Ameris Bancorp

04/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/25/2024 14:23

AMERIS BANCORP ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER 2024 - Form 8-K

AMERIS BANCORP ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER 2024

Highlights of Ameris's results for the first quarter of 2024 include the following:

· Net income of $74.3 million, or $1.08 per diluted share; Adjusted net income(1) of $75.6 million, or $1.10 per diluted share
· Return on average assets ("ROA") of 1.18%; Adjusted ROA(1) of 1.20%
· Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) ROA(1) of 1.89%
· Growth in tangible book value(1) of $0.88 per share, or 10.5% annualized, to $34.52 at March 31, 2024
· TCE ratio(1) of 9.71%, compared with 9.64% at December 31, 2023 and 8.55% one year ago
· Net interest margin of 3.51% for the first quarter of 2024
· Organic growth in loans of $331.0 million, or 6.5% annualized
· Growth in total deposits of $288.9 million, or 5.6% annualized
· Increase in the allowance for credit losses to 1.55% of loans, from 1.52% at December 31, 2023
· Adjusted efficiency ratio(1) of 54.56%

ATLANTA, GA, April 25, 2024 - Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq: ABCB) (the "Company") today reported net income of $74.3 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared with $60.4 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Excluding the FDIC special assessment and gain on bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") proceeds, adjusted net income(1) was $75.6 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared with $59.9 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Commenting on the Company's results, Palmer Proctor, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, said, "The first quarter results demonstrate another period of solid fundamental performance for Ameris. We maintain our disciplined approach, aiming to enhance shareholder value by consistently increasing tangible book value and sustained core profitability, as demonstrated by this quarter's financial performance. We are poised for a successful 2024, with our primary focus on core deposit growth and operating efficiency across our vibrant Southeastern operation."

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis (TE) was $202.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of $4.7 million, or 2.3%, from last quarter and $10.2 million, or 4.8%, compared with the first quarter of 2023. The Company's net interest margin was 3.51% for the first quarter of 2024, down from 3.54% reported for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 3.76% reported for the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in net interest margin this quarter is primarily attributable to rising deposit costs in the current interest rate environment. The rate of change in deposit costs continues to slow as market interest rates remain relatively stable.

Yields on earning assets increased four basis points during the quarter to 5.73%, compared with 5.69% in the fourth quarter of 2023, and increased 48 basis points from 5.25% in the first quarter of 2023. Yields on loans increased to 5.92% during the first quarter of 2024, compared with 5.83% for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 5.44% for the first quarter of 2023.

The Company's total cost of funds was 2.41% in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of nine basis points compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. Deposit costs increased 13 basis points during the first quarter of 2024 to 2.29%, compared with 2.16% in the fourth quarter of 2023. Costs of interest-bearing deposits increased during the quarter from 3.17% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 3.31% in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a shift in mix to CDs and money market accounts.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $9.6 million, or 17.1%, in the first quarter of 2024 to $65.9 million, compared with $56.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily as a result of increased mortgage banking activity, which increased by $8.0 million, or 25.3%, to $39.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared with $31.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Gain on sale spreads increased to 2.49% in the first quarter of 2024 from 1.93% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total production in the retail mortgage division increased $19.1 million, or 2.1%, to $910.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared with $891.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The retail mortgage open pipeline was $606.7 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024, compared with $400.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Also included in noninterest income was $998,000 of gain on BOLI proceeds during the quarter.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense decreased $300,000, or 0.2%, to $148.7 million during the first quarter of 2024, compared with $149.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company recorded an additional $2.9 million related to the FDIC special assessment, compared with $11.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company also recorded a gain on sale of bank premises of $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Excluding those items, adjusted expenses(1) increased approximately $6.5 million, or 4.6%, to $145.8 million in the first quarter of 2024 from $139.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in adjusted expenses(1) resulted from a $7.0 million increase in salaries and employee benefits related primarily to cyclical payroll tax and 401(k) expenses and variable mortgage compensation. Management continues to focus on operating efficiency, and the adjusted efficiency ratio(1) increased to 54.56% in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 52.87% in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily as a result of the cyclical compensation expenses.

Income Tax Expense

The Company's effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2024 was 23.7%, compared with 27.1% for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increased rate for the fourth quarter of 2023 was primarily a result of a return to provision adjustment made when the Company filed its 2022 income tax returns in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets at March 31, 2024 were $25.66 billion, compared with $25.20 billion at December 31, 2023. Debt securities available-for-sale increased slightly to $1.41 billion, compared with $1.40 billion at December 31, 2023. Loans, net of unearned income, increased $331.0 million, or 6.5% annualized, to $20.60 billion at March 31, 2024, compared with $20.27 billion at December 31, 2023. Loans held for sale increased to $364.3 million at March 31, 2024 from $281.3 million at December 31, 2023.

