First Busey Corporation is a financial holding company organized under the laws of Nevada. The Company’s subsidiaries provide retail and commercial banking services and payment technology solutions, and offer a full range of financial products and services including depository, lending, security brokerage, investment management, and fiduciary services, to individual, corporate, institutional, and governmental customers through their locations in Illinois, Missouri, southwest Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to the regulations of certain regulatory agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory agencies.

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which include First Busey Risk Management, Deed of Trust Services Corporation, and Busey Bank, including Busey Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries FirsTech, Pulaski Service Corporation, and Busey Capital Management, Inc. Operating results generated from acquired businesses are included with the Company’s results of operations starting from each date of acquisition. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain various LLCs that hold specific assets for risk mitigation purposes and are consolidated into these Consolidated Financial Statements. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Because the Company is not the primary beneficiary, the Consolidated Financial Statements exclude the following wholly-owned variable interest entities: First Busey Statutory Trust II, First Busey Statutory Trust III, First Busey Statutory Trust IV, Pulaski Financial Statutory Trust I, and Pulaski Financial Statutory Trust II.

In preparing the accompanying 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 Consolidated 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.

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains, and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale debt securities and unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges, are reported as a separate component within the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income (loss).

Assets held for customers in a fiduciary or agency capacity, other than trust cash on deposit at Busey Bank, are not assets of the Company and, accordingly, are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company had assets under care of $11.1 billion at December 31, 2022, and $12.7 billion at December 31, 2021.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from other banks, interest-bearing deposits held with other financial institutions, and federal funds sold. The carrying amount of these instruments is considered a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Debt securities classified as available for sale are those debt securities that the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available for sale would be based on factors including significant movements in interest rates, changes in the maturity mix of the Company's assets and liabilities, liquidity needs, regulatory capital considerations, and other similar factors. Debt securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. The amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium are amortized to the earliest call date, while discounts on debt securities are amortized to maturity. Gains and losses on the sale of debt securities available for sale are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method.

Debt securities available for sale are not within the scope of the current expected credit losses methodology, however, the accounting for credit losses on these securities is affected by ASC Subtopic 326-30 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses—Available-for-Sale Debt Securities.” 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 allowance, if applicable, and recognizing any incremental impairment through earnings. If the Company neither intends 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.

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. Impairment is recognized by establishing an ACL through provision for credit losses. Impairment related to noncredit factors is recognized in AOCI, net of applicable taxes. The Company did not recognize any impairment in 2022, 2021, or 2020.

Debt securities classified as held to maturity are those debt securities that the Company has the intent and ability to hold to maturity and are carried at amortized cost. In 2022, the Company elected to transfer a portion of the agency mortgage-backed securities portfolio from available for sale to held to maturity. While held to maturity securities are within the scope of CECL, the standard allows for an assumption of zero credit losses when the expectation of non-payment is zero. The risk related to mortgage-backed securities issued and/or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, is considered low therefore requiring no allowance to be recorded.

Effective January 1, 2022, the Company elected to account for all newly originated loans held for sale at LOCOM. Loans held for sale are carried at amortized historical cost less loan write-offs and downward fair value adjustments, as may be applicable. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income. Gains and losses on sales of loans are recognized at settlement dates and are determined by the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount, net of the value of any servicing assets for loans that were sold with servicing rights retained.

Prior to this change, the Company accounted for loans held for sale at fair value. Loans held for sale were recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. Fair value adjustments were recorded as an adjustment to mortgage revenues. The fair value of loans held for sale was measured using observable quoted market prices, contract prices, or market price equivalents, consistent with those used by other market participants. Direct loan origination fees and costs related to loans accounted for at fair value were recognized when earned.

Servicing assets are recognized when servicing rights are acquired or retained through the sale of mortgage and government-guaranteed commercial loans. The unpaid principal balances of loans serviced by the Company for the benefit of others totaled $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2022, and are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value which is determined using a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. Capitalized servicing rights are reported in other assets and are amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets. The amortization of mortgage servicing rights is included in mortgage revenue. The amortization of government-guaranteed commercial loans is included in other income.

