A Southeastern bank whose CEO calls AI 'more of an evolution than a revolution', aimed at building capacity in high-volume processes rather than cutting costs, with robotic automation already selling in its insurance-premium-finance unit and a Q2 2026 litigation accrual that halved reported earnings.
How is Ameris using AI?
Ameris Bancorp, the Atlanta parent of Ameris Bank with about $28 billion of assets across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina, gave the clearest statement of its AI philosophy on its April 2026 earnings call. Asked about AI strategy and expense levels, CEO Palmer Proctor said 'AI here is more of an evolution than a revolution', that the bank uses it 'to build capacity, not so much to cut out expense', and that it had spent 'a considerable amount of time looking through process here throughout the company, especially in some of our higher-volume areas' to create automation, so that as the bank grows 'we won't have to layer in additional expense'. He added that AI is useful for reading software contracts to find opportunities, at a time when vendors are 'trying to lock you in for longer-term contracts'. The one AI product Ameris markets is in its US Premium Finance insurance unit, which advertises 'AI-powered automation' through robotic process automation that accelerates agreement processing and reduces manual errors, alongside e-pay and integrated accounting; its equipment-finance arm, Ameris Bank Equipment Finance, publishes digital-solutions content on IoT and automation for business clients. Consumer content covers AI-generated fraud and deepfake voices. Financially, first-quarter 2026 net income was $110.5 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, with a 1.62% return on assets and an efficiency ratio just under 50%; second-quarter net income fell to $51.4 million, or $0.77, because of a litigation accrual, with adjusted net income of $107.3 million, or $1.60, revenue growth of 14.9% annualised and a stable 3.88% margin. Proctor has said M&A is low on the priority list against organic growth. The 2025 10-K, filed in February 2026, goes further than the calls: it says the bank's adoption of AI, including generative AI, 'for limited internal use has increased our efficiency', that it expects to keep adopting such tools, and that vendors are likely to build AI into their products faster than Ameris can on its own, while listing model design, data, testing and human-oversight failures as risks. Technology sits with Ross Creasy, corporate executive vice president and chief information officer since 2019, to whom the chief information security officer reports. AI came up on only one of the last four earnings calls (April 2026). Ameris Bank is a Georgia state nonmember bank supervised by the FDIC; no dedicated AI leader, vendor for decisioning or budget has been named.
Lead bank
Ameris Bank
Assets (lead bank, Jun 30, 2026)
$28 billion
Charter
Georgia state nonmember bank (FDIC)
Headquarters
Atlanta, GA
AI leadership
Palmer Proctor · Nicole Stokes · Douglas Strange · Ross Creasy · Jorge Perez · David Boggs · William McKendry · Michael Pierson · Willie Daniely
- CEO Palmer Proctor: AI is 'more of an evolution than a revolution', used 'to build capacity, not so much to cut out expense', targeting high-volume processes for automation.
- AI used to review software vendor contracts as vendors push longer lock-ins.
- US Premium Finance markets 'AI-powered automation' via robotic process automation for agreement processing; its equipment-finance arm publishes automation content for business clients.
- Q1 2026: net income $110.5 million ($1.63 per share), ROA 1.62%, efficiency ratio just under 50%; Q2 2026 net income $51.4 million ($0.77) after a litigation accrual, adjusted $107.3 million ($1.60).
- Organic growth preferred to M&A; revenue growth 14.9% annualised in Q2 2026 with a stable 3.88% margin.
- Consumer AI content is fraud education (AI-generated fraud, deepfake voices); no AI leader, vendor or budget disclosed.
- 2025 10-K: AI, including generative AI, adopted 'for limited internal use has increased our efficiency'; vendors expected to embed AI faster than the bank can alone; AI named as a cyber-threat accelerant and competitive disruptor.
- Technology is led by corporate EVP and CIO Ross Creasy, to whom the CISO reports; AI was raised on one of the last four earnings calls (April 2026).
