First Busey Corporation Announces 2026 First Quarter Earnings
Rhea-AI Summary
First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) reported first quarter 2026 results with GAAP net income of $50.0 million ($0.52 diluted EPS) and adjusted net income of $58.6 million ($0.67 adjusted diluted EPS).
Key operating metrics: adjusted ROATCE 14.12%, adjusted ROAA 1.42%, net interest margin 3.77%, Common Equity Tier 1 ratio 12.31%, tangible book value per share $20.14, and $65.6 million of share repurchases during the quarter.
Positive
- Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.67, up 17.5% year-over-year
- Adjusted ROATCE improved to 14.12%
- Common Equity Tier 1 capital at 12.31%
- Share repurchases of $65.6 million during the quarter
- Wealth assets under care of $15.65 billion with record wealth fee income
Negative
- GAAP net income decreased to $50.0 million from $60.8 million in Q4 2025
- Total noninterest expense rose 7.6% quarter-over-quarter to $129.52 million
- Deposit base declined $169.9 million, a 1.1% decrease versus prior quarter
News Market Reaction – BUSE
In the Apr 29 session, BUSE declined 2.86%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27 | Q4 2025 earnings | Positive | -2.6% | Reported higher net income, margin expansion, strong capital and repurchases. |
| Oct 28 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | -3.1% | Earnings with improved net interest margin and adjusted ROAA, deposit remixing. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent earnings releases with generally positive fundamentals were followed by negative price reactions, suggesting a pattern of post-earnings selling pressure.
Over the past two quarters, BUSE’s key news flow centered on quarterly earnings. On Oct 28, 2025, Q3 2025 results showed rising net interest margin and solid adjusted ROAA, yet the stock fell 3.06% the next day. On Jan 27, 2026, Q4 2025 earnings highlighted higher net income, strong capital ratios, and increased repurchases, but shares declined 2.63%. Today’s Q1 2026 report continues the narrative of expanding margins and profitability against a volatile regional bank backdrop.
Key Terms
net interest margin financial
roaa financial
roatce financial
common equity tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets financial
pre-provision net revenue financial
noninterest income financial
noninterest expense financial
rule 10b5-1 trading plan regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
LEAWOOD, Kan., April 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) Announces 2026 First Quarter Earnings.
| Net Income | Diluted EPS | Net Interest Margin1 | ROAA1 | ROATCE1 | ||||
| MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO | ||
| Busey posted strong results this quarter with adjusted diluted EPS of | ||
| Van A. Dukeman Chairman, President and CEO of First Busey Corporation |
FINANCIAL RESULTS
First quarter 2026 net income for First Busey Corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“Busey,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,”, or “our”) was
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders,2 which excludes the impact of non-GAAP adjustments, was
Pre-provision net revenue2 was
Adjusted pre-provision net revenue2 was
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) | |||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025(i) | ||||||||
| Total interest income | $ | 225,485 | $ | 235,094 | $ | 166,815 | |||||
| Total interest expense | 71,516 | 77,536 | 63,084 | ||||||||
| Net interest income | 153,969 | 157,558 | 103,731 | ||||||||
| Provision for credit losses | 3,058 | 2,435 | 45,593 | ||||||||
| Net interest income after provision for credit losses | 150,911 | 155,123 | 58,138 | ||||||||
| Total noninterest income | 42,265 | 42,691 | 21,223 | ||||||||
| Total noninterest expense | 129,519 | 120,320 | 112,030 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 63,657 | 77,494 | (32,669 | ) | |||||||
| Income taxes | 13,676 | 16,744 | (2,679 | ) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 49,981 | 60,750 | (29,990 | ) | |||||||
| Dividends on preferred stock | 4,589 | 4,590 | — | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 45,392 | $ | 56,160 | $ | (29,990 | ) | ||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.63 | $ | (0.44 | ) | ||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.63 | $ | (0.44 | ) | ||||
| Effective income tax rate | 21.48 | % | 21.61 | % | 8.20 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | |||||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments out of total noninterest expense and into the provision for credit losses. | |
Busey views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related expenses, restructuring charges, and nonrecurring strategic events, as adjustments to net income reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). We also adjust for net securities gains and losses to align with industry and research analyst reporting. The objective of our presentation of adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings metrics is to allow investors and analysts to more clearly identify quarterly trends in core earnings performance. Pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments to net income were as follows:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||
| PRE-TAX NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS TO NET INCOME | ||||||||
| Net securities (gains) losses | $ | 940 | $ | 667 | $ | 15,768 | ||
| Provision for credit losses | — | — | 45,572 | |||||
| Salaries, wages, and employee benefits | 16,124 | 4,027 | 15,878 | |||||
| Data processing | 80 | 294 | 2,302 | |||||
| Net occupancy expense of premises | — | 4 | — | |||||
| Professional fees | 119 | 131 | 7,294 | |||||
| Other noninterest expense | 377 | 360 | 552 | |||||
| Total pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments to net income | $ | 17,640 | $ | 5,483 | $ | 87,366 | ||
For more information and a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures—which are identified with the End Note labeled as 2—in tabular form, see "Non-GAAP Financial Information."
