 $ 192,575 250,364 324,236 0.00 % 1.05 2.48 0.90 4.16 2.84 % $ 1,701,472 59,687 874,610 0.00% 1.33 4.35 1.04 5.07 3.67% We have a large, stable base of time deposits with little or no dependence on what we consider volatile deposits of $100,000 or more. These time deposits are principally certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts obtained for individual customers. The amounts of time certificates of deposit issued in amounts of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2008, are shown below by category, which is based on time remaining until maturity of (1) three months or less, (2) over three through twelve months and (3) greater than one year. Three months or less Three months to one year One year or greater Total (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 207,046 394,173 76,536 677,755 43 OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS In the ordinary course of business, our Bank has granted commitments to extend credit to approved customers. Generally, these commitments to extend credit have been granted on a temporary basis for seasonal or inventory requirements and have been approved by the Bank’s local boards. Our Bank has also granted commitments to approved customers for financial standby letters of credit. These commitments are recorded in the financial statements when funds are disbursed or the financial instruments become payable. The Bank uses the same credit policies for these off-balance sheet commitments as it does for financial instruments that are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitment amounts expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Following is a summary of the commitments outstanding at December 31, 2008 and 2007. Commitments to extend credit Financial standby letters of credit The following table summarizes short-term borrowings for the periods indicated: December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 159,114 6,358 $ 165,472 $ 177,410 7,426 $ 184,836 2008 Average Balance Average Rate Years Ended December 31, 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) Average Average Rate Balance 2006 Average Rate Average Balance Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase $ 17,294 2.05% $ 16,411 2.15 % $ 6,910 2.68 % Total maximum short-term borrowings outstanding at any month-end during the year $ 63,973 $ 32,359 $ 16,024 Total Balance Total Balance Total Balance 44 The following table sets forth certain information about contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2008. Payments Due After December 31, 2008 Total 1 Year Or Less 1-3 Years 4-5 Years 5 Years (Dollars in Thousands) Time certificates of deposit Borrowings under revolving credit agreement Federal Home Loan Bank advances Subordinated debentures $ 1,135,278 $ 1,030,413 $ 97,571 $ 7,294 $ 5,000 67,000 42,269 5,000 67,000 - - - - - - - - - - 42,269 Total contractual cash obligations $ 1,249,547 $ 1,102,413 $ 97,571 $ 7,294 $ 42,269 Our operating leases represent short-term obligations, normally with maturities of one year or less. Many of the operating leases have thirty-day cancellation provisions. The total contractual obligations for operating leases do not require a material amount of our cash funds. At December 31, 2008 we had immaterial amounts of binding commitments for capital expenditures. CAPITAL ADEQUACY Capital Purchase Plan On November 21, 2008, the Company, elected to participate in the CPP established by the EESA. Accordingly, on such date, the Company issued and sold to the Treasury, for an aggregate cash purchase price of $52 million, (i) 52,000 “Preferred Shares” having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and (ii) a ten-year “Warrant” to purchase up to 679,443 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $11.48 per share. The issuance and sale of these securities was a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares will accrue on the liquidation preference at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and at a rate of 9% per annum thereafter, but such dividends will be paid only if, as and when declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Preferred Shares have no maturity date and rank senior to the Common Stock (and pari passu with the Company’s other authorized preferred stock, of which no shares are currently designated or outstanding) with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company. Subject to the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Preferred Shares are redeemable at the option of the Company at 100% of their liquidation preference, provided that the Preferred Shares may be redeemed prior to the first dividend payment date falling after the third anniversary of the Closing Date (February 15, 2012) only if (i) the Company has raised aggregate gross proceeds in one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (as defined in the Letter Agreement dated November 21, 2008 between the Company and the Treasury, including the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the “Purchase Agreement”)) in excess of $13 million and (ii) the aggregate redemption price does not exceed the aggregate net proceeds from such Qualified Equity Offerings. The Treasury may not transfer a portion or portions of the Warrant with respect to, and/or exercise the Warrant for more than one- half of, the 679,443 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant, in the aggregate, until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $52 million from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings and (ii) December 31, 2009. If the Company completes one or more Qualified Equity Offerings on or prior to December 31, 2009 that result in the Company receiving aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $52 million, then the number of the shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Warrant then held by the Treasury will be reduced by one-half of the number of shares of Common Stock originally covered by the Warrant. For purposes of the foregoing, as provided in the Purchase Agreement, “Qualified Equity Offering” is defined as the sale and issuance for cash by the Company to persons other than the Company or any Company subsidiary after the Closing Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier I capital of the Company at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Company’s federal banking agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to October 13, 2008). The Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Preferred Shares and the Warrant were sold contains limitations on the payment of dividends on the Common Stock (including with respect to the payment of cash dividends in excess of $0.05 per share, which was 45 the amount of the last regular dividend declared by the Company prior to October 14, 2008) and on the Company’s ability to repurchase its Common Stock, and subjects the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the EESA. Capital Regulations The capital resources of our Company are monitored on a periodic basis by state and federal regulatory authorities. During 2008, we increased our capital by $48.1 million or 25.2%. The increase is attributed to the issuance of the Preferred Shares under the CPP. Other capital related transactions, such as Common Stock issuances through the exercise of stock options and restricted stock, changes in unrealized losses on investment securities and repurchase of treasury shares combined to account for only a small change in the capital of the Company. In accordance with risk capital guidelines issued by the Federal Reserve, we are required to maintain a minimum standard of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8%. Additionally, all member banks must maintain “core” or “Tier 1” capital of at least 4% of total assets (“leverage ratio”). Member banks operating at or near the 4% capital level are expected to have well-diversified risks, including no undue interest rate risk exposure, excellent control systems, good earnings, high asset quality and well managed on- and off-balance sheet activities, and, in general, be considered strong banking organizations with a composite 1 rating under the CAMEL rating system of banks. For all but the most highly rated banks meeting the above conditions, the minimum leverage ratio is to be 4% plus an additional 1% to 2%. The following table summarizes the regulatory capital levels of Ameris at December 31, 2008. Actual Required Excess Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent (Dollars in Thousands) Leverage capital Risk-based capital: Core capital Total capital $ 215,400 9.42% $ 91,465 4.00 % $ 123,935 5.42% 215,400 11.99 238,069 13.25 71,860 143,740 4.00 8.00 143,540 94,329 7.99 5.25 46 INFLATION The consolidated financial statements and related consolidated financial data presented herein have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices within the banking industry which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) The following table sets forth certain consolidated quarterly financial information of the Company. This information is derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include, in the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods. Quarters Ended December 31, 2008 4 1 (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) 2 3 Selected Income Statement Data: Interest income $ 30,558 $ 32,112 $ 32,249 $ 34,089 Net interest income 15,972 19,177 19,056 18,460 Net income (loss) available to common stockholders (10,724) 366 3,149 2,966 Per Share Data: Net income – basic Net income – diluted Common Dividends (0.79) (0.79) 0.03 0.23 0.22 0.03 0.23 0.22 0.05 0.05 0.14 0.14 Quarters Ended December 31, 2007 4 1 (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) 2 3 Selected Income Statement Data: Interest income $ 36,930 $ 37,451 $ 35,843 $ 35,410 Net interest income 19,248 19,081 18,330 18,419 Net income available to common stockholders 1,186 3,570 5,373 5,024 Per Share Data: Net income – basic Net income – diluted Common Dividends 0.09 0.26 0.40 0.37 0.09 0.26 0.39 0.37 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 47 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK We are exposed only to U. S. Dollar interest rate changes and, accordingly, we manage exposure by considering the possible changes in the net interest margin. We do not have any trading instruments nor do we classify any portion of the investment portfolio as held for trading. We do not engage in any hedging activities or enter into any derivative instruments with a higher degree of risk than mortgage-backed securities, which are commonly, pass-through securities. Finally, we have no exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other market risks. Interest rates play a major part in the net interest income of a financial institution. The sensitivity to rate changes is known as “interest rate risk.” The repricing of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities can influence the changes in net interest income. As part of our asset/liability management program, the timing of repriced assets and liabilities is referred to as gap management. Our policy is to maintain a gap ratio in the one-year time horizon of .80 to 1.20. As indicated by the gap analysis included in this Annual Report, we are somewhat asset sensitive in relation to changes in market interest rates. Being asset sensitive would result in net interest income increasing in a rising rate environment and decreasing in a declining rate environment. We use simulation analysis to monitor changes in net interest income due to changes in market interest rates. The simulation of rising, declining and flat interest rate scenarios allow management to monitor and adjust interest rate sensitivity to minimize the impact of market interest rate swings. The analysis of the impact on net interest income over a twelve-month period is subjected to a gradual 200 basis points increase or 200 basis points decrease in market rates on net interest income and is monitored on a quarterly basis. Our most recent simulation model projects net interest income would increase 0.49% if rates rise 200 basis points gradually over the next year. A down 200 basis points scenario is irrelevant at this time due to current market rates being at or near zero since the last FOMC reduction of the Fed target rate on December 16, 2008. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007 Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 48 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE Previous Independent Accountants Mauldin & Jenkins, Certified Public Accountants, LLC (“Mauldin & Jenkins”) was previously the principal accountants for the Company. On August 28, 2008, the Company dismissed Mauldin & Jenkins as its principal accountants. The Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors participated in and approved the decision to change independent accountants. Mauldin & Jenkins’ audit reports on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. In connection with Mauldin & Jenkins’ audits for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the subsequent interim period through August 28, 2008, there have been no disagreements with Mauldin & Jenkins on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Mauldin & Jenkins, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its audit reports on the Financial Statements. Additionally, during the two most recent fiscal years and through August 28, 2008, there have been no reportable events, as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Registration S-K. New Independent Accountants On August 28, 2008, the Company engaged Porter Keadle Moore, LLP (“PKM”) as the Company’s new independent accountants to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Company’s engagement of PKM. During the two most recent fiscal years and through August 28, 2008, the Company has not consulted with PKM regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that PKM concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement (as defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or the related instructions thereto) or a reportable event (as defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). 49 ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Disclosure Controls and Procedures The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, as required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act. Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting The management of Ameris is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment and those criteria, management believes that the company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. PKM, the Company’s independent auditors, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. That report is included in this Item under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting During the quarter ended December 31, 2008 there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 50 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors Ameris Bancorp Moultrie, Georgia We have audited Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended, and our report dated March 6, 2009, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. Atlanta, Georgia March 6, 2009 51 ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION None. 52 PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Directors and Nominees for Director Information with respect to the Company’s directors and nominees for director is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Proposal I: Election of Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference. Executive Officers The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers of Ameris as of March 12, 2009. Name, Age and Term as Officer Position with Ameris and Other Directorships Principal Occupation for the Last Five Years Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.; 55 Officer since 2002 Officer President and Chief Executive President and Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2005. Director since November 2003. President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2003 through December 2004. Executive Vice President and Regional Bank Executive for Northern Division from August 2002 through November 2003. President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Citizens Security Bank from April 1998 to November 2003. Director of each subsidiary bank in the Northern Division from September 2002 through March 2004. Dennis J. Zember, Jr.; 39 Officer since 2005 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 14, 2005. Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Flag Financial Corporation and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Flag Bank from January 2002 to February 2005. Vice President and Treasurer of Century South Banks, Inc. from August 1997 to May 2001. Jon S. Edwards; 47 Officer since 1999 Executive Vice and Director Administration of President Credit Executive Vice President and Director of Credit Administration since May 2005. Executive Vice President and Regional Bank Executive for Southern Division from August 2002 through April 2005. Director of Credit Administration from March 1999 to July 2003. Senior Vice President from March 1999 to August 2002. Director of each subsidiary bank in the Southern Division from September 2002 through April 2005. C. Johnson Hipp, III; 57 Officer since 2006 Cindi H. Lewis; 55 Officer since 1987 Marc J. Bogan; 42 Officer since 2006 Banking Group President Officer since June 2006. Chief Executive Officer of South Carolina Bank and Trust from 1994 to 2004. Executive Vice President, Chief and Administrative Officer Corporate Secretary Chief Administrative Officer since May 2006, Executive Vice President since May 2002 and Corporate Secretary since May 2000. Director of Human Resources from May 2000 to May 2006 and Senior Vice President from May 2000 to May 2002. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since June 2008. Coastal Region Executive from September 2006 to June 2008. Sales Executive with South Carolina Bank and Trust from April 2004 to September 2006. Regional President for South Carolina Bank and Trust from June 2001 to April 2004. Officers serve at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. 53 The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” is incorporated herein by reference. Code of Ethics Ameris has adopted a code of ethics that is applicable to all employees, including its Chief Executive Officer and all senior financial officers, including its Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officer. Ameris shall provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of its code of ethics. Such requests should be directed to the Corporate Secretary of Ameris Bancorp at 310 First St., SE, Moultrie, Georgia 31768. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS The information set forth under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plans” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE The information set forth under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Proposal I: Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES The information set forth under the caption “Proposal 2: Ratification of Independent Auditors” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item. 54 PART IV ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 1. Financial statements: (a) Ameris Bancorp and Subsidiaries: (i) (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007; Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006; (v) Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (b) Ameris Bancorp (parent company only): Parent company only financial information has been included in Note 21 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 2. Financial statement schedules: All schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes. 3. A list of the Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K to be filed as a part of this report is shown on the “Exhibit Index” filed herewith. 55 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. AMERIS BANCORP Date: March 12, 2009 By: /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. as his attorney-in-fact, acting with full power of substitution for him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney-in- fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, this Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Dennis J. Zember, Jr. Dennis J. Zember, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) Date: March 12, 2009 Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Johnny W. Floyd Johnny W. Floyd, Director /s/ J. Raymond Fulp J. Raymond Fulp, Director Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Daniel B. Jeter Daniel B. Jeter, Director and Chairman of the Board Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Glenn A. Kirbo Glenn A. Kirbo, Director Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Robert P. Lynch Robert P. Lynch, Director Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Brooks Sheldon Brooks Sheldon, Director Date: March 12, 2009 /s/ Jimmy D. Veal Jimmy D. Veal, Director 56  EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.1 4.2 4.3 Articles of Incorporation of Ameris Bancorp, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Regulation A Offering Statement on Form 1-A filed August 14, 1987). Amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Form 10-K filed March 28, 1996). Amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on July 17, 1996). Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 25, 1998). Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 26, 1999). Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 31, 2003). Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 1, 2005). Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2005). Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 21, 2008. Placement Agreement between Ameris Bancorp, Ameris Statutory Trust I, FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. dated September 13, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333- 138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). Subscription Agreement between Ameris Bancorp, Ameris Statutory Trust I and First Tennessee Bank National Association dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). Subscription Agreement between Ameris Bancorp, Ameris Statutory Trust I and TWE, Ltd. dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). 57 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 4.4 4.5 Indenture between Ameris Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust between Ameris Bancorp, the Administrators of Ameris Statutory Trust I signatory thereto and Wilmington Trust Company dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). 4.6 Guarantee Agreement between Ameris Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). 4.7 4.8 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture dated September 20, 2006 issued to Ameris Statutory Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-138252) filed with the Commission on October 27, 2006). Warrant to Purchase 679,443 shares of Common Stock of Ameris Bancorp, issued to the U.S. Department of Treasury November 21, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Ameris Bancorp’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 21, 2008). Deferred Compensation Agreement for Kenneth J. Hunnicutt dated December 16, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.3 to Ameris Bancorp’s Regulation A Offering Statement on Form 1-A filed with the Commission on August 14, 1987). Executive Salary Continuation Agreement dated February 14, 1984 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Commission on March 27, 1989). Form of Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 25, 1998). Form of Rights Agreement between Ameris Bancorp and SunTrust Bank dated as of February 17, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 25, 1998). ABC Bancorp 2000 Officer/Director Stock Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on Mach 29, 2000). Joint Marketing Agreement by and between Ameris Bancorp and MBNA America Bank, N.A. dated as of December 19, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 31, 2003). Executive Employment Agreement with Jon S. Edwards dated as of July 1, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 12, 2003). Executive Employment Agreement with Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. dated as of December 31, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 15, 2004). 58 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 Executive Employment Agreement with Cindi H. Lewis dated as of December 31, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Ameris Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 15, 2004). Amendment No. 1 to Executive Employment Agreement with Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. dated as of March 10, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 14, 2005). Form of 2005 Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Ameris Bancorp’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 18, 2005). Executive Employment Agreement with Dennis J. Zember, Jr. dated as of May 5, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on May 11, 2005). Executive Employment Agreement with Johnny R. Myers dated as of May 11, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 16, 2005). Revolving Credit Agreement with SunTrust Bank dated as of December 14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 20, 2005). Security Agreement with SunTrust Bank dated as of December 14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 20, 2005). Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on January 24, 2006). Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on January 24, 2006). Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Ameris Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on January 24, 2006). Executive Employment Agreement with C. Johnson Hipp, III dated as of September 5, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 8, 2006). Executive Employment Agreement with C. Marc J. Bogan dated as of May 31, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 6, 2007). Executive Employment Agreement with C. Richard Strum dated as of May 31, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 6, 2007). 59 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 21.1 Schedule of subsidiaries of Ameris Bancorp. 23.1 Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP 23.2 Consent of Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC. 24.1 Power of Attorney relating to this Form 10-K is set forth on the signature pages of this Form 10-K. 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Ameris Bancorp’s Chief Executive Officer. 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Ameris Bancorp’s Chief Financial Officer. 32.1 Section 1350 Certification by Ameris Bancorp’s Chief Executive Officer. 32.2 Section 1350 Certification by Ameris Bancorp’s Chief Financial Officer. 60 Exhibit 21.1 REGISTRANT’S SUBSIDIARIES Following is a list of the Registrant’s subsidiaries and the state of incorporation or other jurisdiction. Name of Subsidiary Ameris Bank Ameris Statutory Trust I Ameris Sub Holding Company, Inc. Moultrie Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Quitman Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Thomas Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Citizens Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Cairo Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Southland Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Cordele Real Estate Holdings, Inc. First National Real Estate Holdings, Inc. M&F Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Tri-County Real Estate Holdings, Inc. Citizens Bancshares, Inc. First National Banc Statutory Trust I State of Incorporation or Other Jurisdiction State of Georgia State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Alabama State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Delaware State of Florida State of Delaware Each subsidiary conducts business under the name listed above. 61 Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We have issued our report dated March 6, 2009, accompanying the consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ameris Bancorp for the year ended December 31, 2008. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of said report in the Registration Statements of Ameris Bancorp on Forms S-8 (File No. 333- 131244) and on Form S-3 (File Number 333-156367). Atlanta, Georgia March 13, 2009 62 Exhibit 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333- 156367) of Ameris Bancorp of our reports dated March 5, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and for the two years then ended, which is incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. /s/ Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC Albany, Georgia March 13, 2009 63 Exhibit 31.1 CERTIFICATION I, Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., certify that: 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, of Ameris Bancorp; Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) (b) (c) (d) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) (b) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Dated: March 16, 2009 /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer 64 Exhibit 31.2 CERTIFICATION I, Dennis J. Zember, Jr., certify that: 1. 2. 3. 4. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, of Ameris Bancorp; Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: (a) (b) (c) (d) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) (b) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Dated: March 16, 2009 /s/ Dennis J. Zember Jr. Dennis J. Zember Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 65 Exhibit 32.1 SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION I, Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”), do hereby certify, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge: 1. 2. The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Periodic Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Dated: March 16, 2009 /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer 66 Exhibit 32.2 SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION I, Dennis J. Zember, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”), do hereby certify, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge: 1. 2. The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Periodic Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Dated: March 16, 2009 /s/ Dennis J. Zember Jr. Dennis J. Zember Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 67 AMERIS BANCORP INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES Consolidated financial statements: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 2008 and 2007 Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 68 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors Ameris Bancorp Moultrie, Georgia We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The consolidated financial statements of Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were audited by other auditors whose report dated March 5, 2008, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the 2008 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 6, 2009, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Ameris Bancorp internal control over financial reporting. Atlanta, Georgia March 6, 2009 69 AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) Assets Cash and due from banks Interest-bearing deposits in banks Federal funds sold Securities available for sale, at fair value Other investments Loans, net of unearned income Less allowance for loan losses Loans, net Premises and equipment, net Intangible assets Goodwill Other assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Deposits Noninterest-bearing Interest-bearing Total deposits Securities sold under agreements to repurchase Other borrowings Subordinated deferrable interest debentures Other liabilities Total liabilities Stockholders' equity Preferred stock, par value $1,000; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 52,000 shares issued Common stock, par value $1; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 14,865,703 and 14,869,924 shares issued Capital surplus Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax Less cost of 1,331,102 and 1,329,939 treasury shares acquired Total stockholders' equity See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 70 2008 2007 $ $ 66,787 99,383 45,000 367,894 8,627 59,804 12,022 - 289,382 9,347 1,695,777 39,652 1,656,125 1,614,048 27,640 1,586,408 66,107 3,631 54,813 38,723 59,132 4,802 54,813 36,353 $ 2,407,090 $ 2,112,063 $ 208,532 1,804,993 2,013,525 27,416 72,000 42,269 12,521 2,167,731 $ 197,345 1,559,920 1,757,265 14,705 90,500 42,269 16,075 1,920,814 49,028 - 14,866 86,038 93,696 6,518 250,146 (10,787 ) 239,359 14,870 82,750 103,095 1,303 202,018 (10,769) 191,249 $ 2,407,090 $ 2,112,063 AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) Interest income Interest and fees on loans Interest on taxable securities Interest on nontaxable securities Interest on deposits in other banks Interest on federal funds sold Interest expense Interest on deposits Interest on other borrowings Net interest income Provision for loan losses Net interest income after provision for loan losses Other income Service charges on deposit accounts Mortgage origination fees Other service charges, commissions and fees Gain/(loss) on sales of securities Other Other expenses Salaries and employee benefits Occupancy and equipment expense Advertising and marketing expense Amortization of intangible assets Data processing and communications costs Business restructuring costs Other operating expenses 2008 2007 2006 $ 113,335 $ 128,869 $ 107,559 12,147 14,469 14,171 555 688 3,589 2,306 261 43 124,111 129,008 146,077 685 514 5 51,942 62,380 8,619 4,401 56,343 70,999 45,599 8,551 54,150 72,665 75,078 35,030 11,321 37,635 63,757 69,961 2,837 67,124 13,916 12,455 3,093 3,180 1,268 708 316 (297 ) 1,073 1,029 19,149 17,592 11,538 2,208 997 (308) 4,827 19,262 31,700 29,844 7,540 8,069 2,546 3,083 1,297 1,170 6,496 6,457 - - 12,274 11,173 62,753 58,896 27,043 6,836 2,029 1,107 7,273 1,452 7,389 53,129 (Loss)/income before income taxes (5,969) 22,453 33,257 Applicable income tax (benefit)/expense Net (loss)/income Preferred stock dividends (2,053) 7,300 11,129 $ (3,916) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 328 - - Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders $ (4,244) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 Basic (loss)/earnings per share Diluted (loss)/earnings per share See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 71 $ $ (0.31) $ 1.12 (0.31) $ 1.11 $ $ 1.71 1.68 AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) 2008 2007 2006 Net (loss)/income $ (3,916 ) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 Other comprehensive income/(loss): Net unrealized holding gains/(losses) arising during period on investment securities available for sale, net of tax Net unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedge during the period, net of tax Reclassification adjustment for losses/(gains) included in net income, net of tax of $107, $101 and $105 Total other comprehensive income 3,915 1,509 (209 ) 5,215 2,907 729 196 3,832 (67) (40) 203 96 Comprehensive income $ 1,299 $ 18,985 $ 22,224 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 72 AMERIS BANCORP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Dollars in thousands, except share data) 2008 Year Ended December 31, 2007 2006 Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount 52,000 $ - 48,975 53 52,000 $ 49,028 - $ - - $ - - - - $ - - $ - - - PREFERRED STOCK Issued during period Accretion of fair value of warrant Issued at end of period COMMON STOCK Issued at beginning of period Issuance of restricted shares Cancellation of restricted shares Proceeds from exercise of stock options Adjustment to record acquisition 14,869,924 $ - (33,164) 28,943 - 14,870 - (33) 29 - 14,850,237 $ 4,200 - 15,487 - 14,850 4 - 16 - 14,270,783 $ 44,150 - 40,977 494,327 14,271 44 - 41 494 Issued at end of period 14,865,703 $ 14,866 14,869,924 $ 14,870 14,850,237 $ 14,850 CAPITAL SURPLUS Balance at beginning of period Stock-based compensation Warrants issued Proceeds from exercise of stock options Issuance of restricted shares Cancellation of restricted shares Tax adjustment due to vesting of restricted shares Adjustment for adoption of SFAS 123(R) Adjustment to record acquisition $ 82,750 (97) 3,025 305 - 33 22 - - $ 81,481 1,095 - 160 (4) - 18 - - $ 67,381 823 - 367 (44) - 40 (526) 13,440 Balance at end of period $ 86,038 $ 82,750 $ 81,481 RETAINED EARNINGS Balance at beginning of period Net (loss)/income available to common shareholders Dividends on preferred shares* Dividends on common shares** Balance at end of period UNEARNED COMPENSATION Balance at beginning of period Adjustment for adoption of SFAS 123(R) Balance at end of period OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) Unrealized gains (losses) on securities: Balance at beginning of period Accumulated other comprehensive income Balance at end of period TREASURY STOCK Issued at beginning of period Purchase of treasury shares Issued at end of period $ 103,095 (3,916) $ 95,523 15,153 $ 80,683 22,128 (328) (5,155) - (7,581) - (7,288) $ 93,696 $ 103,095 $ 95,523 $ - - $ - - $ - $ - $ (526) 526 $ - $ 1,303 5,215 $ 6,518 $ (2,529) 3,832 $ 1,303 $ (2,625) 96 $ (2,529) 1,329,939 $ 1,163 (10,769) (18) 1,322,717 $ 7,222 (10,593) (176) 1,318,465 $ 4,252 (10,481) (112) 1,331,102 $ (10,787) 1,329,939 $ (10,769) 1,322,717 $ (10,593) TOTAL STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY $ 239,359 $ 191,249 $ 178,732 *Dividend on Preferred shares: 5% per annum **Dividend on Common shares: $0.38, $0.56 and $0.56 per share, respectively See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 73  AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net (loss)/income Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Amortization of intangible assets Stock-based compensation expense Net loss/(gain) on sale of securities available for sale Net loss on sale or disposal of premises and equipment Net loss/(gain) on sale of other real estate owned Provision for loan losses Provision for deferred taxes Increase/(decrease) in interest receivable Increase/(decrease) in interest payable Increase (decrease) in taxes payable Net other operating activities Total adjustments Net cash provided by operating activities INVESTING ACTIVITIES (Increase)/decrease in interest-bearing deposits in banks Purchases of securities available for sale Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale Proceeds from sale of securities available for sale (Increase)/decrease in restricted equity securities, net (Increase)/decrease in federal funds sold (Increase)/decrease in loans, net Purchase of premises and equipment Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned Net cash paid for acquisitions and divestitures 2008 2007 2006 $ (3,916) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 3,360 1,170 (97) (316) 627 (233) 35,030 (4,650) 3,688 (691) (1,512) (6,859) 29,517 25,601 (87,361) (168,711) 75,327 20,805 720 (45,000) (115,447) (10,154) 390 13,181 - 3,061 1,297 1,095 297 63 656 11,321 (1,522 ) (854 ) 33 (600 ) (6,975 ) 7,872 2,919 1,113 823 308 107 227 2,837 (296) (4,051) 3,636 2,423 2,523 12,569 23,025 34,697 113,771 (137,268 ) 70,748 62,912 (544 ) 9,439 (189,913 ) (15,878 ) 225 3,067 - (54,939) (98,512) 38,589 14,775 1,813 18,646 (196,335) (6,363) 19 877 (199) Net cash used in investing activities (316,250) (83,441 ) (281,629) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Increase/(decrease) in deposits Increase/(decrease) in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase Proceeds from other borrowings Repayment of other borrowings Dividends paid on common stock Proceeds allocated to issuance of preferred stock Proceeds allocated to warrants issued Proceeds from exercise of stock options Purchase of treasury shares Net cash provided by financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and due from banks Cash and due from banks at beginning of year 256,260 47,102 270,709 12,711 220,600 (239,100) (5,155) 48,975 3,025 334 (18) 297,632 6,983 59,804 (1,228 ) 216,500 (201,500 ) (7,510 ) - - 176 (176 ) 5,626 102,114 (132,089) (7,288) - - 408 (112) 53,364 239,368 (7,052 ) 66,856 (7,564) 74,420 Cash and due from banks at end of year $ 66,787 $ 59,804 $ 66,856 74 AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid during the year for: Interest Income taxes NONCASH TRANSACTIONS 2008 2007 2006 $ 57,308 $ 70,966 $ 50,514 $ 4,207 $ 9,573 $ 9,002 Loans transferred to other real estate owned $ 13,632 $ 10,272 $ 1,237 Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale $ 3,706 $ 4,667 $ 206 Change in unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge $ 1,509 $ 1,105 $ (62) See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 75 AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Business Ameris Bancorp (the "Company") is a financial holding company whose primary business is presently conducted by Ameris Bank, its wholly owned subsidiary (the "Bank"). Through the Bank, the Company operates a full service banking business and offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking services to its customers located in a market area which includes Georgia, Alabama, Northern Florida and South Carolina. The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and are periodically examined by those regulatory agencies. Basis of Presentation and Accounting Estimates The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near-term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of foreclosed assets. The determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is based on estimates that are susceptible to significant changes in the economic environment and market conditions. In connection with the determination of the estimated losses on loans and the valuation of foreclosed assets, management obtains independent appraisals for significant collateral or assets. Cash, Due from Banks and Cash Flows For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and due from banks includes cash on hand, cash items in process of collection and amounts due from banks. The Bank is required to maintain reserve balances in cash or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank. The total of the average daily required reserve was approximately $3.9 million and $3.8 million for the years ended 2008 and 2007, respectively. Securities Securities, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as available for sale and recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of the related deferred tax effect. Equity securities, including restricted equity securities, are classified as available for sale and recorded at their fair market value. 76 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Securities (Continued) The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the life of the securities. Realized gains and losses, determined on the basis of the cost of specific securities sold, are included in earnings on the settlement date. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In determining whether other-than-temporary impairment losses exist, management considers (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near- term prospects of the issuer and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Loans Loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances less unearned income, net of deferred fees and origination cost and the allowance for loan losses. Interest income is accrued on the outstanding principal balance. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management's opinion, the borrower may be unable to make payments as they become due, unless the loan is well-secured. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. All interest accrued, but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off, is reversed against interest income, unless management believes that the accrued interest is recoverable through the liquidation of collateral. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received until the loans are returned to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. 77 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the collection of a loan’s principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are credited to the allowance. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb estimated losses relating to specifically identified loans, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the balance of the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management's periodic review of various risks in the loan portfolio highlighted by historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, current economic conditions that may affect the borrower's ability to pay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. This evaluation does not include the effects of expected losses on specific loans or groups of loans that are related to future events or expected changes in economic conditions. While management uses the best information available to make its evaluation, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if there are significant changes in economic conditions. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses and may require the Bank to make additions to the allowance based on their judgment about information available to them at the time of their examinations. The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component includes loans management considers impaired and other loans or groups of loans that management has classified with higher risk characteristics. For such loans that are classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows, collateral value or observable market price of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. Premises and Equipment Land is carried at cost. Other premises and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. In general, estimated lives for buildings are up to 40 years, furniture and equipment useful lives range from 3 to 20 years and the lives of software and computer related equipment range from 3 to 5 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related lease, or the related assets, whichever is shorter. Expenditures for major improvements of the Company’s premises and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Minor repairs, maintenance and improvements are charged to operations as incurred. When assets are sold or disposed of, their cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings. 78 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets purchased in business combinations. Goodwill is required to be tested annually for impairment or whenever events occur that may indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount is not probable. In the event of an impairment, the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value is charged to earnings. The Company performed its annual test of impairment in the fourth quarter and determined that there was no impairment in the carrying value of goodwill assigned to its subsidiary bank as of December 31, 2008. Intangible assets consist of core deposit premiums acquired in connection with business combinations and are based on the established value of acquired customer deposits. The core deposit premium is initially recognized based on a valuation performed as of the consummation date and is amortized over the estimated useful life of between five and ten years. Amortization periods are reviewed annually in connection with the annual impairment testing of goodwill. Foreclosed Assets Foreclosed assets acquired through or in lieu of loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell. Any write-down to fair value at the time of transfer to foreclosed assets is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Costs of improvements are capitalized up to the fair value of the property, whereas costs relating to holding foreclosed assets and subsequent adjustments to the value are charged to operations. The carrying amount of foreclosed assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $4.7 million and $7.0 million, respectively. Income Taxes Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the balance sheet method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws. 79 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for its stock compensation plans using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. During 2008, the Company determined that certain stock grants would not vest and as a result reversed amounts expensed in prior years. The Company recorded approximately ($97,000), $444,000 and $339,000 of stock-based compensation cost in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In December 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of 7,332 options to purchase its common stock to avoid the income statement impact of adopting FASB Statement 123R in future years for those options. Treasury Stock The Company’s repurchases of shares of its common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in a reduction of stockholders’ equity. 80 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the effect of the issuance of potential common shares that are dilutive and by the sum of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Potential common shares consist of only stock options for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, and are determined using the treasury stock method. Presented below is a summary of the components used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share: 2008 Years Ended December 31, 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) 2006 Net income (loss) available to common shareholders $ (4,244) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Effect of dilutive options Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate dilutive earnings per share 13,514 - 13,479 152 12,928 301 13,514 13,631 13,229 Due to the loss in 2008, the Company has excluded the effects of options as these would have been anti- dilutive. At December 31, 2007, approximately 190,000 common shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because of anti-dilution. At December 31, 2006, there were immaterial amounts of potential common shares that were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise of such shares would be anti-dilutive. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities The goal of the Company’s interest rate risk management process is to minimize the volatility in the net interest margin caused by changes in interest rates. Derivative instruments are used to hedge certain assets or liabilities as a part of this process. The Company is required to recognize certain contracts and commitments as derivatives when the characteristics of those contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative. All derivative instruments are required to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. The Company’s current hedging strategies involve utilizing interest rate floors classified as Cash Flow Hedges. Cash flows related to floating-rate assets and liabilities will fluctuate with changes in an underlying rate index. When effectively hedged, the increases or decreases in cash flows related to the floating rate asset or liability will generally be offset by changes in cash flows of the derivative instrument designated as a hedge. The fair value of derivatives is recognized as assets or liabilities in the financial statements. The accounting for the changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative instrument at inception. The change in fair value of the effective portion of cash flow hedges is accounted for in other comprehensive income rather than net income. 81 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Continued) As of December 31, 2008, the Company had cash flow hedges with notional amounts totaling $70 million for the purpose of converting floating rate assets to fixed rate. The fair value of these instruments amounted to approximately $3.7 million and $1.5 million as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and was recorded as an asset. No hedge ineffectiveness from cash flow hedges was recognized in the statement of income. All components of each derivative’s gain or loss are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Comprehensive Income The Company's comprehensive income consists of net income, changes in the net unrealized holding gains and losses of securities available for sale, and the unrealized gain or loss on the effective portion of the cash flow hedge. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated statements of stockholders' equity is presented net of taxes. Accounting Standards New Accounting Pronouncements. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which replaces the different definitions of fair value in existing accounting literature with a single definition, sets out a framework for measuring fair value, and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is required to be applied whenever another financial accounting standard requires or permits an asset or liability to be measured at fair value. The Company adopted the guidance of SFAS 157 beginning January 1, 2008. As expected, the adoption had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 would allow the Company to make an irrevocable election to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses on the elected items recognized in earnings at each reporting period. The fair value option may only be elected at the time of initial recognition of a financial asset or financial liability or upon the occurrence of certain specified events. The election is applied on an instrument by instrument basis, with a few exceptions, and is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. SFAS 159 also provides expanded disclosure requirements regarding the effects of electing the fair value option on the financial statements. SFAS 159 is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company evaluated SFAS 159 and determined that the fair value option would not be elected for any financial asset or liability reported on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial condition as of January 1, 2008 (date of adoption), nor has the Company applied the provisions of SFAS 159 to any financial asset or liability recognized during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2008. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), "Business Combinations" (“SFAS 141(R)”) which revised SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" (“SFAS 141”). This pronouncement is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2009. Under SFAS 141, organizations utilized the announcement date as the measurement date for the purchase price of the acquired entity. SFAS 141(R) requires measurement at the date the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree, generally referred to as the acquisition date. SFAS 141(R) will have a significant impact on the accounting for transaction costs, restructuring costs as well as the initial recognition of contingent assets and liabilities assumed during a business combination. Under SFAS 141(R), adjustments to the acquired entity's deferred tax assets and uncertain tax position balances occurring outside the measurement period are recorded as a component of the income tax expense, rather than goodwill. As the provisions of SFAS 141(R) are applied prospectively, the impact to the Company cannot be determined until a transaction occurs. Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform with the current year presentations. 82 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 2. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND DIVESTITURES On December 29, 2006, the Company acquired 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Islands Bancorp and its banking subsidiary, Islands Community Bank, NA (collectively, “Islands”). Islands was headquartered in Beaufort, South Carolina where it operated a single branch with satellite loan production offices in Bluffton, South Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. The consideration for the acquisition was a combination of cash and common stock with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $19,055,000. The total consideration consisted of $5,121,000 in cash, and approximately 494,000 shares of Ameris Bancorp common stock with a value of approximately $13,934,000. The value of the shares of common stock issued of $28.18 was based on the average closing price of Ameris common stock for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the merger. Islands results of operations for 2006 are not included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income as the merger date occurred after close of business on the last day of the fiscal year. 83 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 2. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND DIVESTITURES (Continued) The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition dates (in thousands): (In Thousands) Islands as of December 29, 2006 $ Cash and due from banks Interest-bearing deposits and federal funds sold Investments Loans, net Premises and equipment Core deposits intangible asset Goodwill Other assets Total assets acquired Deposits Other borrowings Other liabilities Total liabilities assumed 1,100 9,439 3,249 62,331 4,597 800 10,312 580 92,408 71,510 1,000 843 73,353 Net assets acquired $ 19,055 Unaudited proforma consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2006 as though Islands had been acquired as of January 1, 2006 follows: Net interest income Net income Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share (Dollars in Thousands) 2006 $ $ $ $ 73,101 21,939 1.63 1.60 During 2006, the Company negotiated contracts for the sale of three stand-alone bank charters to other banks. The Company recognized gains of approximately $3.1 million, $1.9 million after tax, as a result of these sales. Total assets, loans and deposits were reduced by approximately $11.3 million, $1.0 million and $7.3 million, respectively, as a result of these sales. 84 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 3. SECURITIES The amortized cost and fair value of securities available for sale with gross unrealized gains and losses are summarized as follows: Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses (Dollars in Thousands) Fair Value December 31, 2008: U. S. Government sponsored agencies State and municipal securities Corporate debt securities Mortgage-backed securities $ 130,966 $ 18,095 12,209 200,128 1,680 $ 330 186 5,332 - $ 132,646 18,302 11,618 205,328 (123) (777) (132) Total debt securities $ 361,398 $ 7,528 $ (1,032) $ 367,894 December 31, 2007: U. S. Government sponsored agencies State and municipal securities Corporate debt securities Mortgage-backed securities $ 69,562 $ 18,232 9,812 190,896 366 $ 181 37 1,281 (5) $ (93) (351) (536) 69,923 18,320 9,498 191,641 Total debt securities $ 288,502 $ 1,865 $ (985) $ 289,382 The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities available for sale as of December 31, 2008 by contractual maturity are shown below. Maturities may differ from contractual maturities in mortgage-backed securities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be called or repaid without penalty. Therefore, these securities are not included in the maturity categories in the following maturity summary. Due in one year or less Due from one year to five years Due from five to ten years Due after ten years Mortgage-backed securities Amortized Cost Fair Value (Dollars in Thousands) $ 55,559 57,717 36,583 11,411 200,128 $ 55,739 58,492 37,471 10,864 205,328 $ 361,398 $ 367,894 Securities with a carrying value of approximately $260,799,000 and $247,190,000 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes required or permitted by law. 85 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 3. SECURITIES (Continued) Gains and losses on sales of securities available for sale consist of the following: December 31, 2007 2008 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) Gross gains on sales of securities $ 329 $ 26 $ - Gross losses on sales of securities (13 ) (323 ) (308 ) Net realized gains (losses) on sales of securities available for sale $ 316 $ (297 ) $ (308 ) The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of securities aggregated by category and length of time that securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2008 and 2007. Description of Securities Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Fair Value Losses Unrealized Losses (Dollars in Thousands) December 31, 2008: U. S. Government sponsored agencies State and municipal securities Corporate debt securities Mortgage-backed securities $ $ - 3,715 2,178 7,264 - $ (80) (777) (83) - 981 - 2,408 $ - $ - $ (43) - (49) 4,696 2,178 9,672 - (123) (777) (132) Total temporarily impaired securities $ 13,157 $ (940) $ 3,389 $ (92) $ 16,546 $ (1,032) December 31, 2007: U. S. Government sponsored agencies State and municipal securities Corporate debt securities Mortgage-backed securities $ $ - 2,466 5,910 29,214 - $ (17) (334) (37) - 3,012 1,494 37,902 $ - $ - $ (81) (17) (499) 5,478 7,404 67,116 Total temporarily impaired securities $ 37,590 $ (388) $ 42,408 $ (597) $ 79,998 $ - (98) (351) (536) (985) Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. While the majority of the unrealized losses on debt securities relate to changes in interest rates, corporate debt securities have also been affected by reduced levels of liquidity and higher risk premiums. Management believes that each investment poses minimal credit risk and that the Company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity. Therefore, at December 31, 2008, these investments are not considered impaired on an other-than-temporary basis. 86 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 4. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES The composition of loans is summarized as follows: Commercial, financial and agricultural Real estate - residential Real estate – commercial and farmland Real estate – construction and development Consumer installment Other Allowance for loan losses Loans, net The following is a summary of information pertaining to impaired loans: $ December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) 200,421 $ 189,203 1,070,483 162,887 64,707 8,076 205,141 157,334 996,517 174,576 69,099 11,381 1,695,777 39,652 1,614,048 27,640 $ 1,656,125 $ 1,586,408 Impaired loans Valuation allowance related to impaired loans Average investment in impaired loans Interest income recognized on impaired loans As of and For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ $ $ 65,414 $ 18,468 9,078 $ 2,978 40,940 $ 16,247 323 $ 314 $ $ $ $ 6,834 1,034 8,181 15 Foregone interest income on impaired loans $ 4,643 $ 1,340 $ 404 Loans on nonaccrual status amounted to approximately $65.4 million, $18.5 million and $6.8 million at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. There were no material amounts of loans past due ninety days or more and still accruing interest at December 31, 2008, 2007 or 2006. 87 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 4. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES (Continued) Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are as follows: Balance, beginning of year Provision for loan losses Loans charged off Recoveries of loans previously charged off Acquired loan loss reserve Balance, end of year December 31, 2008 2007 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 27,640 $ 24,863 11,321 35,030 (10,418 ) (24,340 ) 1,874 1,322 - - $ 22,294 2,837 (3,198) 1,906 1,024 $ 39,652 $ 27,640 $ 24,863 In the ordinary course of business, the Company has granted loans to certain directors and their affiliates. The interest rates on these loans were substantially the same as rates prevailing at the time of the transaction and repayment terms are customary for the type of loan. Company policy provides for no loans to executive officers. Changes in related party loans are summarized as follows: Balance, beginning of year Advances Repayments Transactions due to changes in related parties Balance, end of year December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 6,246 282 (205 ) 1,951 5,912 864 (1,176 ) 646 $ 8,274 $ 6,246 The Bank makes commercial, residential, construction, agricultural, agribusiness and consumer loans to customers primarily in Georgia, northern Florida, Alabama and South Carolina. A substantial portion of the customers' abilities to honor their contracts is dependent on the business economy in the geographical area served by the Bank. A substantial portion of the Company's loans are secured by real estate in the Company's primary market area. In addition, a substantial portion of the other real estate owned is located in those same markets. Accordingly, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of the Company's loan portfolio and the recovery of a substantial portion of the carrying amount of other real estate owned are susceptible to changes in real estate conditions in the Company's primary market area. 88 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 5. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Premises and equipment are summarized as follows: Land Buildings Furniture and equipment Construction in progress Accumulated depreciation December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 20,231 $ 43,350 26,307 8,067 97,955 (31,848 ) 13,966 36,947 22,482 15,048 88,443 (29,311 ) $ 66,107 $ 59,132 Estimated costs to complete construction projects under progress were $3.8 million and $9.6 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Depreciation expense was $3.4 million, $3.1 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Leases The Company has a non-cancellable operating lease on its operations center with a former Chairman of the Board. The lease has an initial term of five years with one five year renewal option. The Company has various operating leases with unrelated parties on twelve banking offices. Generally, these leases are on smaller locations with initial lease terms under ten years with up to two renewal options. Rental expense amounted to approximately $813,000, $335,000 and $147,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The total rental expense increased $478,000 from 2007, of which, approximately $55,000 is related to the acceleration of lease payments on two non-cancellable leases. Future minimum lease commitments under the Company’s operating leases, excluding any renewal options, are summarized as follows: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Thereafter $ 534,785 386,923 278,747 217,395 174,000 174,000 $ 1,765,850 89 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Following is a summary of information related to acquired intangible assets: As of December 31, 2008 Gross Amount Accumulated Amortization As of December 31, 2007 Gross Amount Accumulated Amortization (Dollars in Thousands) Amortized intangible assets Core deposit premiums $ 14,430 10,799 $ 14,430 $ 9,628 The aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets was approximately $1,170,000, $1,297,000 and $1,107,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Thereafter Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows: $ $ 584,000 547,000 547,000 493,000 493,000 967,000 3,631,000 For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) Beginning balance Adjustment of previously acquired goodwill based on final allocations Ending balance $ $ 54,813 $ - 54,813 $ 54,365 448 54,813 NOTE 7. DEPOSITS The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $677.8 million and $522.9 million, respectively. The scheduled maturities of time deposits at December 31, 2008 are as follows: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Thereafter 90 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 1,030,413 40,115 40,932 16,524 7,288 6 $ 1,135,278 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 7. DEPOSITS (Continued) The Company had brokered deposits of $195.3 million and $128.0 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007. The scheduled maturities of brokered deposits at December 31, 2008 and their weighted average costs are as follows: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Wgt Avg Cost Balance (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 146,335 3,000 30,461 10,581 4,945 195,322 3.78% 4.09 4.35 4.69 4.49 3.94% NOTE 8. SECURITIES SOLD UNDER REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS Securities sold under repurchase agreements, which are secured borrowings, generally mature within one to four days from the transaction date. Securities sold under repurchase agreements are reflected at the amount of cash received in connection with the transactions. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities. The Company monitors the fair value of the underlying securities on a daily basis. Securities sold under repurchase agreements at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $27.4 million and $14.7 million, respectively. NOTE 9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Company has established a retirement plan for eligible employees. The Ameris Bancorp 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan allows a participant to defer a portion of his compensation and provides that the Company will match a portion of the deferred compensation. The Plan also provides for non-elective and discretionary contributions. All full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the Plan provided they have met the eligibility requirements. Generally, a participant must have completed twelve months of employment with a minimum of 1,000 hours and have attained an age of 21. Aggregate expense under the plan charged to operations during 2008, 2007 and 2006 amounted to $1.6 million, $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. NOTE 10. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS The Company and the Bank have entered into separate deferred compensation arrangements with certain executive officers and directors. The plans call for certain amounts payable at retirement, death or disability. The estimated present value of the deferred compensation is being accrued over the expected service period. The Company and the Bank have purchased life insurance policies which they intend to use to finance this liability. Cash surrender value of life insurance of $2.1 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, is included in other assets. Accrued deferred compensation of $1.3 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, is included in other liabilities. Aggregate compensation expense under the plans was $95,000, $119,000 and $112,000 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and is included in other operating expenses. 91 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 11. OTHER BORROWINGS Other borrowings consist of the following: December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) Advances under revolving credit agreement with a regional bank with interest at thirty day LIBOR plus 1.35% (3.25% at December 31, 2008) due in December 2009, secured by subsidiary bank stock. $ 5,000 $ 5,000 Advances from the FHLB with adjustable interest at three month LIBOR plus 0.32% (1.74% at December 31, 2008) maturing August 2009. 65,000 65,000 Advance from Federal Home Loan Bank with a fixed interest rate of 3.64%, matured September 2008. 0 1,000 Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank with interest at fixed rates (weighted average rate of 6.12%) convertible to a variable rate at the option of the lender, due at various dates through May 2010. 2,000 19,500 $ 72,000 $ 90,500 The advances from Federal Home Loan Bank are collateralized by a blanket lien on all first mortgage loans and other specific loans in addition to FHLB stock. At December 31, 2008, $70.3 million was available for borrowing on lines with the FHLB. Other borrowings at December 31, 2008 have maturities in future years as follows: 2009 2010 (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 70,000 2,000 72,000 As of December 31, 2008, the Company maintained credit arrangements with various financial institutions to purchase federal funds up to $55 million. The Company also maintained a line of credit with a financial institution to borrow up to $20 million, with interest indexed by LIBOR, adjusted monthly. As of December 31, 2008, there was $15 million available for borrowing. The Company also participates in the Federal Reserve discount window borrowings. NOTE 12. PREFERRED STOCK On November 21, 2008, Ameris sold 52,000 shares of preferred stock with a warrant to purchase 679,443 shares of the Company’s common stock, to the U. S. Treasury under the Treasury's Capital Purchase Program. The proceeds from the sale of $52 million were allocated between the preferred stock and the warrant based on their relative fair values at the time of the sale. Of the $52 million in proceeds, $48.98 million was allocated to the preferred stock and $3.02 million was allocated to the warrant. The discount recorded on the preferred stock that resulted from allocating a portion of the proceeds to the warrant is being accreted directly to retained earnings over a 5 year period applying a level yield. The preferred stock qualifies as Tier I capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter. The preferred stock is redeemable at any time at $1,000 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends with the consent of the Company’s primary federal regulator. 92 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 13. INCOME TAXES The income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income consists of the following: Current Deferred For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) $ $ 2,597 (4,650 ) 8,822 $ (1,522) 11,425 (296) $ (2,053 ) $ 7,300 $ 11,129 The Company's income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rates to income before income taxes. A reconciliation of the differences is as follows: Tax at federal income tax rate Increase (decrease) resulting from: Tax-exempt interest Other Provision for income taxes For the Years Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) $ (2,030 ) $ 7,859 $ 11,640 (364 ) 341 (403 ) (156 ) (318 ) (193 ) $ (2,053 ) $ 7,300 $ 11,129 Net deferred income tax assets of $7,498,000 and $5,535,000 at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, are included in other assets. The components of deferred income taxes are as follows: Deferred tax assets: Loan loss reserves Deferred compensation Stock based compensation Nonaccrual interest Net operating loss carryforward Other real estate owned Capitalized costs and deferred gains Deferred tax liabilities: Depreciation and amortization Intangible assets Stock based compensation Unrealized gain on securities available for sale Unrealized gain on cash flow hedge December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 13,862 $ 355 - 411 - 349 243 15,220 3,231 985 148 2,209 1,149 7,722 9,306 372 41 253 90 221 216 10,499 2,560 1,733 - 299 372 4,964 Net deferred tax assets $ 7,498 $ 5,535 93 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 14. SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES During 2005, the Company acquired First National Banc Statutory Trust I, a subsidiary of First National Banc, Inc., whose sole purpose was to issue $5,000,000 principal amount of Trust Preferred Securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 2.80% (4.23% at December 31, 2008) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The Trust Preferred Securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in April, 2009. There are certain circumstances (as described in the Trust agreement) in which the securities may be redeemed within the first five years at the Company’s option. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2008 was $5,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of Debentures outstanding was $5,155,000. During 2006, the Company formed Ameris Statutory Trust I, issuing trust preferred certificates in the aggregate principal amount of $36,000,000. The related debentures issued by the Company were in the aggregate principal amount of $37,114,000. Both the trust preferred securities and the related Debentures bear interest at 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.63% (3.06% at December 31, 2008). Distributions on the trust preferred securities are paid quarterly, with interest on the Debentures being paid on the corresponding dates. The trust preferred securities mature on December 15, 2036 and are redeemable at the Company’s option beginning September 15, 2011. Under applicable accounting standards, the assets and liabilities of such trusts, as well as the related income and expenses, are excluded from the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the subordinated debentures issued by the Company and purchased by the trusts remain on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. In addition, the related interest expense continues to be included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For regulatory capital purposes, the Trust Securities qualify as a component of Tier 1 Capital. 94 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION The Company awards its employees various forms of stock-based incentives under certain plans approved by its shareholders. Awards granted under the plans may be in the form of qualified or nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), long-term incentive compensation units consisting of cash and common stock, or any combination thereof within the limitations set forth in the plans. The plans provide that the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock which may be subject to award may not exceed 1,785,000 subject to adjustment in certain circumstances to prevent dilution. All stock options have an exercise price that is equal to the closing fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date the options were granted. Options granted under the plans generally vest over a five year period and have a 10 year maximum term. Most options granted since 2005 contain performance-based vesting conditions. As of December 31, 2008, the Company has outstanding a total of 16,100 restricted shares granted under the plans as compensation to certain employees. These shares carry dividend and voting rights. Sale of these shares is restricted prior to the date of vesting, which is three to five years from the date of the grant. Shares issued under the plans are recorded at their fair market value on the date of their grant. The compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the related vesting period. In 2008, certain performance based grants with different vesting structures failed to vest and the Company reversed amounts previously expensed amounting to $431,000. In 2007 and 2006, compensation expense related to these grants was $651,000 and $484,000, respectively. It is the Company’s policy to issue new shares for stock option exercises and restricted stock rather than issue treasury shares. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the options’ related vesting term. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $334,000, $444,000 and $339,000 for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted-average grant date fair value of non-performance based options granted during 2008 was $3.40 per share. No non-performance based options were issued during 2007 or 2006. As of December 31, 2008, there was $280,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements for non-performance-based options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted- average period of approximately 2 years. The total intrinsic value of those shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $69,000 and $365,000, respectively. A summary of the activity of non-performance based and performance based options as of December 31, 2008 is presented below: Non-Performance Based Weighted- Weighted Aggregate Average Average Contractual Exercise Term Price Intrinsic Value $ (000) Performance Based Weighted- Weighted Aggregate Average Intrinsic Average Contractual Value Exercise (000) Term Price $ Shares Shares Under option, beginning of year 232,581 $ 12.83 424,750 $ 20.80 Granted Exercised Forfeited 109,300 15.13 10,000 13.85 (28,943) 11.55 - - (25,688) 14.14 (67,000) 20.26 Under option, end of year 287,250 $ 13.72 5.33 $ 242 368,750 $ 20.71 7.56 $ Exercisable at end of year 154,407 $ 11.37 3.83 $ 242 101,700 $ 20.26 7.25 $ - - 95 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued) Additional information pertaining to non-performance based options outstanding at December 31, 2008 is as follows: Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range of Exercise Prices Weighted- Average Number Contractual Outstanding Life in Years Weighted- Average Exercise Price Weighted- Average Exercise Price Number Outstanding $ 8.25 – 9.33 $ 11.04 – 16.88 74,950 212,300 287,250 1.35 $ 6.74 $ 8.69 14.45 74,950 $ 79,457 $ 8.69 13.89 154,407 The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years was $3.01, $5.53 and $3.48 during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, there was $371,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted related to performance- based options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.22 years. Additional information pertaining to performance-based options outstanding at December 31, 2008 is as follows: Options Outstanding Options Exercisable Range of Exercise Prices Weighted- Average Number Contractual Outstanding Life in Years Weighted- Average Exercise Price Weighted- Average Exercise Price Number Outstanding $ 13.85 - 20.12 $ 20.76 - 28.53 138,500 230,250 368,750 6.69 $ 8.08 $ 17.78 22.47 53,500 $ 48,200 $ 18.12 22.64 101,700 96 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued) The fair value of each stock-based compensation grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: Years Ended December 31, 2008 2007 2006 Dividend yield Expected life Expected volatility Risk-free interest rate 3.69-4.61% 8 years 27.10-32.80% 3.57-3.88% 1.99-2.52 % 8 years 18.09-25.02 % 4.59-5.20 % 1.96-2.70% 8 years 16.51-20.28% 4.45-5.12% A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2008 and changes during the year then ended is presented below: Nonvested shares at January 1, 2008 Granted Vested Forfeited Nonvested shares at December 31, 2008 Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value Shares 53,430 $ - (4,000 ) (33,330 ) 16,100 $ 20.83 - 20.84 19.99 22.57 The balance of unearned compensation related to restricted stock grants as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $223,000 and $451,000 respectively. 97 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 16. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES During 2006, the Company entered into derivative instruments to minimize the volatility in its net interest margin due to a reduction in the prime rate and the resulting effect on interest income from its variable rate loan portfolio. The Company purchased two $35 million notional amount, 3 and 5-year, 7% prime rate floor contracts to hedge against the exposure to the cash flow of these variable rate loans. The premium paid for these contracts was $497,000. These contracts are classified as cash flow hedges of an exposure to changes in the cash flow of a recognized asset. As a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of a hedge that is deemed to be highly effective is recognized in other comprehensive income and the portion deemed to be ineffective is recognized in earnings. As of December 31, 2008, the hedge is deemed to be highly effective. Notional Amount Rate of Floor Fair Value Fair Value December 31, December 31, Index 2008 2007 Cash flow hedges: Floor - 5 year Floor - 3 year $ 35,000,000 35,000,000 $ 70,000,000 7% Prime 7% Prime $ 2,825,000 $ 1,144,000 396,000 872,000 $ 3,697,000 $ 1,540,000 NOTE 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Loan Commitments The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. They involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheets. The Company's exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on- balance-sheet instruments. A summary of the Company's commitments is as follows: Commitments to extend credit Financial standby letters of credit December 31, 2008 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) $ 159,114 $ 177,410 7,426 6,358 $ 165,472 $ 184,836 Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. 98 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Continued) Loan Commitments (Continued) Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. Collateral is required in instances which the Company deems necessary. The Company has not been required to perform on any material financial standby letters of credit and the Company has not incurred any losses on financial standby letters of credit for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. At December 31, 2008, the Company had guaranteed the debt of certain officers’ liabilities at another financial institution totaling approximately $514,000. These guarantees represent the available credit line of those certain officers for the purchase of Company stock. Any stock purchased under this program will be assigned to the Company and held in safekeeping. The Company has not been required to perform on any of these guarantees for the year ended December 31, 2008. Contingencies In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings. In the opinion of management, any liability resulting from such proceedings would not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements. 99 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 18. REGULATORY MATTERS The Bank is subject to certain restrictions on the amount of dividends that may be declared without prior regulatory approval. At December 31, 2008, no amounts of retained earnings were available for dividend declaration without regulatory approval. The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's and Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier I capital, as defined by the regulations, to risk- weighted assets, as defined, and of Tier I capital to average assets, as defined. Management believes, as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject. As of December 31, 2008, the most recent notification from the regulatory authorities categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category. Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable to bank holding companies. The Company’s and Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following table. Actual For Capital Adequacy Purposes To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in Thousands) As of December 31, 2008 Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Consolidated Ameris Bank $ $ Tier I Capital to Risk Weighted Assets: $ $ Consolidated Ameris Bank 238,069 188,594 13.25 % $ 10.41 % $ 143,740 144,933 8.00 % 8.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 10.00% 181,166 215,400 165,748 11.99 % $ 9.15 % $ 71,860 72,458 4.00 % 4.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 6.00% 108,687 Tier I Capital to Average Assets: Consolidated Ameris Bank $ $ 215,400 165,748 9.42 % $ 7.25 % $ 91,465 91,447 4.00 % 4.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 5.00% 114,309 Actual For Capital Adequacy Purposes To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in Thousands) As of December 31, 2007 Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Consolidated Ameris Bank $ $ 191,950 193,220 11.59 % $ 11.68 % $ 132,525 133,343 8.00 % 8.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 10.00% 166,679 Tier I Capital to Risk Weighted Assets: Consolidated Ameris Bank Tier I Capital to Average Assets: $ $ 171,331 172,630 10.34 % $ 10.44 % $ 66,263 66,172 4.00 % 4.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 6.00% 99,258 Consolidated Ameris Bank $ $ 171,331 172,630 8.39 % $ 8.47 % $ 81,719 81,566 4.00 % 4.00 % $ - - -N/A - - - 5.00% 101,958 100 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 19. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 has been applied prospectively as of the beginning of the period. SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in active markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Additionally, in accordance with SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“SFAS 107”), certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from its disclosure requirements. SFAS 107 requires the disclosure of information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the face of the balance sheet, for which it is practical to estimate that value. Where quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flows and other valuation techniques. The use of discounted cash flows are significantly affected by the estimates of future cash flows and discount rates. The following disclosures are not a calculation of the liquidation value of the Company, but rather a good faith estimate of the increase or decrease in value of financial instruments held by the Company. The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of its financial instruments and other accounts recorded based on their fair value: Cash, Due From Banks, Interest-Bearing Deposits in Banks and Federal Funds Sold: The carrying amount of cash, due from banks and interest-bearing deposits in banks and federal funds sold approximates fair value. Securities Available For Sale: The fair value of securities available for sale is determined by various valuation methodologies. Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows. Level 2 securities include certain U.S. agency bonds, collateralized mortgage and debt obligations, and certain municipal securities. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy and include certain residual municipal securities and other less liquid securities. Fair value of securities is based on available quoted market prices. Loans: The carrying amount of variable-rate loans that reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate loans is estimated based on discounted contractual cash flows, using interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers with similar credit quality. The fair value of impaired loans is estimated based on discounted contractual cash flows or underlying collateral values, where applicable. A loan is determined to be impaired if the Company believes it is probable that all principal and interest amounts due according to the terms of the note will not be collected as scheduled. The fair value of impaired loans is determined in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan” and generally results in a specific reserve established through a charge to the provision for loan losses. Losses on impaired loans are charged to the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan is confirmed. Management has determined that the majority of impaired loans are Level 2 assets due to the extensive use of market appraisals. To the extent that market appraisals or other methods do not produce reliable determinations of fair value, these assets are deemed to be Level 3. 101 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 19. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued) Deposits: The carrying amount of demand deposits, savings deposits and variable-rate certificates of deposits approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate certificates of deposits is estimated based on discounted contractual cash flows using interest rates currently being offered for certificates of similar maturities. Repurchase Agreements and/or Other Borrowings: The carrying amount of variable rate borrowings and securities sold under repurchase agreements approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed rate other borrowings is estimated based on discounted contractual cash flows using the current incremental borrowing rates for similar type borrowing arrangements. Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures: The carrying amount of the Company’s variable rate trust preferred securities approximates fair value. Off-Balance-Sheet Instruments: The carrying amount of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit approximates fair value. The carrying amount of the off-balance-sheet financial instruments is based on fees charged to enter into such agreements. Derivatives – The Company’s current hedging strategies involve utilizing interest rate floors. The fair value of derivatives is recognized as assets or liabilities in the financial statements. The accounting for the changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative instrument at inception. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had cash flow hedges with a notional amount of $70 million for the purpose of converting floating rate assets to fixed rate. Other Real Estate Owned – The fair value of other real estate owned ("OREO") is determined using certified appraisals that value the property at its highest and best uses by applying traditional valuation methods common to the industry. The Company does not hold any OREO for profit purposes and all other real estate is actively marketed for sale. Management has determined that in most cases the valuation method for other real estate produces reliable estimates of fair value and has classified these assets as Level 2. 102 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 19. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued) The following table presents the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the FAS 157 fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall as of December 31, 2008: Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis As of December 31, 2008 Quoted Prices in Active Significant Markets for Other Significant Fair Value $ $ 367,894 $ 3,697 371,591 $ Identical Assets (Level 1) Observable Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) Inputs (Level 3) (Dollars in Thousands) 5,031 $ - 360,863 $ 3,697 5,031 $ 364,560 $ 2,000 - 2,000 Securities available for sale Derivative financial instruments Total recurring assets at fair value Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy. Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis As of December 31, 2008 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Significant Observable Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) (Dollars in Thousands) $ Inputs (Level 3) 1,387 64,027 $ 4,742 - $ 68,769 $ 1,387 Fair Value Impaired loans carried at fair value Other real estate owned $ Total nonrecurring assets at fair value $ 65,414 $ 4,742 70,156 $ 103 NOTE 19. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued) Below is the Company’s reconciliation of Level 3 assets as of December 31, 2008. Gains or losses on impaired loans are recorded in the provision for loan losses. Beginning balance, January 1, 2008 Total gains/(losses) included in net income Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements, net Transfers in or out of Level 3 Ending balance, December 31, 2008 Investment Securities Available for Sale (Dollars in Thousands) Impaired Loans $ $ 1,000 $ - 1,000 - 2,000 $ - - - 1,387 1,387 The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments, not shown elsewhere in these financial statements, were as follows: Financial assets: Loans, net Financial liabilities: Deposits Other borrowings December 31, 2008 Fair Value Carrying Amount December 31, 2007 Fair Value Carrying Amount (Dollars in Thousands) $ 1,656,125 $ 1,671,499 $ 1,586,408 $ 1,592,465 2,019,964 1,757,265 1,760,069 89,558 90,500 71,545 2,013,525 72,000 104 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 20. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF AMERIS BANCORP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007 (Dollars in Thousands) Assets Cash and due from banks Investment in subsidiaries Other assets Total assets Liabilities Other borrowings Other liabilities Subordinated deferrable interest debentures Total liabilities Stockholders' equity 2008 2007 $ 51,656 $ 230,708 5,833 2,809 233,548 4,758 $ 288,197 $ 241,115 $ 5,000 $ 1,569 42,269 5,000 2,597 42,269 48,838 49,866 239,359 191,249 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 288,197 $ 241,115 105 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 20. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF AMERIS BANCORP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY) (Continued) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) Income Dividends from subsidiaries Fee income from subsidiaries Other income Total income Expense Interest Other expense Total expense Income before income tax benefits and equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries Income tax benefits Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries 2008 2007 2006 $ 5,700 $ 9,000 $ - 130 - 277 6,840 2,777 3,386 5,830 9,277 13,003 2,404 3,534 (87 ) 1,255 2,317 4,789 4,122 2,668 6,790 3,513 4,488 6,213 626 1,526 175 4,139 6,014 6,388 Equity in undistributed earnings (loss) of subsidiaries (8,055 ) 9,139 15,740 Net (loss)/ income $ (3,916 ) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 Preferred stock dividend 328 - - Net income available to common shareholders $ (4,244 ) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 106 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 20. CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF AMERIS BANCORP (PARENT COMPANY ONLY) (Continued) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006 (Dollars in Thousands) OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net (loss)/income Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by operating activities: Stock-based compensation expense Undistributed (earnings)/losses of subsidiaries Increase (decrease) in interest payable Increase in tax receivable Provision for deferred taxes Accretion of discount on preferred stock (Increase) decrease in due from subsidiaries Other operating activities Total adjustments 2008 2007 2006 $ (3,916 ) $ 15,153 $ 22,128 (97 ) 8,055 (37 ) (1,373 ) 176 53 (122 ) (1,053 ) 5,602 1,095 (9,139) 106 (1,658) 61 - (40) (2,071) 823 (15,740) (106) (177) 201 - 166 1,336 (11,646) (13,497) Net cash provided by operating activities 1,686 3,507 8,631 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of premises and equipment Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Net cash paid for acquisitions Net cash used in investing activities FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from subordinated debentures, net Purchase of treasury shares Proceeds allocated to issuance of preferred stock Proceeds allocated to issuance of warrant Dividends paid on common stock Proceeds from exercise of stock options Net cash used in financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and due from banks Cash and due from banks at beginning of year Cash and due from banks at end of year SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid during the year for interest - - - - - - - (3) 3,884 (5,120) - (1,239) - (18 ) 48,975 3,025 (5,155 ) 334 - (176) - - (7,510) 176 1,547 (112) - - (7,288) 408 47,161 (7,510) (5,445) 48,847 (4,003) 1,947 2,809 6,812 4,865 51,656 $ 2,809 $ 6,812 2,441 $ 3,428 $ 4,224 $ $ 107 Community Boards of Directors GEORGIA Albany Don Monk, President Directors Glenn A. Kirbo, Chairman Willie Adams, Jr., MD Robert V. Barkley, Sr. Reid E. Mills W. Thomas Mitcham, MD Don Monk R. Douglas Oliver W. Paul Wallace, Jr. Brunswick Michael D. Hodges, President Directors Jimmy D. Veal, Chairman C. Ray Acosta Andrew B. Cheney Joseph C. Fendig Michael D. Hodges C. Vance Leavy G. Tony Sammons Thomas I. Sublett J. Thomas Whelchel, Director Emeritus Cairo Robert S. VanLandingham, President Directors Jeffrey ( Jet) F. Cox, Chairman Ronald K. Bell, Sr. Kevin S. Cauley Cuy Harrell, III G. Ashley Register, MD Robert S. VanLandingham Colquitt Directors Walter W. Hays, Chairman Ronald K. Bell, Sr. Terry S. Pickle Danny S. Shepard Cordele Robert L. Evans, President Directors Johnny W. Floyd, Chairman Charles W. Clark Robert L. Evans William H. Griffin, III Don Monk David N. Rainwater Donalsonville Nancy S. Jernigan, City President Directors Newton E. King, Jr., Chairman Ronald K. Bell, Sr. David Glenn Heard Nancy S. Jernigan Kenneth R. Massey C. Willard Mims Dan E. Ponder, Jr. H. Wayne Carr, Director Emeritus John B. Clarke, Sr., Director Emeritus Joseph S. Hall, Director Emeritus Jerry G. Mitchell, Director Emeritus Douglas David B. Batchelor, City President Directors Donnie H. Smith, Chairman Lawton E. Bassett, III David B. Batchelor J. Anthony Deal William (Bill) H. Elliott Faye Hennesy Alfred Lott, Jr. Oscar Street Moultrie Ronnie F. Marchant, President Directors Brooks Sheldon, Chairman Robert M. Brown, MD C. Wayne Cooper Thomas L. Estes, MD Robert A. Faircloth R. Plenn Hunnicutt Daniel B. Jeter Lynn Jones, Jr. Ronnie F. Marchant J. Mark Mobley, Jr. Don Monk Thomas W. Rowell Ocilla Directors Loran (Sonny) A. Pate, Chairman Lawton E. Bassett, III Howard C. McMahan, MD Gary H. Paulk Wesley T. Paulk Jake Walters C. Larry Young Wycliffe Griffin, Director Emeritus Daniel (Danny) M. Paulk, Director Emeritus W. C. Sams, MD, Director Emeritus St. Marys R. Edwin Haworth, President Directors Thomas I. Stafford, Jr., Chairman Andrew B. Cheney Michael L. Davis R. Edwin Haworth Joseph P. Helow Fareed Kadum, MD James R. McCollum John W. McDill Daniel (Danny) M. Simpson J. Groover Henderson, Director Emeritus Community Boards of Directors SOUTH CAROLINA Beaufort John R. Perrill, City President Directors John R. Perrill, Chairman Martha B. Fender Darryl W. Gardner D. Martin Goodman Michael A. McFee H. Richard Sturm Bruce K. Wyles, DDS C. John Hipp, III, ex officio Orange Park Timothy M. O’Keefe, President Directors V. Wayne Williford, Chairman Vasant P. Bhide Andrew B. Cheney Benny L. Cleghorn Phillip H. Cury Timothy M. O’Keefe Trenton Michael E. McElroy, President Directors John H. Ferguson, Chairman Andrew B. Cheney Michael Hayes Michael E. McElroy Samuel S. Sanders Norman Scoggins ALABAMA Dothan Harris O. Pittman, III, President Directors R. Dale Ezzell, Chairman Robert Crowder Gerald B. Crowley Ronald Dean John D. DeLoach Harris O. Pittman, III Thomasville Ronald K. Bell, Sr., President Directors L. Maurice Chastain, Chairman Dale E. Aldridge Ronald K. Bell, Sr. S. Mark Brewer, MD H. Eugene (Gene) Hickey Terrel M. Solana, Ed.D. F. Keith Wortman Tifton Lawton E. Bassett, III, President Directors J. Raymond Fulp, Chairman Lawton E. Bassett, III John R. Brownlee Austin L. Coarsey Stewart D. Gilbert, MD Sandra S. Kemp John Alan Lindsey Loran (Sonny) A. Pate Donnie H. Smith Clifford A. Walker, Sr., DMD Valdosta Austen D. Carroll, President Directors Charles E. Smith, Chairman Lawton E. Bassett, III Austen D. Carroll Sue D. Mink Thomas Eddie York Doyle Weltzbarker, Director Emeritus Henry C. Wortman, Director Emeritus FLORIDA Crawfordville J. Martin Stubblefield, President Directors L.F. Young, Jr., Chairman Wade G. Brown Andrew B. Cheney William E. Mills W. Mark Payne J. Martin Stubblefield COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION Ameris Bancorp Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ABCB.” The following table sets forth the low and high sales prices for the common stock as quoted on NASDAQ during 2008. CALENDAR PERIOD SALES PRICE 2008 Low High First Quarter $12.60 $16.55 Second Quarter $8.70 $16.48 Third Quarter $7.82 $15.07 Fourth Quarter $7.19 $14.21 Quarterly dividends of $0.14 per share were declared for the first and second quarters of 2008. For the third and fourth quarters of 2008, dividends of $0.05 were declared. SHAREHOLDER SERVICES Computershare is Ameris Bancorp’s stock transfer agent and administers all matters related to our stock. Please contact them at: Computershare Investor Services, P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078, 800.568.3476, www.computershare.com. If your stock is held by a broker, please contact your broker. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION Upon written request, Ameris Bancorp will provide, without charge, a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules, required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year 2008. Please direct requests to: Ameris Bancorp, Attention: Dennis J. Zember Jr., CPA, EVP & CFO, P.O. Box 3668, Moultrie, GA 31776-3668. ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS The 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ameris Bancorp will be held at 4:15 p.m. E.S.T., Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Sunset Country Club, located at 2730 South Main Street, Moultrie, Georgia. Ameris Bancorp Board of Directors Standing, from left: Jimmy D. Veal Occupation: Hospitality Industry Employer: The Beachview Club Brooks Sheldon Occupation: Retired Banker Robert P. Lynch Occupation: Automobile Dealer Employer: Lynch Management Company Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Occupation: Banker Employer: Ameris Bancorp Daniel B. Jeter, Chairman Occupation: Consumer Finance Employer: Standard Discount Glenn A. Kirbo Occupation: Attorney Employer: Kirbo & Kirbo, P.C. J. Raymond Fulp Occupation: Pharmacist Employer: Harvey’s Pharmacy Johnny W. Floyd Occupations: Timber and Realty Employer: Floyd Timber Company & Cordele Realty, Inc. Ameris Bancorp Executive Officers Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis J. Zember Jr. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marc J. Bogan Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew B. Cheney Executive Vice President and Florida/Coastal Georgia President Jon S. Edwards Executive Vice President and Director of Credit Administration C. John Hipp, III Executive Vice President and Banking Group President Cindi H. Lewis Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary In Memory of Eugene M. Vereen, Jr. This year, with the passing of Eugene M. Vereen, Jr., Ameris Bancorp lost a valued friend, family member, confidante and leader. Gene was a man of multiple gifts and talents – many of which he contributed to the betterment of his community and his businesses. As the Founder and first President of American Banking Company (now Ameris Bank) beginning in 1971, Gene set a company standard for integrity and service. As Chairman Emeritus, he served as a director of Ameris Bancorp since 1981, and the first Board Chairman from 1981 until 1995. He also served as a Director of each of the affiliated banks during the early stages. A 1941 graduate of Davidson College, Gene served his country honorably during World War II as Lieutenant Commander with the U.S. Navy on the USS Shoshone. He honed his skills in business as an officer of the Moultrie Grocery Co., a Director of Riverside Manufacturing Co. from 1969 to 1986, a Director of Moultrie Cotton Mills from 1969 to 1978, President of Moultrie Insurance Agency from 1951 until its sale in 1983, and Chairman and Director of M.I.A., Co., a real estate holding and investment company. Gene was actively involved in many aspects of Moultrie life. He served as President of the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of The United Way of Colquitt County, President of Moultrie Rotary and President of the Moultrie YMCA. He enjoyed the fellowship of good friends, hunting, golfing, the outdoors, and serving others. His commitment to his community and his professional partners is surpassed only by his devotion to his family: his wife, Nita, his children, Ellen, Joan, Leigh Ann, Michael, Cary, and Doug, their spouses and his twelve grandchildren. Gene’s extraordinary support for Ameris Bancorp and its growth during its early years, his service to his community, and his fellowship, wisdom and generosity are irreplaceable. We will miss our friend, Eugene M. Vereen, Jr., fondly remembered as “Big Daddy.” 310 First Street SE, Moultrie, GA 31768 • Post Office Box 3668, Moultrie, GA 31776 Phone: 229.890.1111 Fax: 229.890.2235 amerisbank.com AMERIS BANK LOCATIONS FUTURE AMERIS BANK LOCATIONS ALABAMA ABBEVILLE 204 Kirkland Street 334.585.2265 CLAYTON 33 Eufaula Avenue* 334.775.3211 DOTHAN 2200 East Main Street 334.677.3063 3299 Ross Clark Circle NW 334.671.4000 EUFAULA 1140 South Eufaula Avenue 334.687.3260 HEADLAND 208 Main Street 334.693.5411 GEORGIA ALBANY 2627 Dawson Road 229.888.5600 BRUNSWICK 5340 New Jesup Highway 912.264.9699 3440 Cypress Mill Road 912.267.9500 CAIRO 40 Highway 84 East 229.377.1110 201 South Broad Street 229.377.1110 COLQUITT 162 East Crawford Street 229.758.3461 CORDELE 510 2nd Street South 229.273.7700 1302 16th Avenue East 229.273.7700 DOERUN 137 West Broad Avenue 229.782.5358 DONALSONVILLE 109 West Third Street 229.524.2112 DOUGLAS 901 Bowens Mill Road SW 912.384.2701 100 South Pearl Avenue 912.384.2701 JEKYLL ISLAND 18-B Beachview Drive 912.635.9014 KINGSLAND 1603 Highway 40 East 912.729.8878 LEESBURG 1607 U.S. Highway 19 South 229.434.4550 MOULTRIE 225 South Main Street 229.985.2222 1707 First Avenue SE 229.985.1111 2513 South Main Street 229.873.4444 OCILLA 300 South Irwin Avenue 229.468.9411 QUITMAN 1000 West Screven Street 229.263.7525 ST. MARYS 2509 Osborne Road 912.882.3400 ST. SIMONS ISLAND 3811 Frederica Road 912.634.1270 THOMASVILLE 2484 East Pinetree Boulevard 229.226.5755 TIFTON 735 West Second Street 229.382.7311 VALDOSTA 19540 Valdosta Highway 229.247.5376 3140 Inner Perimeter Road 229.241.2851 FLORIDA CRAWFORDVILLE 2628 Crawfordville Highway 850.926.5211 JACKSONVILLE 888 Lane Avenue South 4 904.786.8224 8705 Perimeter Park Boulevard, Suite 4* 904.996.9490 NEWBERRY 25365 West Newberry Road 352.472.2162 ORANGE PARK 485 Blanding Boulevard 904.213.0883 1775 Eagle Harbor Parkway 904.264.8840 TALLAHASSEE 1989 Capital Circle NE, Suite 13 850.656.2110 TRENTON 530 East Wade Street 352.463.7171 SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT 2348 Boundary Street 843.521.1968 CHARLESTON 834 Savannah Highway 843.573.8000 COLUMBIA 1301 Gervais Street, Suite 700* 803.765.1600 GREENVILLE 1614 Woodruff Road 864.286.5737 109 Laurens Road, Suite A, Building 2* 864.282.3260 HILTON HEAD 2 Park Lane, Suite 200* 843.686.2903 IRMO 1200 Lake Murray Boulevard 803.749.5230 LEXINGTON 701 West Main Street 803.808.4220 MT. PLEASANT 966-C Houston Northcutt Boulevard* 843.375.4969 SUMMERVILLE 1708 Old Trolley Road, Suite C* 843.875.2663 FUTURE LOCATIONS: Tifton, Georgia Jacksonville, Florida *No ATM at this location. 

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