EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has established a retirement plan for eligible employees. The Ameris Bancorp 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan allows a participant to defer a portion of his compensation and provides that the Company will match a portion of the deferred compensation. The Plan also provides for non-elective and discretionary contributions. All full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the Plan provided they have met the eligibility requirements. Generally, a participant must have completed 12 months of employment with a minimum of 1,000 hours and have attained an age of 21.

Due to financial performance and general economic conditions, the Company reduced contributions to the plan and there was not an expense recorded under the plan in 2011 and 2010. The aggregate expense under the plan charged to operations during 2012 amounted to $571,000.