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin2
Busey’s average balances, annualized yield rates, and net interest margins are presented in the tables below:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | Average Balance | Income/ Expense | Yield/ Rate(vi) | Average Balance | Income/ Expense | Yield/ Rate(vi) | |||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing bank deposits and federal funds sold | $ | 139,204 | $ | 1,222 | 3.56 | % | $ | 417,451 | $ | 4,101 | 3.90 | % | |||||
| Investment securities(i)(ii) | 2,918,240 | 23,289 | 3.24 | % | 2,872,518 | 22,527 | 3.11 | % | |||||||||
| Restricted bank stock | 81,619 | 880 | 4.37 | % | 77,006 | 783 | 4.03 | % | |||||||||
| Loans held for sale | 5,072 | 73 | 5.84 | % | 8,705 | 128 | 5.83 | % | |||||||||
| Portfolio loans(i)(iii) | 13,521,631 | 200,898 | 6.03 | % | 13,565,320 | 208,415 | 6.10 | % | |||||||||
| Total interest-earning assets(i) | 16,665,766 | $ | 226,362 | 5.51 | % | 16,941,000 | $ | 235,954 | 5.53 | % | |||||||
| Noninterest-earning assets | 1,394,454 | 1,368,250 | |||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 18,060,220 | $ | 18,309,250 | |||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest-bearing transaction deposits | $ | 3,124,068 | $ | 12,505 | 1.62 | % | $ | 3,207,478 | $ | 13,809 | 1.71 | % | |||||
| Savings and money market deposits | 5,687,520 | 31,964 | 2.28 | % | 5,906,577 | 36,565 | 2.46 | % | |||||||||
| Time deposits | 2,409,136 | 21,557 | 3.63 | % | 2,401,447 | 22,545 | 3.72 | % | |||||||||
| Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements | 160,822 | 896 | 2.26 | % | 162,391 | 970 | 2.37 | % | |||||||||
| Borrowings(iv) | 391,965 | 4,594 | 4.75 | % | 278,050 | 3,647 | 5.20 | % | |||||||||
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 11,773,511 | $ | 71,516 | 2.46 | % | 11,955,943 | $ | 77,536 | 2.57 | % | |||||||
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | 3,536,830 | 3,636,001 | |||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 279,607 | 248,499 | |||||||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | 2,470,272 | 2,468,807 | |||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 18,060,220 | $ | 18,309,250 | |||||||||||||
| Net interest margin(i)(v) | $ | 154,846 | 3.77 | % | $ | 158,418 | 3.71 | % | |||||||||
| ________________________ | |||||||||||||||||
| (i) | On a tax-equivalent basis and assuming a federal income tax rate of | |
| (ii) | Investment securities include debt securities available for sale, debt securities held to maturity, and equity securities. | |
| (iii) | Non-accrual loans have been included in average portfolio loans. | |
| (iv) | Includes, as applicable, short-term borrowings, long-term borrowings, subordinated notes, and junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts. | |
| (v) | For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information.” | |
| (vi) | Annualized. | |
Net interest income decreased by
Based on our most recent Asset Liability Management Committee model, a -100 basis point parallel rate shock is expected to decrease net interest income by
Noninterest Income
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
| NONINTEREST INCOME | |||||||||||
| Wealth management fees | $ | 19,370 | $ | 18,101 | $ | 17,364 | |||||
| Payment technology solutions | 5,077 | 4,879 | 5,073 | ||||||||
| Treasury management services | 4,826 | 4,726 | 3,017 | ||||||||
| Card services and ATM fees | 4,646 | 4,660 | 3,709 | ||||||||
| Other service charges on deposit accounts | 1,506 | 1,618 | 1,533 | ||||||||
| Mortgage revenue | 438 | 803 | 329 | ||||||||
| Income on bank owned life insurance | 1,616 | 1,783 | 1,446 | ||||||||
| Net securities gains (losses) | (940 | ) | (667 | ) | (15,768 | ) | |||||
| Other noninterest income | 5,726 | 6,788 | 4,520 | ||||||||
| Total noninterest income | $ | 42,265 | $ | 42,691 | $ | 21,223 | |||||
Total noninterest income decreased by
Noteworthy changes in noninterest income during the quarter include:
- Wealth management fees increased by
$1.3 million , or7.0% , compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 primarily due to increases in trust fees and seasonal farm management fees. Busey’s Wealth Management division ended the first quarter of 2026 with$15.65 billion in assets under care, compared to$15.66 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 and$13.68 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025. Busey’s portfolio management team continues to focus on long-term returns and managing risk in the face of volatile markets and has outperformed its blended benchmark4 over the last three and five years. - Other noninterest income decreased by
$1.1 million , or15.6% , compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, primarily due to declines in income from swap origination fees, fluctuations in private equity investments, and declines in commercial loan servicing.
