ABCB Ameris Bancorp

Risks

• Our revenues are highly correlated to market interest rates.
• Certain changes in interest rates, inflation, deflation or the financial markets could affect demand for our products and our ability to deliver products efficiently.
• Our concentration of real estate loans subjects the Company to risks that could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
• Greater loan losses than expected may materially adversely affect our earnings.
• Our business is highly correlated to local economic conditions in a geographically concentrated part of the United States.
• We face additional risks due to our increased mortgage banking activities that could negatively impact net income and profitability.
• Legislation and regulatory proposals enacted in response to market and economic conditions may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
• Our growth and financial performance may be negatively impacted if we are unable to successfully execute our growth plans, including successful completion of the Fidelity merger.
• We rely on dividends from the Bank for most of our revenue.
• We are subject to regulation by various federal and state entities.
• A new accounting standard will result in a significant change in how we recognize credit losses and may materially adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
• Our total consolidated assets increased to over $10 billion as of June 30, 2018, which will subject us to additional regulations and oversight that were not previously applicable to us and that will impact our revenues and/or expenses.
• We are subject to industry competition which may have an impact upon our success.
• Changes in the policies of monetary authorities and other government action could materially adversely affect our profitability.
• We may need to rely on the financial markets to provide needed capital.
• We may invest or spend the proceeds in stock offerings in ways with which you may not agree and in ways that may not earn a profit.
• We face risks related to our operational, technological and organizational infrastructure.
• Cyberattacks or other security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business.
• Financial services companies depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.
• Reputational risk and social factors may impact our results.
• We may not be able to attract and retain skilled people.
• We engage in acquisitions of other businesses from time to time. These acquisitions may not produce revenue or earnings enhancements or cost savings at levels or within timeframes originally anticipated and may result in unforeseen integration difficulties.
• Changes in national and local economic conditions could lead to higher loan charge-offs in connection with past FDIC-assisted transactions, all of which may not be supported by loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC.
• Hurricanes or other adverse weather events could disrupt our operations or negatively affect economic conditions in the markets we serve, which could have an adverse effect on our business or results of operations.
• The price of our Common Stock is volatile and may decline.
• Securities issued by us, including our Common Stock, are not FDIC insured.
• Holders of the Company’s debt obligations and any shares of the Company’s preferred stock that may be outstanding in the future will have priority over the Company’s common stock with respect to payment in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up and with respect to the payment of interest and preferred dividends.
• We may borrow funds or issue additional debt and equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, any of which may be senior to our Common Stock as to distributions and in liquidation, which could negatively affect the value of our Common Stock.
• You may not receive dividends on the Common Stock.
• Sales of a significant number of shares of our Common Stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the market price of our Common Stock.