Servicing rights are periodically evaluated for impairment based on the fair value of those rights as compared to book value. Fair values are estimated using discounted cash flows based on expected prepayment rates and other inputs. For purposes of measuring impairment, servicing rights are stratified by one or more predominant characteristics of the underlying loans. A valuation allowance is recognized in the amount by which the amortized cost of the rights for each stratum exceeds its fair value, if any. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular group of loans, a reversal of the allowance may be recorded in current period earnings. The Company had an insignificant amount of impairment recorded at December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Interest income is accrued daily on outstanding loan balances. 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 provisions. Loans may be placed on non-accrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan.

Interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on non-accrual status or charged-off is reversed against interest income. The interest on non-accrual loans is accounted for on the cost-recovery method, until returned to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

At December 31, 2022, the Company had $0.9 million in PPP loans outstanding, with an amortized cost of $0.8 million. In comparison, at December 31, 2021, the Company had $76.9 million in PPP loans outstanding, with an amortized cost of $75.0 million. The Company received fees totaling $2.5 million, $20.1 million, and $25.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Incremental direct origination costs the Company incurred were $0.6 million, $4.2 million, and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Both the fees received and the origination costs have been deferred and are being amortized over the contractual life of these loans, subject to prepayment. The Company recognized $1.9 million, $14.0 million, and $15.2 million in net interest income for fees, net of deferred cost, during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the remaining amount of fees to be recognized, net of deferred costs, was insignificant. PPP loans contain a forgiveness feature for funds spent on covered expenses, including both principal and accrued interest. Any remaining balance after loan forgiveness maintains a 100% government guarantee for the remaining term of the loan.

The Company’s loan portfolio includes certain loans that have been modified in a TDR, where concessions have been granted to borrowers who have experienced financial difficulties. The Company will restructure a loan for its customer after evaluating whether the borrower is able to meet the terms of the loan over the long term, though unable to meet the terms of the loan in the near term due to individual circumstances.

The Company considers the customer’s past performance, previous and current credit history, the individual circumstances surrounding the customer’s current difficulties, and the customer’s plan to meet the terms of the loan in the future prior to restructuring the terms of the loan. Generally, restructurings consist of short-term interest rate relief, short-term principal payment relief, short-term principal and interest payment relief, or forbearance (debt forgiveness). A restructured loan that exceeds 90 days past due or is placed on non-accrual status, is classified as non-performing.

All TDRs are individually evaluated for purposes of assessing the adequacy of the ACL and for financial reporting purposes. TDRs are evaluated using present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the Company determines that the fair value of the TDR is less than the recorded investment in the loan, impairment is recognized through a charge to the ACL in the period of the modification and in periods subsequent to the modification.

On January 1, 2020, First Busey adopted ASC Topic 326 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses” using the prospective transition approach for financial assets PCD that were previously classified as PCI and accounted for under ASC Subtopic 310-30 “Receivables—Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality.” In accordance with the standard, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption. In accordance with ASC Topic 326, the amortized cost basis of PCD assets were adjusted to reflect an ACL for any remaining credit discount. Subsequent changes in expected cash flows will be adjusted through the ACL. The noncredit discount will be accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate as of January 1, 2020.

Subsequent to the adoption of ASC Topic 326, acquired loans are separated into two categories based on the credit risk characteristics of the underlying borrowers as either PCD, for loans which have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination, or all other loans. At the date of acquisition, an ACL on PCD loans is determined and netted against the amortized cost basis of the individual loans. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. The ACL on PCD loans is recorded in the acquisition accounting and no provision for credit losses is recognized at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the ACL are recorded through provision expense. For all other loans, an ACL is established immediately after the acquisition through a charge to the provision for credit losses.

The ACL is a significant estimate in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, affecting both earnings and capital. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the portfolio loans’ amortized cost bases to present the net amount expected to be collected on the portfolio loans. Portfolio loans are charged off against the ACL when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Recoveries will be recognized up to the aggregate amount of previously charged-off balances. The ACL is established through provision for credit loss expense charged to income.

