Nicole S Stokes, Chief Financial Officer of Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ: ABCB), executed a token sale of common stock on February 24, 2026, disposing of 0.5291 shares at $79.20 per share for a total of $41, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The same set of filings documents other, larger equity movements tied to Stokes' compensation and related tax obligations. On February 20, 2026, Stokes received a stock grant consisting of 27,470 shares of Ameris Bancorp common stock that was recorded with a value of $0. The record shows that on February 21, 2026, the company withheld 1,318 shares at a price of $83.73 per share, totaling $110,356, to satisfy tax liabilities arising from previously vested awards.
After these transactions, Stokes is listed as the direct owner of 86,210 shares of Ameris Bancorp common stock.
Ameris Bancorp is described as a $5.4 billion regional bank that currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.2. Analysis from InvestingPro included with the filings indicates the stock appears undervalued relative to its Fair Value, and the service highlights five additional tips about the company, among them the bank's 12-year streak of dividend payments and commentary on its earnings growth outlook.
In corporate results reported for the fourth quarter of 2025, Ameris Bancorp delivered earnings per share of $1.59, modestly above the consensus projection of $1.58. Revenue for the period was $307.13 million, falling short of the $310.41 million that analysts had expected. Stephens subsequently revised its price target for Ameris Bancorp, raising it to $87.00 from $79.00 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. Stephens cited a strong core pre-provision net revenue - PPNR - of $165.7 million, which exceeded consensus estimates by 6.8%.
The company also disclosed upcoming leadership changes. James A. LaHaise, the Chief Strategy Officer, will retire effective April 30, 2026, under a Retirement Agreement that includes provisions for him to provide transition and support services for up to three months after his official retirement date if needed. Ameris Bank additionally announced that both LaHaise and Chief Risk Officer Bill McKendry will retire this year. The company plans to promote David Boggs, the current General Auditor, to the Chief Risk Officer position following a transition period.
The filings and disclosures present a snapshot of small-scale insider selling tied to routine compensation mechanics, a mixed quarterly performance, and near-term executive turnover amid an internal succession move for the risk function.
Key points
- Ameris Bancorp CFO Nicole S Stokes sold 0.5291 shares at $79.20 on February 24, 2026, for $41; related equity actions include a 27,470-share stock grant and withholding of 1,318 shares to cover taxes.
- Fourth-quarter 2025 results showed EPS of $1.59 versus a $1.58 consensus and revenue of $307.13 million versus $310.41 million expected; Stephens raised its price target to $87.00 from $79.00 while keeping an Equal Weight rating after PPNR beat.
- Senior leadership changes announced include the retirement of Chief Strategy Officer James A. LaHaise effective April 30, 2026, the retirement this year of Chief Risk Officer Bill McKendry, and the planned promotion of General Auditor David Boggs to Chief Risk Officer following a transition period.
Risks and uncertainties
- The company missed revenue estimates for Q4 2025, a factor that affects financial performance assessments in the regional banking sector.
- Executive retirements and subsequent role changes introduce transition risk for governance and risk management functions within the bank.
- Tax withholding on vested awards reduced executive shareholdings, illustrating routine compensation-related dilution or turnover in insider ownership metrics that investors may monitor.