HBT Financial, Inc.: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2024

COMPANY OVERVIEW

HBT Financial, Inc. (the “Company” or "HBT Financial"), a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1982, is a bank holding company headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois that has elected to be regulated as a financial holding company. As of December 31, 2024, we had total assets of $5.0 billion, loans held for investment of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.3 billion. Through our bank subsidiary, Heartland Bank and Trust Company (“Heartland Bank” or the “Bank”), we provide a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa. The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “HBT.”

The roots of our Company can be traced back to 1920 when M.B. Drake, the grandfather of our Executive Chairman, Fred Drake, helped found a community bank in Cornland, Illinois. The Drake family went on to operate several banks throughout central Illinois, and in 1982, George Drake (M.B.'s son and Fred's father) incorporated the Company as one of the first multi-bank holding companies in Illinois. Since that time, we have grown both organically and through the successful integration of more than a dozen community bank acquisitions.

The foundation for our success has been built upon a steadfast commitment to our core operating principles:

• Prioritize safety and soundness. We engage in safe and sound banking practices that preserve the asset quality of our balance sheet and protect our deposit base.
• Maintain strong profitability. We have produced consistently strong earnings even through challenging cycles such as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Continue disciplined growth. We have a strong track record of successful organic and acquisitive growth with our seasoned senior management team.
• Uphold our Midwestern values. We convey the values of the Midwest through hard work and perseverance. We serve our customers attentively; provide development opportunities and rewards for our staff; and generate positive returns for our stockholders.

TOWN AND COUNTRY FINANCIAL CORPORATION ACQUISITION

On February 1, 2023, HBT Financial completed its acquisition of Town and Country Financial Corporation (“Town and Country”), the holding company for Town and Country Bank. The acquisition of Town and Country further enhanced HBT Financial’s footprint in central Illinois and expanded our footprint into metro-east St. Louis. At the time of acquisition, Town and Country Bank operated ten full-service branch locations which began operating as branches of Heartland Bank. The core system conversion was successfully completed in April 2023. After considering business combination accounting adjustments, Town and Country added total assets of $937.2 million, total loans held for investment of $635.4 million, and total deposits of $720.4 million.

Total consideration consisted of 3.4 million shares of HBT Financial’s common stock and $38.0 million in cash. Based upon the closing price of HBT Financial common stock of $21.12 on February 1, 2023, the aggregate consideration was approximately $109.4 million. Goodwill of $30.5 million was recorded in the acquisition.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Our products and services are primarily deposit, lending, and ancillary products that offer a broad range of options to meet the financial needs of consumers, businesses, and municipal entities. We continue to enhance our digital banking suite of products so that all consumer and commercial customers can do their banking at their convenience, through their channels of choice.

Additionally, we provide traditional trust and investment services, farmland management, and farmland sales through our wealth management division.

Lending Products and Services

We offer a broad range of lending products with a focus on regulatory commercial real estate ("CRE"), which includes non-owner occupied CRE, construction and land development (“C&D”) and multi-family; commercial and industrial ("C&I") and owner-occupied CRE; agricultural and farmland; and one-to-four family residential loans. We also provide municipal, consumer and other loans.

We have a strong credit culture that is prudent, favors asset quality first, and balances local lenders' knowledge of their marketplace with a strong centralized credit process. We maintain a well-diversified portfolio of loans and control concentrations related to loan types and specific industries or businesses.

Regulatory CRE

We provide financing for a wide variety of property types including multi-family, retail, warehouse, office, senior living, and hotel/motel. Our C&D portfolio includes both ground up construction projects and renovation projects in addition to some developed and undeveloped land. We focus on borrowers with successful backgrounds in owning, managing, and developing real estate projects.

C&I and Owner-Occupied CRE

We make loans to a wide variety of businesses with no material concentration in any one industry. C&I loans primarily include loans for working capital and equipment needs. Owner-occupied CRE primarily includes amortizing first mortgage loans on properties occupied by our C&I customers. We focus on small and middle market businesses in the communities that we serve.

Agriculture and Farmland

With our roots in rural Illinois communities, we have a long history of financing agriculture production and land. We originate loans to agriculture producers for input costs, equipment, and land. Most of our agriculture loans are to family farms growing corn and soybeans.

One-to-Four Family Residential

These loans include both owner-occupied and non-owner occupied one-to-four family homes and condominiums. They consist of first mortgage amortizing loans, second mortgage amortizing loans, and home equity lines of credit, primarily originated by our lenders through our branch network on properties in the communities that we serve.

Deposit Products and Services

We offer traditional bank deposit account services as well as digital banking services tailored to meet the needs of today's deposit consumers. Our deposit accounts consist of noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposits, HSA, and IRA accounts. Our digital banking services include online banking, mobile banking, digital payments, and personal financial management tools. We also provide small business and commercial checking accounts and related services such as treasury management.

Wealth Management

Our wealth management division provides financial planning to consumers, trusts, and estates; trustee and custodial services; investment management; corporate retirement plan consulting and administration; and retail brokerage services. Further, our agriculture services department operates under our wealth management division and provides farm management services and brokers farmland sales and crop insurance throughout our markets.

Residential Mortgage Origination and Servicing

We originate one-to-four family residential mortgage loans primarily through our mortgage lenders within our branch network. We sell conventional loans to both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and retain the servicing for substantially all those loans. We also originate FHA, VA, and Rural Development loans.

MARKET AREA

As of December 31, 2024, our branch network included 66 full-service branch locations throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa. We hold a leading deposit market share in many of our markets in central Illinois, which we define as a top three deposit share rank, providing the foundation for our strong deposit base. The stability provided by this low-cost funding is a key driver of our strong track record of financial performance. Our long history of providing relationship-based, personal banking services; the successful integration of several strategic in-market acquisitions; and a relatively small presence of money center and super-regional banks in our mid-sized markets has enabled us to maintain meaningful market share in these markets.

We believe our diverse footprint in both urban and rural markets positions us well relative to our competition in terms of access to both high quality, stable funding sources and loan growth opportunities in attractive markets. We consider ourselves to be well positioned to meet the needs of commercial and retail customers through our branch network, our comprehensive suite of banking and wealth management products, and our commitment to building and maintaining customer relationships.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

We intend to pursue the following strategies that we believe will continue to drive growth while maintaining our high levels of asset quality and profitability:

Preserve Strong Ties to our Communities

Our community banking approach stems from our Midwestern values—hard work and perseverance. We attentively serve our customers and provide development opportunities and rewards to our staff. Our senior management team lives and works in the communities we serve, allowing us to deliver banking solutions tailored to our target customers' needs. This dedication strengthens our presence and drives growth in our markets. The quality of our comprehensive suite of products and services coupled with our relationship-based approach to banking contribute meaningfully to our growth and success.

Deploy Excess Deposit Funding into Loan Growth Opportunities

Our strong market share in our core mid-sized markets provides a stable source of attractive funding. We believe our scale in these mid-sized markets and the relative scarcity of money center banking institutions operating in them creates a highly defensible market position whereby we can continue to maintain our funding cost advantage relative to our peers. We believe the Chicago MSA provides significant opportunities for loan growth. Many competitors in this market are money center or super-regional banks, and we believe our responsive, local decision-making provides a competitive advantage over these larger, more bureaucratic institutions. Further, we could benefit from continued market disruption in the Chicago MSA, caused by recent significant bank acquisitions, by acquiring talent and customers experiencing displacement.

Maintain a Prudent Approach to Credit Underwriting

Robust underwriting and pricing standards have been a hallmark of the Company and continue to serve as a central tenet of our banking strategy even as we grow our loan portfolio in newer markets. We intend to prudently deploy our excess funding and liquidity into assets that optimize risk-adjusted returns with minimal losses. Further, we believe our history of maintaining strong asset quality and minimal levels of problem assets even through the global financial crisis confirms the effectiveness of our strong credit underwriting.

Pursue Strategic Acquisitions

Our management team has a history of successfully integrating strategic acquisitions over several decades. We believe this track record positions the Company to be an attractive acquirer for many potential partners. We continue to opportunistically seek acquisitions that are either located within our market footprint, in adjacent markets or provide a new growth opportunity that is strategically and financially compelling and consistent with our culture.

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

Employees

At December 31, 2024, we had 844 full-time equivalent employees. Our employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and we consider our working relationship with our employees to be good. At December 31, 2024, our average tenure was 7.2 years.

Employee Engagement and Retention

We recognize that the fulfillment of our mission requires attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse group of highly qualified employees. To support these objectives, our human resources programs are designed to identify, reward, and recognize excellent performance and loyalty. We utilize regular employee engagement surveys to seek feedback on a variety of topics, including but not limited to, confidence in Company leadership, competitiveness of compensation and benefits, career growth opportunities, corporate culture, and communications. We provide a variety of employee recognition programs and an open, social work environment that encourages employees to be engaged and inclusive.

We understand the importance of offering employees a career path and career development opportunities. By doing so, we are well-positioned to retain our talent, support our communities, and produce needed results. We provide required and self-directed job and career development training to cultivate talent throughout the Company, from entry-level to leadership.

Compensation & Benefits

To attract and retain high-performing, skilled individuals, we offer competitive base pay and benefits. Utilizing various industry specific compensation surveys and member associations, we analyze pay practices for jobs and job families on a regular basis to ensure we remain competitive in the markets we operate and to maintain internal pay equity.

To support the well-being of our employees and their families, we provide access to a variety of flexible and convenient healthcare programs for physical and mental health, long-term and short-term disability, paid time off, and a Company-matched 401(k) plan. In 2025, we also began offering paid parental leave for employees.

COMPETITION

Our profitability and growth are affected by the highly competitive nature of the financial services industry. We compete with community banks in all of our markets and, to a lesser extent, with money center banks, primarily in the Chicago MSA. Additionally, we compete with non-bank financial services companies and other financial institutions operating within the areas we serve.

Our competition for loans comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banking companies, the U.S. Government, credit unions, leasing companies, insurance companies, real estate conduits and other companies that provide financial services to businesses and individuals. Competition for loans remains strong and has resulted in competitive pressures on loan interest rates and terms.

Our most direct competition for deposits has historically come from commercial banks and credit unions. We face increasing competition for deposits from online financial institutions and non-depository competitors such as the mutual fund industry, securities and brokerage firms, and insurance companies. Competition for deposits has increased in recent years and is strong, as excess liquidity at most financial institutions has decreased and the current interest rates are at higher levels compared to the historically low levels experienced in 2020 and 2021.

Financial technology companies are becoming a more direct source of competition to traditional financial institutions as they begin to offer deposit accounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and online lending platforms alongside their core product offerings.

We seek to meet this competition by emphasizing relationship-based service, efficient decision-making tailored to individual needs, and offering robust digital functionality.

We do not rely on any individual, group, or entity for a material portion of our loans or our deposits.

COMPANY WEBSITE

The Company maintains a website at ir.hbtfinancial.com. The contents of this website are not a part of this report. All periodic and current reports of the Company and amendments to these reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) can be accessed, free of charge, through this website and at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) as soon as reasonably practicable after these materials are filed with the SEC.

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

General

FDIC-insured institutions, their holding companies, and their affiliates are extensively regulated under federal and state law. As a result, our growth and earnings performance may be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of federal and state statutes, and by the regulations and policies of various banking agencies, including the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (the “IDFPR”), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), the FDIC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”). Furthermore, taxation laws administered by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and state taxing authorities, accounting rules developed by the FASB, securities laws administered by the SEC and state securities authorities, and anti-money laundering and sanctions laws enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) have an impact on our business. The effect of these statutes, regulations, regulatory policies, and accounting rules are significant to our operations and results.

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

In reaction to the global financial crisis, and particularly following the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), we experienced heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny. Although the reforms primarily targeted large banking organizations and systemically important financial institutions, their influence filtered down in varying degrees to community banking organizations over time and caused our compliance and risk management processes, and the costs thereof, to increase. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (“Regulatory Relief Act”) eliminated questions about the applicability of certain Dodd-Frank Act reforms to community banking systems, including relieving us of any requirement to engage in mandatory stress tests, maintain a risk committee or comply with the Volcker Rule’s complicated prohibitions on proprietary trading and ownership of private funds. These reforms have been favorable to our operations. It is anticipated that the Trump Administration and the current

U.S. Congress likely will not increase the regulatory burden on community banking organizations and may seek to reduce and streamline certain regulatory requirements applicable to these banking organizations at a federal level based on statements made by relevant congressional leaders and the acting leaders of certain federal banking agencies. At this time, however, it is not possible to predict with any certainty the actual impact that the Trump Administration may have on the banking industry or our operations.

The supervisory framework for U.S. banking organizations subjects banks and bank holding companies to regular examination by their respective banking agencies, which results in examination reports and ratings that are not publicly available, and that can impact the conduct and growth of their business. 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 banking 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 approach to supervision adopted by each banking agency may have significant impacts on the operations and results of the Company and the Bank, as well as the banking industry in general. Based on statements made by congressional leaders and the acting leaders of certain federal banking agencies, there may be changes in the supervisory processes and approach made by the Trump Administration banking agencies, but it is not possible at this time to predict the specific changes (or the timing of such changes, if any) that may be made.

The following is a summary of the material elements of the supervisory and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and our subsidiary 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 the particular statutory and regulatory provision.

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, such as banks, as well as their holding companies (i.e., banking organizations) generally are required to hold more capital than other businesses, which directly affects our 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 agencies recognized that the amount and quality of capital held by banking organizations prior to that crisis was insufficient to absorb losses during periods of severe stress.

Capital Levels

Banking organizations have been required to hold minimum levels of capital based on guidelines established by the federal banking agencies since 1983. The minimum capital levels for banking organizations have been expressed in terms of ratios of “capital” divided by “total assets.” The capital guidelines for U.S. banking organizations beginning in 1989 have been based upon international capital accords (known as the “Basel” accords) 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. federal banking 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 in 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 an agreement on a strengthened set of capital requirements for banking organizations around the world, known as the Basel III accords, to address deficiencies recognized in connection with the global financial crisis.

