Mortgages Boost Profit at Ameris

Ameris Bancorp's quarterly profit more than tripled, primarily on gains in mortgage revenue and a drop in the provision for loan losses.

The Moultrie, Ga., company reported a second-quarter profit of $6.2 million Thursday, up from $1.7 million a year earlier. Its earnings per share were 26 cents, which matched the average expectations of analysts polled by Bloomberg.

Ameris' net interest income was $29.5 million, up 2.1% from a year earlier. The net interest margin increased 30 basis points, to 4.96%.

Noninterest income jumped 28%, to $11.4 million. The gains were mostly due to a 67% increase in mortgage revenue, to $5 million.

Noninterest expenses were flat, at $26.7 million.

Total assets shrunk by 4%, to $2.8 billion. Ameris closed 13 branches in December.

Ameris' provision for loan losses declined by 42%, to $4.2 million. Its net charge-offs grew 4%, to $2.9 million.

Ameris agreed to buy Prosperity Banking Co. in Florida in May, after repurchasing nearly half of its Troubled Asset Relief Program shares in November.

Ameris has 57 locations in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina.