SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Business	Nature of Business Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Ameris”) is a financial holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and whose primary business is presently conducted by Ameris Bank, its wholly owned banking subsidiary (the “Bank”). Through the Bank, the Company operates a full service banking business and offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking services to its customers concentrated in select markets in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Bank also engages in mortgage banking activities, and, as such, originates, acquires, sells and services one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in the Southeast. The Bank also originates, administers and services commercial insurance premium loans and SBA loans made to borrowers throughout the United States. The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and are periodically examined by those regulatory agencies.
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Estimates	Basis of Presentation and Accounting Estimates The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Variable Interest Entities for which the Company or its subsidiaries have been determined to be the primary beneficiary are also consolidated. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheets and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Acquisition Accounting	Acquisition Accounting In accounting for business combinations, the Company uses the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Under the acquisition method of accounting, assets acquired, liabilities assumed and consideration exchanged are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. Any identifiable intangible assets that are acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value on the acquisition date. Identifiable intangible assets are recognized separately if they arise from contractual or other legal rights or if they are separable (i.e., capable of being sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged separately from the entity). If the consideration given exceeds the fair value of the net assets received, goodwill is recognized. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding methods and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair values. Fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as additional information regarding the closing date fair values becomes available. In addition, management will assess and record the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities resulting from differences in the carrying value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their basis for income tax purposes, including acquired net operating loss carryforwards and other acquired assets with built-in losses that are expected to be settled or otherwise recovered in future periods where the realization of such benefits would be subject to applicable limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Purchased loans acquired in a business combination are recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date. Loans which have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination, as determined by the Company's assessment, are considered purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") loans. At acquisition, expected credit losses for purchased loans with credit deterioration are initially recognized as an allowance for credit losses and are added to the purchase price to determine the amortized cost basis of the loans. Any non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring such loans is recognized as an adjustment to interest income over the remaining lives of the loans. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the change in the allowance for credit losses on PCD loans is recognized through provision for credit losses. The non-credit discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the PCD loan on a level-yield basis. Purchased loans which do not meet the criteria to be classified as PCD loans are recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date and no allowance for credit losses is carried over from the seller. The resulting purchase discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the non-PCD loan on a level-yield basis. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, purchased loans acquired in a business combination were recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date and carryover of the seller's related allowance for loan losses was prohibited. When the loans had evidence of credit deterioration since origination and it was probable at the date of acquisition that the Company would not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments, the difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition was referred to as the non-accretable difference. The Company estimated expected cash flows at each reporting date. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows would generally result in a provision for credit losses. Subsequent increases in expected cash flows resulted in a reversal of the provision for credit losses to the extent of prior provisions and adjusted accretable discount if no prior provisions had been made or had been fully reversed. This increase in accretable discount would have a positive impact on future interest income.
Transfer of financial assets	Transfer of financial assets Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash EquivalentsFor purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in banks, federal funds sold and restricted cash. Restricted cash held for securitization investors, which are reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheets in cash and due from banks, was $43.0 million and $0 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Investment Securities	Investment Securities The Company classifies its debt securities in one of three categories: (i) trading, (ii) held to maturity or (iii) available-for-sale. Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Held to maturity securities are those securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. All other debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported in other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost. The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the expected life of the securities. Realized gains and losses, determined on the basis of the cost of specific securities sold, are included in earnings on the trade date. The Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost basis of debt securities and report accrued interest in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. A debt security is placed on nonaccrual status at the time any principal or interest payments become more than 90 days delinquent or if full collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain. Accrued interest for a security placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. There was no accrued interest related to debt securities reversed against interest income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Accrued interest receivable on debt securities totaled $2.4 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company evaluates available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if credit-related impairment exists. The Company first evaluates whether it intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell an impaired security before recovering its amortized cost basis. If either criteria is met, the entire amount of unrealized loss is recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security's amortized cost basis. If either of the above criteria is not met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value is attributable to credit or resulted from other factors. If credit-related impairment exists, the Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses ("ACL"), limited to the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment not recognized through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, as a non credit-related impairment. Refer to Note 3 for additional information. The Company uses a systematic methodology to determine its ACL for debt securities held-to-maturity considering the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the portfolio. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the held-to-maturity portfolio. The Company monitors the held-to-maturity portfolio on a quarterly basis to determine whether a valuation account would need to be recorded. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $79.9 million and no held-to-maturity securities, respectively, and no related valuation account. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, a decline in the market value of any available-for-sale security below cost that was deemed other than temporary established a new cost basis for the security. Other than temporary impairment deemed to be credit related was charged to earnings. Other than temporary impairment attributed to non-credit related factors was recognized in other comprehensive income. In determining whether other-than-temporary impairment losses existed, management considered (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value had been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer or underlying collateral of the security and (iii) the Company’s intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.
Other Investments	Other Investments Other investments include Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock. These investments do not have readily determinable fair values due to restrictions placed on transferability and therefore are carried at cost. These investments are periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value or cost basis. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.
Loans Held-for-Sale	Loans Held for Sale Mortgage and SBA loans held for sale are carried at the estimated fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments from third party investors in the secondary market. Adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the mortgage loans held for sale are classified as mortgage banking activity in the consolidated statements of income. Adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of SBA loans held for sale and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the SBA loans held for sale are classified as gain on sale of SBA loans in the consolidated statements of income. Other loans held for sale are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value.
Servicing Rights	Servicing Rights When mortgage and SBA loans are sold with servicing retained, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in mortgage banking activity or gain on sale of SBA loans accordingly. Fair value is based on market prices for comparable servicing contracts, when available or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. The Company assumed the servicing of certain indirect automobile loans in an acquisition. The servicing asset was recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition and follows the amortization method. Servicing fee income, which is reported on the income statement in mortgage banking activity for serviced mortgage loans and other noninterest income for all other serviced loans, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal or a fixed amount per loan and are recorded as income when earned. The amortization of servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income. Servicing fees totaled $56.0 million, $37.2 million and $19.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material. Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into strata based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized for a particular stratum through a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular stratum, a reduction of the valuation allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances related to servicing rights are reported in mortgage banking activity and other noninterest income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.
Loans	Loans Loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances less unearned income, net of deferred fees, origination costs and unaccreted or unamortized non-credit purchase discounts or premiums, respectively. Interest income is accrued on the outstanding principal balance. For all classes of loans, the accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to make payments as they become due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Interest income on mortgage and commercial loans is discontinued and placed on nonaccrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the loan is well secured and in process of collection. Mortgage loans and commercial loans are charged off to the extent principal or interest is deemed uncollectible. Consumer loans continue to accrue interest until they are charged off, generally between 90 and 120 days past due, unless the loan is in the process of collection. All interest accrued, but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off, is reversed against interest income. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is applied against principal until the loans are returned to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.
Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans	Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans Under the current expected credit loss model, the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans is a valuation allowance estimated at each balance sheet date in accordance with GAAP that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. The Company estimates the ACL on loans based on the underlying loans’ amortized cost basis, which is the amount at which the financing receivable is originated or acquired, adjusted for applicable accretion or amortization of premium, discount, and net deferred fees or costs, collection of cash, and charge-offs. In the event that collection of principal becomes uncertain, the Company has policies in place to reverse accrued interest in a timely manner. Therefore, the Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the measurement of ACL. Accrued interest receivable on loans is reported in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $54.8 million and $73.4 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company carried an ACL of $214,000 and $718,000, respectively, related to deferred interest on loans modified under its Disaster Relief Program. Expected credit losses are reflected in the allowance for credit losses through a charge to provision for credit losses. The Company measures expected credit losses of loans on a collective (pool) basis, when the loans share similar risk characteristics. Depending on the nature of the pool of loans with similar risk characteristics, the Company currently uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) method or the PD×LGD method which may be adjusted for qualitative factors as discussed further below. The Company’s methodologies for estimating the ACL consider available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The methodologies apply historical loss information, adjusted for asset-specific characteristics, economic conditions at the measurement date, and forecasts about future economic conditions over a period that has been determined to be reasonable and supportable, to the identified pools of loans with similar risk characteristics for which the historical loss experience was observed. The Company’s methodologies revert back to historical loss information on a straight-line basis over four quarters when it can no longer develop reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company has identified the following pools of loans with similar risk characteristics for measuring expected credit losses: Commercial, financial, and agricultural - These loans and leases include both secured and unsecured borrowings for working capital, expansion, crop production, equipment finance and other business purposes. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans also include certain U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, including loans outstanding under the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). Short-term working capital loans are secured by non-real estate collateral such as accounts receivable, crops, inventory and equipment. The Bank evaluates the financial strength, cash flow, management, credit history of the borrower and the quality of the collateral securing the loan. The Bank often requires personal guarantees and secondary sources of repayment on commercial, financial and agricultural loans. Consumer installment - These loans include home improvement loans, direct automobile loans, boat and recreational vehicle financing, and both secured and unsecured personal loans. Consumer loans carry greater risks than other loans, as the collateral can consist of rapidly depreciating assets such as automobiles and equipment that may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the loan in the case of default. Indirect automobile - Indirect automobile loans are secured by automobile collateral, generally new and used cars and trucks from auto dealers that operate within selected states. Repayment of these loans depends largely on the personal income of the borrowers which can be affected by changes in economic conditions such as unemployment levels. Collateral consists of rapidly depreciating assets that may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the loan in the event of default. Mortgage warehouse - Mortgage Warehouse facilities are provided to unaffiliated mortgage origination companies and are collateralized by one-to-four family residential loans or mortgage servicing rights. The originator closes new mortgage loans with the intent to sell these loans to third party investors for a profit. The Bank provides funding to the mortgage companies for the period between the origination and their sale of the loan. The Bank has a policy that requires that it separately validate that each residential mortgage loan was underwritten consistent with the underwriting requirements of the final investor or market standards prior to advancing funds. The Bank is repaid with the proceeds received from sale of the mortgage loan to the final investor. Municipal - Municipal loans consists of loans made to counties, municipalities and political subdivisions. The source of repayment for these loans is either general revenue of the municipality or revenues of the project being financed by the loan. These loans may be secured by real estate, machinery, equipment or assignment of certain revenues. Premium Finance - Premium finance provides loans for the acquisition of certain commercial insurance policies. Repayment of these loans is dependent on the cash flow of the insured which can be affected by changes in economic conditions. The Bank has procedures in place to cancel the insurance policy after default by the borrower to minimize the risk of loss. Real Estate - Construction and Development - Construction and development loans include loans for the development of residential neighborhoods, one-to-four family home residential construction loans to builders and consumers, and commercial real estate construction loans, primarily for owner-occupied and investment properties. The Company limits its construction lending risk through adherence to established underwriting procedures. Real Estate - Commercial and Farmland - Commercial real estate loans include loans secured by owner-occupied commercial buildings for office, storage, retail, farmland and warehouse space. They also include non-owner occupied commercial buildings such as leased retail and office space. Lodging (hotel / motel) loans are a subsegment of commercial real estate loans. Commercial real estate loans may be larger in size and may involve a greater degree of risk than one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. Payments on such loans are often dependent on successful operation or management of the properties. Real Estate - Residential - The Company's residential loans include permanent mortgage financing and home equity lines of credit secured by residential properties located within the Bank's market areas. Residential real estate loans also include purchased loan pools secured by residential properties located outside the Bank's market area. Discounted Cash Flow Method The Company uses the discounted cash flow method to estimate expected credit losses for the commercial, financial and agricultural, consumer installment, real estate - construction and development, real estate - commercial and farmland and real estate - residential loan segments. For each of these loan segments, the Company generates cash flow projections at the instrument level wherein payment expectations are adjusted for estimated prepayment speed, curtailments, time to recovery, probability of default, and loss given default. The modeling of expected prepayment speeds and curtailment rates are based on historical internal data. The prepayment speeds additionally use peer data to backfill a complete time series and utilizes a forward-looking third-party prepayment model, which considers current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions. The Company uses regression analysis of historical internal and peer data to determine suitable loss drivers to utilize when modeling lifetime probability of default and loss given default. This analysis also determines how expected probability of default and loss given default will react to forecasted levels of the loss drivers. For all loan pools utilizing the DCF method, the Company uses a combination of national and regional data including gross domestic product, commercial real estate price indices, home price indices, unemployment rates, retail sales, and rental vacancy rates depending on the nature of the underlying loan pool and how well that loss driver correlates to expected future losses. For all DCF models, management has determined that four quarters represents a reasonable and supportable forecast period and reverts back to a historical loss rate over four quarters on a straight-line basis. Management leverages economic projections comprising multiple weighted scenarios from a reputable and independent third party to inform its loss driver forecasts over the four-quarter forecast period. The combination of adjustments for credit expectations (default and loss) and timing expectations (prepayment, curtailment, and time to recovery) produces an expected cash flow stream at the instrument level. Instrument effective yield is calculated, net of the impacts of prepayment assumptions, and the instrument expected cash flows are then discounted at that effective yield to produce an instrument-level net present value of expected cash flows (“NPV”). An ACL is established for the difference between the instrument’s NPV and amortized cost basis. PD×LGD Method The Company uses the PD×LGD method to estimate expected credit losses (“EL”) for the indirect automobile, premium finance and municipal loan segments. Under the PD×LGD method, the loss rate is a function of two components: (1) the lifetime default rate (“PD”); and (2) the loss given default (“LGD”). For the indirect automobile and premium finance loan segments, calculations of lifetime default rates and corresponding loss given default rates of static pools are performed. The PD×LGD method uses the default rates and loss given default rates of different static pools to quantify the relationship between those rates and the credit mix of the pools and applies that relationship on a going forward basis. The Company has not incurred any historical defaults or charge offs in its municipal portfolio. Therefore, in lieu of historical loss rates, the Company applies historical benchmarking PD and LGD ratios provided by a reputable and independent third party to the current municipal loan balance. Qualitative Factors The Company uses qualitative factors for model limitations and risk uncertainty as well as for loan segment specific risks that cannot be addressed in the quantitative methods. Any additional qualitative factor reserves needed will be approved by the Allowance Committee quarterly. Sources for quantitative metrics for qualitative factor adjustments include, but are not limited to, third-party economic and forecast analysis, default rate & loss studies, academic studies, historical loss rate benchmarking (internal & external) and statistical modeling and adjustments. Vintage Method Prior to the second quarter of 2021, the Company used a vintage method to estimate expected credit losses for the indirect automobile loans segment. The Company’s vintage analysis was based on loss rates by origination date and included data on loan amounts, loan charge-offs and recoveries by date. Using this information, vintage tables were created to evaluate loss rate patterns and develop estimated losses by vintage year. Once the tables were calculated, reserves were estimated by multiplying the balance of a given origination year by the remaining loss to be experienced by that vintage. Individually Evaluated Assets Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. For collateral dependent loans where the Company has determined that foreclosure of the collateral is probable, or where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company expects repayment of the loan to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, the ACL is measured based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost basis of the loan as of the measurement date. When repayment is expected to be from the operation of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the loan exceeds the present value of expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral. The Company may, in the alternative, measure the expected credit loss as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the loan exceeds the estimated fair value of the collateral. When repayment is expected to be from the sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized costs basis of the loan exceeds the fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated cost to sell. The ACL may be zero if the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date exceeds the amortized cost basis of the loan. The Company’s estimate of the ACL reflects losses expected over the remaining contractual life of the loans. The contractual term does not consider extensions, renewals or modifications unless the Company has identified an expected troubled debt restructuring. A loan that has been modified or renewed is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) when two conditions are met: (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty; and (2) concessions are made for the borrower's benefit that would not otherwise be considered for a borrower or transaction with similar credit risk characteristics. The Company’s ACL reflects all effects of a TDR when an individual asset is specifically identified as a reasonably expected TDR. The Company has determined