At March 31, 2024, total deposits amounted to $21.00 billion, compared with $20.71 billion at December 31, 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, deposits grew $288.9 million, with noninterest bearing accounts increasing $46.7 million, money market accounts increasing $164.6 million and CDs increasing $200.8 million, with such increases offset in part by a $103.5 million decrease in interest bearing demand accounts and a $19.7 million decrease in savings accounts. Noninterest bearing accounts as a percent of total deposits was minimally changed, such that at March 31, 2024, noninterest bearing deposit accounts represented $6.54 billion, or 31.1% of total deposits, compared with $6.49 billion, or 31.3% of total deposits, at December 31, 2023.

Shareholders' equity at March 31, 2024 totaled $3.48 billion, an increase of $58.0 million, or 1.7%, from December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholders' equity was primarily the result of earnings of $74.3 million during the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by dividends declared, share repurchases and an increase in other comprehensive loss of $4.0 million resulting from changes in interest rates on the Company's investment portfolio. Tangible book value per share(1) increased $0.88 per share, or 10.5% annualized, during the first three months of 2024 to $34.52 at March 31, 2024. Tangible common equity as a percentage of tangible assets was 9.71% at March 31, 2024, compared with 9.64% at the end of 2023. The Company repurchased 45,174 of its shares in the quarter ending March 31, 2024 at an average cost of $46.58 per share, equating to approximately $2.1 million.

Credit Quality

Credit quality remains strong in the Company. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $21.1 million, bringing the allowance for credit losses on loans to 1.55%, compared with a provision of $23.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were up two basis points to 0.71% during the quarter. Approximately $84.2 million, or 46.1%, of the nonperforming assets at March 31, 2024 were GNMA-guaranteed mortgage loans, which have minimal loss exposure. Excluding these government-guaranteed loans, nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased five basis points to 0.38% at March 31, 2024, compared with 0.33% at the fourth quarter of 2023. The net charge-off ratio was 25 basis points for the first quarter of 2024, compared with 26 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, April 26, 2024, to discuss the Company's results and answer appropriate questions. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-481-2939. The conference call ID is Ameris Bancorp. A replay of the call will be available one hour after the end of the conference call until May 3, 2024. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529. The conference replay access code is 8309156. The financial information discussed will be available on the Investor Relations page of the Ameris Bank website at ir.amerisbank.com. Participants also may listen to a live webcast of the presentation by visiting the link on the Investor Relations page of the Ameris Bank website.

About Ameris Bancorp

Ameris Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company's banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank, had 164 locations in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina at the end of the most recent quarter.

(1) Considered non-GAAP financial measure - See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in tables 9A - 9E.

This news release contains certain performance measures determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. These measures are useful when evaluating the underlying performance and efficiency of the Company's operations and balance sheet. The Company's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations, enhance comparability of results with prior periods and demonstrate the effects of significant gains and charges in the current period. The Company's management believes that investors may use these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the Company's financial performance without the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, as defined by federal securities laws, including, among other forward-looking statements, certain plans, expectations and goals. Words such as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "will," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue" and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, as well as similar expressions, are meant to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current expectations and are provided to assist in the understanding of potential future performance. Such forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements, including, without limitation, the following: general competitive, economic, unemployment, political and market conditions and fluctuations, including real estate market conditions, and the effects of such conditions and fluctuations on the creditworthiness of borrowers, collateral values, asset recovery values and the value of investment securities; movements in interest rates and their impacts on net interest margin, investment security valuations and other performance measures; expectations on credit quality and performance; legislative and regulatory changes; changes in U.S. government monetary and fiscal policy; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; the success and timing of other business strategies; our outlook and long-term goals for future growth; and natural disasters, geopolitical events, acts of war or terrorism or other hostilities, public health crises and other catastrophic events beyond our control. For a discussion of some of the other risks and other factors that may cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Company's subsequently filed periodic reports and other filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.

