Ameris Bancorp Q1 FY2026 earnings call

• Palmer is proud of the firm's performance starting the year from core profitability, growth in loans, deposits, earning assets, revenue, and active capital management with share repurchases. - Nicole discusses financial results including net income, returns, margin, non-interest income and expense, efficiency ratio, provision, balance sheet, and deposit growth. - Palmer mentions operating as one bank, one team as a key internal priority for 2026 and focus on profitable organic growth and enhancing shareholder value.

Net income was $110.5 million or $1.63 per diluted share. Return on assets was 1.62%, PPNR ROA was 2.3%, and return on tangible common equity was 14.75%. Tangible book value increased to $44.79. Net interest margin expanded three basis points to 388. Non-interest income increased $8.1 million. Total non-interest expense increased about $14 million. Efficiency ratio was 49.97. Provision expense was $16.6 million. Annualized net charge-offs decreased to 21 basis points. Reserve remains at 1.62% of loans. Total assets ended at $28.1 billion. Earning assets grew $607.8 million. Loans grew $314.5 million. Deposits grew 261 million. Non-interest-bearing deposits grew 323 million and returned to 30% of total deposits.

• Anticipate slight margin compression over next few quarters, probably 5 to 10 total basis points lower. - Project loan and deposit growth to be in mid single digit range for rest of year. - Efficiency ratio to be slightly above 50% for rest of year. - Net charge-offs anticipated in 20 to 25 basis point range for 2026. - Capital levels remain robust with CET1 at roughly 13% and TCE ratio slightly above 11%.

Q: About margin, look back and forward-looking on loan yields vs deposits.

A: Look back non-interest-bearing deposit growth helped margin. Forward, loans came in at about 6.13% yield, total deposit production including non-interest bearing at about 190, but interest-bearing deposit production at 274.

Q: On growing core deposits, strategy and using non-core funding.

A: Focus on treasury management, willing to sacrifice some for right growth.

Q: On disruption impact, client acquisition and M&A.

A: Focus on client acquisition, overlap markets give leg up. Regulatory relief doesn't change strategy much.

Q: On loan growth trends, pipelines and 2Q.

A: Pipelines robust across verticals, growth driven by macro.

Q: On mortgage banking income, puts and takes.

A: First quarter rebound, dependent on rate environment.

Q: On AI strategy and expense contracts.

A: AI for building capacity, not cost-cutting. Software vendors aggressive on contracts.

Q: On expense and fees.

A: Expense increase about 30-35 million, fee income mid-single digit growth.

Q: On deposits per account and mortgage business.

A: Deposits per account due to customer base growth. Mortgage business first quarter good, second quarter could be consistent.

Q: On M&A and capital deployment.

A: M&A low priority, focus on organic growth. Capital allows aggressive buyback, but M&A not a priority.