that a TDR is reasonably expected no later than the point when the lender concludes that modification is the best course of action and it is at least reasonably possible that the troubled borrower will accept some form of concession from the lender to avoid a default. Reasonably expected TDRs and executed non-performing TDRs are evaluated individually to determine the required ACL. TDRs performing in accordance with their modified contractual terms for a reasonable period of time may be included in the Company’s existing pools based on the underlying risk characteristics of the loan to measure the ACL. Guidance on Non-TDR Loan Modifications due to COVID-19 In April 2020, various regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, issued a revised interagency statement encouraging financial institutions to work with customers affected by COVID-19 and providing additional information regarding loan modifications. The revised interagency statement clarifies the interaction between the interagency statement issued on March 22, 2020 and the temporary relief provided by Section 4013 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Section 4013 of the CARES Act allows financial institutions to suspend the requirements to classify certain loan modifications as TDRs. The revised statement also provides supervisory interpretations on past due and nonaccrual regulatory reporting of loan modification programs and regulatory capital. In December 2020, the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law and extended the provisions of Section 4013 through the earlier of 60 days after the national emergency termination date or January 1, 2022. Charge-offs and Recoveries Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the collection of a loan’s principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are credited to the allowance. Consumer loans are charged-off in accordance with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (“FFIEC”) Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy. Commercial loans are charged-off when they are deemed uncollectible, which usually involves a triggering event within the collection effort. If the loan is collateral dependent, the loss is more easily identified and is charged-off when it is identified, usually based upon receipt of an appraisal. However, when a loan has guarantor support, and the guarantor demonstrates willingness and capacity to support the debt, the Company may carry the estimated loss as a reserve against the loan while collection efforts with the guarantor are pursued. If, after collection efforts with the guarantor are complete, the deficiency is still considered uncollectible, the loss is charged-off and any further collections are treated as recoveries. In all situations, when a loan is downgraded to a loan risk rating of 9 (Loss per the regulatory guidance), the uncollectible portion is charged-off. Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans (prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13) Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, the ACL was an amount that represented a reserve for probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio. The ACL was evaluated on a regular basis by management and was based upon management’s periodic review of various risks in the loan portfolio highlighted by historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to pay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation was inherently subjective as it required estimates that were susceptible to significant revision as more information became available. The ACL evaluation did not include the effects of expected losses on specific loans or groups of loans that were related to future events or expected changes in economic conditions. The ACL consisted of specific and general components. The specific component included loans management considered impaired and other loans or groups of loans that management classified with higher risk characteristics. For such loans that were classified as impaired, an allowance was established when the discounted cash flows, collateral value or observable market price of the impaired loan was lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers non-classified loans and was based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. The Company segregated the loan portfolio by type of loan and utilized this segregation in evaluating exposure to risks within the portfolio. In addition, based on internal reviews and external reviews performed by independent loan reviewers and regulatory authorities, the Company further segregated the loan portfolio by loan grades based on an assessment of risk for a particular loan or group of loans. In establishing allowances, management considered historical loan loss experience but adjusted this data with a significant emphasis on data such as risk ratings, current loan quality trends, current economic conditions and other factors in the markets where the Company operates. Factors considered include, among others, current valuations of real estate in their markets, unemployment rates, the effect of weather conditions on agricultural related entities and other significant local economic events. The Company developed a methodology for determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses which was monitored by the Company’s Chief Credit Officer. Procedures provided for the assignment of a risk rating for every loan included in the total loan portfolio. Commercial insurance premium loans, overdraft protection loans and certain mortgage loans and consumer loans serviced by outside processors were treated as pools for risk rating purposes. The risk rating schedule provided nine ratings of which five ratings were classified as pass ratings and four ratings were classified as criticized ratings. Each risk rating is assigned a percentage factor of historical losses, calculated by loan type, and adjusted for qualitative factors to be applied to the balance of loans by risk rating and loan type, to determine the adequate amount of reserve. Many of the larger loans require an annual review by an independent loan officer in the Company’s internal loan review department. Assigned risk ratings are adjusted based on various factors including changes in borrower’s financial condition, the number of days past due and general economic conditions. The calculation of the allowance for loan losses, including underlying data and assumptions, is reviewed quarterly by the independent internal loan review department.
Loan Commitments and Financial Instruments	Loan Commitments and Financial Instruments Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit issued to meet customer financing needs. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for off-balance sheet loan commitments is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company records an allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, unless the commitments to extend credit are unconditionally cancelable, through a charge to provision for unfunded commitments in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The ACL on off-balance sheet credit exposures is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the current expected credit loss model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur as well as any third-party guarantees and is included in other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Premises and Equipment	Premises and Equipment Land is carried at cost. Other premises and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. In general, estimated lives for buildings are up to 40 years, furniture and equipment useful lives range from three to 20 years and the lives of software and computer related equipment range from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related lease, or the related assets, whichever is shorter. Expenditures for major improvements of the Company’s premises and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Minor repairs, maintenance and improvements are charged to operations as incurred. When assets are sold or disposed of, their cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings.
Leases	LeasesThe Company has entered into various operating leases for certain branch locations, ATM locations, loan production offices, and corporate support services locations. Generally, these leases have initial lease terms of 13 years or less. Many of the leases have one or more lease renewal options. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion. The Company does not consider exercise of any lease renewal options reasonably certain. Certain of our lease agreements contain early termination options. No renewal options or early termination options have been included in the calculation of the operating right-of-use assets or operating lease liabilities. Certain of our lease agreements provide for periodic adjustments to rental payments for inflation. At the commencement date of the lease, the Company recognizes a lease liability at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the discount rate for the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. As the majority of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the term of the lease. Incremental borrowing rates on January 1, 2019 were used for operating leases that commenced prior to that date. At the commencement date, the company also recognizes a right-of-use asset measured at (i) the initial measurement of the lease liability; (ii) any lease payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received; and (iii) any initial direct costs incurred by the lessee. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. For these short-term leases, lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. At December 31, 2021, the Company had no leases classified as finance leases.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets purchased in business combinations. Goodwill is required to be tested annually for impairment or whenever events occur that may indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount is not probable. In the event of an impairment, the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value is charged to earnings. The Company performs its annual impairment testing of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year. Intangible assets include core deposit premiums from various past bank acquisitions as well as intangible assets recorded in connection with the certain non-bank acquisitions for referral relationships, trade names, non-compete agreements and patent assets. Intangible assets are initially recognized based on a valuation performed as of the acquisition date. Core deposit premiums acquired in various past bank acquisitions are based on the established value of acquired customer deposits. The core deposit premium is amortized over an estimated useful life of seven to ten years. The referral relationship intangibles is amortized over an estimated useful life of eight to ten years. Trade name intangible assets are being amortized over an estimated useful life of five to seven years. Non-compete agreement and patent intangible assets are being amortized over estimated useful lives of three years and ten years, respectively. Amortization periods for intangible assets are reviewed annually in connection with the annual impairment testing of goodwill.
Cash Value of Bank Owned Life Insurance	Cash Value of Bank Owned Life Insurance The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain officers. The life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.
Other Real Estate Owned	Other Real Estate OwnedForeclosed assets acquired through or in lieu of loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell. Any write-down to fair value at the time of transfer to foreclosed assets is charged to the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Costs of improvements are capitalized up to the fair value of the property, whereas costs relating to holding foreclosed assets and subsequent adjustments to the value are charged to operations in credit resolution-related expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. In the event the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities results in deferred tax assets, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such assets is required. A valuation allowance is provided for the portion of the deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. The Company currently evaluates income tax positions judged to be uncertain. A loss contingency reserve is accrued if it is probable that the tax position will be challenged with a tax examination being presumed to occur, it is probable that the future resolution of the challenge will confirm that a loss has been incurred, and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters in other noninterest expenses.
Loss Contingencies	Loss Contingencies Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based CompensationThe Company accounts for its stock compensation plans using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. The Company recorded approximately $7.9 million, $3.9 million, and $3.4 million of share-based compensation cost for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
Treasury Stock	Treasury Stock The Company’s repurchases of shares of its common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in a reduction of shareholders' equity.
