10-Q - BUSE - Equibles

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q


☑	Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2021


☐	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File No. 0-15950

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Nevada		37-1078406
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation<br>or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 W. University Ave. Champaign , Illinois		61820
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (217) 365-4544

N/A

(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol (s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.001 par value	BUSE	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes þ No ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	☑	Accelerated filer ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company	☐	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class		Outstanding at November 4, 2021
Common Stock, $.001 par value		55,668,984

Table of Contents FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2021


	GLOSSARY			3

Part I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)			4
	CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS			5
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME			6
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME			7
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY			8
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS			10
	NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS			12
		Note 1:	Significant Accounting Policies	12
		Note 2:	Acquisitions	13
		Note 3:	Securities	15
		Note 4:	Portfolio Loans	17
		Note 5:	Deposits	25
		Note 6:	Borrowings	26
		Note 7:	Regulatory Capital	27
		Note 8:	Employee Benefit Plans	29
		Note 9:	Stock-Based Compensation	29
		Note 10:	Outstanding Commitments and Contingent Liabilities	32
		Note 11:	Derivative Financial Instruments	32
		Note 12:	Fair Value Measurements	35
		Note 13:	Earnings per Common Share	39
		Note 14:	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	40
		Note 15:	Operating Segments and Related Information	41
		Note 16:	Leases	43
Item 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS			45
Item 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK			68
Item 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES			69

Part II	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS			70
Item 1A	RISK FACTORS			70
Item 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS			70
Item 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES			70
Item 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES			70
Item 5.	OTHER INFORMATION			70
Item 6.	EXHIBITS			71
	SIGNATURES			72

Table of Contents GLOSSARY

We use acronyms, abbreviations, and other terms throughout this Quarterly Report, as defined in the glossary below:


Term	****	Definition
2020 Equity Plan		First Busey's 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
2020 Annual Report		Annual report filed with the SEC on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for the year ended December 31, 2020
ACL		Allowance for credit losses
ASC		Accounting Standards Codification
Basel III		2010 capital accord adopted by the international Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
Basel III Rule		Regulations promulgated by U.S. federal banking agencies—the OCC, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC—to both enforce implementation of certain aspects of the Basel III capital reforms and effect certain changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act
CAC		Cummins-American Corp.
CARES Act		Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
CECL		Current Expected Credit Losses
COVID-19		Coronavirus disease 2019
Dodd-Frank Act		Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
DSU		Deferred stock unit
ESPP		Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Exchange Act		Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Fair value		The price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, as defined in ASC 820
FDIC		Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve		Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
FHLB		Federal Home Loan Bank
First Busey		First Busey Corporation and its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries; also, "Busey," "the Company," "we," "us," and "our"
First Busey Risk Management		First Busey Risk Management, Inc.
FirsTech		FirsTech, Inc.
GAAP		U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GSB		Glenview State Bank
Interagency Statement		Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus, issued on March 22, 2020, and revised on April 7, 2020
LIBOR		London Interbank Offered Rate
OCI		Other comprehensive income (loss)
OREO		Other real estate owned
PCD		Purchased credit deteriorated
PSU		Performance-based restricted stock unit
PPP		Paycheck Protection Program
Quarterly Report		Quarterly report filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
RSU		Restricted stock unit
SBA		U.S. Small Business Administration
SEC		U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
TDR		Troubled debt restructuring
U.S. Treasury		U.S. Department of the Treasury

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Table of Contents

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)


	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and due from banks	$	151,372	$	118,824
Interest-bearing deposits		732,473		569,713
Total cash and cash equivalents		883,845		688,537

Debt securities available for sale	****	3,997,244		2,261,187
Equity securities		13,012		5,530
Loans held for sale, at fair value	****	20,225		42,813
Portfolio loans (net of ACL of $92,802 at September 30, 2021; $101,048 at December 31, 2020)	****	7,057,833		6,713,129
Premises and equipment, net	****	142,031		135,191
Right of use assets		11,068		7,714
Goodwill	****	317,766		311,536
Other intangible assets, net	****	61,125		51,985
Cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance		176,730		176,405
Other assets		218,451		150,020
Total assets	$	12,899,330	$	10,544,047

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$	3,453,906	$	2,552,039
Interest-bearing		7,363,961		6,125,810
Total deposits		10,817,867		8,677,849

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	****	241,242		175,614
Short-term borrowings		17,673		4,658
Long-term debt	****	49,233		4,757
Senior notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		39,910		39,809
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		182,637		182,226
Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts		71,593		71,468
Lease liabilities		11,120		7,757
Other liabilities	****	134,979		109,840
Total liabilities		11,566,254		9,273,978

Outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities (see Notes 10 and 16)

Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock, ($.001 par value)	****	58		56
Additional paid-in capital		1,315,038		1,253,360
Retained earnings		75,643		20,830
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,366)		33,309
Total stockholders’ equity before treasury stock		1,389,373		1,307,555

Treasury stock at cost		(56,297)		(37,486)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,333,076		1,270,069
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	12,899,330	$	10,544,047

Shares
Common shares issued		58,116,970		55,910,733
Less treasury shares		(2,289,986)		(1,506,354)
Common shares outstanding		55,826,984		54,404,379

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans		$	65,163		$	69,809		$	189,132		$	213,434
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
Taxable interest income			11,324			8,466			29,016			26,807
Non-taxable interest income			915			1,141			2,878			3,458
Other interest income			462			213			857			1,596
Total interest income			77,864			79,629			221,883			245,295

Interest expense
Deposits			3,059			6,105			10,086			26,053
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase			60			88			177			596
Short-term borrowings			112			30			195			215
Long-term debt			270			38			415			495
Senior notes			400			400			1,199			1,199
Subordinated notes			2,480			2,475			7,436			4,518
Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts			728			740			2,185			2,220
Total interest expense			7,109			9,876			21,693			35,296

Net interest income			70,755			69,753			200,190			209,999
Provision for credit losses			(1,869)			5,549			(10,365)			35,656
Net interest income after provision for credit losses			72,624			64,204			210,555			174,343

Noninterest income
Wealth management fees			13,749			10,548			39,335			32,296
Fees for customer services			9,288			8,014			25,936			23,400
Remittance processing			4,355			3,995			13,122			11,466
Mortgage revenue			1,740			5,793			6,153			9,879
Income on bank owned life insurance			999			1,022			3,439			4,361
Net gains (losses) on sales of securities			(5)			11			114			1,710
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities			62			(437)			2,482			(1,234)
Other income			3,071			3,339			7,134			5,888
Total noninterest income			33,259			32,285			97,715			87,766

Noninterest expense
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits			41,949			32,839			107,222			95,397
Data processing			7,782			3,937			16,881			12,383
Net occupancy expense of premises			4,797			4,256			13,606			13,419
Furniture and equipment expenses			2,208			2,325			6,300			7,311
Professional fees			1,361			1,698			5,617			5,508
Amortization of intangible assets			3,149			2,493			8,200			7,569
Interchange expense			1,434			1,223			4,360			3,590
Other expense			10,807			7,771			28,425			24,947
Total noninterest expense			73,487			56,542			190,611			170,124

Income before income taxes			32,396			39,947			117,659			91,985
Income taxes			6,455			9,118			24,136			19,986
Net income		$	25,941		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999

Basic earnings per common share		$	0.46		$	0.56		$	1.69		$	1.32
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.46		$	0.56		$	1.67		$	1.31
Dividends declared per share of common stock		$	0.23		$	0.22		$	0.69		$	0.66

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Net income		$	25,941		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999

Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale:
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale, net of taxes of $4,902, $682, $14,195, and ($9,577), respectively			(12,296)			(1,710)			(35,606)			23,974
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on debt securities available for sale included in net income, net of taxes of ($1), $3, $7, and $492, respectively			4			(8)			(16)			(1,218)
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale			(12,292)			(1,718)			(35,622)			22,756

Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $2, ($6), ($134), and $890, respectively			(5)			14			336			(2,233)
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gains) losses on cash flow hedges included in net income, net of taxes of ($82), ($76), ($243), and ($16), respectively			206			192			611			42
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			201			206			947			(2,191)

Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(12,091)			(1,512)			(34,675)			20,565

Total comprehensive income		$	13,850		$	29,317		$	58,848		$	92,564

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


		Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
													Accumulated
							Additional						Other						Total
				Common			Paid-in			Retained			Comprehensive			Treasury			Stockholders'
	****	Shares	****	Stock		****	Capital		****	Earnings		****	Income (Loss)		****	Stock		****	Equity
Balance, June 30, 2021		56,330,616		$	58		$	1,316,716		$	62,926		$	10,725		$	(44,734)		$	1,345,691
Net income		—			—			—			25,941			—			—			25,941
Other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			(12,091)			—			(12,091)
Stock issued in acquisition, net of stock issuance costs		—			—			(29)			—			—			—			(29)
Repurchase of stock		(625,000)			—			—			—			—			(14,790)			(14,790)
Issuance of treasury stock for employee stock purchase plan		14,658			—			(16)			—			—			377			361
Net issuance of treasury stock for restricted/deferred stock unit vesting and related tax		106,710			—			(3,738)			—			—			2,850			(888)
Cash dividends common stock at $0.23 per share		—			—			—			(12,956)			—			—			(12,956)
Stock dividend equivalents restricted stock units at $0.23 per share		—			—			268			(268)			—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—			—			1,837			—			—			—			1,837
Balance, September 30, 2021		55,826,984		$	58		$	1,315,038		$	75,643		$	(1,366)		$	(56,297)		$	1,333,076


		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
													Accumulated
							Additional						Other						Total
				Common			Paid-in			Retained			Comprehensive			Treasury			Stockholders'
	****	Shares	****	Stock		****	Capital		****	Earnings		****	Income (Loss)		****	Stock		****	Equity
Balance, December 31, 2020		54,404,379		$	56		$	1,253,360		$	20,830		$	33,309		$	(37,486)		$	1,270,069
Net income		—			—			—			93,523			—			—			93,523
Other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			(34,675)			—			(34,675)
Stock issued in acquisition, net of stock issuance costs		2,206,237			2			58,953			—			—			—			58,955
Repurchase of stock		(905,000)			—			—			—			—			(22,038)			(22,038)
Issuance of treasury stock for employee stock purchase plan		14,658			—			(16)			—			—			377			361
Net issuance of treasury stock for restricted/deferred stock unit vesting and related tax		106,710			—			(3,738)			—			—			2,850			(888)
Cash dividends common stock at $0.69 per share		—			—			—			(37,953)			—			—			(37,953)
Stock dividend equivalents restricted stock units at $0.69 per share		—			—			757			(757)			—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—			—			5,722			—			—			—			5,722
Balance, September 30, 2021		55,826,984		$	58		$	1,315,038		$	75,643		$	(1,366)		$	(56,297)		$	1,333,076

Table of Contents

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


		Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
										Retained			Accumulated
							Additional			Earnings			Other						Total
				Common			Paid-in			(Accumulated			Comprehensive			Treasury			Stockholders'
	****	Shares	****	Stock		****	Capital		****	Deficit)		****	Income (Loss)		****	Stock		****	Equity
Balance, June 30, 2020		54,516,000		$	56		$	1,248,045		$	(13,951)		$	37,037		$	(35,103)		$	1,236,084
Net income		—			—			—			30,829			—			—			30,829
Other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			(1,512)			—			(1,512)
Issuance of treasury stock for employee stock purchase plan		6,119			—			(23)			—			—			116			93
Net issuance of treasury stock for restricted/deferred stock unit vesting and related tax		112			—			(2)			—			—			2			—
Cash dividends common stock at $0.22 per share		—			—			—			(11,994)			—			—			(11,994)
Stock dividend equivalents restricted stock units at $0.22 per share		—			—			166			(166)			—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—			—			2,205			—			—			—			2,205
Balance, September 30, 2020		54,522,231		$	56		$	1,250,391		$	4,718		$	35,525		$	(34,985)		$	1,255,705


		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
										Retained			Accumulated
							Additional			Earnings			Other						Total
				Common			Paid-in			(Accumulated			Comprehensive			Treasury			Stockholders'
	****	Shares	****	Stock		****	Capital		****	Deficit)		****	Income (Loss)		****	Stock		****	Equity
Balance, December 31, 2019		54,788,772		$	56		$	1,248,216		$	(14,813)		$	14,960		$	(27,985)		$	1,220,434
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			—			(15,922)			—			—			(15,922)
Net income		—			—			—			71,999			—			—			71,999
Other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			—			—			20,565			—			20,565
Repurchase of stock		(407,850)			—			—			—			—			(9,669)			(9,669)
Issuance of treasury stock for employee stock purchase plan		26,651			—			(68)			—			—			504			436
Net issuance of treasury stock for restricted/deferred stock unit vesting and related tax		106,589			—			(2,648)			—			—			2,013			(635)
Net issuance of treasury stock for stock options exercised, net of shares redeemed and related tax		8,069			—			(51)			—			—			152			101
Cash dividends common stock at $0.66 per share		—			—			—			(36,017)			—			—			(36,017)
Stock dividend equivalents restricted stock units at $0.66 per share		—			—			529			(529)			—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—			—			4,413			—			—			—			4,413
Balance, September 30, 2020		54,522,231		$	56		$	1,250,391		$	4,718		$	35,525		$	(34,985)		$	1,255,705

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)


		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net income		$	93,523		$	71,999
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Provision for credit losses			(10,365)			35,656
Amortization of intangible assets			8,200			7,569
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights			4,202			3,932
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment			8,723			9,384
Net amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on portfolio loans acquired			(4,860)			(7,015)
Net amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on investment securities			17,263			6,698
Net amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on time deposits			(929)			(662)
Net amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on FHLB advances and other borrowings			620			387
Impairment of OREO			—			43
Impairment of fixed assets held for sale			—			36
Impairment of mortgage servicing rights			(542)			604
Change in fair value of equity securities, net			(2,482)			1,234
(Gain) loss on sales of debt securities, net			(114)			(1,710)
(Gain) loss on sales of loans, net			(8,202)			(21,357)
(Gain) loss on sales of OREO			163			47
(Gain) loss on sales of premises and equipment			(1,007)			198
(Gain) loss on life insurance proceeds			(493)			(1,256)
Provision for deferred income taxes			2,326			(2,730)
Stock-based compensation			5,722			4,413
(Increase) decrease in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance			(2,946)			(3,105)
Mortgage loans originated for sale			(214,096)			(770,186)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans			244,356			771,039
Net change in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in other assets			(12,791)			(3,435)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities			(23,775)			(369)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	102,496		$	101,414

Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Purchases of equity securities		$	(11,017)		$	(13,123)
Purchases of debt securities available for sale			(2,048,554)			(907,094)
Proceeds from sales of equity securities			7,254			33
Proceeds from sales of debt securities available for sale			290,955			—
Proceeds from paydowns and maturities of debt securities available for sale			641,754			477,370
Net cash received in (paid for) acquisitions (see Note 2)			228,279			—
Net (increase) decrease in loans			114,729			(439,679)
Cash paid for premiums on bank-owned life insurance			(118)			(120)
Purchases of premises and equipment			(4,041)			(3,158)
Proceeds from life insurance			3,232			2,512
Proceeds from disposition of premises and equipment			6,519			806
Proceeds from sales of OREO			1,452			492
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		$	(769,556)		$	(881,961)

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FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Continued)

(dollars in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net increase (decrease) in deposits	$	816,551	$	740,967
Net change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase		48,977		(3,850)
Proceeds from other borrowings		72,500		142,634
Repayment of other borrowings		(15,500)		(74,000)
Proceeds from FHLB advances		5,000		4,000
Repayment of FHLB advances		(4,492)		(32,551)
Cash dividends paid		(37,953)		(36,017)
Purchase of treasury stock		(22,038)		(9,669)
Cash paid for withholding taxes on stock-based payments		(888)		(635)
Proceeds from stock options exercised		—		101
Issuance of treasury stock for ESPP		361		—
Common stock issuance costs		(150)		—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$	862,368	$	730,980

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		195,308		(49,567)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		688,537		529,288

Cash and cash equivalents, ending of period	$	883,845	$	479,721

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Cash payments for:
Interest	$	16,257	$	41,987
Income taxes	****	9,641		19,395

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
OREO acquired in settlement of loans	****	228		2,482

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Note 1: Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

First Busey Corporation, a Nevada corporation organized in 1980, is a $12.9 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BUSE.”

The Company operates and reports its business in three segments: Banking, Remittance Processing, and Wealth Management. The Banking operating segment provides a full range of banking services to individual and corporate customers through the Company’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Busey Bank, with banking centers in Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area; southwest Florida; and Indianapolis, Indiana. The Remittance Processing operating segment provides technology-driven payment solutions for walk-in, lockbox, interactive voice recognition, and online bill payments, among others, through the Company’s subsidiary, FirsTech. The Wealth Management operating segment provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations.

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2020 Annual Report. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements serve to update our 2020 Annual Report and may not include all information and notes necessary to constitute a complete set of financial statements.