Operating Efficiency
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025(i) | |||||
| NONINTEREST EXPENSE | ||||||||
| Salaries, wages, and employee benefits | $ | 85,230 | $ | 68,995 | $ | 67,563 | ||
| Data processing | 9,864 | 9,871 | 9,575 | |||||
| Net occupancy expense of premises | 7,652 | 7,877 | 5,799 | |||||
| Furniture and equipment expenses | 2,177 | 2,200 | 1,744 | |||||
| Professional fees | 3,239 | 3,491 | 9,511 | |||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 4,291 | 4,432 | 3,083 | |||||
| Interchange expense | 1,116 | 1,218 | 1,343 | |||||
| FDIC insurance | 2,451 | 2,655 | 2,167 | |||||
| Other noninterest expense | 13,499 | 19,581 | 11,245 | |||||
| Total noninterest expense | $ | 129,519 | $ | 120,320 | $ | 112,030 | ||
| ________________________ | ||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses; therefore, it is no longer included within other noninterest expense or total noninterest expense. |
Total noninterest expense increased by
Adjusted noninterest expense,2 which excludes acquisition and restructuring expenses, was as follows:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||
| NONINTEREST EXPENSE WITH NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS | ||||||||
| Salaries, wages, and employee benefits | $ | 69,106 | $ | 64,968 | $ | 51,685 | ||
| Data processing | 9,784 | 9,577 | 7,273 | |||||
| Net occupancy expense of premises | 7,652 | 7,873 | 5,799 | |||||
| Furniture and equipment expenses | 2,177 | 2,200 | 1,744 | |||||
| Professional fees | 3,120 | 3,360 | 2,217 | |||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 4,291 | 4,432 | 3,083 | |||||
| Interchange expense | 1,116 | 1,218 | 1,343 | |||||
| FDIC insurance | 2,451 | 2,655 | 2,167 | |||||
| Other noninterest expense | 13,122 | 19,221 | 10,693 | |||||
| Adjusted noninterest expense (Non-GAAP)(i) | $ | 112,819 | $ | 115,504 | $ | 86,004 | ||
| ________________________ | ||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in 2026, to better align with industry standards, Busey revised its calculation of adjusted noninterest expense, for all periods presented, to exclude any adjustment for amortization of intangible assets. |
Noteworthy changes in noninterest expense during the quarter include:
- Salaries, wages, and employee benefits expenses increased by
$16.2 million , or23.5% , compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarter-over-quarter growth in this expense category was primarily driven by acquisition and restructuring charges, largely due to expenses recorded in connection with the execution on additional synergies related to the CrossFirst acquisition and the departure of Mr. Maddox.
Compared to the first quarter of 2025, salaries, wages, and employee benefits expenses increased by$17.7 million , or26.1% , of which$0.2 million was attributable to increases in acquisition and restructuring expenses. Busey’s associate base and footprint broadened in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition, which was completed on March 1, 2025, affecting one month of the first quarter of 2025 and all three months of the first quarter of 2026. - Other noninterest expense declined by
$6.1 million , or31.1% , compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, which had been elevated by the recognition of a$3.8 million operating loss tied to one relationship. Declines in marketing and business development, primarily due to timing, and a decline in loan expenses also contributed to the decrease in other noninterest expense during the first quarter of 2026.
Compared to the first quarter of 2025, other noninterest expense increased by$2.3 million , or20.0% . Significant drivers of the increase included business development costs, software amortization, and loan expenses, impacted by the timing of the CrossFirst acquisition.
The efficiency ratio2 was
BALANCE SHEET STRENGTH
Busey’s financial strength is built on a long-term conservative operating approach. That focus has endured over time and will continue to guide us in the future.
