NOTE 17. SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES

During 2005, the Company acquired First National Banc Statutory Trust I, a statutory trust subsidiary of First National Banc, Inc., whose sole purpose was to issue $5,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 2.80% (3.13% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in April 2009. There are certain circumstances (as described in the trust agreement) in which the securities may be redeemed within the first five years at the Company’s option. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $5,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $5,155,000. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $155,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2006, the Company formed Ameris Statutory Trust I, issuing trust preferred certificates in the aggregate principal amount of $36,000,000. The related debentures issued by the Company were in the aggregate principal amount of $37,114,000. Both the trust preferred securities and the related debentures bear interest at 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.63% (2.14% at December 31, 2015). Distributions on the trust preferred securities are paid quarterly, with interest on the debentures being paid on the corresponding dates. The trust preferred securities mature on December 15, 2036 and are redeemable at the Company’s option beginning September 15, 2011. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $1,114,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2013, the Company acquired Prosperity Banking Capital Trust I, a statutory trust subsidiary of Prosperity, whose sole purpose was to issue $5,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 2.57% (3.17% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in July 2009. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $5,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $5,155,000, and is being carried at fair value of $3,260,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $155,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2013, the Company acquired Prosperity Bank Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust subsidiary of Prosperity, whose sole purpose was to issue $4,500,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 3.15% (3.75% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in March 2008. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $4,500,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $4,640,000, and is being carried at fair value of $3,275,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $140,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2013, the Company acquired Prosperity Bank Statutory Trust III, a statutory trust subsidiary of Prosperity, whose sole purpose was to issue $10,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.60% (2.11% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in March 2011. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $10,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $10,310,000, and is being carried at fair value of $5,230,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $310,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2013, the Company acquired Prosperity Bank Statutory Trust IV, a statutory trust subsidiary of Prosperity, whose sole purpose was to issue $10,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.54% (2.05% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in December 2012. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $5,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $5,155,000, and is being carried at fair value of $2,730,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $310,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2014, the Company acquired Coastal Bankshares Statutory Trust I, a statutory trust subsidiary of Coastal, whose sole purpose was to issue $5,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 3.15% (3.47% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in October 2008. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $5,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $5,155,000, and is being carried at fair value of $3,781,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $155,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2014, the Company acquired Coastal Bankshares Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust subsidiary of Coastal, whose sole purpose was to issue $10,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.60% (2.11% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in December 2010. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $10,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $10,310,000, and is being carried at fair value of $5,747,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $310,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2015, the Company acquired Merchants & Southern Statutory Trust I, a statutory trust subsidiary of Merchants, whose sole purpose was to issue $3,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.90% (2.43% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in March 2010. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $3,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $3,093,000, and is being carried at fair value of $1,878,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $93,000 and is included in other assets.

During 2015, the Company acquired Merchants & Southern Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust subsidiary of Merchants, whose sole purpose was to issue $3,000,000 principal amount of trust preferred securities at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR plus 1.50% (2.01% at December 31, 2015) through a pool sponsored by a national brokerage firm. The trust preferred securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable at the Company’s option on any quarterly interest payment date beginning in June 2011. The aggregate principal amount of trust preferred certificates outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $3,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of debentures outstanding was $3,093,000, and is being carried at fair value of $1,704,000 on the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s investment in the common stock of the trust was $93,000 and is included in other assets.

Under applicable accounting standards, the assets and liabilities of such trusts, as well as the related income and expenses, are excluded from the Company’s consolidated financial statements. However, the subordinated debentures issued by the Company and purchased by the trusts remain on the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the related interest expense continues to be included in the consolidated statements of income. For regulatory capital purposes, the trust preferred securities qualify as a component of Tier 1 Capital.