A loan’s amortized cost basis is comprised of the unpaid principal balance of the loan, accrued interest receivable, purchase premiums or discounts, and net deferred origination fees or costs. The Company has estimated its allowance on the amortized cost basis, exclusive of government guaranteed loans and accrued interest receivable. The Company writes-off uncollectible accrued interest receivable in a timely manner and has elected to not measure an allowance for accrued interest receivable. The Company presents the aggregate amount of accrued interest receivable for all financial instruments in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the balance of accrued interest receivable is disclosed in “Note 18. Fair Value Measurements.”

Our methodology influences, and is influenced by, the Company’s overall credit risk management processes. The ACL is managed 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. The ACL is measured on a collective pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis.

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 amortized cost basis. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level, or term as well as for changes in environmental conditions such as changes in unemployment rates, property values, and other relevant factors. 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. The Company uses four quarters as its reasonable and supportable forecast period. Due to rapidly changing forecasts around the impact of COVID-19, the Company does not believe it has the current ability to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts into its CECL models extending beyond four quarters.

Land is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation of depreciable land improvements. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives for premises and equipment are:

A determination is made at inception if an arrangement contains a lease. For arrangements containing leases, the Company recognizes leases on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as right of use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. Lease-related assets, or right of use assets, are recognized on the lease commencement date at amounts equal to the respective lease liabilities, adjusted for prepaid lease payments, initial direct costs, and lease incentives received. Lease-related liabilities are recognized at the present value of the remaining contractual fixed lease payments, discounted using our incremental borrowing rate. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, while variable lease payments are expensed as incurred.

ASC Topic 842 “Leases” requires the use of the rate implicit in the lease whenever this rate is readily determinable. If not readily determinable, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate at lease inception, on a collateralized basis, over a similar term. For operating leases existing prior to January 1, 2019, the Company used a borrowing rate that corresponded to the remaining lease term.

The Company’s lease agreements often include one or more options to renew at the Company’s discretion. If, at lease inception, the Company considers the exercising of a renewal option to be reasonably certain, the Company will include the extended term in the calculation of its right of use assets and lease liabilities.

Long-lived assets, including premises and equipment, right of use assets, and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operations of the asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. Cash flows used for this analysis are those directly associated with, and that are expected to arise as a direct result of, the use and eventual disposition of the asset. An impairment loss would be measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value.

OREO and other repossessed assets represent properties and other assets acquired through foreclosure or other proceedings in settlement of loans. OREO and other repossessed assets are recorded at the fair value of the property or asset, less estimated costs of disposal, which establishes a new cost basis. Any adjustment to fair value at the time of transfer to OREO or other repossessed assets is charged to the ACL. OREO property and other repossessed assets are evaluated regularly to ensure the recorded amount is supported by its current fair value, and valuation allowances to reduce the carrying amount to fair value less estimated costs to dispose are recorded, as necessary. OREO and other repossessed assets are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenue, expense, gains, and losses from the operations of foreclosed assets are included in earnings.

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred in a business combination over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to at least annual impairment assessments. The Company has established December 31 as the annual impairment assessment date. As part of this analysis, each reporting unit's carrying value is compared to its fair value.

The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units as of the measurement date utilizing valuation methodologies including comparable company analysis and precedent transaction analysis. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. There was no impairment as of December 31, 2022, or 2021. See “Note 7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for further discussion.

The Company maintains a liability for post-employment benefits promised to an employee based on an arrangement between the Company and an employee. In an endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangement, the employer owns and controls the policy, and the employer and employee split the life insurance policy’s cash surrender value and/or death benefits. If the employer agrees to maintain a life insurance policy during the employee’s retirement, the present value of the cost of maintaining the insurance policy would be accrued over the employee’s active service period. Similarly, if the employer agrees to provide the employee with a death benefit, the present value of the death benefit would be accrued over the employee’s active service period. The Company has an accrued liability of $5.6 million as of December 31, 2022, included in other liabilities, for these arrangements, compared with $5.5 million as of December 31, 2021.