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) | |||||||||||
| As of | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 288,462 | $ | 280,227 | $ | 1,185,653 | |||||
| Interest-bearing time deposits in other banks | 13,725 | 13,825 | 14,639 | ||||||||
| Debt securities available for sale | 2,215,267 | 2,162,548 | 2,273,874 | ||||||||
| Debt securities held to maturity | 725,540 | 746,385 | 815,402 | ||||||||
| Equity securities | 13,951 | 14,916 | 10,828 | ||||||||
| Loans held for sale | 5,224 | 5,752 | 7,270 | ||||||||
| Portfolio loans | 13,459,890 | 13,567,799 | 13,868,357 | ||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | (169,054 | ) | (174,023 | ) | (195,210 | ) | |||||
| Restricted bank stock | 81,722 | 77,006 | 53,518 | ||||||||
| Premises and equipment, net | 193,322 | 193,444 | 182,003 | ||||||||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | 475,520 | 480,729 | 496,118 | ||||||||
| Other assets | 733,053 | 736,128 | 751,800 | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 18,036,622 | $ | 18,104,736 | $ | 19,464,252 | |||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total deposits | $ | 14,736,060 | $ | 14,905,958 | $ | 16,459,470 | |||||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 156,364 | 166,929 | 137,340 | ||||||||
| Borrowings | 470,365 | 290,529 | 401,861 | ||||||||
| Other liabilities | 260,811 | 272,338 | 285,975 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | 15,623,600 | 15,635,754 | 17,284,646 | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Retained earnings | 359,162 | 336,707 | 249,484 | ||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (135,553 | ) | (124,473 | ) | (172,810 | ) | |||||
| Other stockholders' equity(i) | 2,189,413 | 2,256,748 | 2,102,932 | ||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 2,413,022 | 2,468,982 | 2,179,606 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 18,036,622 | $ | 18,104,736 | $ | 19,464,252 | |||||
| ________________________ | |||||||||||
| (i) | Net balance of preferred stock ( |
Portfolio Loans
Busey remains steadfast in its conservative approach to underwriting and disciplined approach to pricing. Busey’s loan portfolio was comprised of the following:
| As of | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||
| PORTFOLIO LOANS | ||||||||
| Commercial loans: | ||||||||
| Commercial and industrial and other commercial | $ | 4,124,737 | $ | 4,229,208 | $ | 4,513,543 | ||
| Commercial real estate | 5,566,044 | 5,550,018 | 5,573,766 | |||||
| Real estate construction | 1,052,505 | 1,039,289 | 1,051,179 | |||||
| Total commercial loans | 10,743,286 | 10,818,515 | 11,138,488 | |||||
| Retail loans: | ||||||||
| Retail real estate | 2,119,621 | 2,154,616 | 2,245,705 | |||||
| Retail other | 596,983 | 594,668 | 484,164 | |||||
| Total retail loans | 2,716,604 | 2,749,284 | 2,729,869 | |||||
| Total portfolio loans | $ | 13,459,890 | $ | 13,567,799 | $ | 13,868,357 | ||
CRE loans comprised
| As of | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||
| COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LOANS | ||||||||
| Non-owner occupied commercial real estate | $ | 4,125,785 | $ | 4,118,361 | $ | 4,123,772 | ||
| Owner occupied commercial real estate | 1,440,259 | 1,431,657 | 1,449,994 | |||||
| Total commercial real estate loans | $ | 5,566,044 | $ | 5,550,018 | $ | 5,573,766 | ||
Asset Quality
Asset quality continues to be strong. Busey maintains a well-diversified loan portfolio and, as a matter of policy and practice, limits concentration exposure in any particular loan segment.
| As of | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 18,036,622 | $ | 18,104,736 | $ | 19,464,252 | |||||
| Portfolio loans | 13,459,890 | 13,567,799 | 13,868,357 | ||||||||
| Loans 30 – 89 days past due | 17,465 | 16,475 | 18,554 | ||||||||
| Non-performing loans: | |||||||||||
| Non-accrual loans | 45,799 | 51,198 | 48,647 | ||||||||
| Loans 90+ days past due and still accruing | 812 | 2,288 | 6,077 | ||||||||
| Non-performing loans | 46,611 | 53,486 | 54,724 | ||||||||
| Other non-performing assets | 3,337 | 4,626 | 4,757 | ||||||||
| Non-performing assets | 49,948 | 58,112 | 59,481 | ||||||||
| Substandard (excludes 90+ days past due) | 166,467 | 116,402 | 131,078 | ||||||||
| Classified assets | $ | 216,415 | $ | 174,514 | $ | 190,559 | |||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | 169,054 | $ | 174,023 | $ | 195,210 | |||||
| RATIOS | |||||||||||
| Non-performing loans to portfolio loans | 0.35 | % | 0.39 | % | 0.39 | % | |||||
| Non-performing assets to total assets | 0.28 | % | 0.32 | % | 0.31 | % | |||||
| Non-performing assets to portfolio loans and other non-performing assets | 0.37 | % | 0.43 | % | 0.43 | % | |||||
| Allowance for credit losses to portfolio loans | 1.26 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.41 | % | |||||
| Coverage ratio of the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans | 3.63 x | 3.25 x | 3.57 x | ||||||||
| Classified assets to Bank Tier 1 capital(i)and reserves | 9.35 | % | 7.51 | % | 8.40 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | |||||||||||
| (i) | Capital amounts for the first quarter of 2026 are not yet finalized and are subject to change. |
Non-performing assets decreased by
Classified assets increased by
The allowance for credit losses was
Busey’s net charge-offs and provision for credit losses were as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025(i, ii) | ||||||
