First Busey Corp: Form 10-K/A for the period ended Dec 31, 2023

Contents of Item 1. Business

ORGANIZATION

First Busey Corporation is a $12.3 billion financial holding company. Organized in Nevada in 1980, First Busey Corporation is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. First Busey Corporation’s common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BUSE.”

Subsidiaries of First Busey Corporation

Busey conducts the business of banking and provides related banking services, asset management, brokerage, and fiduciary services through Busey Bank, and provides payment technology solutions through FirsTech. Busey also has various other subsidiaries that are not significant to the consolidated entity.

Busey Bank

Busey Bank is an Illinois state-chartered bank organized in 1868 with its headquarters in Champaign, Illinois. Busey Bank has 46 banking centers in Illinois, eight in Missouri, three in southwest Florida, and one in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Busey Bank offers a range of diversified financial products and services for consumers and businesses, including online and mobile banking capabilities to conveniently serve our customers’ needs. Commercial services include commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction, and agricultural loans, as well as commercial depository services such as cash management. Retail banking services include residential real estate, home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, customary types of demand and savings deposits, money transfers, safe deposit services, and individual retirement accounts and other fiduciary services through our banking center, automated teller machines, and technology-based networks.

Busey Bank’s principal sources of income are interest and fees on loans and investments, wealth management fees, service fees, and payment technology solutions revenue. Principal expenses are interest paid on deposits and borrowings and general operating expenses. Busey Bank’s primary markets are central Illinois; northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area; the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area; southwest Florida; and central Indiana.

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Busey Bank provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations through its Wealth Management business. As of December 31, 2023, $12.1 billion of assets were under care. For individuals, Busey Bank provides investment management, trust and estate advisory services, and financial planning. For businesses, it provides investment management, business succession planning, and employee retirement plan services. For foundations, Busey Bank provides investment management, investment strategy consulting, and fiduciary services. Brokerage-related services are offered by Busey Investment Services, a division of Busey Bank, through a third-party arrangement. In addition, Busey Bank provides professional farm management and brokerage services to the agricultural industry.

FirsTech

FirsTech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Busey Bank, provides comprehensive and innovative payment technology solutions. FirsTech's multi-channel payment platform allows businesses to collect payments from their customers in a variety of ways to enable fast, frictionless payments. Payment method vehicles include text-based mobile bill pay; interactive voice response; electronic payment concentration delivered to Automated Clearing House networks, money management, and credit card networks; walk-in payment processing for customers at retail pay agents; customer service payments made over a telephone; direct debit services; and lockbox remittance processing for customers to make payments by mail. FirsTech also provides additional tools to help clients with billing, reconciliation, bill reminders, and treasury services. FirsTech's client base represents a diverse set of industries, with a higher concentration in highly regulated industries, such as financial institutions, utility, insurance, and telecommunications industries.

First Busey Risk Management

First Busey Risk Management, previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation, incorporated in Nevada, was dissolved on December 18, 2023. It was a captive insurance company that insured against certain risks unique to the operations of First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries for which insurance may not have been available or economically feasible in the insurance marketplace. First Busey Risk Management pooled resources with several other similar insurance company subsidiaries of financial institutions to spread a limited amount of risk among themselves.

ACQUISITIONS

Over the last several years, Busey completed the following acquisitions as part of our strategy to expand into new service areas and to provide broader coverage in areas where we already maintain a presence:

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Further information related to completed acquisitions has been presented in the Annual Reports previously filed with the SEC corresponding to the year of each acquisition.

Acquisition of Merchants and Manufacturers Bank Corporation Planned for The Second Quarter of 2024

On November 27, 2023, First Busey Corporation announced the signing of a definitive agreement with M&M, pursuant to which Busey will acquire M&M and its wholly-owned subsidiary, M&M Bank, through a merger transaction. This partnership will add M&M’s Life Equity Loan® products to Busey’s existing suite of services, and expand Busey’s presence in the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, M&M’s stockholders will have the right to receive for each share of M&M common stock, at the election of each stockholder and subject to proration and adjustment, either (1) $117.74 in cash, (2) 5.7294 shares of Busey common stock, or (3) mixed consideration of $34.55 in cash and 4.0481 shares of Busey common stock, with total consideration to consist of approximately 71% stock and 29% cash. Based upon Busey’s 20‑day volume-weighted average closing price as of November 24, 2023, the aggregate implied transaction value is approximately $41.6 million.

The merger is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and required approvals, including regulatory approvals and the approval of M&M’s stockholders. It is anticipated that M&M Bank will be merged with and into Busey Bank at a date following the completion of the merger. At the time of the bank merger, M&M Bank’s banking centers will become banking centers of Busey Bank, except for M&M’s banking center located at 990 Essington Rd., Joliet, Illinois, which is expected to be closed in connection with the bank merger.

See “Note 23. Acquisitions” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information relating to this acquisition.

BANKING CENTER MARKETS

Busey Bank serves the Illinois banking market with 46 banking centers. Our Illinois markets feature several Fortune 1000 companies. Those organizations, coupled with large healthcare and higher education sectors, anchor the communities in which they are located and have provided a comparatively stable foundation for housing, employment, and small business. Ten of our banking centers in Illinois are located within the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area, and 12 of our banking centers in Illinois are located within the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Busey Bank has eight banking centers in Missouri. St. Louis, Missouri has a diverse economy with major employment sectors including health care, financial services, professional and business services, and retail. We have a total of 20 banking centers within the boundaries of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, including branches in both Illinois and Missouri.

Busey Bank has three banking centers in southwest Florida, an area which has experienced strong population growth, job growth, and an expanded housing market, as well as the benefits of a tourism and winter resort economy.

Busey Bank has one banking center in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, which is the most populous city of Indiana with a diverse economy, particularly because it serves as the headquarters of many large corporations.

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Market Competition

Busey Bank competes actively with national and state banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions for deposits and loans mainly in Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area; southwest Florida; and central Indiana. Busey Bank competes for real estate and other loans primarily on the basis of type of loan, interest rates and loan fees, and the quality of services provided. Busey Bank and FirsTech compete with other financial institutions, including asset management and trust companies, security broker/dealers, personal loan companies, insurance companies, finance companies, leasing companies, mortgage companies, payment technology solution companies, financial technology companies, and certain governmental agencies, all of which actively engage in marketing various types of loans, deposit accounts, wealth management, and other products and services.

Busey Bank faces substantial competition in attracting deposits from other commercial banks, savings institutions, digital banks, money market and mutual funds, credit unions, insurance agencies, brokerage firms, and other investment vehicles. Customers for banking services are generally influenced by convenience, quality of service, personal contacts, price of services, and availability of products. Busey Bank attracts a significant amount of deposits through its banking centers, primarily from the communities in which those banking centers are located; therefore, competition for those deposits is principally from other commercial banks, savings institutions, and credit unions located in the same communities. Busey Bank competes for deposits by offering a variety of deposit accounts at competitive rates, high-quality customer service, convenient business hours, technology enabled solutions including internet and mobile banking, and convenient banking centers with inter-branch deposit and withdrawal privileges.

Based on information obtained from the FDIC Summary of Deposits dated June 30, 2023, the most recent report available, out of 366 financial institutions headquartered in the State of Illinois, Busey Bank ranked fourth in total deposits within the Illinois market. Further, Busey Bank ranked in the top 10 in total deposits in nine Illinois counties:

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HUMAN CAPITAL

Busey is built upon a strong commitment to associate, customer, stockholder, and community experiences with our associates as the cornerstone of this unwavering commitment. Busey’s vision, Service Excellence in Everything We Do, starts with dedication to our associates. We are deeply humbled to be consistently recognized nationally and locally throughout our footprint, including being named among America’s Best Banks by Forbes and the Best Banks to Work For by American Banker since 2016; the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pension and Investments since 2018; and a Leading Disability Employer by the National Organization on Disability. Locally, Busey has been voted as a Best Places to Work in Illinois since 2016 and a Best Company to Work For in Florida since 2017. From exceeding the needs of customers and colleagues to serving our communities selflessly, our associates show unmatched dedication to Busey. Their shared experiences are what make these and other awards possible. Since we opened our doors over 155 years ago, we have maintained our core values, creating a strong foundation and shaping our inclusive culture.

Busey remains committed to bringing diversity and inclusion to our organization, the banking profession, and the communities where we live and work. Busey is dedicated to attracting and retaining talent across a variety of backgrounds and experiences. A diverse team—one with varying beliefs and opinions—promotes productivity, creativity, and innovation, while better meeting and exceeding the needs of a diverse customer base. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diversified workforce with varying perspectives and ideas, while having an inclusive culture, is the foundation of our core values—One Busey. Our endeavors in this regard are reported to the Employee Benefit and Compensation Committee, as well as the Board's Enterprise Risk Committee, which hold the organization accountable to this core value at the highest levels of management. We maintain an Affirmative Action Plan, the results of which are reviewed by these same groups. Busey supports and empowers women in the workplace as reflected in our gender-diverse workforce. In 2023, women comprised 59% of Busey's total number of associates, and made up 37% of our senior leadership, providing meaningful contributions not only within the organization but throughout the communities we serve.

Associate engagement is an important barometer of our cultural health. We regularly solicit feedback to understand the views of our associates about their work environment and Busey’s culture. The results from engagement surveys are used to implement programs and processes designed to enhance engagement and improve the associate experience. With a strong 91% participation rate and an approach focused on continuous improvement, 2022 results increased to the highest scores in Busey’s history. One such way to keep associates informed and engaged is through our quarterly update calls, which are conducted by Busey leadership. These calls provide important information about the financial health of the Company, but more importantly they provide a cultural touchpoint to solidify Busey’s commitment to our number one asset – our associates. A tenet of our engaged culture is a commitment to investing in associates through unique, award-winning training and development programs. In 2023, 55% of our associate base engaged in talent and leadership development programs. Since 2017, Busey has been a proud recipient of the Association for Talent Development’s BEST Award, which is presented to organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of employee talent development.

Additionally, we care about the health and well-being of our associates and their families, as evidenced by a strong investment and a 96% participation rate in our innovative, holistic health and wellness program, B Well. Investments in B Well include a stress management and mental wellness component, lifesaving biometric screenings, a corporate health and wellness coach, onsite wellness center, health club reimbursements, on-demand wellness streaming service and Health Savings Account investments funded by the Company. In 2023, Busey was honored to be recognized among the 2022 Illinois' Healthiest Employers by global health insurer Cigna and Crain’s Content Studio, marking the fifth year the Company was named among this elite group.

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As of December 31, 2023, Busey and our subsidiaries had a total of 1,479 full-time equivalents. Geographic distribution of our associates is as follows:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information about Busey’s Board of Directors and Executive Officers is presented under “Officers & Directors” on Busey’s Investor Relations website at ir.busey.com. Additionally, a listing of Busey’s executive officers is presented in Part III, Item 10 of this Form 10‑K under the caption “Executive Officers.”

Busey has adopted a code of ethics applicable for all of our associates, officers, and directors. The text of this code of ethics is presented under “Governance Documents” on Busey’s Investor Relations website at ir.busey.com.

Reference to Busey’s Investor Relations website does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website and it should not be considered part of this document.

SUPERVISION, REGULATION, AND OTHER FACTORS

General

FDIC-insured institutions, like Busey Bank, as well as their holding companies and affiliates, are extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result, Busey’s growth and earnings performance may be affected not only by management decisions, competitive dynamics, and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of federal and state statutes and by the regulations and policies of various bank regulatory agencies, including the DFPR, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the CFPB. Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities, accounting rules developed by the FASB, securities laws administered by the SEC and state securities authorities, and anti-money laundering laws enforced by the U.S. Treasury have an impact on Busey’s business. The effect of these statutes, regulations, regulatory policies, and accounting rules are significant to Busey’s operations and results.

Federal and state banking laws impose a comprehensive system of supervision, regulation, and enforcement on the operations of FDIC-insured institutions, their holding companies, and affiliates that is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC-insured deposits and depositors of banks, rather than stockholders. These laws, and the regulations of the bank regulatory agencies issued under them, affect, among other things, the scope of Busey’s business; the kinds and amounts of investments First Busey and Busey Bank may make; required capital levels relative to assets; the nature and amount of collateral for loans; the establishment of branches; the ability to merge, consolidate and acquire; dealings with First Busey’s and Busey Bank’s insiders and affiliates; and Busey’s payment of dividends.

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In reaction to the global financial crisis and particularly following the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, Busey experienced heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny. Although the reforms primarily targeted systemically important financial service providers (at the time, those with assets of $50 billion and greater), certain provisions of the law triggered at $10 billion in assets and the influence of other provisions filtered down in varying degrees to community banks over time, causing Busey’s compliance and risk management processes, and the costs thereof, to increase. The Regulatory Relief Act provided meaningful relief for banks and their holding companies that were not considered systemically important (amended to be those with assets under $250 billion). However, the $10 billion threshold remained in place for certain Dodd-Frank Act reforms that are applicable to Busey, as discussed below.

The supervisory framework for U.S. banking organizations subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective regulatory agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that are not publicly available and that can impact the conduct and growth of their businesses. These examinations consider not only compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but also capital levels, asset quality and risk, management ability and performance, earnings, liquidity, and various other factors. The regulatory agencies generally have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law, or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations.

The following is a summary of the material elements of the supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to First Busey and Busey Bank. It does not describe all of the statutes, regulations, and regulatory policies that apply, nor does it restate all of the requirements of those that are described. The descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to particular statutory and regulatory provisions.

The $10 billion Threshold

As indicated in the introduction above, the Dodd-Frank Act included a number of requirements that triggered when a banking entity crossed over $10 billion in assets. Those included requirements for stress testing capital, maintenance of a risk committee, adherence to the Volcker Rule’s complicated prohibitions on proprietary trading and ownership of private funds, limitations on interchange fees for certain debit transactions, clearing of swap agreements, and examination and enforcement related to consumer financial services by the CFPB, in addition to a number of heightened reporting requirements. The Regulatory Relief Act eliminated the stress test and risk committee requirements for banking entities between $10 billion and $50 billion, but the other Dodd-Frank regulations and reporting requirements were not changed.

Busey crossed the $10 billion threshold in 2020. The material consequences to Busey of crossing the $10 billion threshold are as follows:

Interchange Fees

The Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act required the Federal Reserve to establish a maximum permissible interchange fee for many types of debit transactions. Interchange fees, also known as “swipe” fees, are charges that merchants pay to card-issuing banks, such as Busey Bank, for processing electronic payment transactions. The Federal Reserve set the maximum interchange fee at 21 cents, plus five basis points of the transaction value. The Federal Reserve also adopted a rule to allow a debit card issuer to recover one cent per transaction for fraud prevention purposes if the issuer complies with certain fraud-related requirements required by the Federal Reserve. Fee limits imposed by the Durbin Amendment are applicable to any banking entity with over $10 billion in assets and became applicable to Busey Bank on July 1, 2022, following a six-month transition period. Compliance with the Durbin Amendment has reduced Busey Bank’s earnings on the covered debit transactions.

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Volcker Rule

The Volcker Rule (also a part of the Dodd-Frank Act) restricts the ability of banking entities (holding companies and their affiliates) with over $10 billion in assets to sponsor or invest in private funds, or to engage in certain types of proprietary trading. In October 2019, the Federal Reserve, OCC, FDIC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and SEC finalized rules to tailor the application of the Volcker Rule based on the size and scope of a banking entity’s trading activities and to clarify and amend certain definitions, requirements, and exemptions. Banking entities have two years (with a possibility of extensions) to comply with the Volcker requirements after crossing the $10 billion threshold. Busey does not materially engage in the activities prohibited by the Volcker Rule; therefore, the application of the rule will not have a material effect on Busey’s operations.

CFPB Examination and Enforcement

Although most of the CFPB’s rules issued under federal consumer financial protection laws are applicable to all providers of consumer financial services, the CFPB only has examination and enforcement authority over banks with more than $10 billion in assets (measured over four consecutive quarters). Busey Bank is under CFPB oversight for consumer banking transactions, and continues to be examined for compliance with consumer laws by its primary federal regulatory agency, the FDIC.

Clearing Swaps Agreements

Banks with over $10 billion in assets are required to clear swaps agreements on exchanges. Busey Bank began to comply with the exchange requirement beginning in 2021.

