Ameris Bancorp

Trading Arrangements

During the quarter ended December 31, 2025, no director or Section 16 officer of the Company adopted orterminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (in each case, as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K).

Special Equity Awards

On February 20, 2026, the Company granted special, one-time long-term equity awards of time-based restricted stock to certain of the Company’s named executive officers (the “Special Awards”) pursuant to the Ameris Bancorp 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. H. Palmer Proctor, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, received 35,830 restricted shares of Common Stock; Nicole S. Stokes, Corporate EVP and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, received 27,470 restricted shares of Common Stock; Lawton E. Basset, III, Corporate EVP and Chief Banking Officer of the Company, received 18,811 restricted shares of Common Stock; and Ross L. Creasy, Corporate EVP and Chief Information Officer of the Company, received 16,661 restricted shares of Common Stock. All of the Special Awards vest ratably over three years on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date, except for those awarded to Mr. Proctor, which cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. James A. LaHaise, the Company’s Corporate EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, did not receive a Special Award, as he is retiring on April 30, 2026.

The Special Awards, which were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board, are not part of the executives’ regular annual compensation and will not be awarded on a reoccurring basis. The Special Awards were granted to the executives in recognition of their leadership and contribution to the Company’s growth in tangible book value, and the increase in the Company’s market capitalization and shareholder return, in recent years. The Special Awards are intended to incentivize the executives to continue to grow shareholder value and to preserve and retain the continuity of the executive management team.

The shares of restricted stock granted as Special Awards are subject to transfer and vesting restrictions. Dividend equivalents on the shares will accrue and be credited with respect to such shares to the extent dividends are paid on the Common Stock, but will only be paid out when, and if, such awards vest. All of the shares have voting rights.