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First Busey Corporation

buse · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker buse
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2017 Annual Report · First Busey Corporation
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The foundation of the Busey story, established on January 
13, 1868, is 4 Pillars—associates, customers, shareholders 
and  communities.  Pillars  past  and  present  truly  make 
Busey… Busey. 

We  are  incredibly  grateful  for  your  trusted  relationship 
and the opportunity to serve your unique financial needs. 

As we recognize 150 years of service at Busey, we do so 
with  humility  and  appreciation.  We  owe  a  great  debt  of 
gratitude to those whom came before us and also to those 
we currently serve.

Busey. Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868. 

2017 ANNUAL REPORTDear Fellow Shareholders

Though  our  industry  has  experienced  tremendous  change  over  the  past 
several decades,  First Busey Corporation’s (“Busey”) vision of providing a 
premier service experience remains. 

We are dedicated to preserving a legacy of associate excellence, customer 
service, expanding shareholder value and community involvement.

It is because of your unwavering support and trust in us that we are here 
today and, for that, we thank you.

CORPORATE STRATEGY & UPDATE
The financial services industry has been consolidating for decades—and this 
continues still today. When I first started my career in banking in the early 
1980s, there were nearly 15,000 commercial banks, compared to less than 
5,000 today—according to Federal Reserve Economic Data.  

In  addition  to  economic  disruptions,  including  bank  failures  during  the 
these 
recessions, 
1981-1982  and  2007-2008 
consolidations 
the  financial  services 
include  excess  capacity 
industry,  as  well  as  increased  technology  and  regulatory  costs.  All,  or 
a  combination  of  these  factors,  can  cause  bank  boards  and  owners  to 
reconsider independence.  

further 
in 

reasons 

for 

We  do  not  foresee  this  heightened  trend  of  consolidation  in  our 
industry  dissipating.  After  all,  Canada  has  only  six  banks!  Therefore, 
we  remain  focused  on  a  disciplined  growth  model,  particularly,  when 
executing acquisitions.   

Your  organization  has  been  highly  active  in  consolidations,  essentially 
doubling its size in nearly three years—from $3.7 billion in total assets on 
January 1, 2015 to $7.9 billion in total assets on December 31, 2017. 

January  8,  2015:  Busey  acquired  Herget  Financial  Corporation,  the 
holding  company  for  Herget  Bank,  National  Association,  in  Pekin 
and the Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) with total assets of 
$273.1  million  upon  acquisition.  Herget  Bank  merged  with  and  into 
Busey Bank on March 13, 2015.

April 30, 2016: Busey acquired Pulaski Financial Corp. (“Pulaski”), the 
holding  company  for  Pulaski  Bank,  National  Association,  a  premier 
banking  franchise  in  the  St.  Louis,  MO-IL  MSA.  Upon  acquisition, 
Pulaski had total assets of $1.6 billion. Pulaski Bank merged with and 
into Busey Bank on November 4, 2016.

July 2, 2017: Busey acquired First Community Financial Partners, Inc. 
(“First Community”), the holding company for First Community Financial 
Bank, in the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet IL, IN, WI MSA, with $1.4 billion 
in assets. First Community Financial Bank merged with and into Busey 
Bank on November 3, 2017.

October  1,  2017:  Busey  acquired  Mid  Illinois  Bancorp,  Inc.  (“Mid 
Illinois”), the holding company for South Side Trust & Savings Bank of 
Peoria (“South Side Bank”), serving the Peoria Tri-County area, with

total assets of $657.5 million, including loans held for sale and portfolio 
loans of $370.0 million and total deposits of $505.6 million. South Side 
Trust was merged with Busey Wealth Management on January 1, 2018, 
and South Side Bank merged with and into Busey Bank on March 16, 
2018—moving  the  organization  to  #2  in  deposit  market  share  in  this 
market, according to S&P Global Intelligence.

We have executed on our plan of continual, steady mid-single digit organic 
growth  and  successful  consolidation  of  acquired  companies  with  and  into 
Busey. This strategy has produced positive financial results in the company’s 
operating  earnings  and  performance,  as  outlined  later  in  the  financial 
results section. 