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the sum of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the effect of the issuance of potential common shares that are dilutive. Potential common shares consist of stock options and restricted shares for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and are determined using the treasury stock method. The Company has determined that its outstanding non-vested stock awards are participating securities, and all dividends on these awards are paid similar to other dividends.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities The goal of the Company’s interest rate risk management process is to minimize the volatility in the net interest margin caused by changes in interest rates. Derivative instruments are used to hedge certain assets or liabilities as a part of this process. The Company is required to recognize certain contracts and commitments as derivatives when the characteristics of those contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative. All derivative instruments are required to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. Mortgage Banking Derivatives The Company maintains a risk management program to manage interest rate risk and pricing risk associated with its mortgage lending activities. Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. The fair value of the interest rate lock is recorded at the time the commitment to fund the mortgage loan is executed and is adjusted for the expected exercise of the commitment before the loan is funded. In order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans, the Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking activity in the Company's consolidated statement of income. The fair value of these instruments amounted to an asset of approximately $11.9 million and $51.8 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a derivative liability of approximately $710,000 and $16.4 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Mortgage Banking Derivatives	Mortgage Banking DerivativesThe Company maintains a risk management program to manage interest rate risk and pricing risk associated with its mortgage lending activities. Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. The fair value of the interest rate lock is recorded at the time the commitment to fund the mortgage loan is executed and is adjusted for the expected exercise of the commitment before the loan is funded. In order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans, the Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking activity in the Company's consolidated statement of income.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition With the exception of gains/losses on the sale of OREO discussed below, revenue from contracts with customers ("ASC 606 Revenue") is recorded in the service charges on deposit accounts category, the other service charges, commissions and fees category and the other noninterest income category in the Company's consolidated statement of income as part of noninterest income. Substantially all ASC 606 Revenue is recorded in the Banking Division. Debit Card Interchange Fees - The Company earns debit card interchange fees from debit cardholder transactions conducted through various payment networks. Interchange fees from debit cardholders transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction amount and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the debit cardholder. Overdraft Fees - Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs. Other Service Charges on Deposit Accounts - Other service charges on deposit accounts include both transaction-based fees and account maintenance fees. Transaction based fees, which include wire transfer fees, stop payment charges, statement rendering, and automated clearing house ("ACH") fees, are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer's request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. ATM Fees - Transaction-based ATM usage fees are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point at which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Gains on the Sale of OREO - The net gains and losses on sales of OREO are recorded in credit resolution related expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of income. The Company records a gain or loss from the sale of OREO when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed. When the Company finances the sale of OREO to the buyer, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the OREO asset is derecognized and the gain on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. The Company does not provide financing for the sale of OREO unless these criteria are met and the OREO can be derecognized.
Trust and Wealth Management	Trust and Wealth Management - Trust and wealth management income is primarily comprised of fees earned from personal trust administration, estate settlement, investment management, employee benefit plan administration, custody, United States tax code sections 1031/1033 exchanges ("Sections 1031/1033 exchanges") and escrow accounts. Personal trust administration, investment management, employee benefit plan administration and custody fees are generally earned/accrued monthly with billings typically done monthly, and are based on the assets/trust under management or administration and services with certain annual minimum fees provided as outlined in the applicable fee schedule. Sections 1031/1033 exchanges and escrow accounts fees are based on a contractual agreement. The Company’s fiduciary obligations are generally satisfied over time and the resulting fees are recognized monthly, based upon the monthly average market value of the assets under management and the applicable fee rate. Payment is typically received in the following month. The Company does not earn performance-based incentives.
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income The Company’s comprehensive income consists of net income, changes in the net unrealized holding gains and losses of securities available-for-sale and unrealized gain or loss on the effective portion of cash flow hedges. These amounts are carried in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and are presented net of taxes.
Fair Value Measures	Fair Value Measures Fair values of assets and liabilities are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.
Operating Segments	Operating Segments The Company has five reportable segments, the Banking Division, the Retail Mortgage Division, the Warehouse Lending Division, the SBA Division and the Premium Finance Division. The Banking Division derives its revenues from the delivery of full service financial services to include commercial loans, consumer loans and deposit accounts. The Retail Mortgage Division derives its revenues from the origination, sales and servicing of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. The Warehouse Lending Division derives its revenues from the origination and servicing of warehouse lines to other businesses that are secured by underlying one-to-four family residential mortgage loans and residential mortgage servicing rights. The SBA Division derives its revenues from the origination, sales and servicing of SBA loans. The Premium Finance Division derives its revenues from the origination and servicing of commercial insurance premium finance loans. The Banking, Retail Mortgage, Warehouse Lending, SBA and Premium Finance Divisions are managed as separate business units because of the different products and services they provide. The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on profit or loss from operations. There are no material intersegment sales or transfers.
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities The Company has assumed certain securitization transactions which involve the use of variable interest entities ("VIE"). A VIE is consolidated when it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. When a company has a variable interest in a VIE, it qualitatively assesses whether it has a controlling financial interest in the entity and, if so, whether it is the primary beneficiary. In applying the qualitative assessment to identify the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the company is determined to have a controlling financial interest if it has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company considers the VIE's purpose and design, including the risks that the entity was designed to create and pass through to its variable interest holders. Economic interest in the securitized and sold assets are generally retained in the form of senior or subordinated interest, cash reserve accounts, residual interest and servicing rights. The Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and the VIEs are consolidated in the Company's financial statements. The securitizations are accounted for as secured borrowings. The investors in the securitizations generally have no recourse to the Company's other assets outside the customary market representation and warranty provisions.
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2018 and Pending Adoption	Accounting Standards Adopted in 2021 ASU 2019-12 – Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain technical exceptions. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and amends the accounting for income taxes in certain areas including, among others: (i) franchise taxes that are partially based on income; (ii) whether step ups in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the acquisition to which it related or recognized as a separate transaction; and (iii) requiring the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates to be reflected in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company adopted this ASU and applied the amendments in this update on a modified retrospective basis for the provision related to franchise taxes and prospectively for all other amendments. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Pending Adoption ASU No. 2021-01 – Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope ("ASU 2021-01"). ASU 2021-01 clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. ASU 2021-01 also amends the expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. Because the guidance is intended to assist stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period, it is in effect for a limited time, from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2021-01 on the consolidated financial statements. ASU No. 2020-04 – Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting ("ASU 2020-04"). ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance, for a limited time, to ease the potential burden in accounting for or recognizing the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments, which are elective, provide expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR or another reference rate that is expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The optional expedients for contract modifications apply consistently for all contracts or transactions within the relevant Codification Topic, Subtopic, or Industry Subtopic that contains the guidance that otherwise would be required to be applied, while those for hedging relationships can be elected on an individual hedging relationship basis. Because the guidance is intended to assist stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period, it is in effect for a limited time, from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company has established a working committee with representatives from relevant functional areas to inventory the contracts and accounts that are tied to LIBOR and develop a transition plan for the affected items. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2020-04 on the consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform with the current year presentations.
Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements	The Company classifies the sales of securities under agreements to repurchase as short-term borrowings. The amounts received under these agreements are reflected as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and the securities underlying these agreements are included in investment securities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, all securities sold under agreements to repurchase mature on a daily basis. The market value of the securities fluctuate on a daily basis due to market conditions. The Company monitors the market value of the securities underlying these agreements on a daily basis and is required to transfer additional securities if the market value of the securities fall below the repurchase agreement price. The Company maintains an unpledged securities portfolio that it believes is sufficient to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Ameris Bancorp and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Ameris”) is a financial holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and whose primary business is presently conducted by Ameris Bank, its wholly owned banking subsidiary (the “Bank”). Through the Bank, the Company operates a full service banking business and offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking services to its customers concentrated in select markets in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Bank also engages in mortgage banking activities, and, as such, originates, acquires, sells and services one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in the Southeast. The Bank also originates, administers and services commercial insurance premium loans and SBA loans made to borrowers throughout the United States. The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and are periodically examined by those regulatory agencies.

