AMERIS BANCORP, announced Wendesday the redemption, as of March 24, 2014, of the Company's remaining preferred stock originally issued under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, totaling $28 million.  In order to facilitate the redemption, the Company incurred no additional debt and issued no additional common equity, instead utilizing excess capital from its bank subsidiary, Ameris Bank. Commenting on the redemption, Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and CEO of the Company, said, "This final redemption of the TARP preferred stock brings to a close an important strategy for Ameris.  As the economic crisis began to unfold, we vigorously increased our capital levels and were in a position to benefit from opportunities during the downturn. This additional, relatively inexpensive equity, played a part in our willingness to maintain a growth-oriented strategy through a volatile economic period. It is an important achievement for us to have been able to repay the entire $52 million of funds without issuing common stock or taking on additional borrowings."