- The AI risk factor first appears in the 10-K filed 28 February 2025 (fiscal 2024); the 10-K filed in February 2024 has no AI reference, and the 10-Qs for Q2 2025, Q3 2025, Q1 2026 and Q2 2026 contain none either.
- AI came up on one of the last five earnings calls (April 2026); the Q2 2025, Q3 2025, Q4 2025 and Q2 2026 call transcripts contain no AI discussion.
- The 2025 annual report describes a Voice ID upgrade that automates risk checks and scores calls before they reach a banker (the earlier system protected more than $95 million of customer funds), a photo ID scanning system that flags fraudulent IDs, and a cross-functional Lion Team for high-risk fraud events.
- Corporate Information Security Officer Jorge Perez, hired in August 2024, reports to CIO Ross Creasy; David Boggs, promoted from General Auditor, is set to succeed retiring Chief Risk Officer Bill McKendry in 2026.
- Operating leverage is the stated efficiency story: 2025 revenue rose 6% while expenses fell 1% (efficiency ratio 50.0% against 53.2%), and in Q2 2026 adjusted revenue rose 6% against 3% adjusted expense growth.
- Data processing and communications expense was $32.4 million in the first half of 2026 against $30.2 million a year earlier (up 7.1%); premium finance loans grew to $1.53 billion from $1.31 billion at December 2025.
What AI partnerships and patents does Ameris Bancorp have?
Ameris has named no AI lab, cloud or data-platform partner in its filings, earnings calls or press releases, and no AI patents or published applications were found under the assignee names Ameris Bank and Ameris Bancorp. The 10-K says managed security service providers supplement the in-house security team and that vendors are embedding AI in their products, without naming either. Vendors, models and budgets for AI are not public.[5][2]
| Item | What it is | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor-embedded AI (vendors not named) | 10-K expects core and software vendors to add AI to their products faster than Ameris can; no vendor named | In production | 2026-02-26[5] |
What has Ameris done on AI, and when?
- Aug 7, 2026
Q2 2026 10-Q: no AI language; technology cost and premium finance figures[15]
Data processing and communications expense was $32.4 million for the half against $30.2 million; premium finance loans were $1.53 billion against $1.31 billion at December 2025.
- Jul 24, 2026
Q2 2026 call: no AI discussion[21]
Management cited an $82.5 million accrual for a California employment-case jury verdict, adjusted revenue up 6% against adjusted expense up 3%, and an adjusted efficiency ratio of 50.4% against 51.7%.
- Jul 23, 2026
Second-quarter 2026 results[9]
Net income $51.4 million after a litigation accrual; adjusted $107.3 million; revenue up 14.9% annualised.
- Jun 30, 2026
Litigation accrual taken in the second quarter[9]
Reported net income $51.4 million versus adjusted $107.3 million.
- May 8, 2026
Q1 2026 10-Q carries no AI language[14]
The quarterly report, unlike the 10-K, contains no reference to AI.
- Apr 24, 2026
- Apr 23, 2026
First-quarter 2026 results[4]
Net income $110.5 million; ROA 1.62%; efficiency ratio 49.97%.
- Apr 7, 2026
2025 annual report: fraud tooling[16]
Reports a Voice ID upgrade begun in 2025 that automates risk checks and scores calls before they reach a banker (the previous system protected more than $95 million), a photo ID scanning system that flags fraudulent IDs, a Lion Team for high-risk fraud events, and a 15% rise in online account openings.
- Mar 12, 2026
Equipment-finance blog: five digital solutions for businesses[3]
IoT sensors, predictive maintenance and automation content for equipment-finance clients.
- Feb 26, 2026
10-K cybersecurity governance names the CISO and CIO[5]
The CISO reports to the CIO; the board's Enterprise Risk Committee reviews the cybersecurity risk profile quarterly; managed security service providers supplement the in-house team.
- Feb 26, 2026
2025 10-K: limited internal AI use has raised efficiency[5]
The AI risk factor says generative AI and machine-learning tools adopted for limited internal use have increased efficiency, and lists poorly designed models, faulty data, inadequate testing and narrow human oversight as risks.
- Feb 24, 2026
Risk and governance leadership changes[17]
Chief Risk Officer Bill McKendry and Chief Strategy Officer Jim LaHaise announced retirements; General Auditor David Boggs to become Chief Risk Officer; Chief Governance Officer Michael Pierson takes executive oversight of Ameris Bank Mortgage, Equipment Finance and US Premium Finance.
- Jan 30, 2026
Q4 2025 call: expenses down 1% in 2025[19]
Revenue grew 6% and expenses fell 1% for 2025, taking the efficiency ratio to 50.0% from 53.2% (46.6% in Q4). Management guided to no aggressive headcount expansion; AI was not discussed.
- Oct 28, 2025
- Feb 28, 2025
- Aug 7, 2024
Jorge Perez joins as Corporate Information Security Officer[10]
Hired from Truist, where he was CISO of Wholesale Banking, Enterprise Payments and Core Technology & Operations; reports to CIO Ross Creasy.
Where does Ameris use AI today?
| System | What it does | Status | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process automation in high-volume operations[7] | Company-wide process review to automate high-volume areas and build capacity. | Rolling out | Generative & agentic AI |
| AI-assisted software contract review[7] | Identifying opportunities in vendor agreements amid longer lock-in terms. | In production | Third-party & vendor AI |
| Robotic process automation in insurance premium finance[2] | US Premium Finance agreement processing with fewer manual errors; e-pay and accounting integration. | In production | Credit scoring & underwriting |
| AI risk-factor disclosure[5] | The 10-K flags errors, unfair treatment and fraud from AI used by the bank and its vendors, AI added by vendors without the bank's prior knowledge, and failures of model design, testing and human oversight. | In production | Model risk management |
| Internal generative-AI tools[5] | Generative AI and machine-learning tools in limited internal use, which the 10-K says has increased efficiency. | In production | Generative & agentic AI |
| Customer education on AI-generated fraud[1] | Deepfake voices and AI-enabled phishing. | In production | Fraud detection |
| Voice ID upgrade with automated risk checks[16] | The upgraded phone system automates Voice ID risk checks and gives each call a risk score before it reaches a banker; the earlier Voice ID system protected more than $95 million of customer funds. The report does not call this AI or name a vendor. | Rolling out | Fraud detection |
| Photo ID scanning to flag fraudulent IDs[16] | A scanning system added to strengthen protective measures at account opening; the vendor and method are not disclosed. | In production | Fraud detection |
| AI named as a cyber-threat accelerant[5] | The 10-K says AI may enhance attackers' tactics and facilitate new threats; the CISO reports to the CIO and the board's Enterprise Risk Committee reviews cyber risk quarterly. | In production | Cybersecurity |
| Vendor-embedded AI risk[5] | The 10-K expects vendors to add AI faster than Ameris can and warns the bank may not know when a vendor introduces it; the bank uses managed security service providers. | In production | Third-party & vendor AI |
| AI exposure under fair-lending and equal-opportunity law[5] | The 10-K lists equal opportunity and fair lending laws among those applying to AI and warns of unwanted bias; no AI credit-decisioning model is disclosed. | In production | Fair lending & discrimination |
Use-case links open the tracker's rules-by-use-case matrix: which documents govern each system type.
