8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 30, 2010

Ameris Bancorp

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Georgia	001-13901	58-1456434
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

310 First Street, S.E., Moultrie, Georgia	31768
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (229) 890-1111

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 30, 2010, Ameris Bank, the wholly-owned banking subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the appointment as of that date of Andrew B. Cheney as President and Chief Operating Officer of Ameris Bank. Mr. Cheney will begin serving in this role immediately. His chief responsibilities include all core banking activities for the Company’s four-state footprint.

Mr. Cheney, who is 60, has served since May 2009 as the Executive Vice President and Banking Group President of both Ameris Bank and the Company. He will continue to hold those titles with the Company, where his role is unchanged. From February 2009 until May 2009, Mr. Cheney served as the Regional Executive for Florida and Coastal Georgia. Prior to that time, he worked with Mercantile Bank, serving as Florida President from 2000 to 2007 and as the Florida Chairman from 2008 to 2009. For over 23 years, Mr. Cheney was an executive with Barnett Bank and Bank of America, ultimately rising to the position of Jacksonville President and Market Executive for the northern half of Florida.

In connection with his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer of Ameris Bank, Mr. Cheney’s annual base salary will be increased from $225,000 to $290,000. There are no family relationships between Mr. Cheney and any of the Company’s directors or executive officers, and the Company has not entered into any transactions with Mr. Cheney that are reportable pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the press release regarding Mr. Cheney’s appointment is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release dated November 30, 2010.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

AMERIS BANCORP
By:	/s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
	Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: November 30, 2010

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press release dated November 30, 2010.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

News Release

For more information contact:

Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer

229.890.1111

AMERIS BANK ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF

ANDREW B. CHENEY AS PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

November 30, 2010

AMERIS BANK, Moultrie, Georgia. The Board of Directors of Ameris Bank announced today that Andrew B. Cheney has been appointed to serve as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Ameris Bank is the wholly-owned banking subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Ameris Bank and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ameris Bancorp.

Cheney has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, his community leadership has included Red Cross, Chairman of the United Way of North Florida, Shand’s Hospital, Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Board member of the Florida Bankers Association, and Chairman of the Gator Bowl Association. Cheney will maintain his office in the Jacksonville area.

Commenting on the appointment, Hortman stated, “Andy joined our Company in February 2009 as a member of the Ameris Bank and Ameris Bancorp Executive Teams. In this short period of time, his contributions have been numerous. Having been a banker for over 30 years, Andy brings solid business experience and acumen that will continue to have an immediate, positive impact in this new role. His commitment to our community banking culture is exceptional, and Andy’s approach to developing and coaching bankers is invaluable as we build bench strength for our Company.”

Prior to joining Ameris Bank, Cheney’s banking career included executive positions as President of North Florida with Barnett Bank, Jacksonville President with Bank of America, and CEO and Chairman of Mercantile Bank.

Ameris Bank has 60 locations in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. The Bank’s parent company, Ameris Bancorp, is publically-traded on Nasdaq-GS under the ticker symbol ABCB and is headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia. For additional information about Ameris Bank, please visit our web site at www.amerisbank.com.

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Ameris Bancorp Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ABCB”. The preceding release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “anticipate” and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.