Risk Committee

The Dodd Frank Act required publicly traded bank holding companies with more than $10 billion in total consolidated assets to establish and maintain a risk committee. Pursuant to the Federal Reserve’s final rules issued under the Regulatory Relief Act, that threshold was increased to $50 billion. Although it is not yet required to have a risk committee in place, Busey established a committee comprised of holding company directors in 2018 to oversee risk matters in preparation for future growth.

The Role of Capital

Regulatory capital represents the net assets of a banking organization available to absorb losses. Because of the risks attendant to their business, FDIC-insured institutions generally are required to hold more capital than other businesses. These requirements directly affects Busey’s earnings capabilities. Although capital historically has been one of the key measures of the financial health of both bank holding companies and banks, its role became fundamentally more important in the wake of the global financial crisis, as the banking regulators recognized that the amount and quality of capital held by banks prior to the crisis was insufficient to absorb losses during periods of severe stress.

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Capital Levels

Banks have been required to hold minimum levels of capital based on guidelines established by the bank regulatory agencies since 1983. The minimums have been expressed in terms of ratios of “capital” divided by “total assets.” Beginning in 1989, capital guidelines for U.S. banks have been based upon international capital accords, known as “Basel” rules, adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a committee of central banks and bank supervisors that acts as the primary global standard-setter for prudential regulation, as implemented by the U.S. bank regulatory agencies on an interagency basis. The accords recognized that bank assets for the purpose of the capital ratio calculations needed to be risk weighted (the theory being that riskier assets should require more capital) and that off-balance sheet exposures needed to be factored into the calculations. Following the global financial crisis, the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision, the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, announced agreement on a strengthened set of capital requirements for banking organizations around the world, known as Basel III, to address deficiencies recognized in connection with the global financial crisis.

The Basel III Rule

U.S. federal banking agencies adopted the Basel III Rule in regulations that were effective (with a number of phase-ins) in 2015. The Basel III Rule established capital standards for banks and bank holding companies that are meaningfully more stringent than those in place previously. The Basel III Rule is applicable to all banking organizations that are subject to minimum capital requirements, including federal and state banks and savings and loan associations, as well as to most bank and savings and loan holding companies. First Busey and Busey Bank are each subject to the Basel III Rule as described below.

Risk-Weighting Assets

Three of the required Basel III capital ratios, as discussed immediately below, are calculated using a denominator of total “risk-weighted” assets. In the calculation of so-called “risk weights,” which was introduced in the first Basel accord, bank assets were divided into four basic risk-weighted categories of zero, 20, 50, and 100%. Basel III required a more complex, detailed and calibrated assessment of risk in the calculation of risk weightings. Although it uses the same technique introduced by Basel I in assigning assets to risk-weight categories, it significantly increases the categories and adds conditions. Risk weights were established as high as 250% for certain commercial real estate exposures, and higher for certain derivatives. The assignment of risk weights continues to be under review by the banking agencies and has culminated in an initiative called “Basel III: Endgame,” which, as proposed, would only apply to banks with $100 billion in assets or more and would not impact Busey.

Minimum Capital Ratio Requirements

Basel III also increased the required quantity and quality of capital. Not only did it increase most of the required minimum capital ratios in effect prior to January 1, 2015, but in requiring that forms of capital be of higher quality to absorb loss, it also introduced the concept of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, which consists primarily of common stock, related surplus (net of Treasury stock), retained earnings, and Common Equity Tier 1 minority interests subject to certain regulatory adjustments. The Basel III Rule also changed the definition of capital by establishing more stringent criteria that instruments must meet to be considered Additional Tier 1 Capital (primarily non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock that meets certain requirements) and Tier 2 Capital (primarily other types of preferred stock and subordinated debt, subject to limitations). The Basel III Rule also constrained the inclusion of minority interests, mortgage-servicing assets, and deferred tax assets in capital and required deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital if such assets exceeded a percentage of a banking institution’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

The Basel III Rule requires minimum capital ratios as follows:

• A ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital equal to 4.5% of risk-weighted assets;

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• A ratio of Tier 1 Capital equal to 6% of risk-weighted assets;
• A continuation of the minimum required amount of Total Capital (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) at 8% of risk-weighted assets; and
• A leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total quarterly average assets equal to 4% in all circumstances.

Capital Conservation Buffer

In addition, institutions that want to make capital distributions (including for dividends and repurchases of stock) and pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers without restriction also must maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to a capital conservation buffer. The purpose of the conservation buffer is to ensure that banking institutions maintain a buffer of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress. Factoring in the conservation buffer increases the minimum ratios depicted above to 7% for Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, 8.5% for Tier 1 Capital and 10.5% for Total Capital.

Well-Capitalized Requirements

The ratios described above are minimum standards for banking organizations to be considered “adequately capitalized.” Bank regulatory agencies uniformly encourage banks to hold more capital and be “well-capitalized” and, to that end, federal law and regulations provide various incentives for banking organizations to maintain regulatory capital at levels in excess of minimum regulatory requirements. For example, a banking organization that is well-capitalized may: (1) qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities; (2) qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications; and (3) accept, roll-over or renew brokered deposits. Higher capital levels also could be required if warranted by the particular circumstances or risk profiles of individual banking organizations. For example, the Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines contemplate that additional capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk, the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities, or securities trading activities. Further, any banking organization experiencing or anticipating significant growth would be expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions (i.e., Tier 1 Capital less all intangible assets), well above the minimum levels.

Under the capital regulations of the FDIC and Federal Reserve, in order to be well-capitalized, a banking organization must maintain all of the following:

• A Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio to risk-weighted assets of 6.5% or more;
• A ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 8% or more;
• A ratio of Total Capital to total risk-weighted assets of 10% or more; and
• A leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted average quarterly assets of 5% or greater.

It is possible under the Basel III Rule to be well-capitalized while remaining out of compliance with the capital conservation buffer discussed above.

As of December 31, 2023: (1) Busey Bank was not subject to a directive from the FDIC to increase its capital, and (2) Busey Bank was well-capitalized, as defined by FDIC regulations. As of December 31, 2023, First Busey had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s requirements and met the requirements to be well-capitalized. First Busey also is in compliance with the capital conservation buffer.

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Prompt Corrective Action

The concept of an institution being “well-capitalized” is part of a regulatory enforcement regime that provides the federal banking regulators with broad power to take “prompt corrective action” to resolve the problems of depository institutions based on the capital level of each particular institution. The extent of the regulators’ powers depends on whether the institution in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending upon the capital category to which an institution is assigned, the regulators’ corrective powers include: (1) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (2) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (3) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to sell itself; (4) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (5) restricting the interest rate that the institution may pay on deposits; (6) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (7) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (8) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (9) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (10) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (11) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.

Supervision and Regulation of First Busey Corporation

General

First Busey Corporation, as the sole stockholder of Busey Bank, is a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, First Busey Corporation is registered with, and subject to regulation, supervision, and enforcement by, the Federal Reserve under the BHCA. First Busey Corporation is legally obligated to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to Busey Bank and to commit resources to support it in circumstances where we might not otherwise do so. Under the BHCA, First Busey Corporation is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve and is required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of its operations and such additional information regarding First Busey Corporation and Busey Bank as the Federal Reserve may require.

Acquisitions, Activities and Financial Holding Company Election

The primary purpose of a bank holding company is to control and manage banks. The BHCA generally requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for any merger involving a bank holding company or any acquisition by a bank holding company of another bank or bank holding company. Subject to certain conditions (including deposit concentration limits established by the BHCA), the Federal Reserve may allow a bank holding company to acquire banks located in any state of the U.S. In approving interstate acquisitions, the Federal Reserve is required to give effect to applicable state law limitations on the aggregate amount of deposits that may be held by the acquiring bank holding company and its FDIC-insured institution affiliates in the state in which the target bank is located (provided that those limits do not discriminate against out-of-state institutions or their holding companies) and state laws that require that the target bank have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) before being acquired by an out-of-state bank holding company. Furthermore, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies must be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to effect interstate mergers or acquisitions. For a discussion of the capital requirements, see “Item 1. Business—Supervision, Regulation and Other Factors—The Role of Capital” above.

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The BHCA generally prohibits bank holding companies from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing, and controlling banks, or furnishing services to banks and their subsidiaries. This general prohibition is subject to a number of exceptions. The principal exception allows bank holding companies to engage in, and to own shares of companies engaged in, certain businesses found by the Federal Reserve prior to November 11, 1999, to be “so closely related to banking ... as to be a proper incident thereto.” This authority permits First Busey Corporation to engage in a variety of banking-related businesses, including the ownership and operation of a savings association, or any entity engaged in consumer finance, equipment leasing, and mortgage banking and brokerage services. The BHCA does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies.

Additionally, bank holding companies that meet certain eligibility requirements prescribed by the BHCA and elect to operate as financial holding companies may engage in, or own shares in companies engaged in, a wider range of nonbanking activities, including securities and insurance underwriting and sales, merchant banking and any other activity that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines by regulation or order is financial in nature or incidental to any such financial activity, or that the Federal Reserve determines by order to be complementary to any such financial activity, as long as the activity does not pose a substantial risk to the safety or soundness of FDIC-insured institutions or the financial system generally. First Busey Corporation has elected to operate as a financial holding company. In order to maintain its status as a financial holding company, First Busey and Busey Bank must be well-capitalized, well-managed, and Busey Bank must have a least a satisfactory CRA rating. If the Federal Reserve determines that a financial holding company is not well-capitalized or well-managed, the company has a period of time in which to achieve compliance, but during the period of noncompliance, the Federal Reserve may place any limitations on the company it believes to be appropriate. Furthermore, if the Federal Reserve determines that a financial holding company’s subsidiary bank has not received a satisfactory CRA rating, that company will not be able to commence any new financial activities or acquire a company that engages in such activities.

Change in Control

Federal law also prohibits any person or company from acquiring “control” of an FDIC-insured depository institution or its holding company without prior notice to the appropriate federal bank regulator. “Control” is conclusively presumed to exist upon the acquisition of 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a bank or bank holding company, but may arise under certain circumstances between 10% and 24.99% ownership.

Capital Requirements

Bank holding companies are required to maintain capital in accordance with Federal Reserve capital adequacy requirements. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “Item 1. Business—Supervision, Regulation and Other Factors—The Role of Capital” above.

Dividend Payments

First Busey Corporation's ability to pay dividends to its stockholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and the policies of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies. As a Nevada corporation, First Busey Corporation is subject to the limitations of Nevada law, which allows First Busey Corporation to pay dividends unless, after such dividend, (1) First Busey Corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or (2) First Busey Corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus any amount that would be needed, if First Busey Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the dividend payment, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose rights are superior to the rights of the stockholders receiving the distribution.

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As a general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should eliminate, defer, or significantly reduce dividends to stockholders if: (1) the company’s net income available to stockholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (3) the company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. The Federal Reserve also possesses enforcement powers over bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries to prevent or remedy actions that represent unsafe or unsound practices or violations of applicable statutes and regulations. Among these powers is the ability to proscribe the payment of dividends by banks and bank holding companies. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision, Regulation and Other Factors—The Role of Capital” above.

Incentive Compensation

There have been a number of developments in recent years focused on incentive compensation plans sponsored by bank holding companies and banks, reflecting recognition by the bank regulatory agencies and Congress that flawed incentive compensation practices in the financial industry were one of many factors contributing to the global financial crisis. The result is interagency guidance on sound incentive compensation practices.

The interagency guidance recognized three core principles. Effective incentive plans should: (1) provide employees incentives that appropriately balance risk and reward; (2) be compatible with effective controls and risk-management; and (3) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors. Much of the guidance addresses large banking organizations and, because of the size and complexity of their operations, the regulators expect those organizations to maintain systematic and formalized policies, procedures, and systems for ensuring that the incentive compensation arrangements for all executive and non-executive employees covered by this guidance are identified and reviewed, and appropriately balance risks and rewards. Smaller banking organizations, like First Busey, that use incentive compensation arrangements are expected to be less extensive, formalized, and detailed than those of the larger banks.

Monetary Policy

The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has a significant effect on the operating results of financial or bank holding companies and their subsidiaries, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the tools available to the Federal Reserve to affect the money supply are open market transactions in U.S. government securities and changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings. These tools are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments, and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

Federal Securities Regulation

First Busey Corporation’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Consequently, First Busey Corporation is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

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Corporate Governance

The Dodd-Frank Act addressed many investor protection, corporate governance, and executive compensation matters that will affect most U.S. publicly traded companies. It increased stockholder influence over boards of directors by requiring companies to give stockholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation and so-called “golden parachute” payments and by authorizing the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow stockholders to nominate and solicit voters for their own candidates using a company’s proxy materials. The legislation also directed the Federal Reserve to promulgate rules prohibiting excessive compensation paid to executives of bank holding companies, regardless of whether such companies are publicly traded.

Supervision and Regulation of Busey Bank

General

Busey Bank is an Illinois-chartered bank. Its deposit accounts are insured by the DIF to the maximum extent provided under federal law and FDIC regulations, currently $250,000 per insured depositor category. As an Illinois-chartered FDIC-insured bank, Busey Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting, and enforcement requirements of the DFPR, the chartering authority for Illinois banks. Busey Bank is also regulated by the FDIC, designated by federal law as the primary federal regulator of insured state banks that, like Busey Bank, are not members of the Federal Reserve System.

Deposit Insurance

As an FDIC-insured institution, Busey Bank is required to pay deposit insurance premium assessments to the FDIC. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system whereby FDIC-insured institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification. For institutions like Busey Bank that are not considered large and highly complex banking organizations, the risk classification is based on examination ratings and financial ratios. A bank’s assessment is then calculated by multiplying its assessment rate by its assessment base (average consolidated total assets minus its average tangible equity). The total base assessment rates currently range from 1.5 basis points to 30 basis points on an annualized basis. However, the maximum rate is 18 basis points for financial institutions in the top two categories of examination composite ratings.

At least semi-annually, the FDIC updates its loss and income projections for the DIF and, if needed, increases or decreases the assessment rates, following notice and comment on proposed rule making. For this purpose, the reserve ratio is the DIF balance divided by estimated insured deposits. In response to the global financial crisis, the Dodd-Frank Act increased the minimum reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35% of the estimated amount of total insured deposits. In the semi-annual update in June 2022, the FDIC projected that the reserve ratio was at risk of not reaching the statutory minimum of 1.35% by September 30, 2028, statutory deadline. Based on this update, the FDIC approved an increase in initial base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules uniformly by two basis points, applicable to all insured depository institutions. The increase was effective on January 1, 2023, applicable to the first quarterly assessment period of 2023 (January 1 through March 31, 2023).

In addition, because the total cost of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank was approximately $16.3 billion, the FDIC adopted a special assessment for banks having deposits above $5 billion, at an annual rate of 13.4 basis points beginning with the first quarterly assessment period of 2024 (January 1 through March 31, 2024) with an invoice payment date of June 28, 2024, and will continue to collect special assessments for an anticipated total of eight quarterly assessment periods. The base for the special assessment is equal to an insured depository institution’s estimated uninsured deposits for the December 31, 2022, reporting period, adjusted to exclude the first $5 billion in estimated uninsured deposits. Busey Bank was not subject to this assessment due to uninsured deposits being below the $5 billion exclusion threshold.

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Supervisory Assessments

All Illinois-chartered banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the DFPR to fund the operations of that agency. The amount of the assessment is calculated on the basis of each bank’s total assets. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Busey Bank paid supervisory assessments to the DFPR totaling approximately $0.7 million.

Capital Requirements

Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “Item 1. Business—Supervision, Regulation and Other Factors—The Role of Capital” above.

Liquidity Requirements

Liquidity is a measure of the ability and ease with which bank assets may be converted to meet financial obligations to pay deposits or other funding sources. Banks are required to implement liquidity risk management frameworks that ensure they maintain sufficient liquidity, including a cushion of unencumbered, high quality, liquid assets to withstand a range of stress events. The level and speed of deposit outflows contributing to the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank in the first half of 2023 was unprecedented and contributed to acute liquidity and funding strain on the financial industry. These events have further underscored the importance of liquidity risk management and contingency funding planning by insured depository institutions like Busey Bank.

The primary role of liquidity risk management is to: (1) prospectively assess the need for funds to meet obligations; and (2) ensure the availability of cash or collateral to fulfill those needs at the appropriate time by coordinating the various sources of funds available to the institution under normal and stressed conditions. Basel III includes a liquidity framework that requires the largest insured institutions to measure their liquidity against specific liquidity tests. One test, referred to as the liquidity coverage ratio, is designed to ensure that the banking entity has an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets that can be converted easily and immediately in private markets into cash to meet liquidity needs for a 30-calendar day liquidity stress scenario. The other test, known as the net stable funding ratio, is designed to promote more medium- and long-term funding of the assets and activities of FDIC-insured institutions over a one-year horizon. These tests provide an incentive for banks and holding companies to increase their holdings in Treasury securities and other sovereign debt as a component of assets, increase the use of long-term debt as a funding source and rely on stable funding like core deposits (in lieu of brokered deposits).

Although these tests do not, and will not, apply to Busey Bank, management continues to review its liquidity risk management framework in light of regulatory and industry developments.

Dividend Payments

The primary source of funds for First Busey Corporation is dividends from Busey Bank. Under Illinois banking law, Illinois-chartered banks generally may pay dividends only out of undivided profits. The DFPR may restrict the declaration or payment of a dividend by an Illinois-chartered bank. The payment of dividends by any FDIC-insured institution is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital pursuant to applicable capital adequacy guidelines and regulations, and a FDIC-insured institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, the FDIC and the DFPR may prohibit the payment of dividends by Busey Bank if either or both determine such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, institutions that seek the freedom to pay dividends have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer.

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State Bank Investments and Activities

Busey Bank is permitted to make investments and engage in activities directly or through subsidiaries as authorized by Illinois law. However, under federal law and FDIC regulations, FDIC-insured state banks are prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from making or retaining equity investments of a type, or in an amount, that are not permissible for a national bank. Federal law and FDIC regulations also prohibit FDIC-insured state banks and their subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, from engaging as principal in any activity that is not permitted for a national bank unless the bank meets, and continues to meet, its minimum regulatory capital requirements, and the FDIC determines that the activity would not pose a significant risk to the DIF. These restrictions have not had, and are not currently expected to have, a material impact on the operations of Busey Bank.

Insider Transactions

Busey Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on “covered transactions” between Busey Bank and its “affiliates.” First Busey Corporation is an affiliate of Busey Bank for purposes of these restrictions, and covered transactions subject to the restrictions include extensions of credit to First Busey Corporation, investments in the stock or other securities of First Busey Corporation, and the acceptance of the stock or other securities of First Busey Corporation as collateral for loans made by Busey Bank. The Dodd-Frank Act enhanced the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates, including an expansion of the definition of “covered transactions” and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained.

Certain limitations and reporting requirements are also placed on extensions of credit by Busey Bank to its directors and officers, to directors and officers of First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries, to principal stockholders of First Busey Corporation, and to “related interests” of such directors, officers, and principal stockholders. In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms upon which any person who is a director or officer of First Busey Corporation or Busey Bank, or a principal stockholder of First Busey Corporation, may obtain credit from banks with which Busey Bank maintains a correspondent relationship.

Safety and Soundness Standards/Risk Management

Federal banking agencies have adopted operational and managerial standards to promote the safety and soundness of FDIC-insured institutions. The standards apply to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, asset quality, and earnings.

In general, the safety and soundness standards prescribe the goals to be achieved in each area, and each institution is responsible for establishing its own procedures to achieve those goals. While regulatory standards do not have the force of law, if an institution operates in an unsafe and unsound manner, the FDIC-insured institution’s primary federal regulator may require the institution to submit a plan for achieving and maintaining compliance. If an FDIC-insured institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan, or fails in any material respect to implement a compliance plan that has been accepted by its primary federal regulator, the regulator is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the regulator’s order is cured, the regulator may restrict the FDIC-insured institution’s rate of growth, require the FDIC-insured institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates the institution pays on deposits, or require the institution to take any action the regulator deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with safety and soundness may also constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal bank regulatory agencies, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.

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During the past decade, bank regulatory agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the FDIC-insured institutions they supervise. Properly managing risk has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities, and has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets. The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing a banking institution including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risk. The key risk themes identified by the Company for 2024 are discussed under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” below. Busey Bank is expected to have active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures, and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring, and management information systems; and comprehensive internal controls.

Privacy and Cybersecurity

Busey Bank is subject to many U.S. federal and state laws and regulations governing requirements for maintaining policies and procedures to protect non-public confidential information of its customers. These laws require Busey Bank to periodically disclose its privacy policies and practices relating to sharing such information and permit consumers to opt out of their ability to share information with unaffiliated third parties under certain circumstances. They also impact Busey Bank’s ability to share certain information with affiliates and non-affiliates for marketing and/or non-marketing purposes, or to contact customers with marketing offers. In addition, Busey Bank is required to implement a comprehensive information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information. These security and privacy policies and procedures, for the protection of personal and confidential information, are in effect across all businesses and geographic locations.

Branching Authority

Illinois banks, such as Busey Bank, have the authority under Illinois law to establish branches anywhere in the State of Illinois, subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals. The Dodd-Frank Act permits well-capitalized and well-managed banks to establish new interstate branches or acquire individual branches of a bank in another state (rather than the acquisition of an out-of-state bank in its entirety) without impediments. Federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (1) regulatory approval; (2) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (3) state law limitations requiring the merging bank to have been in existence for a minimum period of time (not to exceed five years) prior to the merger.

Community Reinvestment Act Requirements

The CRA requires Busey Bank to have a continuing and affirmative obligation in a safe and sound manner to help meet the credit needs of the entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Federal regulators regularly assess Busey Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities in dedicated examinations. Applications for acquisitions are affected by the evaluation of Busey Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its CRA requirements.

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On October 24, 2023, the bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule to strengthen and modernize CRA regulations (the "CRA Rule"), some of which is effective beginning April 1, 2024. The CRA Rule is designed to update how CRA activities qualify for consideration, where CRA activities are considered, and how CRA activities are evaluated. More specifically, the bank regulatory agencies described the goals of the CRA Rule as follows: (1) to expand access to credit, investment, and basic banking services in low and moderate-income communities; (2) to adapt to changes in the banking industry, including mobile and internet banking by modernizing assessment areas while maintaining a focus on branch based areas; (3) to provide greater clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of the regulations through the use of standardized metrics as part of CRA evaluations and clarifying eligible CRA activities focused on low- and moderate-income communities and under-served rural communities; (4) to tailor CRA rules and data collection to bank size and business model; and (5) to maintain a unified approach among the regulators. Management of Busey Bank is assessing the impact of the CRA Rule on its CRA lending and investment activities in its markets.

In 2022, Busey Bank, like all Illinois chartered banks, became subject to state level CRA standards, following passage of the Illinois CRA. This means that, in addition to the federal CRA review, Busey Bank will be reviewed by the DFPR to assess Busey Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities. Like the potential impact under the federal CRA, applications for additional acquisitions or activities would be affected by the evaluation of Busey Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its Illinois CRA requirements.

Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism

The Bank Secrecy Act is the common name for a series of laws and regulations enacted in the United States to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. These laws and regulations are designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the U.S. financial system and have significant implications for FDIC-insured institutions and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The so-called Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism regime under the Bank Secrecy Act provides a foundation to promote financial transparency and deter and detect those who seek to misuse the U.S. financial system to launder criminal proceeds, finance terrorist acts, or move funds for other illicit purposes. The laws mandate financial services companies to have policies and procedures with respect to measures designed to address the following matters: (1) customer identification programs; (2) money laundering; (3) terrorist financing; (4) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (5) currency crimes; and (6) cooperation between FDIC-insured institutions and law enforcement authorities.

Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate

Concentration risk exists when FDIC-insured institutions deploy too many assets to any one industry or segment. A concentration in CRE is one example of regulatory concern. The interagency CRE Guidance provides supervisory criteria, including the following numerical indicators, to assist bank examiners in identifying banks with potentially significant CRE loan concentrations that may warrant greater supervisory scrutiny: (1) CRE loans exceeding 300% of capital and increasing 50% or more in the preceding three years; or (2) construction and land development loans exceeding 100% of capital. The CRE Guidance does not limit banks’ levels of CRE lending activities, but rather guides institutions in developing risk management practices and levels of capital that are commensurate with the level and nature of their CRE concentrations. On December 18, 2015, federal banking agencies issued a statement to reinforce prudent risk-management practices related to CRE lending, having observed substantial growth in many CRE asset and lending markets, increased competitive pressures, rising CRE concentrations in banks, and an easing of CRE underwriting standards. Federal bank agencies reminded FDIC-insured institutions to maintain underwriting discipline and exercise prudent risk-management practices to identify, measure, monitor, and manage the risks arising from CRE lending. In addition, FDIC-insured institutions must maintain capital commensurate with the level and nature of their CRE concentration risk. As of December 31, 2023, Busey Bank did not exceed these guidelines.

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Consumer Financial Services

The historical structure of federal consumer protection regulation applicable to all providers of consumer financial products and services changed significantly on July 21, 2011, when the CFPB commenced operations to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all providers of consumer products and services, including Busey Bank, as well as the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over providers with more than $10 billion in assets. Busey Bank is under CFPB oversight for consumer banking transactions.

Because abuses in connection with residential mortgages were a significant factor contributing to the financial crisis, many new rules issued by the CFPB and required by the Dodd-Frank Act addressed mortgage and mortgage-related products, their underwriting, origination, servicing, and sales. The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expanded underwriting requirements applicable to loans secured by 1-4 family residential real property, and augmented federal law combating predatory lending practices. In addition to numerous disclosure requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act imposed new standards for mortgage loan originations on all lenders, including banks and savings associations, in an effort to strongly encourage lenders to verify a borrower’s ability to repay, while also establishing a presumption of compliance for certain “qualified mortgages.” The CFPB has from time to time released additional rules as to qualified mortgages and the borrower’s ability to repay.

Over the last several years, the CFPB has taken a proactive, multi-front approach to protect consumers from excessive overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees. This includes proposed rules, interpretive opinions and enforcement actions. In January 2024, this included a proposed rule that would prohibit non-sufficient funds fees on transactions declined in real time (debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, and peer-to-peer payments) and a proposal to subject overdrafts on bank accounts to disclosure rules applicable to other kinds of credit. The actions proposed or taken thus far by the CFPB affects financial institutions, like Busey Bank, with more than $10 billion in assets. Busey Bank’s management expects continued developments in this area that will impact its overdraft practices and may result in a decrease in fee income.

The CFPB’s rules have an impact on Busey Bank’s operations, including by increasing compliance costs and potentially negatively affecting revenue.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION REPORTING AND OTHER INFORMATION

Busey makes its Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports, Current Reports, and any amendments thereto available, free of charge, on its website at busey.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Reference to Busey’s website does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website and it should not be considered part of this document.

The SEC maintains an internet site at sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, and from which Busey’s SEC filings may be accessed.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This Annual Report contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, together with the related GAAP financial measures, in analysis of Busey’s performance and in making business decisions, as well as for comparison to Busey’s peers. Busey believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-core and non-recurring noninterest items and provide additional perspective on Busey’s performance over time.

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Non-GAAP disclosures have inherent limitations and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the results reported in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Tax effected numbers included in these non-GAAP disclosures are based on estimated statutory rates and effective rates as appropriate.

A listing of Busey's non-GAAP financial measures and ratios are shown in the table below, together with the related GAAP financial measures, followed by a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Pre-Provision Net Revenue, Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue, Pre-Provision Net Revenue to Average Assets, and Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue to Average Assets

(dollars in thousands)

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Adjusted Return on Average Assets, Average Tangible Common Equity, Return on Average Tangible Common Equity, and Adjusted Return on Average Tangible Common Equity

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Tax benefits were calculated by multiplying acquisition expenses and other restructuring expenses by the effective tax rates for each period. Effective tax rates used in this calculation were 20.4%, 20.7%, and 21.3% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Adjusted Net Interest Income and Adjusted Net Interest Margin

(dollars in thousands)

1. Tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of 21%, applied to non-taxable interest income on investments and loans.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Noninterest Expense Excluding Amortization of Intangible Assets, Adjusted Noninterest Expense, Adjusted Core Expense, Noninterest Expense Excluding Non-operating Adjustments, Efficiency Ratio, Adjusted Efficiency Ratio, and Adjusted Core Efficiency Ratio

(dollars in thousands)

1. The tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of 21%, applied to non-taxable interest income on investments and loans.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Tangible Book Value and Tangible Book Value Per Common Share

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Tangible Assets, Tangible Common Equity, and Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

(dollars in thousands)

1. Net of estimated deferred tax liability, calculated using the estimated statutory tax rate of 28%.

2. Tax-effected measure.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (unaudited)

Core Loans, Core Loans to Portfolio Loans, Core Deposits, Core Deposits to Total Deposits, and Core Loans to Core Deposits

(dollars in thousands)

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SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and estimates and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “goal,” “plan,” “potential,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “target,” “aim” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to our projected growth, anticipated future financial performance, financial condition, credit quality, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on results of operations and financial condition from expected developments or events, our business and growth strategies, and any other statements that are not historical facts.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties, and could be affected by many factors. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects can be found under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report and elsewhere in our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction between Busey and M&M will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;

2. the risk that integration of operations of M&M with those of Busey will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected;

3. the inability to complete the proposed transaction due to the failure of the required approval of M&M’s stockholders;

4. the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed transaction, including receipt of required regulatory and other approvals;

5. the failure of the proposed transaction to close for any other reason;

6. the effect of the announcement of the transaction on customer relationships and operating results;

7. the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events;

8. the strength of the local, state, national, and international economy (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints);

9. the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics (including the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic), or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets (including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict);

10. changes in state and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies concerning Busey's or M&M's general business (including changes in response to the recent failures of other banks);

11. changes in accounting policies and practices;

12. changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of Busey’s or M&M's assets (including the impact of the LIBOR phase-out and the recent and potential additional rate increases by the Federal Reserve);

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13. increased competition in the financial services sector (including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and fintech companies) and the inability to attract new customers;

14. changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems;

15. the loss of key executives or associates;

16. changes in consumer spending;

17. unexpected results of acquisitions, including the acquisition of M&M and the performance of M&M’s life equity loan business;

18. unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving Busey or M&M;

19. fluctuations in the value of securities held in Busey’s or M&M’s securities portfolio;

20. concentrations within Busey’s or M&M’s loan portfolio, large loans to certain borrowers, and large deposits from certain clients;

21. the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure;

22. the level of non-performing assets on Busey’s or M&M’s balance sheets;

23. interruptions involving information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers;

24. breaches or failures of information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents;

25. the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and droughts; and

26. other factors and risks described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” herein.

Because of those risks and other uncertainties, our actual future results, performance, achievement, or industry results, may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were made. We are not undertaking an obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even though circumstances may change in the future, except as required under federal securities law. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

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This section highlights the risks management believes could adversely affect our financial performance. Additional possible risks that could affect Busey adversely and cannot be predicted may arise at any time. Other risks that are immaterial at this time may also have an adverse impact on our future financial condition.

Contents of Item 1A. Risk Factors

ECONOMIC AND MARKET RISKS

Conditions in the financial market and economic conditions, including conditions in the states in which it operates, generally may adversely affect Busey’s business.

Busey’s general financial performance is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets where it operates and, in particular, the ability of borrowers to pay interest on, and repay principal of, outstanding loans, and value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services it offers. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity, or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.

Uncertainty regarding economic conditions may result in changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing, and savings habits. Downturns in the markets where our banking operations occur could result in a decrease in demand for our products and services, an increase in loan delinquencies and defaults, high or increased levels of problem assets and foreclosures, and reduced wealth management fees resulting from lower asset values. Such conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of our loans, financial condition, and results of operations.

Busey currently conducts its banking operations in central and suburban Chicago, Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area; central Indiana; and southwest Florida. Busey operates in markets with a significant university and healthcare presence. These industries rely heavily on state and federal funding and contracts. Timely payments by the State of Illinois to its vendors and government-sponsored entities, as well as potential federal changes to healthcare laws, could affect Busey’s primary market areas, which could in turn affect its financial condition and results of operations. A small part of Busey’s business resides in Florida, which can be affected by inclement weather.

While high market volatility is not expected, managing “higher for longer” interest rates can put pressure on Busey’s deposit rates and liquidity.

Prolonged periods of high-interest rates pose several risks to Busey. Offering higher interest rates to attract deposits elevates the cost of funding. Concurrently, Busey may experience increased interest expenses on its borrowings and debt. Moreover, high-interest rates can deter borrowing and spending, potentially reducing demand for loans and impacting liquidity. In such an environment, heightened competition for deposits may necessitate maintaining competitive interest rates to retain and attract customers. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors beyond

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Busey’s control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, such as the FOMC.

In March 2022, the Federal Reserve initiated a series of interest rate hikes to combat inflation. After 11 successive increases, as of December 2023, the fed funds target range stood at 5.25% - 5.5%, reaching its highest level since 2001. Throughout 2023, the health of the U.S. economy improved, surpassing expectations and reducing likelihood of a recession. Despite recent positive economic indicators, certain risks persist, including record-high U.S. credit card debt and increasing delinquencies in mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. In December 2023, the FOMC projected U.S. GDP growth to slow to 1.4% in 2024. The Federal Reserve aims for a soft landing by maintaining its 2023 plan into 2024, hoping that sustained elevated interest rates will cool the economy and alleviate inflationary pressures. These effects, combined with other considerations, could have a material impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.

In the context of the multifaceted factors influencing the U.S. economy, uncertainties loom over the persistence of inflation, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. Additionally, unforeseen disruptions in the global energy market and challenges in the tight labor market and supply chain add to the complexity. Earlier in the year, there was a substantial risk that central banks, including the Federal Reserve, might raise interest rates excessively, potentially constraining economic growth and triggering a recession. However, as inflation decelerated throughout the year and market data hinted at easing housing price pressures, there is potential for a positive impact on loan demand.

Ongoing monetary policy, including the persistence of elevated interest rates, significantly impacts not only the interest earned from loans and investment securities, as well as the interest paid on deposits and borrowings, but also influences Busey's ability to originate loans and attract deposits, and the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities. As interest rates remain elevated, intensified competition for deposits may persist, potentially altering Busey’s funding mix and cost of funding. In addition to the aforementioned risks, Busey acknowledges the potential challenges arising from falling interest rates. For example, a decrease in interest rates may adversely affect Busey’s floating rate loan portfolios, leading to a reduction in interest income. Any substantial, unexpected, and prolonged changes in market interest rates, even if they are maintained at a high level, could still have a material adverse effect on Busey’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The combination of factors such as changes in interest rates, an adverse credit quality outlook, economic uncertainties, and geopolitical events can contribute to increased fluctuations in market values.

The market value of investments may be affected by factors other than the underlying performance of the servicer of the securities or the mortgages underlying the securities, such as changes in the interest rate environment, negative trends in the residential and commercial real estate markets, ratings downgrades, adverse changes in the business climate, and a lack of liquidity in the secondary market for certain investment securities. On a quarterly basis, we formally evaluate investments and other assets for impairment indicators. Reduction in the value, or impairment of our investment securities, can impact our earnings and common stockholders' equity. Changes in market interest rates can affect the value of these investment securities, with increasing interest rates generally resulting in a reduction of value. Although the reduction in value from temporary increases in market rates does not affect our income until the security is sold, it does result in an unrealized loss recorded in OCI that can reduce our common stockholders’ equity. Further, we may have to record provision expense to establish an allowance for credit losses on our carried at fair value debt securities, and we must periodically test our investment securities for other-than-temporary impairment in value. In assessing whether the value of investment securities is impaired, we consider the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability to retain our investment in the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value in the near term.

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Ongoing inflation trends pose potential risks to our business and operational performance.

Elevated inflation poses potential risks to our business and operational performance, impacting consumer purchasing power and necessitating careful consideration of potential effects on various facets of our operations. Successful measures by the Federal Reserve in stabilizing inflation through interest rate hikes could mitigate some of these risks and positively influence loan demand and mitigate challenges to our clients' ability to repay indebtedness. It is also possible that governmental responses to the current inflation environment, such as changes to monetary and fiscal policy that are too strict, or the imposition or threatened imposition of price controls, could adversely affect our business. The duration and severity of the current inflationary period cannot be estimated with precision.

REGULATORY AND LEGAL RISKS

Election-year variables bring additional levels of uncertainty.

The evolving landscape of legislative and regulatory actions, influenced by election cycles, introduces an additional layer of uncertainty for our operations. Elections can precipitate changes in government policies and regulations across various industries, potentially impacting our business. Uncertainty regarding potential changes in regulations or policies related to our industry may lead to increased costs of doing business and operational challenges. Economic conditions, including interest rates, inflation, and consumer spending, may be influenced by shifts in government leadership and policies, affecting our ability to maintain historical growth rates.

Furthermore, the election process often introduces market volatility, impacting financial markets, currency exchange rates, and commodity prices. This volatility may pose risks to our financial performance, cost of capital, and access to funding.

The outcomes of elections may directly affect our industry, influencing regulatory frameworks and industry dynamics. Shifts in political power may shape the competitive landscape, impacting market share and pricing strategies. Unfavorable changes in industry-specific regulations could result in increased compliance costs and operational challenges. Political events, including elections, can influence consumer and investor sentiment, affecting demand for our products and services and impacting investor confidence, which may influence our stock price and access to capital.

In addition to these challenges, and the added uncertainty related to potentially increased regulation, the financial services industry in recent years has faced more intense scrutiny from regulatory agencies in the examination process and more aggressive enforcement of regulations on both the federal and state levels, particularly with respect to mortgage-related practices; fee-based products and other consumer compliance matters; and compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering laws, and the USA PATRIOT Act, which focuses on money laundering in the form of terrorist financing. Federal law grants substantial enforcement powers to financial services’ regulators including, among other things, the ability to assess significant civil or criminal monetary penalties, fines, or restitution; to issue cease and desist orders; and to initiate injunctive actions against banking organizations. These enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws or regulations and for unsafe or unsound practices. If Busey were the subject of an enforcement action, it could have an adverse impact on the Company.

As Busey continues to grow in asset size and complexity, regulatory expectations and scrutiny will increase and could have a potential impact on Busey’s operations and business.

Busey has grown steadily over the past several years, increasing in size through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. As financial institutions grow, so do the expectations of regulatory agencies regarding the financial institution’s ability to control for increasingly complex and sophisticated business operations. Certain regulations and laws have embedded asset thresholds that change regulatory expectations, have different financial statement impacts, require different committee and management compositions, or enhance certain reporting

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 37 requirements. For example, as further discussed in the Supervision and Regulation section, the Dodd-Frank Act included a number of requirements that trigger when a banking entity crosses over $10 billion in assets.

Beginning on July 1, 2022, Busey became subject to the Durbin Amendment. The Durbin Amendment requires the Federal Reserve to establish a maximum permissible interchange fee for many types of debit transactions, which reduced Busey’s fee income during the second half of 2022 and throughout 2023. Further in August 2022, Busey became subject to oversight of the CFPB for consumer transactions. As regulatory expectations, scrutiny, and reporting requirements continue to increase, Busey’s operations and strategies may be affected.

Regulatory change in the areas of cybersecurity and privacy are expected to continue to evolve. Multiple regulators have released updated cyber notification requirements across Busey’s regulatory footprint that may lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and potentially increased costs. Additionally, Busey’s expansion into regions with heightened privacy requirements or passage of privacy legislation within the regions in which Busey operates may impose additional compliance burdens. These changes could necessitate adapting Busey’s practices to meet heightened privacy standards. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in financial penalties, reputational harm, and legal consequences.

Laws impacting cannabis-related businesses in Illinois and other states may have an impact on Busey’s operations and risk profile.

The Controlled Substances Act makes it illegal under federal law to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana. Starting January 1, 2020, however, the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act began permitting adults to legally purchase marijuana for recreational use from licensed dispensaries. Further, in November 2022 voters in Missouri approved a ballot initiative to legalize recreational use of cannabis. It is Busey Bank’s current practice to avoid knowingly providing banking products or services to entities or individuals that: (1) directly or indirectly manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana or hemp products, or those with a significant financial interest in such entities; or (2) derive a material amount of revenue from providing products or services to, or other involvement with, such entities. Busey Bank is taking reasonable measures, including appropriate new account screening and customer due diligence measures, to ensure that existing and potential customers that operate in the states in which the Bank operates do not engage in any such activities. Nonetheless, shifts in Illinois and Missouri law legalizing cannabis use, along with shifts in Florida law allowing medicinal use and decriminalizing possession, have increased the number of direct and indirect cannabis-related businesses in some of the states in which Busey operates, and therefore increases the likelihood that Busey Bank could interact with such businesses, as well as their owners and employees. Such interactions could create additional legal, regulatory, strategic, and reputational risk to Busey Bank and First Busey Corporation.

Busey is or may become involved from time to time in suits, legal proceedings, information-gathering requests, investigations, and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies that may lead to adverse consequences.

Many aspects of our business and operations involve the risk of legal liability, and in some cases we or our subsidiaries have been named or threatened to be named as defendants in various lawsuits arising from our business activities. In addition, companies in our industry are frequently the subject of governmental and self-regulatory agency information-gathering requests, reviews, investigations, and proceedings. The results of such proceedings could lead to significant civil or criminal penalties, including monetary penalties, damages, adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restrictions on the way in which we conduct our business, or reputational harm.

Although we establish accruals for legal proceedings when information related to the loss contingencies represented by those matters indicates both that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated, we do not have accruals for all legal proceedings where we face a risk of loss. In addition, due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and unpredictability of the outcome of legal proceedings, amounts accrued may not represent the ultimate loss to us from the legal proceedings in question. Accordingly, our ultimate losses may

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 38 be higher, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued for legal loss contingencies, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

See “Note 16. Outstanding Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding an inquiry from the ISOS, pursuant to which the ISOS asked for additional information regarding certain of our franchise tax filings and the calculation of amounts due thereunder.

CREDIT AND LENDING RISKS

Heightened credit risk associated with lending activities may result in insufficient credit loss provisions, which could have material adverse effect on Busey’s results of operations and financial condition.

There are risks in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and cash flows available to service debt, and risks resulting from economic and market conditions. In general, these risks have increased as a result of the recent increases in prevailing interest rates and uncertainties associated with inflation, which have potentially increased the risk of a near-term decline in growth or an economic downturn. Busey attempts to reduce its credit risk through loan application approval procedures, monitoring the concentration of loans within specific industries and geographic locations, and periodic independent reviews of outstanding loans by its loan review and audit departments as well as external parties. Credit risk related to the increasing interest rates are monitored through loan stress testing performed internally at the borrower level and by external parties for the portfolio-level analyses. However, while such procedures help reduce risks, they cannot be expected to completely eliminate Busey’s credit risks. Borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans for any of a variety of reasons resulting in a rise in the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs, delinquencies, and/or a need for increases in the provision for credit losses.

Busey estimates and establishes the ACL and maintains it at a level considered adequate by management to absorb probable credit losses based on a continual analysis of Busey’s portfolio and market environment. The ACL represent Busey’s estimate of probable losses in the portfolio at each balance sheet date and is based upon management judgments as well as forward-looking information and forecasts. Any failure of these judgments or forecasts could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition. Although management believes the ACL is adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible, management cannot guarantee that additional provisions for credit losses will not be required in the future.

Non-performing assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect Busey’s results of operations and financial condition and could result in further losses in the future.

Busey's net income is impacted by non-performing assets in several ways, presenting challenges amid both rising and stable higher interest rate environments. While Busey incurs interest expense to finance non-performing assets, it does not record interest income on non-accrual loans or other real estate owned. This lack of interest income negatively impacts Busey's overall income and returns on assets and equity. Additionally, loan administration costs rise, contributing to an adverse impact on Busey's efficiency ratio. When Busey acquires collateral in foreclosures and similar proceedings, it must mark the collateral to its current fair market value, potentially resulting in losses when compared to the outstanding loan balance. Non-performing loans and other real estate owned elevate Busey’s risk profile and influence the regulatory capital deemed appropriate. The resolution of non-performing assets demands significant time commitments from management, potentially affecting their ability to fulfill other responsibilities. Credit leaders monitor signs of stress in borrowers, particularly those susceptible to the effects of both gradual and rapid increases in interest rates. However, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, such as fraud, or difficult to predict, such as catastrophic events affecting certain industries. Therefore, we cannot assure you that such monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks.

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Concentrations of credit and market risk could increase the potential for significant losses.

Busey may have higher credit risk, or experience higher credit losses, to the extent its loans are concentrated by loan type, industry segment, borrower type, or geographic location of the borrower or collateral. A significant portion of Busey’s loan portfolio is made up of commercial, commercial real estate, and retail real estate loans. Because payments on such loans are often dependent on the successful operation of the borrower involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the general economy. For example, the cumulative effects of decreased economic activity, changes in the economy and overall business environment, labor availability shortages, and supply chain constraints which began as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but have continued due to inflationary concerns and significant increases in the interest rate, have adversely affected commercial loans, and we expect this trend to continue for certain portions of our loan portfolio, depending on the strength and speed of economic recovery and other factors, particularly if general economic conditions worsen.

Busey’s commercial loans are made primarily based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, which Busey requires whenever appropriate on commercial loans. As a result, in the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers, which could decline in the case of an economic recession. Collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise, and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. As a result of the larger average size of each commercial loan, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could have a material adverse impact on Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.

Our loan portfolio has a significant concentration of real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate values.

A significant portion of Busey’s loans are collateralized by real estate. Specifically, commercial real estate loans were $3.3 billion, or approximately 43.6% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2023. Of this amount, $914.5 million, or approximately 27.4%, was owner-occupied. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the area in which the real estate is located. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events, including decreases in office occupancy following the COVID-19 pandemic, or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties. Collateral may have to be sold for less than the outstanding balance of the loan which would result in losses.

Real estate construction, land acquisition, and development loans are based upon estimates of costs and values associated with the complete project. These estimates may be inaccurate, and Busey may be exposed to significant losses on loans for these projects.

Construction, land acquisition, and development loans involve additional risks because funds are advanced upon the security of the project, which is of uncertain value prior to its completion, and costs may exceed realizable values in declining real estate markets. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs and the realizable market value of the completed project, and the effects of governmental regulation on real property, it is relatively difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the related loan-to-value ratio. As a result, construction loans often involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent, in part, on the success of the ultimate project and the ability of the

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 40 borrower to sell or lease the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If Busey’s appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated, or market values or rental rates decline, there may be inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project. If Busey is forced to foreclose on a project prior to or at completion due to a default, there can be no assurance that it will be able to recover all of the unpaid balance of, and accrued interest on, the loan as well as related foreclosure and holding costs. In addition, Busey may be required to fund additional amounts to complete the project and may have to hold the property for an unspecified period of time while it attempts to dispose of it.

Credit risk associated with concentration of securities in Busey’s investment portfolio may increase the potential for loss.

Busey’s investment portfolio consists, in part, of securities issued by government or government sponsored agencies and non-government entities. A downturn in the financial condition of the issuers, the performance of the underlying collateral, or the financial condition of the individual mortgagors with respect to the underlying securities could create results such as rating agency downgrades of the securities and default by issuers or individual mortgagors. Any of the foregoing factors could result in realized losses, which could adversely affect Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY RISKS

Busey is required to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, and if it fails to maintain sufficient capital, whether as a result of losses, inability to raise additional capital, or otherwise, its financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations, as well as its ability to maintain regulatory compliance would be adversely affected.

Busey and Busey Bank must meet regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity. Busey’s ability to raise additional capital, when and if needed, will depend on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions, and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry and market condition, and governmental activities, many of which are outside Busey’s control, and on its financial condition and performance. Accordingly, Busey cannot guarantee that it will be able to raise additional capital if needed or on terms acceptable to the Company. In particular, if Busey is required to raise additional capital in the current interest rate environment, we believe the pricing and other terms investors may require in such an offering may not be attractive to us.