For more information, contact:

Brady Gailey

Executive Director of Corporate Development

(404) 240-1517

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
FINANCIAL TABLES
Financial Highlights Table 1
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
EARNINGS
Net income $ 74,312 $ 65,934 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 60,421
Adjusted net income(1) $ 75,612 $ 73,568 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 59,935
COMMON SHARE DATA
Earnings per share available to common shareholders
Basic $ 1.08 $ 0.96 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.87
Diluted $ 1.08 $ 0.96 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.87
Adjusted diluted EPS(1) $ 1.10 $ 1.07 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.86
Cash dividends per share $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.15
Book value per share (period end) $ 50.42 $ 49.62 $ 48.41 $ 47.51 $ 46.89
Tangible book value per share (period end)(1) $ 34.52 $ 33.64 $ 32.38 $ 31.42 $ 30.79
Weighted average number of shares
Basic 68,808,393 68,824,004 68,879,352 68,989,549 69,171,562
Diluted 69,014,116 69,014,793 68,994,247 69,034,763 69,322,664
Period end number of shares 69,115,263 69,053,341 69,138,461 69,139,783 69,373,863
Market data
High intraday price $ 53.99 $ 53.84 $ 45.34 $ 37.18 $ 50.54
Low intraday price $ 44.00 $ 34.26 $ 33.21 $ 28.33 $ 34.28
Period end closing price $ 48.38 $ 53.05 $ 38.39 $ 34.21 $ 36.58
Average daily volume 407,898 390,190 361,167 475,198 452,242
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets 1.18 % 1.03 % 1.25 % 0.98 % 0.98 %
Adjusted return on average assets(1) 1.20 % 1.15 % 1.25 % 0.98 % 0.97 %
Return on average common equity 8.63 % 7.73 % 9.56 % 7.63 % 7.54 %
Adjusted return on average tangible common equity(1) 12.88 % 12.81 % 14.35 % 11.53 % 11.41 %
Earning asset yield (TE) 5.73 % 5.69 % 5.62 % 5.52 % 5.25 %
Total cost of funds 2.41 % 2.32 % 2.24 % 2.05 % 1.59 %
Net interest margin (TE) 3.51 % 3.54 % 3.54 % 3.60 % 3.76 %
Efficiency ratio 55.64 % 56.80 % 52.21 % 53.60 % 52.08 %
Adjusted efficiency ratio (TE)(1) 54.56 % 52.87 % 52.02 % 53.41 % 51.99 %
CAPITAL ADEQUACY (period end)
Shareholders' equity to assets 13.58 % 13.60 % 13.02 % 12.73 % 12.47 %
Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1) 9.71 % 9.64 % 9.11 % 8.80 % 8.55 %
OTHER DATA (period end)
Full time equivalent employees
Banking Division 2,082 2,088 2,082 2,104 2,132
Retail Mortgage Division 596 595 601 613 630
Warehouse Lending Division 8 7 8 8 8
Premium Finance Division 73 75 78 76 78
Total Ameris Bancorp FTE headcount 2,759 2,765 2,769 2,801 2,848
Branch locations 164 164 164 164 164
Deposits per branch location $ 128,033 $ 126,271 $ 125,551 $ 124,653 $ 121,326

(1)Considered non-GAAP financial measure - See reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in tables 9A - 9E

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Income Statement Table 2
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans $ 303,393 $ 303,487 $ 304,699 $ 292,012 $ 271,964
Interest on taxable securities 13,092 14,033 14,754 15,915 14,300
Interest on nontaxable securities 330 326 331 339 339
Interest on deposits in other banks 12,637 14,368 10,769 13,686 9,113
Total interest income 329,452 332,214 330,553 321,952 295,716
Interest expense
Interest on deposits 118,174 111,749 102,999 88,087 53,182
Interest on other borrowings 9,890 14,364 19,803 24,325 30,882
Total interest expense 128,064 126,113 122,802 112,412 84,064
Net interest income 201,388 206,101 207,751 209,540 211,652
Provision for loan losses 25,523 30,401 30,095 43,643 49,376
Provision for unfunded commitments (4,422 ) (7,438 ) (5,634 ) 1,873 346
Provision for other credit losses 4 (11 ) (2 ) - 7
Provision for credit losses 21,105 22,952 24,459 45,516 49,729
Net interest income after provision for credit losses 180,283 183,149 183,292 164,024 161,923
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts 11,759 12,252 12,092 11,295 10,936
Mortgage banking activity 39,430 31,461 36,290 40,742 31,392
Other service charges, commissions and fees 1,202 1,234 1,221 975 971
Gain (loss) on securities (7 ) (288 ) (16 ) (6 ) 6
Other noninterest income 13,494 11,589 13,594 14,343 12,745
Total noninterest income 65,878 56,248 63,181 67,349 56,050
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 82,930 75,966 81,898 81,336 80,910
Occupancy and equipment 12,885 13,197 12,745 12,522 12,986
Data processing and communications expenses 14,654 14,028 12,973 13,451 13,034
Credit resolution-related expenses(1) 486 157 (1,360 ) 848 435
Advertising and marketing 2,545 2,974 2,723 2,627 3,532
Amortization of intangible assets 4,422 4,425 4,425 4,688 4,706
Other noninterest expenses 30,789 38,264 28,042 32,931 23,818
Total noninterest expense 148,711 149,011 141,446 148,403 139,421
Income before income tax expense 97,450 90,386 105,027 82,970 78,552
Income tax expense 23,138 24,452 24,912 20,335 18,131
Net income $ 74,312 $ 65,934 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 60,421
Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.08 $ 0.96 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.87

(1) Includes expenses associated with problem loans and OREO, as well as OREO losses and writedowns.

