Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") through its subsidiary, Hawthorn Bank (the "Bank"), provides a broad range of banking services to individual and corporate customers located within the Missouri communities in and surrounding Jefferson City, Columbia, Clinton, Warsaw, Springfield, and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The Company is subject to competition from other financial and nonfinancial institutions providing financial products. Additionally, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to the regulations of certain regulatory agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory agencies.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of the consolidated financial statements includes all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary in order to make those statements not misleading. Management is required to make estimates and assumptions, including the determination of the allowance for credit losses, real estate acquired in connection with foreclosure or in satisfaction of loans, and fair values of investment securities available-for-sale that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company's management has evaluated and did not identify any subsequent events or transactions requiring recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements other than what is disclosed in the Pending Litigation section below.

In December of 2008, the Company formed Hawthorn Real Estate, LLC, (the "Real Estate Company"); a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In December of 2017, the Company formed Hawthorn Risk Management, Inc., (the "Insurance Captive"); a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Bank, the Real Estate Company, and the Insurance Captive. The Insurance Captive was dissolved December 1, 2023. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company designates certain long-term fixed rate personal real estate loans as held for sale. These loans are initially measured at fair value under the fair value option election with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in mortgage banking income. The loans are primarily sold to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, PennyMac, and various other secondary market investors. The Company sells loans with servicing retained or released depending on pricing and market conditions. Mortgage loans held for sale were $3.9 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $0.6 million at December 31, 2022.

Loans are placed on non-accrual status when management believes that the borrower's financial condition, after consideration of business conditions and collection efforts, is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Loans that are contractually 90 days past due as to principal and/or interest payments are generally placed on non-accrual, unless they are both well-secured and in the process of collection. Real estate loans secured by one-to-four family residential properties are

exempt from these non-accrual guidelines. These loans are placed on non-accrual status after they become 120 days past due. Subsequent interest payments received on such loans are applied to principal if doubt exists as to the collectability of such principal; otherwise, such receipts are recorded as interest income on a cash basis. A loan remains on non-accrual status until the loan is current as to payment of both principal and interest and/or the borrower demonstrates the ability to pay and remain current.

The allowance for credit losses is measured using a lifetime expected loss model that incorporates relevant information about past events, including historical credit loss experience on loans with similar risk characteristics, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the remaining cash flows over the contractual term of the loans. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis. Loans are aggregated into pools based on similar risk characteristics including borrower type, collateral type and expected credit loss patterns. Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics, primarily large loans on non-accrual status, are evaluated on an individual basis. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from loans amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the instrument. Expected recoveries are included in the allowance and do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses when management believes the balance has become uncollectible.

For loans evaluated for credit losses on a collective basis, average historical loss rates are calculated for each pool using relevant peer historical net charge-offs (combined charge-offs and recoveries by observable historical reporting period) and the Company's outstanding loan balances during a lookback period. The Company chose to use relevant peer loan loss data due to statistical relevance concerns, low observation counts, historical data limitations, and the inability to secure through the cycle loan-level data. Lookback periods can be different based on the individual pool and represent management’s credit expectations for the pool of loans over the remaining contractual life. The calculated average net charge-off rate is then adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. These adjustments increase or decrease the average historical loss rate to reflect expectations of future losses given a single path economic forecast of a single macroeconomic variable, which is the civilian unemployment rate. The adjustments are based on results from various regression models projecting the impact of the selected macroeconomic variable to loss rates. The forecast is used for a reasonable and supportable period before reverting back to historical averages using a straight-line method. The forecast adjusted loss rate is applied to the loans over the remaining contractual lives, adjusted for expected prepayments and curtailments. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals and modifications. Credit cards and certain similar consumer lines of credit do not have stated maturities and therefore, for these loan classes, remaining contractual lives are determined by estimating future cash flows expected to be received from customers until payments have been fully allocated to outstanding balances. Agriculture loans also use the remaining life methodology for estimating life of loan losses. Additionally, the allowance for credit losses considers qualitative or environmental factors, such as: lending policies and procedures; economic conditions; the nature, volume and terms of the portfolio; lending staff and management; past due loans; the loan review system; collateral values; concentrations of credit; and external factors.

The Company maintains a separate allowance for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures, including unfunded loan commitments, unless the associated obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. This allowance is included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with associated expense recognized as a component of the provision for credit losses on the consolidated statements of income. The liability for unfunded lending commitments utilizes the same model as the allowance for credit losses on loans, however, the liability for unfunded lending commitments incorporates an assumption for the portion of unfunded commitments that are expected to be funded.

The largest component of the Company's investment portfolio consists of debt securities which are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value, excluding certain losses associated with other-than-temporary impairment, are reported in other comprehensive income, net of taxes, a component of stockholders' equity. Securities are periodically evaluated for impairment in accordance with guidance provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 320, Investments – Debt Securities. For those securities with other-than-temporary impairment, the entire loss in fair value is required to be recognized in current earnings if the Company intends to sell the securities or believes it more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery. If neither condition is met, but the Company does not expect to recover the amortized cost basis, the Company determines whether a credit loss has occurred, which is then recognized in current earnings. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income.

Premiums and discounts are amortized using the interest method over the lives of the respective securities, with consideration of historical and estimated prepayment rates for mortgage-backed securities, as an adjustment to yield. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses for securities classified as available-for-sale are included in earnings based on the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

The Company recognizes derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet, and measures those instruments at fair value. Loan commitments related to the origination or acquisition of mortgage loans that will be held for sale are accounted for as derivative instruments. The Company enters into commitments to originate loans whereby the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding (rate lock commitments). The Company also enters into forward sales commitments for the mortgage loans underlying the rate lock commitments.

