Ameris Bancorp’s second quarter delivered flat revenue year over year but exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, with the market responding positively. Management attributed the strong performance to disciplined loan growth, a healthy noninterest-bearing deposit mix, and ongoing efficiency improvements. CEO Palmer Proctor cited a 6.5% annualized increase in loans, margin expansion, and a focus on positive operating leverage as central to the bank’s results. He also highlighted Ameris Bancorp’s ability to maintain a robust capital position and asset quality, supporting consistent tangible book value growth. Proctor stated, "Our strong second quarter earnings and capital generation increased our common equity Tier 1 to 13% and TCE to over 11%."

Is now the time to buy ABCB? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).

While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Ameris Bancorp’s Q2 Earnings Call

• Stephen Scouten (Piper Sandler) asked about the sustainability of loan growth and the seasonality in mortgage warehouse lending. CEO Palmer Proctor said activity is improving across markets, with competition rising, and expects similar trends in the next quarter barring unforeseen events.
• Catherine Mealor (KBW) questioned the outlook for the bond portfolio versus loan growth. CFO Nicole Stokes stated that Ameris Bancorp values optionality and will continue to add higher-yielding securities as opportunities arise, while focusing primarily on organic loan growth.
• David Feaster (Raymond James) inquired about the competitive landscape and whether growth was driven by increased demand or greater banker productivity. Proctor responded that more customers are active, especially in the middle market, and the bank’s scale enables it to capitalize on both deposit and loan opportunities.
• Russell Gunther (Stephens) asked about margin trends and the outlook for noninterest expense. Stokes explained margin grew steadily through the quarter, with expenses expected to stay consistent in the next quarter barring significant changes in production.
• Christopher Marinac (Janney Montgomery Scott) sought clarity on deposit base stability and reserve flexibility. Stokes emphasized the granular, long-standing deposit base, while Proctor noted the robust reserve allows for both growth and protection against credit cycles.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

Looking ahead, the StockStory team will be watching (1) whether Ameris Bancorp sustains mid-single-digit loan and deposit growth amid intensifying competition; (2) if the net interest margin remains above peer levels as deposit costs rise; and (3) how the efficiency ratio and asset quality metrics hold up as production scales. The ability to capitalize on Southeast market disruptions will also be a key signpost.

Ameris Bancorp currently trades at $70.04, up from $66.38 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free).

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