Busey Bank is a member of the FHLB system. FHLB members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Dividends are reported as income.

The Company has invested in certain tax-advantaged projects promoting affordable housing, new markets, and historic rehabilitation. These investments are designed to generate returns primarily though the realization of federal and state income tax credits and other tax benefits, such as tax deductions from operating losses of the investments, over specified time periods. In addition, the Company has private equities, which are primarily small business investment companies in the financial technology, agricultural, environmental, and affordable housing preservation markets. These investments are considered to be variable interest entities, and are accounted for under the equity method or deferral method, as appropriate. The Company is not required to consolidate variable interest entities in which it has concluded it does not have a controlling financial interest, and is not the primary beneficiary.

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales only when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when: (i) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (ii) the transferee obtains the right to pledge or exchange the assets it receives, and no condition both constrains the transferee from taking advantage of its right to pledge or exchange and provides more than a trivial benefit to the transferor, and (iii) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.

The Company is subject to income taxes in U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal and state income tax returns with each subsidiary computing its taxes on a separate entity basis. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2017.

Under GAAP, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the recoverability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, the forecasts of future income, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions.

Positions taken in tax returns may be subject to challenge upon examination by the taxing authorities. Uncertain tax positions are initially recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements when it is more likely than not the position will not be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are both initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement with the tax authority, assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. When applicable, the Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in operating expenses. The Company had no accruals for payments of interest and penalties at December 31, 2022, or 2021.

At December 31, 2022, the Company was not under examination by any tax authority; however, we have received an inquiry from the State of Illinois regarding our prior franchise tax filings. In the event the Company is required to amend our prior franchise tax filings, we could incur additional expenses.

The 2020 Equity Plan was approved by stockholders at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A description of the 2020 Equity Plan can be found in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on April 9, 2020. The 2020 Equity Plan replaces the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and the First Community 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which, from time to time, the Company used to grant equity awards to legacy employees of First Community. Under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, the Company has granted RSU, DSU and PSU awards.

The Company’s equity incentive plans are designed to encourage ownership of its common stock by its employees and directors, to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company’s business, and to attract and retain talented personnel. All of the Company’s employees and directors and those of its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the plans.

The Company grants RSU awards 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 year 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 DSU awards, which are RSU awards 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 Company’s 2020 Equity Plan, except that, following vesting, settlement occurs within 30 days following the earlier of separation from the board or a 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 market or other performance goals, subject to accelerated service-based vesting conditions upon eligible retirement from the Company.

In 2021, the stockholders of First Busey approved the 2021 ESPP, and since the purchase price under the plan is 85% of the fair value of a share of common stock (a 15% discount to the market price), the plan is considered to be a compensatory plan under current accounting guidance. Therefore, the entire amount of the discount is recognized in salaries, wages, and employee benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Operating segments are components of a business that (i) engage in business activities from which the component may earn revenues and incur expenses; (ii) have operating results that are reviewed regularly by the entity’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segments and assess their performance; and (iii) for which discrete financial information is available. The Company’s operations are managed along three operating segments consisting of Banking, FirsTech, and Wealth Management. See “Note 21. Operating Segments and Related Information” for further discussion.

Business combinations are accounted for under ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations” using the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date measured at their estimated fair values as of that date. To determine the fair values, the Company may utilize third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the Company will identify the acquirer and the closing date and apply applicable recognition principles.

Operating results generated from acquired businesses are included with the Company’s results of operations starting from each date of acquisition. Acquisition related costs are costs the Company incurs to effect a business combination. Those costs may include legal, accounting, valuation, other professional or consulting fees, system conversions, and marketing costs. The Company accounts for acquisition related costs as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received. Costs that the Company expects, but is not obligated to incur in the future, to effect its plan to exit an activity of an acquiree or to terminate the employment of an acquiree’s employees are not liabilities at the acquisition date. Instead, the Company recognizes these costs in its post-combination Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with other applicable accounting guidance.