Busey’s failure to continue to maintain capital ratios in excess of the amounts necessary to be considered “well-capitalized” for bank regulatory purposes could affect customer confidence, its ability to grow, its costs of funds and FDIC insurance costs, its ability to pay dividends to its stockholders on outstanding stock, its ability to make acquisitions, and its business, results of operations, and financial condition. Furthermore, under FDIC rules, if Busey ceases to meet the requirements to be considered a “well-capitalized” institution for bank regulatory purposes, the interest rates it pays on deposits and its ability to accept, renew, or rollover deposits, particularly brokered deposits, may be restricted.

Liquidity risks could affect operations and jeopardize Busey’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Liquidity is essential to Busey’s business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, sales of securities, sales of loans, and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on liquidity. Busey’s primary sources of funds consist of deposits and funds from sales of investment securities, investment maturities and sales, and cash from operations. Additional liquidity is available through repurchase agreements, brokered deposits, and the ability to borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank and the FHLB. Access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize Busey’s activities or on terms that are acceptable to the Company could be impaired by factors that affect it directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry. In addition, increased competition with the largest banks and

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Fintechs for retail deposits may impact our ability to raise funds through deposits and could have a negative effect on our liquidity. Any decline in available funding and/or capital could adversely impact Busey’s ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet its expenses, pay dividends to its stockholders, or meet deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on its liquidity, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

External financial institution failures could impact the soundness of the Company.

Liquidity is a cornerstone of the Company, vital for sustaining day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. Recent events, such as the bank failures in early 2023, underscore the critical nature of our ongoing efforts to manage liquidity risk effectively. As a core deposit-funded institution, our ability to raise funds through deposits is integral to our liquidity strategy. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, or other channels poses a substantial risk to our liquidity. Our primary funding sources, supplemented by channels like repurchase agreements and borrowing facilities, are crucial for sustaining day-to-day operations. External factors, such as disruptions in financial markets and increased competition for retail deposits, may challenge our access to funding sources. The bank failures serve as a stark reminder of potential challenges faced by financial institutions. As we navigate these complexities, any decline in funding and/or capital could adversely impact our ability to meet obligations, pay dividends, or address deposit withdrawals, with significant consequences for our liquidity, business, financial condition, and results of operations. Furthermore, the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions are pivotal for our routine funding and transactions. Market-wide liquidity problems triggered by defaults or rumors in the financial services industry could erode confidence and lead to losses or defaults.

COMPETITIVE AND STRATEGIC RISKS

If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research reports about us, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our stock, or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, the price of our stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. If there is limited or no securities or industry analyst coverage of us, the market price for our stock would be negatively impacted. Moreover, if any of the analysts who elect to cover us downgrade our common stock, provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, or if our operating results or prospects do not meet their expectations, the market price of our common stock may decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

Busey faces strong competition from financial service companies and other companies that offer banking and wealth management services, which could harm its business.

Busey currently conducts its banking operations in central and suburban Chicago, Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area; central Indiana; and southwest Florida. In addition, the Company currently offers fiduciary and wealth management services, which account for a significant portion of its non-interest income. Many competitors offer the same, or a wider variety of, banking and wealth management services within Busey’s market areas. These competitors include national banks, regional banks, and other community banks. Busey also faces competition from many other types of financial institutions, including savings and loan institutions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks, digital banks and online lenders, and other financial intermediaries. In addition, a number of out-of-state financial intermediaries have opened production offices or otherwise solicit deposits in Busey’s market areas. Also, technology and other changes have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks or financial technology companies, as well as other large technology corporations, to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. For example, customers can maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds, can apply for and receive credit, and can also complete

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 42 transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. Increased competition in Busey’s markets may result in reduced loans, deposits, and commissions and brokers’ fees, as well as reduced net interest margin and profitability. Ultimately, Busey may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors. If Busey is unable to attract and retain banking and wealth management customers, it may be unable to grow its loan and deposit portfolios or its wealth management commissions, which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition.

While we do not offer products relating to digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and other similar assets, there has been a significant increase in digital asset adoption globally over the past several years. Certain characteristics of digital asset transactions, such as the speed with which such transactions can be conducted, the ability to transact without the involvement of regulated intermediaries, the ability to engage in transactions across multiple jurisdictions, and the anonymous nature of the transactions, are appealing to certain consumers notwithstanding the various risks posed by such transactions. Accordingly, digital asset service providers—which, at present are not subject to the same degree of scrutiny and oversight as banking organizations and other financial institutions—are becoming active competitors to more traditional financial institutions.

Rapid speed of disruptive innovations enabled by new and emerging technologies and/or other market forces may outpace Busey’s ability to compete.

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology driven products and services. In addition to better serving clients, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to both reduce costs and service customers beyond the bank’s traditional branch footprint. The widespread adoption of new technologies, including mobile banking services, cryptocurrencies, and payment systems could require us in the future to make substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our existing products and services as we grow and develop new products to satisfy our customers’ expectations and comply with regulatory guidance. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our clients by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy client demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Ultimately, there is no end for digital transformation and if we fall behind in our ability to be adaptive and innovative, attracting new customers and sustaining customer loyalty and retention may be increasingly difficult as a result of evolving customer preferences and/or demographic shifts in our existing customer base.

Our strategy of pursuing acquisitions exposes us to financial, execution, and operational risks that could negatively affect us.

To help us fulfill our strategic objectives and enhance our earnings, part of our strategy is to supplement organic growth by acquiring other financial institutions in our market areas and in nearby markets. The recently announced planned acquisition of M&M exemplifies this strategy. As our capital position and asset quality allow, we may continue to supplement organic growth through acquisitions, as we have in the past. There are risks associated with acquisition strategies, including the following:

• We are exposed to potential asset and credit quality risks and unknown or contingent liabilities of the banks or businesses we acquire. If these issues or liabilities exceed our estimates, our earnings and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
• Prices at which acquisitions can be made fluctuate with market conditions. We have experienced times during which acquisitions could not be made in specific markets at prices our management considered acceptable, and we expect that we will experience this condition in the future in one or more markets.
• The acquisition of other entities generally requires integration of systems, procedures, and

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 43 personnel of the acquired entity in order to make the transaction economically feasible. This integration process is complicated and time consuming and can also be disruptive to the customers of the acquired business. If the integration process is not conducted successfully and with minimal effect on the acquired business and its customers, we may not realize the anticipated economic benefits of particular acquisitions within the expected time frame, and we may lose customers or employees of the acquired business. Furthermore, the integration of personnel can be challenging and the likelihood of turnover of personnel from acquired institutions presents potential risks to both operational efficiency as well as customer retention. Busey may also experience greater than anticipated customer losses even if the integration process is successful.

• We are subject to due diligence expenses which may not result in an acquisition.
• To finance an acquisition, we may borrow funds, thereby increasing our leverage and diminishing our liquidity, or issue capital stock to the sellers in an acquisition or to third-parties to raise capital, which could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders.
• The time period in which anticipated benefits of a merger are fully realized may take longer than anticipated, or we may be unsuccessful in realizing the anticipated benefits from mergers and future acquisitions.

New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks.

From time to time, we may seek to implement new lines of business or offer new products, services, or delivery channels within existing lines of business in our current markets or new markets. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are either highly competitive or, conversely, not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved, and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible, which could in turn have a material negative effect on our operating results.

ACCOUNTING AND TAX RISKS

Financial statements are created, in part, by estimates, assumptions, and methods used by management, which, if incorrect, could cause unexpected losses in the future.

Busey’s financial performance is impacted by accounting principles, policies, and guidelines. Some of these policies require the use of estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of assets or liabilities and financial results. Certain accounting policies are critical and require management to make difficult, subjective, and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain, and materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. If such estimates or assumptions underlying Busey’s Consolidated Financial Statements are incorrect, the Company may experience material losses.

One such assumption and estimate is the valuation analysis of its goodwill and other intangible assets. Although Busey’s analysis does not indicate impairments exist, the Company is required to perform additional impairment assessments on at least an annual basis, which could result in future impairment charges. Any future goodwill or other intangible assets impairment charges, based on the current balances or future balances arising out of acquisitions, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations by reducing net income or increasing net losses.

Busey is subject to changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines.

Periodically, agencies such as the FASB or the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of those standards that govern the preparation of Busey’s Financial Statements. These changes are beyond the Company’s control, can be difficult to predict, and could materially impact how Busey reports its financial condition and results of operations. In addition, trends in financial and business reporting, including environmental,

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 44 social, and governance related disclosures, could require us to incur additional reporting expense. Changes in these standards are continuously occurring and the implementation of such changes could have a material adverse effect on Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.

Busey is subject to changes in tax law and may not realize tax benefits which could adversely affect our results of operations.

Changes in tax laws at national or state levels could have an effect on Busey’s short-term and long-term earnings. Tax law changes are both difficult to predict and are beyond the Company’s control. Changes in tax laws could affect Busey’s earnings as well as its customers’ financial positions, or both.

Deferred tax assets are designed to reduce subsequent period’s income tax expense and arise, in part, as a result of net loss carry-overs, and other book accounting to tax accounting differences including expected credit losses, stock-based compensation, and deferred compensation. Such items are recorded as assets when it is anticipated the tax consequences will be recorded in future periods. A valuation allowance is established against a deferred tax asset when it is unlikely the future tax effects will be realized. Significant judgment by management about matters that are by nature uncertain is required to record a deferred tax asset and establish a valuation allowance.

In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, Busey estimates future taxable income based on management forecasts and tax planning strategies that may be available to us. While Busey has determined that no valuation allowance is currently required for any deferred tax assets, if future events differ significantly from current forecasts, the Company may need to establish a valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets, which would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations and financial condition. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods prior to the expiration of the related net operating losses and may be limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Further, Busey’s investments in certain tax-advantaged projects may not generate returns as anticipated and may have an adverse impact on Busey’s financial results. Busey invests in certain tax-advantaged projects promoting affordable housing, community development, and other community revitalization projects. Busey’s investments in these projects are designed to generate a return primarily through the realization of federal and state income tax credits, and other tax benefits, over specified time periods. Busey is subject to the risk that previously recorded tax credits, which remain subject to recapture by taxing authorities based on compliance features required to be met at the project level, will fail to meet certain government compliance requirements and will not be realized. The possible inability to realize these tax credit and other tax benefits could have a negative impact on Busey’s financial results. The ultimate realization of the tax credits and other tax benefits depends upon having sufficient taxable income and on many factors outside of the Company’s control, including changes in the applicable tax code and the ability of the projects to be completed.

OPERATIONAL RISKS

Busey’s framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss.

Busey’s risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and loss. It has established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report, and analyze the types of risk to which it is subject, compliance risk and reputational risk, among others. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations. Risks may exist, or emerge in the future, that have not been appropriately identified or anticipated. As it continues to grow, Busey’s ability to successfully identify and manage the risks it faces is an important factor that can significantly impact results. If its risk management framework is not commensurate with its risk profile, Busey could suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected.

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Busey relies on the integrity of its operating systems and employees, and those of third-parties, and certain failures of such systems or error by employees or customers could materially and adversely affect Busey’s operations.

Communications and information systems are essential to conduct Busey’s business, as it uses such systems to manage customer transactions and relationships; the general ledger; and deposits, loans, and investments. However, the computer systems and network infrastructure Busey uses could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems as operations are dependent upon the protection of computer equipment against damage from physical theft, fire, power loss, telecommunications failure, or a similar catastrophic event, as well as from security events.

In addition, Busey outsources certain processing functions to third-party providers introducing additional layers of risk when these providers, in turn, outsource to fourth or fifth parties. This cascading outsourcing structure can heighten the complexity and potential challenges in communication, coordination, and risk management. If downstream providers encounter difficulties, or if Busey faces challenges in communicating with them, it may impact the ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions, adversely affecting business operations. Moreover, downstream providers could introduce specific risks related to compliance. Involvement of downstream parties in regions subject to sanctions or dealing with entities on prohibited lists poses an additional layer of regulatory risk.

Risks associated with multi-layered outsourcing arrangements include compliance concerns, potential disruptions, system or processing failures, and increased difficulty in overseeing and controlling actions of distant parties. While Busey implements due diligence procedures in reviewing and vetting its third-parties, the indirect risks arising from subsequent outsourcing levels are inherently more challenging to control or cannot be controlled.

Although Busey has established procedures to prevent or mitigate the effects of potential problems, technology-related disruptions, failures, and cybersecurity risks remain constant threats. Involvement of downstream parties further amplifies these risks, as Busey cannot guarantee the success of measures to prevent security breaches and disruptions. Any failure, interruption, or breach in the security of computer systems and network infrastructure, including those of downstream parties, could have a material adverse effect on Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.

Similarly, Busey is reliant upon its employees. Such dependencies create risks for potential losses resulting from employee errors, breakdowns in process or control, failures to properly execute change management, negligence, or a number of other factors outside Busey’s control. Busey maintains a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors, customer or employee fraud, and other disruptions which might impact its business. Further, Busey’s Internal Audit department routinely reviews operations and high-risk areas for error, deficient controls, and failure to adhere to policy.

Potential legal actions, fines, and civil money penalties could arise as results of an operational deficiency or as a result of noncompliance with applicable regulatory standards, adverse business decisions or their implementation, and customer attrition due to potential negative publicity.

A breach in the security of Busey’s systems could disrupt its businesses, result in the disclosure of confidential information, damage its reputation, and create significant financial and legal exposure for Busey.

Although Busey devotes significant resources to maintain and regularly upgrade systems and processes designed to protect the security of its computer systems, software, networks, and other technology assets, these measures do not provide absolute security for the Company’s websites or other systems, some of which have been targeted with sophisticated intended to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems, often through the introduction of computer viruses or malware, cyber-attacks, and other means. In addition, cyber attackers have persistently employed sophisticated campaigns to leverage individuals' fears and uncertainties. They capitalize on the increased

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 46 volume of transactions occurring on digital channels, employing social engineering techniques to manipulate human psychology and perpetuate security breaches. Implementation of remote working arrangements that use virtual private networks, virtual conferencing services, and telecommunication technologies can increase insider risk, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and other operational exposures. Industry trends in ransomware, phishing, and other intrusion methods have increased significantly and will continue to pose increased risk.

Threats to security also exist in the processing of customer information through various other third-parties, their personnel, and their use of subcontractors. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography, or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the algorithms Busey and its third-party service providers use to encrypt and protect customer transaction data. Such cyber incidents may go undetected for a period of time. An inability by our third-party providers, and their third-party providers, to anticipate, detect, or adequately mitigate, breaches of security, known as “supply chain risk,” could result in a number of negative events, including losses to us or our clients, loss of business or clients, damage to our reputation, the incurrence of additional expenses, additional regulatory scrutiny or penalties, or exposure to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.

Busey also faces risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with credit card, debit card, and other payment-related transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding Busey’s customers through various third-parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks, and processors. Cyber-attacks or other breaches, whether affecting Busey or others, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in breach and fraud-related losses as well as increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on Busey’s business.

Penetration or circumvention of Busey’s security systems could result in serious negative consequences for the Company, including significant disruption of Busey’s operations, misappropriation of Busey’s confidential information or that of its customers or employees, or damage to Busey’s computers or systems and those of its customers and counterparties. Such events could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss to Busey or its customers, loss of confidence in Busey’s security measures, customer dissatisfaction, significant litigation exposure, and harm to Busey’s reputation, all of which would adversely affect the Company.

These risks have increased for all financial institutions globally as new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies, including mobile devices, to conduct financial and other business transactions, and the sophistication and activities of malicious individuals and organizations have increased substantially. Despite Busey’s significant investment in security resources and its continued efforts to prevent or limit the effects of potential threats, it is possible that Busey may not be able to anticipate or implement effective preventative measures against all security incidents.

Customer or employee misconduct or fraud may affect operations, result in significant financial loss, and have an adverse impact on Busey’s reputation.

Misconduct by employees and customers could include hiding unauthorized activities, conducting improper or unauthorized activities, or improper use of confidential information. Customer or other outsiders may also attempt to perpetuate fraud or scams in the form of identity theft, money laundering, fraudulent or altered deposits, or use of counterfeit instruments, as a few examples. Busey also faces fraud risk associated with the origination of loans, including the intentional misstatement of information in property appraisals or other underwriting documentation provided to it by customers or by third-parties. Customers may expose Busey to certain fraud risks associated with the compromise of their computing systems or accounts, as well.

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Both the number and sophistication level of attempted fraudulent transactions are increasing. Should our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence of fraud, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on Busey’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Busey’s ability to attract and retain key personnel may affect future growth and earnings.

Busey's leadership landscape recently underwent changes as Busey and Robin N. Elliott, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Busey Bank, who also served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FirsTech, mutually agreed upon the decision to part ways. In connection with this transition, Van A. Dukeman, the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of First Busey Corporation has taken on the additional role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Busey Bank. Busey’s ability to attract and retain management experienced in banking and financial services, including its current executive officers, management teams, lending and retail banking officers, and administrative staff of its subsidiaries, is crucial for the successful implementation of its strategy. Additionally, Busey's ability to retain key personnel at acquired financial institutions is vital for its growth strategy through mergers and acquisitions. Equally critical is Busey’s commitment to attracting and retaining diverse and qualified staff with the appropriate level of experience and knowledge about its market areas, essential for implementing its community-based operating strategy. The unexpected loss of services of key personnel or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future could have an adverse effect on Busey’s business, financial condition, and results of operation.

Damage resulting from negative publicity could harm Busey’s reputation and adversely impact its business and financial condition.

Busey’s ability to attract and retain customers, investors, and employees is contingent upon maintaining trust. Negative public opinion could result from the Company’s actual or alleged conduct in a number of activities, including, but not limited to, employee misconduct, a failure or perceived failure to deliver appropriate standards of service and quality or to treat customers fairly, faulty lending practices, compliance failures, security breaches, corporate governance, sharing or inadequate protection of customer information, failure to comply with laws or regulations, and actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to that conduct. The results of such actual or alleged misconduct could include customer dissatisfaction, inability to attract potential acquisition prospects, litigation, and heightened regulatory scrutiny, all of which could lead to lost revenue, higher operating costs, and harm to Busey’s reputation. No assurance can be made, despite the cost or efforts made by the Company to address the issues arising from reputational harm, that results could not adversely affect Busey’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Emerging risks associated with Generative Artificial Intelligence and other Large Language Models are dynamic and evolving rapidly as the technology advances and regulatory frameworks develop.

While our current operational framework excludes the use of GAI in our internal processes, the usage of such technologies introduces a spectrum of risks across various dimensions:

• Fraud and Security – Advanced social engineering capabilities for phishing and vishing attacks, as well as the ability to generate impersonation attacks using so called “deep fakes” leading to impacts including, but not limited to, unauthorized access, fraudulent transactions, and data breach.
• Intellectual Property and Copyright Concerns – Risks stemming from unclear legal disputes and potential financial liabilities due to the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials leading to legal challenges.
• Potential Opacity and Bias in Models – Challenges related to the interpretability of models and potential biases, presenting risks of model misinterpretation and unintended consequences.

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• Data Privacy – Unauthorized use of company or customer data in the training of GAI models.
• Compliance Challenges – The potential inability to quickly adapt to, or the high costs associated with adapting to, regulatory changes, leading to compliance gaps and associated penalties.

Moreover, an additional concern with GAI pertains to the utilization of voice-enabled AI for communicating promotional messages to our customer base. As we proactively assess and address these emerging risks, our commitment to robust risk management remains integral to sustaining operational resilience.

Busey relies extensively on various information systems and other electronic resources to operate our business. In addition, nearly all of our customers, service providers and other business partners on whom we depend, including the providers of our online banking, mobile banking, and accounting systems, use their own information systems and electronic resources. Any of these systems can be compromised, including through the employees, customers, and other individuals who are authorized to use them, and bad actors who use a sophisticated and constantly evolving set of software, tools, and strategies to do so. Moreover, the nature of our business, as a financial services provider, and our relative size, make us and our business partners high-value targets for these bad actors to pursue. For additional information see “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Operational Risks.”

Accordingly, we have long devoted significant resources to assessing, identifying and managing risks associated with cybersecurity threats, including:

• an internal cybersecurity team that is responsible for conducting regular assessments of our information systems, existing controls, vulnerabilities and potential improvements;
• continuous monitoring tools that can detect and help respond to cybersecurity threats in real-time;
• performing due diligence with respect to our third-party service providers, including their cybersecurity practices, and requiring contractual commitments from our service providers to take certain cybersecurity measures;
• third-party cybersecurity consultants, who conduct periodic penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and other procedures to identify potential weaknesses in our systems and processes; and
• periodic cybersecurity training for our workforce.

This information security program is a key part of our overall risk management system, which is administered by our Chief Risk Officer. The program includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards to help ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information. These security and privacy policies and procedures are in effect across all of our businesses and geographic locations.

We face a number of cybersecurity risks in connection with our business. From time-to-time, we have identified cybersecurity threats and cybersecurity incidents that require us to make changes to our processes and to implement additional safeguards. While none of these identified threats or incidents have materially affected us, it is possible that threats and incidents we identify in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business strategy, results of operations, and financial condition.

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Our management team is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks we face, including our Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”). Our CISO has been in the role since September 2020, and has 15 years of experience across external and internal audit, technology risk management, and cybersecurity spanning various industries primarily within the financial services sector, but also including healthcare, technology, consumer products, and manufacturing for both regional and multinational corporations.

In addition, our board of directors, as a whole and through its Enterprise Risk Committee (the “Risk Committee”), is responsible for the oversight of risk management. In that role, our board of directors and Risk Committee, with support from Busey’s cybersecurity advisors, are responsible for ensuring that the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate and functioning as designed. To carry out those duties, both our board of directors and the Risk Committee receive quarterly reports from our management team regarding cybersecurity risks, and Busey’s efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate any cybersecurity incidents.

First Busey Corporation’s and Busey Bank’s headquarters are located at 100 West University Avenue, Champaign, Illinois. FirsTech’s headquarters is located at 130 North Water Street, Decatur, Illinois. These facilities, which are owned by the Company, house the executive and primary administrative offices of each respective entity. First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries also own or lease other facilities, such as banking centers of Busey Bank, for business operations.

Busey considers its properties to be suitable and adequate for its present needs. None of the properties are subject to any material encumbrance.

As part of the ordinary course of business, First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries are parties to litigation that is incidental to their regular business activities.

There is no material pending litigation, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business, in which First Busey Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is involved or of which any of their property is the subject. Furthermore, there is no pending legal proceeding that is adverse to Busey in which any director, officer, or affiliate of Busey, or any associate of any such director or officer, is a party, or has a material interest.

Contents of Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”)

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SCOPE OF DISCUSSION

The following is management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, of First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries. It should be read in conjunction with “Item 1. Business,” the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the related Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report.

Detailed discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operation for 2023 as compared to 2022 can be found below. Comparison of 2022 to 2021 can be found in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2022 Annual Report.

BUSEY’S CONSERVATIVE BANKING STRATEGY

Busey’s financial strength is built on a long-term conservative operating approach. The quality of our core deposit franchise is a critical value driver of our institution. Since March 31, 2023, our deposit base has grown by $490.0 million, allowing us to reduce our higher cost FHLB borrowings to zero. Busey remains substantially core deposit1 funded, with robust liquidity and significant market share in the communities we serve. As of December 31, 2023, our loan to deposit ratio was 74.4% and core deposits1 represented 96.2% of total deposits. Furthermore, we have sufficient on- and off-balance sheet liquidity to manage deposit fluctuations and the liquidity needs of our customers.

Our credit performance reflects our highly diversified, conservatively underwritten loan portfolio, which has been originated predominantly to established customers with tenured relationships with our Company. Our approach to lending and our underwriting standards are designed to emphasize relationship banking rather than transactional banking. In addition, as a matter of both policy and practice, we limit concentration exposures in any particular loan segment. As a result, asset quality remains strong by both Busey’s historical and current industry trends.

Busey’s conservative banking strategy is reflected in the strength of our capital base. We strive to consistently maintain capital ratios well in excess of thresholds required to be designated as well capitalized by applicable regulatory guidelines, thereby ensuring financial strength and flexibility across economic and operating cycles. At December 31, 2023, our leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets was 10.1%, our common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets ratio was 13.1%, and our total capital to risk weighted assets ratio was 17.4%.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Busey has established various accounting policies that govern the application of GAAP in the preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements. Significant accounting policies are described in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical accounting estimates are those that are critical to the portrayal and understanding of Busey’s financial condition and results of operations and require management to make assumptions that are difficult, subjective, or complex. These estimates involve judgments, assumptions, and uncertainties that are susceptible to change. In the event that different assumptions or conditions were to prevail, and depending on the severity of such changes, the possibility of a materially different financial condition or materially different results of operations is a reasonable likelihood. Further, changes in accounting standards could impact our critical accounting estimates. The following policies could be deemed critical:

1 Core deposits is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

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Fair Value of Debt Securities Available for Sale

Fair values of debt securities available for sale are measurements from an independent pricing service and are based on observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information, and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things. Different fair value estimates could result from the use of different judgments and estimates to determine the fair values of securities.

Realized securities gains or losses are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

A debt security available for sale is impaired if the fair value of the security declines below its amortized cost basis. To determine the appropriate accounting, we must first determine if we intend to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before the fair value increases to at least the amortized cost basis. If either of those selling events is expected, we will write down the amortized cost basis of the security to its fair value. This is achieved by writing off any previously recorded allowance related to the debt security, if applicable, and recognizing any incremental impairment through earnings. If we do not intend to sell the security, nor believe it more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before the fair value recovers to the amortized cost basis, we must determine whether any of the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit loss, or if it is entirely the result of noncredit factors.

We consider the following factors in assessing whether the decline is due to a credit loss:

• Extent to which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis;
• Adverse conditions specifically related to the security, an industry, or a geographic area (for example, changes in the financial condition of the issuer of the security, or in the case of an asset-backed debt security, in the financial condition of the underlying loan obligors);
• Payment structure of the debt security and the likelihood of the issuer being able to make payments that increase in the future;
• Failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled interest or principal payments; and
• Any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency.

Impairment related to a credit loss must be measured using the discounted cash flow method. Credit loss recognition is limited to the fair value of the security. Impairment is recognized by establishing an allowance for the debt security through the provision for credit losses. Impairment related to noncredit factors is recognized in AOCI, net of applicable taxes.

Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Business Combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair value on the date of acquisition. Fair values are determined based on the definition of “fair value” defined in ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurement” as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.”

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The fair value of a loan portfolio acquired in a business combination generally requires greater levels of management estimates and judgment than other assets acquired or liabilities assumed. Acquired loans are in the scope of ASC Topic 326 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses.” However, the offset to record the allowance on acquired loans at the date of acquisition depends on whether or not the loan is classified as PCD. The allowance for PCD loans is recorded through a gross-up effect, while the allowance for acquired non-PCD loans is recorded through provision expense, consistent with originated loans. Thus, the determination of which loans are PCD and non-PCD can have a significant effect on the accounting for these loans.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired using the acquisition method of accounting. Determining the fair value often involves estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Goodwill is not amortized, instead, we assess the potential for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired.

Income Taxes

Busey estimates income tax expense based on amounts expected to be owed to federal and state tax jurisdictions. Estimated income tax expense is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Accrued and deferred taxes, as reported in other assets or other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, represent the net estimated amount due to or to be received from taxing jurisdictions either currently or in the future. Management judgment is involved in estimating accrued and deferred taxes, as it may be necessary to evaluate the risks and merits of the tax treatment of transactions, filing positions, and taxable income calculations after considering tax-related statutes, regulations, and other relevant factors. Because of the complexity of tax laws and interpretations, interpretation is subject to judgment.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Busey calculates the ACL at each reporting date. We recognize an allowance for the lifetime expected credit losses for the amount we do not expect to collect. Measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported book value. The calculation also contemplates that Busey may not be able to make or obtain such forecasts for the entire life of the financial assets and requires a reversion to historical credit loss information.

In determining the ACL, management relies predominantly on a disciplined credit review and approval process that extends to the full range of Busey’s credit exposure. The ACL must be determined on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. On a case-by-case basis, we may conclude a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on the disparate risk characteristics.

Loans deemed uncollectible are charged against and reduce the ACL. A provision for credit losses is charged to current expense and acts to replenish the ACL in order to maintain the ACL at a level that management deems adequate. Determining the ACL involves significant judgments and assumptions by management. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions made by management, actual results may differ from these judgments and assumptions.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023

Net Income

Results of our operations are presented below, segregated by operating segment (dollars in thousands):

Operating Performance Metrics

Operating performance metrics presented in the table below have been derived from information used by management to monitor and manage our financial performance (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

1. See “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

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Non-Operating Expenses and Non-GAAP Measures

Busey views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related and restructuring charges, as adjustments to net income reported under GAAP. Non-operating pretax adjustments were as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

1. Acquisition expenses related to completed acquisitions, exploratory due diligence, and for 2023 the planned merger with M&M.

2. Restructuring charges related to previously disclosed restructuring and efficiency plans.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures, which we believe facilitate the assessment of our financial results and peer comparability, is included in tabular form in this Annual Report. See “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest income and fees earned on loans and investments (“interest-earning assets”) and interest expense incurred on deposits and borrowings (“interest-bearing liabilities”). Interest rate levels and volume fluctuations within interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income. Net interest margin is tax-equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets.

Certain assets with tax favorable treatment are evaluated on a tax-equivalent basis, assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%. Tax favorable assets generally have lower contractual pre-tax yields than fully taxable assets. A tax-equivalent analysis is performed by adding the tax savings to the earnings on tax favorable assets. After factoring in the tax favorable effects of these assets, the yields may be more appropriately evaluated against alternative earning assets. In addition to yield, various other risks are factored into the evaluation process.

Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and Interest Rates

The table below presents our Consolidated Average Balance Sheets, detailing average balances for each major category of assets and liabilities, the interest income earned on interest-earning assets, the interest expense paid for interest-bearing liabilities, and the related interest yields for the periods indicated. Average information is provided on a daily average basis (dollars in thousands):

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1. On a tax-equivalent basis, assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.

2. Non-accrual loans have been included in average portfolio loans.

3. Interest income includes tax-equivalent adjustments of $2.2 million for 2023, $2.2 million for 2022, and $2.4 million for 2021. Interest income includes an immaterial amount of fees, net of deferred costs, related to PPP loans for 2023, $1.9 million for 2022, and $14.0 million for 2021.

4. Borrowings include short-term borrowings, long-term debt, senior notes, and subordinated notes. Interest expense includes a non-usage fee on our revolving credit facility.

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The following table presents, for the major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, a breakout of changes in interest income and interest expense attributable to (1) changes in average volume and (2) changes in average yield. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately, based on changes due to rate and changes due to volume (dollars in thousands):

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Notable changes in average assets and average liabilities are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

Changes in net interest income and net interest margin are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

1. Assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.

2. Net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets, stated on a tax-equivalent basis.

The FOMC raised rates by a total of 100 basis points during 2023, and by a total of 525 basis points since the onset of the current FOMC tightening cycle that began in the first quarter of 2022. Rising rates initially have a positive impact on net interest margin, as assets, in particular commercial loans, reprice more quickly and to a greater extent than liabilities. As deposit and funding costs increase in response to the tightening rate cycle, and we experience deposit migration into higher cost offerings and funding alternatives, some of the net interest margin expansion is reversed.

Net interest spread represents the difference between the average rate earned on earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, and is presented in the table below for the periods indicated:

1. Calculated on a tax-equivalent basis.

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The net interest margin discussion above is based upon the results and average balances for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. Annualized net interest margins for the quarterly periods indicated were as follows:

Management attempts to mitigate the effects of an unpredictable interest-rate environment through effective portfolio management, prudent loan underwriting and pricing discipline, and operational efficiencies.

Noninterest Income

Changes in noninterest income are summarized in the tables below for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

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Total noninterest income was $122.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of 3.5% when compared with $126.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The year-over-year decrease in non-interest income is substantially attributable to Durbin Amendment impacts as described in further detail below. Total noninterest income represented 27.7% of total revenue2 in 2023, compared to 28.2% in 2022.