Busey  successfully  benefited 
from  continued  organic  growth  and 
consolidation of the aforementioned organizations into Busey—in part, due 
to being highly selective with whom we partner. In each of the acquisitions, 
the culture and shared values, operating philosophy and strong shareholder 
and community support provided a solid foundation for future success.  

Successfully  acquiring  and  integrating  companies  is  not  easy.  It  requires 
a  multi-faceted,  disciplined  commitment  and  approach  that  is  constantly 
assimilating and evolving. In my opinion, very few companies have been able 
to consistently enhance shareholder return through consolidations.   

At  some  point  during  the  process,  the  acquirer  pays  too  much,  doesn’t 
have  prudent  risk  management  processes  in  place  to  handle  the  scale, 
and/or, simply, the culture unravels. However, Busey is committed to acquiring 
organizations at a reasonable price to benefit shareholders—both Busey and 
the acquired organization.

Through  the  process  of  integrating  new  teams  into  Busey,  we  remain 
focused  on  merging  the  acquired  company  quickly  and  strategically, 
retaining key talent, capitalizing on expected cost and operating synergies 
and welcoming new associates into the culture. We do this while continuing 
to  grow  both  organizations  organically,  maintaining  balance  sheet  quality, 
protecting a prudent enterprise risk management profile and building strong, 
multi-generational relationships. 

In  2017,  significant  emphasis  and  strategic  focus  was  placed  on  remaining 
true  to  being  a  strong,  efficient  community  bank  with  broad  financial 
capabilities, close relationships and solid support from Busey’s 4 Pillars—to 
allow for continued growth. For example: 

Through  the  Pulaski  merger  in  2016,  Busey’s  mortgage  division  grew 
beyond the markets where we have a banking presence. In the fourth 
quarter  of  2017,  Busey  divested  the  mortgage  business  in  Denver, 
Colorado,  the  Lincoln/Omaha,  Nebraska  area  and  the  Kansas  City, 
Missouri  and  surrounding  areas.  Mortgage  lending  continues  to  be 
an  integral  part  of  Busey’s  comprehensive  suite  of  financial  service 
offerings;  the  divestiture  of  these  locations  allows  Busey  to  remain 
focused on relationship banking and offering a comprehensive suite of 
financial services to all customers.

Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868In  2017,  Busey  invested  in  the  future  growth  and  success  of  Wealth 
Management—moving  headquarters  and  relocating  fifty  associates, 
including  a  six-member  investment  team  and  nearly  twenty-member 
trust  operations  team,  to  201  W.  Main  St.  in  Urbana,  Illinois.  The 
relocation  promotes  increased  collaboration  among  team  members 
while  delivering  Busey’s  promise  of  close  relationships  and  broad 
financial capabilities for valued clients as we grow.

Although we’ve had a presence in greater Indianapolis for over 20 years, 
we  expanded  in  mid-2017  to  a  full-service  banking  center  in  Carmel, 
Indiana—ensuring  every  aspect  of  a  customer’s  financial  wellbeing  is 
cared for now and in the future with solutions to their personal, business 
and wealth management needs.    

Through all of these strategic adjustments to Busey’s footprint and service 
channels, we solidify our commitment to a true community banking business 
model—building strong, multi-generational relationships which is essential as 
we grow your organization forward.

Remember, I didn’t say this was easy; however, building something unique 
and scalable rarely is.  The executive team and other leaders across Busey 
spend significant time thinking about, planning for and executing on building 
your organization the right way. 

Busey’s vision is to provide ‘Service Excellence in Everything We 
Do for our Pillars.’  

Each  and  every  day,  associates  serve  each  other  and  customers,  refine 
business  models,  focus  on  culture  and  fulfill  the  organization’s  vision  of 
service  excellence.  We  will  continue  to  stay  focused  on  these  priorities 
to  enable  continued  growth  and  capitalization  of  industry  consolidation  in 
the future.

