EX-99.1 2 pressrelease.htm PRESS RELEASE pressrelease.htm


Exhibit 99.1

 
 
 
 
News Release
For more information contact:
Dennis J. Zember Jr.
Executive Vice President & CFO
(229) 890-1111

AMERIS BANCORP REPORTS SLIGHT INCREASE IN EARNINGS FOR
SECOND QUARTER OF 2007


AMERIS BANCORP (NasdaqGS: ABCB), Moultrie, Georgia, reported net income of $5.4 million, or $0.39 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to net income of $5.3 million, or $0.40 per share, in the same quarter of 2006.  Year to date earnings totaled $10.4 million or $0.76 per share compared to $10.4 million or $0.79 per share for the same period in 2006.

Continued momentum in balance sheet growth
Total assets at June 30, 2007 were $2.05 billion, an increase of $265.7 million or 14.9% over total assets at June 30, 2006.  Loans increased $226.1 million or 17.0% to $1.56 billion from $1.33 billion at June 30, 2006.  Deposits grew to $1.70 billion, an increase of 17.2% or $249.1 million from the same time in 2006.  Management attributes continued double digit growth in loans and deposits to several on-going initiatives.  First, management in the Company’s core markets has recruited heavily during the previous two years and has succeeded in strengthening sales and production teams, primarily with business bankers and mortgage bankers.  Secondly, recent expansion into larger, metropolitan markets has led to the hiring of seasoned bankers and executives at a faster pace than was originally planned.  Growth in loans and deposits in these markets has exceeded plans as well while the Company attempts to build a meaningful franchise in these new markets.  Management estimates that recent expansion efforts in South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida have cost approximately $0.02 per share in the current quarter and $0.05 per share for the year to date period.  Ameris anticipated that these efforts will be accretive to current shareholders sometime in 2008.

Growth in net interest income and efforts to manage the margin to higher levels
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2007 was $18.3 million, an increase of 3.7% over the same period in 2006.  Growth in interest and fees on loans of $5.2 million or 19.8% was fully offset with higher funding costs as total interest expense increased $5.4 million or 44.1% compared to the same quarter in 2006.

The Company’s net interest margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 4.03%, down from the 4.50% reported in the same quarter in 2006.    During the second quarter of 2007, the Company reversed the accrued interest on a loan relationship under which interest payments became past due.  This reduced loan yields by 0.13% and the overall net interest margin by 0.11% for the second quarter of 2007.  Excluding this non-recurring adjustment, the net interest margin increased to 4.14% from 4.10% in the first quarter of 2007.  Excluding the adjustment, yield on loans increased to 8.59% in the second quarter of 2007 from 8.57% in the first quarter of 2007 while total earning asset yields improved to 7.91%, compared to 7.85% for the same periods.

Funding cost increases moderated during the quarter as total cost of funds increased only 0.05% to 3.84%.  Deposit costs increased to 3.68% during the second quarter compared to 3.64% in the first quarter of the year while non-deposit borrowing costs increased more substantially, from 5.68% to 5.81% during the same periods.

Disciplines being practiced to maintain profitability in the net interest margin and to manage to higher levels have improved significantly during the first half of the year.  The Company’s bankers have negotiated diligently on both sides of the balance sheet and have worked aggressively to determine the sensitivity of the customer base to rate changes.  Management is confident that the positively shaped yield curve which materialized late in the second quarter will provide a boost to margins, particularly impacting the asset side of the balance sheet.  The pricing disciplines being worked by the Company’s bankers and leadership will allow Ameris to benefit from the positive yield curve and should be evident in yields and margins for the last half of the year and fully in 2008.

Focus on operating expenses
Operating expenses during the second quarter of 2007 were $13.8 million compared to $12.3 million for the same quarter in 2006.  Operating expense growth relates mostly to expanding the sales force in markets such as South Carolina and Jacksonville.  In many of the Company’s core markets, sales forces have been expanded over the past two years as well.  These expansions in core markets have typically been offset by fewer employees in non-customer contact roles and ultimately resulted in little growth in operating expense while providing a more robust platform for growth. The expansion expenses for newer markets totaled approximately $1.1 million for the quarter and $2.1 million for the year to date period.  Excluding these expenses, operating expenses grew 2.4% and 7.1% for the quarter and year to date periods, respectively.  Additional efforts to improve operating expenses are underway and the Company’s efforts to streamline back room functions such as loan operations and deposit operations should be completed by the end of 2007.

