Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Exhibit 12.1

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated (in thousands).

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2011			2010			2009			2008			2007
EARNINGS
Pre-tax income from continuing operations		7,863			2,202			31,649			(7,184	)		(34,492	)		(5,969	)		22,453
Fixed charges		5,536			8,870			31,354			33,300			43,979			56,939			71,109
Amortization of capitalized interest		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Capitalized interest		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Preferred TARP dividends (pre-tax equivalent)		(815	)		(798	)		(3,241	)		(3,213	)		(3,161	)		(328	)		—
Preferred TARP accretion (pre-tax equivalent)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Preferred dividends (pre-tax equivalent)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Total earnings		12,584			10,274			59,762			22,903			6,326			50,642			93,562
Interest on deposits		4,084			7,375			25,506			28,647			38,506			51,942			62,380
Total earnings exc. deposit int.		8,500			2,899			34,256			(5,744	)		(32,180	)		(1,300	)		31,182
FIXED CHARGES
Interest expensed		4,555			7,930			27,547			29,794			40,550			56,343			70,998
Interest capitalized		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Interest included in rental expense		166			142			566			293			268			268			111
Preferred TARP dividends (pre-tax equivalent)		815			798			3,241			3,213			3,161			328			—
Preferred TARP accretion (pre-tax equivalent)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Preferred dividends (pre-tax equivalent)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Total fixed charges		5,536			8,870			31,354			33,300			43,979			56,939			71,109
Interest on deposits		4,084			4,084			25,506			28,647			38,506			51,942			62,380
Total fixed charges exc. deposit int.		1,452			4,786			5,848			4,653			5,473			4,997			8,729
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Including interest on deposits		2.27			1.16			1.91			0.69			0.14			0.89			1.32
Excluding interest on deposits (1)		5.85			0.61			5.86			(1.23	)		(5.88	)		(0.26	)		3.57

(1) For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges excluding interest on deposits by $5,744,000, $32,180,000 and $1,300,000, respectively.