Busey increased earnings by 26.2% or $13.0 million from 2016 to 2017, with 
December 31, 2017 net income of $62.7 million, or $1.45 per diluted common 
share, compared to net income of $49.7 million, or $1.40 per diluted common 
share for the year ended December 31, 2016.  

In addition to Busey’s organic growth, the year-end results benefited from 
the  acquisition  of  First  Community  since  the  closing  of  the  transaction 
on  July  2,  2017,  and  Mid  Illinois  since  the  closing  of  the  transaction  on 
October 1, 2017.  

2017  net  income  was  impacted  by  a  one-time,  non-cash  charge  of 
$8.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, or $0.19 per diluted common share 
for  the  year,  due  to  the  revaluation  of  Busey’s  net  deferred  tax  position 
following the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Adjusted net income1 
for 2017 was $75.7 million, or $1.75 per diluted common share, compared to 
$56.5  million,  or  $1.60  per  diluted  common  share,  for  2016.    In  addition, 
Busey  continually  improved  its  efficiency  ratio1—for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2017,  the  efficiency  ratio  was  58.27%  compared  to  61.80% 
for 2016. 

With an uninterrupted history of paying dividends to common shareholders 
since  the  bank  holding  company  was  organized  in  1980,  Busey  grew  the 
quarterly dividend of $0.18 from $0.17 per share year over year, and paid a 
$0.20 cash dividend on February 2, 2018 to shareholders of record as of 
January 26, 2018.  

Through  associate  and  shareholder  support  and  Busey’s  steadfast 
commitment to  balance sheet strength, profitability and growth—in that 
order—Busey remains a strong, independent financial organization. 

An indicator of continued balance sheet strength is tangible book value per 
share1. As of December 31, 2017, the company’s tangible book value per 
share was $12.88—an increase from $12.37 from the prior year.

FINANCIAL RESULTS
Through the aforementioned acquisitions, organic growth and the diversified 
fee-income business of Busey Wealth Management, Trevett Capital Partners 
and  FirsTech,  Inc.,  Busey  has  established  a  solid  foundation  to  maintain 
steady performance into the future. 

Growing portfolio loans remain paramount—with a 42.3% increase in 2017 
from $3.879 billion at the end of 2016 to $5.520 billion at the end of last year. 

1 For information on adjusted net income, efficiency ratio and tangible book value per share, non-GAAP 
financial measures, see the 2017 and 2016 Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT  
As  an  integral  part  of  sustaining  and  building  upon  a  stable  credit  and 
commercial portfolio philosophy, Busey continues to cultivate lasting growth 
by providing top talent with the credit knowledge and leadership acumen 
to  succeed  in  a  commercial  banking  career  through  Busey’s  Commercial 
Banking Leadership Development Program.

ENGAGING EXCELLENCE
An  engaged  team—associates  who  care  about  and  contribute  positively 
to the organization—is critical to the success of Busey. To foster associate 
engagement,  Busey  continues  to  invest  significantly  in  the  Associate 
Experience through a variety of meaningful and authentic ways.

Being  recognized  for  a  job  well  done  and  career  milestones  is  the 
foundation  of  Busey’s  engagement  program.  Throughout  the  year,  we 
recognize countless associates—from career achievements and Associate 
Appreciation  Month  to  Random  Acts  of  Kindness  Week  and  various  local 
award nominations for outstanding team members. 

Engaging associates through learning and development is also important to 
Busey. Through robust training and development offerings, which include an 
extensive  onboarding  program,  professional  and  leadership  development 
training  tracks  and  the  Commercial  Banking  Leadership  Development 
Program—creating  a  solid  pipeline  of  commercial  relationship  managers 
well  versed  in  the  organization’s  processes  and  lending  philosophy—
Busey  equips  team  members  with  the  knowledge,  skills  and  behaviors 
necessary to provide service excellence. As the result of this commitment 
to continuous learning, the Association for Talent Development recognized 
Busey internationally with the 2017 BEST Award. 