We prepared these unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP. We have eliminated intercompany accounts and transactions. We have also reclassified certain prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

In our opinion, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal, recurring adjustments needed to present fairly our results for the interim periods. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

COVID-19

First Busey has continued to operate as an essential community resource during these challenging and unprecedented times. Federal bank regulatory agencies, along with their state counterparts, have issued a steady stream of guidance responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and have taken a number of steps to help banks navigate the pandemic and mitigate its impact.

The Company remains vigilant as the negative impacts of COVID-19, such as further margin compression and a deterioration in asset quality, could impact future quarters.

As part of the CARES Act, Congress appropriated approximately $349 billion for the creation of the PPP and then authorized a second phase for an additional $310 billion in PPP loans. The program provided payroll assistance for the nation’s nearly 30 million small businesses—and select nonprofits—in the form of 100% government-guaranteed low-interest loans from the SBA. On December 27, 2020, the Economic Aid Act extended the authority to make PPP loans through March 31, 2021, and revised certain PPP requirements. On March 30, 2021, the President signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which extended the PPP application deadline to May 31, 2021, or until funding was exhausted, which occurred on May 28, 2021. First Busey served as a bridge for these programs, actively helping existing and new business clients sign up for this important financial resource.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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The following table summarizes First Busey’s PPP loans as of September 30, 2021, (dollars in thousands):


		CARES			Economic Aid			PPP Loan
	****	Act		****	Act		****	Totals
Customers with PPP loans processed/acquired			4,595			2,753			7,348
PPP loans originated/acquired		$	765,212		$	324,593		$	1,089,805

Customers with PPP loans outstanding			121			1,499			1,620
PPP loans outstanding		$	17,364		$	165,746		$	183,110
PPP loans outstanding, amortized cost			17,325			160,906			178,231

PPP loan balance forgiveness:
Received		$	744,320		$	151,135		$	895,455
Balances submitted to the SBA for forgiveness			10,796			10,217			21,013

Use of Estimates

In preparing the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Company’s management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates which are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the fair value of debt securities available for sale, fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, goodwill, income taxes, and the determination of the ACL.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure through the date the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report were issued. There were no significant subsequent events for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, through the filing date of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Note 2: Acquisitions

Cummins-American Corp.

Effective May 31, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of CAC, the holding company for GSB. The partnership has enhanced the Company’s existing deposit, commercial banking, and wealth management presence in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. GSB’s results of operations were included in the Company’s results of operations beginning June 1, 2021. First Busey operated GSB as a separate banking subsidiary until August 14, 2021, when it was merged with and into Busey Bank. At that time, all GSB banking centers became branches of Busey Bank.

Under terms of the definitive agreement, each share of CAC common stock issued and outstanding as of the effective date was converted into the right to receive 444.4783 shares of First Busey common stock and $14,173.96 in cash, which reflects the adjustments made to the cash consideration in accordance with the terms of the definitive agreement. The fair value of the common shares issued as part of the consideration paid for CAC was determined on the basis of the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the last trading day immediately preceding the acquisition date of May 31, 2021. As additional consideration provided to CAC’s shareholders in the merger, CAC paid a special dividend to its shareholders in the amount of $60.0 million, or $12,087.58 per share of CAC common stock, on May 28, 2021.

This transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and consideration exchanged was recorded at estimated fair values on the date of acquisition. Fair values are considered provisional until final fair values are determined, or the measurement period has passed, but no later than one year from the acquisition date. Measurement period adjustments of $0.2 million were recorded in the third quarter of 2021 as more information became available regarding unrecorded liabilities. 13

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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As the total consideration paid for CAC exceeded the provisional fair value of net assets acquired, estimated goodwill of $6.2 million was recorded as a result of the acquisition. The amount of goodwill recognized as a result of this transaction is expected to be fully tax deductible for federal income tax purposes in accordance with the Company’s election pursuant to Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code. Goodwill recorded for this transaction reflects synergies expected from the acquisition and expansion within the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, and was assigned to the Banking operating segment.

The following table presents the estimated fair value of CAC’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of May 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):


	****	Fair Value
Assets acquired
Cash and cash equivalents		$	298,637
Securities			702,367
Portfolio loans, net of ACL			430,470
Premises and equipment			17,034
Other intangible assets			17,340
Mortgage servicing rights			629
Other assets			8,176
Total assets acquired			1,474,653

Liabilities assumed
Deposits			1,315,671
Other borrowings			16,651
Other liabilities			19,098
Total liabilities assumed			1,351,420

Net assets acquired		$	123,233

Consideration paid:
Cash		$	70,358
Common stock			59,105
Total consideration paid		$	129,463

Goodwill		$	6,230

The fair value of PCD financial assets was $60.5 million on the date of acquisition. Gross contractual amounts receivable relating to the PCD financial assets was $65.2 million. The Company estimated, on the date of acquisition, that $4.2 million of the contractual cash flows specific to the PCD financial assets will not be collected.

During three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, First Busey incurred $8.4 million and $11.4 million, respectively, in pre-tax acquisition expenses related to the acquisition of CAC, comprised primarily of professional fees, compensation expense, and data processing expense.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Note 3: Securities

The table below provides the amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and fair values of debt securities summarized by major category (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
					Gross			Gross
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized						Fair
	****	Cost		****	Gains		****	Losses		****		ACL	****	Value
Debt securities available for sale
U.S. Treasury securities		$	185,636		$	72		$	(255)		$	—		$	185,453
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies			37,784			1,213			—			—			38,997
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			288,023			8,743			(754)			—			296,012
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			607,097			5,278			(9,078)			—			603,297
Residential mortgage-backed securities			2,108,388			13,973			(19,753)			—			2,102,608
Asset-backed securities			468,618			323			(134)			—			468,807
Corporate debt securities			301,878			1,374			(1,182)			—			302,070
Total debt securities available for sale		$	3,997,424		$	30,976		$	(31,156)		$	—		$	3,997,244


		As of December 31, 2020
					Gross			Gross
		Amortized			Unrealized			Unrealized						Fair
	****	Cost		****	Gains		****	Losses		****		ACL	****	Value
Debt securities available for sale
U.S. Treasury securities		$	27,481		$	356		$	—		$	—		$	27,837
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies			67,406			2,162			(49)			—			69,519
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			292,940			11,779			(8)			—			304,711
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			408,716			10,212			(312)			—			418,616
Residential mortgage-backed securities			1,344,047			24,571			(303)			—			1,368,315
Corporate debt securities			70,953			1,237			(1)			—			72,189
Total debt securities available for sale		$	2,211,543		$	50,317		$	(673)			—		$	2,261,187

Amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity or pre-refunded date are shown below. Mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities may be called or prepaid; therefore, actual maturities could differ from the contractual maturities. All mortgage-backed securities were issued by U.S. government corporations and agencies (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
	****	Amortized		****	Fair
	****	Cost		****	Value
Debt securities available for sale
Due in one year or less		$	103,158		$	103,787
Due after one year through five years			603,868			608,074
Due after five years through ten years			385,479			393,540
Due after ten years			2,904,919			2,891,843
Total debt securities available for sale		$	3,997,424		$	3,997,244

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Realized gains and losses related to sales and calls of debt securities available for sale are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Realized gains and losses on sales of debt securities
Gross security gains		$	—		$	11		$	524		$	1,718
Gross security (losses)			(5)			—			(410)			(8)
Net gains (losses) on sales of debt securities		$	(5)		$	11		$	114		$	1,710

Debt securities with carrying amounts of $729.2 million on September 30, 2021, and $628.0 million December 31, 2020, were pledged as collateral for public deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and for other purposes as required.

The following information pertains to debt securities with gross unrealized losses, aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
		Less than 12 months						12 months or more						Total
		Fair		****	Unrealized		****	Fair		****	Unrealized		****	Fair		****	Unrealized
	****	Value		****	Losses		****	Value		****	Losses		****	Value		****	Losses
Debt securities available for sale
U.S. Treasury securities		$	180,317		$	(255)		$	—		$	—		$	180,317		$	(255)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			55,434			(754)			—			—			55,434			(754)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			434,220			(9,036)			3,063			(42)			437,283			(9,078)
Residential mortgage-backed securities			1,392,160			(19,707)			5,568			(46)			1,397,728			(19,753)
Asset-backed securities			51,183			(134)			—			—			51,183			(134)
Corporate debt securities			210,951			(1,182)			—			—			210,951			(1,182)
Total temporarily impaired securities		$	2,324,265		$	(31,068)		$	8,631		$	(88)		$	2,332,896		$	(31,156)


		As of December 31, 2020
		Less than 12 months						12 months or more						Total
		Fair		****	Unrealized		****	Fair		****	Unrealized		****	Fair		****	Unrealized
	****	Value		****	Losses		****	Value		****	Losses		****	Value		****	Losses
Debt securities available for sale
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies		$	—		$	—		$	4,957		$	(49)		$	4,957		$	(49)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			762			(8)			—			—			762			(8)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			129,655			(312)			—			—			129,655			(312)
Residential mortgage-backed securities			89,997			(300)			139			(3)			90,136			(303)
Corporate debt securities			1,499			(1)			—			—			1,499			(1)
Total temporarily impaired securities		$	221,913		$	(621)		$	5,096		$	(52)		$	227,009		$	(673)

Debt securities available for sale are not within the scope of CECL, however, the accounting for credit losses on these securities is affected by ASC 326-30. The Company’s debt security portfolio consisted of 1,274 securities as of September 30, 2021, compared to 1,114 securities as of December 31, 2020. The number of debt securities in the investment portfolio in an unrealized loss position was 294, representing an unrealized loss of 1.3% of the aggregate fair value, as of September 30, 2021, compared to 23 securities representing an unrealized loss of 0.3% of the aggregate fair value as of December 31, 2020. Unrealized losses related to changes in market interest rates and market conditions that do not represent credit-related impairments. Furthermore, the Company does not intend to sell such securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will recover the amortized cost prior to being required to sell the debt securities. Full collection of the amounts due according to the contractual terms of the debt securities is expected; therefore, the 16

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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impairment related to noncredit factors is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. As of September 30, 2021, the Company did not hold general obligation bonds of any single issuer, the aggregate of which exceeded 10% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

Note 4: Portfolio Loans

Distributions of portfolio loans are as follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Portfolio loans
Commercial		$	1,931,863		$	2,014,576
Commercial real estate			3,068,622			2,892,535
Real estate construction			430,857			461,786
Retail real estate			1,512,884			1,407,852
Retail other			206,409			37,428
Total portfolio loans		$	7,150,635		$	6,814,177

ACL			(92,802)			(101,048)

Portfolio loans, net		$	7,057,833		$	6,713,129

Net deferred loan origination costs included in the balances above were $4.9 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $2.4 million as of December 31, 2020. Net accretable purchase accounting adjustments included in the balances above reduced loans by $10.1 million as of September 30, 2021, and $10.9 million as of December 31, 2020. The September 30, 2021, commercial balance includes loans originated under PPP with an amortized cost of $178.2 million, compared to $446.4 million in loans originated under PPP included in the December 31, 2020, balance.

There were no retail real estate loans purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2021 or 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company purchased retail real estate loans totaling $32.2 million, compared to $43.9 million of retail real estate loan purchases in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

The Company utilizes a loan grading scale to assign a risk grade to all of its loans. A description of the general characteristics of each grade is as follows:

●	Pass – This category includes loans that are all considered acceptable credits, ranging from investment or near investment grade, to loans made to borrowers who exhibit credit fundamentals that meet or exceed industry standards.

●	Watch – This category includes loans that warrant a higher-than-average level of monitoring to ensure that weaknesses do not cause the inability of the credit to perform as expected. These loans are not necessarily a problem due to other inherent strengths of the credit, such as guarantor strength, but have above average concern and monitoring.

●	Special mention – This category is for “Other Assets Specially Mentioned” loans that have potential weaknesses, which may, if not checked or corrected, weaken the asset or inadequately protect the Company’s credit position at some future date.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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●

Substandard – This category includes “Substandard” loans, determined in accordance with regulatory guidelines, for which the accrual of interest has not been stopped. Assets so classified must have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

●	Substandard non-accrual – This category includes loans that have all the characteristics of a “Substandard” loan with additional factors that make collection in full highly questionable and improbable. Such loans are placed on non-accrual status and may be dependent on collateral with a value that is difficult to determine.

All loans are graded at their inception. Commercial lending relationships that are $1.0 million or less are usually processed through an expedited underwriting process. Most commercial loans greater than $1.0 million are included in a portfolio review at least annually. Commercial loans greater than $0.35 million that have a grading of special mention or worse are typically reviewed on a quarterly basis. Interim reviews may take place if circumstances of the borrower warrant a more frequent review. GSB’s policies were similar in nature to Busey Bank’s policies and the Company is migrating the legacy GSB portfolio and grading toward the Busey Bank policies. We acquired two non-accrual loans from GSB totaling $4.4 million, which are still outstanding as of September 30, 2021.

The following table is a summary of risk grades segregated by category of portfolio loans (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
	****			****			****	Special		****			****	Substandard
	****	Pass		****	Watch		****	Mention		****	Substandard		****	Non-accrual
Portfolio loans
Commercial		$	1,718,398		$	115,108		$	62,094		$	26,033		$	10,230
Commercial real estate			2,623,243			338,270			81,525			18,964			6,620
Real estate construction			413,986			14,464			7			2,400			—
Retail real estate			1,486,172			11,724			2,008			4,498			8,482
Retail other			206,372			—			—			—			37
Total portfolio loans		$	6,448,171		$	479,566		$	145,634		$	51,895		$	25,369


		As of December 31, 2020
	****			****			****	Special		****			****	Substandard
	****	Pass		****	Watch		****	Mention		****	Substandard		****	Non-accrual
Portfolio loans
Commercial		$	1,768,755		$	136,948		$	72,447		$	27,903		$	8,523
Commercial real estate			2,393,372			383,277			75,486			34,897			5,503
Real estate construction			434,681			24,481			77			2,546			1
Retail real estate			1,382,616			10,264			2,471			3,702			8,799
Retail other			37,324			—			—			—			104
Total portfolio loans		$	6,016,748		$	554,970		$	150,481		$	69,048		$	22,930

Risk grades of portfolio loans, further sorted by origination year are as follows (dollars in thousands):

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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	****	As of September 30, 2021
	****	Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year																			Revolving
Risk Grade Ratings	****	2021		****	2020		****	2019		****	2018		****	2017		****		Prior	****		loans	****		Total
Commercial
Pass		$	468,833		$	265,204		$	112,809		$	90,292		$	73,553		$	132,127		$	575,580		$	1,718,398
Watch			15,078			5,355			19,783			5,668			7,545			4,287			57,392			115,108
Special Mention			3,011			1,143			2,479			4,385			6,864			12,484			31,728			62,094
Substandard			3,357			3,504			3,321			1,437			1,244			5,552			7,618			26,033
Substandard non-accrual			4,305			444			1,597			—			1,821			63			2,000			10,230
Total commercial			494,584			275,649			139,989			101,782			91,027			154,513			674,318			1,931,863

Commercial real estate
Pass			655,907			690,244			463,830			289,396			257,618			245,795			20,453			2,623,243
Watch			41,596			40,404			130,282			62,312			27,226			34,572			1,878			338,270
Special Mention			27,115			7,056			7,551			18,661			10,436			10,430			276			81,525
Substandard			4,894			9,289			1,574			2,072			526			429			180			18,964
Substandard non-accrual			114			761			352			1,962			3,407			24			—			6,620
Total commercial real estate			729,627			747,753			603,588			374,403			299,213			291,250			22,787			3,068,622

Real estate construction
Pass			160,719			141,699			93,701			3,918			899			1,249			11,801			413,986
Watch			6,279			6,115			55			276			1,616			123			—			14,464
Special Mention			—			—			7			—			—			—			—			7
Substandard			—			2,400			—			—			—			—			—			2,400
Substandard non-accrual			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Total real estate construction			166,999			150,214			93,763			4,193			2,516			1,372			11,801			430,857

Retail real estate	****
Pass			428,556			230,120			107,262			92,875			95,667			313,708			217,984			1,486,172
Watch			2,641			2,666			1,982			1,521			352			270			2,292			11,724
Special Mention			1,979			29			—			—			—			—			—			2,008
Substandard			1,630			321			14			73			166			2,210			84			4,498
Substandard non-accrual			500			145			72			546			1,369			4,582			1,268			8,482
Total retail real estate			435,305			233,281			109,330			95,015			97,553			320,771			221,629			1,512,884

Retail other
Pass			45,614			25,177			30,366			19,737			9,935			2,658			72,885			206,372
Watch			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Special Mention			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Substandard			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Substandard non-accrual			—			11			7			5			14			—			—			37
Total retail other			45,614			25,188			30,373			19,742			9,949			2,658			72,885			206,409

