Ameris Bancorp, the parent holding company of Ameris Bank, announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of approximately $75 million of the Company's common stock.  The Company also expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares of its common stock sold in the offering.

Stephens Inc. and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, will serve as the joint book-running managers for the offering.  The shares will be issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement and prospectus filed as part of an effective shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216254).  The Company expects to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including providing capital to support our growth organically or through strategic acquisitions, financing investments and capital expenditures, repaying existing indebtedness and for investments in the Bank as regulatory capital.