First Busey Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

Contents of Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

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SCOPE OF DISCUSSION

The following discussion and analysis are intended to assist readers in understanding Busey’s financial condition and results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2024, and should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) and the related Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) included in this Quarterly Report, as well as our 2023 Annual Report.

BUSINESS

First Busey Corporation is a $11.9 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BUSE.”

Our three operating segments provide a full range of banking, wealth management, and payment technology solutions through our subsidiaries, Busey Bank and FirsTech, in Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area; southwest Florida; and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Banking Center Markets

Busey Bank serves the Illinois banking market with 46 banking centers, including 21 located within central Illinois, 13 located within the suburban Chicago market, and 12 located within the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. 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.

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, due in part to it serving as the headquarters of many large corporations.

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. Busey remains substantially core deposit1 funded, with robust liquidity and significant market share in the communities we serve. As of March 31, 2024, our loan to deposit ratio was 76.2% and core deposits represented 96.7% 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 Busey. 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.

1 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 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

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 March 31, 2024, our leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets was 10.5%, our common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets ratio was 13.4%, and our total capital to risk weighted assets ratio was 17.9%.

Acquisition

Effective April 1, 2024, Busey completed its previously announced acquisition of M&M, pursuant to which Busey acquired M&M and its wholly-owned subsidiary, M&M Bank, through a merger transaction. This partnership adds M&M’s Life Equity Loan® products to Busey’s existing suite of services and expands Busey’s presence in the suburban Chicago market.

Busey will operate M&M Bank as a separate banking subsidiary of Busey until it is merged with Busey Bank, which is expected to occur in June 2024. 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.

For additional information, see “Note 16. Acquisition.”

Busey executed a two-part balance sheet repositioning strategy

During the first quarter of 2024, Busey sold the mortgage servicing rights on approximately $923.5 million of one- to four-family mortgage loans for an estimated pre-tax gain of $7.5 million, which enabled us to sell available-for-sale investment securities with a book value of approximately $108.2 million for a pre-tax loss of $6.8 million with no resulting impact to tangible capital.

At the time of the sale, the securities sold yielded a weighted average rate of 1.98% and had a weighted-average life of 2.3 years. Proceeds from the repositioning were deposited into an interest-bearing account at the Federal Reserve yielding 5.40%. Busey anticipates reinvesting the proceeds into higher yielding organic growth opportunities over time.

The increased net interest spread as a result of the two-part repositioning is expected to increase net interest income by approximately $3.3 million on an annualized basis and improve the net interest margin run rate by 3 basis points. In addition, execution of these transactions further bolsters Busey’s liquidity position and balance sheet flexibility, while also strengthening its capital position.

In combination, the gain generated from the sale of mortgage servicing rights and the loss generated from the sale of securities had an immediate positive impact on consolidated stockholders’ equity and book value per share. Risk-based regulatory capital ratios increased 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.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

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 Busey’s financial performance (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

1. A non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

2. Annualized measure.

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 the acquisition of M&M, which was completed on April 1, 2024.

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

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures, which Busey believes facilitates the assessment of its financial results and peer comparability, is included in tabular form in this Quarterly Report. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

Net Interest Income

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

The following tables show our unaudited consolidated average balance sheets (dollars in thousands), detailing the major categories 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 shown. Average information is provided on a daily average basis.

1. On a tax-equivalent basis and assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

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

3. Interest income includes tax-equivalent adjustments of $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

4. Includes short-term and long-term borrowings. Interest expense includes non-usage fees on a revolving loan.

5. Annualized.

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%. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

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 525 basis points since the onset of the current FOMC tightening cycle that began in the first quarter of 2022, with no further increases during the first quarter of 2024. 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, some of the net interest margin expansion is reversed. As lower yielding securities and loans have continued to mature or renew at higher current market rates, expansion in asset yields has outpaced any remaining lagged pressure on funding costs. Our deposit cost of funds peaked in the beginning of the first quarter of 2024, and we have been able to reduce interest expense by offering lower CD specials as well as applying rate management on higher priced non-maturity deposit products. We have also begun to benefit from recent actions taken to proactively bolster our net interest margin, including completion of targeted balance sheet repositionings in both the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the reversal of the wealth management sweep accounts, and the pay off of the remaining balance on our Term Loan.

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.

The net interest margin discussion above is based upon the results and average balances for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023. 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. For a description of accounting policies underlying the recognition of interest income and expense, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Busey’s 2023 Annual Report.

Noninterest Income

Changes in noninterest income are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

Total noninterest income was $35.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an increase of 9.9% from the comparable period in 2023. Total noninterest income represented 31.6% of total revenue2 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 27.1% for the comparable period in 2023.

Combined, revenues from wealth management fees and payment technology solutions represented 60.7% of Busey’s noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, providing a complement to spread-based revenue from traditional banking activities. On a combined basis, revenue from these two critical operating areas was $21.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 5.7% increase from the comparable period in 2023.

Wealth management fees were $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 5.1% increase from the comparable period in 2023. Busey’s Wealth Management division ended the first quarter of 2024 with $12.8 billion in assets under care, an increase of 13.9% from the comparable period in 2023. 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 was $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 7.4% increase from the comparable period in 2023.

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

Fees for customer services were $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 3.5% increase from the comparable period in 2023.

Mortgage revenue was $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 159.0% increase from the comparable period in 2023, primarily based on sold-loan mortgage volume. General economic conditions and interest rate volatility may impact future fee income. The sale of the mortgage servicing rights completed during the first quarter of 2024 is expected to reduce mortgage revenue by an average of $0.2 million per quarter for the remainder of the year.

Income on bank owned life insurance was $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 14.1% decrease from the comparable period in 2023, as a result of a $0.3 million decrease in earnings on death proceeds and a $0.1 million increase in the cash surrender value of the insurance policies.

A realized gain on the sale of mortgage servicing rights was recognized in connection with our strategic two-part balance sheet repositioning completed during the first quarter of 2024. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Busey executed a two-part balance sheet repositioning strategy.”

Other income was $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 4.5% decrease from the comparable period in 2023. Fluctuations were primarily attributable to increased income recognized on venture capital investments and higher gains on commercial loan sales, offset by lower income on swap origination fees and reductions in gains on fixed asset disposals.

Noninterest Expense

Changes in noninterest expense are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):

1. The efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial GAAP measures, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

Total noninterest expense was $70.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, representing a modest 0.5% increase from the comparable period in 2023. 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 were $42.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 4.4% increase from the comparable period in 2023. Our total associate base consisted of 1,464 full-time equivalents as of March 31, 2024, compared to 1,473 full-time equivalents at March 31, 2023. Current trends continue to reflect a competitive labor market, maintaining pressure on costs related to attracting and maintaining our skilled workforce.

Data processing expense was $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 16.1% increase from the comparable period in 2023. Increases were primarily attributable to Company-wide investments in technology enhancements, as well as inflation-driven price increases.

Combined, net occupancy expense of premises and furniture and equipment expense totaled $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an 0.4% increase from the comparable period in 2023. Primary cost drivers in these expense categories include lease costs, repairs and maintenance, depreciation expense, real estate taxes, and utilities.

Professional fees were $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 9.5% increase from the comparable period in 2023. The three months ended March 31, 2024, includes $0.1 of non-operating costs related to the M&M acquisition.

Amortization of intangible assets was $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an 11.7% decrease from the comparable period for 2023, due to the use of an accelerated amortization methodology.

Interchange expense was $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 13.1% decrease from the comparable period in 2023. Fluctuations in interchange expense relate to payment and volume activity at FirsTech.

FDIC insurance expense was $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 6.8% decrease from the comparable period in 2023.

Other expense was $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a 19.0% decrease from the comparable period in 2023. In connection with Busey’s adoption of ASU 2023-02 on January 1, 2024, Busey began recording amortization of New Markets Tax Credits as income tax expense instead of other expense, which resulted in a $2.2 million decrease in other expense during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Further changes in other expense are attributable to multiple items, including the provision for unfunded commitments, sales of other real estate owned, marketing, and business development expenses.

Efficiency Ratio

The efficiency ratio3, 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 58.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 56.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Our adjusted efficiency ratio3 was 61.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 56.9% for three months ended March 31, 2023.

Taxes

The effective income tax rate of 25.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was 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. The effective tax rate was higher in the first quarter of 2024 compared to previous quarters due to the adoption of ASU 2023-02 in January 2024. We continue to monitor evolving federal and state tax legislation and its potential impact on operations on an ongoing basis. As of March 31, 2024, we were not under income tax examination by any income tax authority.

3 The efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Balance Sheet

Changes in significant items included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) are summarized as follows as of each of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

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.

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. Lending is further classified into five primary areas: commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, real estate construction loans, retail real estate loans, and retail other loans. A description of each of the five primary areas can be found in“Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Portfolio Loans” of Busey’s 2023 Annual Report.

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):

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. This posture will continue to impact loan growth, which we expect to remain modest over the next several quarters.

Concentration of credit risk

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. The following table presents the percentage of total portfolio loans in each loan category and class.

A significant majority of our portfolio lending activity occurs in the Illinois and Missouri markets, with the remainder in the Florida and Indiana markets. Geographic distributions of portfolio loans, based on originations, by loan category and class were as follows (dollars in thousands):

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Commercial real estate loans made up 43.9% of our total loan portfolio as of March 31, 2024, and were 27.6% owner occupied. 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.

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Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses

The ACL is a significant estimate in our unaudited consolidated financial statements, 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. Estimates of credit losses are based on a careful consideration of all significant factors affecting collectability as of the evaluation date. The ACL is established through the provision for credit loss expense charged to income. Provision expenses were recorded as follows for each of the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

The ACL and the ratio of ACL to portfolio loan balances is presented below by loan category and class, as of each of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

As of March 31, 2024, management believed the level of the ACL to be appropriate based upon the information available. However, additional losses may be identified in our loan portfolio as new information is obtained. The ongoing impacts of CECL will be dependent upon changes in economic conditions and forecasts, originated and acquired loan portfolio composition, prepayment speeds, credit performance trends, portfolio duration, and other factors.

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.

The following table sets forth information concerning non-performing loans and performing restructured loans, as of each of the dates indicated (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.

Non-performing loan balances increased to $17.6 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $7.8 million as of December 31, 2023. Non-performing loans represented 0.23% of portfolio loans as of March 31, 2024, compared to 0.10% as of December 31, 2023. Our allowance for credit losses provided 521.63% coverage of non-performing loans at March 31, 2024, compared to 1,173.75% at December 31, 2023. The increase in non-performing loans during the first quarter of 2024 can be substantially attributed to a single commercial credit relationship.

Non-performing assets, which includes non-performing loans, OREO, and other repossessed assets, increased to $17.6 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $7.9 million as of December 31, 2023. Non-performing assets represented 0.15% of total assets as of March 31, 2024, compared to 0.06% as of December 31, 2023. Our allowance for credit losses provided 519.71% coverage of our non-performing assets at March 31, 2024, compared to 1,155.27% at December 31, 2023.

Classified assets, which includes non-performing assets and substandard loans, increased to $105.4 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $72.3 million as of December 31, 2023. Classified assets represented 7.24% of Busey Bank’s Tier 1 capital and ACL at March 31, 2024, compared to 4.97% at December 31, 2023.

Net charge-offs totaled $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in net charge-offs during the first quarter of 2024 was attributable to the single commercial credit relationship mentioned above.

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, 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 increased to $87.8 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $64.3 million as of December 31, 2023. Management continues to monitor these loans and anticipates that restructurings, guarantees, additional collateral, or other planned actions will result in full repayment of the debts. As of March 31, 2024, management identified no other loans that represent or result from trends or uncertainties which would be expected to materially impact future operating results, liquidity, or capital resources.

Deposits

Total deposits decreased by 3.2% to $9.96 billion as of March 31, 2024, compared to $10.29 billion as of December 31, 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, we moved $129.7 million of wealth management client funds that had previously been swept into interest-bearing money market accounts at Busey Bank back to money market investments managed by the Wealth Management division. Remaining decreases in total deposits were attributable to normal seasonal flows in our public fund accounts. The quality of our core deposit4 franchise 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 relationships with customers to maintain and protect our strong core deposit franchise. As of March 31, 2024, our average customer tenure was 16.6 years for retail customers and 12.4 years for commercial customers. Core deposits include non-brokered transaction accounts, money market and savings deposit accounts, and time deposits of $250,000 or less. Core deposits represented 96.7% of total deposits as of March 31, 2024, compared to 96.2% as of December 31, 2023. Our estimated amount of uninsured deposits was $3.63 billion as of March 31, 2024, compared to $3.81 billion as of December 31, 2023.

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 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.

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.

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

Cash and unencumbered securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) are summarized as follows (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, 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 March 31, 2024, 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.

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.

Capital Resources

Our capital ratios are in excess of those required to be considered “well-capitalized” pursuant to applicable regulatory guidelines. The Federal Reserve Board 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 March 31, 2024:

For further discussion of capital resources and requirements, see “Note 7: Regulatory Capital.”

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This Quarterly 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. We believe 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 our performance over time.

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.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures appears below.

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)

1. Annualized measure.

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 rate for each period. The effective tax rate used in this calculation was 25.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

2. Annualized measure.

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.

2. Annualized measure.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)

Adjusted Noninterest Income, 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.

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.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)

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

(dollars in thousands)

91

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this Quarterly Report, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Busey’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of Busey’s management, and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this Quarterly Report, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Busey undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of Busey to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (1) the strength of the local, state, national, and international economy (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints); (2) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, 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); (3) changes in state and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies concerning Busey's general business (including changes in response to the failures of other banks or as a result of the upcoming 2024 presidential election); (4) changes in accounting policies and practices; (5) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of Busey’s assets (including the impact of the significant rate increases by the Federal Reserve since 2022) (6) 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; (7) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (8) the loss of key executives or associates; (9) changes in consumer spending; (10) unexpected results of acquisitions (including the acquisition of M&M); (11) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation, investigations, or inquiries involving Busey (including with respect to Busey’s Illinois franchise taxes); (12) fluctuations in the value of securities held in Busey’s securities portfolio; (13) concentrations within Busey’s loan portfolio, large loans to certain borrowers, and large deposits from certain clients; (14) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (15) the level of non-performing assets on Busey’s balance sheets; (16) interruptions involving information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (17) breaches or failures of information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents; and (18) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and droughts. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

Additional information concerning Busey and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect Busey’s financial results, is included in Busey’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Busey has established various accounting policies that govern the application of GAAP in the preparation of its unaudited consolidated financial statements. Significant accounting policies are described in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” of Busey’s 2023 Annual Report.

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. Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with our Audit Committee. The following accounting policies could be deemed critical:

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 (Unaudited). 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.”

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 within 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 (Unaudited). Accrued and deferred taxes, as reported in other assets or other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited), 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 that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on 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.

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 (Unaudited) 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.

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 March 31, 2024, 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 March 31, 2024, 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 March 31, 2024, 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.