Total portfolio loans		$	1,872,128		$	1,432,087		$	977,044		$	595,136		$	500,258		$	770,563		$	1,003,419		$	7,150,635

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Table of Contents


	****	As of December 31, 2020
	****	Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year																			Revolving
Risk Grade Ratings	****	2020		****	2019		****	2018		****	2017		****	2016		****		Prior	****		loans	****		Total
Commercial
Pass		$	812,536		$	158,307		$	107,565		$	93,190		$	61,847		$	79,970		$	455,340		$	1,768,755
Watch			16,544			22,247			14,954			13,724			2,577			10,943			55,959			136,948
Special Mention			6,402			2,671			2,069			7,164			6,763			13,733			33,645			72,447
Substandard			7,772			3,791			2,371			1,939			819			1,233			9,978			27,903
Substandard non-accrual			150			3,045			451			2,168			641			68			2,000			8,523
Total commercial			843,404			190,061			127,410			118,185			72,647			105,947			556,922			2,014,576

Commercial real estate
Pass			717,559			503,977			360,573			384,843			180,555			227,068			18,797			2,393,372
Watch			88,297			110,526			90,412			33,734			32,887			27,023			398			383,277
Special Mention			16,490			8,858			10,490			10,505			7,102			21,808			233			75,486
Substandard			17,445			4,166			1,491			7,812			2,111			1,377			495			34,897
Substandard non-accrual			1,091			776			821			882			286			1,647			—			5,503
Total commercial real estate			840,882			628,303			463,787			437,776			222,941			278,923			19,923			2,892,535

Real estate construction
Pass			179,232			171,663			64,025			1,468			761			1,444			16,088			434,681
Watch			18,485			3,657			337			1,838			164									24,481
Special Mention			67			10			—			—			—			—			—			77
Substandard			2,400			—			—			—			146			—			—			2,546
Substandard non-accrual			—			—			—			—			—			1			—			1
Total real estate construction			200,184			175,330			64,362			3,306			1,071			1,445			16,088			461,786

Retail real estate
Pass			319,302			162,711			135,065			136,427			140,600			257,147			231,364			1,382,616
Watch			2,715			2,053			1,396			349			579			233			2,939			10,264
Special Mention			509			—			—			—			1,962			—			—			2,471
Substandard			899			96			56			26			727			1,631			267			3,702
Substandard non-accrual			687			78			646			1,147			233			4,815			1,193			8,799
Total retail real estate			324,112			164,938			137,163			137,949			144,101			263,826			235,763			1,407,852

Retail other
Pass			8,357			9,430			5,600			2,516			691			440			10,290			37,324
Watch			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Special Mention			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Substandard			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Substandard non-accrual			14			7			5			15			5			57			1			104
Total retail other			8,371			9,437			5,605			2,531			696			497			10,291			37,428

Total portfolio loans		$	2,216,953		$	1,168,069		$	798,327		$	699,747		$	441,456		$	650,638		$	838,987		$	6,814,177

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Table of Contents

An analysis of the amortized cost basis of portfolio loans that are past due and still accruing, or on a non-accrual status, is as follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
		Loans past due, still accruing									Non-accrual
	****	30-59 Days		****	60-89 Days		****	90+Days		****	Loans
Past due and non-accrual loans
Commercial		$	1,092		$	202		$	—		$	10,230
Commercial real estate			882			—			—			6,620
Real estate construction			—			—			—			—
Retail real estate			2,068			2,020			491			8,482
Retail other			182			—			—			37
Total past due and non-accrual loans		$	4,224		$	2,222		$	491		$	25,369


		As of December 31, 2020
		Loans past due, still accruing									Non-accrual
	****	30-59 Days		****	60-89 Days		****	90+Days		****	Loans
Past due and non-accrual loans
Commercial		$	243		$	—		$	—		$	8,523
Commercial real estate			—			—			—			5,503
Real estate construction			237			235			—			1
Retail real estate			6,248			400			1,305			8,799
Retail other			66			149			66			104
Total past due and non-accrual loans		$	6,794		$	784		$	1,371		$	22,930

Gross interest income recorded on 90+ days past due loans, and that would have been recorded on non-accrual loans if they had been accruing interest in accordance with their original terms, was $0.3 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Gross interest income recorded on 90+ days past due loans and that would have been recorded on non-accrual loans if they had been accruing interest in accordance with their original terms was $0.5 million and $1.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The amount of interest collected on those loans and recognized on a cash basis that was included in interest income was $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, and was insignificant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

A summary of TDRs is as follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
TDRs
In compliance with modified terms		$	2,083		$	3,814
30 – 89 days past due			—			15
Non-performing TDRs			1,285			1,249
Total TDRs		$	3,368		$	5,078

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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The following tables summarize TDRs that occurred during the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


		Three Months Ended September 30, 2021								Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
					Recorded Investment								Recorded Investment
		Number of			Rate		Payment			Number of			Rate		Payment
	****	Contracts		****	Modification **** ^(1)^		Modification **** ^(1)^		****	Contracts		****	Modification **** ^(1)^		Modification **** ^(1)^
Newly designated TDRs
Commercial			—		$	—	$	—			1		$	444	$	—


		Three Months Ended September 30, 2020								Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
					Recorded Investment								Recorded Investment
		Number of			Rate		Payment			Number of			Rate		Payment
	****	Contracts		****	Modification **** ^(1)^		Modification **** ^(1)^		****	Contracts		****	Modification **** ^(1)^		Modification **** ^(1)^
Newly designated TDRs
Commercial			—		$	—	$	—			3		$	324	$	—
Commercial real estate			—			—		—			1			651		—
Retail real estate			1			—		167			2			—		353
(1)	TDRs may include multiple concessions; those that include an interest rate concession and payment concession are shown in the rate modification columns.
---	---

There were no TDRs that were entered into during the last 12 months that subsequently had payment defaults (a default occurs when a loan is 90 days or more past due or transferred to non-accrual) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 or 2020. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, one retail real estate loan for $0.1 million that had been a performing TDR for longer than 12 months, with a rate modification, became non-performing.

Gross interest income that would have been recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, if TDRs had performed in accordance with their original terms compared with their modified terms, was insignificant.

Modified loans with payment deferrals that fall under the CARES Act or revised Interagency Statement that suspended requirements under GAAP related to TDR classification are not included in the Company’s TDR totals.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $0.2 million of residential real estate in the process of foreclosure. The Company follows Federal Housing Finance Agency guidelines on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned evictions on portfolio loans, as well as all COVID-19 related state foreclosure and eviction orders.

The following tables provide details of loans evaluated individually, segregated by category. The Company evaluates loans with disparate risk characteristics on an individual basis. The unpaid contractual principal balance represents the customer outstanding balance excluding any partial charge-offs. Amortized cost represents customer balances net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loan. Average amortized cost is calculated using the most recent four quarters (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
	****	Unpaid		****	Amortized		****	****			****						****
		Contractual			Cost			Amortized			Total						Average
		Principal			with No			Cost			Amortized			Related			Amortized
	****	Balance		****	Allowance		****	with Allowance		****	Cost		****	Allowance		****	Cost
Loans evaluated on an individual basis
Commercial		$	14,233		$	2,003		$	8,203		$	10,206		$	4,450		$	8,945
Commercial real estate			7,188			6,222			—			6,222			—			6,906
Real estate construction			276			276			—			276			—			338
Retail real estate			4,020			3,637			25			3,662			25			4,630
Retail other			—			—			—			—			—			—
Total loans evaluated individually		$	25,717		$	12,138		$	8,228		$	20,366		$	4,475		$	20,819

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Table of Contents


		As of December 31, 2020
	****	Unpaid		****	Amortized		****	****			****						****
		Contractual			Cost			Amortized			Total						Average
		Principal			with No			Cost			Amortized			Related			Amortized
	****	Balance		****	Allowance		****	with Allowance		****	Cost		****	Allowance		****	Cost
Loans evaluated on an individual basis
Commercial		$	16,771		$	4,001		$	4,371		$	8,372		$	1,600		$	7,920
Commercial real estate			7,406			6,067			—			6,067			—			9,349
Real estate construction			292			292			—			292			—			581
Retail real estate			5,873			5,490			25			5,515			25			7,439
Retail other			—			—			—			—			—			10
Total loans evaluated individually		$	30,342		$	15,850		$	4,396		$	20,246		$	1,625		$	25,299

Management's evaluation as to the ultimate collectability of loans includes estimates regarding future cash flows from operations and the value of property, real and personal, pledged as collateral. These estimates are affected by changing economic conditions and the economic prospects of borrowers. Collateral dependent loans are loans in which repayment is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral and there are no other available and reliable sources of repayment. Loans are written down to the lower of cost or fair value of underlying collateral, less estimated costs to sell. As of September 30, 2021, there were $15.5 million of collateral dependent loans secured by real estate or business assets.

Management estimates the ACL balance using relevant available information from internal and external sources relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. The cumulative loss rate used as the basis for the estimate of credit losses is comprised of the Company’s historical loss experience beginning in 2010. As of September 30, 2021, the Company expects the markets in which it operates to experience continued economic uncertainty around the levels of delinquencies over the next 12 months. Management adjusted the historical loss experience for these expectations with an immediate reversion to historical loss rate beyond this forecast period. PPP loans were excluded from the ACL calculation as they are 100% government guaranteed.

The following tables detail activity in the ACL. Allocation of a portion of the ACL to one category does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other categories (dollars in thousands):


		As of and for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Real
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
ACL beginning balance		$	24,356		$	39,974		$	7,599		$	20,505		$	2,976		$	95,410
Provision for credit losses			657			(25)			(1,503)			(1,155)			157			(1,869)
Charged-off			(764)			(191)			—			(155)			(98)			(1,208)
Recoveries			157			73			25			157			57			469
ACL ending balance		$	24,406		$	39,831		$	6,121		$	19,352		$	3,092		$	92,802


		As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
ACL beginning balance		$	23,866		$	46,230		$	8,193		$	21,992		$	767		$	101,048
Day 1 PCD ^(1)^			3,546			336			—			129			167			4,178
Provision for credit losses			(1,428)			(6,109)			(2,082)			(3,028)			2,282			(10,365)
Charged-off			(2,026)			(812)			(209)			(315)			(349)			(3,711)
Recoveries			448			186			219			574			225			1,652
ACL ending balance		$	24,406		$	39,831		$	6,121		$	19,352		$	3,092		$	92,802
(1)	The Day 1 PCD is attributable to the CAC acquisition.
---	---

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Table of Contents


		As of and for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Real
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
ACL beginning balance		$	24,146		$	42,680		$	7,792		$	20,405		$	1,023		$	96,046
Provision for credit losses			2,593			3,703			(381)			(383)			17			5,549
Charged-off			(2,500)			(569)			(18)			(139)			(171)			(3,397)
Recoveries			124			103			26			301			89			643
ACL ending balance		$	24,363		$	45,917		$	7,419		$	20,184		$	958		$	98,841


		As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Real
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
Beginning balance, prior to adoption of ASC 326-30		$	18,291		$	21,190		$	3,204		$	10,495		$	568		$	53,748
Adoption of ASC 326-30			715			9,306			2,954			3,292			566			16,833
Provision for credit losses			10,739			17,090			1,082			6,635			110			35,656
Charged-off			(5,682)			(1,833)			(18)			(1,139)			(575)			(9,247)
Recoveries			300			164			197			901			289			1,851
ACL ending balance		$	24,363		$	45,917		$	7,419		$	20,184		$	958		$	98,841

The following table presents the ACL and amortized cost of portfolio loans by category (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Real
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
ACL
Ending balance attributed to:
Loans individually evaluated for impairment		$	4,450		$	—		$	—		$	25		$	—		$	4,475
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment			19,956			39,831			6,121			19,327			3,092			88,327
ACL ending balance		$	24,406		$	39,831		$	6,121		$	19,352		$	3,092		$	92,802

Loans
Loans individually evaluated for impairment		$	10,206		$	6,222		$	276		$	3,662		$	—		$	20,366
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment			1,921,657			3,062,400			430,581			1,509,222			206,409			7,130,269
Loans ending balance		$	1,931,863		$	3,068,622		$	430,857		$	1,512,884		$	206,409		$	7,150,635

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Table of Contents


		As of December 31, 2020
				****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Retail Real
	****	Commercial		****	Real Estate		****	Construction		****	Estate		****	Retail Other		****	Total
ACL
Ending balance attributed to:
Loans individually evaluated for impairment		$	1,600		$	—		$	—		$	25		$	—		$	1,625
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment			22,266			46,230			8,193			21,967			767			99,423
ACL ending balance		$	23,866		$	46,230		$	8,193		$	21,992		$	767		$	101,048

Loans
Loans individually evaluated for impairment		$	8,372		$	6,067		$	292		$	5,515		$	—		$	20,246
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment			2,006,204			2,886,468			461,494			1,402,337			37,428			6,793,931
Loans ending balance		$	2,014,576		$	2,892,535		$	461,786		$	1,407,852		$	37,428		$	6,814,177

Note 5: Deposits

The composition of deposits is as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Deposits
Demand deposits, noninterest-bearing		$	3,453,906		$	2,552,039
Interest-bearing transaction deposits			2,938,109			2,263,093
Saving deposits and money market deposits			3,398,917			2,743,369
Time deposits			1,026,935			1,119,348
Total deposits		$	10,817,867		$	8,677,849

Additional information about our deposits is as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Brokered savings deposits and money market deposits		$	2,002		$	2,251
Brokered time deposits			264			5,257
Aggregate amount of time deposits with a minimum denomination of $100,000			504,367			568,735
Aggregate amount of time deposits with a minimum denomination that meets or exceeds the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000			156,419			192,563

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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As of September 30, 2021, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,
		2021
Time deposits by schedule of maturities
October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022	****	$	719,932
October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023			188,639
October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024			85,339
October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025			20,008
October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026			12,280
Thereafter			737
Total time deposits		$	1,026,935

Note 6: Borrowings

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are classified as secured borrowings, generally mature daily. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are reflected at the amount of cash received in connection with the transaction. The underlying securities are held by the Company’s safekeeping agent. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on fluctuations in the fair value of the underlying securities. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020		****
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		$	241,242		$	175,614
Weighted average rate for securities sold under agreements to repurchase			0.08	%		0.13	%

On May 28, 2021, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, pursuant to which the Company has access to (i) a $40.0 million revolving line of credit with a termination date of April 30, 2022, and (ii) a $60.0 million term loan with a maturity date of May 31, 2026. The loans have an annual interest rate of 1.75% plus the one-month LIBOR rate. Proceeds of the term loan were used to fund a part of the cash portion of the merger consideration related to the acquisition of CAC and for general corporate purposes. The revolving credit facility incurs a non-usage fee based on any undrawn amounts. As of September 30, 2021, there was no balance outstanding on the revolving credit facility and a total of $57.0 million outstanding on the term loan.

Short-term borrowings are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Short-term borrowings
FHLB advances maturing in less than one year from date of origination, and the current portion of long-term FHLB advances due within 12 months		$	5,673		$	4,658
Term Loan, current portion due within 12 months			12,000			—
Total short-term debt		$	17,673		$	4,658

Federal funds purchased are short-term borrowings that generally mature between one and 90 days. The Company had no federal funds purchased as of September 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Long-term debt is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Long-term debt
Notes payable, FHLB, original maturity of 5 years, collateralized by FHLB deposits, residential and commercial real estate loans and FHLB stock		$	4,233		$	4,757
Term Loan			45,000			—
Total long-term debt		$	49,233		$	4,757

As of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, funds borrowed from the FHLB, listed above, consisted of one variable-rate note maturing May 2023, with an interest rate of 3.04%.

On May 25, 2017, the Company issued $40.0 million of 3.75% senior notes that mature on May 25, 2022. The senior notes are payable semi-annually on each May 25 and November 25, commencing on November 25, 2017. The senior notes are not subject to optional redemption by the Company. Additionally, on May 25, 2017, the Company issued $60.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that mature on May 25, 2027. The subordinated notes, which qualify as Tier 2 capital for First Busey, bear interest at an annual rate of 4.75% for the first five years after issuance and thereafter bear interest at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 2.919%, as calculated on each applicable determination date. The subordinated notes are payable semi-annually on each May 25 and November 25, commencing on November 25, 2017, during the five-year fixed-term, and thereafter on February 25, May 25, August 25, and November 25 of each year, commencing on August 25, 2022. The subordinated notes have an optional redemption in whole or in part on any interest payment date on or after May 25, 2022. The senior notes and subordinated notes are unsecured obligations of the Company.

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

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


	****	As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Unamortized debt issuance costs
Senior notes issued in 2017		$	90		$	191
Subordinated notes issued in 2017			575			651
Subordinated notes issued in 2020			1,788			2,123
Total unamortized debt issuance costs		$	2,453		$	2,965

Note 7: Regulatory Capital

The Company and its subsidiary bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal 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 Company's consolidated financial statements. Capital amounts and classification also are subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

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Banking regulations identify five capital categories for insured depository institutions: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. As of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, all capital ratios of the Company and its subsidiary bank exceeded well capitalized levels under the applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. Management believes that no events or changes have occurred subsequent to September 30, 2021, that would change this designation.