The Basel III Rule

The U.S. banking agencies adopted the U.S. Basel III regulatory capital reforms, and, at the same time, effected changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act, in regulations that were effective (with certain phase-ins) in 2015 (the “Basel III Rule”). 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 national and state banks and savings and loan associations, as well as to most bank and savings and loan holding companies. The Company and the Bank are both subject to the Basel III Rule.

The Basel III Rule 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 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 it required deductions from Common Equity Tier 1 Capital if such assets exceeded a percentage of a banking organization's Common Equity Tier 1 Capital.

The Basel III Rule requires banking organizations to maintain minimum capital ratios as follows:

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

In addition, banking organizations 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 organizations 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.

In July 2023, the Biden Administration federal banking agencies had proposed wide-ranging and significant changes to the Basel III Rule (the "Basel III Endgame Proposal"), which would have, among other requirements, imposed structural changes to the calculation of capital requirements and risk-weighted assets in an effort to finish the implementation of the Basel III accords. The Basel III Endgame Proposal would generally have impacted the capital requirements applicable to banking organizations with $100 billion or more in total assets, and, as a general matter, would not have had a significant impact on the Company or the Bank. The Basel III Endgame Proposal has not been, and is not expected to be, adopted in a form substantially similar to the initial Basel III Endgame Proposal. The Trump Administration federal banking agencies may issue their own version of this proposal.

Well-Capitalized Requirements

The capital ratios described above are minimum standards for banking organizations to be considered “adequately capitalized.” Banking agencies uniformly encourage banking organizations 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: (i) qualify for exemptions from prior notice or application requirements otherwise applicable to certain types of activities; (ii) qualify for expedited processing of other required notices or applications; and (iii) 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, or 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 Federal Reserve, in order to be well capitalized, a banking organization must maintain:

• A ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital 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 more.

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, 2024: (i) the Bank was not subject to a directive from the FDIC or the IDFPR to increase its capital; and (ii) the Bank was well-capitalized, as defined by FDIC regulations. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had regulatory capital in excess of the Federal Reserve’s requirements and met the Basel III Rule requirements to be well-capitalized. The Company also is in compliance with the capital conservation buffer.

Prompt Corrective Action

The concept of a banking organization being “well-capitalized” is part of a regulatory enforcement regime that provides the federal banking agencies 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 banking agencies' powers depends on whether the banking organization in question is “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized,” in each case as defined by regulation. Depending on the capital category to which a banking organization is assigned, the banking agencies' corrective powers include: (i) requiring the institution to submit a capital restoration plan; (ii) limiting the institution’s asset growth and restricting its activities; (iii) requiring the institution to issue additional capital stock (including additional voting stock) or to sell itself; (iv) restricting transactions between the institution and its affiliates; (v) restricting the interest rate that the institution may pay on deposits; (vi) ordering a new election of directors of the institution; (vii) requiring that senior executive officers or directors be dismissed; (viii) prohibiting the institution from accepting deposits from correspondent banks; (ix) requiring the institution to divest certain subsidiaries; (x) prohibiting the payment of principal or interest on subordinated debt; and (xi) ultimately, appointing a receiver for the institution.

Community Bank Capital Simplification

Community banking organizations have long raised concerns with the federal banking agencies about the regulatory burden, complexity, and costs associated with certain provisions of the Basel III Rule. In response, the U.S. Congress provided an “off-ramp” for institutions, like the Company, with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion as part of the Regulatory Relief Act. Section 201 of the Regulatory Relief Act specifically instructed the federal banking agencies to establish a single “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (“CBLR”) of between 8 and 10%. Under the final rule, a community banking organization is eligible to elect to comply with its capital requirements under the CBLR framework if it has (i) less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, (ii) limited amounts of certain assets and off-balance sheet exposures, and (iii) a CBLR greater than 9%. The Company may elect the CBLR framework at any time, but has not currently determined to do so.

Supervision and Regulation of the Company

General

As the sole shareholder of the Bank, we are a bank holding company. As a bank holding company, we are registered with, and are subject to regulation supervision and enforcement by, the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). We are legally obligated to act as a source of financial strength to the Bank, and to commit resources to support the Bank in circumstances where we might not otherwise do so. Under the BHCA, we are subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve. We are required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports of our operations, and such additional information regarding us and our subsidiaries 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 United States. 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 “—The Role of Capital” above.

The BHCA generally prohibits us from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of 5% or more of a class 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 the Company 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, the operation of a computer service bureau (including software development), and mortgage banking and brokerage services. The BHCA does not place territorial restrictions on the domestic activities of nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding companies. In addition to approval from the Federal Reserve that may be required in certain circumstances, prior approval for acquisitions made by the Company may be required from other agencies, such as the IDFPR or other agencies that regulate the target company of an acquisition.

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. The Company has elected to operate as a financial holding company. To maintain its status as a financial holding company, the Company and the Bank must be well-capitalized, well-managed, and the Bank must have a least a satisfactory Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") rating. If the Federal Reserve determines that a financial holding company is not well-capitalized or well-managed, the Federal Reserve will provide 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 that it deems 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 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 banking agency. “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 “—The Role of Capital” above.

Dividend Payments

The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders may be affected by both general corporate law considerations and the policies and capital requirements of the Federal Reserve applicable to bank holding companies. As a Delaware corporation, the Company is subject to the limitations of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), which allow the Company to pay dividends only out of its surplus (as defined and computed in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL) or if the Company has no such surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year.

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 shareholders if: (i) the company’s net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (ii) the prospective rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall current and prospective financial condition; or (iii) 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, banking organizations that want to pay unrestricted dividends have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer. See “—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 federal banking agencies and the U.S. 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 for banking organizations.

The interagency guidance recognized three core principles. Effective incentive plans should: (i) provide employees incentives that appropriately balance risk and reward; (ii) be compatible with effective controls and risk-management; and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors. Much of the guidance is directed at large banking organizations and, because of the size and complexity of their operations, the federal banking agencies 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 that use incentive compensation arrangements, like us, are expected to implement less extensive, formalized, and detailed policies, procedures, and systems than those of larger banks.

In May 2024, certain of the federal banking and other financial services agencies released a proposed rule regarding certain incentive-based compensation arrangements at certain financial institutions with at least $1 billion in assets, as required under Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Act. This proposal was largely based on an earlier 2016 proposal. The Federal Reserve and the SEC, however, did not join this proposal and it was not published in the Federal Register, signaling potential interagency misalignment. In March 2025, the FDIC withdrew its support for this proposed rule, making it unlikely that any rule in a substantially similar form will be finalized.

Monetary Policy

The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. 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 means 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, which may impact the Company's business and operations and that of its subsidiary bank.

Federal Securities Regulation

The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Consequently, the Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading, and other restrictions and requirements of the SEC under the Exchange Act.

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. The Dodd-Frank Act increased shareholder influence over boards of directors by requiring companies to give shareholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation and so-called “golden parachute” payments, and authorizing the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow shareholders to nominate and solicit voters for their own candidates using a company’s proxy materials. The Dodd-Frank Act also directed the Federal Reserve, together with the other federal banking and financial services agencies, 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 the Bank

General

The Bank is an Illinois-chartered bank. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (“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, the Bank is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting, and enforcement requirements of the IDFPR, the chartering authority for Illinois banks. Because the Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, it is subject to the examination, supervision, reporting, and enforcement requirements of the FDIC, as the Bank’s primary federal regulator.

Deposit Insurance

As an FDIC-insured institution, the 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 the Bank that are not considered large and highly complex banking organizations, the risk-based assessment is now based on examination ratings and financial ratios. The total base assessment rates, effective as of January 1, 2023, currently range from 2.5 basis points to 32 basis points.

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 rulemaking. 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 its October 2024 semiannual update, the FDIC stated that the reserve ratio likely will reach the statutory minimum by the September 30, 2028 deadline, and no adjustments to the base assessment rates is currently projected.

In addition, because the total cost of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank to the DIF was approximately $24.1 billion, the FDIC adopted a special assessment applicable to banking organizations with assets of $5 billion or more, at an annual rate of 13.4 basis points beginning with the first quarterly assessment period of 2024. The FDIC 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. The Bank had less than $5 billion of uninsured deposits as of December 31, 2022 and therefore does not have to pay the special assessment.

Supervisory Assessments

All Illinois-chartered banks are required to pay supervisory assessments to the IDFPR to fund the operations of that agency. The amount of the assessment is calculated on the basis of the Bank’s total assets. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Bank paid supervisory assessments to the IDFPR totaling $0.4 million.

Capital Requirements

Banks are generally required to maintain capital levels in excess of other businesses. For a discussion of capital requirements, see “—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. These events have further underscored the importance of liquidity risk management and contingency funding planning by insured depository institutions like the Bank, as highlighted in a 2023 addendum to existing interagency guidance on funding and liquidity risk management.

The primary role of liquidity risk management is to: (i) prospectively assess the need for funds to meet obligations; and (ii) 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. The Basel III Rule 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, or LCR, is designed to ensure that the banking organization 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, or NSFR, is designed to promote more intermediate 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 bank 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 apply to the Bank, we continue to review our liquidity risk management policies in light of regulatory requirements and industry developments. For instance, in July 2024, the FDIC released a request for information on deposits, soliciting information on whether and to what extent certain types of deposits may behave differently from each other (particularly during periods of economic or financial stress), the results of which may impact liquidity monitoring and risk management requirements, including for FDIC-insured institutions, like the Bank, going forward.

Dividend Payments

Our primary source of funds is dividends from the Bank. Under Illinois banking law, Illinois-chartered banks generally may pay dividends only out of undivided profits. The IDFPR may restrict the declaration or payment of a dividend by an Illinois-chartered bank, such as the Bank. Moreover, 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 an FDIC-insured institution generally is prohibited from paying any dividends if, following payment thereof, the institution would be undercapitalized. As described above, the Bank exceeded its capital requirements under applicable guidelines as of December 31, 2024. Notwithstanding the availability of funds for dividends, however, the FDIC and the IDFPR may prohibit the payment of dividends by the Bank if either or both determine that such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. In addition, under the Basel III Rule, banking organizations that want to pay unrestricted dividends have to maintain 2.5% in Common Equity Tier 1 Capital attributable to the capital conservation buffer. See “—The Role of Capital” above.

State Bank Investments, Activities and Acquisitions

The 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 the Bank.

The Bank may be required to seek approval from the IDFPR, the FDIC and other banking or financial services agencies before engaging in certain acquisitions or mergers under applicable state and federal law. In 2024, each of the OCC and the FDIC separately released updated policy statements—and in the case of the OCC, a final rule—regarding how each banking agency reviews applications submitted pursuant to the Bank Merger Act based on statutory factors. In March 2025, the FDIC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to repeal its 2024 policy statement and reinstate its prior policy statement on bank mergers, while it considers wider changes to its bank merger review practices.

Insider Transactions

The Bank is subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on “covered transactions” between the Bank and its “affiliates.” We are an affiliate of the Bank for purposes of these restrictions, and covered transactions subject to the restrictions include extensions of credit to us, investments in our stock or other securities, and the acceptance of our stock and other securities as collateral for loans made by the 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 also are placed on extensions of credit by the Bank to its directors and officers, to directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, to principal shareholders of the Company, and to “related interests” of such directors, officers and principal shareholders under state and/or federal law. In addition, federal law and regulations may affect the terms on which any person who is a director or officer of the Company or the Bank, or a principal shareholder of the Company, may obtain credit from banks with which the Bank maintains a correspondent relationship.

Safety and Soundness Standards/Risk Management

The 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. Although 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 banking agency is required to issue an order directing the institution to cure the deficiency. Until the deficiency cited in the banking agency's order is cured, the agency may restrict the FDIC-insured institution’s rate of growth, require the FDIC-insured institution to increase its capital, restrict the rates that the institution pays on deposits, or require the institution to take any action that the agency deems appropriate under the circumstances. Noncompliance with safety and soundness also may constitute grounds for other enforcement action by the federal banking agencies, including cease and desist orders and civil money penalty assessments.

During the past decade, the banking agencies have increasingly emphasized the importance of sound risk management processes and strong internal controls when evaluating the activities of the FDIC-insured institutions that they supervise. Properly managing risks has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities and has become even more important as new technologies, new third-party relationships, 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 organization including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risk. The 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. The federal banking agencies also have released specific risk management guidance on certain topics, including third-party relationships, in response to the proliferation of relationships between banking organizations and financial technology companies (although the guidance applies more broadly).

Privacy and Cybersecurity

The Bank is subject to many U.S. federal and state laws and regulations governing requirements for maintaining policies and procedures to protect non-public personal and confidential information of their customers. These laws require the 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 the 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, the 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 are in effect across all businesses and geographic locations.

Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity require financial institutions to design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing internet-based services of the financial institution. Bank management is expected to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure the rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution's operations after a cyber-attack involving destructive malware. The Bank and the Company also are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations requiring notifications and disclosures regarding certain cybersecurity incidents.

Branching Authority

Illinois banks, such as the 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.

In addition, federal law permits state and national banks to merge with banks in other states subject to: (i) regulatory approval; (ii) federal and state deposit concentration limits; and (iii) 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 Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA") requires the 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. The FDIC regularly assesses the Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its communities in dedicated examinations. The Bank's CRA rating derived from these examinations can have significant impacts on the activities in which the Bank and Company may engage. For example, a low CRA rating may impact the review of applications by the Bank or the Company's financial holding company status. On October 24, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued a final rule to strengthen and modernize the CRA regulations (the “CRA Rule”). Elements of this rule were supposed to become effective on April 1, 2024 (while other elements had much later effective dates). However, the effective date of the CRA Rule was paused because of an order issued as part of ongoing litigation claiming that the federal banking agencies exceeded their statutory authority in promulgating the CRA Rule. Despite the lawsuit, management of the Bank is continuing to assess the impact of the CRA Rule on its CRA lending and investment activities in its respective markets.

