Ameris Teammate Will McNeeley Honors Fallen Soldiers Through Scholarship Fund

In recognition of Ameris Bank’s mission to address the critical issue of affordable housing in Jacksonville, Ameris was recently honored with a proclamation from the City of Jacksonville, presented by Councilmember Rahman K. Johnson, Ph.D. 

Commissioner Eugene “Trey” Ford (center) from the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District presented to the proclamation to Director of Community Lending Clyde Anderson (right). Carrie Davis (left), CEO of Wealth Watchers, also received a proclamation as one of Ameris Bank’s community partners.

Under the leadership of Clyde Anderson, SVP, Director of Community Lending, Ameris is working with community members and leaders in underserved areas to learn how best to support their needs. Community engagement efforts including a pivotal town hall meeting, where more than one hundred residents came together to share their voices, marked the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between Ameris Bank and the community, fostering trust and collaboration.  

Building on this foundation, Ameris partnered with Wealth Watchers to host an event with real estate professionals and local developers. The goal? To chart a path forward for Jacksonville's housing future. This event wasn't just about brainstorming solutions; it was about Ameris taking a proactive role, leveraging its resources to be a catalyst for positive change.  

These efforts helped bolster Ameris Choice, a bold new program designed to provide assistance to qualified applicants in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jacksonville.  

With a mandate to allocate $7.5 million in down payment assistance funding, the program offers up to $20,000 in assistance to individuals looking to purchase or refinance a home. As an added bonus, borrowers are given the flexibility to choose how the assistance funds are utilized, whether for down payment, closing costs, or permanent rate buydown. “Qualified borrowers have the autonomy to allocate their assistance funds in a manner that best aligns with their financial situation and aspirations,” said Anderson. “By breaking down financial barriers and offering tailored support, Ameris is going beyond facilitating transactions; we are nurturing dreams and fostering long-term stability.” 

The program, which began earlier this year, has already delivered over $1.2M in subsidies to qualifying customers in underserved communities. “I believe Ameris is setting a precedent for responsible banking and meaningful impact in the realm of homeownership,” said Anderson.