On March 27, 2020, the FDIC and other federal banking agencies published an interim final rule that provides those banking organizations adopting CECL during 2020 with the option to delay for two years the estimated impact of CECL on regulatory capital and to phase in the aggregate impact of the deferral on regulatory capital over a subsequent three-year period. On August 26, 2020, the CECL final rule was finalized and was substantially similar to the interim final rule. Under this final rule, because the Company has elected to use the deferral option, the regulatory capital impact of our transition adjustments recorded on January 1, 2020, from the adoption of CECL will be deferred for two years, until January 1, 2022. In addition, 25 percent of the ongoing impact of CECL on our ACL, retained earnings, and average total consolidated assets from January 1, 2020, through the end of the two-year deferral period, each as reported for regulatory capital purposes, will be added to the deferred transition amounts (“adjusted transition amounts”) and deferred for the two-year period. At the conclusion of the two-year period the adjusted transition amounts will be phased-in for regulatory capital purposes at a rate of 25 percent per year, with the phased-in amounts included in regulatory capital at the beginning of each year.

The following tables summarize regulatory capital requirements applicable to the holding company its subsidiary bank (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
												Minimum
							Minimum					To Be Well
		Actual					Capital Requirement					Capitalized
	****	Amount		****	Ratio	****	Amount		****	Ratio	****	Amount		****	Ratio	****
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	1,313,989		15.91	%	$	660,850		8.00	%	$	826,062		10.00	%
Busey Bank		$	1,306,293		15.87	%	$	658,612		8.00	%	$	823,265		10.00	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	1,060,756		12.84	%	$	495,637		6.00	%	$	660,850		8.00	%
Busey Bank		$	1,238,060		15.04	%	$	493,959		6.00	%	$	658,612		8.00	%

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	986,756		11.95	%	$	371,728		4.50	%	$	536,940		6.50	%
Busey Bank		$	1,238,060		15.04	%	$	370,469		4.50	%	$	535,123		6.50	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
Consolidated		$	1,060,756		8.60	%	$	493,201		4.00	%		N/A		N/A
Busey Bank		$	1,238,060		10.06	%	$	492,170		4.00	%	$	615,212		5.00	%

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		As of December 31, 2020
												Minimum
							Minimum					To Be Well
		Actual					Capital Requirement					Capitalized
	****	Amount		****	Ratio	****	Amount		****	Ratio	****	Amount		****	Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	1,245,997		17.04	%	$	585,015		8.00	%	$	731,269		10.00	%
Busey Bank		$	1,131,875		15.50	%	$	584,082		8.00	%	$	730,103		10.00	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	983,033		13.44	%	$	438,761		6.00	%	$	585,015		8.00	%
Busey Bank		$	1,053,910		14.44	%	$	438,062		6.00	%	$	584,082		8.00	%

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
Consolidated		$	909,033		12.43	%	$	329,071		4.50	%	$	475,325		6.50	%
Busey Bank		$	1,053,910		14.44	%	$	328,546		4.50	%	$	474,567		6.50	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
Consolidated		$	983,033		9.79	%	$	401,717		4.00	%		N/A		N/A
Busey Bank		$	1,053,910		10.52	%	$	400,581		4.00	%	$	500,727		5.00	%

In July 2013, U.S. federal banking authorities approved the Basel III Rule for strengthening international capital standards. The Basel III Rule introduced a capital conservation buffer, composed entirely of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, which is added to the minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. The capital conservation buffer is not a minimum capital requirement; however, banking institutions with a ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets below the capital conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and discretionary bonus payments based on the amount of the shortfall. In order to refrain from restrictions on dividends, equity repurchases, and discretionary bonus payments, banking institutions must maintain minimum ratios of (i) total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 10.50%, (ii) Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.50%, and (iii) Common Equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.00%.

Note 8: Employee Benefit Plans

The First Busey Corporation 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was approved at the Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and details can be found within First Busey’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021. The first offering under this plan began on July 1, 2021. There were 585,342 shares available for issuance under the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of September 30, 2021.

For additional information related to the Company’s employee benefit plans, see the Company’s 2020 Annual Report.

Note 9: Stock-Based Compensation

Under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company has granted RSU, DSU, and PSU awards. The Company grants RSUs to members of management periodically throughout the year. Each RSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. These units have requisite service periods ranging from one to five years, subject to accelerated vesting upon eligible retirement from the Company. Recipients earn quarterly dividend equivalents on their respective units which entitle the recipients to additional units. Therefore, dividends earned each quarter compound based upon the updated unit balances.

The Company grants DSUs, which are restricted stock units with a deferred settlement date, to its directors and advisory directors. Each DSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. DSUs vest over a one-year period following the grant date. These units generally are subject to the same terms as RSUs under the 2020 Equity Plan, except that, following vesting, settlement occurs within 30 days following the earlier of separation from the board or a 29

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change in control of the Company. After vesting and prior to delivery, these units will continue to earn dividend equivalents.

The Company also grants PSU awards to members of management periodically throughout the year. Each PSU is equivalent to one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of units that ultimately vest will be determined based on the achievement of the market or other performance goals, subject to accelerated service-based vesting conditions upon eligible retirement from the Company.

The Company has outstanding stock options assumed from acquisitions.

Upon vesting/delivery, shares are expected (though not required) to be issued from treasury.

Stock Options

A summary of the status of, and changes in, the Company's stock option awards for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 follows:


								Weighted-
			****	****	Weighted-			Average
					Average			Remaining
					Exercise			Contractual
	****	Shares		****	Price		****	Life
Outstanding at beginning of period			39,085		$	23.53			5.88
Expired			(7,479)			23.53
Outstanding at end of period			31,606		$	23.53			5.13

Exercisable at end of period			31,606		$	23.53			5.13

The Company did not record any stock option compensation expense for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2021, or 2020. As of September 30, 2021, the Company did not have any unrecognized stock option expense.

Restricted Stock Unit, Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit, and Deferred Stock Unit Awards

A summary of changes in the Company’s RSU, PSU, and DSU awards for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, is as follows:


		RSU Awards						PSU Awards						DSU Awards
					Weighted-						Weighted-						Weighted-
					Average						Average						Average
					Grant Date						Grant Date						Grant Date
	****	Shares		****	Fair Value		****	Shares^(1)^		****	Fair Value		****	Shares		****	Fair Value
Nonvested at beginning of period			1,017,038		$	23.87			15,724		$	16.25			34,263		$	17.18
Granted			260,231			24.26			99,159			23.91			35,664			24.59
Dividend equivalents earned			33,388			23.07			—			—			3,716			23.15
Vested			(128,824)			22.88			—			—			(39,813)			18.08
Forfeited			(29,883)			24.88			(968)			23.48			—			—
Nonvested at end of period			1,151,950		$	24.02			113,915		$	22.86			33,830		$	24.59

Vested and outstanding at end of period															96,427		$	21.99
(1)	Shares for PSU awards represent target shares at grant date.
---	---

On March 24, 2021, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company granted 212,426 RSUs to members of management, including the Vice-Chairman of the Board. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $5.2 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period ranging from one year to five years. The 30

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terms of these awards included an accelerated vesting provision upon eligible retirement from the Company, after a one-year minimum requisite service period. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested. Further, the Company granted 33,288 DSUs to directors and advisory directors. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $0.8 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period of one year. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company also granted a target of 70,815 market-based PSUs with a maximum award of 113,304 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 160% of the initial grant, depending on attaining the market-based total shareholder return performance goal. The grant date fair value of the award was $1.7 million and will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2023.

Further, during the first quarter of 2021, the Company granted a target of 28,344 PSUs with a maximum award of 39,682 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 140% of the initial grant, depending on attaining a performance goal based upon the compounded annual revenue growth rate of the Remittance Processing segment. The grant date fair value of the award is $0.7 million and will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending August 31, 2023, subject to achievement of the performance goal.

On May 19, 2021, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company granted 2,376 DSUs to directors. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $0.1 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period of one year. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.

On September 22, 2021, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company granted 47,805 RSUs to members of management. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $1.1 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period ranging from three year to five years. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.

Stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested RSU, PSU, and DSU awards is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands):


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Stock-based compensation
RSU awards		$	1,316		$	2,029		$	4,362		$	3,952
PSU awards			290			41			619			41
DSU awards			231			135			741			420
Total stock-based compensation		$	1,837		$	2,205		$	5,722		$	4,413

Unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested RSU, PSU, and DSU awards is presented in the table below (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020		****
Unamortized stock-based compensation
RSU awards		$	11,650		$	10,411
PSU awards			1,554			179
DSU awards			430			294
Total unamortized stock-based compensation		$	13,634		$	10,884

Weighted average period over which expense is to be recognized			3.0	yrs		3.0	yrs

There were 1,038,975 shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan as of September 30, 2021.

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Note 10: Outstanding Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Legal Matters

The Company is a party to legal actions which arise in the normal course of its business activities. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Credit Commitments and Contingencies

A summary of the contractual amount of the Company’s exposure to off-balance-sheet risk relating to the Company’s commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk
Commitments to extend credit		$	1,836,815		$	1,754,370
Standby letters of credit			38,329			38,937
Total commitments		$	1,875,144		$	1,793,307

Note 11: Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements as part of its asset liability management strategy to help manage its interest rate risk position. Additionally, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments, including interest rate lock commitments issued to residential loan customers for loans that will be held for sale, forward sales commitments to sell residential mortgage loans to investors, and interest rate swaps with customers and other third parties. See “Note 12: Fair Value Measurements” for further discussion of the fair value measurement of such derivatives.

Interest Rate Swaps Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

The Company entered into derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges. For a derivative instrument that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The change in fair value of components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

Interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $50.0 million as of September 30, 2021, and $70.0 million as of December 31, 2020, were designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the risk of variability in cash flows (future interest payments) attributable to changes in the contractually specified 3-month LIBOR benchmark interest rate on the Company’s junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts and were determined to be highly effective during the period. A $20.0 million swap matured on September 17, 2021, and the Company has one remaining swap. The gross aggregate fair value of the swaps of $1.7 million as of September 30, 2021, and $3.1 million as of December 31, 2020, is recorded in other liabilities in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in fair value recorded net of tax in other comprehensive income (loss). The Company expects its hedge to remain highly effective during the remaining term of the swap.

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A summary of the interest-rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges is presented below (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020		****
Notional amount		$	50,000		$	70,000
Weighted average fixed pay rates			1.79	%		1.80	%
Weighted average variable 3-month LIBOR receive rates			0.12	%		0.22	%
Weighted average maturity, in years			2.96	yrs		2.85	yrs
Unrealized gains (losses), net of tax		$	(1,237)		$	(2,184)

Interest expense recorded on these swap transactions was $0.3 million and $0.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and was $0.3 million and $0.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The Company expects $0.2 million of the unrealized loss to be reclassified from OCI to interest expense during the next three months. This reclassified amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates, hedge de-designations, and the addition of other hedges subsequent to September 30, 2021.

The following table reflects the net gains (losses) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income relating to cash flow derivative instruments for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		****	2021		****	2020
Interest rate contracts
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI, net of tax	$	(5)	$	14		$	336		$	(2,233)
(Gain) loss reclassified from OCI to interest expense, net of tax		206		192			611			42
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	$	201	$	206		$	947		$	(2,191)

The Company pledged $1.8 million in cash to secure its obligation under these contracts as of September 30, 2021, compared to $3.2 million pledged as of December 31, 2020.

Interest Rate Lock Commitments

Interest rate lock commitments that meet the definition of derivative financial instruments under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, are carried at their fair values in other assets or other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated financial statements, with changes in the fair values of the corresponding derivative financial assets or liabilities recorded as either a charge or credit to current earnings during the period in which the changes occurred.

Forward Sales Commitments

The Company economically hedges mortgage loans held for sale and interest rate lock commitments issued to its residential loan customers related to loans that will be held for sale by obtaining corresponding best-efforts forward sales commitments with an investor to sell the loans at an agreed-upon price at the time the interest rate locks are issued to the customers. Forward sales commitments that meet the definition of derivative financial instruments under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, are carried at their fair values in other assets or other liabilities in the unaudited consolidated financial statements. While such forward sales commitments generally served as an economic hedge to mortgage loans held for sale and interest rate lock commitments, the Company did not designate them for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in fair value of the corresponding derivative financial asset or liability were recorded as either a charge or credit to current earnings during the period in which the changes occurred.

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Amounts and fair values of mortgage banking derivatives included in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


				As of September 30, 2021						As of December 31, 2020
				Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
	****	Location	****	Amount		****	Value		****	Amount		****	Value
Derivatives with positive fair value
Interest rate lock commitments		Other assets		$	31,480		$	538		$	45,004		$	1,201
Forward sales commitments		Other assets			117			1			978			32
Mortgage banking derivatives recorded in other assets				$	31,597		$	539		$	45,982		$	1,233

Derivatives with negative fair value
Interest rate lock commitments		Other liabilities		$	117		$	1		$	118		$	1
Forward sales commitments		Other liabilities			49,418			1,439			84,964			2,662
Mortgage banking derivatives recorded in other liabilities				$	49,535		$	1,440		$	85,082		$	2,663

Net gains (losses) relating to these derivative instruments are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


			Three Months Ended September 30,				****	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	Location	2021		2020			2021		2020
Net gains (losses)
Interest rate lock commitments		Mortgage revenue	$	537	$	1,405		$	1,502	$	8,467
Forward sales commitments		Mortgage revenue		(1,438)		(3,874)			(3,616)		(15,699)
Net gains (losses)			$	(901)	$	(2,469)		$	(2,114)	$	(7,232)

The impact of the net gains or losses on derivative financial instruments related to interest rate lock commitments issued to residential loan customers for loans that will be held for sale and forward sales commitments to sell residential mortgage loans to loan investors are almost entirely offset by a corresponding change in the fair value of loans held for sale.

Interest Rate Swaps Not Designated as Hedges

The Company may offer derivative contracts to its customers in connection with their risk management needs. The Company manages the risk associated with these contracts by entering into equal and offsetting derivative agreements with a third-party dealer. These contracts support variable rate, commercial loan relationships totaling $424.6 million and $395.0 million as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively. These derivatives generally worked together as an economic interest rate hedge, but the Company did not designate them for hedge accounting treatment. Consequently, changes in fair value of the corresponding derivative financial asset or liability were recorded as either a charge or credit to current earnings during the period in which the changes occurred.

Amounts and fair values of derivative assets and liabilities related to customer interest rate swaps recorded in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
		Derivative Asset						Derivative Liability
		Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
	****	Amount		****	Value		****	Amount		****	Value
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate swaps – pay floating, receive fixed		$	332,856		$	19,420		$	91,711		$	1,910
Interest rate swaps – pay fixed, receive floating			91,711			1,910			332,856			19,420
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	424,567		$	21,330		$	424,567		$	21,330

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		As of December 31, 2020
		Derivative Asset						Derivative Liability
		Notional			Fair			Notional			Fair
	****	Amount		****	Value		****	Amount		****	Value
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate swaps – pay floating, receive fixed		$	394,954		$	32,685		$	—		$	—
Interest rate swaps – pay fixed, receive floating			—			—			394,954			32,685
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	394,954		$	32,685		$	394,954		$	32,685

Changes in fair value of these derivative assets and liabilities are recorded in noninterest expense in the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


				Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	Location	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Interest rate swaps
Pay floating, receive fixed		Noninterest expense		$	(2,024)		$	(549)		$	(11,355)		$	25,790
Pay fixed, receive floating		Noninterest expense			2,024			549			11,355			(25,790)
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps				$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

The Company pledged $26.3 million in cash to secure its obligation under these contracts as of September 30, 2021, compared to $36.0 million pledged as of December 31, 2020.

Note 12: Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of an asset or liability is the price that would be received by selling that asset or paid in transferring that liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction occurring in the principal market (or most advantageous market in the absence of a principal market) for such asset or liability. ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

●	Level 1 Inputs – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

●

Level 2 Inputs – Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market data by correlation or other means.

●	Level 3 Inputs – Unobservable inputs for determining the fair values of assets or liabilities that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. These valuation methodologies were applied to those Company assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value.

In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, when available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured utilizing independent valuation techniques of identical or similar securities for which significant assumptions are derived primarily from or corroborated by observable data. Valuation adjustments may be made to ensure that financial instruments are recorded at fair value. These adjustments may include amounts to reflect, among other things, counterparty credit quality and the company's creditworthiness as well as unobservable parameters. Any such valuation adjustments are applied consistently over time. While management believes the Company's valuation 35

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methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

Debt Securities Available for Sale

Debt securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 measurements. The Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The independent pricing service utilizes evaluated pricing models that vary by asset class and incorporate available trade, bid, and other market information. Because many fixed income securities do not trade on a daily basis, the independent pricing service applies available information, focusing on observable market data such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings, and matrix pricing to prepare evaluations.

