Ameris Bank Chief Executive Officer, Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. and the Board of Directors of Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank, announce that Lawton E. Bassett, III has been promoted to the role of Ameris Bank and Ameris Bancorp executive vice president and chief banking officer for Georgia and Alabama. In this role, Bassett’s responsibilities will include the oversight of all bank-wide commercial banking initiatives, construction and municipal lending, treasury and cash management, government guaranteed/SBA lending, and all core banking activities throughout Georgia and Alabama. 

Commenting on the appointment, Hortman shared, “Lawton is an extremely talented banker and leader, and is a welcomed addition to our executive management team. He skillfully and successfully led many of our banking teams during the recent economic downturn, through bank acquisitions and expansion into various lines of business. His extensive banking background, leadership style and goal-oriented approach in deriving the best value and strategic advantages is significant as we continue to grow and expand our Company.”     

Bassett has more than 25 years of financial and banking experience, most recently serving as Ameris Bank regional president, where he oversaw the core banking activities in 19 markets, and led teams in these markets through the integration of 9 financial institutions acquired by Ameris Bank.

Bassett has been with Ameris Bank for 19 years, serving as regional president and market president. He served as the chief executive officer of Citizens Security Bank, an independently charted Ameris Bancorp owned financial institution, until the charter was collapsed and consolidated into Ameris Bank in 2006. Prior to joining Citizens Security Bank, Bassett served in various commercial lending and leadership roles at Barnett Bank and SunTrust.

Bassett earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and an associate’s degree in business from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He is an honor graduate of the Banking School of the South at Louisiana State University, Graduate School of Banking and is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Tifton, Georgia.

Bassett is married to his wife Alisha, and has two children Lawton IV “Le” and Annslee. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church, and in his spare time, enjoys quality time with his family, running, hunting and fishing.