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.

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. Changes in fair value of components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

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 an equal and offsetting derivative with a third-party dealer. 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.

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 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.

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 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.

The Company has entered into a risk participation agreement to manage the credit risk of its derivative position. This agreement transfers counterparty credit risk related to an interest rate swap to another financial institution. In this type of transaction, the Company (purchaser) has a swap agreement with a customer. The Company then enters into a risk participation agreement with a counterparty (seller), under which the counterparty receives a fee to accept a portion of the credit risk. If the customer defaults on the swap contract, the counterparty to the risk participation agreement must reimburse the Company for the counterparty's percentage of the positive fair value of the customer swap as of the default date. If the customer swap has a negative fair value, the counterparty has no reimbursement requirements. If the customer defaults on the swap contract and the counterparty (seller) fulfills its payment obligations under the risk participation agreement, the seller is entitled to a pro rata share of the Company’s claim against the customer under the terms of the swap agreement.

The Company is a party to credit-related financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of those commitments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as no condition established in the contract has been violated. These commitments are generally at variable interest rates and generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. The commitments for equity lines of credit may expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. These commitments may be secured based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer’s obligation to a third-party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including bond financing and similar transactions, and primarily have terms of two years or less. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The Company holds collateral, which may include accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, and income producing properties, supporting those commitments if deemed necessary. In the event the customer does not perform in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the third-party, the Company would be required to fund the commitment. If the commitment is funded, the Company would be entitled to seek recovery from the customer.

The Company estimates expected credit losses for off-balance sheet arrangements over the contractual period in which it is exposed to credit risk via a present contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the issuer. To be considered unconditionally cancellable for accounting purposes, the Company must have the ability to, at any time, with or without cause, refuse to extend credit under the commitment. Off-balance-sheet credit exposure segments share the same risk characteristics as portfolio loans. The Company incorporates a probability of funding and utilizes the ACL loss rates to calculate the reserve. The reserve for off-balance-sheet credit exposure is carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in other liabilities rather than as a component of the ACL. The reserve for off-balance-sheet credit exposure is adjusted as a provision for off-balance-sheet credit exposure reported as a component of noninterest expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Liabilities recorded as reserves for the Company’s off-balance sheet credit exposure under these commitments was $6.6 million as of December 31, 2022, and was $6.5 million as of December 31, 2021.

Fair value of financial instruments is estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in “Note 18. Fair Value Measurements.” Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.

ASC Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” outlines a single model for companies to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most prior revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASC Topic 606 requires that companies recognize revenue based on the value of transferred goods or services as they occur in the contract and establishes additional disclosures. The Company’s revenue is comprised of net interest income, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of ASC Topic 606, and noninterest income. The Company has evaluated its noninterest income and the nature of its contracts with customers and determined that further disaggregation of revenue beyond what is presented in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements is not necessary. The Company satisfies its performance obligations on its contracts with customers as services are rendered so there is limited judgment involved in applying ASC Topic 606 that affects the determination of the timing and amount of revenue from contracts with customers.

Descriptions of the Company’s primary revenue generating activities that are within the scope of ASC Topic 606, and are presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income as components of noninterest income, include wealth management fees, payment technology solutions, and fees for customer services.

Wealth management fees represent fees due from wealth management customers as consideration for managing the customers' assets. Wealth management and trust services include custody of assets, investment management, fees for trust services, and other fiduciary activities. Also included are fees received from a third-party broker-dealer as part of a revenue sharing agreement for fees earned from customers that the Company refers to the third party. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is completed, which is generally monthly.

Payment technology solutions revenue represents transaction-based fees for technology-driven payment solutions primarily for walk-in, lockbox, interactive voice recognition, and online bill payments through the Company’s subsidiary, FirsTech. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is completed, which is generally monthly.

