MOULTRIE, Ga., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AMERIS BANCORP (NASDAQ: ABCB), announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the distribution of the Company's regular quarterly dividend to be paid in shares of common stock. The stock dividend is equal in value to the prior quarter's cash dividend of five cents per share, based on Ameris Bancorp's average thirty day closing stock price through September 17, 2009 of $6.47 per share. The dividend rate is 0.7692 percent, and the Company will distribute one new share for every 130 shares held on the record date. The record date is September 30, 2009, with a payable date of October 10, 2009. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051117/CLTH039LOGO ) Fractional shares will be paid in cash to registered shareholders based on the closing price of Ameris Bancorp stock on the record date. All other shareholders, including those enrolled in the Company's dividend reinvestment plan and those whose shares are held in brokerage accounts will have fractional shares credited to their accounts. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President & CEO commented, "Our Company is continuing to take the necessary actions to protect and strengthen our capital base during this unprecedented economic environment. We recognize that a dividend is important to many shareholders and believe a stock dividend is an approach that meets various objectives. Those shareholders who prefer a cash dividend have the option to sell these additional shares, while others may choose to increase their ownership by holding the dividend shares." Shareholders will receive additional details concerning the stock dividend in a direct mailing. Ameris Bancorp is headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, and at the end of the most recent quarter, had 50 locations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. 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. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051117/CLTH039LOGODATASOURCE: Ameris Bancorp CONTACT: Dennis J. Zember Jr., Executive Vice President & CFO, +1-229-890-1111 Web Site: http://www.amerisbank.com/

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