| Net charge-offs | $ | 7,362 | $ | 5,752 | $ | 31,429 | |||
| Provision for loan losses | $ | 2,393 | $ | 5,594 | $ | 42,452 | |||
| Provision for unfunded commitments | 665 | (3,159 | ) | 3,141 | |||||
| Provision for credit losses | $ | 3,058 | $ | 2,435 | $ | 45,593 | |||
| ________________________ | |||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses. For periods ending prior to June 30, 2025, amounts reported as provision for loan losses were previously reported as provision for credit losses. |
| (ii) | The three months ended March 31, 2025, included |
Net charge-offs increased by
Deposits
Busey’s deposits were comprised of the following:
| As of | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||
| DEPOSITS | ||||||||
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | $ | 3,526,036 | $ | 3,659,421 | $ | 3,693,070 | ||
| Interest-bearing transaction deposits | 3,129,186 | 3,119,475 | 3,200,137 | |||||
| Savings deposits and money market deposits | 5,714,697 | 5,697,172 | 6,475,187 | |||||
| Time deposits | 2,366,141 | 2,429,890 | 3,091,076 | |||||
| Total deposits | $ | 14,736,060 | $ | 14,905,958 | $ | 16,459,470 | ||
Core deposits2 accounted for
We have executed various deposit campaigns to attract term funding and savings accounts at a lower rate than our marginal cost of funds. New certificate of deposit production in the first quarter of 2026 had a weighted average term of 7.4 months at a rate of
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2026, Busey’s available sources of on- and off-balance sheet liquidity5 totaled
Capital Strength
The strength of our balance sheet is also reflected in our capital foundation. Our capital ratios remain strong, and as of March 31, 2026, our estimated regulatory capital ratios3 continued to provide a buffer of more than
| As of | |||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||||
| Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets(i) | 12.31 | % | 12.43 | % | 12.00 | % | |||||
| Total capital to risk weighted assets(i) | 15.87 | % | 15.93 | % | 14.88 | % | |||||
| Tangible common equity(ii) | $ | 1,722,305 | $ | 1,773,056 | $ | 1,675,738 | |||||
| Tangible common equity to tangible assets(ii) | 9.81 | % | 10.06 | % | 8.83 | % | |||||
| Tangible book value per common share(ii) | $ | 20.14 | $ | 20.23 | $ | 18.62 | |||||
| ________________________ | |||||||||||
| (i) | Capital amounts and ratios as of March 31, 2026, are not yet finalized and are subject to change. |
| (ii) | For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information.” |
Dividends
Busey's strong capital levels, coupled with its earnings, have allowed it to provide a steady return to its stockholders through dividends. During the first quarter of 2026, Busey paid dividends of
Share Repurchases
During the first quarter of 2026, under its stock repurchase plan, Busey purchased 2,617,400 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of
FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS INVESTOR PRESENTATION
For additional information on Busey’s financial condition and operating results, please refer to our Q1 2026 Earnings Investor Presentation furnished via Form 8‑K on April 28, 2026, in connection with this earnings release.
CORPORATE PROFILE
As of March 31, 2026, First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) was an
Busey Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of First Busey Corporation headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, had total assets of
Through Busey’s Wealth Management division, the Company provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations. Assets under care totaled
Busey Bank’s payment technology solutions specialize in the evolving financial technology needs of small and medium-sized businesses, highly regulated enterprise industries, and financial institutions. Busey provides comprehensive and innovative payment technology solutions, including online, mobile, and voice-recognition bill payments; money and data movement; merchant services; direct debit services; lockbox remittance processing for payments made by mail; and walk-in payments at retail agents. Additionally, Busey simplifies client workflows through integrations enabling support with billing, reconciliation, bill reminders, and treasury services.
Busey is honored to be consistently recognized as an outstanding financial services organization with an engaged culture of integrity and commitment to community development. Nationally, American Banker has named Busey a Best Bank to Work For since 2016 while Pensions and Investments has recognized Busey as a Best Place to Work in Money Management since 2018. At the local level, Busey is continually honored among the Best Places to Work in Illinois (since 2016), Best Companies to Work For in Florida (since 2017) and Best Places to Work in Indiana (since 2024).
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This earnings release contains certain financial information determined by methods other than GAAP. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, together with the related GAAP measures, in analysis of Busey’s performance and in making business decisions, as well as for comparison to Busey’s peers. Busey believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-core and non-recurring items and provide additional perspective on Busey’s performance over time.
