ABCB Form 4: William H. Stern Increases Stake via ESPP Purchase

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

William H. Stern, a director of Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), purchased shares under the company's employee stock purchase plan on 09/15/2025. The filing reports a purchase of 320.3196 shares at a price of $74.1447 per share. After the transaction, Mr. Stern beneficially owns 46,898.3579 shares in total. The filing notes an additional 434.433892 shares included from the employee stock purchase plan and a dividend reinvestment plan. Reported indirect holdings include 337 shares held by a spouse, 234 by a family foundation, 2,337 by children, and 2,777 by a family trust. The form is signed on behalf of Mr. Stern by an attorney-in-fact on 09/16/2025.

Positive

• Director increased beneficial ownership through participation in the employee stock purchase plan, raising total holdings to 46,898.3579 shares
• Full disclosure of indirect holdings (spouse, family foundation, children, family trust) improves transparency

Negative

• None.

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Routine insider purchase via ESPP modestly increases a director's stake; standard disclosure with limited material impact.

The Form 4 documents a small-scale acquisition under an employee stock purchase plan, a common benefit for executives and directors. The added 320.3196 shares at $74.1447 and the inclusion of 434.433892 shares from ESPP and dividend reinvestment modestly raise the director's beneficial ownership to 46,898.3579 shares. Indirect holdings are disclosed across family vehicles, which clarifies total economic exposure. This is a routine compliance disclosure that improves transparency but does not, by itself, indicate a change in governance or control.

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Insider buying through an ESPP is a neutral-to-slightly-positive signal but is not material given the disclosed sizes.

The transaction shows participation in company equity programs rather than a market open-market purchase. The purchased amount (320.3196 shares) and the additive 434.433892 shares from related plans are small relative to total reported ownership. The disclosure is useful for tracking insider alignment with shareholder interests, yet the magnitude suggests limited near-term market impact. All holdings and indirect interests are explicitly reported, aiding valuation transparency.

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

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

STERN WILLIAM H

(Last) (First) (Middle)

3490 PIEDMONT RD NE

STE 1550

(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)

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/15/2025

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	09/15/2025		P		320.3196(1)	A	$74.1447	46,898.3579(2)	D
Common Stock								337	I	Spouse
Common Stock								234	I	Family Foundation
Common Stock								2,337	I	Children
Common Stock								2,777	I	Family Trust

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. The reported transaction involved a purchase of shares by the reporting person as a participant in an employee stock purchase plan.

2. This total includes an additional 434.433892 shares acquired by the reporting person as a participant in an employee stock purchase plan and dividend reinvestment plan.

Remarks:

	William H. Stern by: Elna Klein-Kolarich as Attorney-in-Fact	09/16/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What did William H. Stern report on the Form 4 for Ameris Bancorp (ABCB)?

Mr. Stern reported a purchase of 320.3196 shares on 09/15/2025 under an employee stock purchase plan at $74.1447 per share and now beneficially owns 46,898.3579 shares.

How many additional shares were included from other plans in the Form 4?

The filing states an additional 434.433892 shares were included from the employee stock purchase plan and a dividend reinvestment plan.

Does the Form 4 show any indirect holdings for William H. Stern?

Yes. The filing discloses indirect holdings of 337 shares (spouse), 234 (family foundation), 2,337 (children), and 2,777 (family trust).

When was the Form 4 signed and by whom?

The Form 4 was signed on behalf of William H. Stern by an attorney-in-fact, Elna Klein-Kolarich, on 09/16/2025.

What type of transaction code is listed for the purchase?

The transaction is coded P, indicating a purchase, and the explanatory note states it was made as a participant in an employee stock purchase plan.