Ameris Estimates 2027 Quarterly Core Expenses at $165 Million to $169 Million

Ameris Bancorp Chief Financial Officer Nicole Stokes gave a preliminary 2027 estimate of $165 million to $169 million in core expenses per quarter. The bank also expects mid-single-digit growth in loans and deposits near term. Ameris was still preparing its budget, leaving the expense estimate subject to change.

Stokes discussed the outlook during Ameris’ third-quarter earnings call Friday, Oct. 23, which began at 9 a.m. ET (13:00 UTC). She did not set a specific full-year 2027 loan or deposit growth target, so the mid-single-digit view applies to the near term rather than the full year.

Analysts’ estimate called for expense growth of 6.8% to 7%. Stokes viewed that pace as potentially high, especially in the second through fourth quarters, partly because the estimate assumed higher mortgage revenue. Mortgage-related expenses could change Ameris’ eventual quarterly expense figure.

Stokes said deposit growth would limit loan growth over a longer period. Her comments tied the bank’s longer-term lending capacity to the pace of deposit gains, while leaving the near-term growth outlook without a specific percentage target.

In the quarter ended Sept. 30, loans increased $173.1 million, or 3.1% on an annualized basis. Deposits rose $319.4 million, or 5.6% annualized. Those rates reflect the quarter’s activity at an annualized pace; they are separate from the bank’s near-term outlook.

Ameris reported net income of $116.1 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, for the quarter. In the year-earlier period, it earned $106 million, or $1.54 per diluted share.

Atlanta-based Ameris Bancorp is the parent company of Ameris Bank. Its financial centers span five Southeastern states, and some of its lending channels serve customers nationwide.