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Period End Balance Sheet Table 3
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Assets
Cash and due from banks $ 235,931 $ 230,470 $ 241,137 $ 284,552 $ 266,400
Interest-bearing deposits in banks 975,321 936,834 1,304,636 1,034,578 1,754,453
Debt securities available-for-sale, at fair value 1,414,419 1,402,944 1,424,081 1,460,356 1,496,836
Debt securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost 147,022 141,512 141,859 142,513 134,175
Other investments 77,480 71,794 104,957 109,656 146,715
Loans held for sale 364,332 281,332 381,466 391,472 395,096
Loans, net of unearned income 20,600,260 20,269,303 20,201,079 20,471,759 19,997,871
Allowance for credit losses (320,023 ) (307,100 ) (290,104 ) (272,071 ) (242,658 )
Loans, net 20,280,237 19,962,203 19,910,975 20,199,688 19,755,213
Other real estate owned 2,158 6,199 3,397 6,170 1,502
Premises and equipment, net 214,801 216,435 217,564 218,662 218,878
Goodwill 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646
Other intangible assets, net 83,527 87,949 92,375 96,800 101,488
Cash value of bank owned life insurance 396,804 395,778 393,769 391,483 389,201
Other assets 447,767 454,603 465,968 449,042 412,781
Total assets $ 25,655,445 $ 25,203,699 $ 25,697,830 $ 25,800,618 $ 26,088,384
Liabilities
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing $ 6,538,322 $ 6,491,639 $ 6,589,610 $ 6,706,897 $ 7,297,893
Interest-bearing 14,459,068 14,216,870 14,000,735 13,736,228 12,599,562
Total deposits 20,997,390 20,708,509 20,590,345 20,443,125 19,897,455
Other borrowings 631,380 509,586 1,209,553 1,536,989 2,401,327
Subordinated deferrable interest debentures 130,814 130,315 129,817 129,319 128,820
Other liabilities 411,123 428,542 421,046 406,555 407,587
Total liabilities 22,170,707 21,776,952 22,350,761 22,515,988 22,835,189
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock - - - - -
Common stock 72,683 72,516 72,514 72,515 72,484
Capital stock 1,948,352 1,945,385 1,942,852 1,939,865 1,937,664
Retained earnings 1,603,832 1,539,957 1,484,424 1,414,742 1,362,512
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (39,959 ) (35,939 ) (60,818 ) (50,618 ) (35,581 )
Treasury stock (100,170 ) (95,172 ) (91,903 ) (91,874 ) (83,884 )
Total shareholders' equity 3,484,738 3,426,747 3,347,069 3,284,630 3,253,195
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 25,655,445 $ 25,203,699 $ 25,697,830 $ 25,800,618 $ 26,088,384
Other Data
Earning assets $ 23,578,834 $ 23,103,719 $ 23,558,078 $ 23,610,334 $ 23,925,146
Intangible assets 1,099,173 1,103,595 1,108,021 1,112,446 1,117,134
Interest-bearing liabilities 15,221,262 14,856,771 15,340,105 15,402,536 15,129,709
Average assets 25,295,088 25,341,990 25,525,913 25,631,846 25,115,927
Average common shareholders' equity 3,462,871 3,383,554 3,324,960 3,293,049 3,250,289

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Asset Quality Information Table 4
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of period $ 348,727 $ 339,180 $ 326,783 $ 295,497 $ 258,163
Adoption of ASU 2022-02 - - - - (1,711 )
Provision for loan losses 25,523 30,401 30,095 43,643 49,376
Provision for unfunded commitments (4,422 ) (7,438 ) (5,634 ) 1,873 346
Provision for other credit losses 4 (11 ) (2 ) - 7
Provision for credit losses 21,105 22,952 24,459 45,516 49,729
Charge-offs 18,457 20,104 19,488 20,670 14,956
Recoveries 5,857 6,699 7,426 6,440 4,272
Net charge-offs (recoveries) 12,600 13,405 12,062 14,230 10,684
Ending balance $ 357,232 $ 348,727 $ 339,180 $ 326,783 $ 295,497
Allowance for loan losses $ 320,023 $ 307,100 $ 290,104 $ 272,071 $ 242,658
Allowance for unfunded commitments 37,136 41,558 48,996 54,630 52,757
Allowance for other credit losses 73 69 80 82 82
Total allowance for credit losses $ 357,232 $ 348,727 $ 339,180 $ 326,783 $ 295,497
Non-Performing Assets
Nonaccrual portfolio loans $ 80,448 $ 60,961 $ 53,806 $ 57,025 $ 68,028
Other real estate owned 2,158 6,199 3,397 6,170 1,502
Repossessed assets 29 17 22 9 25
Accruing loans delinquent 90 days or more 15,811 16,988 11,891 13,424 15,792
Non-performing portfolio assets $ 98,446 $ 84,165 $ 69,116 $ 76,628 $ 85,347
Serviced GNMA-guaranteed mortgage nonaccrual loans 84,238 90,156 80,752 69,655 74,999
Total non-performing assets $ 182,684 $ 174,321 $ 149,868 $ 146,283 $ 160,346
Asset Quality Ratios
Non-performing portfolio assets as a percent of total assets 0.38 % 0.33 % 0.27 % 0.30 % 0.33 %
Total non-performing assets as a percent of total assets 0.71 % 0.69 % 0.58 % 0.57 % 0.61 %
Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans (annualized) 0.25 % 0.26 % 0.23 % 0.28 % 0.22 %

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Loan Information Table 5
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Loans by Type
Commercial, financial and agricultural $ 2,758,716 $ 2,688,929 $ 2,632,836 $ 2,718,831 $ 2,722,180
Consumer 232,993 241,552 259,797 307,486 349,775
Indirect automobile 24,022 34,257 47,108 63,231 83,466
Mortgage warehouse 891,336 818,728 852,823 1,147,413 958,418
Municipal 477,567 492,668 497,093 510,410 505,515
Premium Finance 998,726 946,562 1,007,334 988,731 947,257
Real estate - construction and development 2,264,346 2,129,187 2,236,686 2,217,744 2,144,605
Real estate - commercial and farmland 8,131,248 8,059,754 7,865,389 7,815,779 7,721,732
Real estate - residential 4,821,306 4,857,666 4,802,013 4,702,134 4,564,923
Total loans $ 20,600,260 $ 20,269,303 $ 20,201,079 $ 20,471,759 $ 19,997,871
Loans by Risk Grade
Grades 1 through 5 - Pass $ 20,221,302 $ 19,846,731 $ 19,812,895 $ 20,114,816 $ 19,654,232
Grade 6 - Other assets especially mentioned 137,225 203,725 187,449 171,035 116,345
Grade 7 - Substandard 241,733 218,847 200,735 185,908 227,294
Total loans $ 20,600,260 $ 20,269,303 $ 20,201,079 $ 20,471,759 $ 19,997,871

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Average Balances Table 6
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Earning Assets
Interest-bearing deposits in banks $ 923,845 $ 936,733 $ 864,028 $ 998,609 $ 859,614
Investment securities - taxable 1,599,705 1,591,567 1,650,164 1,699,096 1,717,448
Investment securities - nontaxable 41,287 40,227 40,896 42,580 43,052
Loans held for sale 323,351 405,080 464,452 577,606 490,295
Loans 20,320,678 20,252,773 20,371,689 20,164,938 19,820,749
Total Earning Assets $ 23,208,866 $ 23,226,380 $ 23,391,229 $ 23,482,829 $ 22,931,158
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 6,403,300 $ 6,572,190 $ 6,655,191 $ 6,729,789 $ 7,136,373
NOW accounts 3,829,977 3,760,992 3,661,701 3,949,850 4,145,991
MMDA 5,952,389 5,994,361 5,527,731 5,002,590 4,994,195
Savings accounts 795,887 817,075 915,678 1,009,749 1,005,614
Retail CDs 2,378,678 2,281,357 2,200,413 2,024,014 1,612,325
Brokered CDs 1,381,382 1,122,684 1,441,854 1,393,206 125,133
Total Deposits 20,741,613 20,548,659 20,402,568 20,109,198 19,019,631
Non-Deposit Funding
FHLB advances 219,589 538,096 943,855 1,408,855 1,968,811
Other borrowings 308,210 311,091 312,572 316,626 361,445
Subordinated deferrable interest debentures 130,551 130,054 129,554 129,056 128,557
Total Non-Deposit Funding 658,350 979,241 1,385,981 1,854,537 2,458,813
Total Funding $ 21,399,963 $ 21,527,900 $ 21,788,549 $ 21,963,735 $ 21,478,444

