FIRST BUSEY CORP NV

Heightened credit risk associated with lending activities may result in insufficient credit loss provisions, which could have material adverse effect on Busey’s results of operations and financial condition.

There are risks in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and cash flows available to service debt, and risks resulting from economic and market conditions. In general, these risks have increased as a result of the recent increases in prevailing interest rates and uncertainties associated with inflation, which have potentially increased the risk of a near-term decline in growth or an economic downturn. Busey attempts to reduce its credit risk through loan application approval procedures, monitoring the concentration of loans within specific industries and geographic locations, and periodic independent reviews of outstanding loans by its loan review and audit departments as well as external parties. Credit risk related to the increasing interest rates are monitored through loan stress testing performed internally at the borrower level and by external parties for the portfolio-level analyses. However, while such procedures help reduce risks, they cannot be expected to completely eliminate Busey’s credit risks. Borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans for any of a variety of reasons resulting in a rise in the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs, delinquencies, and/or a need for increases in the provision for credit losses.

Busey estimates and establishes the ACL and maintains it at a level considered adequate by management to absorb probable credit losses based on a continual analysis of Busey’s portfolio and market environment. The ACL represent Busey’s estimate of probable losses in the portfolio at each balance sheet date and is based upon management judgments as well as forward-looking information and forecasts. Any failure of these judgments or forecasts could negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition. Although management believes the ACL is adequate to absorb losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible, management cannot guarantee that additional provisions for credit losses will not be required in the future.

Non-performing assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect Busey’s results of operations and financial condition and could result in further losses in the future.

Busey's net income is impacted by non-performing assets in several ways, presenting challenges amid both rising and stable higher interest rate environments. While Busey incurs interest expense to finance non-performing assets, it does not record interest income on non-accrual loans or other real estate owned. This lack of interest income negatively impacts Busey's overall income and returns on assets and equity. Additionally, loan administration costs rise, contributing to an adverse impact on Busey's efficiency ratio. When Busey acquires collateral in foreclosures and similar proceedings, it must mark the collateral to its current fair market value, potentially resulting in losses when compared to the outstanding loan balance. Non-performing loans and other real estate owned elevate Busey’s risk profile and influence the regulatory capital deemed appropriate. The resolution of non-performing assets demands significant time commitments from management, potentially affecting their ability to fulfill other responsibilities. Credit leaders monitor signs of stress in borrowers, particularly those susceptible to the effects of both gradual and rapid increases in interest rates. However, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, such as fraud, or difficult to predict, such as catastrophic events affecting certain industries. Therefore, we cannot assure you that such monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks.

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 39

Concentrations of credit and market risk could increase the potential for significant losses.

Busey may have higher credit risk, or experience higher credit losses, to the extent its loans are concentrated by loan type, industry segment, borrower type, or geographic location of the borrower or collateral. A significant portion of Busey’s loan portfolio is made up of commercial, commercial real estate, and retail real estate loans. Because payments on such loans are often dependent on the successful operation of the borrower involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the general economy. For example, the cumulative effects of decreased economic activity, changes in the economy and overall business environment, labor availability shortages, and supply chain constraints which began as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but have continued due to inflationary concerns and significant increases in the interest rate, have adversely affected commercial loans, and we expect this trend to continue for certain portions of our loan portfolio, depending on the strength and speed of economic recovery and other factors, particularly if general economic conditions worsen.

Busey’s commercial loans are made primarily based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Credit support provided by the borrower for most of these loans and the probability of repayment is based on the liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, which Busey requires whenever appropriate on commercial loans. As a result, in the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers, which could decline in the case of an economic recession. Collateral securing other loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise, and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. As a result of the larger average size of each commercial loan, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could have a material adverse impact on Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.

Our loan portfolio has a significant concentration of real estate loans, which involve risks specific to real estate values.

A significant portion of Busey’s loans are collateralized by real estate. Specifically, commercial real estate loans were $3.3 billion, or approximately 43.6% of our total loan portfolio, as of December 31, 2023. Of this amount, $914.5 million, or approximately 27.4%, was owner-occupied. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the area in which the real estate is located. Additionally, real estate lending typically involves higher loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. Economic events, including decreases in office occupancy following the COVID-19 pandemic, or governmental regulations outside of the control of the borrower or lender could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of the affected properties. Collateral may have to be sold for less than the outstanding balance of the loan which would result in losses.

Real estate construction, land acquisition, and development loans are based upon estimates of costs and values associated with the complete project. These estimates may be inaccurate, and Busey may be exposed to significant losses on loans for these projects.

Construction, land acquisition, and development loans involve additional risks because funds are advanced upon the security of the project, which is of uncertain value prior to its completion, and costs may exceed realizable values in declining real estate markets. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs and the realizable market value of the completed project, and the effects of governmental regulation on real property, it is relatively difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the related loan-to-value ratio. As a result, construction loans often involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent, in part, on the success of the ultimate project and the ability of the

First Busey Corporation | 2023 — 40 borrower to sell or lease the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If Busey’s appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated, or market values or rental rates decline, there may be inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project. If Busey is forced to foreclose on a project prior to or at completion due to a default, there can be no assurance that it will be able to recover all of the unpaid balance of, and accrued interest on, the loan as well as related foreclosure and holding costs. In addition, Busey may be required to fund additional amounts to complete the project and may have to hold the property for an unspecified period of time while it attempts to dispose of it.

Credit risk associated with concentration of securities in Busey’s investment portfolio may increase the potential for loss.

Busey’s investment portfolio consists, in part, of securities issued by government or government sponsored agencies and non-government entities. A downturn in the financial condition of the issuers, the performance of the underlying collateral, or the financial condition of the individual mortgagors with respect to the underlying securities could create results such as rating agency downgrades of the securities and default by issuers or individual mortgagors. Any of the foregoing factors could result in realized losses, which could adversely affect Busey’s financial condition and results of operations.