The independent pricing service uses model processes, such as the Option Adjusted Spread model, to assess interest rate impact and develop prepayment scenarios. Models and processes take into account market conventions. For each asset class, a team of evaluators gathers information from market sources and integrates relevant credit information, perceived market movements, and sector news into the evaluated pricing applications and models.

Market inputs that the independent pricing service normally seeks for evaluations of securities, listed in approximate order of priority, include: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data including market research publications. The independent pricing service also monitors market indicators, industry, and economic events. For certain security types, additional inputs may be used or some of the market inputs may not be applicable. Evaluators may prioritize inputs differently on any given day for any security based on market conditions, and not all inputs listed are available for use in the evaluation process for each security evaluation on a given day. Because the data utilized was observable, the securities have been classified as Level 2.

Equity Securities

Equity securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 or Level 2 measurements. As applicable, for mutual funds, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are utilized to determine fair value at the measurement date and are classified as Level 1. For stock, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active are utilized and classified as Level 2.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 measurements. The fair value of the mortgage loans held for sale are measured using observable quoted market or contract prices or market price equivalents and are classified as Level 2.

Derivative Assets and Derivative Liabilities

Derivative assets and derivative liabilities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 measurements. Fair values of derivative assets and liabilities are determined based on prices that are obtained from a third-party which uses observable market inputs. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified as Level 2.

The following tables summarize financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value (dollars in thousands):

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		As of September 30, 2021
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Fair Value
Debt securities available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	—		$	185,453		$	—		$	185,453
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies			—			38,997			—			38,997
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			—			296,012			—			296,012
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			—			603,297			—			603,297
Residential mortgage-backed securities			—			2,102,608			—			2,102,608
Asset-backed securities			—			468,807			—			468,807
Corporate debt securities			—			302,070			—			302,070
Equity securities			—			13,012			—			13,012
Loans held for sale			—			20,225			—			20,225
Derivative assets			—			21,869			—			21,869
Derivative liabilities			—			24,501			—			24,501


		As of December 31, 2020
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Fair Value
Debt securities available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities		$	—		$	27,837		$	—		$	27,837
Obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies			—			69,519			—			69,519
Obligations of states and political subdivisions			—			304,711			—			304,711
Commercial mortgage-backed securities			—			418,616			—			418,616
Residential mortgage-backed securities			—			1,368,315			—			1,368,315
Corporate debt securities			—			72,189			—			72,189
Equity securities			—			5,530			—			5,530
Loans held for sale			—			42,813			—			42,813
Derivative assets			—			33,918			—			33,918
Derivative liabilities			—			38,403			—			38,403

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).

Loans Evaluated Individually

The Company does not record portfolio loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, periodically, a loan is evaluated individually and is reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral, less estimated costs to sell, if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. If the collateral value is not sufficient, a specific reserve is recorded. Collateral values are estimated using a combination of observable inputs, including recent appraisals, and unobservable inputs based on customized discounting criteria. Due to the significance of unobservable inputs, fair values of individually evaluated collateral dependent loans have been classified as Level 3.

OREO

Non-financial assets measured at fair value include OREO (upon initial recognition or subsequent impairment). OREO properties are measured using a combination of observable inputs, including recent appraisals, and unobservable inputs. Due to the significance of unobservable inputs, all OREO fair values have been classified as Level 3.

Bank Property Held for Sale

Bank property held for sale represents certain banking center office buildings which the Company has closed and consolidated with other existing banking centers. Bank property held for sale is measured at the lower of amortized cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Fair values were based upon discounted appraisals or real estate listing prices. 37

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Due to the significance of unobservable inputs, fair values of all bank property held for sale have been classified as Level 3.

The following tables summarize assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for the periods presented, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value (dollars in thousands):


		As of September 30, 2021
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Fair Value
Loans evaluated individually		$	—		$	—		$	3,753		$	3,753
OREO			—			—			51			51
Bank property held for sale			—			—			6,150			6,150


		As of December 31, 2020
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Inputs		****	Fair Value
Loans evaluated individually		$	—		$	—		$	2,771		$	2,771
OREO			—			—			106			106
Bank property held for sale			—			—			10,676			10,676

The following table presents additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value (dollars in thousands):


		Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		Fair Value			Valuation		Unobservable		Range
September 30, 2021:	****	Estimate		****	Techniques	****	Input	****	(Weighted Average)
Loans evaluated individually		$	3,753		Appraisal of collateral		Appraisal adjustments		-18.0	%	to	-100.0	%	(-54.4)	%
OREO			51		Appraisal of collateral		Appraisal adjustments		-33.0	%	to	-100.0	%	(-67.9)	%
Bank property held for sale			6,150		Appraisal of collateral or real estate listing price		Appraisal adjustments		-6.2	%	to	-64.9	%	(-41.2)	%

December 31, 2020:
Loans evaluated individually		$	2,771		Appraisal of collateral		Appraisal adjustments		-30.0	%	to	-100.0	%	(-37.0)	%
OREO			106		Appraisal of collateral		Appraisal adjustments		-25.0	%	to	-100.0	%	(-54.5)	%
Bank property held for sale			10,676		Appraisal of collateral or real estate listing price		Appraisal adjustments		-6.2	%	to	-64.9	%	(-42.8)	%

Estimated fair values of financial instruments that are reported at amortized cost in the Company’s unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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	As of September 30, 2021						As of December 31, 2020
	Carrying		****	Fair		****	Carrying		****	Fair
	Amount		****	Value		****	Amount		****	Value
Financial assets
Level 1 inputs:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	883,845		$	883,845		$	688,537		$	688,537
Level 2 inputs:
Accrued interest receivable		33,545			33,545			33,240			33,240
Level 3 inputs:
Portfolio loans, net		7,057,833			7,108,483			6,713,129			6,755,425
Mortgage servicing rights		9,247			11,011			10,912			11,107
Other servicing rights		1,680			2,127			1,434			1,966

Financial liabilities
Level 2 inputs:
Time deposits	$	1,026,935		$	1,029,879		$	1,119,348		$	1,132,107
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		241,242			241,242			175,614			175,614
Short-term borrowings		17,673			17,671			4,658			4,661
Long-term debt		49,233			49,323			4,757			5,014
Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts		71,593			62,840			71,468			59,943
Accrued interest payable		5,435			5,435			3,401			3,401
Level 3 inputs:
Senior notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		39,910			40,700			39,809			40,104
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		182,637			196,350			182,226			187,697

Note 13: Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, which include deferred stock units that are vested but not delivered. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the treasury stock method and reflects the potential dilution that could occur if the Company’s outstanding stock options and warrants were exercised and RSUs were vested.

Earnings per common share have been computed as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Net income		$	25,941		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999
Shares:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			56,227,816			54,585,998			55,256,348			54,579,088
Dilutive effect of outstanding options, warrants, and restricted stock units as determined by the application of the treasury stock method			597,148			151,922			613,969			217,266
Dilutive effect of ESPP shares			7,554			—			2,518			—
Weighted average common shares outstanding, as adjusted for diluted earnings per share calculation			56,832,518			54,737,920			55,872,835			54,796,354

Basic earnings per common share		$	0.46		$	0.56		$	1.69		$	1.32

Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.46		$	0.56		$	1.67		$	1.31

Shares that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive are summarized in the table below for the periods presented:

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents
Options			—			39,085			—			39,085
RSU and DSU awards			47,805			261,091			97,067			261,091
PSU awards			85,571			—			95,511			—
Total anti-dilutive common stock equivalents			133,376			300,176			192,578			300,176

Note 14: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables represent changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax, for the periods below (dollars in thousands):


			Three Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021						2020
			Before Tax		Tax Effect		Net of Tax		Before Tax		Tax Effect		Net of Tax
Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale
Balance at beginning of period		$	17,013	$	(4,850)	$	12,163	$	55,436	$	(15,802)	$	39,634
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale, net			(17,198)		4,902		(12,296)		(2,392)		682		(1,710)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net			5		(1)		4		(11)		3		(8)
Balance at end of period		$	(180)	$	51	$	(129)	$	53,033	$	(15,117)	$	37,916

Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Balance at beginning of period		$	(2,012)	$	574	$	(1,438)	$	(3,633)	$	1,036	$	(2,597)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net			(7)		2		(5)		20		(6)		14
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net			288		(82)		206		268		(76)		192
Balance at end of period		$	(1,731)	$	494	$	(1,237)	$	(3,345)	$	954	$	(2,391)

Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(1,911)	$	545	$	(1,366)	$	49,688	$	(14,163)	$	35,525

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021						2020
			Before Tax		Tax Effect		Net of Tax		Before Tax		Tax Effect		Net of Tax
Unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale
Balance at beginning of period		$	49,644	$	(14,151)	$	35,493	$	21,192	$	(6,032)	$	15,160
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale, net			(49,801)		14,195		(35,606)		33,551		(9,577)		23,974
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net			(23)		7		(16)		(1,710)		492		(1,218)
Balance at end of period		$	(180)	$	51	$	(129)	$	53,033	$	(15,117)	$	37,916

Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Balance at beginning of period		$	(3,055)	$	871	$	(2,184)	$	(280)	$	80	$	(200)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net			470		(134)		336		(3,123)		890		(2,233)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net			854		(243)		611		58		(16)		42
Balance at end of period		$	(1,731)	$	494	$	(1,237)	$	(3,345)	$	954	$	(2,391)

Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(1,911)	$	545	$	(1,366)	$	49,688	$	(14,163)	$	35,525

Note 15: Operating Segments and Related Information

The Company has three reportable operating segments: Banking, Remittance Processing, and Wealth Management. The Banking operating segment provides a full range of banking services to individual and corporate customers through its banking center network in Illinois; the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area; southwest Florida; and Indianapolis, Indiana. The Remittance Processing operating segment provides solutions for online bill payments, lockbox, and walk-in payments. The Wealth Management operating segment provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations.

The Company’s three operating segments are strategic business units that are separately managed as they offer different products and services and have different marketing strategies.

The segment financial information provided below has been derived from information used by management to monitor and manage the financial performance of the Company. The accounting policies of the three segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” to the Company’s 2020 Annual Report. The Company accounts for intersegment revenue and transfers at current market value.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Following is a summary of selected financial information for the Company’s operating segments. The “other” category included in the tables below consists of the Parent Company, First Busey Risk Management, and the elimination of intercompany transactions (dollars in thousands):


		Goodwill						Total Assets
		As of						As of
		September 30,			December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Operating segment
Banking		$	294,666		$	288,436		$	12,788,398		$	10,462,673
Remittance Processing			8,992			8,992			47,528			46,553
Wealth Management			14,108			14,108			60,496			46,504
Other			—			—			2,908			(11,683)
Consolidated total		$	317,766		$	311,536		$	12,899,330		$	10,544,047



		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Net interest income
Banking		$	74,672		$	73,330		$	211,377		$	218,221
Remittance Processing			19			21			60			59
Wealth Management			—			—			—			—
Other			(3,936)			(3,598)			(11,247)			(8,281)
Total net interest income		$	70,755		$	69,753		$	200,190		$	209,999

Noninterest income
Banking		$	14,976		$	18,523		$	42,798		$	45,717
Remittance Processing			5,030			4,287			14,700			12,318
Wealth Management			13,746			10,662			39,333			32,681
Other			(493)			(1,187)			884			(2,950)
Total noninterest income		$	33,259		$	32,285		$	97,715		$	87,766

Noninterest expense
Banking		$	59,520		$	44,863		$	150,032		$	135,037
Remittance Processing			4,519			3,523			13,086			9,669
Wealth Management			7,679			6,497			20,961			19,725
Other			1,769			1,659			6,532			5,693
Total noninterest expense		$	73,487		$	56,542		$	190,611		$	170,124

Income before income taxes
Banking		$	31,996		$	41,441		$	114,507		$	93,245
Remittance Processing			530			785			1,674			2,708
Wealth Management			6,068			4,165			18,373			12,956
Other			(6,198)			(6,444)			(16,895)			(16,924)
Total income before income taxes		$	32,396		$	39,947		$	117,659		$	91,985

Net income
Banking		$	25,123		$	31,744		$	89,889		$	72,653
Remittance Processing			384			578			1,214			1,966
Wealth Management			4,719			3,166			14,285			9,847
Other			(4,285)			(4,659)			(11,865)			(12,467)
Total net income		$	25,941		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Note 16: Leases

The Company has operating leases consisting primarily of equipment leases and real estate leases for banking centers, ATM locations, and office space. The following table summarizes lease-related information and balances the Company reported in its unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


	As of
	September 30,			December 31,
	2021		****	2020		****
Lease balances
Right of use assets	$	11,068		$	7,714
Lease liabilities		11,120			7,757

Supplemental information
Year through which lease terms extend		2031			2032
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)		6.60			5.93
Weighted average discount rate		2.15	%		2.82	%

The following tables represents lease costs and cash flows related to leases for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Lease costs
Operating lease costs		$	656		$	622		$	1,828		$	1,877
Variable lease costs			94			99			394			401
Short-term lease costs			9			15			43			45
Total lease cost		$	759		$	736		$	2,265		$	2,323

Cash flows related to leases
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating lease cash flows – Fixed payments		$	620		$	616		$	1,756		$	1,839
Operating lease cash flows – Liability reduction			569			546			1,610			1,610
Right of use assets obtained during the period in exchange for operating lease liabilities^^^(1)^			3,408			—			5,018			128
(1)	The nine months ended September 30, 2021, includes $371 related to a lease obtained in the acquisition of CAC.
---	---

As of September 30, 2021, the Company was obligated under noncancelable operating leases for office space and other commitments. Rent expense under operating leases, included in net occupancy and equipment expense, was $0.8 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to $0.7 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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Rent commitments were as follows (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,
	****	2021
Rent commitments
Remainder of 2021		$	621
2022			2,288
2023			2,071
2024			1,645
2025			1,416
Thereafter			3,921
Amounts representing interest			(842)
Present value of net future minimum lease payments		$	11,120

Table of Contents ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

First Busey is a $12.9 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “BUSE.”

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

The following discussion and analysis are intended to assist readers in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report, as well as the Company’s 2020 Annual Report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19

Although the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has impacted the Company’s results of operations, the Company continues to navigate the economic environment caused by COVID-19 effectively and prudently and remains resolute in its focus on serving its customers, communities, and associates while protecting its balance sheet. The Company remains vigilant, given that negative impacts of COVID-19, such as further margin compression and a deterioration in asset quality, could impact future quarters.

Our commercial and consumer banking products and services are delivered in Illinois, Missouri, Florida, and Indiana. Each state has taken different steps to reopen after COVID-19 thrust the country into lockdown starting in March 2020, and these efforts are subject to changes and delays based on case monitoring in each state.

Federal, state, and local governments, and regulatory authorities have enacted and issued a range of policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the Company’s 2020 Annual Report for information on policy and regulatory actions taken during 2020. Regulatory actions taken during 2021 include the following:

●

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion relief package providing a third round of Economic Impact Payments to millions of eligible Americans, expanding unemployment benefits and tax credits, providing additional assistance to small businesses, and creating a $10 billion homeowner assistance fund. This fund can be used toward delinquent mortgage payments and is intended to minimize foreclosures in the coming months. An additional $7.25 billion in PPP funding was provided, and eligibility criteria was expanded to include some non-profit organizations.

●	On March 30, 2021, President Biden signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which extended the PPP application deadline to May 31, 2021, or until funding was exhausted. PPP funding for loans originated by lenders other than community financial institutions was exhausted as of May 6, 2021. All PPP funding was exhausted as of May 28, 2021.

We have taken, and continue to take, numerous steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the following:

●

First Busey offered a **** Financial Relief Program to qualifying customers designed to alleviate some of the financial hardships that they faced as a result of COVID-19. This program offered solutions for all types of customers—including retail, personal loan, and mortgage—as well as commercial clients and small businesses. The program included options for loan payment deferrals as well as certain fee waivers. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had 27 commercial loans remaining on interest-only payment deferrals

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representing $116.6 million in loans. In addition, as of September 30, 2021, the Company had three retail loans on payment deferrals representing $0.4 million.

First Busey has served as a bridge for the PPP, actively helping 7,348 existing and new business clients sign up for this important financial resource. The Company originated and acquired a total of $1.1 billion in PPP loans, of which $178.2 million remains outstanding as of September 30, 2021. Additional information about the Company’s PPP loans is included in the COVID-19 section of “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” in this Quarterly Report.

