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Ameris Bancorp(ABCB) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Report

Loan Portfolio - As of December 31, 2024, the company's loan portfolio totaled approximately 21.27billion,representingabout81.021.27 billion, representing about 81.0% of total assets[29] - The commercial real estate loans segment has significantly grown and is the largest part of the loan portfolio, including loans for various commercial properties[29] - Residential real estate mortgage loans are primarily owner-occupied, amortized over 20 to 30 years, with a majority sold in the secondary market[30] - The Bank's construction and development (C&D) concentration as a percentage of capital totaled 63.3%, while the commercial real estate (CRE) concentration, net of owner-occupied loans, was 267.9%[100] Employee and Leadership Development - The company employed 2,691 full-time-equivalent employees as of December 31, 2024, primarily in core markets[53] - The company offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan that matches 50% of employee contributions up to 8%[56] - The company has a formal mentorship program, "Mentor Ameris," with 26 mentees selected for 2024[59] - The Leadership Development Program had 481 teammates enrolled or completed by the end of 2024, focusing on various leadership skills[60] Regulatory Compliance and Capital Requirements - The Company is subject to extensive regulation, which significantly impacts its earnings, results of operations, financial condition, and competitive position[63] - As of December 31, 2024, the Company exceeded its minimum capital requirements with common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital, and total capital equal to 12.65%, 12.65%, and 15.37% of its total risk-weighted assets, respectively[83] - The Bank's capital ratios as of December 31, 2024, were common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital, and total capital equal to 13.15%, 13.15%, and 14.75% of its total risk-weighted assets, respectively, indicating it was "well-capitalized" for prompt corrective action purposes[83] - The Company has approximately 196.0 million of retained earnings available for payment of cash dividends under applicable regulations without obtaining regulatory approval as of December 31, 2024[76] - The Federal Reserve and the FDIC require the Company to maintain a common equity Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets ratio of at least 4.5%[80] - The Company must maintain a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital of at least 2.5% of risk-weighted assets to avoid restrictions on capital distributions[80] - The ability of the Bank to pay dividends is restricted if it fails to satisfy regulatory capital conservation buffer requirements[77] - The Company is subject to federal law limitations on dividends paid to shareholders, requiring sufficient net income to cover cash dividends[78] Financial Performance and Risk Management - The Bank recognized an expense of 11.6millioninQ42023relatedtoaspecialassessmentbytheFDIC,whichisbasedonanannualrateof13.4basispointsappliedtouninsureddepositsexceeding11.6 million in Q4 2023 related to a special assessment by the FDIC, which is based on an annual rate of 13.4 basis points applied to uninsured deposits exceeding 5 billion[94] - The Bank is mildly asset sensitive, with projected net interest income increasing by 0.7% over the next 12 months if interest rates rise by 100 basis points[336] - The earnings simulation model indicates that a 400 basis point increase in interest rates could lead to an 11.0% increase in projected baseline net interest income over 24 months[338] - The Bank's interest rate risk management involves monitoring changes in net interest income through simulation analysis, with quarterly assessments[336] Consumer Protection and Compliance - The Bank is required to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and comply with OFAC sanctions, with significant penalties for violations[108][109] - The Bank is subject to various consumer protection laws, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which impose significant compliance obligations and costs[111] - The CFPB's final rule on overdraft fees limits such fees to $5 or less, with compliance required by October 1, 2025, pending ongoing litigation[112] - The Bank must comply with the CFPB's final rule on data access by April 1, 2027, which mandates the provision of consumer financial data to authorized third parties without charging fees[120] Cybersecurity and Reporting Obligations - The Bank is required to report certain cybersecurity incidents within 36 hours, reflecting the importance of cybersecurity practices[117] - The SEC's new rule requires public issuers to enhance climate-related disclosures, impacting the Bank's reporting obligations[121] - The Bank is actively monitoring state-level privacy and cybersecurity regulations, which are increasingly being implemented across various states[119] Competitive Landscape - The competitive landscape includes various financial institutions, with the company facing strong competition for both deposits and loans[50]