Busey has outstanding stock options that were issued under the First Community 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and assumed from acquisitions. A summary of the status of, and changes in, Busey's stock option awards follows (dollars in thousands, except weighted-average exercise price):


Options	Shares	Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2023	21,266	$	23.53	2.88 years	$	27
Exercised	(2,640)	23.53
Forfeited	(3,520)	23.53

Outstanding at December 31, 2024	15,106	23.53		1.87 years	1

Exercisable at December 31, 2024	15,106	23.53		1.87 years	1

The 2020 Equity Plan was originally approved by stockholders at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A description of the 2020 Equity Plan, as originally approved, can be found in Appendix A within Busey’s Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on April 9, 2020. An amendment and restatement of the 2020 Equity Plan was approved by stockholders at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Terms of the amended and restated 2020 Equity Plan are substantially identical to those of the originally approved 2020 Equity Plan, other than a 1,350,000 increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance under the plan. More information can be found in Appendix A within Busey’s Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on April 14, 2023.

Busey has granted RSU, PSU, and DSU awards under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan. Upon vesting and delivery, shares are expected, though not required, to be issued from treasury stock.

A description of RSU, PSU, and DSU awards granted in 2024 under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan is provided below. A description of RSU, PSU, and DSU awards granted in 2023 and 2022 under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan can be found in Busey’s Annual Reports for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Busey issued 163,387 treasury shares in conjunction with the settlement of RSUs, PSUs, and DSUs in 2024. The difference between the number of shares issued and the number of vested units is due to shares issued under a net share settlement option. There were 1,326,314 shares available for issuance under the 2020 Equity Plan as of December 31, 2024.

Busey grants RSU awards to members of management periodically throughout the year. RSU awards are stock-based awards for which vesting is conditional upon meeting established service criteria. Each RSU is equivalent to one share of Busey’s common stock. Busey’s RSUs have requisite service periods ranging from one year to five years, and are subject to accelerated vesting upon eligible retirement from Busey. Recipients earn quarterly dividend equivalents on their respective RSUs, which entitle the recipients to additional units. Therefore, dividends earned each quarter compound based upon the updated unit balances.

On March 20, 2024, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, Busey granted 189,179 RSUs to members of management. The grant date fair value of the award was $4.4 million, which will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period ranging from one year to five years. The terms of these awards included an accelerated vesting provision upon eligible retirement from Busey, after a one-year minimum requisite service period. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.

On May 22, 2024, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, Busey granted 12,864 RSUs to members of management. The grant date fair value of the award was $0.3 million, which will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period of three years. The terms of these awards included an accelerated vesting provision upon eligible retirement from Busey, after a one-year minimum requisite service period. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.


RSU Awards	Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023	1,041,444	$	22.05
Granted	202,043	23.35
Dividend equivalents earned	42,986	24.74
Vested	(187,446)	25.38
Forfeited	(32,255)	22.48
Nonvested at December 31, 2024	1,066,772	$	21.80

Busey grants PSU awards to members of management periodically throughout the year. PSU awards are stock-based awards for which vesting is conditional upon meeting established performance criteria for the applicable performance period and remaining employed through the end of such performance period. Each PSU is equivalent to one share of Busey’s common stock. The number of PSUs that ultimately vest will be determined based on the extent to which the established performance criteria are achieved. Busey’s PSUs are subject to accelerated service-based vesting conditions upon eligible retirement from Busey. After performance determination, dividend equivalents are compounded based upon the updated PSU balances at each dividend date during the performance period.

On March 20, 2024, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, Busey granted a target of 94,604 PSUs with a maximum award of 151,366 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 160% of the initial grant, depending on attaining a relative total stockholder return performance goal. The grant date fair value of the award, calculated using the Geometric Brownian Motion Model, was $2.0 million, which will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2026.