Operating Results

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


		Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
		September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,			September 30,		****	September 30,
		2021			2021		****	2020			2021		****	2020
Reported: ****	Net income	$	25,941		$	29,766		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999
Adjusted:	Net income^(1)^	$	32,845		$	31,921		$	32,803		$	102,831		$	74,473

Reported: ****	Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.46		$	0.53		$	0.56		$	1.67		$	1.31
Adjusted:	Diluted earnings per common share ^(1)^	$	0.58		$	0.57		$	0.60		$	1.84		$	1.36

Reported: ****	Return on average assets ^(2)^		0.81	%		1.05	%		1.15	%		1.08	%		0.94	%
Adjusted:	Return on average assets ^(1), (2)^		1.03	%		1.12	%		1.22	%		1.19	%		0.97	%

Reported: ****	Return on average tangible common equity^(1), (2)^		10.60	%		12.26	%		13.92	%		13.12	%		11.14	%
Adjusted:	Return on average tangible common equity ^(1), (2)^		13.43	%		13.14	%		14.81	%		14.43	%		11.52	%

Reported: ****	Pre-provision net revenue ^(1)^	$	30,470		$	34,030		$	45,922		$	104,698		$	127,165
Adjusted:	Pre-provision net revenue ^(1)^	$	39,409		$	37,486		$	48,701		$	119,648		$	133,360

Reported: ****	Pre-provision net revenue to average assets ^(1), (2)^		0.95	%		1.20	%		1.71	%		1.21	%		1.66	%
Adjusted:	Pre-provision net revenue to average assets ^(1), (2)^		1.23	%		1.32	%		1.81	%		1.38	%		1.74	%
(1)	A non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” included in this Quarterly Report.
---	---
(2)	Annualized measure.
---	---

On May 31, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of CAC, the holding company for GSB. GSB was operated as a separate banking subsidiary from June 1, 2021, until August 14, 2021, when it was merged with and into Busey Bank. At that time GSB’s banking centers became banking centers of Busey Bank. When we completed the GSB acquisition, we reset the baseline for the future financial performance of First Busey in a multitude of positive ways. With GSB now merged and integrated, we expect to see the full contribution of synergies of GSB reflected in the Company’s financial performance in the quarters ahead.

The Company views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related and restructuring charges, as adjustments to net income reported under GAAP. Non-operating pre-tax adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, included $8.7 million and $11.7 million of expenses related to acquisitions and other restructuring, respectively. A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures—including adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted efficiency 46

Table of Contents ratio, tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share, and return on average tangible common equity—which the Company believes facilitates the assessment of its financial results and peer comparability, is included in tabular form in this Quarterly Report. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information.”

Banking Center Markets

As of September 30, 2021, we served the Illinois banking market with 60 Busey Bank banking centers. Our Illinois markets feature several Fortune 1000 companies. Those organizations, coupled with large healthcare and higher education sectors, anchor the communities in which they are located and have provided a comparatively stable foundation for housing, employment, and small business. However, the financial condition of the state of Illinois, in which the largest portion of the Company’s customer base resides, is characterized by low credit ratings and budget deficits.

As of September 30, 2021, Busey Bank had 10 banking centers in Missouri. St. Louis, Missouri has a diverse economy with major employment sectors including health care, financial services, professional and business services, and retail. Fourteen of our banking centers in Illinois are located within the boundaries of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of September 30, 2021, Busey Bank had four banking centers in southwest Florida, an area which has experienced above average population growth, job growth, and an expanded housing market over the last several years.

As of September 30, 2021, Busey Bank had one banking center in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, which is the most populous city of Indiana with a diverse economy, including the headquarters of many large corporations.

On July 27, 2021, the Company announced its Personal Banking Transformation Plan to close and consolidate 15 Busey Bank banking centers, with the closures expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, as part of the acquisition integration plan, during the fourth quarter of 2021 the Company plans to close and consolidate two banking centers that were formerly GSB banking centers. Following the completion of these banking center closures and consolidations, the Company expects to have a total of 58 banking centers in operation across its markets.

Net Interest Income

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

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

Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and Interest Rates (Unaudited)

The following tables show our Consolidated Average Balance Sheets (dollars in thousands), and details the major categories of assets and liabilities, the interest income earned on interest-earning assets, the interest expense paid for interest-bearing liabilities, and the related interest yields for the periods shown. All average information is provided on a daily average basis.

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		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2021						2020
		Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/
		Balance		Expense		Rate^(5)^		Balance		Expense		Rate^(5)^
Assets
Interest-bearing bank deposits and federal funds sold		$	860,200	$	462	0.21	%	$	715,899	$	213	0.12	%
Investment securities:
U.S. Government obligations			251,553		416	0.66	%		112,867		593	2.09	%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions ^(1)^			299,024		1,900	2.52	%		301,796		2,122	2.80	%
Other securities			3,171,163		10,167	1.27	%		1,409,664		7,195	2.03	%
Loans held for sale			15,589		99	2.52	%		104,965		662	2.51	%
Portfolio loans ^(1), (2)^			7,133,108		65,418	3.64	%		7,160,757		69,481	3.86	%
Total interest-earning assets ^(1), (3)^		$	11,730,637	$	78,462	2.65	%	$	9,805,948	$	80,266	3.26	%

Cash and due from banks			149,550						120,198
Premises and equipment			144,334						145,948
ACL			(96,682)						(97,127)
Other assets			769,956						706,028
Total assets		$	12,697,795					$	10,680,995

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing transaction deposits		$	2,809,669	$	522	0.07	%	$	2,312,804	$	774	0.13	%
Savings and money market deposits			3,369,482		811	0.10	%		2,557,732		869	0.14	%
Time deposits			1,074,091		1,726	0.64	%		1,298,841		4,462	1.37	%
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements			221,813		60	0.11	%		190,046		88	0.18	%
Borrowings ^(4)^			296,185		3,262	4.37	%		263,736		2,943	4.44	%
Junior subordinated debt issued to unconsolidated trusts			71,565		728	4.04	%		71,402		740	4.12	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		$	7,842,805	$	7,109	0.36	%	$	6,694,561	$	9,876	0.59	%

Net interest spread ^(1)^						2.29	%					2.67	%

Noninterest-bearing deposits			3,365,823						2,592,130
Other liabilities			137,751						145,856
Stockholders’ equity			1,351,416						1,248,448
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	12,697,795					$	10,680,995

Interest income / earning assets ^(1), (3)^		$	11,730,637	$	78,462	2.65	%	$	9,805,948	$	80,266	3.26	%
Interest expense / earning assets		$	11,730,637	$	7,109	0.24	%	$	9,805,948	$	9,876	0.40	%
Net interest margin ^(1)^				$	71,353	2.41	%			$	70,390	2.86	%
(1)	On a tax-equivalent basis and assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.
---	---
(2)	Non-accrual loans have been included in average portfolio loans.
---	---
(3)	Interest income includes a tax-equivalent adjustment of $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020.
---	---
(4)	Includes short-term and long-term borrowings. Interest expense includes a non-usage fee on a revolving loan.
---	---
(5)	Annualized.
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		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021						2020
		Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/
		Balance		Expense		Rate^(5)^		Balance		Expense		Rate^(5)^
Assets
Interest-bearing bank deposits and federal funds sold		$	597,960	$	857	0.19	%	$	506,235	$	1,596	0.42	%
Investment securities:
U.S. Government obligations			166,300		1,375	1.11	%		144,807		2,359	2.18	%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions ^(1)^			297,094		5,772	2.60	%		286,097		6,228	2.91	%
Other securities			2,645,746		25,513	1.29	%		1,329,557		22,597	2.27	%
Loans held for sale			23,060		401	2.32	%		91,964		1,880	2.73	%
Portfolio loans ^(1), (2)^			6,921,226		189,743	3.67	%		7,012,497		212,721	4.05	%
Total interest-earning assets ^(1), (3)^		$	10,651,386	$	223,661	2.81	%	$	9,371,157	$	247,381	3.53	%

Cash and due from banks			134,998						119,987
Premises and equipment			138,257						148,697
ACL			(98,522)						(84,213)
Other assets			745,151						693,950
Total assets		$	11,571,270					$	10,249,578

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing transaction deposits		$	2,534,979	$	1,529	0.08	%	$	2,131,608	$	4,165	0.26	%
Savings and money market deposits			2,981,559		2,151	0.10	%		2,558,053		5,265	0.27	%
Time deposits			1,060,993		6,406	0.81	%		1,418,944		16,623	1.56	%
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements			203,777		177	0.12	%		185,528		596	0.43	%
Borrowings ^(4)^			262,024		9,245	4.72	%		213,101		6,427	4.03	%
Junior subordinated debt issued to unconsolidated trusts			71,524		2,185	4.08	%		71,353		2,220	4.16	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		$	7,114,856	$	21,693	0.41	%	$	6,578,587	$	35,296	0.72	%

Net interest spread ^(1)^						2.40	%					2.81	%

Noninterest-bearing deposits			3,010,999						2,303,538
Other liabilities			121,844						134,105
Stockholders’ equity			1,323,571						1,233,348
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	11,571,270					$	10,249,578

Interest income / earning assets ^(1), (3)^		$	10,651,386	$	223,661	2.81	%	$	9,371,157	$	247,381	3.53	%
Interest expense / earning assets		$	10,651,386	$	21,693	0.27	%	$	9,371,157	$	35,296	0.51	%
Net interest margin ^(1)^				$	201,968	2.54	%			$	212,085	3.02	%
(1)	On a tax-equivalent basis and assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.
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(2)	Non-accrual loans have been included in average portfolio loans.
---	---
(3)	Interest income includes a tax-equivalent adjustment of $1.8 million and $2.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
---	---
(4)	Includes short-term and long-term borrowings. Interest expense includes a non-usage fee on a revolving loan.
---	---
(5)	Annualized.
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Table of Contents Earning Assets, Sources of Funds, and Net Interest Margin

Changes in average earning assets are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021		****	2020			Change		% Change		****
Average interest-earning assets	$	11,730,637		$	9,805,948		$	1,924,689		19.6	%
Average interest-bearing liabilities		7,842,805			6,694,561			1,148,244		17.2	%
Average noninterest-bearing deposits		3,365,823			2,592,130			773,693		29.8	%

Total average deposits		10,619,065			8,761,507			1,857,558		21.2	%
Total average liabilities		11,346,379			9,432,547			1,913,832		20.3	%

Average noninterest-bearing deposits as a percent of total average deposits		31.7	%		29.6	%
Total average deposits as a percent of total average liabilities		93.6	%		92.9	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		****	2020			Change		% Change		****
Average interest-earning assets	$	10,651,386		$	9,371,157		$	1,280,229		13.7	%
Average interest-bearing liabilities		7,114,856			6,578,587			536,269		8.2	%
Average noninterest-bearing deposits		3,010,999			2,303,538			707,461		30.7	%

Total average deposits		9,588,530			8,412,143			1,176,387		14.0	%
Total average liabilities		10,247,699			9,016,230			1,231,469		13.7	%

Average noninterest-bearing deposits as a percent of total average deposits		31.4	%		27.4	%
Total average deposits as a percent of total average liabilities		93.6	%		93.3	%

Changes in sources of funds and net interest margin are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):


		Three Months Ended September 30,										****
		2021		****	2020			Change		% Change		****
Net interest income
Interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis^(1)^		$	78,462		$	80,266		$	(1,804)		(2.2)	%
Interest expense			7,109			9,876			(2,767)		(28.0)	%
Net interest income, on a tax equivalent basis^(1)^		$	71,353		$	70,390		$	963		1.4	%

Net interest margin^(1), (2)^			2.41	%		2.86	%
(1)	Assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.
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(2)	Annualized, net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets, stated on a tax-equivalent basis.
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Table of Contents


		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021		****	2020			Change		% Change		****
Net interest income
Interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis^(1)^		$	223,661		$	247,381		$	(23,720)		(9.6)	%
Interest expense			21,693			35,296			(13,603)		(38.5)	%
Net interest income, on a tax equivalent basis^(1)^		$	201,968		$	212,085		$	(10,117)		(4.8)	%

Net interest margin^(1), (2)^			2.54	%		3.02	%
(1)	Assuming a federal income tax rate of 21.0%.
---	---
(2)	Net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets, stated on a tax-equivalent basis.
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The Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and interest rates were impacted in 2021 and 2020 by numerous factors surrounding COVID-19. The Federal Open Market Committee rate cuts during the first quarter of 2020 have contributed to the decline in net interest margin, as assets, in particular commercial loans, repriced more quickly and to a greater extent than liabilities. Net interest margin has also been negatively impacted by existing loan amortization and paydowns at higher rates than new loan production, significant growth in the Company’s liquidity position, and the issuance of debt. Those impacts were partially offset by the Company’s efforts to lower deposit funding costs as well as the fees recognized on PPP loans.

The Company remains substantially core deposit funded, with robust liquidity and significant market share in the communities we serve. As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s loan to deposit ratio was 66.1% and core deposits represented 98.5% of total deposits outstanding (excluding time deposits with balances greater than $250,000).

Net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average rate earned on earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, was 2.29% and 2.40% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to 2.67% and 2.81% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, each on a tax equivalent basis.

The net interest margin discussion above is based upon the results and average balances for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. Annualized net interest margins for the quarterly periods indicated were as follows:


	2021		2020
First Quarter	2.72	%	3.20	%
Second Quarter	2.50	%	3.03	%
Third Quarter	2.41	%	2.86	%
Fourth Quarter			3.06	%

Management attempts to mitigate the effects of an unpredictable interest-rate environment through effective portfolio management, prudent loan underwriting, effective funding cost control, meaningful noninterest income contribution, and operational efficiencies. Please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report for a description of accounting policies underlying the recognition of interest income and expense.

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Noninterest Income

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


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Change		% Change
Noninterest income
Wealth management fees	$	13,749	$	10,548	$	3,201		30.3	%
Fees for customer services		9,288		8,014		1,274		15.9	%
Remittance processing		4,355		3,995		360		9.0	%
Mortgage revenue		1,740		5,793		(4,053)		(70.0)	%
Income on bank owned life insurance		999		1,022		(23)		(2.3)	%
Net gains (losses) on sales of securities		(5)		11		(16)		(145.5)	%
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities		62		(437)		499		114.2	%
Other income		3,071		3,339		(268)		(8.0)	%
Total noninterest income	$	33,259	$	32,285	$	974		3.0	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Change		% Change		****
Noninterest income
Wealth management fees	$	39,335	$	32,296	$	7,039		21.8	%
Fees for customer services		25,936		23,400		2,536		10.8	%
Remittance processing		13,122		11,466		1,656		14.4	%
Mortgage revenue		6,153		9,879		(3,726)		(37.7)	%
Income on bank owned life insurance		3,439		4,361		(922)		(21.1)	%
Net gains (losses) on sales of securities		114		1,710		(1,596)		(93.3)	%
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities		2,482		(1,234)		3,716		301.1	%
Other income		7,134		5,888		1,246		21.2	%
Total noninterest income	$	97,715	$	87,766	$	9,949		11.3	%

Total noninterest income was $33.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 3.0% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $97.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, an 11.3% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Revenues from wealth management fees and remittance processing activities represented 54.4% and 53.7% of the Company’s noninterest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, providing a complement to spread-based revenue from traditional banking activities. On a combined basis, revenue from these two critical operating areas was $18.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 24.5% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $52.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 19.9% increase from the comparable period in 2020.

Wealth management fees were $13.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 30.3% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and were $39.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 21.8% increase from the comparable period for 2020. First Busey’s Wealth Management division ended the third quarter of 2021 with $12.4 billion in assets under care, compared to $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2020, a 20.9% increase. The increase in assets under care includes $1.2 billion related to assets obtained in the acquisition of CAC.

Fees for customer services were $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 15.9% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and were $25.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 10.8% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Fees for customer services have been impacted since March 2020 due to changing customer behaviors resulting from COVID-19 and related government stimulus programs, and continue to rebound with improving economic conditions and customer activity levels.

Table of Contents Remittance processing revenue relates to our payment processing company, FirsTech. Remittance processing revenue was $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 9.0% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 14.4% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Fluctuations in remittance processing revenue were primarily the result of increased payment and volume activity as well as growth in customers served by FirsTech. In addition to reported remittance processing revenue, FirsTech generated additional revenue of $0.3 million in the three months and $0.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021, related to professional programming services, excluding intercompany eliminations and consolidation. These revenues are reported separately within the “Other income” component of our noninterest income. FirsTech operations add important diversity to our revenue stream while widening our array of service offerings to larger commercial clients both within our footprint and nationally. The Company is currently making strategic investments in FirsTech to enhance future growth including upgrades to the product and engineering teams to build an application programming interface cloud-based platform and expansion of the sales organization to drive increased market reach.

Mortgage revenue was $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 70.0% decrease from the comparable period in 2020, primarily as a result of declines in sold-loan mortgage volume. Mortgage revenue was $6.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 37.7% decrease from the comparable period in 2020. General economic conditions and interest rate volatility may impact fees in future quarters.

Income on bank owned life insurance was $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 2.3% decrease from the comparable period in 2020, and was $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 21.1% decrease from the comparable period in 2020. Decreases primarily resulted from a $0.8 million decline in earnings on death proceeds for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Other income was $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, an 8.0% decrease from the comparable period in 2020, and was $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 21.2% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Other income variances are primarily driven by fluctuations in income generated from swap origination fees, commercial loan sales gains, and gains and losses on fixed asset disposal.

