Ameris: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors

On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 23, 2026, Ameris (NYSE:ABCB) reported a five-year record high earnings of $1.73 per diluted share. Disciplined balance sheet management and mid-single-digit asset growth allowed the bank to expand profitability without taking excessive credit risk. Three things management said stand out.

1. Management Rejects Volume Growth at the Expense of Loan Pricing

Net interest margin (the gap between interest earned on assets and paid on deposits) stays protected when lenders avoid price wars. Prioritizing profitability over market share keeps returns on equity high across rate cycles.

We do not feel like we need to chase deals. We are seeing a lot of irrational pricing out there. We would rather be measured in that approach than be foolish in trying to compete with some of the rates that we are seeing out there.
-- Palmer Proctor, Chief Executive Officer

2. Deposit Expansion Acts as the Structural Limit for Future Loan Growth

Banks require steady deposit growth to fund new loans without relying on expensive wholesale borrowings. Setting deposit growth as the ceiling for loan expansion preserves cheap funding and keeps net interest income expanding.

We project loan and deposit growth in the mid-single digit range near term and expect that longer term deposit growth will be the governor of loan growth.
-- Nicole Stokes, Chief Financial Officer

3. Superior Credit Metrics Keep Reserve Coverage High and Losses Low

A low criticized loan ratio (borrowings flagged for potential credit weakness) protects earnings from sudden provisioning charges. Maintaining asset quality well above regional peers preserves regulatory capital and shareholder equity.

If you step back and look at our criticized ratio at 115 basis points, when you compare it to peer and the midpoint for our peer group, we're less than half of where they are.
-- Doug Strange, Chief Credit Officer

Looking Ahead

Operating efficiency (operating expenses measured as a percentage of revenue) remains under 50% as revenue growth outpaces overhead expansion across southeastern markets.

For the year, our adjusted efficiency ratio is 49.84%, and I anticipate ending the year around that 50% ratio.
-- Nicole Stokes, Chief Financial Officer

Core deposit relationships and conservative credit underwriting anchor future performance as leadership monitors deposit pricing competition and loan yields.

Overall, I am very pleased with our financial performance in the third quarter. We are well positioned as we go into 2027 as we continue to focus on organic and profitable growth in our attractive southeastern footprint.
-- Palmer Proctor, Chief Executive Officer

The Motley Fool recommends Ameris Bancorp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.