Ameris Bancorp announced certain cost saving initiatives for 2019 that are expected to reduce annual operating expense by an aggregate of approximately $20.0 million during 2019.  The plan includes several initiatives, including reduced data processing fees and certain branch closure and consolidation plans.  Commenting on the Company's initiatives, Dennis J. Zember, Jr., the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are determined to continue driving our operating efficiency lower, believing that doing so positions us well to compete aggressively for the best customers without having to sacrifice our top quartile return on assets.  These cost savings add confidence to our forecast for 2019 and are in addition to the savings that we projected, and realized, on our recent acquisitions.  We intend to use a portion of these savings to invest more aggressively in our long-term growth initiatives without impacting the earnings we expect for 2018 and 2019." 

The Company has very carefully studied customer behaviors and transaction data and believes that the initiatives will have little to no adverse impact on customer service.  "We have invested substantially in mobile and on-line delivery systems that increasingly mirror our customers' behaviors.  The convenience that we provide customers with these products and services, combined with the proximity to other Ameris Bank branches, gives me confidence that we are not impacting our growth rates or our ability to deliver an exceptional customer experience," added Mr. Zember.