Improvement in operating income
Operating income during the second quarter of 2007 increased by 31.3% to $4.6 million when compared to the same quarter in 2006.  Operating income for the same quarter in 2006 was negatively impacted by the loss on the sale of investment securities totaling approximately $314,000.

Service charges on deposit accounts increased 4.8% during the current quarter compared to the same period in 2006.  Increases in fees, both monthly charges and insufficient funds charges were offset by limited offerings of free or reduced-fee checking products.  It is anticipated that during the third and fourth quarters of 2007 the Company’s marketing efforts will center on campaigns to sell lower cost deposit accounts.  Management believes these new accounts will produce little or no service charges but will further improve net interest margins and provide the expanded sales force additional avenues to sell profitable products and services.
 

 
-1-

Income from mortgage banking activities grew solidly during the quarter, increasing 61.7% to approximately $800,000 during the second quarter of 2007.  For the year to date period, income from mortgage banking activities has improved 56.3% to approximately $1.5 million.  As mentioned earlier, efforts to expand sales and production staffs have regularly included mortgage bankers.  Over the last six months, the Company’s new and existing mortgage bankers have solidified their place in the market and have begun to produce at levels expected by management.  Further improvement in the second half of 2007 is expected as additional bankers are being recruited and pipelines for current production remain strong.
 
Focus on credit risk
Non-performing assets at the end of the quarter were $18.3 million or 1.17% of total loans and OREO.  Approximately 33% of total non-performing assets is held in a single loan relationship that management classified as non-accrual during the second quarter.  The loan, totaling approximately $6.5 million at the end of the quarter, is secured by improved real estate.  The Company’s assessment of the loan relationship lead us to believe that minimal loss exposure exists in the loan.  Aggressive legal efforts are underway to force compliance with the loan terms.  Management believes that the relationship will be classified as non-performing through the end of 2007.

Excluding this loan relationship, non-performing assets increased slightly to 0.77% compared to 0.67% at March 31, 2007 and 0.60% at December 31, 2006.  The Company’s loan loss reserve was 1.61% of total loans, compared to 1.72% at December 31, 2006.

Management continues to focus on assessing and managing credit risk.  That effort is concentrated in two primary areas: sound credit administration oversight coupled with high-quality underwriting, and early recognition of developing weaknesses in the loan portfolio.  Credit administration monitors market conditions and directs the lending focus, both in generating new business and ensuring risk analysis is completed to Ameris’ high standards.

Ameris Bancorp is headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, and has 46 locations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina.

 
****************************************************************************************
 
Ameris Bancorp Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ABCB”. The preceding release 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. The Company 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.
 




-2-


AMERIS BANCORP                    
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS               
(unaudited)                    
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)            
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
   
Three Months Ended        
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                           
                                           
EARNINGS
                                         
Net Income
  $
5,373
    $
5,024
    $
5,758
    $
5,954
    $
5,315
    $
10,397
    $
10,415
 
                                                         
PER COMMON SHARE DATA
                                                       
Earnings per share:
                                                       
Basic
   
0.40
     
0.37
     
0.44
     
0.46
     
0.41
     
0.77
     
0.80
 
Diluted
   
0.39
     
0.37
     
0.43
     
0.45
     
0.40
     
0.76
     
0.79
 
Cash Dividends per share
   
0.14
     
0.14
     
0.14
     
0.14
     
0.14
     
0.28
     
0.28
 
Book value per share (period end)
   
13.60
     
13.51
     
13.24
     
12.31
     
11.75
     
13.60
     
11.75
 
Tangible book value per share (period end)
   
9.16
     
9.06
     
8.73
     
8.58
     
7.99
     
9.16
     
7.99
 
Weighted average number of shares:
                                                       