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Estimates

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Variable Interest Entities for which the Company or its subsidiaries have been determined to be the primary beneficiary are also consolidated. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheets and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Acquisition Accounting

In accounting for business combinations, the Company uses the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Under the acquisition method of accounting, assets acquired, liabilities assumed and consideration exchanged are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. Any identifiable intangible assets that are acquired in a business combination are recognized at fair value on the acquisition date. Identifiable intangible assets are recognized separately if they arise from contractual or other legal rights or if they are separable (i.e., capable of being sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged separately from the entity). If the consideration given exceeds the fair value of the net assets received, goodwill is recognized. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding methods and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair values. Fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as additional information regarding the closing date fair values becomes available. In addition, management will assess and record the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities resulting from differences in the carrying value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their basis for income tax purposes, including acquired net operating loss carryforwards and other acquired assets with built-in losses that are expected to be settled or otherwise recovered in future periods where the realization of such benefits would be subject to applicable limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Purchased loans acquired in a business combination are recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date. Loans which have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination, as determined by the Company's assessment, are considered purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") loans. At acquisition, expected credit losses for purchased loans with credit deterioration are initially recognized as an allowance for credit losses and are added to the purchase price to determine the amortized cost basis of the loans. Any non-credit discount or premium resulting from acquiring such loans is recognized as an adjustment to interest income over the remaining lives of the loans. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the change in the allowance for credit losses on PCD loans is recognized through provision for credit losses. The non-credit discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the PCD loan on a level-yield basis. Purchased loans which do not meet the criteria to be classified as PCD loans are recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date and no allowance for credit losses is carried over from the seller. The resulting purchase discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the non-PCD loan on a level-yield basis.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, purchased loans acquired in a business combination were recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date and carryover of the seller's related allowance for loan losses was prohibited. When the loans had

evidence of credit deterioration since origination and it was probable at the date of acquisition that the Company would not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments, the difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition was referred to as the non-accretable difference. The Company estimated expected cash flows at each reporting date. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows would generally result in a provision for credit losses. Subsequent increases in expected cash flows resulted in a reversal of the provision for credit losses to the extent of prior provisions and adjusted accretable discount if no prior provisions had been made or had been fully reversed. This increase in accretable discount would have a positive impact on future interest income.

Transfer of financial assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash EquivalentsFor purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in banks, federal funds sold and restricted cash. Restricted cash held for securitization investors, which are reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheets in cash and due from banks, was $43.0 million and $0 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Investment Securities

The Company classifies its debt securities in one of three categories: (i) trading, (ii) held to maturity or (iii) available-for-sale. Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Held to maturity securities are those securities for which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. All other debt securities are classified as available-for-sale.

Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported in other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized. Held-to-maturity securities are carried at amortized cost.

The amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized in interest income using methods approximating the interest method over the expected life of the securities. Realized gains and losses, determined on the basis of the cost of specific securities sold, are included in earnings on the trade date. The Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost basis of debt securities and report accrued interest in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. A debt security is placed on nonaccrual status at the time any principal or interest payments become more than 90 days delinquent or if full collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain. Accrued interest for a security placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. There was no accrued interest related to debt securities reversed against interest income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Accrued interest receivable on debt securities totaled $2.4 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company evaluates available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if credit-related impairment exists. The Company first evaluates whether it intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell an impaired security before recovering its amortized cost basis. If either criteria is met, the entire amount of unrealized loss is recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security's amortized cost basis. If either of the above criteria is not met, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value is attributable to credit or resulted from other factors. If credit-related impairment exists, the Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses ("ACL"), limited to the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment not recognized through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, as a non credit-related impairment. Refer to Note 3 for additional information.

The Company uses a systematic methodology to determine its ACL for debt securities held-to-maturity considering the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the portfolio. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the held-to-maturity portfolio. The Company monitors the held-to-maturity portfolio on a quarterly basis to determine whether a valuation account would need to be recorded. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $79.9 million and no held-to-maturity securities, respectively, and no related valuation account.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, a decline in the market value of any available-for-sale security below cost that was deemed other than temporary established a new cost basis for the security. Other than temporary impairment deemed to be credit related was charged to earnings. Other than temporary impairment attributed to non-credit related factors was recognized in other comprehensive income. In determining whether other-than-temporary impairment losses existed, management considered (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value had been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer or underlying collateral of the security and (iii) the Company’s intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Other Investments

Other investments include Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock. These investments do not have readily determinable fair values due to restrictions placed on transferability and therefore are carried at cost. These investments are periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value or cost basis. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

Loans Held-for-Sale

Loans Held for Sale

Mortgage and SBA loans held for sale are carried at the estimated fair value, as determined by outstanding commitments from third party investors in the secondary market. Adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the mortgage loans held for sale are classified as mortgage banking activity in the consolidated statements of income. Adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of SBA loans held for sale and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the SBA loans held for sale are classified as gain on sale of SBA loans in the consolidated statements of income. Other loans held for sale are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value.

Servicing Rights

When mortgage and SBA loans are sold with servicing retained, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in mortgage banking activity or gain on sale of SBA loans accordingly. Fair value is based on market prices for comparable servicing contracts, when available or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. The Company assumed the servicing of certain indirect automobile loans in an acquisition. The servicing asset was recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition and follows the amortization method.

Servicing fee income, which is reported on the income statement in mortgage banking activity for serviced mortgage loans and other noninterest income for all other serviced loans, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal or a fixed amount per loan and are recorded as income when earned. The amortization of servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income. Servicing fees totaled $56.0 million, $37.2 million and $19.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material.

Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into strata based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized for a particular stratum through a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular stratum, a reduction of the valuation allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances related to servicing rights are reported in mortgage banking activity and other noninterest income on the income statement. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

Loans

Loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances less unearned income, net of deferred fees, origination costs and unaccreted or unamortized non-credit purchase discounts or premiums, respectively. Interest income is accrued on the outstanding principal balance. For all classes of loans, the accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to make payments as they become due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Interest income on mortgage and commercial loans is discontinued and placed on nonaccrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the loan is well secured and in process of collection. Mortgage loans and commercial loans are charged off to the extent principal or interest is deemed uncollectible. Consumer loans continue to accrue interest until they are charged off, generally between 90 and 120 days past due, unless the loan is in the process of collection. All interest accrued, but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off, is reversed against interest income. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is applied against principal until the loans are returned to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

Under the current expected credit loss model, the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans is a valuation allowance estimated at each balance sheet date in accordance with GAAP that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans.

The Company estimates the ACL on loans based on the underlying loans’ amortized cost basis, which is the amount at which the financing receivable is originated or acquired, adjusted for applicable accretion or amortization of premium, discount, and net deferred fees or costs, collection of cash, and charge-offs. In the event that collection of principal becomes uncertain, the Company has policies in place to reverse accrued interest in a timely manner. Therefore, the Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the measurement of ACL. Accrued interest receivable on loans is reported in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and totaled $54.8 million and $73.4 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company carried an ACL of $214,000 and $718,000, respectively, related to deferred interest on loans modified under its Disaster Relief Program.

Expected credit losses are reflected in the allowance for credit losses through a charge to provision for credit losses. The Company measures expected credit losses of loans on a collective (pool) basis, when the loans share similar risk characteristics. Depending on the nature of the pool of loans with similar risk characteristics, the Company currently uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) method or the PD×LGD method which may be adjusted for qualitative factors as discussed further below.