From professional development to personal wellbeing, Busey has created 
a  culture  of  wellness,  engaging  associates  through  the  award-winning 
B Well program—which earned Busey recognition by the St. Louis Business 
Journal  as  a  2017  Healthiest  Employer  finalist.  The  robust  suite  of  tools 
and resources promotes a healthy workplace, while at the same time fosters 
engagement among associates. 

By engaging associates—the lifeblood of the organization—Busey promotes 
a  healthy,  progressive  work  environment,  enhancing  morale  and 

productivity, while improving work-life balance for team members. 

To  further  improve  the  Associate  Experience,  team  members  complete 
an  annual  Associate  Engagement  Survey  in  addition  to  sharing  thoughtful 
feedback  through  national  and  statewide  award  surveys.  We  are  deeply 
humbled to be consistently recognized among the Best Banks to Work For 
across the U.S. by American Banker magazine and Best Companies Group 
and Best Places to Work in Illinois by Daily Herald Business Ledger and Best 
Companies Group since 2016, and in 2017, one of the Best Companies to 
Work For in Florida by Florida Trend magazine and Best Companies Group. 

SUMMARY
By  remaining  an  efficient,  nimble  and  responsive  organization,  Busey 
continues  to  serve  customers’  needs,  reward  associates  for  growth  and 
provide total value to you, Busey’s loyal shareholders.

From humbling recognition to a tireless commitment to service excellence, 
Busey’s storied history of fulfilling dreams since 1868 would not be possible 
without  the  amalgamation  of  many  great  organizations  that  have  helped 
grow  the  organization  forward.  The  coalescence  of  these  organizations, 
together  with  their  associates,  customers,  shareholders  and  communities, 
form the solid bedrock of Busey. All of these predecessor entities have rich 
heritages as well, and have contributed greatly to Busey’s collective culture 
and progress. 

With  sincerest  gratitude,  we  thank  these  organizations  and  individuals, 
including valued shareholders, for continued support to help make Busey an 
organization unlike any other.

VAN A. DUKEMAN, CFA
President & Chief Executive Officer
First Busey Corporation

Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868    
2017 PROGRESS FOR PILLARS 

To achieve the vision of service excellence, Busey works tirelessly to fulfill promises made 
to associates, customers, shareholders and communities—the Pillars of the organization. 

ASSOCIATES

More than 
1,300 associates

More than a dozen recognition programs, 
including the Busey Promise Award, 
Associate Appreciation Month and 
Annual Associates’ Meeting

75 issues of Busey’s 
internal eNewsletter, 
Between the Lines, 
since 2015

222 associate Service 
Milestones recognized 

Nearly 9,000 hours committed 
to both sales & service and 
corporate training programs 
by 400+ participants 

25,186 training 
hours completed 

Top leadership development 
program, Transform, engages 
nearly 80 leaders—55 of them 
serve as mentors across Busey

CUSTOMERS

$

150,000+ total 
households served

 More than 60 banking 
centers in Illinois, Indiana, 
Missouri and Florida

25,000+ 
surcharge-free 
MoneyPass® ATMs

$1+ million donated annually—
investing financially in the places 
we call home

>>>

Growing forward, together, with 
First Community Financial Bank of 
Chicagoland and South Side Trust & 
Savings Bank of Peoria

40.8 Net Promoter Score®, an 
increase of 3.3 points from 2016, and 
well above the industry average of 
32.0—reflecting Busey’s commitment to 
a premier service experience

$100,000+ donated through 
Pay It Forward Fridays jeans days
since its inception in 2015 

COMMUNITIES

Nearly 20,000 volunteer 

hours—serving selflessly 

through time and talent 

13+ fees eliminated, 
including notary fees, 
standard external transfer fees 
(Popmoney) and telephone 

transfer fees       

New budgeting tool, 
Money Management, 
unveiled by Busey 
in 2018  

7,093 customers 
surveyed

40,000 meals donated 
to 7 area food banks during 
Promise a Plate

2 issues 
of The Pillar 
magazine 
annually

4 customer 

education series 

sessions annually

Associates, customers, shareholders and communities—the Pillars 
of Busey—truly shape the future of the organization. Through your 
invaluable input, you help make Busey an organization unlike 
any other!