The following tables present reconciliations between these non-GAAP measures and what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
These non-GAAP disclosures have inherent limitations and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating 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, estimated federal income tax rates, or effective tax rates, as noted in the tables below.
| RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
| Calculation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) (GAAP) | [a] | $ | 49,981 | $ | 60,750 | $ | (29,990 | ) | ||||
| Day 2 provision for credit losses(i) | — | — | 45,572 | |||||||||
| Other acquisition (income) expenses | 5,244 | 4,859 | 26,026 | |||||||||
| Restructuring expenses | 11,456 | (43 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Net securities (gains) losses | 940 | 667 | 15,768 | |||||||||
| Related tax benefit(ii) | (4,410 | ) | (1,047 | ) | (22,069 | ) | ||||||
| Non-recurring deferred tax adjustment(iii) | — | — | 4,591 | |||||||||
| Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) | [b] | 63,211 | 65,186 | 39,898 | ||||||||
| Preferred dividends | [c] | 4,589 | 4,590 | — | ||||||||
| Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (Non-GAAP) | [d] | $ | 58,622 | $ | 60,596 | $ | 39,898 | |||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (GAAP) | [e] | 87,831,295 | 89,655,632 | 68,517,647 | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (GAAP) | [(a-c)÷e] | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.63 | $ | (0.44 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (Non-GAAP)(iv) | [f] | 87,831,295 | 89,655,632 | 69,502,717 | ||||||||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per common share (Non-GAAP)(iv) | [d÷f] | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.57 | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | The Day 2 provision represents the initial provision for credit losses recorded in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition to establish an allowance on non-PCD loans and unfunded commitments and is reflected within the provision for credit losses line on the Statements of Income. |
| (ii) | Tax benefits were calculated using tax rates of |
| (iii) | A deferred valuation tax adjustment was recorded in the first quarter of 2025 in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition and the expansion of Busey’s footprint into new states. Deferred tax adjustments are reflected within the income taxes line on the Statements of Income. |
| (iv) | Dilution includes shares that would have been dilutive if there had been net income during the period for March 31, 2025. |
| Calculation of Return On Average Assets, Return On Average Tangible Common Equity, and Related Adjusted Return Measures | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) (GAAP) | [a] | $ | 49,981 | $ | 60,750 | $ | (29,990 | ) | ||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 4,291 | 4,432 | 3,083 | |||||||||
| Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets(i) | (1,073 | ) | (1,121 | ) | (779 | ) | ||||||
| Preferred dividends | (4,589 | ) | (4,590 | ) | — | |||||||
| Tangible net income available to common stockholders (Non-GAAP) | [b] | $ | 48,610 | $ | 59,471 | $ | (27,686 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)(ii) | [c] | $ | 63,211 | $ | 65,186 | $ | 39,898 | |||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 4,291 | 4,432 | 3,083 | |||||||||
| Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets(i) | (1,073 | ) | (1,121 | ) | (779 | ) | ||||||
| Preferred dividends | (4,589 | ) | (4,590 | ) | — | |||||||
| Adjusted tangible net income available to common stockholders (Non-GAAP) | [d] | $ | 61,840 | $ | 63,907 | $ | 42,202 | |||||
| Average total assets | [e] | $ | 18,060,220 | $ | 18,309,250 | $ | 14,831,298 | |||||
| Return on average assets (Non-GAAP)(iii) | [a÷e] | 1.12 | % | 1.32 | % | (0.82 | )% | |||||
| Adjusted return on average assets (Non-GAAP)(iii) | [c÷e] | 1.42 | % | 1.41 | % | 1.09 | % | |||||
| Average common equity | $ | 2,255,075 | $ | 2,253,609 | $ | 1,932,407 | ||||||
| Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net | (478,885 | ) | (483,640 | ) | (411,020 | ) | ||||||
| Average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) | [f] | $ | 1,776,190 | $ | 1,769,969 | $ | 1,521,387 | |||||
| Return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)(iii, iv) | [b÷f] | 11.10 | % | 13.33 | % | (7.38 | )% | |||||
| Adjusted return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)(iii, iv) | [d÷f] | 14.12 | % | 14.32 | % | 11.25 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | Tax effects were calculated using income tax rates of |
| (ii) | A reconciliation is provided in the previous table. |
| (iii) | Annualized measure. |
| (iv) | Beginning in 2026, Busey revised, for all periods presented, its calculation of return on average tangible common equity and adjusted return on average tangible common equity to eliminate the effects of intangible asset amortization from the numerator of both calculations. |
| Calculation of Net Interest Margin and Adjusted Net Interest Margin | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net interest income (GAAP) | $ | 153,969 | $ | 157,558 | $ | 103,731 | ||||||
| Tax-equivalent adjustment(i) | 877 | 860 | 537 | |||||||||
| Tax-equivalent net interest income (Non-GAAP) | [a] | 154,846 | 158,418 | 104,268 | ||||||||
| Purchase accounting accretion related to business combinations | (5,394 | ) | (5,200 | ) | (2,728 | ) | ||||||
| Adjusted net interest income (Non-GAAP) | [b] | $ | 149,452 | $ | 153,218 | $ | 101,540 | |||||
