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<p><strong>From staff reports&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Ameris Bank has announced the hiring of Andy Thomas as market president for Beaufort. In this role, Thomas will report to Regional President for the Carolinas and Executive Vice President Richard Sturm and will work closely with businesses and individuals in the Beaufort area to help meet their loan, deposit and service needs.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“We are thrilled to have Andy join our team,” Sturm said in a release. “We are confident his experience, knowledge of the local market and leadership will help drive our purpose to bring financial peace of mind to customers and communities.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Prior to joining Ameris, Thomas served as the chief lending officer at Beacon Community Bank and has nearly three decades of banking experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University where he studied financial management.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Thomas has served the Lowcountry as the chairman and commissioner of the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, and as a board member for both the Maritime Association of South Carolina and Kids on Point, an organization that fosters life-readiness skills for children from under-resourced Charleston neighborhoods.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“I'm very excited and honored to join the Ameris Bank team,” Thomas said. “Ameris Bank empowers bankers to make decisions and work directly with clients. This results in bankers being able to provide the personal touch of a community bank while having the loan capacity, technology and services of a large regional bank.”&nbsp;</p>
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