Stokes Nicole S 4

What Happened

• Nicole S. Stokes, Chief Financial Officer of Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), received equity awards on February 19, 2026. The filing shows two award events: 14,910 shares from a performance stock unit award and 2,895 shares under the company’s omnibus equity plan, for a total of 17,805 shares granted at $0.00 per share. To satisfy tax withholding obligations on the grant, 6,641 shares were withheld/disposed at an implied value of $82.93 per share, totaling $550,738. The filing also notes an additional 11.52914 shares acquired via dividend reinvestment.

Key Details

• Transaction date: February 19, 2026; Form 4 filed February 23, 2026 (appears timely).
• Award details:
  • 14,910 shares — performance stock unit award (originally granted Feb 23, 2023).
  • 2,895 shares — stock grant vesting 965 shares on Feb 19 of 2027, 2028 and 2029.
• Tax withholding: 6,641 shares withheld (code F) at $82.93/share, total $550,738.
• Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the filing.
• Footnotes: F1 ties the 14,910 shares to the 2023 PSU grant; F2 explains the 6,641-share withholding for taxes; F3 describes multi-year vesting for the 2,895-share award; F4 notes the ~11.53 shares from dividend reinvestment.

Context

• This was an equity award (A) with a tax-withholding disposition (F), not an open-market sale or purchase. Withholding of shares to cover taxes is routine and does not necessarily reflect buying/selling intent. The 2,895-share grant includes multi-year vesting (2027–2029); the larger 14,910 tranche ties back to a 2023 PSU award.