Basic
   
13,485,683
     
13,443,850
     
13,044,493
     
13,022,400
     
12,985,424
     
13,464,766
     
12,968,687
 
Diluted
   
13,663,072
     
13,667,509
     
13,269,289
     
13,226,055
     
13,139,130
     
13,665,050
     
13,118,881
 
Period-end number of shares
   
13,541,476
     
13,527,520
     
13,553,002
     
13,033,193
     
13,021,510
     
13,541,476
     
13,021,510
 
Market data:
                                                       
High closing price
   
25.58
     
28.32
     
29.13
     
27.91
     
23.24
     
28.15
     
22.75
 
Low closing price
   
21.76
     
23.25
     
25.90
     
21.09
     
20.23
     
21.76
     
19.36
 
Period end closing price
   
22.47
     
24.48
     
28.18
     
27.21
     
23.14
     
22.47
     
22.78
 
Average daily volume
   
38,941
     
41,130
     
23,016
     
36,957
     
21,949
     
40,017
     
19,127
 
                                                         
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
                                                       
Return on average assets
    1.06 %     1.01 %     1.17 %     1.28 %     1.23 %     1.04 %     1.21 %
Return on average equity
    11.64 %     11.22 %     13.51 %     15.15 %     13.99 %     11.43 %     13.91 %
Earning asset yield (TE)
    7.80 %     7.85 %     7.64 %     7.73 %     7.58 %     7.83 %     7.36 %
Total cost of funds
    3.84 %     3.79 %     3.65 %     3.50 %     3.10 %     3.81 %     2.97 %
Net interest margin (TE)
    4.03 %     4.10 %     4.03 %     4.26 %     4.50 %     4.07 %     4.41 %
Non-interest income excluding securities transactions,
                                                 
as a percent of total revenue (TE)
    11.34 %     11.29 %     17.02 %     13.82 %     11.50 %     11.31 %     11.97 %
Efficiency ratio
    59.98 %     62.96 %     62.66 %     58.24 %     57.97 %     61.47 %     58.75 %
                                                         
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
                                                       
Equity to assets
    8.98 %     8.97 %     8.73 %     8.25 %     8.58 %     8.98 %     8.58 %
Tangible common equity to assets
    6.24 %     6.20 %     5.95 %     5.90 %     6.00 %     6.24 %     6.00 %
                                                         
OTHER PERIOD-END DATA
                                                       
FTE Headcount
   
604
     
600
     
600
     
588
     
585
     
604
     
585
 
Assets per FTE
  $
3,393
    $
3,394
    $
3,413
    $
3,309
    $
3,048
    $
3,393
    $
3,048
 
Branch locations
   
46
     
46
     
44
     
43
     
42
     
46
     
42
 
Deposits per branch location
  $
36,852
    $
37,228
    $
38,867
    $
38,162
    $
34,432
    $
36,852
    $
34,432
 



-3-

AMERIS BANCORP                     
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                
(unaudited)                     
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)             
 
 
 
 
   
Three Months Ended      
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                           
                                           
INCOME STATEMENT
                                         
                                           
Interest income
                                         
Interest and fees on loans
  $
31,573
    $
30,760
    $
29,175
    $
28,553
    $
26,355
    $
62,332
    $
49,831
 
