Ameris Bank vs Cathay Bank

As of Q1 2026, Ameris Bank carries a larger commercial real estate loan book than Cathay Bank, roughly 1.1× the size — $10.8B versus $9.8B. CRE book size is one gauge of how much lending capacity a bank is actively deploying, though a bigger book is not automatically better for a borrower; what matters is whether the bank is still growing that book and how concentrated it has become.

Their trajectories diverge: Ameris Bank is growing its CRE book (1.4% quarter over quarter) while Cathay Bank is contracting (0.2%). For a borrower weighing the two, the expanding lender is the more likely to be competing for new business right now.

Neither bank has run past the 300% CRE concentration guideline — Ameris Bank is at 270% and Cathay Bank at 271%. Banks well below the guideline typically have more room to keep adding commercial real estate loans, which tends to mean more competitive pricing and terms for borrowers.

Cathay Bank carries a higher nonaccrual CRE ratio (1% of its CRE book, versus 0% at the other). Rising nonaccruals consume management attention and provisions and often precede tighter credit standards — a useful caution flag when comparing the two as a potential lender.

County recorded documents show both lenders actively closing commercial loans — 3 recent for Ameris Bank and 3 for Cathay Bank. Ameris Bank shows the heavier recent activity in the records we track. Filed deeds of trust are the ground truth of a closed, secured loan, so a presence here confirms the bank is writing business, not just quoting it.

The short version: Ameris Bank runs the larger CRE book. The right lender for any specific deal still depends on property type, sponsorship, and the current terms each is quoting — the table above and each bank's full profile carry the detail.