CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Message from our Chairman & CEO

Positive advances in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the second quarter of 2020 and third quarter of 2019

• Third quarter 2020 net income and adjusted net income¹ increased to $30.8 million and $32.8 million, respectively
• Third quarter 2020 diluted earnings per share of $0.56 and adjusted earnings per share¹ of $0.60 compared to $0.47 and $0.48, respectively, in the second quarter of 2020
• Non-interest income of $32.3 million increased in third quarter 2020 compared to $28.0 million in second quarter 2020, non-interest income represents 32% of revenue in the third quarter of 2020
• Non-interest expense of $56.5 million and non-interest expense excluding non-operating adjustments¹ of $54.0 million in third quarter 2020 decreased compared to third quarter of 2019 of $68.1 million and $60.5 million, respectively
• Total assets decreased from $10.84 billion at June 30 ,2020, to $10.54 billion at September 30, 2020
• Tangible book value per common share¹ of $16.32 at September 30, 2020 as compared to $15.92 at June 30, 2020 and $15.12 at September 30, 2019, an increase of 7.9% over September 30, 2019
• Wealth assets under care of $9.50 billion for the third quarter are within 2% of December 31, 2019 $9.70 billion high water mark
• For additional information, please refer to the 3Q20 Quarterly Earnings Supplement

Third Quarter Financial Results
The net income for First Busey Corporation (“First Busey” or the “Company”) for the third quarter of 2020 was $30.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted common share, as compared to $25.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2020 and $24.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2019.  Adjusted net income¹ for the third quarter of 2020 was $32.8 million, or $0.60 per diluted common share, as compared to $26.2 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2020 and $30.5 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2019. For the third quarter of 2020, annualized return on average assets and annualized return on average tangible common equity¹ were 1.15% and 13.92%, respectively.  Based on adjusted net income¹, annualized return on average assets was 1.22% and annualized return on average tangible common equity¹ was 14.81% for the third quarter of 2020.

Pre-provision net revenue¹ for the third quarter of 2020 was $45.9 million as compared to $45.4 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $35.9 million for the third quarter of 2019. Adjusted pre-provision net revenue¹ for the third quarter of 2020 was $48.7 million as compared to $46.4 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $43.6 million for the third quarter of 2019.   Pre-provision net revenue to average assets¹ for the third quarter of 2020 was 1.71% as compared to 1.76% for the second quarter of 2020 and 1.48% for the third quarter of 2019. Adjusted pre-provision net revenue to average assets¹ for the third quarter of 2020 was 1.81% as compared to 1.80% for the second quarter of 2020 and 1.79% for the third quarter of 2019.

The Company views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related and other restructuring charges, as adjustments to net income reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Non-operating pretax adjustments for the third quarter of 2020 included $0.3 million of expenses related to prior acquisitions and $2.2 million of other restructuring costs. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures (including adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted efficiency ratio, tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share and return on average tangible common equity), facilitate the assessment of its financial results and peer comparability. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures is included in tabular form at the end of this release.

¹ A Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.

After careful consideration and analysis, the Company decided in July 2020 to consolidate 12 branches to ensure a balance between the Company’s physical banking center network and robust digital banking services. An efficient banking center footprint and strategic service models are necessary to keep First Busey competitive and responsive. These 12 banking centers closed on October 23, 2020. When fully realized, annualized expense savings net of expected associated revenue impacts are anticipated to be approximately $3.3 million with the impact of these cost savings beginning to be realized in the fourth quarter of 2020. Non-operating pretax expenses in salaries, wages and employee benefits in relation to the branch closings were $0.6 million during the third quarter of 2020, with an additional $0.1 million expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company anticipates additional one-time expenses related to the banking center consolidation plan in the fourth quarter of 2020 as we finalize the fair value estimates related to the disposition of these banking centers. We currently estimate those remaining non-operating pretax expenses related to the consolidation to be in the range of $7.0 million to $7.5 million.