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage the fair value changes in interest rate lock commitments and loan portfolios which are exposed to interest rate risk. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Certain derivative financial instruments are generally entered into as economic hedges against changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability and are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. These non-designated derivatives are intended to provide interest rate protection but do not meet hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in non-interest income and non-interest expense related to the other asset or other liability in the consolidated statements of income. Management has determined these derivatives do not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company originates and sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market and typically retains the right to service the loans sold. Servicing involves the collection of payments from individual borrowers and the distribution of those payments to the investors or master servicer. Upon a sale of mortgage loans for which servicing rights are retained, the retained mortgage servicing rights asset is capitalized at the fair value of future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing servicing activities.

Mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs") are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet with changes in the fair value recognized in earnings. Because most servicing rights do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices, the Company determines the fair value of mortgage servicing rights by estimating the fair value of the future cash flows associated with the mortgage loans being serviced. Key assumptions used in measuring the fair value of mortgage servicing rights include, but are not limited to, prepayment speeds, discount rates, delinquencies, ancillary income, and cost to service. These assumptions are validated on a periodic basis. The fair value is validated on a quarterly basis with an independent third party valuation specialist firm.

In addition to the changes in fair value of the mortgage servicing rights, the Company also records loan servicing fee income as part of real estate servicing fees, net, in the consolidated statements of income. Loan servicing fee income represents revenue earned for servicing mortgage loans. The servicing fees are based on contractual percentage of the outstanding principal balance and recognized as revenue as the related mortgage payments are collected. Corresponding loan servicing costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Other real estate owned and repossessed assets consist of loan collateral that has been repossessed through foreclosure. This collateral is comprised of commercial and residential real estate and other non-real estate property, including autos, manufactured homes, and construction equipment. Other real estate owned assets are initially recorded as held for sale at the fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs. Any adjustment is recorded as a charge-off against the allowance for credit losses. The Company relies on external appraisals and assessment of property values by internal staff. In the case of non-real estate collateral, reliance is placed on a variety of sources, including external estimates of value and judgment based on experience and expertise of internal specialists. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are updated periodically, and the assets may be written down to reflect a new cost basis. The valuation write-downs are recorded as other non-interest expense. The Company establishes a valuation allowance related to other real estate owned and repossessed assets on an asset-by-asset basis. The valuation allowance is created during the holding period when the fair value less cost to sell is lower than the cost of the asset.

The Company provides a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for all full-time and eligible employees. The benefits are based on age, years of service and the level of compensation during the respective employee's highest ten years of compensation before retirement. Net periodic costs are recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the retirement benefits. The Company records annual amounts relating to its pension plan based on calculations that incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions including discount rates, mortality, assumed rates of return, compensation increases, and turnover rates. The Company reviews its assumptions on an annual basis and may make modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to do so. The Company believes that the assumptions utilized in recording its obligations under its plan are reasonable based on its experience and market conditions.

The Company follows authoritative guidance included in the FASB ASC Topic 715, Compensation – Retirement Plans under the subtopic Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans. ASC Topic 715 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheet and to recognize changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. This guidance also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its fiscal year-end, with limited exceptions. Additional disclosures are required to provide users with an understanding of how investment allocation decisions are made, major categories of plan assets, and fair value measurement of plan assets as defined in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

The Company has a noncontrolling financial investment in a private investment fund and partnership that finances the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. This unconsolidated investment may generate a return through the realization of federal income tax credits, as well as other tax benefits, such as tax deductions from net operating losses of the investments over a period of time. Investments in historic tax credits are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the Company’s recorded investment in these entities is carried in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with any unfunded commitment recorded in other liabilities. The tax credits and other net tax benefits received are recognized as a component of income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset/liability method by recognizing the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current period and deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are provided as temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the consolidated financial statements at the enacted tax rate expected to be applied in the period the deferred tax item is expected to be realized. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the expected amount most likely to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of a sufficient level of future taxable income and recoverable taxes paid in prior years.

A tax position is initially recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. Penalties and interest incurred under the applicable tax law are classified as income tax expense. The Company has not recognized any tax liabilities or any interest or penalties in income tax expense related to uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.

The purchase of the Company's common stock is recorded at cost. Purchases of the stock are made both in the open market and through negotiated private purchases based on market prices. At the date of subsequent reissue, the treasury stock account is reduced by the cost associated with such stock on a first-in-first-out basis. Gains on the sale of treasury stock are credited to additional paid-in-capital. Losses on the sale of treasury stock are charged to additional paid-in-capital to the extent of previous gains, otherwise charged to retained earnings.

Trouble Debt Restructurings. On January 1, 2023, the effective date of the guidance, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2022-02, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures”, on a prospective basis. ASU 2022-02 eliminated the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings (TDRs), while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. Specifically, rather than applying the recognition and measurement guidance for TDRs, an entity must apply the loan refinancing and restructuring guidance to determine whether a modification results in a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. For entities that have already adopted ASU 2016-13, the amendments in ASU 2022-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the amendments within ASU 2022-02, using the prospective transition method. ASU 2022-02 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2016-13. On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which replaces the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology commonly referred to as the current expected credit losses (CECL) methodology. The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures such as loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments. In addition, this standard made changes to the accounting for available-for-sale debt securities, including the requirement for credit losses to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down on available-for-sale debt securities.

The Company adopted this standard using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost, and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under the new standard while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable U.S. GAAP. The Company recorded an after-tax decrease to retained earnings of $5.6 million as of January 1, 2023 for the cumulative effect of adopting this standard.