3 economic seminars annually

8,000+ votes on social

media and $2,000

collectively donated

to Supplies for Success

2017 ANNUAL REPORT  
   
 
 
  
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88% engagement 
in the B Well health 
and wellness program

$1.1+ million in contributions 
to associate Health Savings 
Accounts since 2015 through 
B Well

Top leadership development 

program, Transform, engages 

nearly 80 leaders—55 of them 

serve as mentors across Busey

2017 & 2016 Best Banks to Work For in the U.S.
2017 & 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois 
2017 Best Companies to Work For in Florida 
2017 BEST Award 
2017 Healthiest Employers finalist

COMMUNITIES

Nearly 20,000 volunteer 
hours—serving selflessly 
through time and talent 

Co    unity

o  

promise month

2,300+ volunteer hours and 
 nearly 300 organizations served 
during Busey’s annual 
Community Promise Month 

Nearly $330,000 donated 
during the United Way 
corporate campaign

Nearly 90 bank accounts 
provided for students in the 
Summer Youth Employment Program 
at Champaign Unit 4 schools

4 customer 
education series 
sessions annually

8,000+ votes on social
media and $2,000
collectively donated
to Supplies for Success

Busey Illinois Youth Run title 
sponsor for nearly a decade 
with nearly 90 participants 
and 100+associate 
volunteers annually

Countless calculators, articles 
and podcasts in the Resource 
Center on busey.com

150 Years. 
4 Pillars. 1 Promise.

As we reflect back on Busey’s humble beginnings from January 
13,  1868,  we  are  grateful  for  today’s  opportunity  to  serve 
customers—helping generations of families own homes, attend 
college,  open  businesses,  retire  worry-free  and  leave  lasting 
legacies throughout Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Florida.

Busey in 2017

• $7.9 billion in assets

• 25,000+ surcharge-free MoneyPass® ATMs

• More than 1,300 associates

• 150,000+ households served

• 60+ banking centers across the Midwest & Southwest Florida

• Five lines of business—personal, mortgage, business, cash                

management and wealth management—working together 
as One Busey

• FirsTech, Inc.: 28 million transactions processed annually

using online bill payment, lockbox processing and
walk-in-payments at its 4,000 agent locations in 43 states

• Busey Wealth Management: approximately $6.0 billion

in assets under care 

Today, Busey remains committed to the Busey Promise and the 
vision  of  providing  service  excellence  in  everything  we  do  for 
4 Pillars—associates, customers, shareholders and communities.

The Busey Promise to 4 Pillars

Associates 
We recruit and retain the best and brightest associates—serving 
as Busey’s front-line relationship managers; we entrust them to 
be  knowledgeable,  trustworthy,  friendly,  responsive,  humble, 
positive and resilient.

Customers
Customers are the core of everything Busey. We are customer-
centric and organizationally aligned to anticipate and exceed the 
needs of customers.

Shareholders
By  exceeding  the  needs  of  customers  through  the  efforts 
of 
talented  associates  and  strengthened  communities, 
shareholders are rewarded with the sustained financial results 
and profitability they expect from Busey.

community  financial 

Communities
Being  a 
services  organization 
means  being  a  good  corporate  neighbor—partnering  for 
purpose  and  progress.  We  partner  with  customers  and 
in  support  of  communities,  providing  support 
associates 
financially,  with  service  hours,  and  contributing  as  an  active 
community leader. 

Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868   
   
 
   
 
SERVICE LEADERS

Executive Management

Van A. Dukeman 
President & Chief Executive Officer
First Busey Corporation

Curt A. Anderson 
President & Chief Executive Officer
Busey Wealth Management

Robin N. Elliott 
Chief Financial Officer  
Chief Operating Officer 
First Busey Corporation

Barbara J. Harrington 
Chief Risk Officer
First Busey Corporation

Howard F. Mooney II 
President & Chief Executive Officer
FirsTech, Inc.
Chief Information Officer 
First Busey Corporation  

Robert F. Plecki 
Chief Credit Officer
First Busey Corporation

John J. Powers 
General Counsel
First Busey Corporation

Amy L. Randolph 
Chief of Staff
Executive Vice President, Pillar Relations
First Busey Corporation

Christopher M. Shroyer 
President & Chief Executive Officer
Busey Bank

First Busey Corporation Board of Directors

Joseph M. Ambrose 
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 
Horizon Hobby, LLC 

George Barr 
Attorney & Founder
The Barr Group P.C.