The operating model reorganization is consistent with the Company’s continued efforts to transition to a regional operating model that enhances sales organization alignment across our key business lines and improves efficiencies. Non-operating pretax expenses in salaries, wages and employee benefits related to the reorganization were $1.4 million during the third quarter of 2020. These efforts are currently anticipated to provide approximately $3.6 million in annual pre-tax noninterest expense savings when fully realized.

The Company continues to navigate the economic environment caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic effectively and prudently. Our balance sheet strength remains robust with sound and stable asset quality, strong capital levels and substantial liquidity. Nevertheless, we remain vigilant, given that the negative impacts of COVID-19 are expected to continue in future quarters as the course of the economic recovery remains unclear and further fiscal stimulus is uncertain. These negative impacts may include further margin compression, increased provision expense, lower customer service fees and a deterioration in asset quality. As of the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company’s total assets exceeded $10 billion due to Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and other factors. If the Company remains over $10 billion in assets at year-end, it will begin to face limitations on interchange fees and heightened supervision and regulation in 2021.

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326), “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Loss (“CECL”) model. Upon adoption of CECL, the Company recognized a $16.8 million increase in its allowance for credit losses, substantially attributable to the remaining loan fair value marks on prior acquisitions, and a $5.5 million increase in its reserve for unfunded commitments. Under accounting rules, the reserve for unfunded commitments is carried on the balance sheet in other liabilities rather than as a component of the allowance for credit losses. These one-time increases, net of tax, were $15.9 million and recorded as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Ongoing impacts of the CECL methodology will be dependent upon changes in economic conditions and forecasts, originated and acquired loan portfolio composition, credit performance trends, portfolio duration, and other factors. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded provision for credit losses of $5.5 million and provision for unfunded commitments of $0.3 million primarily as a result of economic factors and uncertainty due to COVID-19. The allowance for credit losses increased from $53.7 million at December 31, 2019, to $84.4 million at March 31, 2020, to $96.0 million at June 30, 2020, to $98.8 million at September 30, 2020, representing 1.39% of portfolio loans outstanding, 1.55% of portfolio loans excluding PPP loans, and 408.82% of non-performing loans at September 30, 2020.

COVID-19 Update
The Company entered this crisis from a position of strength and remains resolute in its focus on serving its customers, communities and associates while protecting its balance sheet.

To alleviate some of the financial hardships qualifying customers faced as a result of COVID-19, First Busey offered an internal Financial Relief Program. The program included options for short-term loan payment deferrals and certain fee waivers. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 301 commercial loans on payment deferrals representing $426.4 million in loans, 565 mortgage/personal loans on payment deferrals representing $82.4 million in loans and an additional 520 deferrals for $63.7 million of mortgage loans in the serviced portfolio. As of October 21, 2020 commercial modifications decreased to 155 commercial loans on payment deferrals representing $189.3 million in loans, or 3.7% of total commercial loans.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Congress appropriated approximately $349 billion for the creation of the PPP and then authorized a second phase for another $310 billion in PPP loans. The program provided payroll assistance for the nation’s nearly 30 million small businesses—and select nonprofits—in the form of 100% government-guaranteed low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. First Busey served as a bridge for the program, actively helping existing and new business clients sign up for this important financial resource. At September 30, 2020, First Busey had $749.4 million in PPP loans outstanding, with an amortized cost of $736.4 million, representing 4,569 new and existing customers. The Company is actively assisting these customers in submitting applications to the SBA for loan forgiveness.

First Busey’s goal of being a strong community bank for the communities it serves begins with outstanding associates. The Company is honored to be named among the 2020 Best Banks to Work For by American Banker, 2020 Best Places to Work in Illinois by Daily Herald Business Ledger, the 2020 Best Companies to Work For in Florida by Florida Trend magazine, the 2020 Best Place to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the 2019 Best-In-State Banks for Illinois by Forbes and Statista, the 2019 Best Places to Work in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal and the 2019 Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions and Investments.

