Release Details


First Busey Corporation Earnings Release for Quarter Ending June 30, 2007

Jul 17, 2007
URBANA, Ill., July 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

First Busey Corporation's merger with Main Street Trust, Inc. received approval from regulatory authorities. The approval is subject to successful divestiture of five branches of Main Street Bank & Trust located in Champaign County, Illinois. The holding companies are expected to merge following the close of business on July 31, 2007, with the merger of Busey Bank and Main Street Bank anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2007. The annual meeting of shareholders is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The divestiture of five Main Street branches represents approximately $15 million in loans and $110 million in deposits. The divested amount represents less than 1% of anticipated combined loans and approximately 3% of anticipated combined deposits following the merger. Busey and Main Street are committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for the customers and employees involved in the divestiture.

Net income increased $829,000 or 11.8% to $7,864,000 for the quarter ending June 30, 2007, as compared to $7,035,000 for the comparable period in 2006. For the quarter ending June 30, 2007, earnings per share on a fully-diluted basis were $0.37, an increase of $0.04 or 12.1% from $0.33 for the comparable period in 2006. On a year-to-date basis, net income increased $1,698,000 or 12.2% to $15,600,000 from $13,902,000 for the comparable period in 2006. For the six-month period ending June 30, 2007, earnings per share on a fully-diluted basis were $0.72, an increase of $0.07 or 10.8% from $0.65 for the comparable period in 2006.

Busey Bank's net income was $16,018,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to $14,126,000 for the comparable period in 2006, an increase of 13.4%. Busey Bank, N.A.'s (BBNA) net income was $642,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to $2,072,000 for the comparable period in 2006, a 69.0% decrease. Busey Bank's strong performance offsets a decline in profitability for BBNA, which is primarily related to the weak Florida housing market. Overall, First Busey Corporation maintains a positive outlook for BBNA based on new balance sheet growth, led by strong commercial loan originations.

Net interest income increased $412,000 or 2.1% to $19,663,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $19,251,000 in the comparable quarter in 2006. Interest income increased $4,489,000 during the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 due primarily to loan growth combined with higher yields on investment securities and outstanding loans. Interest expense increased $4,077,000 during the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. The increase in interest expense reflects the combination of growth in deposits and a market-driven increase in deposit and borrowing rates.

Non-interest income increased $493,000 or 7.1% to $7,397,000 during the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in prior year. The increase in 2007 primarily relates to a non-recurring $630,000 pre-tax charge for amortization of issuance costs related to redemption of trust preferred securities during the second quarter of 2006.

                              FINANCIAL SUMMARY

                              Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                  June 30,
                              2007         2006         2007         2006
                                  (in thousands, except per share data)
    Earnings & Per Share
     Data
    Net income              $7,864       $7,035      $15,600      $13,902
    Basic earnings per share  0.37         0.33         0.73         0.65
    Fully diluted earnings
     per share                0.37         0.33         0.72         0.65
    Dividends per share       0.18         0.16         0.41         0.32

    Average Balances
    Assets              $2,471,750   $2,297,781   $2,472,457  $ 2,276,421
    Investment securities  330,731      324,806      332,833      328,351
    Loans                1,957,427    1,791,837    1,953,355    1,770,244
    Earning assets       2,297,944    2,122,695    2,297,342    2,104,425
    Deposits             1,993,273    1,820,999    1,994,556    1,807,986
    Stockholders' equity   189,061      171,943      187,201      171,088

    Performance Ratios
    Return on average
     assets                  1.28%        1.23%        1.27%        1.23%
    Return on average
     equity                 16.68%       16.41%       16.80%       16.39%
    Net interest margin      3.51%        3.74%        3.50%        3.72%
    Efficiency ratio        52.69%       55.90%       53.88%       55.58%

    Loan Performance
    Net credit losses         $203         $402         $433         $498
    Accruing loans
     90+ days past due                                 2,326        1,347
    Non-accrual loans                                  8,066        4,656
    Foreclosed assets                                  1,817          561

Non-interest expense decreased $265,000 or 1.8% to $14,522,000 during the quarter ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same period in the prior year. Non-interest expense decrease relates primarily to the effect of full-year efficiencies of the Tarpon Coast acquisition and an overall cost discipline as First Busey Corporation attempts to offset the effects of a challenging net interest margin environment.

First Busey Corporation's loan performance has remained consistent with the first quarter of 2007. Accruing loans 90+ days past due, non-accrual loans and foreclosed assets at June 30, 2007, have increased significantly over the same period in 2006. Consistent with first quarter of 2007, the accruing loans 90+ days past due relates primarily to commercial loans in the central Illinois market. The increase in non-accrual loans and foreclosed assets primarily relate to the weak housing market in Florida and consist largely of 1-4 family residential loans. BBNA's management continues to work to resolve these problematic loans. The resolution process is slowed as the loans in question are largely collateralized by residential real estate. Florida law addressing residential real estate, gives the borrower a substantial amount of time to bring the loan current once the loan goes into default.