| Average interest-earning assets (Non-GAAP) | [c] | $ | 16,665,766 | $ | 16,941,000 | $ | 13,363,594 | |||||
| Net interest margin (Non-GAAP)(ii) | [a÷c] | 3.77 | % | 3.71 | % | 3.16 | % | |||||
| Adjusted net interest margin (Non-GAAP)(ii) | [b÷c] | 3.64 | % | 3.59 | % | 3.08 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | Tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of |
| (ii) | Annualized measure. |
| Calculation of Pre-Provision Net Revenue and Related Measures | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net interest income (GAAP) | $ | 153,969 | $ | 157,558 | $ | 103,731 | ||||||
| Total noninterest income (GAAP) | 42,265 | 42,691 | 21,223 | |||||||||
| Net security (gains) losses (GAAP) | 940 | 667 | 15,768 | |||||||||
| Total noninterest expense (GAAP)(i) | (129,519 | ) | (120,320 | ) | (112,030 | ) | ||||||
| Pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP) | [a] | 67,655 | 80,596 | 28,692 | ||||||||
| Acquisition and restructuring (income) expenses, excluding initial provision expenses | 16,700 | 4,816 | 26,026 | |||||||||
| Adjusted pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP) | [b] | $ | 84,355 | $ | 85,412 | $ | 54,718 | |||||
| Average total assets | [c] | $ | 18,060,220 | $ | 18,309,250 | $ | 14,831,298 | |||||
| Pre-provision net revenue to average total assets (Non-GAAP)(i, ii) | [a÷c] | 1.52 | % | 1.75 | % | 0.78 | % | |||||
| Adjusted pre-provision net revenue to average total assets (Non-GAAP)(ii) | [b÷c] | 1.89 | % | 1.85 | % | 1.50 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments out of total noninterest expense and into the provision for credit losses. This change affects all measures and ratios derived from total noninterest expense. |
| (ii) | Annualized measure. |
| Calculation of Efficiency Ratio | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net interest income (GAAP) | [a] | $ | 153,969 | $ | 157,558 | $ | 103,731 | |||||
| Tax-equivalent adjustment(i) | 877 | 860 | 537 | |||||||||
| Tax-equivalent net interest income (Non-GAAP) | [b] | 154,846 | 158,418 | 104,268 | ||||||||
| Total noninterest income (GAAP) | 42,265 | 42,691 | 21,223 | |||||||||
| Net security (gains) losses | 940 | 667 | 15,768 | |||||||||
| Adjusted noninterest income (Non-GAAP) | [c] | $ | 43,205 | $ | 43,358 | $ | 36,991 | |||||
| Operating revenue (Non-GAAP) | [d = a+c] | $ | 197,174 | $ | 200,916 | $ | 140,722 | |||||
| Tax-equivalent operating revenue (Non-GAAP)(ii) | [e = b+c] | 198,051 | 201,776 | 141,259 | ||||||||
| Adjusted noninterest income to operating revenue (Non-GAAP) | [c÷d] | 21.91 | % | 21.58 | % | 26.29 | % | |||||
| Total noninterest expense (GAAP)(iii) | $ | 129,519 | $ | 120,320 | $ | 112,030 | ||||||
| Acquisition and restructuring expenses, excluding initial provision expenses | (16,700 | ) | (4,816 | ) | (26,026 | ) | ||||||
| Adjusted noninterest expense (Non-GAAP)(iv) | 112,819 | 115,504 | 86,004 | |||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | (4,291 | ) | (4,432 | ) | (3,083 | ) | ||||||
| Adjusted noninterest expense excluding amortization of intangible assets (Non-GAAP)(iii, v) | [f] | $ | 108,528 | $ | 111,072 | $ | 82,921 | |||||
| Efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP)(iii, vi) | [f÷e] | 54.80 | % | 55.05 | % | 58.70 | % | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | Tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of |
| (ii) | Beginning in 2026, Busey changed the caption for this revenue measure, which was previously called “adjusted tax-equivalent revenue.” The calculation itself has not changed. |
| (iii) | Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments out of total noninterest expense and into the provision for credit losses. This change affects all measures and ratios derived from total noninterest expense. |
| (iv) | Beginning in 2026, to better align with industry standards, Busey revised its calculation of adjusted noninterest expense, for all periods presented, to exclude any adjustment for amortization of intangible assets. |
| (v) | Beginning in 2026, Busey changed the caption for the efficiency ratio numerator from “adjusted noninterest expense” to “adjusted noninterest expense excluding amortization of intangible assets.” The calculation itself has not changed. |
| (vi) | Beginning in 2026, Busey now reports a single efficiency ratio, which was previously reported as the “Adjusted efficiency ratio.” |
| Calculation of Tangible Common Equity, and Related Measures and Ratio | ||||||||||||
| As of | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Total assets (GAAP) | $ | 18,036,622 | $ | 18,104,736 | $ | 19,464,252 | ||||||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | (475,520 | ) | (480,729 | ) | (496,118 | ) | ||||||
| Tangible assets (Non-GAAP)(i) | [a] | $ | 17,561,102 | $ | 17,624,007 | $ | 18,968,134 | |||||
| Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP) | $ | 2,413,022 | $ | 2,468,982 | $ | 2,179,606 | ||||||
| Preferred stock and additional paid in capital on preferred stock | (215,197 | ) | (215,197 | ) | (7,750 | ) | ||||||
| Common equity | [b] | 2,197,825 | 2,253,785 | 2,171,856 | ||||||||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | (475,520 | ) | (480,729 | ) | (496,118 | ) | ||||||
| Tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)(i) | [c] | $ | 1,722,305 | $ | 1,773,056 | $ | 1,675,738 | |||||
| Tangible common equity to tangible assets (Non-GAAP)(i) | [c÷a] | 9.81 | % | 10.06 | % | 8.83 | % | |||||
| Ending number of common shares outstanding (GAAP) | [d] | 85,507,160 | 87,624,430 | 90,008,178 | ||||||||