Noninterest Expense

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


		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2021			2020			Change		% Change
Noninterest expense
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits		$	41,949		$	32,839		$	9,110		27.7	%
Data processing			7,782			3,937			3,845		97.7	%
Net occupancy expense of premises			4,797			4,256			541		12.7	%
Furniture and equipment expenses			2,208			2,325			(117)		(5.0)	%
Professional fees			1,361			1,698			(337)		(19.8)	%
Amortization of intangible assets			3,149			2,493			656		26.3	%
Interchange expense			1,434			1,223			211		17.3	%
Other expense			10,807			7,771			3,036		39.1	%
Total noninterest expense		$	73,487		$	56,542		$	16,945		30.0	%

Income taxes		$	6,455		$	9,118		$	(2,663)		(29.2)	%
Effective income tax rate			19.9	%		22.8	%

Efficiency ratio^(1)^			67.3	%		52.4	%
Adjusted efficiency ratio^(1)^			59.0	%		50.0	%
(1)	For a reconciliation of efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio, non-GAAP financial measures, see Non-GAAP Financial Information.
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Table of Contents


		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021			2020			Change		% Change		****
Noninterest expense
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits		$	107,222		$	95,397		$	11,825		12.4	%
Data processing			16,881			12,383			4,498		36.3	%
Net occupancy expense of premises			13,606			13,419			187		1.4	%
Furniture and equipment expenses			6,300			7,311			(1,011)		(13.8)	%
Professional fees			5,617			5,508			109		2.0	%
Amortization of intangible assets			8,200			7,569			631		8.3	%
Interchange expense			4,360			3,590			770		21.4	%
Other expense			28,425			24,947			3,478		13.9	%
Total noninterest expense		$	190,611		$	170,124		$	20,487		12.0	%

Income taxes		$	24,136		$	19,986		$	4,150		20.8	%
Effective income tax rate			20.5	%		21.7	%

Efficiency ratio^(1)^			61.4	%		54.3	%
Adjusted efficiency ratio^(1)^			57.5	%		53.2	%

Full-time equivalent employees as of period-end			1,462			1,371			91		6.6	%
(1)	For a reconciliation of efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio, non-GAAP financial measures, see Non-GAAP Financial Information.
---	---

Total noninterest expense was $73.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 30.0% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $190.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 12.0% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Non-operating acquisition and other restructuring expenses contributed $8.7 million to total noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $2.5 million for the comparable period in 2020, and contributed $11.7 million to total noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $3.2 million for the comparable period in 2020. GSB’s results of operations were included in the Company’s results of operations beginning June 1, 2021.

Salaries, wages, and employee benefits were $41.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 27.7% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and were $107.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 12.4% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Non-operating expenses contributed $2.7 million and $3.5 million of the increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, over the comparable periods in 2020, respectively. Salaries, wages, and employee benefit expenses were impacted by increases in full-time equivalent employees since June 1, 2021, related to the CAC acquisition, and we began to see synergies in late August after the banks were merged.

Data processing expense was $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 97.7% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $16.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 36.3% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Acquisition related non-operating expenses contributed $3.2 million and $3.6 million of the increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.

Table of Contents Combined, net occupancy expense of premises and furniture and equipment expense was $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 6.4% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $19.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 4.0% decrease from the comparable period in 2020. GSB added 7 branches in 2021. The Company closed 12 banking centers in October 2020, and has evaluated and expects to close and consolidate 17 Busey Bank banking centers, two of which were formerly GSB banking centers, in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Professional fees were $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 19.8% decrease from the comparable period in 2020, and were $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 2.0% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Non-operating expenses contributed $0.1 million and $1.4 million in professional fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Amortization of intangible assets was $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 26.3% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $8.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, an 8.3% increase from the comparable period for 2020. The increase primarily related to intangibles acquired in the CAC acquisition.

Interchange expense was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 17.3% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 21.4% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Fluctuations in interchange expense were primarily the result of increased payment and volume activity at FirsTech.

Other expense was $10.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a 39.1% increase from the comparable period in 2020, and was $28.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 13.9% increase from the comparable period in 2020. Increases were across multiple expense categories including New Market Tax Credit amortization, regulatory expenses, marketing, business development, recruiting and onboarding, director compensation, and card service fees, partially offset by lower MSR valuation impairment and releases in the provision for unfunded commitments.

The efficiency ratio^(^^1^^)^, which is a measure commonly used by management and the banking industry, measures the amount of expense incurred to generate a dollar of revenue. The efficiency ratios were 67.3% and 61.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to 52.4% and 54.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

The adjusted efficiency ratios^(^^1^^)^ were 59.0% and 57.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to 50.0% and 53.2% for three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. The Company remains focused on expense discipline.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates of 19.9% and 20.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, were lower than the combined federal and state statutory rate of approximately 28% due to tax exempt interest income, such as municipal bond interest and bank owned life insurance income, and investments in various federal and state tax credits, including an Illinois new market tax credit. The Company continues to monitor evolving federal and state tax legislation and its potential impact on operations on an ongoing basis. As of September 30, 2021, the Company was not under examination by any tax authority.

^(^^1^^)^ A Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” for reconciliation. 55

Table of Contents FINANCIAL CONDITION

Balance Sheet

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


	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020		Change		% Change		****
Assets
Debt securities available for sale	$	3,997,244	$	2,261,187	$	1,736,057		76.8	%
Portfolio loans, net		7,057,833		6,713,129		344,704		5.1	%

Total assets	$	12,899,330	$	10,544,047	$	2,355,283		22.3	%

Liabilities
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$	3,453,906	$	2,552,039	$	901,867		35.3	%
Interest-bearing		7,363,961		6,125,810		1,238,151		20.2	%
Total deposits	$	10,817,867	$	8,677,849	$	2,140,018		24.7	%

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$	241,242	$	175,614	$	65,628		37.4	%
Senior notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		39,910		39,809		101		0.3	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs		182,637		182,226		411		0.2	%
Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts		71,593		71,468		125		0.2	%

Total liabilities	$	11,566,254	$	9,273,978	$	2,292,276		24.7	%

Stockholders’ equity	$	1,333,076	$	1,270,069	$	63,007		5.0	%

Portfolio Loans

The Company believes that making sound and profitable loans is a necessary and desirable means of employing funds available for investment. The Company maintains lending policies and procedures designed to focus lending efforts on the types, locations, and duration of loans most appropriate for its business model and markets. GSB’s policies were similar in nature to Busey Bank’s policies and the Company is migrating the legacy GSB portfolio toward Busey Bank’s policies. While not specifically limited, the Company attempts to focus its lending on short to intermediate-term (0-7 years) loans in geographic areas within 125 miles of its lending offices. Loans originated outside of these areas are generally residential mortgage loans originated for sale in the secondary market or loans to existing customers of Busey Bank. The Company attempts to utilize government-assisted lending programs, such as the SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture lending programs, when prudent. Generally, loans are collateralized by assets, primarily real estate, and guaranteed by individuals. Loans are expected to be repaid primarily from cash flows of the borrowers or from proceeds from the sale of selected assets of the borrowers.

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

Table of Contents As a matter of policy and practice, the Company limits the level of concentration exposure in any particular loan segment with the goal of maintaining a well-diversified loan portfolio. In anticipation of the potential risks associated with COVID-19, the Company took actions starting in early March 2020 to escalate the monitoring of susceptible industry sectors within its portfolio.

At no time is a borrower’s total borrowing relationship permitted to exceed the Company’s regulatory lending limit. The Company generally limits such relationships to amounts substantially less than the regulatory limit. Loans to related parties, including executive officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, are reviewed for compliance with regulatory guidelines by the Company’s board of directors at least annually.

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

The Company’s lending activities can be summarized into five primary areas: commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, real estate construction loans, retail real estate loans, and retail other loans. A description of each of the lending areas can be found in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report. The significant majority of the Company’s portfolio lending activity occurs in its Illinois and Missouri markets, with the remainder in the Florida and Indiana markets.

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


		September 30, 2021
	****	Illinois		****	Missouri		****	Florida		****	Indiana		****	Total
Portfolio loans
Commercial		$	1,340,421		$	490,939		$	54,092		$	46,411		$	1,931,863
Commercial real estate			2,061,455			668,014			181,352			157,801			3,068,622
Real estate construction			186,171			133,385			65,637			45,664			430,857
Retail real estate			1,127,787			237,966			94,429			52,702			1,512,884
Retail other			195,329			4,025			2,320			4,735			206,409
Total portfolio loans		$	4,911,163		$	1,534,329		$	397,830		$	307,313		$	7,150,635

ACL															(92,802)
Portfolio loans, net														$	7,057,833


		December 31, 2020
	****	Illinois		****	Missouri		****	Florida		****	Indiana		****	Total
Portfolio loans
Commercial		$	1,386,587		$	529,281		$	50,878		$	47,830		$	2,014,576
Commercial real estate			1,880,437			715,680			154,234			142,184			2,892,535
Real estate construction			192,971			115,227			57,381			96,207			461,786
Retail real estate			963,538			295,352			94,748			54,214			1,407,852
Retail other			32,678			2,415			1,188			1,147			37,428
Total portfolio loans		$	4,456,211		$	1,657,955		$	358,429		$	341,582		$	6,814,177

ACL															(101,048)
Portfolio loans, net														$	6,713,129

Portfolio loans increased by 4.9% to $7.2 billion as of September 30, 2021, compared to $6.8 billion as of December 31, 2020. Commercial balances (consisting of commercial, commercial real estate, and real estate construction loans), excluding PPP loans, increased $330.6 million since December 31, 2020. Retail real estate and retail other loans increased $274.0 million since December 31, 2020. September 30, 2021, portfolio loan balances included balances acquired in the CAC acquisition.

Table of Contents Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses

The ACL is a significant estimate in the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, affecting both earnings and capital. The methodology adopted influences, and is influenced by, the Company’s overall credit risk management processes. The ACL is recorded in accordance with GAAP to provide an adequate reserve for expected credit losses that is reflective of management’s best estimate of what is expected to be collected. All estimates of credit losses should be based on a careful consideration of all significant factors affecting the collectability as of the evaluation date. The ACL is established through the provision for credit loss expense charged to income.

As a result of continued strength in asset quality performance metrics, as well as improved macro-economic outlooks, the third quarter of 2021 results reflect a provision release, as compared to a reserve build at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provision for credit loss expense decreased due to a reserve release of $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a $5.5 million provision expense for the same period in 2020. Provision for credit loss expense decreased due to a reserve release of $10.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a $35.7 million provision expense for the same period in 2020. In addition to the effects of the provision, the ACL was increased by $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2021 by the Day 1 PCD related to the CAC acquisition.

The relationship between our portfolio loan balances and our ACL is summarized as follows, as of each of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,			September 30,
	****	2021		****	2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2020		****
Portfolio loans
Portfolio loans, excluding PPP loans		$	6,972,404		$	6,795,255		$	6,257,196		$	6,367,774		$	6,384,916
PPP loans, amortized cost			178,231			390,395			522,104			446,403			736,395
Total portfolio loans		$	7,150,635		$	7,185,650		$	6,779,300		$	6,814,177		$	7,121,311

ACL		$	92,802		$	95,410		$	93,943		$	101,048		$	98,841

ACL to portfolio loans			1.30	%		1.33	%		1.39	%		1.48	%		1.39	%
ACL to portfolio loans, excluding PPP loans			1.33	%		1.40	%		1.50	%		1.59	%		1.55	%
ACL to non-performing loans			358.86	%		336.96	%		411.04	%		415.82	%		408.82	%
ACL to non-performing assets			319.52	%		303.35	%		346.05	%		349.99	%		339.02	%

As of September 30, 2021, management believed the level of the ACL to be appropriate based upon the information available. However, additional losses may be identified in our loan portfolio as new information is obtained. The ongoing impacts of CECL will be dependent upon changes in economic conditions and forecasts, originated and acquired loan portfolio composition, credit performance trends, portfolio duration, and other factors.

Non-performing Loans and Non-performing Assets

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

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

Table of Contents The following table sets forth information concerning non-performing loans and performing restructured loans, as of each of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):


		As of
		September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,			September 30,
	****	2021		****	2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2020		****
Loans 30 – 89 days past due		$	6,446		$	3,888		$	9,929		$	7,578		$	6,708

Non-performing assets
Non-performing loans:
Non-accrual loans			25,369			27,725			21,706			22,930			23,898
Loans 90+ days past due and still accruing			491			590			1,149			1,371			279
Total non-performing loans			25,860			28,315			22,855			24,301			24,177
OREO			3,184			3,137			4,292			4,571			4,978
Total non-performing assets			29,044			31,452			27,147			28,872			29,155

Substandard (excludes 90+ days past due)			51,740			44,877			65,088			68,924			77,939
Classified assets		$	80,784		$	76,329		$	92,235		$	97,796		$	107,094

Performing TDRs (includes 30 – 89 days past due)		$	2,083		$	2,518		$	3,299		$	3,829		$	4,218

Non-performing assets to total assets			0.23	%		0.25	%		0.25	%		0.27	%		0.28	%
Non-performing loans to portfolio loans			0.36	%		0.39	%		0.34	%		0.36	%		0.34	%
Non-performing loans to portfolio loans, excluding PPP loans			0.37	%		0.42	%		0.37	%		0.38	%		0.38	%
Non-performing assets to portfolio loans and OREO			0.41	%		0.44	%		0.40	%		0.42	%		0.41	%
Classified assets to Busey Bank Tier 1 Capital and ACL			6.07	%		5.72	%		7.76	%		8.47	%		9.58	%

Non-performing loan balances increased by 6.4% to $25.9 million as of September 30, 2021, compared with $24.3 million as of December 31, 2020. Non-performing loans acquired from GSB were $4.4 million at September 30, 2021. Continued disciplined credit management resulted in non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans of 0.36% as of September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2020. Excluding the amortized cost of PPP loans, non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans was 0.37% as of September 30, 2021, compared to 0.38% as of December 31, 2020.

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

Potential Problem Loans

Potential problem loans are loans classified as substandard which are not categorized as impaired, restructured, non-accrual, or 90+ days past due, but where current information indicates that the borrower may not be able to comply with loan repayment terms. Management assesses the potential for loss on such loans and considers the effect of any potential loss in determining its provision for expected credit losses. Potential problem loans decreased by 25.0% to $51.6 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $68.8 million as of December 31, 2020. Management continues to monitor these credits and anticipates that restructurings, guarantees, additional collateral, or other planned actions will result in full repayment of the debts. As of September 30, 2021, management identified no other loans that represent or result from trends or uncertainties which would be expected to materially impact future operating results, liquidity, or capital resources.

To alleviate some of the financial hardships faced as a result of COVID-19, the Company offered a Financial Relief Program to qualifying customers. The program included options for short-term loan payment deferrals and certain fee waivers. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had no loans remaining on full payment deferral, and 27 commercial loans on interest-only payment deferrals representing $116.6 million in loans. In addition, as of September 30, 2021, the 59

Table of Contents Company had three retail loans on payment deferrals representing $0.4 million in loans. As these deferrals expire, the Company will continue to monitor credits for potential problem loans.

Deposits

Total deposits increased by 24.7% to $10.8 billion as of September 30, 2021, compared to $8.7 billion as of December 31, 2020. We focus on deepening our relationships with customers to foster core deposit growth, allowing us to reduce our reliance on wholesale funding. Fluctuations in deposit balances can be attributed to the retention of PPP loan funding in customer deposit accounts, the impacts of economic stimulus payments to consumers, other core deposit growth, the seasonality of public funds, and the CAC acquisition. Approximately $1.3 billion of deposits were acquired in the CAC acquisition.

LIQUIDITY

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

First Busey’s primary sources of funds consist of deposits, investment maturities and sales, loan principal repayments, and capital funds. Additional liquidity is provided by the ability to borrow from the FHLB, the Federal Reserve, First Busey’s revolving credit facility, or to utilize brokered deposits. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had additional capacity to borrow $1.2 billion from the FHLB and $603.6 million from the Federal Reserve. The Company has the ability to pledge PPP loans as collateral to either the FHLB or Federal Reserve Discount Window to increase the availability to borrow against any potential short-term funding needs.

As of September 30, 2021, management believed that adequate liquidity existed to meet all projected cash flow obligations. We seek to achieve a satisfactory degree of liquidity by actively managing both assets and liabilities. Asset management guides the proportion of liquid assets to total assets, while liability management monitors future funding requirements and prices liabilities accordingly.

OFF-BALANCE-SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

Busey Bank routinely enters into commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. As of September 30, 2021, we had outstanding loan commitments and standby letters of credit of $1.9 billion, compared to $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2020. The balance of commitments to extend credit represents future cash requirements and some of these commitments may expire without being drawn upon. We anticipate we will have sufficient funds available to meet current loan commitments, including loan applications received and in process prior to the issuance of firm commitments.

