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Independent Bank (NASDAQ: IBCP) investors approve directors, auditor and annual pay vote

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Independent Bank Corporation reported voting results from its April 21, 2026 annual shareholder meeting. Shareholders elected four directors, including three to terms running until the 2029 meeting and one to a term running until the 2027 meeting.

Investors also ratified Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. An advisory vote approved the compensation of named executive officers. In a separate advisory vote on frequency, more than 94% of votes cast favored holding the executive compensation advisory vote every year, and the company plans to hold it annually until at least the next required frequency vote.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Beia director vote 16,689,234 for; 217,090 against Election of Terance L. Beia as director until 2029 meeting
Gulis director vote 16,530,123 for; 381,471 against Election of Stephen L. Gulis, Jr. as director until 2029 meeting
Kessel director vote 16,748,874 for; 160,829 against Election of William B. Kessel as director until 2029 meeting
Wooldridge director vote 16,840,747 for; 67,781 against Election of Michael G. Wooldridge as director until 2027 meeting
Auditor ratification 17,973,910 for; 363,239 against Ratification of Crowe LLP for fiscal year ending December 31, 2026
Say-on-pay approval 16,605,837 for; 239,310 against Advisory vote on executive compensation
Say-on-pay frequency 15,933,488 votes for 1 year Advisory vote on frequency of executive compensation vote
Support for annual frequency More than 94% of votes cast Votes favoring an annual advisory vote on executive compensation
broker non-votes financial
"Nominee | For | Against | Withheld | Broker Non-Votes"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
independent registered public accounting firm financial
"to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026"
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation financial
"Proposal 3: Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation"
emerging growth company regulatory
"Emerging growth company o o"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.
FALSE00000393114/21/20264200 East BeltlineGrand RapidsMichigan00000393112026-04-212026-04-21

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: April 21, 2026
INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan0-781838-2032782
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification No.)
4200 East Beltline
Grand Rapids, Michigan
49525
(Address of principal executive office)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code:
(616527-5820
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):
oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
oPre-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 classTrading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par valueIBCPNASDAQ Global Select Market
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 o
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. o



Item 5.07    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 21, 2026, the matters listed below were submitted to a vote of the shareholders through the solicitation of proxies. The proposals are described in detail in the Company’s proxy statement, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2026. The voting results are as follows:

Proposal 1:    Election of Directors

The following individuals were elected to serve as directors of the Company to hold office until the 2029 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the terms of the Company's Bylaws:

NomineeForAgainstWithheldBroker Non-Votes
Terance L. Beia16,689,234 217,090 38,267 1,423,619 
Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.16,530,123 381,471 32,997 1,423,619 
William B. Kessel16,748,874 160,829 34,888 1,423,619 

The following individual was elected to serve as a director of the Company to hold office until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the terms of the Company's Bylaws:

NomineeForAgainstWithheldBroker Non-Votes
Michael G. Wooldridge16,840,747 67,781 36,063 1,423,619 

Proposal 2:    Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors

The shareholders ratified the appointment of Crowe LLP to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

ForAgainstAbstainBroker Non-Votes
17,973,910363,23931,061

Proposal 3:    Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on Executive Compensation

The shareholders approved a proposed resolution approving the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.

ForAgainstAbstainBroker Non-Votes
16,605,837239,31099,4441,423,619

Proposal 4:    Advisory (Non-Binding) Vote on the Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

The shareholders voted on their preference as to whether the shareholder advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers take place every 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years as follows:

1 Year2 Years3 YearsAbstain
15,933,48820,840938,74051,523

In light of the recommendation of the Board of Directors that the shareholder advisory vote on the Company’s named executive officers take place every year and the fact that this choice was the preference of more than 94% of the votes cast on this proposal, the Company will hold the shareholder advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s
2


named executive officers every year until at least the next required vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on the compensation of executives.
Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits.
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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SIGNATURE
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 thereunto duly authorized.
INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION
(Registrant)
DateApril 24, 2026By/s/Gavin A. Mohr
Gavin A. Mohr, Principal Financial Officer
4

FAQ

What did Independent Bank Corporation (IBCP) shareholders vote on at the April 21, 2026 meeting?

Shareholders voted on electing directors, ratifying Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, approving executive compensation in an advisory vote, and choosing how often to hold future advisory votes on executive pay, selecting an annual frequency.

Which directors were elected at Independent Bank Corporation’s 2026 annual meeting?

Shareholders elected Terance L. Beia, Stephen L. Gulis, Jr., and William B. Kessel to serve until the 2029 annual meeting, and Michael G. Wooldridge to serve until the 2027 annual meeting, all under the company’s bylaws governing board terms.

How did Independent Bank Corporation (IBCP) shareholders vote on executive compensation?

Shareholders approved the advisory resolution on compensation for named executive officers, with 16,605,837 votes for, 239,310 against, 99,444 abstentions, and 1,423,619 broker non-votes, indicating support for the disclosed pay programs in the proxy statement.

What auditor did Independent Bank Corporation shareholders ratify for 2026?

Shareholders ratified Crowe LLP as Independent Bank Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, with 17,973,910 votes for, 363,239 against, and 31,061 abstentions, and no broker non-votes reported on this proposal.

How often will Independent Bank Corporation hold advisory votes on executive pay?

Shareholders indicated a preference for annual advisory votes on executive compensation, with 15,933,488 votes for one year. The company plans to hold the vote every year until at least the next required shareholder vote on advisory vote frequency.

What were the vote totals for Independent Bank Corporation director nominee Terance L. Beia?

Terance L. Beia received 16,689,234 votes for, 217,090 against, 38,267 withheld, and 1,423,619 broker non-votes, resulting in his election as a director to serve until the 2029 annual meeting under the company’s bylaws.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents