HTLF may grant, through its Compensation and Human Capital Committee (the "Compensation Committee") non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted stock, restricted stock units and cash incentive awards, under its 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") which authorized 1,460,000 of common stock available for issuance. At December 31, 2023, 744,310 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under awards that may be granted under the Plan to employees and directors of, and service providers to, HTLF or its subsidiaries.

ASC Topic 718, "Compensation-Stock Compensation" requires the measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based upon the fair value of the award on the grant date. The cost of the award is based upon its fair value estimated on the date of grant and recognized in the consolidated statements of income over the vesting period of the award. The fair market value of restricted stock and restricted stock units is based on the fair value of the underlying shares of common stock on the date of grant. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

HTLF's income tax expense included $123,000 of expense and $131,000 of benefit for the years ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively, related to the vesting and forfeiture of equity-based awards.

The Plan permits the Compensation Committee to grant restricted stock units ("RSUs"). The time-based RSUs represent the right, without payment, to receive shares of HTLF common stock at a specified date in the future. Generally, the time-based RSUs vest over three years in equal installments in March of each of the three years following the year of the grant.

The Compensation Committee has granted three-year performance-based RSUs. These performance-based RSUs will be earned based upon satisfaction of performance targets for the three-year performance period, which is defined in the RSU agreement. These performance-based RSUs or a portion thereof may vest after measurement of performance in relation to the performance targets.

The time-based RSUs may also vest upon death or disability, upon a change in control or upon a "qualified retirement" (as defined in the RSU agreement), and the three-year performance-based RSUs vest to the extent that they are earned upon death or disability or upon a "qualified retirement" (as defined in the RSU agreement) after measurement of performance.

All of HTLF's RSUs will be settled in common stock upon vesting. Most RSUs granted after March 2023 accrue dividends, which are paid without interest only upon vesting. Dividend equivalents with respect to RSUs forfeited are also forfeited. RSUs granted prior to 2023 are not entitled to dividend equivalents.

A summary of the status of RSUs as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, and changes during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, follows:


	2023			2022			2021
	Shares	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1	424,086	$	46.15	389,885	$	44.19	348,275	$	38.22
Granted	278,999	44.94		242,718	48.38		216,560	51.44
Vested	(183,511)	41.39		(159,880)	44.96		(149,350)	40.83
Forfeited	(53,469)	46.84		(48,637)	45.49		(25,600)	40.96
Outstanding at December 31	466,105	$	47.22	424,086	$	46.15	389,885	$	44.19

Total compensation costs recorded for RSUs were $9.0 million, $7.8 million and $8.5 million, for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there were $8.8 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the Plan for RSUs which are expected to be recognized through 2026.

The plan provides the Compensation Committee the authority to grant stock options. During the year ended December 31, 2023, 0 options were granted. There were 64,518 options granted in the year ended December 31, 2022, and no options granted in the year ended December 31, 2021. Options granted generally vest over the first four years in equal installments on the anniversary date of the grant. The exercise price of the stock options granted is established by the Compensation Committee, but the exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of the shares on the date the options are granted.

The stock options may also vest upon death or disability, upon a change in control or upon a "qualified retirement" as defined in the stock option agreement.

A summary of the status of the stock options as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, and changes during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 follows:


	2023			2022			2021
	Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares	Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1,	64,518	$	48.79	—	$	—	—	$	—
Granted	—	—		64,518	48.79		—	—
Exercised	—	—		—	—		—	—
Forfeited	(6,452)	—		—	—		—	—
Outstanding at December 31	58,066	48.79		64,518	48.79		—	—
Options exercisable at December 31,	—	$	—	—	$	—	—	$	—

At December 31, 2023, the vested options have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 8.92 years. The intrinsic value for the vested options as of December 31, 2023, was $0. The intrinsic value for the total of all options exercised during year ended December 31, 2023, was $0. The total fair value of shares under stock options that vested during the year ended December 31, 2023, was $0. Total compensation costs recorded for stock options were $221,000, $167,000, and $0 for 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there was $490,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the Plan for options that are expected to be recognized through 2026.

HTLF maintains an employee stock purchase plan (the "ESPP"), which was adopted in May 2016 and replaced the 2006 ESPP, that permits all eligible employees to purchase shares of HTLF common stock at a discounted price as determined by the Compensation Committee. Under ASC Topic 718, compensation expense related to the ESPP of $192,000 was recorded in 2023, $214,000 was recorded in 2022, and $228,000 was recorded in 2021.

A maximum of 500,000 shares is available for purchase under the ESPP, and as of December 31, 2023, 171,537 shares remain available for purchase. Beginning with the 2020 plan year, the Compensation Committee authorized HTLF to make ESPP purchases semi-annually, and the purchases are to be made as soon as practicable on or after June 30 and December 31. For employee deferrals made in the 2023 plan year, shares purchased in 2023 totaled 60,583. For employee deferrals made in the 2022 plan year, shares purchased in 2022 totaled 49,169. For employee deferrals made in the 2021 plan year, shares purchased in 2021 totaled 46,899.