First Busey Corporation Announces 2025 Fourth Quarter Earnings

Core Insights - First Busey Corporation reported strong financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2025, with net income of $60.8 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, marking an increase from $57.1 million in the previous quarter and $28.1 million in the same quarter last year [5][6]. Financial Performance - The adjusted return on average assets improved by 39 basis points to 1.41%, while the net interest margin expanded by 76 basis points to 3.71% due to effective deposit cost control [3][5]. - Total noninterest income for the fourth quarter was $42.7 million, a 3.6% increase from the previous quarter and a 21.2% increase year-over-year, driven by wealth management fees and other noninterest income [23][24]. - Full-year 2025 net income reached $135.3 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, with an annualized return on average assets of 0.76% [6][12]. Wealth Management and Assets - Wealth management fee income reached a record high, with assets under care increasing by 4.7% quarter-over-quarter to $15.66 billion, supported by strong investment performance [3][29]. - The company’s capital position remained robust, with Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets at 12.44%, reflecting an 11 basis point increase from the prior quarter [3]. Noninterest Expense and Efficiency - Total noninterest expense increased by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, primarily due to nonrecurring acquisition expenses related to the CrossFirst acquisition [27][28]. - The efficiency ratio improved to 57.4% for the fourth quarter, down from 58.5% in the previous quarter and 64.8% in the same quarter last year [31]. Organizational Update - The Board of Directors announced the separation of Michael J. Maddox from the company, with Van A. Dukeman continuing as Chairman and CEO for at least two more years [4].