Veteran banker Michael Morton joins HBT Financial (HBT) board of directors

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

HBT Financial, Inc. filed a current report announcing that its Boards of Directors for both HBT Financial and Heartland Bank and Trust Company increased their size and appointed Michael J. Morton as a director, effective April 1, 2026. His initial term will run until the 2026 Annual Meeting, when he will be eligible for re-election.

Morton brings nearly 40 years of banking experience, including roles as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at Bank of Montreal from 2020 to 2023 and Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of MB Financial, Inc. from 2014 to 2019. He will be compensated under HBT Financial’s existing non-employee director compensation program, with no special arrangements or related-party relationships disclosed.

As of December 31, 2025, HBT Financial reported total assets of $5.1 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.4 billion, operating through 83 full-service branches across Illinois, eastern Iowa, and suburban St. Louis.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO

SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 24, 2026

HBT FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware			001-39085			37-1117216
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)			(Commission File Number)			(IRS Employer Identification Number)
401 North Hershey Rd Bloomington, Illinois						61704
(Address of principal executive offices)						(Zip Code)

(309) 662-4444

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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, par value $0.01 per share			HBT			The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 24, 2026, on the recommendation of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Boards of Directors of HBT Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) and Heartland Bank and Trust Company (collectively, the “Boards”) increased the size of their respective Boards and appointed Michael J. Morton to the Boards, effective April 1, 2026. Mr. Morton's initial term will expire at the Company's 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which he will be eligible for re-election. Mr. Morton was not appointed to serve on any committees of the Boards at this time.

Mr. Morton, age 63, most recently served as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at the Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) from 2020 to 2023, where he was responsible for staff development and risk oversight across multiple states and offices. He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of MB Financial, Inc. (“MB Financial”) from 2014 to 2019. Prior to BMO and MB Financial, Mr. Morton held various roles at several Chicagoland financial institutions and has nearly 40 years of banking experience. Mr. Morton received a BS from Illinois State University and an MBA from DePaul University.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Morton and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed as a director. There are also no family relationships between Mr. Morton and any director or executive officer of the Company, and he has no direct or material indirect interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Mr. Morton will be compensated for his service in accordance with HBT Financial's non-employee director compensation program on the same basis as other non-employee directors, as described in HBT Financial’s proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2025.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 25, 2026, HBT Financial issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Morton to the Boards. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The information contained in Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished herewith, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number    Description of Exhibit

99.1    Press Release dated March 25, 2026.

104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

			HBT FINANCIAL, INC.
			By:			/s/ Peter R. Chapman
						Name: Peter R. Chapman
						Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: March 25, 2026

HBT Financial, Inc. Announces Addition to Board of Directors

Bloomington, IL, March 25, 2026 – HBT Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBT) (the “Company” or “HBT Financial”), the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company (“Heartland Bank”), today announced the appointment of Michael J. Morton to the Board of Directors of HBT Financial and Heartland Bank, effective as of April 1, 2026. Mr. Morton's initial term will expire at the HBT Financial 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which he will be eligible for re-election.

Fred L. Drake, Executive Chairman, said, “We would like to welcome Mike to our Board of Directors. Mike's extensive banking background and proven leadership will be a tremendous asset, and we look forward to his guidance and contributions as we continue to grow the Heartland Bank franchise.”

Mr. Morton most recently served as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at the Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) from 2020 to 2023, where he was responsible for staff development and risk oversight across multiple states and offices. He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of MB Financial, Inc. (“MB Financial”) from 2014 to 2019. Prior to BMO and MB Financial, Mr. Morton held various roles at several Chicagoland financial institutions and has nearly 40 years of banking experience. Mr. Morton received a BS from Illinois State University and an MBA from DePaul University.

About HBT Financial, Inc.

HBT Financial, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, is the holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, and has banking roots that can be traced back to 1920. HBT Financial provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to consumers, businesses, and municipal entities throughout Illinois, eastern Iowa, and suburban St. Louis through 83 full-service branches. As of December 31, 2025, HBT Financial had total assets of $5.1 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.4 billion.

CONTACT:

Peter Chapman

HBTIR@hbtbank.com

(309) 664-4556

FAQ

What board change did HBT (HBT Financial, Inc.) announce in this 8-K?

HBT Financial, Inc. announced the appointment of Michael J. Morton to the Boards of HBT Financial and Heartland Bank, effective April 1, 2026. His initial term runs until the 2026 Annual Meeting, when he will be eligible for re-election.

Who is Michael J. Morton, the new HBT (HBT Financial) director?

Michael J. Morton is a veteran banker with nearly 40 years of experience. He previously served as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at Bank of Montreal from 2020–2023 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of MB Financial, Inc. from 2014–2019.

Are there any related-party or special arrangements for HBT’s new director Michael Morton?

The company states there are no arrangements or understandings with other persons regarding Michael Morton’s appointment. It also reports no family relationships or material interests in related transactions, and he will be compensated under the standard non-employee director compensation program.

How will HBT Financial compensate new director Michael Morton for board service?

Michael Morton will be compensated according to HBT Financial’s non-employee director compensation program. The company notes he will receive the same compensation as other non-employee directors, as described in HBT Financial’s proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

What are HBT Financial’s key size metrics mentioned in this filing?

As of December 31, 2025, HBT Financial reported total assets of $5.1 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.4 billion, delivered through 83 full-service branches across Illinois, eastern Iowa, and suburban St. Louis.

When did HBT Financial publicly announce Michael Morton’s appointment to its Board?

HBT Financial publicly announced Michael Morton’s appointment in a press release dated March 25, 2026. The company furnished this press release as Exhibit 99.1, noting that it is provided under Regulation FD and is not deemed filed for liability purposes.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EX-99.1 4.4 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT 1.8 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT 21.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT 12.3 KB