On March 20, 2024, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, Busey granted a target of 94,604 PSUs with a maximum award of 151,366 units. The actual number of units issued at the vesting date could range from 0% to 160% of the initial grant, depending on attaining an adjusted return on average tangible common equity performance goal. The grant date fair value of the award was $2.2 million, which will be recognized in compensation expense over the performance period ending December 31, 2026. The actual amount of compensation expense recognized is subject to adjustment based on the extent to which performance goals are expected to be achieved.


PSU Awards	Shares1	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023	341,700	$	22.67
Granted	189,208	22.32
Dividend equivalents earned	4,264	22.95
Vested2	(147,397)	26.07
Forfeited	(15,733)	22.47

Nonvested at December 31, 2024	372,042	$	21.15

Vested and outstanding at December 31, 20242	143,133	$	26.17

2.PSUs granted in 2022 vested on December 31, 2024. Shares represent target amounts. Performance determinations were calculated and approved by Busey’s Compensation Committee on January 31, 2025, and settlement activity will take place in the first quarter of 2025.

Busey grants DSU awards to its non-employee directors. DSU awards are stock-based awards with a deferred settlement date. Each DSU is equivalent to one share of Busey’s common stock. DSUs vest over a one-year period following the grant date. Under the 2020 Equity Plan, DSUs are generally subject to the same terms as RSUs, except that following vesting of DSUs, 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, DSUs will continue to earn dividend equivalents.

On March 20, 2024, under the terms of the 2020 Equity Plan, Busey granted 35,847 DSUs to non-employee directors. The grant date fair value of the award totaled $0.8 million and will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period of one year. Subsequent to the requisite service period, the awards will become 100% vested.


DSU Awards	Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023	43,026	$	20.41
Granted	35,847	23.35
Dividend equivalents earned	8,213	24.79
Vested	(49,168)	21.04
Forfeited	(1,025)	20.44
Nonvested at December 31, 2024	36,893	$	23.40

Vested and outstanding at December 31, 2024	184,941	$	22.85

The First Busey Corporation ESPP was approved at Busey’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The purpose of the ESPP is to provide a means through which Busey employees may acquire a proprietary interest in the Company by purchasing shares of its common stock at a 15% discount through voluntary payroll deductions, to assist in retaining the services of current employees and securing and retaining the services of new employees, and to provide incentives for Busey employees to exert maximum efforts toward the Company’s success. Substantially all of Busey’s employees are eligible to participate, and all participating employees have equal rights and privileges under the terms of the ESPP. Further details can be found in Appendix A within Busey’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021.

The ESPP initially reserved for issuance and purchase an aggregate of 600,000 shares of Busey’s common stock. The first offering under the ESPP began on July 1, 2021. There were 393,536 shares available for issuance under the ESPP as of December 31, 2024.

Busey did not record any stock option compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, or 2022. Busey did not have any unrecognized stock option compensation expense as of December 31, 2024.


		Years Ended December 31,
	Location	2024		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation expense

RSU awards	Salaries, wages, and employee benefits	$	3,823	$	2,622	$	4,648
PSU awards1	Salaries, wages, and employee benefits	2,867		2,962		3,240
DSU awards	Other expense	826		833		876
ESPP	Salaries, wages, and employee benefits	210		178		204
Total stock-based compensation expense		$	7,726	$	6,595	$	8,968

1.Expense for PSU awards with a relative total stockholder return performance goal represents amounts based on target shares at the grant date. Expense for PSU awards with return on average tangible common equity and compounded annual revenue growth rate performance goals represents amounts based on target shares at the grant date, adjusted for performance expectations as of the date indicated.


	As of December 31,
	2024		2023
Unamortized stock-based compensation
RSU awards	$	7,093	$	6,842
PSU awards1	3,043		3,607
DSU awards	181		190
Total unamortized stock-based compensation	$	10,317	$	10,639

Weighted average period over which expense is to be recognized	2.5 years		2.4 years

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1.Unamortized expense for PSU awards with a relative total stockholder return performance goal represents amounts based on target shares at grant date. Unamortized expense for PSU awards with return on average tangible common equity and compounded annual revenue growth rate performance goals represents amounts based on target shares at grant date, adjusted for performance expectations as of the date indicated.