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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Business
Nature of Business

Ameris Bancorp (the “Company” or “Ameris”) is a financial holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Ameris conducts substantially all of its operations through its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank (the “Bank”). At September 30, 2023, the Bank operated 164 branches in select markets in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Our business model capitalizes on the efficiencies of a large financial services company, while still providing the community with the personalized banking service expected by our customers. We manage our Bank through a balance of decentralized management responsibilities and efficient centralized operating systems, products and loan underwriting standards. The Company’s Board of Directors and senior managers establish corporate policy, strategy and administrative policies. Within our established guidelines and policies, the banker closest to the customer responds to the differing needs and demands of his or her unique market.
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for Ameris have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statement presentation. The interim consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited but reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and Cash EquivalentsFor purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in banks, federal funds sold and restricted cash. There was no restricted cash held at both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Reclassifications ReclassificationsCertain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform with the current year presentations. The reclassifications had no effect on net income or shareholders' equity as previously reported.
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2023
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2023

ASU No. 2022-02 – Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures ("ASU 2022-02"). ASU 2022-02 eliminates the troubled debt restructuring ("TDR") measurement and recognition guidance and requires that entities evaluate whether the modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan consistent with the accounting for other loan modifications. Additional disclosures relating to modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are required under ASU 2022-02. ASU 2022-02 also requires disclosure of current-period gross write-offs by year of origination. The Company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2023 on a prospective basis, except for the amendments related to recognition and measurement of TDRs, which were adopted using the modified retrospective method. The adoption was not material and resulted in a reduction to the allowance for credit losses of $1.7 million and an increase to retained earnings of $1.3 million.
ASU No. 2022-06 - Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. ASU No. 2022-06 extends the temporary relief in Topic 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Topic 848 provides optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for or recognizing the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting. The objective of this guidance is to provide temporary relief during the transition period away from LIBOR toward new interest rate benchmarks. This update was effective upon issuance. The Company adopted the guidance in Topic 848 effective January 1, 2023 and the adoption was not material to the consolidated financial statements.