The Company’s methodologies for estimating the ACL consider available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The methodologies apply historical loss information, adjusted for asset-specific characteristics, economic conditions at the measurement date, and forecasts about future economic conditions over a period that has been determined to be reasonable and supportable, to the identified pools of loans with similar risk characteristics for which the historical loss experience was observed. The Company’s methodologies revert back to historical loss information on a straight-line basis over four quarters when it can no longer develop reasonable and supportable forecasts.

The Company has identified the following pools of loans with similar risk characteristics for measuring expected credit losses:

Commercial, financial, and agricultural - These loans and leases include both secured and unsecured borrowings for working capital, expansion, crop production, equipment finance and other business purposes. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans also include certain U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, including loans outstanding under the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). Short-term working capital loans are secured by non-real estate collateral such as accounts receivable, crops, inventory and equipment. The Bank evaluates the financial strength, cash flow, management, credit history of the borrower and the quality of the collateral securing the loan. The Bank often requires personal guarantees and secondary sources of repayment on commercial, financial and agricultural loans.

Consumer installment - These loans include home improvement loans, direct automobile loans, boat and recreational vehicle financing, and both secured and unsecured personal loans. Consumer loans carry greater risks than other loans, as the collateral can consist of rapidly depreciating assets such as automobiles and equipment that may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the loan in the case of default.

Indirect automobile - Indirect automobile loans are secured by automobile collateral, generally new and used cars and trucks from auto dealers that operate within selected states. Repayment of these loans depends largely on the personal income of the borrowers which can be affected by changes in economic conditions such as unemployment levels. Collateral consists of rapidly depreciating assets that may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the loan in the event of default.

Mortgage warehouse - Mortgage Warehouse facilities are provided to unaffiliated mortgage origination companies and are collateralized by one-to-four family residential loans or mortgage servicing rights. The originator closes new mortgage loans with the intent to sell these loans to third party investors for a profit. The Bank provides funding to the mortgage companies for the period between the origination and their sale of the loan. The Bank has a policy that requires that it separately validate that each residential mortgage loan was underwritten consistent with the underwriting requirements of the final investor or market standards prior to advancing funds. The Bank is repaid with the proceeds received from sale of the mortgage loan to the final investor.

Municipal - Municipal loans consists of loans made to counties, municipalities and political subdivisions. The source of repayment for these loans is either general revenue of the municipality or revenues of the project being financed by the loan. These loans may be secured by real estate, machinery, equipment or assignment of certain revenues.

Premium Finance - Premium finance provides loans for the acquisition of certain commercial insurance policies. Repayment of these loans is dependent on the cash flow of the insured which can be affected by changes in economic conditions. The Bank has procedures in place to cancel the insurance policy after default by the borrower to minimize the risk of loss.

Real Estate - Construction and Development - Construction and development loans include loans for the development of residential neighborhoods, one-to-four family home residential construction loans to builders and consumers, and commercial real estate construction loans, primarily for owner-occupied and investment properties. The Company limits its construction lending risk through adherence to established underwriting procedures.

Real Estate - Commercial and Farmland - Commercial real estate loans include loans secured by owner-occupied commercial buildings for office, storage, retail, farmland and warehouse space. They also include non-owner occupied commercial buildings such as leased retail and office space. Lodging (hotel / motel) loans are a subsegment of commercial real estate loans. Commercial real estate loans may be larger in size and may involve a greater degree of risk than one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. Payments on such loans are often dependent on successful operation or management of the properties.

Real Estate - Residential - The Company's residential loans include permanent mortgage financing and home equity lines of credit secured by residential properties located within the Bank's market areas. Residential real estate loans also include purchased loan pools secured by residential properties located outside the Bank's market area.

Discounted Cash Flow Method

The Company uses the discounted cash flow method to estimate expected credit losses for the commercial, financial and agricultural, consumer installment, real estate - construction and development, real estate - commercial and farmland and real estate - residential loan segments. For each of these loan segments, the Company generates cash flow projections at the instrument level wherein payment expectations are adjusted for estimated prepayment speed, curtailments, time to recovery, probability of default, and loss given default. The modeling of expected prepayment speeds and curtailment rates are based on historical internal data. The prepayment speeds additionally use peer data to backfill a complete time series and utilizes a forward-looking third-party prepayment model, which considers current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions.

The Company uses regression analysis of historical internal and peer data to determine suitable loss drivers to utilize when modeling lifetime probability of default and loss given default. This analysis also determines how expected probability of default and loss given default will react to forecasted levels of the loss drivers. For all loan pools utilizing the DCF method, the Company uses a combination of national and regional data including gross domestic product, commercial real estate price indices, home price indices, unemployment rates, retail sales, and rental vacancy rates depending on the nature of the underlying loan pool and how well that loss driver correlates to expected future losses.

For all DCF models, management has determined that four quarters represents a reasonable and supportable forecast period and reverts back to a historical loss rate over four quarters on a straight-line basis. Management leverages economic projections comprising multiple weighted scenarios from a reputable and independent third party to inform its loss driver forecasts over the four-quarter forecast period.

The combination of adjustments for credit expectations (default and loss) and timing expectations (prepayment, curtailment, and time to recovery) produces an expected cash flow stream at the instrument level. Instrument effective yield is calculated, net of the impacts of prepayment assumptions, and the instrument expected cash flows are then discounted at that effective yield to produce an instrument-level net present value of expected cash flows (“NPV”). An ACL is established for the difference between the instrument’s NPV and amortized cost basis.

PD×LGD Method

The Company uses the PD×LGD method to estimate expected credit losses (“EL”) for the indirect automobile, premium finance and municipal loan segments. Under the PD×LGD method, the loss rate is a function of two components: (1) the lifetime default rate (“PD”); and (2) the loss given default (“LGD”). For the indirect automobile and premium finance loan segments, calculations of lifetime default rates and corresponding loss given default rates of static pools are performed. The PD×LGD method uses the default rates and loss given default rates of different static pools to quantify the relationship between those rates and the credit mix of the pools and applies that relationship on a going forward basis. The Company has not incurred any historical defaults or charge offs in its municipal portfolio. Therefore, in lieu of historical loss rates, the Company applies historical benchmarking PD and LGD ratios provided by a reputable and independent third party to the current municipal loan balance.

Qualitative Factors

The Company uses qualitative factors for model limitations and risk uncertainty as well as for loan segment specific risks that cannot be addressed in the quantitative methods. Any additional qualitative factor reserves needed will be approved by the Allowance Committee quarterly. Sources for quantitative metrics for qualitative factor adjustments include, but are not limited to, third-party economic and forecast analysis, default rate & loss studies, academic studies, historical loss rate benchmarking (internal & external) and statistical modeling and adjustments.

Vintage Method

Prior to the second quarter of 2021, the Company used a vintage method to estimate expected credit losses for the indirect automobile loans segment. The Company’s vintage analysis was based on loss rates by origination date and included data on loan amounts, loan charge-offs and recoveries by date. Using this information, vintage tables were created to evaluate loss rate patterns and develop estimated losses by vintage year. Once the tables were calculated, reserves were estimated by multiplying the balance of a given origination year by the remaining loss to be experienced by that vintage.

Individually Evaluated Assets

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. For collateral dependent loans where the Company has determined that foreclosure of the collateral is probable, or where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company expects repayment of the loan to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, the ACL is measured based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost basis of the loan as of the measurement date. When repayment is expected to be from the operation of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the loan exceeds the present value of expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral. The Company may, in the alternative, measure the expected credit loss as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the loan exceeds the estimated fair value of the collateral. When repayment is expected to be from the sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized costs basis of the loan exceeds the fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated cost to sell. The ACL may be zero if the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date exceeds the amortized cost basis of the loan.

The Company’s estimate of the ACL reflects losses expected over the remaining contractual life of the loans. The contractual term does not consider extensions, renewals or modifications unless the Company has identified an expected troubled debt restructuring.

