Making an Impact

 

Corporate Social Responsibility:

Investing in our People, Communities and Environment with Integrity and Strong Governance.

At Ameris Bank, we believe in making a tangible difference in the communities we serve. Our  2024 Impact Report highlights our commitment to corporate social responsibility, showcasing the significant ways we invested in people and places throughout the past year. Discover how our initiatives are fostering financial well-being, supporting local economies, and improving the quality of life for our neighbors.
 

	Building Stronger Communities In 2024, Ameris Bank proudly donated $2.23 million to 40 rural hospitals in Georgia through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program, reinforcing our dedication to accessible healthcare.  To further support communities, Ameris launched the Ameris Choice Down Payment Assistance Program in January 2024. This program has already provided $6 million to over 400 individuals, helping them achieve homeownership through purchases or refinances. This program offers qualified applicants flexibility in how they use the funds, allowing them to apply assistance towards their down payment, closing costs, or a permanent rate buydown to best fit their financial situation.  Ameris also donated a significant plot of land to Moultrie, Georgia's Downtown Development Authority. This donation will help transform the greenspace into a vibrant community park and redevelop existing buildings for hospitality, residential, or retail use, enhancing downtown Moultrie and attracting more people to the area.  Beyond economic development, we're dedicated to enriching lives through arts and education. In 2022, Ameris became the first sponsor of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center's Art Scholars program, continuing our partnership in 2024. This program offers enriching activities for Title I school students on school holidays, providing an alternative to childcare. And, in 2024, Ameris proudly partnered with the United Way for its “Stuff the Bus” campaign to provide back-to-school supplies to students at Title I schools across our footprint.
	Fostering Financial Empowerment Ameris remains dedicated to promoting financial opportunities through strategic partnerships and inclusive banking solutions. By supporting programs like EverFi’s financial education for high school students and Wealth Watchers’ support for homebuyers, we promote empowerment for individuals and communities. Additionally, our Opportunity Checking solution provides banking services and financial education for customers who may not qualify for traditional accounts. In 2024, customers enjoyed the benefits of the Opportunity Checking account, helping them to more easily manage their finances and build a stronger financial future.
	Supporting Healthy Neighbors In 2024, Ameris sponsored two of the largest road races in the Southeast: The Ameris Bank Jacksonville Marathon and Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race, supporting more than 60,000 runners.  Additionally, the bank’s commitment extends beyond physical health to addressing hunger through support of our Helping Fight Hunger food drive. By partnering with local food banks to share donations from customers and teammates for 15 years, Ameris has provided more than 10 million pounds of food to those in need.
	Teammate Support Caring for our teammates is a strong part of our culture. In 2022, Ameris established the Courageous Fund to provide crucial grants to Ameris Bank teammates facing financial hardships, such as immediate effects from a hurricane or other challenging circumstances. In 2024, the Ameris Foundation supported teammates by distributing more than 80 grants.  In 2024, we continued our investment in Learning and Development programs, including leadership development, emotional intelligence, and situational leadership. Furthermore, Ameris is proud to foster professional development through the Mentor Ameris Program. Mentors are matched with high potential teammates to share their guidance and experiences in this key program to develop talent across all functions of the company.  At Ameris Bank, we believe our teammates are our greatest asset. We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where every individual can thrive. Our comprehensive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and focus on work-life balance demonstrate our dedication to our team's well-being and growth.
	Ameris Bank Foundation In 2024, the Ameris Bank Foundation dispersed a total of more than $100,000 to nonprofits, including the United Way, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Boys & Girls Club, City of Refuge, Inspiredu, and many other worthwhile organizations.  The Ameris Foundation also committed $50,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which severely impacted communities across the Southeast. As Michael Pierson, Ameris Bank chief governance officer and executive director of the Ameris Foundation, stated, “Both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton severely impacted many of the communities we serve, and we joined with others in helping the American Red Cross to provide immediate relief and recovery assistance.”
	Governance: Acting with Integrity Leading with long-term vision, the Ameris Bancorp Board of Directors and our executive leadership team established our high-performance standards. Our Community Boards of Directors are an extension of our bank and include local leaders who provide guidance, business development and community involvement support. Ameris Bank’s local market leadership builds relationships while offering customers local decision making and personalized service. At Ameris Bank, we are committed to maintaining safe and sound bank operations, and instilling trust and confidence in our teammates, customers and communities.
	Ameris Bank Amphitheater The arts are a fundamental component of a healthy community and we are honored to be named Greater Atlanta’s iconic music venue located in Alpharetta, Georgia. Discover What's Playing