Interest on taxable securities
   
3,434
     
3,337
     
3,032
     
2,986
     
2,950
     
6,771
     
5,692
 
Interest on nontaxable securities
   
176
     
179
     
174
     
156
     
127
     
355
     
225
 
Interest on deposits in other banks
   
659
     
1,042
     
1,626
     
899
     
390
     
1,700
     
1,057
 
Interest on federal funds sold
   
1
     
91
     
73
     
30
     
-
     
92
     
158
 
Total interest income
   
35,842
     
35,409
     
34,080
     
32,624
     
29,822
     
71,251
     
56,963
 
                                                         
Interest expense
                                                       
Interest on deposits
   
15,540
     
15,205
     
14,392
     
12,600
     
9,979
     
30,744
     
18,607
 
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities
                                                 
  sold under agreements to repurchase
   
34
     
59
     
62
     
37
     
48
     
93
     
81
 
Interest on other borrowings
   
1,939
     
1,727
     
1,713
     
2,090
     
2,122
     
3,665
     
4,210
 
Total interest expense
   
17,512
     
16,991
     
16,167
     
14,727
     
12,149
     
34,503
     
22,898
 
                                                         
Net interest income
   
18,330
     
18,419
     
17,913
     
17,897
     
17,673
     
36,748
     
34,065
 
                                                         
Provision for loan losses
   
936
     
507
     
713
     
713
     
901
     
1,444
     
1,411
 
                                                         
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
   
17,394
     
17,911
     
17,200
     
17,184
     
16,772
     
35,304
     
32,654
 
                                                         
Noninterest income
                                                       
Service charges on deposit accounts
   
3,066
     
2,870
     
3,665
     
2,978
     
2,926
     
5,936
     
5,557
 
Mortgage banking activity
   
799
     
683
     
639
     
547
     
494
     
1,482
     
948
 
Other non-interest income
   
769
     
972
     
2,718
     
1,730
     
430
     
1,742
     
1,230
 
Gain(loss) on sale of securities
   
8
     
-
     
-
      (3 )     (314 )    
8
      (305 )
Total noninterest income
   
4,643
     
4,525
     
7,023
     
5,252
     
3,536
     
9,168
     
7,430
 
                                                         
Noninterest expense
                                                       
Salaries and employee benefits
   
7,492
     
7,732
     
7,445
     
7,131
     
6,042
     
15,224
     
12,666
 
Equipment and occupancy expense
   
1,718
     
1,676
     
2,281
     
1,658
     
1,544
     
3,394
     
2,897
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
324
     
324
     
322
     
344
     
232
     
649
     
441
 
Other operating expenses
   
4,245
     
4,712
     
5,577
     
4,348
     
4,476
     
8,956
     
8,375
 
Total noninterest expense
   
13,780
     
14,444
     
15,626
     
13,481
     
12,294
     
28,224
     
24,379
 
                                                         
Operating Profit
   
8,257
     
7,992
     
8,597
     
8,955
     
8,014
     
16,248
     
15,705
 
                                                         
Provision for income taxes
   
2,884
     
2,968
     
2,838
     
3,001
     
2,699
     
5,852
     
5,290
 
                                                         
Net Income
  $
5,373
    $
5,024
    $
5,759
    $
5,954
    $
5,315
    $
10,397
    $
10,415
 
                                                         
Diluted earnings per share
   
0.39
     
0.37
     
0.43
     
0.45
     
0.40
     
0.76
     
0.79
 



-4-


AMERIS BANCORP             
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS          
(unaudited)               
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)       
                               
                   
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
 
                               
PERIOD-END BALANCE SHEET
                             
                               
Assets
                             
Cash and due from banks
  $
50,328
    $
49,640
    $
66,856
    $
54,093
    $
63,894
 
Federal funds sold & interest bearing balances
   
16,342
     
94,496
     
135,232
     
148,118
     
26,642
 
Securities available for sale, at fair value
   
300,642
     
300,322
     
283,192
     
266,546
     
257,283
 
                                         
Loans
   
1,556,862
     
1,475,869
     
1,442,951
     
1,373,071
     
1,330,713
 
Less: allowance for loan losses
   
25,032
     
25,113
     
24,863
     
23,905
     
23,366
 
    Loans, net
   
1,531,831
     
1,450,756
     
1,418,088
     
1,349,166
     
1,307,347
 
                                         
Premises and equipment, net
   
52,385
     
47,251
     
46,604
     
42,266
     
40,625
 
Intangible assets, net
   
5,450
     
5,775
     
6,099
     
5,640
     
5,971
 
Goodwill
   
54,629
     
54,419
     
54,365
     
42,933
     
42,933
 
Other assets
   
37,466
     
33,754
     
37,106
     
37,142
     
38,649
 
    Total Assets
  $
2,049,073
    $
2,036,413
    $
2,047,542
    $
1,945,904
    $
1,783,344
 
                                         
Liabilities
                                       
Deposits:
                                       
Noninterest-bearing demand
  $
200,849
    $
197,845
    $
221,592
    $
226,939
    $
201,489
 