Gregory B. Lykins 
Chairman
First Busey Corporation

August C. Meyer, Jr. 
Chairman
Midwest Television, Inc.

Stanley J. Bradshaw 
Principal
Bradshaw Capital Management, LLC 

George T. Shapland 
President
Shapland Management Company

David J. Downey 
President
The Downey Group, Inc.

Van A. Dukeman 
President & Chief Executive Officer
First Busey Corporation

Stephen V. King 
Founding Partner
Prairie Capital, L.P.

E. Phillips Knox 
Attorney
Tummelson Bryan & Knox, LLP

V.B. Leister, Jr. 
Chairman
Carter’s Furniture, Inc.  

Thomas G. Sloan 
Chief Executive Officer
Sloan Implement Company

Jon D. Stewart 
Chief Executive Officer
TSM Ventures, Inc.

Phyllis M. Wise 
Chief Executive Officer
Colorado Longitudinal Study 
GoldLab Foundation 

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
STEWARDS FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE 

Without  the  dedication  and  guidance  of  solid  leadership,  especially  Busey’s  Boards  of  Directors,  the  continued 
achievements and successes of your organization would not be possible. 

A Lasting Legacy 

Busey recognizes the following directors upon retirement from the First Busey Corporation board, effective at the 
Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 23, 2018: E. Phillips Knox, V. B. Leister, Jr., Jon D. Stewart and Phyllis M. 
Wise. We thank these leaders for their significant contributions and years of dedication to this organization. With more 
than 90 combined years of service to Busey, these individuals helped lead the organization through some of the 
most transformative and productive years while helping establish a foundation for future growth.

Another  transformative  director  is  retiring  after  54  years  of  service  to  Busey.  Edwin  A.  Scharlau  II  served  the 
organization  in  various  capacities  throughout  his  career—from  teller  and  operations  manager  to  president.  Since 
1975,  Mr.  Scharlau  has  served  as  a  director  on  the  Busey  Bank  board,  transitioning  to  chairman  in  1991  and  then 
vice  chairman  in  2011.  Currently,  Mr.  Scharlau  serves  on  both  Busey’s  Bank  and  Wealth  Management  Boards  of 
Directors. As we celebrate Mr. Scharlau’s tenured career at Busey, we are grateful for his continual commitment to the 
organization and the community. 

A Talented Board Tenure

On  behalf  of  Busey’s  4  Pillars,  we  thank  Mr.  Knox,  Mr.  Leister,  Mr.  Scharlau,  Mr.  Stewart  and  Dr.  Wise  for  their 
unwavering support in building upon and preserving Busey’s legacy—one of associate excellence, customer service, 
expanding shareholder value and community involvement.

E. Phillips Knox l Director since 1972
V. B. Leister, Jr. l Director since 1992  
Edwin A. Scharlau II l Director since 1975
Jon D. Stewart l Director since 2002 
Phyllis M. Wise l Director since 2014

Growing Forward

Busey’s  Boards  of  Directors  are  stewards  for  service  excellence  through  their  steadfast  loyalty—instrumental 
individuals as we look to the future of the organization and build upon a strong foundation in the years ahead. 

Through the First Community partnership, Busey welcomed George Barr, an attorney and the founder of The Barr 
Group  P.C.,  as  a  new  First  Busey  Corporation  director  and  Scott  A.  Wehrli,  the  principal  of  DuKane  Precast  Inc., 
as a Busey Bank director. Mr. Barr served both as a director and chairman and Mr. Wehrli served as a director for 
First Community. 

Through  the  partnership  with  Mid  Illinois,  we  invited  Karen  M.  Jensen  to  serve  as  a  director  for  Busey  Bank. Ms. 
Jensen, P.E., who previously served as a director for South Side Bank, is president & CEO of Farnsworth Group, Inc.