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 federal banking agencies described the goals of the CRA Rule as follows: (i) to expand access to credit, investment, and basic banking services in low and moderate income communities; (ii) 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; (iii) to provide greater clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of the regulations through the use of standardized metrics as part of CRA evaluation and clarifying eligible CRA activities focused on low and moderate income communities and underserved rural communities; (iv) to tailor CRA rules and data collection to bank size and business model; and (v) to maintain a unified approach among the banking agencies.

In 2022, the Bank, like all Illinois chartered banks, became subject to state level CRA standards, following passage of the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act (the “Illinois CRA”). This means that, in addition to the federal CRA review, the Bank will be reviewed by the IDFPR to assess the 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 the Bank’s effectiveness in meeting its Illinois CRA requirements.

Anti-Money Laundering/Sanctions

The Bank Secrecy Act ( “BSA”) 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. They 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 (“AML/CFT”) regime under the BSA 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: (i) customer identification programs; (ii) money laundering; (iii) terrorist financing; (iv) identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions; (v) currency crimes; and (vi) cooperation between FDIC-insured institutions and law enforcement authorities. The Bank must also comply with stringent economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Federal Home Loan Bank Membership

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) System, an organization created under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 to serve as a central credit facility for its members through eleven U.S. government-sponsored banks, including the FHLB of Chicago. The FHLB of Chicago makes loans to member banks in the form of advances, all of which are required to be fully collateralized, as determined by the FHLB of Chicago. In the event that a member financial institution fails, the right of the FHLB of Chicago to seek repayment of funds loaned to that institution will take priority (a super lien) over the rights of all other creditors. To qualify for membership in the FHLB System, and to be eligible to borrow funds from such Federal Home Loan Bank under the FHLB System’s advance program, the Bank is required to hold a certain amount of common stock in one of the Federal Home Loan Banks. There is no secondary market for the FHLB of Chicago’s common stock, but additional purchases from, or repurchases by, the FHLB of Chicago may occur under prescribed circumstances. Specifically, the board of directors of the FHLB of Chicago can increase the minimum investment requirements in the event it has concluded that additional capital is required to allow it to meet its own regulatory capital requirements. Any increase in the minimum investment requirements outside of specified ranges requires the approval of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Because the extent of any obligation to increase the level of investment in the FHLB of Chicago depends entirely upon the occurrence of future events, we are unable to determine the extent of future required potential payments to the FHLB of Chicago at this time.

Residential Mortgage Lending

As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB issued a series of final rules in January 2013 amending Regulation Z, implementing the Truth in Lending Act, which requires mortgage lenders to make a reasonable and good faith determination, based on verified and documented information, that a consumer applying for a residential mortgage loan has a reasonable ability to repay the loan according to its terms. These final rules prohibit creditors from extending residential mortgage loans without regard for the consumer’s ability to repay and add restrictions and requirements to residential mortgage origination and servicing practices. In addition, these rules restrict the imposition of prepayment penalties and restrict compensation practices relating to residential mortgage loan origination. Mortgage lenders are required to determine consumers’ ability-to-repay in one of two ways. The first alternative requires the mortgage lender to consider eight underwriting factors when making the credit decision. Alternatively, the mortgage lender can originate “qualified mortgages,” which are entitled to a presumption that the creditor making the loan satisfied the ability-to-repay requirements. In general, a qualified mortgage is a residential mortgage loan that does not have certain high-risk features, such as negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, or a term exceeding 30 years. In addition, to be a qualified mortgage, the points and fees paid by a consumer cannot exceed 3% of the total loan amount, and the borrower’s total debt-to-income ratio must be no higher than 43% (subject to certain limited exceptions for loans eligible for purchase, guarantee or insurance by a government sponsored enterprise or a federal agency).

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, which has been subject to additional scrutiny by federal banking agencies as well as the SEC (for publicly-traded banking organizations) in recent years. The Interagency Concentrations in CRE Lending, Sound Risk Management Practices guidance (“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: (i) CRE loans exceeding 300% of capital and increasing 50% or more in the preceding three years, or (ii) 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, and again in recent years, the federal banking agencies issued statements 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. The federal banking agencies have 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. On December 18, 2023, the FDIC issued a statement to reemphasize the importance of strong capital, appropriate credit loss allowance levels, and robust credit risk-management practices for institutions with CRE concentrations. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank did not exceed these guidelines.

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 the 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. FDIC-insured institutions with $10 billion or less in assets, like the Bank, continue to be examined by their applicable primary federal regulators.

Because abuses in connection with residential mortgages were a significant factor contributing to the global financial crisis, many rules issued by the CFPB, as 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 one-to-four family residential real property and augmented federal law combating predatory lending practices. In addition to numerous disclosure requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act and the CFPB’s enabling rules 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.”

Over the last several years, the CFPB has taken an aggressive approach to the regulation (and supervision, where applicable) of providers of consumer financial products and services. Given the increased number and expansive nature of its regulatory initiatives, the CFPB has been subject to lawsuits brought by the banking industry and other providers of consumer financial products and services. The CFPB’s approach will likely change under the Trump Administration, but it remains unclear exactly what changes will occur or how quickly. In addition, certain rules that the Biden Administration CFPB finalized, such as rules relating to overdraft fees and reporting requirements for small business lending, may be subject to reversal by either the U.S. Congress or the new CFPB administration.

The CFPB’s rules have not had a significant impact on the Bank’s operations, except for higher compliance costs.

The Bank must also comply with certain state consumer protection laws and requirements in the states in which it operates.

The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. You should carefully consider these risks, together with all of the information included herein. Any of the following risks, as well as risks that we do not know or currently deem immaterial, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

SUMMARY

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CREDIT RISKS

We may not be able to adequately measure and limit our credit risk, which could lead to unexpected losses.

Our business depends on our ability to successfully measure and manage credit risk. As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that the principal of, or interest on, a loan will not be repaid timely or at all or that the value of any collateral supporting a loan will be insufficient to cover our outstanding exposure. In addition, we are exposed to risks with respect to the period of time over which the loan may be repaid, risks relating to proper loan underwriting, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions, and risks inherent in dealing with individual loans and borrowers. The creditworthiness of a borrower is affected by many factors including local market conditions and general economic conditions. If the overall economic climate in the U.S. generally, or our market areas specifically, experience a material disruption, our borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans, the collateral we hold may decrease in value or become illiquid, and the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs and delinquencies could rise and require significant additional provisions for credit losses.

Our risk management practices, such as monitoring the concentration of our loans within specific industries and our credit approval, review and administrative practices may not adequately reduce credit risk, and our credit administration personnel, policies and procedures may not adequately adapt to changes in economic or any other conditions affecting customers and the quality of the loan portfolio. Moreover, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, such as fraud, or difficult to predict, such as the impact of catastrophic events on certain industries. A failure to effectively measure and limit the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio may result in loan defaults, foreclosures and additional charge-offs, and may necessitate that we significantly increase our allowance for credit losses, each of which could adversely affect our net income. As a result, our inability to successfully manage credit risk could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The small to mid-sized businesses to which we lend may have fewer resources to weather adverse business developments, which may impair a borrower’s ability to repay a loan, and such impairment could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We target our business development and marketing strategy primarily to serve the banking and financial services needs of small to mid-sized businesses. These businesses generally have fewer financial resources in terms of capital or borrowing capacity than larger entities, may have less access to capital sources and loan facilities, frequently have smaller market shares than their competition, may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, often need substantial additional capital to expand or compete, and may experience substantial volatility in operating results, any of which may impair a borrower’s ability to repay a loan. In addition, the success of a small or mid-sized business often depends on the management talents and efforts of one person or a small group of people, and the death, disability or resignation of one or more of these people could have a material adverse impact on the business and its ability to repay its loan. If general economic conditions negatively impact the markets in which we operate or any of our borrowers otherwise are affected by adverse business developments, our small to mid-sized borrowers may be disproportionately affected and their ability to repay outstanding loans may be negatively affected, resulting in an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, and in evaluating and monitoring our loan portfolio on an ongoing basis, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers or counterparties or of other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate, incomplete, fraudulent or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial or business information, or the failure to receive such information on a timely basis, could result in credit losses, reputational damage or other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The appraisals and other valuation techniques we use in evaluating and monitoring loans secured by real property, foreclosed real estate and other repossessed assets may not accurately describe the fair value of the asset.

In considering whether to make a loan secured by real property, we generally require an appraisal of the property. However, an appraisal is only an estimate of the value of the property at the time the appraisal is made, and real estate values may change significantly in relatively short periods of time (especially in periods of heightened economic uncertainty). Therefore, this estimate may not accurately describe the fair value of the real property collateral after the loan is made. As a result, we may not be able to realize the full amount of any remaining indebtedness when we foreclose on and sell the relevant property.

We also rely on appraisals and other valuation techniques to establish the value of real estate and personal property that we acquire through foreclosure proceedings and to determine certain loan impairments. If any of these valuations are inaccurate, our consolidated financial statements may not reflect the correct value of our foreclosed assets, and our allowance for credit losses may not be accurate. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is, and is expected to be, secured by real property and during the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In addition, we own the vast majority of our branch properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found on our foreclosed or branch properties, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The majority of our loan portfolio consists of commercial and commercial real estate loans, which may have a higher degree of risk than some other types of loans.

Commercial and commercial real estate loans, including multi-family loans, are often larger and may involve greater risks than some other types of lending. Because payments on such loans are often dependent on the successful operation or development of the property or business involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the general business climate and economy. Accordingly, a downturn in the real estate market or a challenging business and economic environment, including those which disproportionately affect a class of borrower, may increase our risk associated with our loan portfolio. Unlike residential mortgage loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrowers’ ability to make repayment from their employment and other income and which are secured by real property whose value tends to be more easily ascertainable, commercial loans typically are made on the basis of the borrowers’ ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the commercial venture. Economic events, including decreases in office occupancy following the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the shift to remote and hybrid work environments, or governmental regulations outside of our control or the control of the borrower could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties. Our commercial operating loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the collateral underlying the loans. Most often, this collateral consists of accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Inventory and equipment may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. If the cash flow from business operations is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Due to the larger average size of each commercial loan as compared with other loans such as residential loans, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial or commercial real estate loans could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

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

Real estate construction lending involves 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. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs and the realizable market value of the completed project and the effects of governmental regulation of 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 borrower to sell or lease the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If our appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated or market values or rental rates decline, we may have inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project. If we are forced to foreclose on a project prior to or at completion due to a default, we may not 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, we 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 we attempt to dispose of it.

We provide loans and services to the agriculture industry and the health of this industry is impacted by factors outside our control and the control of our customers.

Our loan portfolio includes loans to agricultural producers and loans secured by farmland. In addition, our commercial loan portfolio includes loans to farm implement dealerships, grain elevators and other businesses that provide products and services to agricultural producers. The success of our agricultural loans, and commercial loans serving the agriculture industry, may be adversely affected by many factors outside the control of the borrower, including:

• adverse weather conditions, adverse impacts of climate change, restrictions on water supply or other conditions that prevent the planting of a crop or limit crop yields, or that affect crop harvesting;
• loss of crops or livestock due to disease or other factors;
• declines in the market prices or demand for agricultural products (both domestically and internationally), for any reason;
• increases in production costs (such as the costs of labor, rent, feed, fuel and fertilizer);
• adverse changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, agricultural land values or other factors that may affect delinquency levels and credit losses on agricultural loans;
• the impact of government policies and regulations (including changes in price supports, subsidies, government-sponsored crop insurance, minimum ethanol content requirements for gasoline, tariffs, trade barriers and health and environmental regulations);
• access to technology and the successful implementation of production technologies; and
• changes in the general economy that could affect the availability of off-farm sources of income and prices of real estate for borrowers.

Although we attempt to account for the possibility of such factors in underwriting, structuring and monitoring our agriculture loans, there is no guarantee that our efforts will be successful. As a result, we may experience increased delinquencies or defaults in this portfolio or be required to increase our provision for credit losses, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, we provide farm management advice, engage in farmland sale services, and arrange for crop insurance as part of our wealth management services. Decreases in commodity prices or lower crop yields may result in a decrease in wealth management fees collected for our agricultural services.

INTEREST RATE RISKS

Fluctuations in interest rates may reduce net interest income and otherwise negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

The majority of our banking assets are monetary in nature and are subject to risk from changes in interest rates. Like most financial institutions, our earnings and cash flows depend to a great extent upon the level of our net interest income. Changes in interest rates can increase or decrease our net interest income because different types of assets and liabilities may react differently, and at different times, to market interest rate changes. When interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice more quickly, or to a greater degree than interest-earning assets in a period, an increase in interest rates could reduce net interest income. Similarly, when interest-earning assets mature or reprice more quickly, or to a greater degree than interest-bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could reduce net interest income.

Additionally, an increase in interest rates may, among other things, reduce the demand for loans, increase the cost of deposit and wholesale funding, reduce our ability to originate loans and decrease prepayments on our loan and securities portfolio. Conversely, a decrease in the general level of interest rates may, among other things, decrease our net interest margin and increase prepayments on our loan and securities portfolios. Although our asset-liability management strategy is designed to control and mitigate exposure to the risks related to changes in market interest rates, those rates are affected by many factors outside of our control, including governmental monetary policies, inflation, deflation, recession, changes in unemployment, the money supply, international disorder and instability in domestic and foreign financial markets.

We may seek to mitigate our interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swaps and other interest rate derivative contracts from time to time with counterparties. Our hedging strategies rely on assumptions and projections regarding interest rates, asset levels and general market factors and subject us to counterparty risk. There is no assurance that our interest rate mitigation strategies will be successful and if our assumptions and projections prove to be incorrect or our hedging strategies do not adequately mitigate the impact of changes in interest rates, we may incur losses that could adversely affect our earnings.