What has Ameris disclosed in numbers?
| Metric | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 net income / diluted EPS | $110.5 million / $1.63[4] | Apr 23, 2026 |
| Q2 2026 net income / adjusted net income | $51.4 million ($0.77) / $107.3 million ($1.60)[9] | Jul 23, 2026 |
| Return on assets, Q1 2026 | 1.62%[4] | Apr 23, 2026 |
| Net interest margin, Q2 2026 | 3.88%[9] | Jul 23, 2026 |
| Full-time-equivalent employees | 2,673[5] | Dec 31, 2025 |
| Efficiency ratio, 2025 (prior year) | 50.0% (53.2%); revenue +6%, expenses -1%[19] | Jan 30, 2026 |
| Data processing and communications expense, first half 2026 (first half 2025) | $32.4 million ($30.2 million), +7.1%[15] | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Premium finance loans (December 2025) | $1.534 billion ($1.306 billion)[15] | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Mortgage banking activity income, Q2 2026 (Q2 2025) | $32.5 million ($39.2 million)[15] | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Customer funds protected by the earlier Voice ID system | More than $95 million[16] | Apr 7, 2026 |
| Adjusted efficiency ratio, Q2 2026 (Q2 2025) | 50.4% (51.7%); adjusted revenue +6%, adjusted expense +3%[21] | Jul 24, 2026 |
“AI here is more of an evolution than a revolution. And the way we look at it is utilizing it to build capacity, not so much to cut out expense.”[7]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“So as the bank grows, we won't have to layer in additional expense.”[7]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“And obviously, the best part of AI is being able to utilize it to look through some of those contracts, and help you identify some opportunities.”[7]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“We don't look at it as a true cost-saving measure.”[20]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“We look at it as an ability to build capacity for the company as it continues to grow.”[20]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“A lot of software vendors are getting very anti right now and trying to lock you in for longer-term contracts, which we're not a big fan of because technology changes so quickly.”[20]
Palmer Proctor · Chief Executive Officer · Apr 24, 2026
“Fraud is prevalent in the financial industry, and it takes a strong defense and agile team to engage when issues arise.”[16]
Willie Daniely · Director of Fraud and co-leader of the Lion Team · Apr 7, 2026
Who runs AI at Ameris?
Palmer ProctorLinkedIn ↗
Nicole StokesLinkedIn ↗
Douglas StrangeLinkedIn ↗
Chief Credit Officer[6]
Ross CreasyLinkedIn ↗
David Boggs
Chief Risk Officer-designate (General Auditor; leads Internal Audit and Credit Risk Review)[17]
Michael Pierson
Chief Governance Officer; executive oversight of Ameris Bank Mortgage, Equipment Finance and US Premium Finance; chief operations officer 2019 to 2020[6][17]
Willie Daniely
Director of Fraud and co-leader of the Lion Team[16]
What AI roles is Ameris hiring for?
Data as of · 0 AI-titled postings · read from Ameris's own careers site, re-checked weekly
No open AI-titled postings on Ameris's careers site as of Oct 25, 2026. A snapshot of current openings, not a source: postings close. Compare with other banks on which banks are hiring for AI.
Which regulators govern Ameris's AI?
| Authority | Why it matters here | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| FDIC | Ameris Bank is a state nonmember bank; FDIC model-risk and third-party guidance govern automation in operations and premium finance. | FDIC FIL-29-2023 FDIC FIL-15-2026 |
| CFPB | Consumer and mortgage lending bring adverse-action and UDAAP duties to any automated decisioning. | ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9) |
| Federal Reserve | Holding-company oversight of consolidated risk and technology spend. | SR 11-7 |
Side by side: SR 11-7 vs SR 26-2 · OCC vs CFPB on AI lending · PRA SS1/23 vs SR 26-2 · MAS AI Risk Management Guidelines vs SR 26-2 · all comparisons.
What does the public record suggest about Ameris's AI strategy?
Analysis by BankingNewsAI from the sources cited on this page. Observations, not advice.
01
Capacity, not cost, is a defensible framing
Automation that absorbs growth without headcount avoids the layoff narrative and matches how examiners prefer to see AI justified; the metric to publish is volume per employee.
02
Premium finance is the live proving ground
RPA marketed to insurance agents is the bank's only customer-facing automation claim; it is where model-risk documentation should already exist.