In today’s fluid, ever-evolving landscape, First Busey takes pride in its culture and is thankful for the tireless work carried out by its associates. Despite significant uncertainties in the current environment, the Company remains steadfast in its commitment to the customers and communities it serves.

/s/ Van A. Dukeman
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
First Busey Corporation

Balance Sheet Growth

Total assets were $10.54 billion at September 30, 2020, down from $10.84 billion at June 30, 2020, and up from $9.75 billion at September 30, 2019.   At September 30, 2020, portfolio loans were $7.12 billion, as compared to $7.23 billion as of June 30, 2020 and $6.67 billion as of September 30, 2019. The amortized cost of PPP loans of $736.4 million are included in the September 30, 2020 balance. When excluding the PPP loans, total commercial loans declined by $44.4 million and retail real estate and retail other loans declined by $70.4 million during the quarter. A change in the commercial unfunded commitments accounted for approximately $13.9 million of the commercial decline.     

Average portfolio loans were $7.16 billion for the third quarter of 2020 as compared to $7.22 billion in the second quarter of 2020 and $6.56 billion in the third quarter of 2019. The average balance of PPP loans in the third quarter of 2020 were $734.2 million. Average interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2020 increased to $9.81 billion compared to $9.49 billion for the second quarter of 2020 and $8.78 billion for the third quarter of 2019.
  
Total deposits were $8.64 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to $8.91 billion at June 30, 2020 and $7.93 billion at September 30, 2019. Recent fluctuations in deposit balances can be attributed to the retention of PPP loan funding in customer deposit accounts, the impacts of economic stimulus, other core deposit growth and the seasonality of public funds, as well as the Company’s efforts to efficiently manage the size of its balance sheet. The Company remains funded substantially through core deposits with significant market share in its primary markets.

Net Interest Margin and Net Interest Income

Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2020 was 2.86%, compared to 3.03% for the second quarter of 2020 and 3.35% for the third quarter of 2019. Net interest income was $69.8 million in the third quarter of 2020 compared to $70.8 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $73.5 million in the third quarter of 2019.

The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) lowered Federal Funds Target Rates for the first time in 11 years on July 31, 2019 and then again on September 18, 2019 and October 30, 2019, for a combined decrease of 75 basis points during 2019. In response to the potential economic risks posed by COVID-19, the FOMC took further action during the first quarter of 2020, lowering the Federal Funds Target Rate by 50 basis points on March 3, 2020, followed by an additional 100 basis point reduction on March 15, 2020. These rate cuts contributed to the decline in net interest margin as assets, in particular commercial loans, repriced more quickly and to a greater extent than liabilities.

Other factors contributing to the reported decline in net interest margin during the third quarter of 2020 include the sizeable balance of lower-yielding PPP loans, the Company’s significant liquidity position and the issuance of subordinated debt completed during the second quarter, with those impacts partially offset by the Company’s efforts to lower deposit funding costs. The cost of total deposits declined to 0.28% in the third quarter of 2020 from 0.36% in the second quarter of 2020, while the cost of non-time deposits declined to 0.09% in the third quarter of 2020 from 0.12% in the second quarter of 2020.

Asset Quality

Loans 30-89 days past due were $6.7 million as of September 30, 2020, compared to $5.2 million as of June 30, 2020 and $12.4 million as of September 30, 2019. Non-performing loans totaled $24.2 million as of September 30, 2020, a decrease from $25.4 million as of June 30, 2020, and $33.1 million as of September 30, 2019. Continued disciplined credit management resulted in non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans of 0.34% at September 30, 2020, as compared to 0.35% at June 30, 2020 and 0.50% at September 30, 2019. Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans, excluding the amortized cost of PPP loans, was 0.38% at September 30, 2020.

