REGULATORY CAPITAL

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Banking and Thrift, Other Disclosure [Abstract]

REGULATORY CAPITAL

NOTE 12. REGULATORY CAPITAL

First Busey and Busey Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory—and possibly additional discretionary—actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on First Busey's Consolidated Financial Statements. Capital amounts and classification also are subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Banking regulations identify five capital categories for insured depository institutions: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, all capital ratios of First Busey and Busey Bank exceeded well capitalized levels under the applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. Management believes that no events or changes have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2025, that would change this designation.

Capital Amounts and Ratios

The following tables summarize regulatory capital requirements applicable to First Busey and Busey Bank:

	As of December 31, 2025
	Actual				Minimum Capital Requirement				Minimum To Be Well Capitalized
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	1,920,388	12.43	%	$	694,987	4.50	%	$	1,003,870	6.50	%
Busey Bank	$	2,150,048	13.97	%	$	692,654	4.50	%	$	1,000,500	6.50	%
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	2,143,138	13.88	%	$	926,650	6.00	%	$	1,235,533	8.00	%
Busey Bank	$	2,150,048	13.97	%	$	923,539	6.00	%	$	1,231,385	8.00	%
Total capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	2,459,847	15.93	%	$	1,235,533	8.00	%	$	1,544,416	10.00	%
Busey Bank	$	2,287,179	14.86	%	$	1,231,385	8.00	%	$	1,539,231	10.00	%
Leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets
First Busey	$	2,143,138	11.93	%	$	718,334	4.00	%	N/A		N/A
Busey Bank	$	2,150,048	12.00	%	$	716,476	4.00	%	$	895,596	5.00	%

	As of December 31, 2024
	Actual				Minimum Capital Requirement				Minimum To Be Well Capitalized
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	1,237,301	14.10	%	$	394,840	4.50	%	$	570,325	6.50	%
Busey Bank	$	1,438,296	16.46	%	$	393,277	4.50	%	$	568,067	6.50	%
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	1,314,301	14.98	%	$	526,453	6.00	%	$	701,938	8.00	%
Busey Bank	$	1,438,296	16.46	%	$	524,369	6.00	%	$	699,159	8.00	%
Total capital to risk weighted assets
First Busey	$	1,625,943	18.53	%	$	701,938	8.00	%	$	877,422	10.00	%
Busey Bank	$	1,520,938	17.40	%	$	699,159	8.00	%	$	873,949	10.00	%
Leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets
First Busey	$	1,314,301	11.06	%	$	475,348	4.00	%	N/A		N/A
Busey Bank	$	1,438,296	12.14	%	$	473,878	4.00	%	$	592,347	5.00	%

Capital Conservation Buffer

In July 2013, U.S. federal banking authorities approved the Basel III Rule for strengthening international capital standards. The Basel III Rule introduced a capital conservation buffer, composed entirely of common equity Tier 1 capital, which is added to the minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. The capital conservation buffer is not a minimum capital requirement; however, banking institutions with a ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets below the capital conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and discretionary bonus payments based on the amount of the shortfall. In order to refrain from restrictions on dividends, equity repurchases, and discretionary bonus payments, banking institutions must maintain minimum ratios of (1) common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.0%, (2) Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.5%, and (3) total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 10.5%.

Subsidiary Dividend Payments

First Busey Corporation’s ability to pay cash dividends to its stockholders and to service its debt is dependent on the receipt of cash dividends from its subsidiaries. Under applicable regulatory requirements, an Illinois state-chartered bank, such as Busey Bank, generally may pay dividends only out of net profits. Busey Bank paid $160.0 million, $100.0 million, and $90.0 million in dividends to First Busey Corporation during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.