| Book value per common share (Non-GAAP) | [b÷d] | $ | 25.70 | $ | 25.72 | $ | 24.13 | |||||
| Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP) | [c÷d] | $ | 20.14 | $ | 20.23 | $ | 18.62 | |||||
| ________________________ | ||||||||||||
| (i) | Beginning in 2025, Busey revised its calculation of tangible assets and tangible common equity, for all periods presented, to exclude any tax adjustment. |
| Calculation of Core Deposits and Related Ratio | ||||||||||||
| As of | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Total deposits (GAAP) | [a] | $ | 14,736,060 | $ | 14,905,958 | $ | 16,459,470 | |||||
| Brokered deposits, excluding brokered time deposits of | (60,123 | ) | (70,140 | ) | (722,224 | ) | ||||||
| Time deposits of | (865,493 | ) | (876,207 | ) | (867,035 | ) | ||||||
| Core deposits (Non-GAAP) | [b] | $ | 13,810,444 | $ | 13,959,611 | $ | 14,870,211 | |||||
| Core deposits to total deposits (Non-GAAP) | [b÷a] | 93.72 | % | 93.65 | % | 90.34 | % | |||||
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to Busey’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Busey’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “position,” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Busey undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.
A number of factors, many of which are beyond Busey’s ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (1) the strength of the local, state, national, and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures, the threat or implementation of tariffs, trade wars, and changes to immigration policy); (2) changes in, and the interpretation and prioritization of, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies (including those concerning Busey's general business); (3) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, military conflicts, acts of war or threats thereof, or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets (including the conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine); (4) unexpected results of acquisitions, including the acquisition of CrossFirst, which may include the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions and the possibility that the transaction and integration costs may be greater than anticipated; (5) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by Busey's commercial borrowers; (6) the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative publicity about the banking industry, including investor and depositor sentiment regarding bank stability and liquidity; (7) new or revised accounting policies and practices as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory banking agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (8) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of Busey’s assets (including the impact of sustained elevated interest rates); (9) increased competition in the financial services sector (including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions, digital asset service providers, private credit, and fintech companies) and the inability to attract new customers; (10) technological changes implemented by us and other parties, including our third-party vendors, which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers, including the development and implementation of tools incorporating artificial intelligence; (11) the loss of key executives or associates, talent shortages, and employee turnover; (12) unexpected outcomes and costs of existing or new litigation, investigations, or other legal proceedings, inquiries, and regulatory actions involving Busey (including with respect to Busey’s Illinois franchise taxes); (13) fluctuations in the value of securities held in Busey’s securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (14) credit risk and risk from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral, and industry), within Busey's loan portfolio and large loans to certain borrowers (including commercial real estate loans); (15) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (16) the level of non-performing assets on Busey’s balance sheets; (17) interruptions involving information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (18) breaches or failures of information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents; (19) the economic impact on Busey and its customers of climate change, natural disasters, and exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and droughts; (20) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact Busey's cost of funds; (21) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (22) the effectiveness of Busey’s risk management framework; and (23) the ability of Busey to manage the risks associated with the foregoing. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Additional information concerning Busey and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect Busey’s financial results, is included in Busey’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
END NOTES
| 1 | Annualized measure. |
| 2 | Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), see "Non-GAAP Financial Information.” |
| 3 | Capital amounts and ratios as of March 31, 2026, are not yet finalized and are subject to change. |
| 4 | The blended benchmark consists of |
| 5 | On- and off-balance sheet liquidity is comprised of cash and cash equivalents, debt securities excluding those pledged as collateral, brokered deposits, and Busey’s borrowing capacity through its revolving credit facility, the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Bank, and federal funds purchased lines. |
INVESTOR CONTACT: Christopher H.M. Chan, Chief Financial Officer | 913-647-9825
