Public Notice Argent Trust Company 3102 West End

PUBLIC NOTICE Argent Trust Company 3102 West End Avenue, Suite 775, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Ameris Bank and Ameris Interim Institution, Inc. (to be formed) 3490 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305 Argent Trust Company, Nashville, Tennessee, intends to apply to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions under the Tennessee Banking Act for permission to acquire by merger, Ameris Interim Institution Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, a to be formed wholly-owned interim trust company subsidiary of Ameris Bank, Atlanta, Georgia Any person wishing to comment on or protest this application/notification or any person having information which may have a bearing on the fitness of any of the proponents of this application may file comments with the Commissioner of Financial Institutions in the Tennessee Tower, 26th Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37243, or telephone the Department of Financial Institutions at 615- 741-5018 or via email to Debra.Grissom@tn.gov and/or William.Cook@tn.gov. Written or telephonic notice must be made to the Commissioner within fifteen (15) days of this publication. An application has also been made with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance related to the merger of Ameris Interim Institution Inc. with an into Argent Trust Company, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, with Argent Trust Company as the surviving entity of such merger. A copy of the Articles of Merger may be obtained by written request to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance at 2990 Brandywine Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30304. 11-23, 30-22