Fees for customer services consist of time-based revenue from service fees for account maintenance, item-based revenue from fee-based activity, and transaction-based fee revenue. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is completed, which is generally monthly for account maintenance services or when a transaction has been completed. Payments for such performance obligations are generally received at the time the performance obligations are satisfied.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure through the date the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were issued. There were no significant subsequent events for the year ended December 31, 2022, through the filing date of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

ASU 2022-06 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848” deferred the sunset date of ASC Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, extending the time during which entities may apply certain practical expedients for contract modifications that replace a reference to LIBOR or another reference rate that is expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. This update was effective upon issuance on December 21, 2022. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on First Busey’s financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2021-10 “Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance” establishes disclosure requirements for transactions with a government that have been accounted for by analogizing to a grant or contribution accounting model. Disclosures required under this standard include 1) the types of transactions, 2) the accounting for those transactions, and 3) the effect of those transactions on the consolidated financial statements. This update was effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2022, and applies prospectively to all transactions within the scope of the amendments that are reflected in financial statements at the date of initial application and new transactions that are entered into after the date of initial application. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on First Busey’s financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2021-05 “Leases (Topic 842): Lessors—Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments” amends the lessor’s classification of certain leases under ASC Topic 842. Under this updated guidance, leases that would otherwise be classified as a sales-type or direct financing lease must be classified by a lessor as an operating lease when the following conditions are met: 1) the contract includes variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate and 2) classification as a sales-type or direct financing lease would result in recognition of a selling loss at lease commencement. This guidance was effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2022, and was applied on a prospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2021-04 “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options” clarifies how an issuer should account for modifications or exchanges of equity-classified written call options (i.e. a warrant to purchase the issuer’s common stock). This accounting standard requires the issuer to treat a modification of an equity-classified warrant that does not cause the warrant to become liability-classified as an exchange of the original warrant for a new warrant. This guidance applies whether the modification is structured as an amendment to the terms and conditions of the warrant or as termination of the original warrant and issuance of a new warrant. This guidance was effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2022, and was applied on a prospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2022-03 “Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions” clarifies that contractual restrictions on the sale of equity securities are not considered in measuring the fair value of those equity securities, and further that contractual sale restrictions cannot be recognized and measured as a separate unit of account. This standard applies prospectively, and will be effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. First Busey is currently evaluating the potential effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

ASU 2022-02 “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures” eliminates the TDR accounting model for creditors that have already adopted CECL. In lieu of the TDR accounting model, loan refinancing and restructuring guidance in ASC Subtopic 310-20-35-9 through 35-11 “Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs—Subsequent Measurement—Loan Refinancing or Restructuring” will apply to all loan modifications, including those made for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. This standard also enhances disclosure requirements related to certain loan modifications. Additionally, this standard introduces new requirements to disclose gross write-off information in the vintage disclosures of financing receivables by credit quality indicator and class of financing receivable by year of origination. This standard applies prospectively. For the transition method related to the recognition and measurement of TDRs, there is an option to apply a modified retrospective transition method, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption. This standard became effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2023. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2022-01 “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Fair Value Hedging—Portfolio Layer Method” replaces the current last-of-layer hedge accounting method with an expanded portfolio layer method that permits multiple hedged layers of a single closed portfolio. The scope of the portfolio layer method is also expanded to include non-prepayable financial assets. This update also provides additional guidance on the accounting for and disclosure of hedge basis adjustments that are applicable to the portfolio layer method, and specifies how hedge basis adjustments should be considered when determining credit losses for the assets included in the closed portfolio. Amendments related to hedge basis adjustments which are included in this standard apply on a modified retrospective basis by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on the initial application date. Amendments related to disclosure which are included in this standard may be applied on a prospective basis from the initial application date, or on a retrospective basis to each prior period presented after the date of adoption of the amendments in ASU 2017-12 “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” This standard became effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2023. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

ASU 2021-08 “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” requires measurement and recognition in accordance with ASC Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination. This update became effective for First Busey beginning January 1, 2023. This standard applies prospectively to all business combinations that occur on or after the date it is adopted. Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.