Merchants & Southern Bank

Merchants & Southern Bank was established on November 25, 1959, under the name Bank of Hawthorne in Hawthorne, Florida. The institution underwent a name change to Lake Area State Bank on November 5, 1976. On March 27, 1985, it was renamed Merchants & Southern Bank of Alachua County and subsequently moved its main office to Main Street in Hawthorne, Florida. The bank experienced significant growth through acquisitions, including Merchants and Southern Bank of Ocala on March 26, 1988, and Merchants and Southern Bank of Clay County on September 23, 1988. The institution shortened its name to Merchants & Southern Bank on the same day as acquiring the Ocala branch. It relocated its main office several times, ultimately settling at 3631 North Main Street in Gainesville, Florida, on May 1, 1989. On May 22, 2015, Merchants & Southern Bank merged with Ameris Bank, headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, marking the end of its independent operations.

Below is a list of some important events in banks history, including mergers and acquisitions.

1959-11-25Institution established. Original name: Bank of Hawthorne.

1976-11-05Changed Institution Name to Lake Area State Bank.

1984-12-31Main Office moved to Main Street, Hawthorne, FL 32640.

1985-03-27Changed Institution Name to Merchants & Southern Bank of Alachua County.

1985-03-27Main Office moved to Main Street, Hawthorne, FL 32640.

1986-04-29Main Office moved to 3345 North Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32609.

1988-03-26Changed Institution Name to Merchants & Southern Bank.

1988-03-26Acquired Merchants & Southern Bank of Ocala in Ocala, FL.

1988-09-23Acquired Merchants and Southern Bank of Clay County in Keystone Heights, FL.

1989-05-01Main Office moved to 3631 North Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32609.

2015-05-22Merged and became part of Ameris Bank in Moultrie, GA.