The value of the financial instruments we own may decline in the future.

An increase in market interest rates may affect the fair value of our securities portfolio, potentially reducing accumulated other comprehensive income or earnings. The fair value of these investments may also be affected by factors other than the underlying performance of the issuer of the securities or the mortgages underlying the securities, such as negative trends in the residential and commercial real estate markets, ratings downgrades, adverse changes in the business climate and a lack of liquidity for certain investment securities. In addition, we may sell securities in our available-for-sale investment securities portfolio, and any such sale could cause us to realize currently unrealized losses that resulted from increases in the prevailing interest rates.

Additionally, an increase in market interest rates may reduce the value of our loan portfolio, although, in accordance with GAAP, such a decline in value may not be reflected in the carrying balance of our loans in the same manner as our debt securities available-for-sale.

Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve have a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.

An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market purchases and sales of U.S. government securities, adjustments to the federal funds target rate, and changes in banks’ reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

Beginning in March 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve (the "FOMC") made a series of significant increases to the federal funds target range as part of an effort to combat elevated levels of inflation affecting the U.S. economy. While the significant increase in prevailing interest rates increased our net interest income, it also led to increased losses in our available-for-sale debt securities portfolio. Since 2022, the magnitude of our net unrealized losses on debt securities available-for-sale have partially reversed and were $59.4 million as of December 31, 2024.

It is currently expected that during 2025, and perhaps beyond, the FOMC may decrease interest rates. In September 2024, the FOMC began lowering interest rates with the target range for the federal funds rate decreasing by 100 basis points to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% by the end of 2024. The decrease was expressly made in response to inflation moderating and the labor market weakening. Any future change in monetary policy by the FOMC, in an effort to stimulate the economy or otherwise, resulting in lower interest rates would likely result in lower revenue through lower net interest income over time, which could adversely affect our results of operations. These effects from interest rate changes or from other sustained economic stress or a recession, among other matters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.

Given the complex factors affecting the strength of the U.S. economy, including uncertainties regarding the persistence of inflation; record-high U.S. credit card debt; the implementation of policies proposed by the new presidential administration; and geopolitical developments, such as future terrorist attacks and threats, widespread disease or pandemics, and acts of war including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, there is a meaningful risk that the Federal Reserve and other central banks may maintain interest rates at elevated levels, which may negatively impact the entire national economy. This could decrease loan demand, harm the credit characteristics of our existing loan portfolio and decrease the value of collateral securing loans in the portfolio.

LIQUIDITY RISKS

Liquidity risks could affect operations and jeopardize our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and/or investment securities and from other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our most important source of funds consists of our customer deposits. Such deposit balances can decrease when customers perceive alternative investments, such as the stock market, as providing a better risk/return trade-off. If customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments, we could lose a relatively low-cost source of funds, which could require us to seek wholesale funding alternatives in order to continue to grow, thereby increasing our funding costs and reducing our net interest income and net income.

In addition to our deposit base, our liquidity is provided by cash from operations and investment maturities, redemptions and sales as well as cash flow from loan prepayments and maturing loans that are not renewed. When needed, additional liquidity may be available by borrowing from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago or the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (the "FHLB"), through federal funds lines with our correspondent banks, and through other wholesale funding sources including brokered deposits. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities or on terms that are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us 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 other banks and FinTechs for retail deposits may impact our ability to raise funds through deposits and could have a negative effect on our liquidity. For example, as customer deposit levels have decreased over the past two years, we have observed that the sensitivity of market deposit rates to changes in prevailing interest rates has increased.

Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to continue to implement our business plan, including originating loans, investing in securities, meeting our expenses or fulfilling obligations such as repaying our borrowings and meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.

We may need to raise additional capital, in the form of debt or equity securities, in the future to have sufficient capital resources to meet our commitments and our regulatory requirements, and to fund our business needs and future growth, particularly if the quality of our assets or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, and our financial condition. We may not be able to obtain capital on acceptable terms or at all. Any occurrence that may limit our access to capital, such as a decline in the confidence of debt purchasers, depositors of the Bank or counterparties participating in the capital markets or other disruption in capital markets, may adversely affect our capital costs and our ability to raise capital and, in turn, our liquidity. Further, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may have to do so when many other financial institutions are also seeking to raise capital and would then have to compete with those institutions for investors. In particular, if we were 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. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may be adversely affected by changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial institutions.

Financial institutions are interconnected as a result of trading, investment, liquidity management, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. Concerns about, or a failure of, one institution could lead to significant liquidity problems and losses or defaults by other institutions, as the commercial and financial soundness of many financial institutions is closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and other relationships. Even the perceived lack of creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by various institutions. This systemic risk may adversely affect financial intermediaries with which we interact on a daily basis or key funding providers such as the FHLB, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our access to liquidity or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Loss of customer deposits could increase our funding costs.

We rely on deposits as a low cost and stable source of funding. We compete with banks and other financial services companies for deposits. If our competitors raise the rates they pay on deposits, our funding costs may increase, either because we raise our rates to avoid losing deposits or because we lose deposits and must rely on more expensive sources of funding. Higher funding costs could reduce our net interest margin and net interest income and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY RISKS

The occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

As a financial institution, we are susceptible to fraudulent activity, information security breaches and cybersecurity-related incidents that may be committed against us or our customers, which may result in financial losses or increased costs to us or our clients, disclosure or misuse of our information or our client information, misappropriation of assets, privacy breaches against our customers, litigation or damage to our reputation. Such fraudulent activity may take many forms, including check fraud, electronic fraud, wire fraud, phishing, social engineering and other dishonest acts. Information security breaches and cybersecurity-related incidents may include fraudulent or unauthorized access to systems used by us or our customers, denial or degradation of service attacks, and malware or other cyber-attacks. There continues to be a rise in electronic fraudulent activity, security breaches and cyber-attacks within the financial services industry, including as a result of increasingly sophisticated methods of conducting cyber-attacks, including those employing artificial intelligence. Moreover, several large corporations, including financial institutions and retail companies, have suffered major data breaches, in some cases exposing not only confidential and proprietary corporate information, but also sensitive financial and other personal information of their customers and employees and subjecting them to potential fraudulent activity. Some of our customers may have been affected by these breaches, which could increase their risks of identity theft and other fraudulent activity that could involve their accounts with us.

We also face risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with debit card and credit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding our customers through various third parties, including retailers and payment processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that we do not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could affect us through no fault of our own. In some cases, we may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them, including costs to replace compromised debit and credit cards and to address fraudulent transactions.

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems of third parties, and any systems failures, interruptions or data breaches involving these systems could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

Our business is highly dependent on the secure and uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunications systems, third-party servicers, accounting systems, digital banking platforms and financial intermediaries. We outsource to third parties many of our major systems, such as digital banking and card processing systems. The failure of these systems, or the termination of a third-party software license or service agreement on which any of these systems is based, could interrupt our operations. Because our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to process loans or gather deposits and provide customer service, compromise our ability to operate effectively, result in potential noncompliance with applicable laws or regulations, damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business and/or subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, failure of third parties to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or fraud or misconduct on the part of employees of any of these third parties, could disrupt our operations or adversely affect our reputation.

It may also be difficult for us to replace some of our third-party vendors, particularly vendors providing our core banking and card processing services, in a timely manner if they are unwilling or unable to provide us with these services in the future for any reason and even if we are able to replace them, it may be at higher cost or result in the loss of customers. Any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our operations rely heavily on the secure processing, storage and transmission of information and the monitoring of a large number of transactions on a minute-by-minute basis, and even a short interruption in service could have significant consequences. We also interact with and rely on retailers, for whom we process transactions, as well as financial counterparties and regulators. Each of these third parties may be targets of the same types of fraudulent activity, computer break-ins and other cybersecurity breaches described above or herein, including as a result of increasingly sophisticated methods of conducting cyber-attacks, including those employing artificial intelligence, and the cybersecurity measures that they maintain to mitigate the risk of such activity may be different than our own and may be inadequate.

As a result of financial entities and technology systems becoming more interdependent and complex, a cyber-incident, information breach or loss, or technology failure that compromises the systems or data of one or more financial entities could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including ourselves. Although we review business continuity and backup plans for our vendors and take other safeguards to support our operations, such plans or safeguards may be inadequate. As a result of the foregoing, our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by any significant disruptions to us or to third parties with whom we interact.

Our use of third-party vendors and our other ongoing third-party business relationships is subject to increasing regulatory requirements and attention.

Our use of third-party vendors for certain information systems is subject to increasingly demanding regulatory requirements and attention by our bank regulators. Regulatory guidance requires us to enhance our due diligence, ongoing monitoring and control over our third-party vendors and other ongoing third-party business relationships. In certain cases we may be required to renegotiate our agreements with these vendors to meet these enhanced requirements, which could increase our costs. If our regulators conclude that we have not exercised adequate oversight and control over our third-party business relationships or that such third parties have not performed appropriately, we could be subject to enforcement actions, including civil money penalties or other administrative or judicial penalties or fines as well as requirements for customer remediation, any of which could have a material adverse effect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We continually encounter technological change and may have fewer resources than many of our larger competitors to continue to invest in technological improvements.

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We also may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers.

The widespread adoption of new technologies, including internet 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.

In addition, emerging trends, such as generative artificial intelligence, have the potential to disrupt the banking industry. Although generative artificial intelligence offers opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, it also introduces risks, including fraud, security vulnerabilities, and compliance challenges. The implementation of technological changes and upgrades to maintain current systems and integrate new ones may cause service interruptions, transaction processing errors and system conversion delays and may cause us to fail to comply with applicable laws. Because the pace of technological change is high and our industry is intensely competitive, we may not be able to sustain our investment in new technology as critical systems and applications become obsolete or as better ones become available. A failure to maintain current technology and business processes could cause disruptions in our operations or cause our products and services to be less competitive, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE RISKS

The banking industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory framework, together with any future legislative or regulatory changes, may have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

As a bank holding company, we and our subsidiaries are subject to extensive examination, supervision and comprehensive regulation under both federal and state laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, the DIF and the overall financial stability of the United States, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. We are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve, and the Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the FDIC and the IDFPR. The banking laws and regulations applicable to us govern a variety of matters, including, among other things, the types of business activities in which we and our subsidiaries can engage; permissible types, amounts and terms of loans and investments we may make; the maximum interest rate that we may charge; the amount of reserves we must hold against deposits we take; the types of deposits we may accept; maintenance of adequate capital and liquidity; changes in the control of us and the Bank; restrictions on dividends or other capital distributions; and establishment of new offices or branches. These requirements may constrain our operations or require us to obtain approval from our regulators before engaging in certain activities, with no assurance that such approvals may be obtained, either in a timely manner or at all. Also, the burden imposed by those federal and state regulations may place banks in general at a competitive disadvantage compared to their non-bank competitors.

Applicable banking laws, regulations, interpretations, enforcement policies, and accounting principles have been subject to significant changes in recent years and may be subject to significant future changes. In addition, regulators may elect to alter standards or the interpretation of the standards used to measure regulatory compliance or to determine the adequacy of liquidity, certain risk management or other operational practices for bank holding companies in a manner that impacts our ability to implement our strategy and could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Compliance with existing and any potential new or changed regulations, as well as regulatory scrutiny, may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. Our failure to comply with banking laws, regulations and policies, even if the failure follows good faith effort or reflects a difference in interpretation, could subject us to restrictions on our business activities, fines and other penalties, the commencement of informal or formal enforcement actions against us, and other negative consequences, including reputational damage, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, capital base and the price of our securities.

Legal, regulatory and policy changes may directly affect financial institutions and the global economy.

Changes in policy and at banking agencies, including changes in interpretation and prioritization, occur over time through policy and personnel changes following federal and state-level elections, which lead to changes involving the level of oversight and focus on the financial services industry. The nature, timing and economic and political effects of potential changes to the current legal and regulatory framework affecting financial institutions remain highly uncertain in connection with a change in presidential administration. Given the complex factors affecting the strength of the U.S. economy, including uncertainties regarding the persistence of inflation, geopolitical developments such as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and resulting disruptions in the global energy market, tight labor market conditions domestically, supply chain issues both domestically and internationally and the potential effects of a new presidential administration, including its response to the foregoing, potential imposition of new tariffs, mass deportations and changes to tax or other financial regulations, uncertainty surrounding future changes may adversely affect our operating environment and therefore our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

Federal and state regulators periodically examine our business, and we may be required to remediate adverse examination findings.

The Federal Reserve (with respect to us) and the FDIC and the IDFPR (with respect to the Bank) periodically examine our business, including our compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These regulatory agencies have extremely broad discretion in their interpretation of regulations and laws, and in their interpretation of the quality of our loan portfolio, securities portfolio and other assets. If, as a result of an examination, a banking agency were to determine that our financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, lending practices, investment practices, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of any of our operations had become unsatisfactory, or that we were in violation of any law or regulation, it may take a number of different remedial actions as it deems appropriate. These actions include the power to enjoin "unsafe or unsound" practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in our capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil money penalties, to fine or remove officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to depositors, to terminate our deposit insurance and place us into receivership or conservatorship. Any regulatory action against us could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

We are subject to capital adequacy requirements and may be subject to more stringent capital requirements and, if we fail to meet these requirements, we will be subject to restrictions on our ability to make capital distributions and other restrictions.

The Basel III Rule requires us to maintain a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%, a minimum total Tier 1 capital ratio of 6%, a minimum total capital ratio of 8% and a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%, and a capital conservation buffer of greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets (the "Capital Conservation Buffer"). Failure to maintain the Capital Conservation Buffer would result in increasingly stringent restrictions on our ability to make dividend payments and other capital distributions and to pay discretionary bonuses to our executive officers. See "Supervision and Regulation—The Role of Capital" for more information on the capital adequacy standards that we must meet and maintain.