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Interest Income and Interest Expense (TE) Table 7
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Interest Income
Interest-bearing deposits in banks $ 12,637 $ 14,368 $ 10,769 $ 13,686 $ 9,113
Debt securities - taxable 13,092 14,033 14,754 15,915 14,300
Debt securities - nontaxable (TE) 418 413 418 430 429
Loans held for sale 5,348 6,846 7,460 8,398 7,007
Loans (TE) 298,907 297,501 298,102 284,471 265,802
Total Earning Assets $ 330,402 $ 333,161 $ 331,503 $ 322,900 $ 296,651
Interest Expense
Interest-Bearing Deposits
NOW accounts $ 20,574 $ 19,293 $ 17,255 $ 18,003 $ 15,033
MMDA 53,953 54,002 45,683 35,224 27,809
Savings accounts 986 974 1,791 2,296 1,288
Retail CDs 24,576 22,257 19,013 14,751 7,629
Brokered CDs 18,085 15,223 19,257 17,813 1,423
Total Interest-Bearing Deposits 118,174 111,749 102,999 88,087 53,182
Non-Deposit Funding
FHLB advances 2,578 7,089 12,543 17,222 22,448
Other borrowings 3,879 3,798 3,821 3,902 5,349
Subordinated deferrable interest debentures 3,433 3,477 3,439 3,201 3,085
Total Non-Deposit Funding 9,890 14,364 19,803 24,325 30,882
Total Interest-Bearing Funding $ 128,064 $ 126,113 $ 122,802 $ 112,412 $ 84,064
Net Interest Income (TE) $ 202,338 $ 207,048 $ 208,701 $ 210,488 $ 212,587
AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
FINANCIAL TABLES
Yields(1) Table 8
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Earning Assets
Interest-bearing deposits in banks 5.50 % 6.09 % 4.94 % 5.50 % 4.30 %
Debt securities - taxable 3.29 % 3.50 % 3.55 % 3.76 % 3.38 %
Debt securities - nontaxable (TE) 4.07 % 4.07 % 4.06 % 4.05 % 4.04 %
Loans held for sale 6.65 % 6.71 % 6.37 % 5.83 % 5.80 %
Loans (TE) 5.92 % 5.83 % 5.81 % 5.66 % 5.44 %
Total Earning Assets 5.73 % 5.69 % 5.62 % 5.52 % 5.25 %
Interest-Bearing Deposits
NOW accounts 2.16 % 2.04 % 1.87 % 1.83 % 1.47 %
MMDA 3.65 % 3.57 % 3.28 % 2.82 % 2.26 %
Savings accounts 0.50 % 0.47 % 0.78 % 0.91 % 0.52 %
Retail CDs 4.16 % 3.87 % 3.43 % 2.92 % 1.92 %
Brokered CDs 5.27 % 5.38 % 5.30 % 5.13 % 4.61 %
Total Interest-Bearing Deposits 3.31 % 3.17 % 2.97 % 2.64 % 1.82 %
Non-Deposit Funding
FHLB advances 4.72 % 5.23 % 5.27 % 4.90 % 4.62 %
Other borrowings 5.06 % 4.84 % 4.85 % 4.94 % 6.00 %
Subordinated deferrable interest debentures 10.58 % 10.61 % 10.53 % 9.95 % 9.73 %
Total Non-Deposit Funding 6.04 % 5.82 % 5.67 % 5.26 % 5.09 %
Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities 3.43 % 3.35 % 3.22 % 2.96 % 2.38 %
Net Interest Spread 2.30 % 2.34 % 2.40 % 2.56 % 2.87 %
Net Interest Margin(2) 3.51 % 3.54 % 3.54 % 3.60 % 3.76 %
Total Cost of Funds(3) 2.41 % 2.32 % 2.24 % 2.05 % 1.59 %

(1) Interest and average rates are calculated on a tax-equivalent basis using an effective tax rate of 21%.

(2) Rate calculated based on average earning assets.

(3) Rate calculated based on total average funding including noninterest-bearing deposits.

