NOTE 2 – PENDING MERGER

On September 30, 2015, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Jacksonville Bancorp”). The Jacksonville Bank is a wholly owned banking subsidiary of Jacksonville Bancorp that has eight full-service branches located in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Duval County, Florida, as well as one virtual branch. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Jacksonville Bancorp shareholders will receive either 0.5861 shares of Ameris common stock or $16.50 in cash for each share of Jacksonville Bancorp common stock or nonvoting common stock they hold, subject to the total consideration being allocated 75% stock and 25% cash. As of June 30, 2015, Jacksonville Bancorp reported assets of $501.9 million, gross loans of $385.7 million and deposits of $426.2 million. The purchase price will be allocated among the net assets of Jacksonville Bancorp acquired as appropriate, with the remaining balance being reported as goodwill. The Merger Agreement has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016 and is subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and the approval of Jacksonville Bancorp’s shareholders.