Net charge-offs totaled $2.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $1.2 million and $1.8 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.   The allowance as a percentage of portfolio loans increased to 1.39% at September 30, 2020, as compared to 1.33% at June 30, 2020 and 0.79% at September 30, 2019. The allowance as a percentage of portfolio loans, excluding the amortized cost of PPP loans, was 1.55% at September 30, 2020, up from 0.79% in the comparative quarter of 2019. The allowance as a percentage of non-performing loans increased to 408.82% at September 30, 2020 compared to 378.43% at June 30, 2020 and 160.00% at September 30, 2019.  

As a matter of policy and practice, the Company limits the level of concentration exposure in any particular loan segment and maintains a well-diversified loan portfolio.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income of $32.3 million for the third quarter of 2020 increased as compared to $28.0 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $30.9 million in the third quarter of 2019. Revenues from wealth management fees and remittance processing activities represented 45.0% of the Company’s non-interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, providing a balance to spread-based revenue from traditional banking activities.

Wealth management fees were $10.5 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase from $10.2 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $8.8 million for the third quarter of 2019. Net income from the Wealth Management segment was $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase from $3.1 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2019. First Busey’s Wealth Management division ended the third quarter of 2020 with $9.50 billion in assets under care as compared to $9.02 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2020 and $9.70 billion at December 31, 2019.

Fees for customer services were $8.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase from $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2020, but decreased from $9.8 million for the third quarter of 2019. Fees for customer services in the second quarter of 2020 were significantly impacted by changing customer behaviors resulting from COVID-19 and to a lesser extent by deposit account fee waivers related to the Financial Relief Program. An increase in customer activity and a decline in customer fee waivers contributed to the increase in fees for customer services in the third quarter of 2020.

Remittance processing revenue from the Company’s subsidiary, FirsTech, of $4.0 million for the third quarter of 2020 increased from $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2019. The Remittance Processing operating segment generated net income of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2019. The net income decline in the third and second quarters of 2020 are attributable to strategic planning initiatives and related severance expense.

Mortgage revenue of $5.8 million in the third quarter of 2020 increased compared to $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in the third quarter of 2020 over second quarter of 2020 was due to stronger gain on sale margins.

Operating Efficiency

Total non-interest expense was $56.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to $53.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $68.1 million in the third quarter of 2019. Non-interest expense excluding non-operating adjustment items¹ was $54.0 million in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to $52.6 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $60.5 million in the third quarter of 2019. Total deferred PPP loan origination costs reduced reported non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2020 by $4.9 million.

The efficiency ratio was 52.42% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to 50.97% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and 62.73% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The adjusted efficiency ratio¹ was 49.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, 50.48% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, and 55.42% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The Company remains focused on expense discipline.

Noteworthy components of non-interest expense are as follows:

• Salaries, wages and employee benefits were $32.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase from $28.6 million in the second quarter of 2020 and a decrease from $38.7 million from the third quarter of 2019. The third quarter of 2020 included $2.0 million in non-operating severance expense. The deferral of PPP loan origination costs of $3.8 million lowered salaries, wages and benefits expense in the second quarter of 2020. Total full-time equivalents at September 30, 2020 numbered 1,371 compared to 1,480 at June 30, 2020 and 1,595 at September 30, 2019, a decline of 14% year-over-year.
  
  
• Combined net occupancy expense of premises and furniture and equipment expenses totaled $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2020, a decline from $7.0 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $7.1 million in the third quarter of 2019.
  
  
• Data processing expenses were $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to $4.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.
  
  
• Other expense in the third quarter of 2020 of $9.0 million was steady with the second quarter of 2020 and decreased from $12.2 million in the third quarter of 2019. Provision for unfunded commitments of $0.3 million and $0.6 million were recorded in the third and second quarters of 2020, respectively. Non-operating pretax acquisition expenses and other restructuring costs of $0.5 million were recorded in the third quarter of 2020, compared to $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2019.
  