To further complement the leadership and expertise of First Busey Corporation’s Board of Directors, at our Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders, we are nominating Frederic L. Kenney, associate general counsel for litigation for Archer 
Daniels Midland (ADM), who currently serves as a Busey Bank director, and Elisabeth M. Kimmel, attorney and the 
owner and CEO of Midwest Television, Inc. We look forward to the insights and contributions of Mr. Barr, Ms. Jensen, 
Mr. Kenney, Ms. Kimmel and Mr. Wehrli in the years ahead and are grateful for their commitment and partnership.

“We  are  forever  indebted  to  the  boards  of  directors  who  help  make  Busey  a  remarkable  organization.  Through 
meticulous  oversight,  exceptional  business  acumen  and  longstanding  commitment,  these  directors—past,  present 
and future—have and will continue to help us strengthen and grow the organization forward. On behalf of Busey’s 
leaders, we thank these directors, the true stewards of your organization, for their commitment and service.”
— Greg Lykins l Chairman of First Busey Corporation Board of Directors 

Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868CORPORATE PROFILE 

As of December 31, 2017, First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ: BUSE) was a $7.9 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Busey 
Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary, is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois and has thirty-seven banking centers serving Illinois, thirteen banking centers in 
the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area, five banking centers serving southwest Florida and a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Trevett Capital Partners, a 
wealth management division of Busey Bank, provides asset management, investment and fiduciary services to high net worth clients in southwest Florida. The 
wealth management professionals of Trevett Capital Partners can be reached through trevettcapitalpartners.com. Busey Bank had total assets of $7.1 billion as of 
December 31, 2017.  

South Side Trust & Savings Bank of Peoria, First Busey Corporation’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois and has thirteen 
additional locations in the greater Peoria area and had total assets of $712.3 million as of December 31, 2017.  

In addition, Busey Bank owns a retail payment processing subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc., which processes approximately 28 million transactions per year using online 
bill payment, lockbox processing and walk-in payments at its 4,000 agent locations in forty-three states. More information about FirsTech, Inc. can be found at 
firstechpayments.com.

Busey Wealth Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation. Through Busey Trust Company, Busey Wealth Management provides asset 
management, investment and fiduciary services to individuals, businesses and foundations. As of December 31, 2017, Busey Wealth Management’s assets under 
care were approximately $6.0 billion.

For more information about us, visit busey.com.

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Corporate Headquarters
First Busey Corporation, 100 W. University Ave., Champaign, IL 61820, 217.365.4500. Visit Busey’s website at busey.com.

Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First Busey Corporation will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 12 p.m. at the Urbana Country Club,
100 E. Country Club Rd., Urbana, IL 61801.

First Busey Corporation Common Stock
First Busey Corporation common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BUSE.

Annual Report on Form 10-K
A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, can be found at busey.com. 

Stock Transfer Agent
Computershare, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, TX 77842-3170. The transfer agent can be accessed at computershare.com/investor.

SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  

Statements made in this report, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of 
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of 
First Busey. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of First Busey’s management and on information currently 
available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” 
“should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and 
we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or 
predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of 
the local, national and international economy; (ii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning First Busey’s general business; (iii) 
changes in accounting policies and practices; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of First Busey’s assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services 
sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of 
key executives or employees; (viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of current and/or future acquisitions, which may include, failure to realize the 
anticipated benefits of the acquisition and the possibility that the transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation 
involving First Busey; (xi) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks; (xii) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, 
hurricanes, floods, and blizzards. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed 
on such statements. Additional information concerning First Busey and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect its financial results, is included 
in First Busey’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Member FDIC

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 
We thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve
you, your family and your community for generations.

Fulfilling Dreams Since 1868First Busey Corporation 

100 W. University Ave., Champaign, IL 61820

217.365.4500  |  busey.com  |  NASDAQ: BUSE

Busey 2018  |  All Rights Reserved

Busey’s Financial Suite of Services: