MOULTRIE, Ga., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq: ABCB), announced today that Richard Sturm has been named the Western Region Executive with responsibility for all Ameris Bank activities west of I- 95. This region will include the greater Columbia, Greenville/Spartanburg and Rock Hill, South Carolina markets. Ameris Bank's regional headquarters will be in downtown Columbia while other sites are located.

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In making the announcement, Group President John Hipp stated, "Richard Sturm is one of the finest bankers in the state, and he will be a huge asset to the Columbia area and the upstate. For almost 20 years, he has demonstrated extraordinary business development and leadership skills in many varied positions throughout South Carolina. I consider him a role model, and I'm proud to have him on our team."

Mr. Sturm's experience includes being the commercial banking manager in Greenville for a large bank and more recently as the Regional Executive for SCBT in Beaufort County. Mr. Sturm and his family currently reside in Hilton Head but will be relocating to Columbia early in 2007. Sturm is no stranger to Columbia, as he is a USC graduate and worked in Columbia for approximately eight years with C&S Bank.

Mr. Sturm commented, "My wife and I met here in Columbia, and we are both extremely excited to be returning to an area where we have fond memories and lived for a number of years. For me, Ameris Bank's plans to rapidly build a billion dollar bank in South Carolina show very strong commitment to our state, and we intend to make our Company a household name over the next five years."

Sturm further stated, "Our recruiting efforts are centered on senior level bankers with extensive experience, strong track records of success and longtime roots in the Columbia area. Our staff will work hard to make customers proud and will make us supremely competitive from the start."

Ameris Bank, a subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp, headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, has 43 locations in Georgia, Alabama and north Florida with total assets of approximately $2 billion. In August, 2006, Ameris Bancorp announced its plans to acquire Islands Bancorp in Beaufort, 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.

SOURCE Ameris Bancorp

Contact: John Hipp, Group President of Ameris Bancorp, +1-803-429-6210, or +1-229-890-1111