While we currently meet the requirements of the Basel III Rule, we may fail to do so in the future and may be unable to raise additional capital to remediate any capital deficiencies. The failure to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements could result in one or more of our regulators placing limitations or conditions on our activities or restricting the commencement of new activities, including our growth initiatives, and could affect customer and investor confidence, our costs of funds and level of required deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC, our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock, our ability to make acquisitions, and our business, results of operations and financial conditions generally.

Future legislative or regulatory change could impose higher capital standards on us or the Bank. The Federal Reserve may also set higher capital requirements for holding companies whose circumstances warrant it. For example, holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions are expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels, without significant reliance on intangible assets.

The Federal Reserve may require us to commit capital resources to support the Bank.

Federal law requires a bank holding company to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary bank, and to commit resources to support such subsidiary bank. Under the "source of strength" doctrine, the Federal Reserve may require a bank holding company to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank and may charge the bank holding company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices for failure to commit resources to a subsidiary bank. A capital injection may be required at times when the Company may not have the resources to provide it and therefore may be required to borrow the funds or raise capital. Any loans by a holding company to its subsidiary bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee will assume any commitment by the holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank. Moreover, bankruptcy law provides that claims based on any such commitment will be entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of the institution’s general unsecured creditors, including the holders of its note obligations. Thus, any borrowing that must be done by the Company to make a required capital injection into the Bank could be more difficult and expensive to obtain and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our risk management framework may not be effective in mitigating risks and/or losses to us.

Our risk management framework is comprised of various processes, systems and strategies, and is designed to manage the types of risk to which we are subject, including, among others, credit, market, liquidity, interest rate and compliance. Our framework also includes financial or other modeling methodologies that involve management assumptions and judgment. Our risk management framework may not be effective under all circumstances or that it will adequately mitigate any risk or loss to us. If our framework is not effective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our business, financial condition, results of operations or growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected. We may also be subject to potentially adverse regulatory consequences.

Future consumer legislation or regulation could harm our performance and competitive position.

The Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB as an independent federal agency that has broad rulemaking authority over consumer financial products and services for all financial institutions, including deposit products, residential mortgages, home-equity loans and credit cards. In addition, the CFPB also has exclusive supervisory and examination authority and primary enforcement authority with respect to various federal consumer financial laws and regulations for insured depository institutions with more than $10 billion in total consolidated assets. The Bank is not subject to the examination and supervisory authority of the CFPB because it has less than $10 billion in total assets, but it is required to comply with the rules and regulations issued by the CFPB. The FDIC has the primarily responsibility for supervising and examining the Bank’s compliance with federal consumer financial laws and regulations, including CFPB regulations. See "Supervision and Regulation—Supervision and Regulation of the Bank—Consumer Financial Services" for additional information.

In addition to the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, various state and local legislative bodies have adopted or have been considering augmenting their existing framework governing consumers’ rights. These considerations could also be impacted by the recent changes in federal administration. Such legislative or regulatory changes to consumer financial laws and regulations could result in changes to our pricing, practices, products and procedures; increases in our costs related to regulatory oversight, supervision and examination; or result in remediation efforts and possible penalties. We may be required to add additional compliance personnel or incur other significant compliance-related expenses to meet the demands of these consumer protection laws. We cannot predict whether new legislation or regulation will be enacted and, if enacted, the effect that it would have on our activities, financial condition, or results of operations.

We are subject to numerous laws and regulations designed to protect consumers, including the Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.

The CRA requires the Bank, consistent with safe and sound operations, to ascertain and meet the credit needs of their entire communities, including low and moderate income areas. The Bank’s failure to comply with the CRA could, among other things, result in the denial or delay of certain corporate applications filed by us or the Bank, including applications for branch openings or relocations and applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or holding company. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations prohibit discriminatory lending practices by financial institutions. The U.S. Department of Justice, federal banking agencies, and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A challenge to an institution’s compliance with fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity, restrictions on expansion, and restrictions on entering new business lines. Private parties may also challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. See "Supervision and Regulation—Supervision and Regulation of the Bank—Community Reinvestment Act Requirements".

The expanding body of federal, state and local regulations and/or the licensing of loan servicing, collections or other aspects of our business and our sales of loans to third parties may increase the cost of compliance and the risks of noncompliance and subject us to litigation.

Loan servicing is subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities as well as to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on those activities. The volume of new or modified laws and regulations has increased in recent years and, in addition, some individual municipalities have begun to enact laws that restrict loan servicing activities including delaying or temporarily preventing foreclosures or forcing the modification of certain mortgages. If regulators impose new or more restrictive requirements, we may incur significant additional costs to comply with such requirements which may adversely affect us. In addition, were we to be subject to regulatory investigation or regulatory action regarding our loan modification and foreclosure practices, our financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected. We have also sold loans to third parties. In connection with these sales, we, or certain of our subsidiaries, make or have made various representations and warranties, breaches of which may result in a requirement that we repurchase the loans or otherwise make whole or provide other remedies to counterparties. These aspects of our business or our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could possibly lead to, among other things, civil and criminal liability, loss of licensure, damage to our reputation in the industry or with customers, fines and penalties, litigation (including class action lawsuits) and administrative enforcement actions. Any of these outcomes could materially and adversely affect us.

Laws impacting cannabis-related businesses may have an impact on the Company’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 21 years or older to legally purchase marijuana for recreational use from licensed dispensaries. It is the

Bank’s current practice to avoid knowingly providing banking products or services to entities or individuals that directly manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana or hemp products, or those with a significant financial interest in such entities. The Bank uses 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 law legalizing cannabis use have increased the number of direct and indirect cannabis-related businesses in Illinois, and therefore increases the likelihood that the 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 the Bank and the Company.

Non-compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, or other laws and regulations could result in fines or sanctions.

Financial institutions are required under the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the BSA to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money-laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit activities. Financial institutions are also obligated to file suspicious activity reports with the Office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") of the Treasury if such activities are detected. These rules also require financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of customers seeking to open new financial accounts. Failure or the inability to comply with these regulations could result in fines or penalties, curtailment of expansion opportunities, intervention or sanctions by regulators and costly litigation or expensive additional controls and systems. In recent years, several banking institutions have received large fines for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. In addition, FinCEN requires financial institutions to enhance their customer due diligence programs, including verifying the identity of beneficial owners of qualifying business customers. We have developed policies and continue to augment procedures and systems designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, but these policies may not be effective to provide such compliance. If we violate these laws and regulations, or our policies, procedures and systems are deemed deficient, we could face severe consequences, including sanctions, fines, regulatory actions and reputational consequences. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

Regulation in the areas of privacy and data security could increase our costs.

We are subject to various regulations related to privacy and data security, and we could be negatively impacted by these regulations. For example, we are subject to the safeguards guidelines under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The safeguards guidelines require that each financial institution develop, implement and maintain a written, comprehensive information security program containing safeguards that are appropriate to the financial institution’s size and complexity, the nature and scope of the financial institution’s activities and the sensitivity of any customer information at issue. Further, there are various other statutes and regulations relevant to the direct email marketing, debt collection and text-messaging industries including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

In addition to the foregoing enhanced data security requirements, various federal banking regulatory agencies, and all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, have enacted data security regulations and laws requiring varying levels of consumer notification in the event of a security breach and/or requirements to disclose to consumers information collected about them. Also, federal legislators and regulators are increasingly pursuing new guidelines, laws and regulations, including with respect to the use of artificial intelligence by financial institutions and service providers, that, if adopted, could further restrict how we collect, use, share and secure consumer information, which could impact some of our current or planned business initiatives. The interpretation of many of these statutes and regulations is evolving in the courts and administrative agencies and an inability or failure to comply with them may have an adverse impact on our business.

Litigation and regulatory actions, including possible enforcement actions, could subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments or other requirements resulting in increased expenses or restrictions on our business activities.

Our business is subject to increased litigation and regulatory enforcement risks due to a number of factors, including the highly regulated nature of the financial services industry and the focus of state and federal prosecutors on banks and the financial services industry generally. This focus has intensified in recent years, with regulators and prosecutors focusing on a variety of financial institution practices and requirements, including foreclosure, overdraft fees, compliance with applicable consumer protection laws, and compliance with anti-money laundering statutes, the BSA and sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury.

In the normal course of business, from time to time, we have in the past and may in the future be named as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, arising in connection with our business activities or the prior business activities of a company acquired by us. Legal actions could include claims for substantial compensatory or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. In addition, while the arbitration provisions in certain of our customer agreements historically have limited our exposure to consumer class action litigation, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in enforcing our arbitration clause in the future. We may also, from time to time, be the subject of subpoenas, requests for information, reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental agencies regarding our business activities. Any such legal or regulatory actions may subject us to substantial compensatory or punitive damages, significant fines, penalties, obligations to change our business practices or other requirements resulting in increased expenses, diminished income and damage to our reputation. Our involvement in any such matters, whether tangential or otherwise and even if the matters are ultimately determined in our favor, could also cause significant harm to our reputation and divert management attention from the operation of our business. Further, any settlement, consent order or adverse judgment in connection with any formal or informal proceeding or investigation by government agencies may result in litigation, investigations or proceedings as other litigants and government agencies begin independent reviews of the same activities. As a result, the outcome of legal and regulatory actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

See “Note 23 – Commitments and Contingencies – Legal Contingencies” to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding certain legal actions and litigation to which we are subject, including a discussion of potential losses and related accruals.

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments, which are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty and which may differ from actual results.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Some accounting policies, such as those pertaining to our allowance, require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these estimates and judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty and actual results may differ from these estimates and judgments under different assumptions or conditions, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations in subsequent periods.

From time to time, the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of those standards that govern the preparation of our external financial statements. In addition, trends in financial and business reporting, including environmental social and governance (“ESG”) related disclosures, could require us to incur additional reporting expense. These changes are beyond our control, can be difficult to predict and could materially impact how we report our financial condition and results of operations.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY

We may not be able to continue growing our business, particularly if we cannot make acquisitions or increase loans through organic loan growth, either because of an inability to find suitable acquisition candidates, constrained capital resources or otherwise.

We anticipate that much of our future growth will be dependent on our ability to successfully implement our acquisition growth strategy because certain of our market areas are comprised of mature, rural communities with limited population growth. A risk exists, however, that we will not be able to identify suitable candidates for acquisitions. In addition, even if suitable targets are identified, we expect to compete for such businesses with other potential bidders, which may have greater financial resources than we have, which may adversely affect our ability to make acquisitions at attractive prices. In light of the foregoing, our ability to continue to grow successfully will depend to a significant extent on our capital resources. It also will depend, in part, upon our ability to attract deposits, identify favorable loan and investment opportunities, and maintain cost controls and asset quality, as well on other factors beyond our control, such as national, regional and local economic conditions and interest rate trends.

Our strategy of pursuing growth via acquisitions exposes us to financial, execution and operational risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and growth prospects.

We have been pursuing a strategy of leveraging our human and financial capital by acquiring other financial institutions in our target markets, including acquisitions of failed insured depository institutions with the assistance of the FDIC. We continue to opportunistically seek acquisitions that are either located within our market footprint, in adjacent markets or provide a new growth opportunity that is strategically and financially compelling and consistent with our culture.

Our acquisition activities could require us to use a substantial amount of cash, other liquid assets, and/or issue debt or additional equity. In addition to the general risks associated with any growth plans, acquiring other banks, businesses, or branches involves various risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things:

• the time and expense associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions and negotiating potential transactions;
• inaccuracies in the estimates and judgments used to evaluate credit, operations, management, and market risks with respect to the target institution (if the actual results fall short or exceed our estimates, our earnings, capital and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected);
• the ability to finance an acquisition and possible dilution to existing stockholders;
• the failure to realize some or all of the anticipated transaction benefits within the expected time frame, or ever;
• potential goodwill impairment;
• compliance and legal risks associated with acquiring unfamiliar customers, products and services, and branches in new geographical markets; and
• risks associated with integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired business in a manner that permits growth opportunities and does not materially disrupt existing customer relationships or result in decreased revenues resulting from any loss of customers.

With respect to the risks particularly associated with the integration of an acquired business, we may encounter a number of difficulties, including, among other things:

• customer loss and revenue loss;
• the loss of key employees;
• the disruption of its operations and business;
• the inability to maintain and increase its competitive presence;
• possible inconsistencies in standards, control procedures and policies; and
• unexpected problems with costs, operations, personnel, technology and credit.

In addition to the risks posed by the integration process itself, the focus of management’s attention and effort on integration may result in a lack of sufficient management attention to other important issues, causing harm to our business. Also, general market and economic conditions or governmental actions affecting the financial industry generally may inhibit our successful integration of an acquired business.

Generally, any acquisition of financial institutions, banking centers or other banking assets by us will require approval by, and cooperation from, a number of governmental regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the IDFPR, and the FDIC. Such regulators could deny our applications based on various prescribed criteria or other considerations, which would restrict our growth, or the regulatory approvals may not be granted on terms that are acceptable to us. For example, we could be required to sell banking centers as a condition to receiving regulatory approvals and such a condition may not be acceptable to us or may reduce the benefit of any acquisition. These regulatory approvals and the factors considered in reviewing such applications are described in greater detail in "Supervision and Regulation—Acquisitions and Branching."

We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with acquisitions. Our inability to overcome risks associated with acquisitions could have an adverse effect on our ability to successfully implement our acquisition growth strategy and grow our business and profitability.

RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK

Our principal stockholder, Heartland Bancorp, Inc. Voting Trust U/A/D 5/4/2016, has significant influence over us, and its interests could conflict with those of our other stockholders.

As of December 31, 2024, our principal stockholder, Heartland Bancorp, Inc. Voting Trust U/A/D 5/4/2016 (the "Voting Trust”), owned approximately 54.5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and its trustee is our Executive Chairman. As a result, the Voting Trust is able to influence matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other extraordinary transactions. The Voting Trust may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. The concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of the Company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common stock.

