JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lawton E. Bassett, III has been promoted to president of Ameris Bank and banking group president of Ameris Bancorp.

Bassett earned an associate’s degree in business from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and.

He is an honor graduate of the Banking School of the South at Louisiana State University, Graduate School of Banking and is an alumnus of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Tifton, Georgia.

“I am honored and excited to be leading the talented and knowledgeable team of bankers that comprise Ameris Bank,” said Bassett. “Our goal at Ameris is to provide personalized service and establish broad customer relationships by offering a full range of services. I am committed to continuing this philosophy by providing the best service and financial products for our customers.”

Andy Cheney, who previously held this role, will now step into an oversight and advisory role by serving on the executive team of Ameris Bank as chief banking executive of Ameris Bancorp.

Bassett has been with Ameris Bank for more than 19 years. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief banking officer for Georgia and Alabama. In this role, he was responsible for all core banking activities throughout Georgia and Alabama, and was also responsible for specialty banking groups, providing oversight of all bank-wide commercial banking initiatives, including construction and municipal lending, treasury and cash management, and government guaranteed/SBA lending.

“Lawton is a highly-principled and fair-minded banker who will continue to make a difference at Ameris Bank,” said Ameris Bank Chief Executive Officer Edwin W. Hortman, Jr. “Since joining the bank in 1997, Lawton has been very impactful in various lending and senior management roles and is an extremely gifted banker and leader. His leadership style, banking background and goal-oriented approach is important as we continue to grow and expand.”

Bassett has more than 25 years of financial and banking experience. He served as Ameris Bank regional president, where he oversaw the core banking activities in 19 markets, and led teams in these markets through the integration of 9 financial institutions acquired by Ameris Bank.

He also served as the chief executive officer of Citizens Security Bank, an independently charted Ameris Bancorp owned financial institution, until it was consolidated into Ameris Bank in 2006. Prior to joining Citizens Security Bank, Bassett served in various commercial lending and leadership roles at Barnett Bank and SunTrust.

Bassett is married to his wife Alisha, and has two children Lawton IV “Le” and Annslee. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church.