As of September 30, 2021, our reserve for unfunded commitments was $6.2 million, compared to $7.3 million as of December 31, 2020. Provision expense for unfunded commitments decreased due to a reserve release of $1.0 million and $1.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to an expense of $0.3 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our capital ratios are in excess of those required to be considered “well-capitalized” pursuant to applicable regulatory guidelines. The Federal Reserve Board uses capital adequacy guidelines in its examination and regulation of bank holding companies and their subsidiary banks. Risk-based capital ratios are established by allocating assets and certain off-balance-sheet commitments into risk-weighted categories. These balances are then multiplied by the factor appropriate for that risk-weighted category. In order to refrain from restrictions on dividends, equity repurchases, and 60

Table of Contents discretionary bonus payments, banking institutions must maintain capital in excess of regulatory minimum capital requirements. The table below presents minimum capital ratios with capital buffer and September 30, 2021, capital ratios for First Busey and Busey Bank.


		Minimum Capital			As of September 30, 2021
		Requirements with			First Busey			Busey
	****	Capital Buffer		****	Corporation		****	Bank
Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets			10.50	%		15.91	%		15.87	%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets			8.50	%		12.84	%		15.04	%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets			7.00	%		11.95	%		15.04	%
Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets						8.60	%		10.06	%

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

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This Quarterly Report contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. These measures include adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, efficiency ratio, adjusted efficiency ratio, tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share, and return on average tangible common equity. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, together with the related GAAP measures, to analyze the Company’s performance and to make business decisions. Management also uses these measures for peer comparisons.

A reconciliation to what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures—specifically net revenue in the case of adjusted pre-provision net revenue, net income in the case of adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and adjusted return on average assets; total net interest income in the case of adjusted net interest margin; total noninterest income and total noninterest expense in the case of efficiency ratio and adjusted efficiency ratio; and total stockholders’ equity in the case of tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share, and return on average tangible common equity—appears below. The Company believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-recurring noninterest items and provides additional perspective on the Company’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Company’s peers.

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

Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Adjusted Pre-Provision Net Revenue

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)


		Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
		September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,
	****	2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020
Pre-provision net revenue
Net interest income		$	70,755		$	64,542		$	69,753		$	200,190		$	209,999
Noninterest income			33,259			33,011			32,285			97,715			87,766
Less net (gains) losses on sales of securities and unrealized (gains) losses recognized on equity securities			(57)			(898)			426			(2,596)			(476)
Noninterest expense			(73,487)			(62,625)			(56,542)			(190,611)			(170,124)
Total pre-provision net revenue		$	30,470		$	34,030		$	45,922		$	104,698		$	127,165

Adjustments to pre-provision net revenue
Acquisition and other restructuring expenses			8,677			2,713			2,529			11,710			3,161
Provision for unfunded commitments			(978)			(496)			250			(1,068)			1,834
New Market Tax Credit amortization			1,240			1,239			—			4,308			1,200
Adjusted pre-provision net revenue		$	39,409		$	37,486		$	48,701		$	119,648		$	133,360

Average total assets		$	12,697,795		$	11,398,655		$	10,680,995		$	11,571,270		$	10,249,578

Reported: Pre-provision net revenue to average assets ^(1)^			0.95	%		1.20	%		1.71	%		1.21	%		1.66	%
Adjusted: Pre-provision net revenue to average assets ^(1)^			1.23	%		1.32	%		1.81	%		1.38	%		1.74	%
(1)	Annualized measure.
---	---

Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, and Adjusted Return on Average Assets

(unaudited, dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


		Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
		September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****
	****	2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020		****
Net income		$	25,941		$	29,766		$	30,829		$	93,523		$	71,999

Adjustments to net income
Acquisition expenses:
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits			4,462			1,125			—			5,587			—
Data processing			3,182			368			—			3,557			—
Lease or fixed asset impairment			—			—			234			—			234
Professional fees, occupancy, and other			776			1,220			99			2,309			385
Other restructuring costs:
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits			257			—			2,011			257			2,357
Professional fees, occupancy, and other			—			—			185			—			185
Related tax benefit			(1,773)			(558)			(555)			(2,402)			(687)
Adjusted net income		$	32,845		$	31,921		$	32,803		$	102,831		$	74,473

Dilutive average common shares outstanding			56,832,518			55,730,883			54,737,920			55,872,835			54,796,354

Reported: Diluted earnings per share		$	0.46		$	0.53		$	0.56		$	1.67		$	1.31
Adjusted: Diluted earnings per share			0.58			0.57			0.60			1.84			1.36

Average total assets		$	12,697,795		$	11,398,655		$	10,680,995		$	11,571,270		$	10,249,578

Reported: Return on average assets ^(1)^			0.81	%		1.05	%		1.15	%		1.08	%		0.94	%
Adjusted: Return on average assets ^(1)^			1.03	%		1.12	%		1.22	%		1.19	%		0.97	%
(1)	Annualized measure.
---	---

Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Adjusted Net Interest Margin

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)


		Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
	****	September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****
	****	2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020		****
Net interest income		$	70,755		$	64,542		$	69,753		$	200,190		$	209,999

Adjustments to net interest income
Tax-equivalent adjustment			598			579			638			1,778			2,085
Acquisition-related purchase accounting accretion			(1,799)			(1,726)			(2,618)			(5,682)			(7,922)
Adjusted net interest income		$	69,554		$	63,395		$	67,773		$	196,286		$	204,162

Average interest-earning assets		$	11,730,637		$	10,448,417		$	9,805,948		$	10,651,386		$	9,371,157

Reported: Net interest margin ^(1)^			2.41	%		2.50	%		2.86	%		2.54	%		3.02	%
Adjusted: Net Interest margin ^(1)^			2.35	%		2.43	%		2.75	%		2.46	%		2.91	%
(1)	Annualized measure.
---	---

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Efficiency Ratio and Adjusted Efficiency Ratio

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)


	****	Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
		September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****	September 30,		****
		2021		****	2021		****	2020		****	2021		****	2020		****
Net interest income		$	70,755		$	64,542		$	69,753		$	200,190		$	209,999
Tax-equivalent adjustment			598			579			638			1,778			2,085
Tax-equivalent interest income		$	71,353		$	65,121		$	70,391		$	201,968		$	212,084

Noninterest income			33,259			33,011			32,285			97,715			87,766
Less net (gains) losses on sales of securities and unrealized (gains) losses recognized on equity securities			(57)			(898)			426			(2,596)			(476)
Adjusted noninterest income		$	33,202		$	32,113		$	32,711		$	95,119		$	87,290

Noninterest expense			73,487			62,625			56,542			190,611			170,124
Amortization of intangible assets			(3,149)			(2,650)			(2,493)			(8,200)			(7,569)
Non-operating adjustments:						—			—
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits			(4,719)			(1,125)			(2,011)			(5,844)			(2,357)
Data processing			(3,182)			(368)			—			(3,557)			—
Lease or fixed asset impairment			—			—			(234)			—			(234)
Professional fees and other			(776)			(1,220)			(284)			(2,309)			(570)
Adjusted noninterest expense		$	61,661		$	57,262		$	51,520		$	170,701		$	159,394

Reported: Efficiency ratio ^(1)^			67.27	%		61.68	%		52.42	%		61.40	%		54.30	%
Adjusted: Efficiency ratio ^(2)^			58.97	%		58.89	%		49.97	%		57.46	%		53.24	%
(1)	Calculated as total noninterest expense, less amortization charges, as a percentage of tax-equivalent net interest income, plus noninterest income, less security gains and losses.
---	---
(2)	Calculated as adjusted noninterest expense, as a percentage of tax-equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income, less security gains and losses.
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Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Tangible Common Equity, Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets, Tangible Book Value per Share, and Return on Average Tangible Common Equity

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)


		As of and for the Three Months Ended								****
	****	September 30,		****	June 30,		****	September 30,		****
	****	2021			2021		****	2020		****
Total Assets		$	12,899,330		$	12,415,449		$	10,539,628
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net			(378,891)			(381,795)			(365,960)
Tax effect of other intangible assets, net			17,115			17,997			15,239
Tangible assets		$	12,537,554		$	12,051,651		$	10,188,907

Total stockholders’ equity			1,333,076			1,345,691			1,255,705
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net			(378,891)			(381,795)			(365,960)
Tax effect of other intangible assets, net			17,115			17,997			15,239
Tangible common equity		$	971,300		$	981,893		$	904,984

Ending number of common shares outstanding			55,826,984			56,330,616			54,522,231

Tangible common equity to tangible assets ^(1)^			7.75	%		8.15	%		8.88	%
Tangible book value per share		$	17.09		$	17.11		$	16.32

Average common equity		$	1,351,416		$	1,342,771		$	1,248,448
Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net			(380,885)			(368,709)			(367,490)
Average tangible common equity		$	970,531		$	974,062		$	880,958

Reported: **** Return on average tangible common equity ^(2)^			10.60	%		12.26	%		13.92	%
Adjusted: **** Return on average tangible common equity ^(2), (3)^			13.43	%		13.14	%		14.81	%
(1)	Tax-effected measure, 28.0% estimated deferred tax rate.
---	---
(2)	Annualized measure.
---	---
(3)	Calculated using adjusted net income.
---	---


		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2021			2020
Average stockholders’ common equity		$	1,323,571		$	1,233,348
Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net			(370,829)			(369,801)
Average tangible stockholders’ common equity		$	952,742		$	863,547

Reported: **** Return on average tangible common equity ^(1)^			13.12	%		11.14	%
Adjusted: **** Return on average tangible common equity ^(1),^^^^(2)^			14.43	%		11.52	%
(1)	Annualized measure.
---	---
(2)	Calculated using adjusted net income.
---	---

Table of Contents FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this document, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of the Company’s management, and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the Company’s forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local, state, national, and international economy (including the impact of the current presidential administration); (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic), or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (iv) changes in accounting policies and practices; (v) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets (including the impact of the LIBOR phase-out); (vi) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (viii) the loss of key executives or associates; (ix) changes in consumer spending; (x) unexpected results of current and/or future acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (xi) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xii) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and blizzards. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect its financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

First Busey has established various accounting policies that govern the application of GAAP in the preparation of its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Significant accounting policies are described in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies” of the Company’s 2020 Annual Report.

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

Fair Value of Debt Securities Available for Sale

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

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

Table of Contents Debt securities available for sale are not within the scope of CECL; however, the accounting for credit losses on these securities is affected by ASC 326-30. A debt security available for sale is impaired if the fair value of the security declines below its amortized cost basis. To determine the appropriate accounting, the Company must first determine if it intends to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the fair value increases to at least the amortized cost basis. If either of those selling events is expected, the Company will write down the amortized cost basis of the security to its fair value. This is achieved by writing off any previously recorded ACL balance related to the debt security, if applicable, and recognizing any incremental impairment through earnings. If the Company does not intend to sell the security, nor believes it more likely than not will be required to sell the security before the fair value recovers to the amortized cost basis, the Company must determine whether any of the decline in fair value has resulted from a credit loss, or if it is entirely the result of noncredit factors.

The Company considers the following factors in assessing whether the decline is due to a credit loss:

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

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

Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Business Combinations

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

The fair value of a loan portfolio acquired in a business combination generally requires greater levels of management estimates and judgment than other assets acquired or liabilities assumed. Acquired loans are in the scope of ASC 326-30. However, the offset to record the ACL at the date of acquisition on acquired loans depends on whether or not the loan is classified as PCD. The ACL for PCD loans is recorded through a gross-up effect, while the ACL for acquired non-PCD loans is recorded through provision expense, consistent with originated loans. Thus, the determination of which loans are PCD and non-PCD can have a significant effect on the accounting for these loans.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired using the acquisition method of accounting. Determining the fair value often involves estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Goodwill is not amortized. Instead, the Company assess the potential for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The Company will continue to monitor events around COVID-19 and its potential impact on goodwill.

Table of Contents

Income Taxes

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

Allowance for Credit Losses

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

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

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

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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

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

As interest rate changes do not impact all categories of assets and liabilities equally or simultaneously, the asset-liability committee primarily relies on balance sheet and income simulation analysis to determine the potential impact of changes in market interest rates on net interest income. In these standard simulation models, the balance sheet is projected over a one-year and a two-year time horizon and net interest income is calculated under current market rates and assuming permanent instantaneous shifts of +/-100, +200 and +300 basis points. Due to the current low interest rate environment, a downward adjustment in federal fund rates was not meaningful as of September 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020. The model assumes immediate and sustained shifts in the federal funds rate and other market rate indices and corresponding shifts in other non-market rate indices based on their historical changes relative to changes in the federal funds rate and other market indices. Assets and liabilities are assumed to remain constant as of the measurement date; variable-rate assets and liabilities are repriced based on repricing frequency; and prepayment speeds on loans are projected for both declining and rising rate environments.

Table of Contents The interest rate risk of First Busey as a result of immediate and sustained changes in interest rates, expressed as a change in net interest income as a percentage of the net interest income calculated in the constant base model, was as follows:


		Year-One: Basis Point Changes
	****	+100	****	+200	****	+300	****
September 30, 2021		8.44	%	16.43	%	24.32	%
December 31, 2020		7.40	%	14.16	%	20.20	%


	****	Year-Two: Basis Point Changes
	****	+100	****	+200	****	+300	****
September 30, 2021		9.12	%	17.39	%	25.45	%
December 31, 2020		9.59	%	17.95	%	25.40	%

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

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, was carried out as of September 30, 2021, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and several other members of our senior management. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act was (i) accumulated and communicated to our 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.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Table of Contents PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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

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

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of Part 1 of the Company’s 2020 Annual Report.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On February 3, 2015, First Busey’s board of directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an aggregate of 666,667 shares of its common stock. The repurchase plan has no expiration date. On May 22, 2019, First Busey’s board of directors approved an amendment to increase the authorized shares under the repurchase program by 1,000,000 shares, and on February 5, 2020, First Busey’s board of directors approved another amendment to increase the authorized shares under the repurchase program by an additional 2,000,000 shares. During the third quarter of 2021, the company purchased 625,000 shares under the plan. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had 953,824 shares that may still be purchased under the plan.


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Weighted Average Price Paid per Common Share		Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1-31, 2021	137,000	$	23.84	137,000	1,441,824
August 1-31, 2021	288,000	$	23.73	288,000	1,153,824
September 1-30, 2021	200,000	$	23.45	200,000	953,824
Total	625,000	$	23.66	625,000

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Table of Contents ITEM 6. EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number		Description of Exhibit
31.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)

31.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)

32.1*		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, from First Busey’s Chief Executive Officer

32.2*		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, from First Busey’s Chief Financial Officer

101.INS		iXBRL Instance Document

101.SCH		iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL		iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.LAB		iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE		iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

101.DEF		iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101)
*	Filed herewith
---	---

Table of Contents SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION

(Registrant)


	By:	/s/ VAN A. DUKEMAN
		Van A. Dukeman
		Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer<br>(Principal Executive Officer)

	By:	/s/ JEFFREY D. JONES
		Jeffrey D. Jones
		Chief Financial Officer<br>(Principal Financial Officer)

	By:	/s/ LYNETTE M. STRODE
		Lynette M. Strode
		Principal Accounting Officer

Date: November 4, 2021

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Van A. Dukeman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Busey Corporation, certify that:

1)	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of First Busey Corporation;

2)	Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

3)	Based on my knowledge, the Financial Statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

4)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)	designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

b)	designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

c)	evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report based on such evaluation; and

d)	disclosed in this Quarterly Report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an Annual Report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)	all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)	any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

C
	/s/ VAN A. DUKEMAN
	Van A. Dukeman
	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 4, 2021 1

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Jeffrey D. Jones, Chief Financial Officer of First Busey Corporation, certify that:

1)	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of First Busey Corporation;

2)	Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

3)	Based on my knowledge, the Financial Statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

4)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)	designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

b)	designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

c)	evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report based on such evaluation; and

d)	disclosed in this Quarterly Report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an Annual Report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5)	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)	all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)	any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

EFFREY
	/s/ JEFFREY D. JONES
	Jeffrey D. Jones
	Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 4, 2021 1

EXHIBIT 32.1

The following certification is provided by the undersigned Chief Executive Officer of First Busey Corporation on the basis of such officer’s knowledge and belief for the sole purpose of complying with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the accompanying Quarterly Report of First Busey Corporation on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in such Quarterly Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of First Busey Corporation as of and for the periods covered by the Quarterly Report.


	/s/ VAN A. DUKEMAN
	Van A. Dukeman
	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 4, 2021 1

EXHIBIT 32.2

The following certification is provided by the undersigned Chief Financial Officer of First Busey Corporation on the basis of such officer’s knowledge and belief for the sole purpose of complying with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

CERTIFICATION


	/s/ JEFFREY D. JONES
	Jeffrey D. Jones
	Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 4, 2021 1