The Voting Trust could sell its interest in us to a third-party in a private transaction, which may not lead to your realization of any change of control premium on shares of our common stock and would subject us to the influence of a presently unknown third-party.

The ability of the Voting Trust to sell its shares of our common stock privately, with no requirement for a concurrent offer to be made to acquire all of the shares of our outstanding common stock, could prevent our stockholders from realizing any change of control premium on shares of our common stock that they own that may accrue to the Voting Trust on its private sale of our common stock.

Even if the Voting Trust’s ownership of our shares falls below a majority, the Voting Trust may continue to be able to influence or effectively control our decisions.

We are classified as a "controlled company" for purposes of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and, as a result, we qualify for certain exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.

As of the date of this report, the Voting Trust controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain stock exchange corporate governance requirements, including:

• the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consists of independent directors;
• the requirement that nominating and corporate governance matters be decided solely by independent directors; and
• the requirement that executive and officer compensation matters be decided solely by independent directors.

Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.

Our ability to continue to pay dividends to our stockholders is restricted by applicable laws and regulations and by the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.

Holders of our common stock are only entitled to receive such cash dividends as our board, in its sole discretion, may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Any decision to declare and pay dividends will be dependent on a variety of factors, including our financial condition, earnings, legal requirements, our general liquidity needs, and other factors that our board deems relevant. As a bank holding company, our ability to declare and pay dividends to our stockholders is subject to certain banking laws, regulations, and policies, including minimum capital requirements and, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to certain restrictions on dividends under the DGCL. In addition, we are a separate legal entity, and, accordingly, our ability to pay dividends depends primarily upon the receipt of dividends or other capital distributions from the Bank. The ability of the Bank to make distributions or pay dividends to us is subject to its earnings, financial condition, and liquidity needs, as well as federal and state laws, regulations, and policies applicable to the Bank, which limit the amount the Bank can pay as dividends or other capital distributions to us. Finally, our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders, or the Bank’s ability to pay dividends or other distributions to us, may be limited by covenants in any financing arrangements that we or the Bank may enter into in the future. See “Supervision and Regulation.”

As a consequence of these various limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate at any time, future dividends on our common stock. Any change in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to pay dividends to our stockholders, or that the board of directors of the Bank will be able to or will elect to pay dividends to us, nor can we guarantee the timing or amount of any such dividends actually paid. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our common stock unless you sell our common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception in the public markets that these sales may occur, may depress our stock price.

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional shares. The shares of our common stock held by each of our executive officers and directors and the trustee of the Voting Trust may be sold in accordance with the volume, manner of sale, and other limitations under Rule 144, and may also be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company, which was declared effective by the SEC on April 19, 2023.

In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with acquisitions or investments. The number of shares of our common stock issued in connection with an acquisition or investment could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our common stock.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law, and the banking laws and regulations to which we are subject, might discourage or delay acquisition attempts for us that you might consider favorable.

Our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may make the acquisition of the Company more difficult without the approval of our board of directors. These provisions:

• authorize the issuance of undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and the shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval, and which may include super voting, special approval, dividend or other rights or preferences superior to the rights of the holders of common stock;
• prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all stockholder actions be taken at a meeting of our stockholders, if the Voting Trust ceases to own more than 35% of our outstanding common stock;
• provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our amended and restated bylaws;
• establish advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings; and
• prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings of stockholders.

These anti-takeover provisions and other provisions under Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of the Company, even if doing so would benefit our stockholders.

These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing and to cause us to take other corporate actions you desire.

Furthermore, banking laws impose notice, approval and ongoing regulatory requirements on any stockholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or indirect "control," as defined under applicable law, of an FDIC- insured depository institution. These laws include the BHCA and the CBCA. These laws could, among other things, limit the equity held by certain stockholders, restrain a stockholder’s ability to influence proxy matters, or prevent an acquisition of the Company, in each case without first obtaining regulatory approval. See “Supervision and Regulation—Supervision and Regulation of the Company—Change in Control."

Our restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our by-laws or (iv) any other action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

EXTERNAL RISKS

Adverse changes in local economic conditions and adverse conditions in an industry on which a local market in which we do business depends could hurt our business in a material way.

Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of our borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services we offer, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets in which we operate and in the United States as a whole. Unlike larger banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services to customers primarily in Illinois and Iowa. The economic conditions in our local markets may be different from, or worse than, the economic conditions in the United States as a whole. Some elements of the business environment that affect our financial performance include short-term and long-term interest rates, the prevailing yield curve, inflation and price levels, tax policy, monetary policy, unemployment and the strength of the domestic economy and the local economy in the markets in which we operate.

Unfavorable market conditions can result in a deterioration in the credit quality of our borrowers and the demand for our products and services, an increase in the number of loan delinquencies, defaults and charge-offs, additional provisions for credit losses, adverse asset values and an overall material adverse effect on the quality of our loan portfolio. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by, among other factors, declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; changes in inflation or interest rates; increases in real estate and other state and local taxes; high unemployment; natural disasters; pandemics; climate change; acts of terrorism or war (including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Russian invasion of Ukraine); or a combination of these or other factors.

Continued elevated levels of inflation could adversely impact our business and results of operations.

The United States has recently experienced elevated levels of inflation. Continued levels of inflation could have complex effects on our business and results of operations, some of which could be materially adverse. For example, elevated inflation harms consumer purchasing power, which could negatively affect our retail customers and the economic environment and, ultimately, many of our business customers, and could also negatively affect our levels of non-interest expense. In addition, if interest rates were to rise in response to elevated levels of inflation, the value of our securities and loan portfolios may be negatively impacted. Continued elevated levels of inflation could also cause increased volatility and uncertainty in the business environment, which could adversely affect loan demand and our clients’ ability to repay indebtedness. It is also possible that governmental responses to the current inflation environment could adversely affect our business, such as changes to monetary and fiscal policy that are too strict, or the imposition or threatened imposition of price controls. The duration and severity of the current inflationary period cannot be estimated with precision.

Failure to attract and retain qualified employees could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company’s success depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and retain key individuals. Competition for qualified candidates in the activities in which the Company engages and markets that the Company serves is significant, and the Company may not be able to hire candidates and retain them. Growth in the Company’s business, including through acquisitions, may increase its need for additional qualified personnel. The Company is increasingly competing for personnel with financial technology providers and other less regulated entities who may not have the same limitations on compensation as the Company does. This can be particularly constraining when competing for skill sets which are in high demand, such as technology, risk and information security. Recruiting and compensation costs may increase as a result of changes in the marketplace, which may increase costs and adversely impact the Company.

The increase in remote and hybrid-work arrangements and opportunities in regional, national and global labor markets has also increased competition for the Company to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company’s current or future approach to in-office and remote-work arrangements may not meet the needs or expectations of current or prospective employees or may not be perceived as favorable as compared with the arrangements offered by other companies, which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to attract and retain employees. If the Company is not able to hire or retain highly skilled, qualified and diverse individuals, it may be unable to execute its business strategies and may suffer adverse consequences to its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Climate change could have a material negative impact on the Company and our customers.

The Company’s business, as well as the operations and activities of our customers, could be negatively impacted by climate change. Climate change presents both immediate and long-term risks to the Company and our customers, and these risks are expected to increase over time. Climate change presents multi-faceted risks, including, but not limited to:

• operational risk from the physical effects of climate events on the Company and our customers’ facilities and other assets;
• credit risk from borrowers with significant exposure to climate risk;
• legal and regulatory compliance risk; and
• reputational risk from stakeholder concerns about the Company’s practices related to climate change and the Company’s business relationships with clients who operate in carbon-intensive industries.

The risks associated with climate change are changing and evolving in an escalating fashion, making them difficult to assess due to limited data and other uncertainties.

Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive environment.

We face substantial competition in all phases of our operations from a variety of different competitors. Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in this highly competitive environment. To date, our competitive strategies have focused on attracting deposits in our local markets and growing our loan portfolio by emphasizing specific loan products in which we have significant experience and expertise, identifying and targeting markets in which we believe we can effectively compete with larger institutions and other competitors, and offering highly competitive pricing to borrowers with appropriate risk profiles. We compete for loans, deposits and other financial services with other commercial banks, credit unions, FinTechs, digital asset service providers, brokerage houses, mutual funds, insurance companies, real estate conduits, mortgage brokers and specialized finance companies. Many of our competitors offer products and services that we do not offer, and some offer loan structures and have underwriting standards that are not as restrictive as our required loan structures and underwriting standards. Some larger competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits, name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans more aggressively than we do, and because of their larger capital bases, their underwriting practices for smaller loans may be subject to less regulatory scrutiny than they would be for smaller banks. Newer competitors may be more aggressive in pricing their products in order to increase their market share.

Some of the financial institutions and financial services organizations with which we compete are not subject to the extensive regulations imposed on banks insured by the FDIC and their holding companies. As a result, these nonbank competitors have certain advantages over us in accessing funding and in providing various financial services. Additionally, technology and other changes are allowing consumers and businesses to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. Customers can now maintain funds in prepaid debit cards or digital currencies and pay bills and transfer funds directly without the direct assistance of banks. The diminishing role of banks as financial intermediaries has resulted and could continue to result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the potential loss of lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, while we do not offer products relating to digital assets, including cryptocurrencies 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. 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. The loss of these revenue streams and deposits could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Potential partnerships with digital asset companies, moreover, could also entail significant investment.

Our ability to maintain our reputation is critical to the success of our business, and the failure to do so may materially adversely affect our business and the value of our stock.

We are a community bank, and our reputation is one of the most valuable components of our business. As such, we strive to conduct our business in a manner that enhances our reputation. This is done, in part, by recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who share our core values of being an integral part of the communities we serve, delivering superior service to our customers and caring about our customers and associates. Maintenance of our reputation depends not only on our success in maintaining our service-focused culture, but also on our success in identifying and appropriately addressing issues that may arise in areas such as potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, customer personal information and privacy issues, employee, customer and other third-party fraud, recordkeeping, regulatory investigations, and any litigation that may arise from the failure or perceived failure of us to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. If our reputation is negatively affected, by the intentional, inadvertent or unsubstantiated misconduct of our employees, directors, customers, third parties, or otherwise, our business and, therefore, our operating results and the value of our stock may be materially adversely affected.

We rely 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 these systems and their own electronic information systems. Any of these systems can be compromised, including through the employees, customers and other individuals who are authorized to use them, and bad actors 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.

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

• internal resources who are responsible for conducting regular assessments of our information systems, existing controls, vulnerabilities and potential improvements;
• continuous monitoring tools that can detect, alert on, respond to, and help mitigate 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 which identify potential weaknesses in our systems and help validate and improve internal processes and tooling; 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 lines of business and geographic locations.

From time-to-time, we have identified cybersecurity threats 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. We continue to evolve our controls to mitigate these threats as effectively as we can reasonably foresee them occurring.

Our management team is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks we face, including our Chief Information Officer. Our current Chief Information Officer has over 20 years of technology experience, including 16 years in Banking.

In addition, our board of directors is responsible for the oversight of risk management. In that role, our board of directors, with support from the Company’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, our board of directors receive reports from our management team regarding cybersecurity risks, and the Company’s efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate and remediate any cybersecurity incidents. These reports are delivered at least quarterly, with additional information and trainings provided at least twice per year.

HBT Financial and Heartland Bank’s headquarters are located at 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois. The Company owns these headquarters, and it also owns or leases other facilities, such as banking centers of Heartland Bank, for business operations. The Company considers its properties to be suitable and adequate for its present needs.

We are sometimes party to legal actions that are routine and incidental to our business. Management, in consultation with legal counsel, does not expect the ultimate disposition of any or a combination of these matters to have a material adverse effect on our assets, business, cash flow, condition (financial or otherwise), liquidity, prospects and results of operations. However, given the nature, scope and complexity of the extensive legal and regulatory landscape applicable to our business, including laws and regulations governing consumer protection, fair lending, fair labor, privacy, information security and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws, we, like all banking organizations, are subject to heightened legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to HBT Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the following parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: Part I, Item 1 “Business”, Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, and Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. Detailed discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operation for 2024 as compared to 2023 can be found below. Detailed discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operation for 2023 as compared to 2022 can be found in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

OVERVIEW

HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. We provide a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of $5.0 billion, loans held for investment of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.3 billion.

Market Area

As of December 31, 2024, our branch network included 66 full-service branch locations throughout Illinois and eastern Iowa. We hold a leading deposit share in many of our central Illinois markets, which we define as a top three deposit share rank, providing the foundation for our strong deposit base. The stability provided by this low-cost funding is a key driver of our strong track record of financial performance. Below is a summary of our loan and deposit balances by geographic region:

(dollars in thousands)

Town and Country Financial Corporation Acquisition

On February 1, 2023, HBT Financial completed its acquisition of Town and Country, the holding company for Town and Country Bank. The acquisition of Town and Country further enhanced HBT Financial’s footprint in central Illinois and expanded our footprint into metro-east St. Louis. At the time of acquisition, Town and Country Bank operated 10 full-service branch locations which began operating as branches of Heartland Bank. The core system conversion was successfully completed in April 2023. After considering business combination accounting adjustments, Town and Country added total assets of $937.2 million, total loans held for investment of $635.4 million, and total deposits of $720.4 million.

Total consideration consisted of 3.4 million shares of HBT Financial’s common stock and $38.0 million in cash. Based upon the closing price of HBT Financial common stock of $21.12 on February 1, 2023, the aggregate consideration was approximately $109.4 million. Goodwill of $30.5 million was recorded in the acquisition. Total acquisition-related expenses were $13.7 million, including the recognition of an allowance for credit losses on non-purchased credit deteriorated loans (“non-PCD loans”) of $5.2 million and an allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $0.7 million through provision for credit losses, during the year ended December 31, 2023 and were $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. There were no acquisition-related expenses during the year ended December 31, 2024.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview of Recent Financial Results

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(1) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to their most closely comparable GAAP measures.