A loan that has been modified or renewed is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) when two conditions are met: (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty; and (2) concessions are made for the borrower's benefit that would not otherwise be considered for a borrower or transaction with similar credit risk characteristics. The Company’s ACL reflects all effects of a TDR when an individual asset is specifically identified as a reasonably expected TDR. The Company has determined that a TDR is reasonably expected no later than the point when the lender concludes that modification is the best course of action and it is at least reasonably possible that the troubled borrower will accept some form of concession from the lender to avoid a default. Reasonably expected TDRs and executed non-performing TDRs are evaluated individually to

determine the required ACL. TDRs performing in accordance with their modified contractual terms for a reasonable period of time may be included in the Company’s existing pools based on the underlying risk characteristics of the loan to measure the ACL.

Guidance on Non-TDR Loan Modifications due to COVID-19

In April 2020, various regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, issued a revised interagency statement encouraging financial institutions to work with customers affected by COVID-19 and providing additional information regarding loan modifications. The revised interagency statement clarifies the interaction between the interagency statement issued on March 22, 2020 and the temporary relief provided by Section 4013 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Section 4013 of the CARES Act allows financial institutions to suspend the requirements to classify certain loan modifications as TDRs. The revised statement also provides supervisory interpretations on past due and nonaccrual regulatory reporting of loan modification programs and regulatory capital. In December 2020, the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law and extended the provisions of Section 4013 through the earlier of 60 days after the national emergency termination date or January 1, 2022.

Charge-offs and Recoveries

Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the collection of a loan’s principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries are credited to the allowance. Consumer loans are charged-off in accordance with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (“FFIEC”) Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy. Commercial loans are charged-off when they are deemed uncollectible, which usually involves a triggering event within the collection effort. If the loan is collateral dependent, the loss is more easily identified and is charged-off when it is identified, usually based upon receipt of an appraisal. However, when a loan has guarantor support, and the guarantor demonstrates willingness and capacity to support the debt, the Company may carry the estimated loss as a reserve against the loan while collection efforts with the guarantor are pursued. If, after collection efforts with the guarantor are complete, the deficiency is still considered uncollectible, the loss is charged-off and any further collections are treated as recoveries. In all situations, when a loan is downgraded to a loan risk rating of 9 (Loss per the regulatory guidance), the uncollectible portion is charged-off.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans (prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13)

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, the ACL was an amount that represented a reserve for probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio. The ACL was evaluated on a regular basis by management and was based upon management’s periodic review of various risks in the loan portfolio highlighted by historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to pay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation was inherently subjective as it required estimates that were susceptible to significant revision as more information became available. The ACL evaluation did not include the effects of expected losses on specific loans or groups of loans that were related to future events or expected changes in economic conditions.

The ACL consisted of specific and general components. The specific component included loans management considered impaired and other loans or groups of loans that management classified with higher risk characteristics. For such loans that were classified as impaired, an allowance was established when the discounted cash flows, collateral value or observable market price of the impaired loan was lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers non-classified loans and was based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors.

The Company segregated the loan portfolio by type of loan and utilized this segregation in evaluating exposure to risks within the portfolio. In addition, based on internal reviews and external reviews performed by independent loan reviewers and regulatory authorities, the Company further segregated the loan portfolio by loan grades based on an assessment of risk for a particular loan or group of loans. In establishing allowances, management considered historical loan loss experience but adjusted this data with a significant emphasis on data such as risk ratings, current loan quality trends, current economic conditions and other factors in the markets where the Company operates. Factors considered include, among others, current valuations of real estate in their markets, unemployment rates, the effect of weather conditions on agricultural related entities and other significant local economic events.

The Company developed a methodology for determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses which was monitored by the Company’s Chief Credit Officer. Procedures provided for the assignment of a risk rating for every loan included in the total loan portfolio. Commercial insurance premium loans, overdraft protection loans and certain mortgage loans and consumer loans serviced by outside processors were treated as pools for risk rating purposes. The risk rating schedule provided nine ratings of

which five ratings were classified as pass ratings and four ratings were classified as criticized ratings. Each risk rating is assigned a percentage factor of historical losses, calculated by loan type, and adjusted for qualitative factors to be applied to the balance of loans by risk rating and loan type, to determine the adequate amount of reserve. Many of the larger loans require an annual review by an independent loan officer in the Company’s internal loan review department. Assigned risk ratings are adjusted based on various factors including changes in borrower’s financial condition, the number of days past due and general economic conditions. The calculation of the allowance for loan losses, including underlying data and assumptions, is reviewed quarterly by the independent internal loan review department.

Loan Commitments and Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit issued to meet customer financing needs. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for off-balance sheet loan commitments is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company records an allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, unless the commitments to extend credit are unconditionally cancelable, through a charge to provision for unfunded commitments in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The ACL on off-balance sheet credit exposures is estimated by loan segment at each balance sheet date under the current expected credit loss model using the same methodologies as portfolio loans, taking into consideration the likelihood that funding will occur as well as any third-party guarantees and is included in other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Other premises and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. In general, estimated lives for buildings are up to 40 years, furniture and equipment useful lives range from three to 20 years and the lives of software and computer related equipment range from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related lease, or the related assets, whichever is shorter. Expenditures for major improvements of the Company’s premises and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Minor repairs, maintenance and improvements are charged to operations as incurred. When assets are sold or disposed of, their cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Leases

LeasesThe Company has entered into various operating leases for certain branch locations, ATM locations, loan production offices, and corporate support services locations. Generally, these leases have initial lease terms of 13 years or less. Many of the leases have one or more lease renewal options. The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion. The Company does not consider exercise of any lease renewal options reasonably certain. Certain of our lease agreements contain early termination options. No renewal options or early termination options have been included in the calculation of the operating right-of-use assets or operating lease liabilities. Certain of our lease agreements provide for periodic adjustments to rental payments for inflation. At the commencement date of the lease, the Company recognizes a lease liability at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the discount rate for the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. As the majority of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the term of the lease. Incremental borrowing rates on January 1, 2019 were used for operating leases that commenced prior to that date. At the commencement date, the company also recognizes a right-of-use asset measured at (i) the initial measurement of the lease liability; (ii) any lease payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received; and (iii) any initial direct costs incurred by the lessee. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. For these short-term leases, lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. At December 31, 2021, the Company had no leases classified as finance leases.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets purchased in business combinations. Goodwill is required to be tested annually for impairment or whenever events occur that may indicate that the recoverability of the carrying amount is not probable. In the event of an impairment, the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value is charged to earnings. The Company performs its annual impairment testing of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year.

Intangible assets include core deposit premiums from various past bank acquisitions as well as intangible assets recorded in connection with the certain non-bank acquisitions for referral relationships, trade names, non-compete agreements and patent assets. Intangible assets are initially recognized based on a valuation performed as of the acquisition date.

Core deposit premiums acquired in various past bank acquisitions are based on the established value of acquired customer deposits. The core deposit premium is amortized over an estimated useful life of seven to ten years.

The referral relationship intangibles is amortized over an estimated useful life of eight to ten years. Trade name intangible assets are being amortized over an estimated useful life of five to seven years. Non-compete agreement and patent intangible assets are being amortized over estimated useful lives of three years and ten years, respectively.

Amortization periods for intangible assets are reviewed annually in connection with the annual impairment testing of goodwill.

Cash Value of Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain officers. The life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other Real Estate OwnedForeclosed assets acquired through or in lieu of loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell. Any write-down to fair value at the time of transfer to foreclosed assets is charged to the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Costs of improvements are capitalized up to the fair value of the property, whereas costs relating to holding foreclosed assets and subsequent adjustments to the value are charged to operations in credit resolution-related expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates.

In the event the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities results in deferred tax assets, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such assets is required. A valuation allowance is provided for the portion of the deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies.

The Company currently evaluates income tax positions judged to be uncertain. A loss contingency reserve is accrued if it is probable that the tax position will be challenged with a tax examination being presumed to occur, it is probable that the future resolution of the challenge will confirm that a loss has been incurred, and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters in other noninterest expenses.