03
Contract review is a quiet win
Using AI to read vendor agreements is low risk and immediately valuable as core and software vendors tighten terms.
04
Name the leader and the vendors
A capacity strategy without a named owner or vendor is hard for investors to track from quarter to quarter.
Where does the Ameris record go deeper?
Which leader rankings does Ameris appear in?
1 of the computed leaders rankings include Ameris, each ranked from the same sourced bank pages.
How does Ameris compare with its peers?
- How does Ameris Bancorp compare with its peers on AI and technology?
- Ameris Bancorp competitors and alternatives, by business line
Its peer group on this site, by business model and size:
Who leads AI at Ameris Bank?
Ameris has not named a head of AI, chief data officer or chief AI officer. CEO Palmer Proctor set the stance on the April 2026 call: AI is 'more of an evolution than a revolution' and builds capacity rather than cutting cost. Technology sits with Corporate EVP and CIO Ross Creasy (since July 2019); Corporate Information Security Officer Jorge Perez, hired in August 2024, reports to him. David Boggs, promoted from General Auditor, is due to become Chief Risk Officer after Bill McKendry retires in 2026, and Chief Governance Officer Michael Pierson oversees the mortgage, equipment finance and premium finance lines.
Does Ameris Bank use AI?
Yes, incrementally. CEO Palmer Proctor said in April 2026 that AI at Ameris is 'more of an evolution than a revolution', used to build capacity by automating high-volume processes rather than to cut expense, and to review software contracts. Its US Premium Finance unit markets AI-powered robotic process automation for agreement processing. Its 2025 10-K says generative AI and machine-learning tools adopted for limited internal use have increased efficiency. No dedicated AI leader, vendor or budget has been disclosed; technology is led by CIO Ross Creasy.
Why did Ameris's second-quarter 2026 earnings fall?
Reported net income fell to $51.4 million, or $0.77 per share, because of a litigation accrual. Excluding that accrual and a securities gain, adjusted net income was $107.3 million, or $1.60 per share, with revenue growth of 14.9% annualised and a stable 3.88% net interest margin.
Does Ameris Bancorp mention AI in its SEC filings?
Only in the annual report. The 10-K filed 28 February 2025 added an AI risk factor, repeated in the 10-K filed 26 February 2026: AI adopted 'for limited internal use has increased our efficiency', vendors will add AI faster than Ameris can, and the bank may not know when a vendor introduces it. The 10-Qs for Q2 2025, Q3 2025, Q1 2026 and Q2 2026 contain no AI reference, and the 10-K filed in February 2024 had none. AI came up on one of the last five earnings calls, in April 2026.
How does Ameris use technology against fraud?
The 2025 annual report names three measures. A Voice ID system, whose earlier version the bank says protected more than $95 million of customer funds, is being upgraded so risk checks are automated and calls get a risk score before reaching a banker. A photo ID scanning system flags fraudulent IDs. A cross-functional Lion Team, co-led by Fraud director Willie Daniely, responds to high-risk fraud events. The report does not describe any of these as AI and names no vendor.
- Cybersecurity and Fraud Trends for 2025 (undated page, retrieved 2026-09-24)
- Insurance Premium Financing
- 5 Digital Solutions for Businesses
- Ameris Bancorp Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Ameris Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025
- Executive Leadership Team
- Ameris (ABCB) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
- Ameris Bancorp Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
- Ameris Bancorp Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Ameris Bank Hires Jorge Perez as Corporate Information Security Officer
- Ameris Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
- Ameris Bancorp Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
- Ameris Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025
- Ameris Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026
- Ameris Bancorp Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026
- Ameris Bancorp 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders
- Ameris Bank Announces Executive Leadership Changes
- Earnings call transcript: Ameris Bancorp beats Q3 2025 earnings forecast
- Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) Q4 2025 Earnings Transcript
- Ameris (ABCB) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
- Earnings call transcript: Ameris Bancorp posts Q2 2026 EPS miss as shares fall
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