(2) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024 to the Year Ended December 31, 2023

For the year ended December 31, 2024, net income was $71.8 million, increasing by $5.9 million, or 9.0%, when compared to net income for the year ended December 31, 2023. Notable changes include the following:

• There were no Town and Country acquisition-related expenses during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $13.7 million of acquisition-related expenses incurred during the year ended December 31, 2023;
• Net losses of $3.7 million were realized on the sale of debt securities during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net losses of $1.8 million realized during the year ended December 31, 2023;
• A $2.2 million decrease in net interest income, primarily attributable to higher funding costs which were partially offset by higher asset yields and an increase in interest-earning assets;
• A $0.2 million negative mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment included in the 2024 results, compared to a $1.6 million negative mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment included in the 2023 results; and
• A $2.9 million increase in income tax expense, primarily reflecting higher pre-tax income resulting from the above items as well as an additional $0.5 million for a deferred tax expense write-down, primarily as a result of an Illinois tax change. This increased our effective tax rate to 26.3% during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 25.7% during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income equals the excess of interest income on interest earning assets (including discount accretion on acquired loans plus certain loan fees) over interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin, which is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average interest-earning assets, is utilized to measure and explain changes in net interest income.

The following table sets forth average balances, average yields and costs, and certain other information. Average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans are included in the computation of average balances but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees and costs, discounts and premiums, as well as purchase accounting adjustments that are accreted or amortized to interest income or expense.

(dollars in thousands)

(1) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

(2) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.

(3) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" for reconciliation of non-GAAP measure to their most closely comparable GAAP measures.

(4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

(5) Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.

The following table sets forth the components of loan interest income and their contributions to the total loan yield.

(dollars in thousands)

The following table sets forth the components of net interest income and their contributions to the net interest margin.

(dollars in thousands)

(1) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state income tax rate of 9.5%.

(2) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" for reconciliation of non-GAAP measure to their most closely comparable GAAP measures.

Rate/Volume Analysis

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for the major categories of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Information is provided for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with respect to changes attributable to volume (i.e., changes in average balances multiplied by the prior-period average rate), and changes attributable to rate (i.e., changes in average rate multiplied by prior-period average balances). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both volume and rate that cannot be segregated have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

(dollars in thousands)

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024 to the Year Ended December 31, 2023

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $188.9 million, decreasing $2.2 million, or 1.2%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in funding costs which were partially offset by higher yields on interest-earning assets and higher interest-earning asset balances following the Town and Country merger.

Net interest margin decreased to 3.96% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 4.09% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to increases in funding costs outpacing increases in interest-earning asset yields. Additionally, the contribution of acquired loan discount accretion to net interest margin was 9 basis points for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

The quarterly net interest margins were as follows:

The FOMC began raising the target range for the federal funds rate in March 2022 and continued raising interest rates until its July 2023 meeting. As a result, market interest rates also rose during this time which led to improvements in our net interest margin through the first quarter of 2023. Our net interest margin decreased modestly beginning in the second quarter of 2023, as increased competition for deposits drove an increase in our funding costs. This continued during the remainder of 2023 with increases in funding costs outpacing increases in interest-earning asset yields. Our deposit balances and funding costs began to stabilize during the first quarter of 2024 while yields on loans continued to increase and debt securities continued to reprice at higher rates.

The FOMC began lowering interest rates in September 2024, with the target range for the federal funds rate decreasing by 100 basis points to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% by the end of 2024. This decrease, and potential future decreases, may put downward pressure on our net interest margin, as the negative impact on floating rate loans may not be fully offset by the positive impacts of maturing fixed rate loans and securities repricing at higher rates or potential decreases in deposit costs. Generally, we expect increases in market interest rates will increase our net interest income and net interest margin in future periods, while decreases in market interest rates may decrease our net interest income and net interest margin in future periods; however, this depends upon the timing and extent of interest rate fluctuations and may not always be the case.

Provision for Credit Losses

The following table sets forth the components of provision for credit losses for the years indicated:

(dollars in thousands)

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024 to the Year Ended December 31, 2023

The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The 2024 provision for credit losses primarily reflects a $4.0 million increase in required reserves resulting from changes in qualitative factors; an $0.8 million increase in required reserves driven by changes within the loan portfolio; a $1.2 million decrease in specific reserves on individually evaluated loans; and a $0.6 million decrease in required reserves resulting from improvements in economic forecasts.

Additionally, the 2023 results included the recognition of an allowance for credit losses on non-PCD loans of $5.2 million and an allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $0.7 million through provision for credit losses which were related to the Town and Country acquisition.

Credit losses are highly dependent on current and forecast economic conditions. Potential deterioration of economic conditions may lead to higher credit losses and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. The economic forecasts utilized in estimating the allowance for credit losses on loans and lending-related unfunded commitments include the unemployment rate and changes in gross domestic product ("GDP") as macroeconomic variables, although other economic metrics are considered on a qualitative basis.

Noninterest Income

The following table sets forth the major categories of noninterest income for the years indicated:

(dollars in thousands)

NM Not meaningful.

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024 to the Year Ended December 31, 2023

Total noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $35.6 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 1.3%, from the year ended December 31, 2023. Notable changes in noninterest income include the following:

• Net losses of $3.7 million were realized on the sale of debt securities during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net losses of $1.8 million realized during the year ended December 31, 2023;
• A $0.2 million negative mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment included in the 2024 results, compared to a $1.6 million negative mortgage servicing rights fair value adjustment included in the 2023 results;
• A $1.1 million increase in wealth management fees, driven by higher values of assets under management, partially offset by lower farm management fees as a result of lower commodity prices;
• Impairment losses on bank premises of $0.6 million related to the closure of two branch premises were recognized during 2024, compared to a $0.1 million gain on sales of closed branch premises recognized during 2023; and
• A $0.3 million increase in income on bank owned life insurance, primarily attributable to a $0.2 million gain on life insurance proceeds.

Noninterest Expense

The following table sets forth the major categories of noninterest expense for the years indicated:

(dollars in thousands)

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024 to the Year Ended December 31, 2023

Total noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $124.0 million, a decrease of $7.0 million, or 5.3%, from the year ended December 31, 2023. Notable changes in noninterest expense include the following:

• There were no Town and Country acquisition-related noninterest expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, but acquisition-related noninterest expenses totaled $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023;
• Excluding Town and Country acquisition-related expenses, the $1.3 million increase in salaries expense was primarily driven by annual merit increases;
• The $1.3 million increase in employee benefits expense was primarily attributable to higher medical benefits expenses; and
• Excluding Town and Country acquisition-related expenses, the $2.3 million decrease in other noninterest expense primarily reflects the absence of $0.8 million of legal fees and $1.0 million of accruals related to litigation matters disclosed in Note 23 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Income Taxes

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $25.6 million, or an effective tax rate of 26.3%, and $22.7 million, or an effective tax rate of 25.7%, respectively. The increase in effective tax rate during 2024 was primarily attributable to an additional $0.5 million of tax expense for a deferred tax asset write-down, as a result of an Illinois tax change, as well as changes in the proportion of federally tax-exempt interest income to pre-tax income.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(1) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" for reconciliation of non-GAAP measure to their most closely comparable GAAP measures.

Notable changes in our consolidated balance sheet include the following:

• Debt securities decreased $83.0 million, largely due to the sale of $69.2 million of municipal securities with sales proceeds primarily used to reduce wholesale funding. Additionally, paydowns, maturities, and calls of debt securities generated another $126.3 million of cash proceeds with $105.1 million being reinvested into debt securities at higher yields;
• Loans increased by $61.7 million, primarily attributable to new originations to recurring customers; and
• Total deposits decreased by $83.2 million, primarily attributable to a $144.9 million decrease in brokered deposits. Deposit balances continued to shift towards higher cost deposit products, such as time deposits, which increased $158.2 million, including the addition of $65.0 million of time deposits from a State of Illinois loan matching program.

Loan Portfolio

The following table sets forth the composition of the loan portfolio, excluding loans held-for-sale, by type of loan.

(dollars in thousands)

Loans, before allowance for credit losses were $3.47 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of $61.7 million, or 1.8%, from December 31, 2023. Notable changes include the following:

• A $10.7 million increase in construction loans primarily attributable to draws on existing construction projects and new construction loans to existing customers which were mostly offset by transfers of completed projects into other categories.
• An $18.9 million increase in commercial real estate – non-owner occupied loans and a $13.6 million increase in multi-family loans, primarily attributable to completed construction projects transferred from the construction and land development category, partially offset by early payoffs; and
• During 2024, we purchased pools of commercial and industrial loans totaling $14.6 million. One pool included equipment finance loans purchased from a bank that originated the loans through its equipment finance division to borrowers across multiple industries and geographic regions. The remaining pool consisted of loans originated by a financial services company with a long-standing history of originating loans to healthcare and professional service borrowers across multiple geographic regions.

Commercial Real Estate Portfolios

Commercial real estate – owner occupied loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flows of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. The commercial real estate – owner occupied portfolio composition, segmented by the owner’s business classification, as of December 31, 2024 was as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

Commercial real estate – non-owner occupied loans are primarily made based on projected cash flows from the rental or sale of the underlying collateral. The commercial real estate – non-owner occupied portfolio composition, segmented by the property type, as of December 31, 2024 was as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

(1) Weighted average LTV is based on the most recent appraisals available, which are generally obtained at the time of origination.

Multi-family loans totaled $431.5 million as of December 31, 2024, and are primarily made based on projected cash flows from the rental or sale of the underlying collateral. As of December 31, 2024, multi-family loans had a weighted average LTV of 57%, based on the most recent appraisals available, which are generally obtained at the time of origination.

Management’s disciplined approach to credit risk management is exercised through portfolio diversification, robust underwriting policies, and routine loan monitoring practices in order to identify and mitigate any credit weakness as early as possible. Management continually monitors and evaluates commercial real estate concentrations by property class, industry, and relative to the Bank’s regulatory capital to remain in line with board-established limits and adapt to changing industry conditions. A centralized credit underwriting group, independent of the originating lender, evaluates a vast majority of the commercial exposures over $750 thousand annually, if not more frequently, through a standardized credit review process to ensure uniform application of policies and procedures as well as analyze credit performance. All loans require appropriate internal approval, with a centralized credit approval group reviewing all exposures over $500 thousand. Additionally, a robust internal review process reviews more than 45% of loan commitments on a rolling 24 month basis that is in addition to an annual third-party review of a sample of the portfolio.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022 in response to the rapid increase in interest rates, we have prepared quarterly cash flow stress tests for our commercial real estate – non-owner occupied and multi-family loans. For commercial real estate – non-owner occupied and multi-family loans over $1 million, we evaluate the impact of current interest rates on the underlying cash flows of the properties securing these loans, based on the most recent cash flow data available. This testing is completed in addition to the various sensitivity testing completed at the initial extension of credit. Individual credits with a maturity scheduled within the next five quarters that are presenting stress under current renewal terms are identified, so that ample time is available to develop solutions to manage credit risk.

Loan Portfolio Maturities

The following table summarizes the scheduled maturities of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024. Demand loans (loans having no stated repayment schedule or maturity) and overdraft loans are reported as being due in one year or less.

(dollars in thousands)

The following table summarizes loans maturing after one year, segregated into variable and fixed interest rates.

(dollars in thousands)

58

Nonperforming Assets

Our nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

Total nonperforming assets were $8.0 million at December 31, 2024, a slight decrease when compared to $8.7 million at December 31, 2023. The slight decrease was primarily attributable to sales of foreclosed assets and a decrease in nonaccrual one-to-four family residential loans. Additionally, of the $7.7 million of nonperforming loans held as of December 31, 2024, $1.6 million are either wholly or partially guaranteed by the U.S. Government.

Risk Classification of Loans

Our risk classifications of loans were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

(1) In June 2024, the Company updated its risk rating categories to add the special mention category to provide another level of granularity in distinguishing risk levels of loans. As of June 30, 2024, $19.5 million of the special mention loans would have been considered pass-watch and $10.6 million would have been considered substandard under the previous risk rating categories.

Loans rated pass-watch or worse increased $39.2 million, or 24.1%, from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, primarily attributable to downgrades within the agricultural and farmland, commercial and industrial, and construction and land development segments.

Net Charge-offs (Recoveries)

The following table summarizes net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans by loan category.

(dollars in thousands)

The net charge-offs (recoveries) to average total loans ratio has remained low for several years. While we believe our continuous credit monitoring and collection efforts have resulted in lower levels of credit losses, we also recognize that substantial federal economic stimulus during the COVID-19 pandemic and the relatively stable economic conditions after the pandemic have also contributed to reduced credit losses.

Additionally, heightened net charge-offs within the commercial and industrial segment are primarily related to equipment finance loans which were purchased as part of a pool of loans during 2023.

Securities

The Company’s investment policy emphasizes safety of the principal, liquidity needs, expected returns, cash flow targets, and consistency with our interest rate risk management strategy. The composition and maturities of the debt securities portfolio as of December 31, 2024, are summarized in the following table. Maturities are based on the final contractual payment dates, and do not reflect the impact of prepayments or early redemptions that may occur. Security yields have not been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis.

(dollars in thousands)

Due in 1 year or less

61

SOURCES OF FUNDS

Deposits

Management continues to focus on growing deposits through the Company’s relationship-driven banking philosophy and community-focused marketing programs. Additionally, we continue to add and improve digital banking services to solidify deposit relationships.

The following table sets forth the distribution of average deposits, by account type:

(dollars in thousands)

The increase in average deposit balances in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily attributable to increases in time deposits, including the addition of $65.0 million from a State of Illinois loan matching program, and money market accounts as balances continued to shift towards higher cost deposit products. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in brokered deposits due to planned repayment at scheduled maturity. As a result of these changes, deposit costs increased during 2024 compared to 2023.

