Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) credit chief gets stock grant, small share sale

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ameris Bancorp Chief Credit Officer Douglas D. Strange reported a mix of stock awards and small share dispositions. On February 20, 2026, he acquired 10,152 shares of common stock at no cost as a grant under the Ameris Bancorp 2021 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan, vesting in three equal installments of 3,384 shares on February 20, 2027, 2028, and 2029. On February 21, 2026, 842 shares at $83.73 per share were withheld to cover tax obligations triggered by the vesting of earlier stock awards. On February 24, 2026, he completed a very small open-market sale of 0.5947 shares at $78.76 per share, and directly owned 31,130 shares of common stock after these transactions.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Strange Douglas D

(Last) (First) (Middle)

3490 PIEDMONT ROAD NE

SUITE 1500

(Street)

ATLANTA GA 30305

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Ameris Bancorp [ ABCB ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Credit Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/20/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/20/2026		A(1)		10,152	A	$0	31,972.5947	D
Common Stock	02/21/2026		F(2)		842	D	$83.73	31,130.5947	D
Common Stock	02/24/2026		S		0.5947	D	$78.76	31,130	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Stock grant pursuant to the Ameris Bancorp 2021 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan, vesting: (i) 3,384 shares on February 20, 2027; (ii) 3,384 shares on February 20, 2028; and (iii) 3,384 shares on February 20, 2029.

2. This transaction represents the withholding of 842 shares of common stock to satisfy the tax withholding obligations incurred by the reporting person upon the vesting of 862 and 1,028 shares of common stock originally awarded on February 21, 2024 and February 20, 2025, respectively.

Remarks:

	Douglas D. Strange by Elna Klein-Kolarich as Attorney-In-Fact	02/24/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

What insider transactions did Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) report for Douglas D. Strange?

Ameris Bancorp reported that Chief Credit Officer Douglas D. Strange received a 10,152-share stock grant, had 842 shares withheld to cover taxes on vesting, and sold 0.5947 shares in an open-market transaction, leaving him with 31,130 directly owned common shares.

How many Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) shares were granted to Douglas D. Strange and how do they vest?

Douglas D. Strange was granted 10,152 Ameris Bancorp common shares at no cost. The grant vests in three equal tranches of 3,384 shares each on February 20, 2027, February 20, 2028, and February 20, 2029, under the 2021 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan.

Why were 842 Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) shares withheld from Douglas D. Strange?

The 842 withheld shares represent tax-withholding to satisfy obligations from the vesting of 862 and 1,028 Ameris Bancorp shares originally awarded on February 21, 2024 and February 20, 2025. This tax-withholding disposition avoided a separate cash payment for Strange’s tax liability.

Did Douglas D. Strange sell Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) shares on the open market?

Yes. On February 24, 2026, Douglas D. Strange executed a very small open-market sale of 0.5947 Ameris Bancorp common shares at $78.76 per share. This sale followed his stock grant and tax-withholding transaction reported earlier in February 2026.

How many Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) shares does Douglas D. Strange own after these transactions?

After the reported February 2026 grant, tax-withholding, and small open-market sale, Douglas D. Strange directly owns 31,130 shares of Ameris Bancorp common stock. This figure reflects his updated direct ownership as disclosed in the Form 4 filing.

What equity plan governs Douglas D. Strange’s new Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) stock grant?

The new 10,152-share stock grant to Douglas D. Strange was issued under the Ameris Bancorp 2021 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan. This plan provides for equity-based awards, and the grant vests in three annual installments beginning February 20, 2027.