Ameris Bank Names Austen Carroll Market President.

December 15, 2008

Valdosta, GA, Ameris Bank is pleased to announce that Austen Carroll has joined the Ameris Bank team as Market President for the company's locations in Valdosta and Quitman. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the bank's production for these areas. Carroll will work closely with Area President Lawton Bassett.

In making the announcement, Bassett stated, "Austen and his family have deep roots in the Valdosta community. This will allow him to make an immediate impact with our bank. We're very excited to have him as part of the Ameris Bank team."

A graduate of Valdosta State University with a BA in finance, Carroll's areas of expertise include business banking, special assets and credit administration. He is also currently enrolled in the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.

"Ameris Bank has a commitment to being a community bank, and it's an honor to be selected as Market President for my hometown of Valdosta," Carroll stated.

Austen, his wife Holly and their daughter Haisten reside in Valdosta.

Ameris Bank is headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, and has locations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. The company is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol ABCB. For more information about Ameris Bank, please visit us on the web at www.amerisbank.com.

For more information contact:
Steven Sturm
(803) 733-2699