The following table sets forth time deposits by remaining maturity as of December 31, 2024:

(dollars in thousands)

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Bank’s uninsured deposits were estimated to be $949.4 million and $867.7 million, respectively.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

All securities sold under agreements to repurchase are sweep instruments, maturing daily. The securities underlying the agreements are held under our control in safekeeping at third-party financial institutions, and include debt securities.

The following table sets forth information concerning balances and interest rates on our securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

(dollars in thousands)

Borrowings

Deposits are the Bank's primary source of funds for our lending activities and general business purposes. However, we may also obtain advances from the FHLB, purchase federal funds, and engage in overnight borrowing from the Federal Reserve. We may also use these sources of funds as part of our asset liability management process to control our long-term interest rate risk exposure, even if it may increase our short-term cost of funds. Our level of short-term borrowing can fluctuate on a daily basis depending on funding needs and the source of funds to satisfy the needs.

Our use of FHLB advances and other borrowings was nominal during the first half of 2022, but increased during the second half of 2022 and throughout most of 2023 to fund increases in loan demand and to offset a decrease in deposits. Our use of FHLB advances and other borrowings returned to nominal levels during 2024, with loan demand funded primarily through cash flows from the debt securities portfolio.

The following table sets forth information concerning balances and interest rates on our borrowings.

(dollars in thousands)

LIQUIDITY

Bank Liquidity

The overall objective of bank liquidity management is to ensure the availability of sufficient cash funds to meet all financial commitments and to take advantage of investment opportunities. The Bank manages liquidity in order to meet deposit withdrawals on demand or at contractual maturity, to repay borrowings as they mature, and to fund new loans and investments as opportunities arise.

The Bank continuously monitors its liquidity positions to ensure that assets and liabilities are managed in a manner that will meet all of our short-term and long-term cash requirements. The Bank manages its liquidity position to meet our daily cash flow needs, while maintaining an appropriate balance between assets and liabilities to meet the return on investment objectives. The Bank also monitors liquidity requirements in light of interest rate trends, changes in the economy, the scheduled maturity and interest rate sensitivity of the investment and loan portfolios and deposits, and regulatory capital requirements.

As part of the Bank’s liquidity management strategy, the Bank is also focused on minimizing costs of liquidity and attempts to decrease these costs by promoting noninterest-bearing and low-cost deposits. While the Bank does not control the types of deposit instruments our clients choose, those choices can be influenced with the rates and the deposit specials offered.

Our on-balance sheet sources of liquidity included cash and cash equivalents as well as unpledged securities which may be sold or pledged as collateral to meet liquidity needs. As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our on-balance sheet sources of liquidity included the following:

(dollars in thousands)

64

Additional sources of liquidity include borrowings from the FHLB, the Federal Reserve discount window, and federal fund lines of credit. Interest is charged on outstanding borrowings at the prevailing market rate. As of December 31, 2024, our current borrowings and additional available borrowing capacity were as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

Further, the Bank could utilize brokered deposits as an additional source of liquidity, as needed.

As of December 31, 2024, management believed the current liquidity and available sources of liquidity are adequate to meet all of the reasonably foreseeable short-term and intermediate-term demands of the Bank. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank had no material commitments for capital expenditures.

Holding Company Liquidity

The Holding Company, or HBT Financial on an unconsolidated basis, is a corporation separate and apart from the Bank and, therefore, it must provide for its own liquidity. As of December 31, 2024, the Holding Company had cash and cash equivalents of $16.2 million.

The Holding Company’s main source of funding is dividends declared and paid to it by the Bank. Due to state banking laws, the Bank may not declare dividends in any calendar year in an amount that would exceed accumulated retained earnings, after giving effect to any unrecognized losses and bad debts, without the prior approval of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In addition, dividends paid by the Bank to the Holding Company would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Bank’s capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements. Management believes that these limitations will not impact the Holding Company’s ability to meet its ongoing short-term cash obligations. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Bank paid $34.0 million, $64.0 million, and $28.0 million in dividends to the Holding Company, respectively.

The liquidity needs of the Holding Company on an unconsolidated basis consist primarily of operating expenses, interest payments on the subordinated notes and junior subordinated debentures, and shareholder distributions in the form of dividends and stock repurchases. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, holding company operating expenses consisted of interest expense of $5.7 million, $5.4 million, and $3.7 million, respectively, and other operating expenses of $4.1 million, $5.5 million, and $5.3 million, respectively.

Additionally, the Holding Company paid $24.2 million, $21.9 million, and $18.6 million of dividends to stockholders during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Holding Company also paid $38.0 million in cash consideration in the acquisition of Town and Country during 2023.

As of December 31, 2024, management was not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that had or were reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Holding Company’s liquidity.

As of December 31, 2024, management believed the current liquidity and available sources of liquidity are adequate to meet all of the reasonably foreseeable short-term and intermediate-term demands of the Holding Company. As of December 31, 2024, the Holding Company had no material commitments for capital expenditures.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

The overall objectives of capital management are to ensure the availability of sufficient capital to support loan, deposit and other asset and liability growth opportunities and to maintain capital to absorb unforeseen losses or write-downs that are inherent in the business risks associated with the banking industry. The Company seeks to balance the need for higher capital levels to address such unforeseen risks and the goal to achieve an adequate return on the capital invested by our stockholders.

Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Company and Bank are each subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal and state banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of the Company and the Bank.

In addition to meeting minimum capital requirements, the Company and the Bank must also maintain a “capital conservation buffer” to avoid becoming subject to restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management. The capital conservation buffer requirement is 2.5% of risk-weighted assets.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject. As of those dates, the Bank was “well capitalized” under the regulatory prompt corrective action provisions.

The following table sets forth actual capital ratios of the Company and the Bank as of the dates indicated, as well as the minimum ratios for capital adequacy purposes with the capital conservation buffer, and the minimum ratios to be well capitalized under regulatory prompt corrective action provisions.

(1) The Tier 1 capital to average assets ratio (known as the “leverage ratio”) is not impacted by the capital conservation buffer.

(2) The prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable to bank holding companies.

N/A Not applicable.

As of December 31, 2024, management was not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that had or were reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Company’s capital resources.

Cash Dividends

The Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.19 per share during 2024, $0.17 per share during 2023, and $0.16 per share during 2022. On January 21, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend by $0.02 per share to $0.21 per share.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company repurchased 232,803 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $18.89 during 2024, 479,005 shares at a weighted average price of $18.43 during 2023, and 265,379 shares at a weighted average price of $18.02 during 2022. Repurchases were conducted in compliance with Rule 10b-18 and in compliance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. On December 17, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program which authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $15.0 million of its common stock. The new stock repurchase program took effect upon the expiration of the prior stock repurchase program and expires on January 1, 2025.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

As a financial services provider, the Bank routinely is a party to various financial instruments with off-balance sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, unused lines of credit, commitments to sell loans, and interest rate swaps. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process afforded to loans originated by the Bank. For additional information, see “Note 23 – Commitments and Contingencies” to the consolidated financial statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Critical accounting estimates are those that are critical to the portrayal and understanding of the Company’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 the Company’s critical accounting estimates. The following accounting estimate could be deemed critical:

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses reflects an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses. Measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The allowance for credit losses is established through a provision for credit losses which is charged to expense. Additions to the allowance for credit losses are expected to maintain the adequacy of the total allowance for credit losses. Loan losses are charged off against the allowance for credit losses when the Company determines the loan balance to be uncollectible. Cash received on previously charged off amounts is recorded as a recovery to the allowance for credit losses.

Management uses the discounted cash flow method to estimate expected credit losses for all loan categories, except for consumer loans where the weighted average remaining maturity method is utilized. The Company uses regression analysis of historical internal and peer data to determine which macroeconomic variables are most closely correlated with credit losses, such as the unemployment rate and changes in GDP. Management leverages economic projections from a reputable third party to form its economic forecasts with a reversion to historical averages for periods beyond a reasonable and supportable forecast period.

Nonaccrual loans and loans which do not share risk characteristics with other loans in the pool are individually evaluated to determine expected credit losses.

The allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments is estimated in the same manner as the associated loans, adjusted for anticipated funding rate.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain financial information determined by methods other than those in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present these non-GAAP financial measures, and accordingly believes that providing these measures may be useful for peer comparison purposes. These disclosures should not be viewed as substitutes for the results determined to be in accordance with GAAP; nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. See our reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely comparable GAAP financial measures below.

68

(1) Tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Return on Average Assets

(dollars in thousands)

(1) Includes recognition of an allowance for credit losses on non-PCD loans of $5.2 million and an allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $0.7 million in connection with the Town and Country merger during the first quarter of 2023 in accordance with ASC 326 which was adopted on January 1, 2023.

(2) Assumes a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

Adjusted Earnings Per Share

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(1) The Company previously granted restricted stock units that contained non-forfeitable rights to dividend equivalents which were considered participating securities. Prior to 2024, these restricted stock units were included in the calculation of basic earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings.

Pre-Provision Net Revenue, Pre-Provision Net Revenue Less Charge-offs (Recoveries),

Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue, and

Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue Less Charge-offs (Recoveries)

(dollars in thousands)

72

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin (Tax-Equivalent Basis)

(dollars in thousands)

(1) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure —

Efficiency Ratio (Tax-Equivalent Basis) and Adjusted Efficiency Ratio (Tax-Equivalent Basis)

(dollars in thousands)

(1) On a tax-equivalent basis assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% and a state tax rate of 9.5%.

Ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets and Tangible Book Value Per Share

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure —

Return on Average Tangible Common Equity, Adjusted Return on Average Stockholders’ Equity, and Adjusted Return on Average Tangible Common Equity

(dollars in thousands)

74

Core Deposits

(dollars in thousands)

75

Managing risk is an essential part of successfully managing a financial institution. Our most prominent risk exposures are interest rate risk and credit risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk inherent in the normal course of lending and deposit-taking activities. Interest rate risk is the potential reduction of net interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Management believes that our ability to successfully respond to changes in interest rates will have a significant impact on our financial results. To that end, management actively monitors and manages our interest rate exposure.

The Company’s Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which is authorized by the Company’s board of directors, monitors our interest rate sensitivity and makes decisions relating to that process. The ALCO’s goal is to structure our asset/liability composition to maximize net interest income while managing interest rate risk so as to minimize the adverse impact of changes in interest rates on net interest income and capital in either a rising or declining interest rate environment. Profitability is affected by fluctuations in interest rates. A sudden and substantial change in interest rates may adversely impact our earnings because the interest rates borne by assets and liabilities do not change at the same speed, to the same extent or on the same basis.

We monitor the impact of changes in interest rates on our net interest income and economic value of equity (“EVE”) using rate shock analysis. Net interest income simulations measure the short-term earnings exposure from changes in market rates of interest in a rigorous and explicit fashion. Our current financial position is combined with assumptions regarding future business to calculate net interest income under varying hypothetical rate scenarios. EVE measures our long-term earnings exposure from changes in market rates of interest. EVE is defined as the present value of assets minus the present value of liabilities at a point in time. A decrease in EVE due to a specified rate change indicates a decline in the long-term earnings capacity of the balance sheet assuming that the rate change remains in effect over the life of the current balance sheet.

The base and shock scenarios in the rate shock analysis assume a static balance sheet, static interest rates, no changes to product mix shift, and cash flow reinvestment at current market interest rates. We also make assumptions for our deposit betas and asset prepayments, based on historical experience.

Deposit Betas

Deposit pricing changes are primarily driven by changes in the federal funds rate, with the relationship between deposit rates and federal funds rate defined as deposit beta. We define cumulative deposit beta as the change in our quarterly cost of deposits divided by the change in the upper level of the stated federal funds rate range over a specified period. During the most recent rising rate cycle, which was from the fourth quarter of 2021 through the second quarter of 2024, our cumulative deposit beta was 23.6%. During the current falling rate cycle, which began with the third quarter of 2024, our cumulative deposit beta was 13.1%.

Asset Prepayments

We include prepayment assumptions for both our loan and securities portfolios, based on historical experience. Generally, mortgage portfolio prepayments increase in lower rate environments, while commercial and consumer portfolios have historically remained more consistent throughout rate cycles.

The following table sets forth the estimated impact on our EVE and net interest income of immediate and parallel changes in interest rates at the specified levels.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodology used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes in EVE and net interest income requires that we make certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The EVE and net interest income table presented above assumes that the composition of our interest-rate-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured and, accordingly, the data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates, such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors, which could change the actual impact on EVE and net interest income. The table also assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or the repricing characteristics of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the EVE and net interest income table provides an indication of our sensitivity to interest rate changes at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and will differ from actual results.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that borrowers or counterparties will be unable or unwilling to repay their obligations in accordance with the underlying contractual terms. We manage credit risk in the loan portfolio by adhering to well-defined underwriting criteria and account administration standards established by management. Our loan policy documents underwriting standards, approval levels, exposure limits and other limits or standards deemed necessary and prudent. Portfolio diversification at the borrower, industry, and product levels is actively managed to mitigate concentration risk. In addition, credit risk management also includes an independent loan review process that assesses compliance with loan policy, compliance with loan documentation standards, accuracy of the risk rating and overall credit quality of the loan portfolio.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other members of the Company’s senior management. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is: (i) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. Internal control is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of published financial statements. Internal control over financial reporting includes self-monitoring mechanisms, and actions are taken to correct deficiencies as they are identified.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. This assessment was based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in 2013. Based on this assessment, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 based on the specified criteria.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. 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.

RSM US LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an audit opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, is included in this Item.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of HBT Financial, Inc.

Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited HBT Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, 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, 2024, 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, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and our report dated March 7, 2025 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 regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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

Chicago, Illinois

March 7, 2025