Interest-bearing demand
   
576,309
     
574,089
     
545,564
     
517,300
     
418,310
 
Savings
   
60,243
     
64,182
     
63,255
     
66,645
     
71,873
 
Time deposits
   
857,785
     
876,391
     
879,752
     
830,082
     
754,456
 
    Total deposits
   
1,695,185
     
1,712,507
     
1,710,163
     
1,640,966
     
1,446,128
 
Federal funds purchased & securities sold under
                                 
agreements to repurchase
   
6,966
     
5,370
     
15,933
     
6,725
     
3,769
 
Other borrowings
   
105,500
     
75,500
     
75,500
     
76,287
     
124,094
 
Other liabilities
   
15,054
     
18,003
     
24,945
     
19,217
     
15,629
 
Subordinated deferrable interest debentures
   
42,269
     
42,269
     
42,269
     
42,269
     
40,722
 
    Total liabilities
   
1,864,974
     
1,853,649
     
1,868,810
     
1,785,464
     
1,630,342
 
                                         
                                         
Stockholders' equity
                                       
 Common stock    
14,868
     
14,850
     
14,850
     
14,356
     
14,340
 
 Capital Surplus    
82,238
     
81,620
     
81,481
     
67,728
     
67,352
 
 Retained Earnings    
102,124
     
98,631
     
95,523
     
91,589
     
87,466
 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income     (4,231 )     (1,744 )     (2,529 )     (2,640 )     (5,675 )
 Less treasury stock     (10,900 )     (10,593 )     (10,593 )     (10,593 )     (10,481 )
    Total stockholders' equity
   
184,099
     
182,764
     
178,732
     
160,440
     
153,002
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $
2,049,073
    $
2,036,413
    $
2,047,542
    $
1,945,904
    $
1,783,344
 
                                         
                                         
Other Data
                                       
Earning Assets
   
1,873,846
     
1,870,687
     
1,861,375
     
1,787,735
     
1,614,638
 
Intangible Assets
   
60,079
     
60,193
     
60,464
     
48,573
     
48,904
 
Interest bearing liabilities
   
1,649,071
     
1,637,801
     
1,622,273
     
1,539,308
     
1,413,224
 
Average Assets
   
2,030,018
     
2,014,040
     
1,946,772
     
1,851,073
     
1,733,204
 
Average Stockholders' Equity
   
185,177
     
181,645
     
169,135
     
155,922
     
152,329
 

-5-


 

AMERIS BANCORP                     
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                
(unaudited)                     
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)             
 
 
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
               
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                           
ASSET QUALITY INFORMATION
                                         
                                           
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Balance at beginning of period
  $
25,113
    $
24,863
    $
23,905
    $
23,366
    $
22,616
    $
24,863
    $
22,294
 
Acquired Reserves
   
-
     
-
     
1,024
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Provision for loan loss
   
936
     
507
     
713
     
713
     
901
     
1,444
     
1,411
 
                                                         
Charge-offs
   
1,327
     
787
     
1,635
     
744
     
339
     
2,113
     
1,758
 
Recoveries
   
309
     
530
     
856
     
570
     
188
     
839
     
1,419
 
Net charge-offs (recoveries)
   
1,018
     
257
     
779
     
174
     
151
     
1,275
     
339
 
                                                         
Ending balance
  $
25,032
    $
25,113
    $
24,863
    $
23,905
    $
23,366
    $
25,032
    $
23,366
 
                                                         
As a percentage of loans
    1.61 %     1.70 %     1.72 %     1.74 %     1.76 %     1.61 %     1.76 %
As a percentage of nonperforming loans
    154.51 %     282.46 %     361.54 %     283.37 %     316.74 %     154.51 %     316.74 %
As a percentage of nonperforming assets
    136.90 %     252.93 %     285.29 %     237.91 %     250.95 %     136.90 %     250.95 %
                                                         
                                                         
Net Charge-off information
                                                       
Charge-offs
                                                       
Commercial
  $
959
    $
353
    $
1,078
    $
300
    $
153
    $
1,312
    $
334
 
Installment
   
82
     
146
     
385
     
159
     
167
     
228
     
330
 
Real Estate
   
286
     
288
     
145
     
280
     
14
     
574
     
1,019
 
Agriculture
   
-
     
-
     
7
     
4
     
3
     
-
     
3
 
Other
   
-
     
-
     
20
     
1
     
2
     
-
     
72
 
Total charge-offs
   
1,327
     
787
     
1,635
     
744
     
339
     
2,113
     
1,758
 
                                                         
Recoveries
                                                       
Commercial
   
192
     
357
     
356
     
481
     
55
     
549
     
691
 
Installment
   
100
     
121
     
107
     
61
     
62
     
221
     
309
 
Real Estate
   
17
     
51
     
362
     
21
     
27
     
68
     
362
 
Agriculture
   
-
     
0
     
31
     
4
     
32
     
0
     
32
 
Other
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
3
     
12
     
-
     
25
 
Total recoveries
   
309
     
530
     
856
     
570
     
188
     
839
     
1,419
 
                                                         
Net charge-offs (recoveries)
  $
1,018
    $
257
    $
779
    $
174
    $
151
    $
1,275
    $
339
 
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
Non-accrual loans
   
16,201
     
8,891
     
6,877
     
8,436
     
7,377
     
16,201
     
7,377
 
Foreclosed assets
   
2,084
     
1,038
     
1,838
     
1,612
     
1,934
     
2,084
     
1,934
 
Total non-performing assets
   
18,285
     
9,929
     
8,715
     
10,048
     
9,311
     
18,285
     
9,311
 
Non-performing assets as a percent of loans
                                                       
and foreclosed assets
    1.17 %     0.67 %     0.60 %     0.73 %     0.70 %     1.17 %     0.70 %
Net charge offs as a percent of loans (Annualized)
    0.26 %     0.07 %     0.22 %     0.05 %     0.05 %     0.16 %     0.05 %



 
-6-

 
AMERIS BANCORP                     
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                
(unaudited)                     
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)             
 
 
 
   
Three Months Ended     
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                           
                                           
AVERAGE BALANCES
                                         
                                           
Short term assets
  $
49,200
    $
85,297
    $
126,332
    $
64,374
    $
25,277
     
67,249
    $
47,403
 
Investment securities
   
301,848
     
292,979
     
272,769
     
266,450
     
270,842
     
297,414
     
268,261
 
Loans
   
1,511,333
     
1,458,725
     
1,377,824
     
1,351,601
     
1,289,354
     
1,485,029
     
1,251,635
 
  Total Earning Assets
   
1,862,381
     
1,837,001
     
1,776,925
     
1,682,425
     
1,585,473
     
1,849,691
     
1,567,299
 
                                                         
Noninterest bearing deposits
   
192,298
     
199,779
     
199,812
     
180,932
     
188,562
     
196,039
     
189,319
 
Interest bearing deposits
   
572,400
     
554,530
     
521,539
     
476,371
     
417,953
     
563,465
     
413,584
 
Savings
   
61,733
     
62,933
     
64,450
     
70,282
     
73,368
     
62,333
     
73,215
 
CDs
   
866,589
     
875,003
     
841,387
     
801,856
     
738,859
     
870,796
     
723,377
 
  Deposits
   
1,693,020
     
1,692,245
     
1,627,188
     
1,529,441
     
1,418,742
     
1,692,633
     
1,399,495
 
                                                         
FHLB advances
   
83,109
     
71,547
     
71,087
     
86,141
     
101,044
     
77,328
     
100,955
 
Subordinated debentures
   
42,269
     
42,269
     
42,269
     
43,580
     
40,722
     
42,269
     
40,722
 
Other borrowings
   
10,689
     
13,745
     
14,810
     
11,884
     
12,737
     
12,217
     
15,201
 
  Total non-deposit funding
   
136,067
     
127,561
     
128,166
     
141,605
     
154,503
     
131,814
     
156,878
 
                                                         
  Total funding
  $
1,829,087
    $
1,819,806
    $
1,755,354
    $
1,671,046
    $
1,573,245
    $
1,824,446
    $
1,556,372
 

-7-



 
AMERIS BANCORP                     
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                
(unaudited)                     
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)             
 
   
Three Months Ended      
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                                           
INTEREST
INCOME/EXPENSE
                                         
                                           
Short term assets
  $
659
    $
1,133
    $
1,699
    $
929
    $
390
    $
1,792
    $
1,215
 
Investment securities (TE)
   
3,705
     
3,612
     
3,294
     
3,223
     
3,143
     
7,317
     
6,033
 
Loans (TE)
   