Combined, revenues from wealth management fees and payment technology solutions represented 64.1% and 59.5% of Busey’s noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively, providing a complement to spread-based revenue from traditional banking activities. On a combined basis, revenue from these two critical operating areas was $78.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a 4.1% increase from $75.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Wealth management fees increased by 3.5% to $57.3 million in 2023, compared to $55.4 million in 2022. Busey’s Wealth Management division had $12.1 billion in assets under care as of December 31, 2023, compared to $11.1 billion as of December 31, 2022. Our portfolio management team continues to focus on long-term returns and managing risk in the face of volatile markets.

Payment technology solutions revenue relates to our payment processing company, FirsTech. Payment technology solutions revenue increased by 5.6% to $21.2 million in 2023, compared to $20.1 million in 2022. Results for 2023 marked a new record high reported annual revenue for FirsTech.

2 Total revenue consists of net interest income plus noninterest income.

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Fees for customer services decreased by 12.3% to $29.0 million in 2023, compared to $33.1 million in 2022. Beginning on July 1, 2022, we became subject to the Durbin Amendment, which requires the Federal Reserve to establish a maximum permissible interchange fee for many types of debit transactions. Reduced fee income is primarily attributable to the impact of the Durbin Amendment for all of 2023 versus only half of 2022, as well to modifications implemented to overdraft and non-sufficient funds fee structures.

Mortgage revenue was $1.1 million in 2023, compared to $1.9 million in 2022. Decreases primarily resulted from declines in mortgage origination and sold-loan mortgage volume. General economic conditions and interest rate volatility may impact future fee income.

Income on bank owned life insurance increased by 28.3% to $4.7 million in 2023, compared to $3.7 million in 2022, resulting from a $0.8 million increase in earnings on death proceeds and a $0.2 million increase in the cash surrender value of the insurance policies.

Other income decreased by 24.1% to $11.2 million in 2023, compared to $14.8 million in 2022. Primary contributors to other income include swap origination fees, gains on commercial loans sales, and changes in venture capital investment valuations.

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Noninterest Expense

Changes in noninterest expense are summarized in the tables below for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

1. The efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio are both non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

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1. The efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio are both non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

Total noninterest expense increased to $285.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $283.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, representing a modest year-over-year increase of 0.6%. Non-operating acquisition and other restructuring expenses decreased to $4.3 million in 2023, compared to $4.5 million in 2022. We have effectively managed our noninterest expense during a time of decades-high inflation, and have been purposeful in our efforts to rationalize our expense base given our economic outlook and our view on the future of banking.

Salaries, wages, and employee benefits increased to $162.6 million in 2023, compared to $159.0 million in 2022. Our total associate base consisted of 1,479 full-time equivalents as of December 31, 2023, compared to 1,497 at December 31, 2022. Non-operating costs contributed $0.8 million of the increase in salaries, wages, and employee benefits. Current trends continue to reflect a competitive labor market, maintaining pressure on costs related to attracting and maintaining our skilled workforce.

Data processing expense increased to $23.7 million in 2023, compared to $21.6 million in 2022. Increases were primarily attributable to Company-wide investments in technology enhancements, as well as inflation-driven price increases.

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Combined, net occupancy expense of premises and furniture and equipment expenses decreased to $25.0 million in 2023, compared to $26.8 million in 2022. Decreases were primarily attributable to declines in depreciation expense and real estate taxes.

Professional fees increased to $7.1 million in 2023, compared to $6.1 million in 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to higher expenses for audit and accounting fees and payroll services.

Amortization of intangible assets decreased to $10.4 million in 2023, compared to $11.6 million in 2022, due to the continued use of an accelerated amortization methodology.

Interchange expense increased to $6.9 million in 2023, compared to $6.3 million in 2022. Fluctuations in interchange expense were primarily the result of increased payment and volume activity at FirsTech.

FDIC insurance expense increased to $5.7 million in 2023, compared to $4.1 million in 2022. Increases were the result of an FDIC final rule to increase the initial base deposit insurance assessment rate applicable to all depository institutions by two basis points beginning in 2023.

Other expense decreased to $44.2 million in 2023, compared to $48.3 million in 2022. Primary contributors to other expense include business development, collection and preservation, OREO, fixed asset impairments, provision for unfunded commitments, and NMTC impairments. Decreases were across multiple expense categories as a result of expense discipline.

Efficiency Ratio3

The efficiency ratio is calculated as total noninterest expense, less amortization charges, as a percentage of tax-equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income, less security gains and losses. The efficiency ratio, which is a measure commonly used by management and the banking industry, measures the amount of expense incurred to generate a dollar of revenue. Our efficiency ratio was 61.7% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 59.9% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Operating costs have been influenced by acquisition expenses and other restructuring costs, and the adjusted efficiency ratio3 was 60.7% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 58.9% for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Income Taxes

Effective income tax rates, calculated by dividing income taxes by income before taxes, were 20.4%, 20.7%, and 21.3% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Busey's effective tax rates were lower than the combined federal and state statutory rate of approximately 28.0% due to tax exempt interest income, such as municipal bond interest and bank owned life insurance income, and investments in various tax credits. We continue to monitor evolving federal and state tax legislation and its potential impact on operations on an ongoing basis. As of December 31, 2023, we were not under income tax examination by any income tax authority.

3 The efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio are both non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

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FINANCIAL CONDITION

Balance Sheet

Changes in significant items included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Busey executed a two-part balance sheet repositioning strategy

During the fourth quarter of 2023, Busey sold all 16,878 shares of Visa Class B common stock it previously held (the “Visa Sale”) resulting in a pre-tax gain of approximately $5.5 million, and also executed a balance sheet repositioning of its available-for-sale securities portfolio (the “Repositioning”). Busey sold securities with a carrying value of approximately $110 million yielding 1.56%, resulting in a pre-tax loss of $5.3 million. Proceeds were deposited into an interest-bearing account at the Federal Reserve yielding 5.40%, a higher-yielding lower risk-weighted asset.

The increased net interest spread as a result of the Visa Sale and Repositioning is expected to increase net interest income by approximately $4.3 million on an annualized basis and improve Busey’s net interest margin run rate by 4 basis points. In addition, execution of these transactions further bolsters Busey’s liquidity position and balance sheet flexibility, while also strengthening its capital position. Busey anticipates reinvesting the proceeds into higher yielding organic growth opportunities over time.

The combined impact of the gain generated from the Visa Sale and the loss generated from the Repositioning will have an immediate positive impact on consolidated stockholders’ equity and book value per share. Risk-based regulatory capital ratios will increase modestly as a result of the Repositioning proceeds rotating into lower risk-weighted assets. Busey expects the above transactions to be accretive to capital and earnings per share in future periods.

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Investment Securities

The primary purposes of our investment securities portfolio are to provide a source of earnings by deploying funds that are not needed to fulfill loan demand, deposit redemptions, or other liquidity purposes; to serve as a tool for interest rate risk positioning; and to provide collateral for pledging purposes against public deposits and repurchase agreements, all while providing a source of liquidity.

We consider many factors in determining the composition of our investment portfolio including, but not limited to, credit quality, duration, interest rate risk, liquidity, tax-equivalent yield, regulatory considerations, and overall portfolio allocation. As of December 31, 2023, we did not hold general obligation bonds of any single issuer, the aggregate of which exceeded 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

Pledged securities totaled $837.4 million, or 28.3% of total debt securities, as of December 31, 2023, and $746.7 million, or 22.1% of total debt securities, as of December 31, 2022.

Debt Securities Available for Sale

Debt securities available for sale are carried at fair value. Net unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, are recorded in stockholders’ equity, through AOCI. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of debt securities available for sale was $2.1 billion, and the amortized cost was $2.3 billion. There were $0.2 million of gross unrealized gains and $247.2 million of gross unrealized losses, resulting in a net unrealized loss of $247.1 million.

The composition of debt securities available for sale was as follows (dollars in thousands):

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By maturity date, fair values and weighted average yields of debt securities available for sale as of December 31, 2023, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):

1. Securities are presented based upon final contractual maturity or pre-refunded date.

2. Weighted average yield calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.

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Debt Securities Held to Maturity

Debt securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost. Unrecognized losses are included in OCI, and amortized into income over the contractual lives of the securities. An ACL balance will be established for debt securities held to maturity when applicable. No ACL was recorded for our portfolio of debt securities held to maturity as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

As of December 31, 2023, the amortized cost of debt securities held to maturity was $872.6 million, and the fair value was $730.4 million. There were no gross unrecognized gains and $142.2 million of gross unrecognized losses.

The composition of debt securities held to maturity was as follows (dollars in thousands):

By maturity date, fair values and weighted average yields of debt securities held to maturity as of December 31, 2023, are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):

1. Securities are presented based upon final contractual maturity or pre-refunded date.

Equity Securities

Equity securities are carried at fair value. The fair value of equity securities was $9.8 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $11.5 million as of December 31, 2022.

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Portfolio Loans

We believe that making sound and profitable loans is a necessary and desirable means of employing funds available for investment. Busey maintains lending policies and procedures designed to focus lending efforts on the types, locations, and duration of loans most appropriate for its business model and markets. While not specifically limited, we attempt to focus our lending on short to intermediate-term (0-10 years) loans in geographic areas within 125 miles of our lending offices. Loans originated outside of these areas are generally to existing customers of Busey Bank. We attempt to utilize government-assisted lending programs, such as the SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture lending programs, when prudent. Generally, loans are collateralized by assets, primarily real estate, and guaranteed by individuals. Loans are expected to be repaid primarily from cash flows of the borrowers or from proceeds from the sale of selected assets of the borrowers.

Management reviews and approves Busey Bank’s lending policies and procedures on a regular basis. Management routinely (at least quarterly) reviews the ACL in conjunction with reports related to loan production, loan quality, concentrations of credit, loan delinquencies, non-performing loans, and potential problem loans. Our underwriting standards are designed to encourage relationship banking rather than transactional banking. Relationship banking implies a primary banking relationship with the borrower that includes, at a minimum, an active deposit banking relationship in addition to the lending relationship. Significant underwriting factors in addition to location, duration, a sound and profitable cash flow basis, and the borrower’s character, include the quality of the borrower’s financial history, the liquidity of the underlying collateral, and the reliability of the valuation of the underlying collateral.

As a matter of policy and practice, we limit the level of concentration exposure in any particular loan segment with the goal of maintaining a well-diversified loan portfolio.

At no time is a borrower’s total borrowing relationship permitted to exceed Busey Bank’s regulatory lending limit. We generally limit such relationships to amounts substantially less than the regulatory limit. Loans to related parties, including executive officers and directors of First Busey Corporation and its subsidiaries, are reviewed for compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Busey maintains an independent loan review department that reviews loans for compliance with our loan policy on a periodic basis. In addition, the loan review department reviews risk assessments made by our credit department, lenders, and loan committees. Results of these reviews are presented to management and the audit committee at least quarterly.

Busey Bank’s lending activities can be summarized into two primary categories: commercial and retail. Within these primary categories, loans are further classified into five primary lending areas. The commercial category includes commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, and real estate construction loans. The retail category includes retail real estate loans and retail other loans.

Commercial Loans

Commercial loans typically comprise working capital loans or business expansion loans, including loans for asset purchases and other business loans. Commercial loans will generally be guaranteed, in full or a material percentage, by the primary owners of the business. Commercial loans are made based primarily on the borrower’s historical and projected cash flows and secondarily on the underlying assets pledged as collateral by the borrower. Cash flows of the borrower, however, may not perform consistently with historical or projected information. Further, collateral securing loans may fluctuate in value due to individual economic or other factors. Busey Bank has established minimum standards and underwriting guidelines for all commercial loan types.

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Commercial Real Estate Loans

The commercial environment, along with the academic presence in some of our markets, provides for the majority of our commercial lending opportunities to be commercial real estate related, including multi-unit housing. As the majority of our loan portfolio is within the commercial real estate class, our goal is to maintain a high quality, geographically diverse portfolio of commercial real estate loans. Commercial real estate loans are subject to underwriting standards and guidelines similar to commercial loans. Commercial real estate loans are generally guaranteed, in full or a material percentage, by the primary owners of the business. Repayment of these loans is primarily dependent on the cash flows of the underlying property. However, commercial real estate loans generally must be supported by an adequate underlying collateral value. The performance and the value of the underlying property may be adversely affected by economic factors or geographical and/or industry specific factors. These loans are subject to other industry guidelines which we closely monitor.

Real Estate Construction Loans

Real estate construction loans are primarily commercial in nature. Loan proceeds are monitored by the Company and advanced for the improvement of real estate in which we hold a mortgage. Real estate construction loans will generally be guaranteed, in full or a material percentage, by the developer or primary owners of the business. These loans are subject to underwriting standards and guidelines similar to commercial loans. The loan generally must be supported by an adequate “as completed” value of the underlying project. In addition to the underlying project, the financial history of the developer and business owners weighs significantly in determining approval. Repayment of these loans is typically through permanent financing following completion of the construction. Real estate construction loans are inherently more risky than loans on completed properties as the unimproved nature and the financial risks of construction significantly enhance the risks of commercial real estate loans. These loans are closely monitored and subject to other industry guidelines.

Retail Real Estate Loans

Retail real estate loans are comprised of direct consumer loans that include residential real estate, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. In 2023, Busey retained a larger percentage of originated retail real estate loans in our portfolio, electing to sell a smaller percentage to secondary market purchasers. As retail real estate loan underwriting is subject to specific regulations, we typically underwrite our retail real estate loans to conform to widely accepted standards. Several factors are considered in underwriting including the debt-to-income ratio and credit history of the borrower, as well as the value of the underlying real estate.

Retail Other Loans

Retail other loans consist of installment loans to individuals, including automotive loans and indirect lending. These loans are centrally underwritten utilizing the borrower’s financial history, including credit scores, as well as information about the underlying collateral. Retail other loans also include whole-life loans which are secured by the cash value of underlying life insurance policies. Repayment of retail other loans is expected from the borrower’s cash flows.

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Portfolio Composition

The composition of our loan portfolio as of the dates indicated, as well as changes in portfolio loan balances, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Commercial balances decreased by $131.4 million, or 2.3%, during the year ended December 31, 2023. Retail balances increased by $56.8 million, or 2.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2023. As has been our practice, we remain steadfast in our conservative approach to underwriting and disciplined approach to pricing, particularly given our outlook for the economy in the coming quarters, and this approach has impacted loan growth for 2023 as predicted.

Geographic distributions of portfolio loans, based on origination, by category were as follows (dollars in thousands):

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Commercial real estate loans are made across a variety of industries, as depicted in the table below (dollars in thousands). Balances reflected in the table below do not include loan origination fees or costs, purchase accounting adjustments, SBA discounts, or negative escrow amounts.

Paycheck Protection Program Loans

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Busey operated as an essential community resource, providing approximately $1.1 billion in payroll assistance for small businesses and select nonprofits through low-interest, 100% government-guaranteed loans as part of the PPP. We had $0.3 million in PPP loans outstanding as of December 31, 2023, compared to $0.9 million in PPP loans outstanding as of December 31, 2022.

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Loan Commitments

Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit increased by $151.7 million, or 7.5%, to a total of $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2023, compared to $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2022.

Loan Maturities

The determination of loan maturities is based on contractual loan terms. Demand loans, loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity, and overdrafts are considered to mature within one year.

