Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Zember Dennis J JR
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Ameris Bancorp [ABCB]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Bank CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
PO BOX 3668
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2018
(Street)

MOULTRIE, GA 31776
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/13/2018   M   7,709 D $ 14.76 156,063 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2018   M   15,421 D $ 7.46 156,063 D  
Common Stock               2,076 I Children

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Common Stock $ 14.76 (1) 02/13/2018   M     7,709 (1) 02/13/2018 02/19/2018 Common 7,709 $ 14.76 0 D  
Common Stock $ 7.46 (2) 02/13/2018   M     15,421 (2) 02/13/2018 01/20/2019 Common 15,421 $ 7.46 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Zember Dennis J JR
PO BOX 3668
MOULTRIE, GA 31776
      Bank CEO  

Signatures

 Dennis J. Zember, Jr. by Angela A. Redd as attorney-in-fact   02/13/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) On February 19, 2008, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 7,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $14.76. The option cliff vests over a three year period beginning on the award anniversary date, at 100% at three years, resulting in vesting of the option in the amount of 7,709 shares, which number was adjusted to reflect the stock dividends that were issued October 10, 2009, January 10, 2010, April 10, 2010 and July 10, 2010.
(2) On January 20, 2009, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.46. The option vests in five equal installments of 20% per year on the anniversary date of issuance over a five year period, resulting in vesting of the option in the amount of 15,421 shares, which number was adjusted to reflect the stock dividends that were issued October 10, 2009, January 10, 2010, April 10, 2010 and July 10, 2010.

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