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based CompensationThe Company accounts for its stock compensation plans using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. The Company recorded approximately $7.9 million, $3.9 million, and $3.4 million of share-based compensation cost for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

Treasury Stock

The Company’s repurchases of shares of its common stock are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in a reduction of shareholders' equity.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the sum of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the effect of the issuance of potential common shares that are dilutive. Potential common shares consist of stock options and restricted shares for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and are determined using the treasury stock method. The Company has determined that its outstanding non-vested stock awards are participating securities, and all dividends on these awards are paid similar to other dividends.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The goal of the Company’s interest rate risk management process is to minimize the volatility in the net interest margin caused by changes in interest rates. Derivative instruments are used to hedge certain assets or liabilities as a part of this process. The Company is required to recognize certain contracts and commitments as derivatives when the characteristics of those contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative. All derivative instruments are required to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet.

Mortgage Banking Derivatives

The Company maintains a risk management program to manage interest rate risk and pricing risk associated with its mortgage lending activities. Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. The fair value of the interest rate lock is recorded at the time the commitment to fund the mortgage loan is executed and is adjusted for the expected exercise of the commitment before the loan is funded. In order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans, the Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking activity in the Company's consolidated statement of income. The fair value of these instruments amounted to an asset of approximately $11.9 million and $51.8 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a derivative liability of approximately $710,000 and $16.4 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Mortgage Banking Derivatives

Mortgage Banking DerivativesThe Company maintains a risk management program to manage interest rate risk and pricing risk associated with its mortgage lending activities. Commitments to fund mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as free standing derivatives. The fair value of the interest rate lock is recorded at the time the commitment to fund the mortgage loan is executed and is adjusted for the expected exercise of the commitment before the loan is funded. In order to hedge the change in interest rates resulting from its commitments to fund the loans, the Company enters into forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans when interest rate locks are entered into. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date the interest on the loan is locked. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking activity in the Company's consolidated statement of income.

Revenue Recognition

With the exception of gains/losses on the sale of OREO discussed below, revenue from contracts with customers ("ASC 606 Revenue") is recorded in the service charges on deposit accounts category, the other service charges, commissions and fees

category and the other noninterest income category in the Company's consolidated statement of income as part of noninterest income. Substantially all ASC 606 Revenue is recorded in the Banking Division.

Debit Card Interchange Fees - The Company earns debit card interchange fees from debit cardholder transactions conducted through various payment networks. Interchange fees from debit cardholders transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction amount and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the debit cardholder.

Overdraft Fees - Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs.

Other Service Charges on Deposit Accounts - Other service charges on deposit accounts include both transaction-based fees and account maintenance fees. Transaction based fees, which include wire transfer fees, stop payment charges, statement rendering, and automated clearing house ("ACH") fees, are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer's request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation.

ATM Fees - Transaction-based ATM usage fees are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point at which the Company satisfies the performance obligation.

Gains on the Sale of OREO - The net gains and losses on sales of OREO are recorded in credit resolution related expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of income. The Company records a gain or loss from the sale of OREO when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed. When the Company finances the sale of OREO to the buyer, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the OREO asset is derecognized and the gain on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. The Company does not provide financing for the sale of OREO unless these criteria are met and the OREO can be derecognized.

Trust and Wealth Management

Trust and Wealth Management - Trust and wealth management income is primarily comprised of fees earned from personal trust administration, estate settlement, investment management, employee benefit plan administration, custody, United States tax code sections 1031/1033 exchanges ("Sections 1031/1033 exchanges") and escrow accounts. Personal trust administration, investment management, employee benefit plan administration and custody fees are generally earned/accrued monthly with billings typically done monthly, and are based on the assets/trust under management or administration and services with certain annual minimum fees provided as outlined in the applicable fee schedule. Sections 1031/1033 exchanges and escrow accounts fees are based on a contractual agreement. The Company’s fiduciary obligations are generally satisfied over time and the resulting fees are recognized monthly, based upon the monthly average market value of the assets under management and the applicable fee rate. Payment is typically received in the following month. The Company does not earn performance-based incentives.

Comprehensive Income

The Company’s comprehensive income consists of net income, changes in the net unrealized holding gains and losses of securities available-for-sale and unrealized gain or loss on the effective portion of cash flow hedges. These amounts are carried in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income and are presented net of taxes.

Fair Value Measures

Fair values of assets and liabilities are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.

Operating Segments

The Company has five reportable segments, the Banking Division, the Retail Mortgage Division, the Warehouse Lending Division, the SBA Division and the Premium Finance Division. The Banking Division derives its revenues from the delivery of full service financial services to include commercial loans, consumer loans and deposit accounts. The Retail Mortgage Division derives its revenues from the origination, sales and servicing of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans. The Warehouse

Lending Division derives its revenues from the origination and servicing of warehouse lines to other businesses that are secured by underlying one-to-four family residential mortgage loans and residential mortgage servicing rights. The SBA Division derives its revenues from the origination, sales and servicing of SBA loans. The Premium Finance Division derives its revenues from the origination and servicing of commercial insurance premium finance loans.

The Banking, Retail Mortgage, Warehouse Lending, SBA and Premium Finance Divisions are managed as separate business units because of the different products and services they provide. The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on profit or loss from operations. There are no material intersegment sales or transfers.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company has assumed certain securitization transactions which involve the use of variable interest entities ("VIE"). A VIE is consolidated when it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. When a company has a variable interest in a VIE, it qualitatively assesses whether it has a controlling financial interest in the entity and, if so, whether it is the primary beneficiary. In applying the qualitative assessment to identify the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the company is determined to have a controlling financial interest if it has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company considers the VIE's purpose and design, including the risks that the entity was designed to create and pass through to its variable interest holders.

Economic interest in the securitized and sold assets are generally retained in the form of senior or subordinated interest, cash reserve accounts, residual interest and servicing rights. The Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and the VIEs are consolidated in the Company's financial statements. The securitizations are accounted for as secured borrowings.

The investors in the securitizations generally have no recourse to the Company's other assets outside the customary market representation and warranty provisions.

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2018 and Pending Adoption

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2021

ASU 2019-12 – Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain technical exceptions. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and amends the accounting for income taxes in certain areas including, among others: (i) franchise taxes that are partially based on income; (ii) whether step ups in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the acquisition to which it related or recognized as a separate transaction; and (iii) requiring the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates to be reflected in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company adopted this ASU and applied the amendments in this update on a modified retrospective basis for the provision related to franchise taxes and prospectively for all other amendments. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Pending Adoption

ASU No. 2021-01 – Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope ("ASU 2021-01"). ASU 2021-01 clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. ASU 2021-01 also amends the expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. Because the guidance is intended to assist stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period, it is in effect for a limited time, from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2021-01 on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2020-04 – Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting ("ASU 2020-04"). ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance, for a limited time, to ease the potential burden in accounting for or recognizing the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments, which are elective, provide expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR or another reference rate that is expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The optional expedients for contract modifications apply consistently for all contracts or transactions within the relevant Codification Topic, Subtopic, or Industry Subtopic that contains the guidance that otherwise would be required to be applied, while those for hedging relationships can be elected on an individual hedging relationship basis. Because the guidance is intended to assist

stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period, it is in effect for a limited time, from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company has established a working committee with representatives from relevant functional areas to inventory the contracts and accounts that are tied to LIBOR and develop a transition plan for the affected items. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2020-04 on the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform with the current year presentations.

Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements

The Company classifies the sales of securities under agreements to repurchase as short-term borrowings. The amounts received under these agreements are reflected as a liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and the securities underlying these agreements are included in investment securities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, all securities sold under agreements to repurchase mature on a daily basis. The market value of the securities fluctuate on a daily basis due to market conditions. The Company monitors the market value of the securities underlying these agreements on a daily basis and is required to transfer additional securities if the market value of the securities fall below the repurchase agreement price. The Company maintains an unpledged securities portfolio that it believes is sufficient to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities sold under agreements to repurchase.