31,869
     
30,810
     
29,239
     
28,622
     
26,419
     
62,679
     
49,948
 
  Total Earning Assets
   
36,233
     
35,555
     
34,232
     
32,774
     
29,952
     
71,788
     
57,196
 
                                                         
Noninterest bearing deposits
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Interest bearing deposits
   
4,393
     
4,183
     
3,866
     
3,120
     
2,045
     
8,576
     
3,680
 
Savings
   
163
     
164
     
178
     
193
     
186
     
327
     
360
 
CDs
   
10,983
     
10,858
     
10,349
     
9,287
     
7,748
     
21,841
     
14,567
 
  Deposits
   
15,539
     
15,205
     
14,392
     
12,600
     
9,979
     
30,744
     
18,607
 
                                                         
FHLB advances
   
1,084
     
888
     
899
     
1,087
     
1,131
     
1,972
     
2,260
 
Subordinated debentures
   
768
     
754
     
724
     
916
     
909
     
1,522
     
1,793
 
Other borrowings
   
120
     
144
     
152
     
124
     
130
     
264
     
238
 
  Total non-deposit funding
   
1,972
     
1,786
     
1,775
     
2,127
     
2,170
     
3,758
     
4,291
 
                                                         
  Total funding
  $
17,511
    $
16,991
    $
16,167
    $
14,727
    $
12,149
    $
34,502
    $
22,898
 
                                                         
Net Interest Income (TE)
  $
18,722
    $
18,565
    $
18,065
    $
18,047
    $
17,803
    $
37,286
    $
34,298
 


 
-8-

 
AMERIS BANCORP                     
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS                
(unaudited)                     
(dollars in thousands except per share data and FTE headcount)             
 
   
Three Months Ended      
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June
   
Mar.
   
Dec.
   
Sept.
   
June
   
June
   
June
 
   
2007
   
2007
   
2006
   
2006
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
YIELDS (1)
                                         
                                           
Short term assets
    5.37 %     5.39 %     5.34 %     5.73 %     6.19 %     5.37 %     5.17 %
Investment securities
    4.92 %     5.00 %     4.79 %     4.80 %     4.65 %     4.96 %     4.54 %
Loans
    8.46 %     8.57 %     8.42 %     8.40 %     8.22 %     8.51 %     8.05 %
  Total Earning Assets (2)
    7.80 %     7.85 %     7.64 %     7.73 %     7.58 %     7.83 %     7.36 %
                                                         
Noninterest bearing deposits
                                                       
Interest bearing deposits
    3.08 %     3.06 %     2.94 %     2.60 %     1.96 %     3.07 %     1.79 %
Savings
    1.06 %     1.06 %     1.09 %     1.09 %     1.02 %     1.06 %     0.99 %
CDs
    5.08 %     5.03 %     4.88 %     4.59 %     4.21 %     5.06 %     4.06 %
  Deposits
    3.68 %     3.64 %     3.51 %     3.27 %     2.82 %     3.66 %     2.68 %
                                                         
FHLB advances
    5.23 %     5.03 %     5.02 %     5.01 %     4.49 %     5.14 %     4.51 %
Subordinated debentures
    7.29 %     7.23 %     6.80 %     8.34 %     8.95 %     7.26 %     8.88 %
Other borrowings
    4.50 %     4.26 %     4.07 %     4.14 %     4.09 %     4.37 %     3.16 %
  Total non-deposit funding
    5.81 %     5.68 %     5.49 %     5.96 %     5.63 %     5.75 %     5.52 %
                                                         
  Total funding (3)
    3.84 %     3.79 %     3.65 %     3.50 %     3.10 %     3.81 %     2.97 %
                                                         
Net interest spread
    3.96 %     4.06 %     3.99 %     4.23 %     4.48 %     4.01 %     4.39 %
Net interest margin
    4.03 %     4.10 %     4.03 %     4.26 %     4.50 %     4.07 %     4.41 %
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
(1) Interest and average rates are calculated on a tax-equivalent basis using an effective tax rate of 34%.
 
(2) Rate calculated based on average earning assets.
                                         
(3) Rate calculated based on average interest bearing liabilities.
                                         

-9-