Capital Strength

The Company's strong capital levels, coupled with its earnings, have allowed First Busey to provide a steady return to its stockholders through dividends.  The Company will pay a cash dividend on October 30, 2020 of $0.22 per common share to stockholders of record as of October 23, 2020. The Company has consistently paid dividends to its common stockholders since the bank holding company was organized in 1980.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company continued to exceed the capital adequacy requirements necessary to be considered “well-capitalized” under applicable regulatory guidelines. The Company’s tangible common equity¹ (“TCE”) was $905.0 million at September 30, 2020, compared to $883.9 million at June 30, 2020 and $851.1 million at September 30, 2019. TCE represented 8.88% of tangible assets at September 30, 2020, compared to 8.43% at June 30, 2020 and 9.06% at September 30, 2019.¹

¹ A Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” below for reconciliation.

3Q20 Quarterly Earnings Supplement

For additional information on the Company’s response to COVID-19, financial condition and operating results, please refer to the 3Q20 Quarterly Earnings Supplement presentation furnished via Form 8-K on October 27, 2020, in conjunction with this earnings release.

Corporate Profile

As of September 30, 2020, First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) was a $10.54 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois.

Busey Bank, the wholly-owned bank subsidiary of First Busey Corporation, had total assets of $10.51 billion as of September 30, 2020 and is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Busey Bank currently has 53 banking centers serving Illinois, ten banking centers serving Missouri, four banking centers serving southwest Florida and a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Through Busey Bank’s Wealth Management division, the Company provides asset management, investment and fiduciary services to individuals, businesses and foundations. As of September 30, 2020, assets under care were approximately $9.50 billion. Busey Bank owns a retail payment processing subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc., which processes approximately 27 million transactions per year using online bill payment, lockbox processing and walk-in payments at its 4,220 agent locations in 46 states. More information about FirsTech, Inc. can be found at firstechpayments.com.

Busey Bank was named among Forbes’ 2019 Best-In-State Banks—one of five in Illinois and 173 from across the country, equivalent to 2.8% of all U.S. banks. Best-In-State Banks are awarded for exceptional customer experiences as determined by a survey sample of 25,000+ banking customers who rated banks on trust, terms and conditions, branch services, digital services and financial advice.

For more information about us, visit busey.com.

Contacts:

Jeffrey D. Jones, Chief Financial Officer
217-365-4130

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This earnings release contains certain financial information determined by methods other than GAAP. These measures include adjusted pre-provision net revenue, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted return on average assets, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted efficiency ratio, tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share and return on average tangible common equity. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, together with the related GAAP measures, in analysis of the Company’s performance and in making business decisions. Management also uses these measures for peer comparisons.

A reconciliation to what management believes to be the most direct compared GAAP financial measures, specifically total net interest income in the case of pre-provision net revenue, net income in the case of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and adjusted return on average assets, total net interest income in the case of adjusted net interest margin, total non-interest income and total non-interest expense in the case of adjusted efficiency ratio and total stockholders’ equity in the case of tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible book value per share and return on average tangible common equity, appears below. The Company believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-recurring non-interest items and provide additional perspective on the Company’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Company’s peers.

These non-GAAP disclosures have inherent limitations and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the results reported in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Tax effected numbers included in these non-GAAP disclosures are based on estimated statutory rates or effective rates as appropriate.

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this document, 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 the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’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 the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events. A number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the Company’s forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economy (including the impact of the 2020 presidential election and the impact of tariffs, a U.S. withdrawal from or significant negotiation of trade agreements, trade wars and other changes in trade regulations); (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States), or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (iv) changes in accounting policies and practices, including CECL, which changed how the Company estimates credit losses; (v) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets (including the impact of The London Inter-bank Offered Rate phase-out); (vi) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (viii) the loss of key executives or associates; (ix) changes in consumer spending; (x) unexpected results of current and/or future acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition and the possibility that the transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (xi) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (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 the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect its financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.