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Adjusted Net Income Table 9A
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Net income available to common shareholders $ 74,312 $ 65,934 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 60,421
Adjustment items:
Gain on BOLI proceeds (998 ) - - - (486 )
FDIC special assessment 2,909 11,566 - - -
(Gain) loss on bank premises - (1,903 ) - - -
Tax effect of adjustment items (Note 1) (611 ) (2,029 ) - - -
After tax adjustment items 1,300 7,634 - - (486 )
Adjusted net income $ 75,612 $ 73,568 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 59,935
Weighted average number of shares - diluted 69,014,116 69,014,793 68,994,247 69,034,763 69,322,664
Net income per diluted share $ 1.08 $ 0.96 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.87
Adjusted net income per diluted share $ 1.10 $ 1.07 $ 1.16 $ 0.91 $ 0.86
Average assets $ 25,295,088 $ 25,341,990 $ 25,525,913 $ 25,631,846 $ 25,115,927
Return on average assets 1.18 % 1.03 % 1.25 % 0.98 % 0.98 %
Adjusted return on average assets 1.20 % 1.15 % 1.25 % 0.98 % 0.97 %
Average common equity $ 3,462,871 $ 3,383,554 $ 3,324,960 $ 3,293,049 $ 3,250,289
Average tangible common equity $ 2,361,544 $ 2,277,810 $ 2,214,775 $ 2,178,323 $ 2,130,856
Return on average common equity 8.63 % 7.73 % 9.56 % 7.63 % 7.54 %
Adjusted return on average tangible common equity 12.88 % 12.81 % 14.35 % 11.53 % 11.41 %

Note 1: Tax effect is calculated utilizing a 21% rate for taxable adjustments. Gain on BOLI proceeds is non-taxable and no tax effect is included.

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Non-GAAP Reconciliations (continued)

Adjusted Efficiency Ratio (TE) Table 9B
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Adjusted Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expense $ 148,711 $ 149,011 $ 141,446 $ 148,403 $ 139,421
Adjustment items:
FDIC special assessment (2,909 ) (11,566 ) - - -
Gain (loss) on bank premises - 1,903 - - -
Adjusted noninterest expense $ 145,802 $ 139,348 $ 141,446 $ 148,403 $ 139,421
Total Revenue
Net interest income $ 201,388 $ 206,101 $ 207,751 $ 209,540 $ 211,652
Noninterest income 65,878 56,248 63,181 67,349 56,050
Total revenue $ 267,266 $ 262,349 $ 270,932 $ 276,889 $ 267,702
Adjusted Total Revenue
Net interest income (TE) $ 202,338 $ 207,048 $ 208,701 $ 210,488 $ 212,587
Noninterest income 65,878 56,248 63,181 67,349 56,050
Total revenue (TE) 268,216 263,296 271,882 277,837 268,637
Adjustment items:
(Gain) loss on securities 7 288 16 6 (6 )
Gain on BOLI proceeds (998 ) - - - (486 )
Adjusted total revenue (TE) $ 267,225 $ 263,584 $ 271,898 $ 277,843 $ 268,145
Efficiency ratio 55.64 % 56.80 % 52.21 % 53.60 % 52.08 %
Adjusted efficiency ratio (TE) 54.56 % 52.87 % 52.02 % 53.41 % 51.99 %
Tangible Book Value Per Share Table 9C
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Total shareholders' equity $ 3,484,738 $ 3,426,747 $ 3,347,069 $ 3,284,630 $ 3,253,195
Less:
Goodwill 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646
Other intangibles, net 83,527 87,949 92,375 96,800 101,488
Total tangible shareholders' equity $ 2,385,565 $ 2,323,152 $ 2,239,048 $ 2,172,184 $ 2,136,061
Period end number of shares 69,115,263 69,053,341 69,138,461 69,139,783 69,373,863
Book value per share (period end) $ 50.42 $ 49.62 $ 48.41 $ 47.51 $ 46.89
Tangible book value per share (period end) $ 34.52 $ 33.64 $ 32.38 $ 31.42 $ 30.79

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Non-GAAP Reconciliations (continued)

Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets Table 9D
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Total shareholders' equity $ 3,484,738 $ 3,426,747 $ 3,347,069 $ 3,284,630 $ 3,253,195
Less:
Goodwill 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646
Other intangibles, net 83,527 87,949 92,375 96,800 101,488
Total tangible shareholders' equity $ 2,385,565 $ 2,323,152 $ 2,239,048 $ 2,172,184 $ 2,136,061
Total assets $ 25,655,445 $ 25,203,699 $ 25,697,830 $ 25,800,618 $ 26,088,384
Less:
Goodwill 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646 1,015,646
Other intangibles, net 83,527 87,949 92,375 96,800 101,488
Total tangible assets $ 24,556,272 $ 24,100,104 $ 24,589,809 $ 24,688,172 $ 24,971,250
Equity to Assets 13.58 % 13.60 % 13.02 % 12.73 % 12.47 %
Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets 9.71 % 9.64 % 9.11 % 8.80 % 8.55 %
PPNR ROA Table 9E
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Net income $ 74,312 $ 65,934 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 60,421
Plus:
Income taxes 23,138 24,452 24,912 20,335 18,131
Provision for credit losses 21,105 22,952 24,459 45,516 49,729
PPNR $ 118,555 $ 113,338 $ 129,486 $ 128,486 $ 128,281
Average Assets $ 25,295,088 $ 25,341,990 $ 25,525,913 $ 25,631,846 $ 25,115,927
Return on Average Assets (ROA) 1.18 % 1.03 % 1.25 % 0.98 % 0.98 %
PPNR ROA 1.89 % 1.77 % 2.01 % 2.01 % 2.07 %

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Segment Reporting Table 10
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Retail Mortgage Division
Net interest income $ 23,287 $ 24,053 $ 22,805 $ 21,417 $ 20,027
Provision for credit losses 2,332 1,005 2,399 3,278 2,853
Noninterest income 38,765 30,588 35,691 39,808 31,058
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 21,073 16,996 21,231 21,930 20,160
Occupancy and equipment expenses 1,049 1,210 1,182 1,224 1,283
Data processing and telecommunications expenses 1,366 1,318 1,052 1,397 1,069
Other noninterest expenses 12,530 11,634 12,153 11,859 11,747
Total noninterest expense 36,018 31,158 35,618 36,410 34,259
Income before income tax expense 23,702 22,478 20,479 21,537 13,973
Income tax expense 4,978 4,720 4,301 4,523 2,934
Net income $ 18,724 $ 17,758 $ 16,178 $ 17,014 $ 11,039
Warehouse Lending Division
Net interest income $ 6,028 $ 5,965 $ 6,008 $ 6,166 $ 5,700
Provision for credit losses 145 (68 ) (589 ) 411 (194 )
Noninterest income 740 929 662 1,404 480
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 888 296 924 772 802
Occupancy and equipment expenses 7 3 1 - 1
Data processing and telecommunications expenses 25 51 30 44 46
Other noninterest expenses 237 229 219 223 202
Total noninterest expense 1,157 579 1,174 1,039 1,051
Income before income tax expense 5,466 6,383 6,085 6,120 5,323
Income tax expense 1,148 1,340 1,278 1,285 1,118
Net income $ 4,318 $ 5,043 $ 4,807 $ 4,835 $ 4,205
Premium Finance Division
Net interest income $ 7,605 $ 7,801 $ 9,381 $ 8,185 $ 8,640
Provision for credit losses (499 ) 27 139 572 34
Noninterest income 10 9 4 9 9
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 2,053 1,973 2,308 2,122 2,197
Occupancy and equipment expenses 76 83 89 83 59
Data processing and telecommunications expenses 79 100 73 66 85
Other noninterest expenses 1,028 1,057 1,027 1,036 1,097
Total noninterest expense 3,236 3,213 3,497 3,307 3,438
Income before income tax expense 4,878 4,570 5,749 4,315 5,177
Income tax expense 984 945 1,170 869 1,050
Net income $ 3,894 $ 3,625 $ 4,579 $ 3,446 $ 4,127

AMERIS BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL TABLES

Segment Reporting (continued) Table 10
Three Months Ended
Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2023 2023 2023
Banking Division
Net interest income $ 164,468 $ 168,282 $ 169,557 $ 173,772 $ 177,285
Provision for credit losses 19,127 21,988 22,510 41,255 47,036
Noninterest income 26,363 24,722 26,824 26,128 24,503
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 58,916 56,701 57,435 56,512 57,751
Occupancy and equipment expenses 11,753 11,901 11,473 11,215 11,643
Data processing and telecommunications expenses 13,184 12,559 11,818 11,944 11,834
Other noninterest expenses 24,447 32,900 20,431 27,976 19,445
Total noninterest expense 108,300 114,061 101,157 107,647 100,673
Income before income tax expense 63,404 56,955 72,714 50,998 54,079
Income tax expense 16,028 17,447 18,163 13,658 13,029
Net income $ 47,376 $ 39,508 $ 54,551 $ 37,340 $ 41,050
Total Consolidated
Net interest income $ 201,388 $ 206,101 $ 207,751 $ 209,540 $ 211,652
Provision for credit losses 21,105 22,952 24,459 45,516 49,729
Noninterest income 65,878 56,248 63,181 67,349 56,050
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits 82,930 75,966 81,898 81,336 80,910
Occupancy and equipment expenses 12,885 13,197 12,745 12,522 12,986
Data processing and telecommunications expenses 14,654 14,028 12,973 13,451 13,034
Other noninterest expenses 38,242 45,820 33,830 41,094 32,491
Total noninterest expense 148,711 149,011 141,446 148,403 139,421
Income before income tax expense 97,450 90,386 105,027 82,970 78,552
Income tax expense 23,138 24,452 24,912 20,335 18,131
Net income $ 74,312 $ 65,934 $ 80,115 $ 62,635 $ 60,421