The following table sets forth remaining maturities of portfolio loans at December 31, 2023, (dollars in thousands):

Interest Rate Structure

Portfolio loans maturing after one year are summarized below by interest rate structure and loan category, as of December 31, 2023, (dollars in thousands):

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Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses

The ACL is a significant estimate in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, affecting both earnings and capital. The methodology adopted influences, and is influenced by, Busey Bank’s overall credit risk management processes. The ACL is recorded in accordance with GAAP to provide an adequate reserve for expected credit losses that is reflective of management’s best estimate of what is expected to be collected. All estimates of credit losses are based on a careful consideration of all significant factors affecting the collectability as of the evaluation date. The ACL is established through the provision for credit loss expense charged to income. Provision expenses (releases) were recorded as follows for each of the years indicated (dollars in thousands):

The provision release in 2021 reflected improvements in macroeconomic conditions and asset quality, following a build-up of the ACL in the prior year attributable to the adoption of CECL in combination with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The following table summarizes, by loan category, activity affecting the ACL and average portfolio loans outstanding for the years indicated, as well as the related ratios of net charge-offs (recoveries) to average portfolio loans (dollars in thousands):

1. The Day 1 PCD is attributable to the CAC acquisition.

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The following table sets forth the ACL by loan categories and percentage of loans to total loans as of December 31 for each of the years indicated (dollars in thousands):

The ongoing impacts of CECL will be dependent upon changes in economic conditions and forecasts, originated and acquired loan portfolio composition, credit performance trends, portfolio duration, and other factors. As of December 31, 2023, Busey management believed the level of the allowance to be appropriate based upon the information available. However, additional losses may be identified in our loan portfolio as new information is obtained.

Non-Performing Loans and Non-Performing Assets

Loans are considered past due if the required principal or interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are placed on non-accrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory guidelines. Loans may be placed on non-accrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due. Loans are returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Typically, loans are secured by collateral. When a loan is classified as non-accrual and determined to be collateral dependent, it is appropriately reserved or charged down through the ACL to the fair value of our interest in the underlying collateral less estimated costs to sell. Our loan portfolio is collateralized primarily by real estate.

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The following table sets forth information concerning non-performing loans and performing restructured loans (dollars in thousands):

Asset quality remains strong by both Busey’s historical and current industry trends, and our operating mandate and focus have been on emphasizing credit quality over asset growth.

As a result of continued disciplined credit management, non-performing loan balances declined by 50.34% to $7.8 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $15.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Non-performing loans represented 0.10% of portfolio loans as of December 31, 2023, compared to 0.20% as of December 31, 2022. Our allowance coverage of non-performing loans increased to 1,173.75% at December 31, 2023, compared to 582.01% at December 31, 2022.

Non-performing assets declined by 52.13% to $7.9 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $16.6 million as of December 31, 2022. Non-performing assets represented 0.06% of total assets as of December 31, 2023, compared to 0.13% as of December 31, 2022. Our allowance for credit losses provided 1,155.27% coverage of our non-performing assets at December 31, 2023, up from 552.19% at December 31, 2022.

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Classified assets, which includes non-performing assets and substandard loans, decreased to $72.3 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $107.1 million as of December 31, 2022. Classified assets represented 4.97% of Busey Bank’s Tier 1 capital and ACL at December 31, 2023, down from 7.66% at December 31, 2022.

Net charge-offs totaled $2.3 million in 2023, representing 0.03% of average loans, compared with net charge-offs of $0.9 million in 2022, representing 0.01% of average loans.

Asset quality metrics remain dependent upon market-specific economic conditions, and specific measures may fluctuate from period to period. If economic conditions were to deteriorate, we would expect the credit quality of our loan portfolio to decline and loan defaults to increase.

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans are loans classified as substandard which are not individually evaluated, restructured, non-accrual, or 90+ days past due, but where current information indicates that the borrower may not be able to comply with loan repayment terms. Management assesses the potential for loss on such loans and considers the effect of any potential loss in determining its provision for expected credit losses. Potential problem loans decreased to $64.3 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $89.2 million at December 31, 2022. Management continues to monitor these credits and anticipates that restructurings, guarantees, additional collateral, or other planned actions will result in full repayment of the debts. As of December 31, 2023, management identified no other loans that represent or result from trends or uncertainties that would be expected to materially impact future operating results, liquidity, or capital resources.

COVID-19 Modifications

To alleviate some of the financial hardships faced as a result of COVID-19, Busey offered a Financial Relief Program to qualifying customers. The program included options for short-term loan payment deferrals and certain fee waivers. We had no commercial or retail loans remaining in the program as of December 31, 2023. In comparison, we had eight payment deferred commercial loans totaling $20.6 million that were on interest-only payment terms, and one payment deferred retail loan totaling $0.1 million as of December 31, 2022.

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Deposits

The following table shows the deposit mix for each of the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

Total deposits increased by 2.2% to $10.3 billion as of December 31, 2023, compared to $10.1 billion as of December 31, 2022. Growth in our deposit base coupled with cash flows from our securities portfolio allows us to fund loan growth while limiting our reliance on higher cost wholesale funding alternatives. We focus on deepening our relationship with customers to maintain and protect our strong core deposit4 franchise, allowing us to reduce our reliance on wholesale funding. As of December 31, 2023, our average customer tenure was 16.5 years for retail customers and 12.4 years for commercial customers. Core deposits4 include non-brokered transaction accounts, money market deposit accounts, and time deposits of $250,000 or less. Core deposits4 represented 96.2% of total deposits as of December 31, 2023, compared to 98.8% as of December 31, 2022.

Deposits are federally insured up to the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000. When a portion of a deposit account exceeds the FDIC insurance limit, that portion is uninsured. Estimated uninsured deposits were $3.8 billion at December 31, 2023. The portion of our deposit base that was uninsured and not otherwise collateralized was estimated to be $2.8 billion at December 31, 2023, which represented 27% of total deposits. Of that amount, $350.1 million represented time deposits. The following table presents estimates of the uninsured portion of time deposits by maturity date (dollars in thousands):

4 Core deposits is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 1. Business—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Annual Report.

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Borrowings

Term Loan

On May 28, 2021, Busey entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, pursuant to which we have access to (1) a $40.0 million revolving line of credit with an initial termination date of April 30, 2022, and (2) a $60.0 million Term Loan with a maturity date of May 31, 2026. The loans had an annual interest rate of 1.75% plus the one-month LIBOR rate. On April 30, 2022, the agreement was amended, effecting an extension of the termination date for the revolving line of credit to April 30, 2023, and providing for the transition from a LIBOR-indexed interest rate to a SOFR-indexed interest rate. Under the terms of the amendment, the loans now have an annual interest rate of 1.80% plus the one-month forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. On April 30, 2023, the agreement was further amended to extend the term for the revolving line of credit to April 30, 2024.

Proceeds of the Term Loan were used to fund a part of the cash portion of the merger consideration related to the acquisition of CAC in the second quarter of 2021, and for general corporate purposes. The total outstanding balance on the Term Loan was $30.0 million as of December 31, 2023, of which $12.0 million was short-term and $18.0 million was long-term. Quarterly payments on the Term Loan reduce the outstanding principal balance by $3.0 million each quarter.

As of December 31, 2023, there was no balance outstanding on the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility incurs a non-usage fee based on any undrawn amounts.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase and Short-term Borrowings

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are classified as secured borrowings, generally mature daily. Short-term borrowings include FHLB advances that mature in less than one year from the date of origination, and the current portion of long-term debt due within 12 months.

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The following table sets forth the distribution of securities sold under agreements to repurchase and short-term borrowings, as well as the weighted average interest rates thereon (dollars in thousands):

1. The weighted average interest rate is computed by dividing total interest for the period by the average daily balance outstanding.

Senior and Subordinated Notes

On May 25, 2017, we issued $40.0 million of 3.75% senior notes that matured and were redeemed on May 25, 2022. Additionally, on May 25, 2017, we issued $60.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that were scheduled to mature on May 25, 2027, with an optional redemption in whole or in part on any interest payment date on or after May 25, 2022. We redeemed all $60.0 million of the outstanding fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes during the third quarter of 2022. At the time of redemption, the redeemed subordinated notes carried interest at a floating rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 2.919%.

On June 1, 2020, Busey issued $125.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that mature on June 1, 2030. The subordinated notes, which qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes, bear interest at an annual rate of 5.25% for the first five years after issuance and thereafter bear interest at a floating rate equal to a three-month benchmark rate plus a spread of 5.11%, as calculated on each applicable determination date. Interest on the subordinated notes is payable semi-annually on each June 1 and December 1 during the five-year fixed-term, and thereafter on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2025. The subordinated notes have an optional redemption in whole or in part on any interest payment date on or after June 1, 2025. The subordinated notes are unsecured obligations of the Company.

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On June 2, 2022, Busey issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes maturing June 15, 2032, which qualify as Tier 2 Capital for regulatory purposes. The price to the public for the subordinated notes was 100% of the principal amount of the subordinated notes. Interest on the subordinated notes will accrue at a rate equal to (1) 5.000% per annum from the original issue date to, but excluding, June 15, 2027, payable semiannually in arrears, and (2) a floating rate per annum equal to a benchmark rate, which is expected to be the Three-Month Term SOFR (as defined in the subordinated notes), plus a spread of 252 basis points from and including, June 15, 2027, payable quarterly in arrears. The subordinated notes have an optional redemption in whole or in part on any interest payment date on or after June 15, 2027.

Unamortized debt issuance costs related to subordinated notes are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):

Junior Subordinated Debt Owed to Unconsolidated Trusts

Busey maintains statutory trusts for the sole purpose of issuing and servicing trust preferred securities and related trust common securities. Proceeds from such issuances were used by the trusts to purchase junior subordinated notes of Busey, which are the sole assets of each trust. Concurrent with the issuance of the trust preferred securities, we issued guarantees for the benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities. The trust preferred securities are instruments that qualify, and are treated, as Tier 1 regulatory capital. Busey owns all of the common securities of each trust. The trust preferred securities issued by each trust rank equally with the common securities in right of payment, except that if an event of default under the indenture governing the notes has occurred and is continuing, the preferred securities will rank senior to the common securities in right of payment. In connection with the Pulaski acquisition in 2016, we acquired similar statutory trusts previously maintained by Pulaski and the fair value adjustment is being accreted over their weighted average remaining life, with a balance remaining to be accreted of $2.6 million at December 31, 2023. We had $72.0 million and $71.8 million of junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts at December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Liquidity

Liquidity management is the process by which we ensure that adequate liquid funds are available to meet the present and future cash flow obligations arising in the daily operations of our business. These financial obligations consist of needs for funds to meet commitments to borrowers for extensions of credit, fund capital expenditures, honor withdrawals by customers, pay dividends to stockholders, and pay operating expenses. Our most liquid assets are cash and due from banks, interest-bearing bank deposits, and federal funds sold. Balances of these assets are dependent on our operating, investing, lending, and financing activities during any given period.

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Average liquid assets are summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Cash and unencumbered securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

Busey’s primary sources of funds consist of deposits, investment maturities and sales, loan principal repayments, and capital funds. Additional liquidity is provided by the ability to borrow from the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Bank, and our revolving credit facility, as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Further, the company could utilize brokered deposits as additional sources of liquidity, as needed.

As of December 31, 2023, management believed that adequate liquidity existed to meet all projected cash flow obligations. We seek to achieve a satisfactory degree of liquidity by actively managing both assets and liabilities. Asset management guides the proportion of liquid assets to total assets, while liability management monitors future funding requirements and prices liabilities accordingly.

Our ability to pay cash dividends to our stockholders and to service our debt is dependent on the receipt of cash dividends from our subsidiaries. Busey Bank paid dividends to First Busey Corporation totaling $90.0 million and $95.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

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Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

Busey Bank routinely enters into commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. The balance of commitments to extend credit represents future cash requirements and some of these commitments may expire without being drawn upon.

The following table summarizes our outstanding commitments and reserves for unfunded commitments (dollars in thousands):

The following table summarizes our provision for unfunded commitments expenses (releases) for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

We anticipate we will have sufficient funds available to meet current loan commitments, including loan applications received and in process prior to the issuance of firm commitments.

Contractual Obligations

We have entered into certain contractual obligations and other commitments that generally relate to funding of operations through deposits, debt issuance, and property and equipment leases.

The following table summarizes significant contractual obligations and other commitments, excluding short-term borrowings and the current portion of long-term debt, as of December 31, 2023, (dollars in thousands):

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Cash Flows

Busey’s cash flows consist of operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

Net cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $173.4 million in 2023, compared to $165.9 million provided by operating activities in 2022. Significant operating activities affecting cash flows include net income, depreciation and amortization, and mortgage loan sale activity. Fluctuations in sales of loans held for sale are a function of changes in market rates for mortgage loans, which influence refinance activity.

Net cash provided by investing activities totaled $551.0 million in 2023, compared to $291.0 million used in investing activities in 2022. Significant investing activities are those associated with managing Busey’s investment and loan portfolios.

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $232.0 million in 2023, compared to $483.9 million used in financing activities in 2022. Significant financing activities affecting cash flows include deposit and other borrowings, as well as cash dividends paid.

For additional detail, see the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Capital Resources

Our capital ratios are in excess of those required to be considered “well-capitalized” pursuant to applicable regulatory guidelines. The Federal Reserve uses capital adequacy guidelines in its examination and regulation of bank holding companies and their subsidiary banks. Risk-based capital ratios are established by allocating assets and certain off-balance-sheet commitments into risk-weighted categories. These balances are then multiplied by the factor appropriate for that risk-weighted category. In order to refrain from restrictions on dividends, equity repurchases, and discretionary bonus payments, banking institutions must maintain capital in excess of regulatory minimum capital requirements. The table below presents minimum capital ratios that include the capital conservation buffer in comparison to the capital ratios for First Busey and Busey Bank as of December 31, 2023.

Management believes that no conditions or events have occurred since December 31, 2023, that would materially adversely change First Busey’s or Busey Bank’s capital classifications.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

We review new accounting standards as issued. Information relating to accounting pronouncements applicable to Busey appears in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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EFFECTS OF INFLATION

The effect of inflation on a financial institution differs significantly from the effect on an industrial company. While a financial institution’s operating expenses, particularly salaries, wages, and employee benefits, are affected by general inflation, the asset and liability structure of a financial institution consists largely of monetary items. Monetary items, such as cash, loans, and deposits, are those assets and liabilities which are or will be converted into a fixed number of dollars regardless of changes in prices. As a result, changes in interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than does general inflation. For additional information regarding interest rates and changes in net interest income see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operation — Three Years Ended December 31, 2023—Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and Interest Rates” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

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Market risk is the risk of changes in asset values due to movements in underlying market rates and prices. Interest rate risk is a type of market risk to earnings and capital arising from movements in interest rates. Interest rate risk is the most significant market risk affecting Busey as other types of market risk, such as foreign currency exchange rate risk and commodity price risk, have minimal impact or do not arise in the normal course of Busey’s business activities.

Busey has an asset-liability committee, whose policy is to meet at least quarterly, to review current market conditions and to structure the Consolidated Balance Sheets to optimize stability in net interest income in consideration of projected future changes in interest rates.

As interest rate changes do not impact all categories of assets and liabilities equally or simultaneously, the asset-liability committee primarily relies on balance sheet and income simulation analysis to determine the potential impact of changes in market interest rates on net interest income. In these standard simulation models, the balance sheet is projected over a one-year and a two-year time horizon and net interest income is calculated under current market rates and assuming permanent instantaneous shifts of +/-100, +/-200, +/-300, and +/-400 basis points. The model assumes immediate and sustained shifts in the federal funds rate and other market rate indices and corresponding shifts in other non-market rate indices based on their historical changes relative to changes in the federal funds rate and other market indices. Assets and liabilities are assumed to remain constant as of the measurement date; variable-rate assets and liabilities are repriced based on repricing frequency; and prepayment speeds on loans are projected for both declining and rising rate environments.

Busey’s interest rate risk resulting from immediate and sustained changes in interest rates, expressed as a change in net interest income as a percentage of the net interest income calculated in the constant base model, was as follows:

Interest rate risk is monitored and managed within approved policy limits and any temporary exceptions to policy in periods of rapid rate movement are approved and documented. The calculation of potential effects of hypothetical interest rate changes is based on numerous assumptions and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. Actual results would likely differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions and management strategies.

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EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, was carried out as of December 31, 2023, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and several other members of our senior management. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act was (1) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (2) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

During the three months ended December 31, 2023, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Busey’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Busey’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of Busey’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of Busey’s Consolidated Financial Statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As of December 31, 2023, management assessed the effectiveness of Busey’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework,” issued by the COSO in 2013. Based on this assessment, management determined that Busey maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.

RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited Busey’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an audit opinion on the effectiveness of Busey’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Busey’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, is included in this Item under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of First Busey Corporation

Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited First Busey Corporation and Subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and our report dated February 22, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ RSM US LLP

Champaign, Illinois

February 22, 2024

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