Provision for loan losses was $680,000 during the second quarter of 2007 compared to $300,000 in the comparable period of 2006. The provision was $980,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, versus $700,000 in the comparable period of 2006. The increase in provision reflects managements' analysis of amounts necessary to cover potential losses in our loan portfolios. As a percentage of total outstanding loans, the allowance for loan losses was 1.22% as of June 30, 2007, and 1.27% as of June 30, 2006.

                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    (unaudited)                                              June 30,
                                                       2007           2006
                                         (in thousands, except per share data)
    Assets
    Cash and due from banks                          $56,104        $61,099
    Federal funds sold                                14,100             --
    Investment securities                            323,201        319,984

    Loans                                          1,982,802      1,839,443
      Less allowance for loan losses                 (24,135)       (23,392)
    Net loans                                     $1,958,667     $1,816,051

    Premises and equipment, net                       41,328         40,799
    Goodwill and other intangibles                    57,623         58,804
    Other assets                                      49,173         45,638
    Total assets                                  $2,500,196     $2,342,375

    Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity
    Non-interest bearing deposits                   $230,595       $251,544
    Interest-bearing deposits                      1,813,142      1,610,657
    Total deposits                                $2,043,737     $1,862,201

    Federal funds purchased & securities
     sold under agreements to repurchase              52,697         68,497
    Long-term debt                                   139,825        168,863
    Junior subordinated debt
     owed to unconsolidated trusts                    55,000         55,000
    Other liabilities                                 17,210         13,908
    Total liabilities                             $2,308,469     $2,168,469

    Common stock                                         $22            $22
    Common stock to be issued                              6            292
    Surplus                                           46,870         45,129
    Retained earnings                                151,758        136,793
    Other comprehensive income                         4,771          5,459
    Treasury stock                                   (11,700)       (11,729)
     Unearned ESOP shares                                 --         (2,058)
     Deferred compensation for stock grants               --             (2)
     Total stockholders' equity                     $191,727       $173,906
    Total liabilities & stockholders' equity      $2,500,196     $2,342,375

    Per Share Data
    Book value per share                               $8.93          $8.11
    Tangible book value per share                      $6.25          $5.37
    Ending number of shares outstanding           21,467,366     21,444,766



                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                               Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                  June 30,
    (unaudited)               2007         2006         2007         2006
                                  (in thousands, except per share data)

    Interest and fees on
     loans                 $36,232      $32,465      $71,747      $62,447
    Interest on
     investment securities   3,820        3,157        7,581        6,282
    Other interest income      128           69          287          122
    Total interest income  $40,180      $35,691      $79,615      $68,851

    Interest on deposits   $16,921      $12,713      $33,507      $24,044
    Interest on short-term
     borrowings                805          817        1,510        1,305
    Interest on long-term
     debt                    1,788        1,864        3,672        3,714
    Junior subordinated
     debt owed to
     unconsolidated trusts   1,003        1,046        2,002        2,039
    Total interest expense $20,517      $16,440      $40,691      $31,102

    Net interest income    $19,663      $19,251      $38,924      $37,749
    Provision for loan
     losses                    680          300          980          700
    Net interest income
     after provision       $18,983      $18,951      $37,944      $37,049

    Fees for customer
     services               $2,923       $2,802       $5,589       $5,338
    Trust fees               1,689        1,642        3,399        3,158
    Commissions and brokers'
     fees                      657          710        1,242        1,379
    Gain on sale of loans      764          538        1,420        1,072
    Net security gains         427          862          930        1,086
    Other                      937          350        1,749        1,044
    Total non-interest
     income                 $7,397       $6,904      $14,329      $13,077

    Salaries and wages      $6,955       $6,772      $13,699      $13,269
    Employee benefits        1,384        1,445        2,937        2,948
    Net occupancy expense    1,363        1,257        2,826        2,504
    Furniture and equipment
     expense                   855          948        1,679        1,748
    Data processing expense    482          490        1,016          894
    Amortization expense       254          352          509          704
    Other operating expenses 3,229        3,523        6,554        6,863
    Total non-interest
     expense               $14,522      $14,787      $29,220      $28,930

    Income before income
     taxes                 $11,858      $11,068      $23,053      $21,196
    Income taxes             3,994        4,033        7,453        7,294
    Net Income              $7,864       $7,035      $15,600      $13,902

    Per Share Data
    Basic earnings per
     share                   $0.37        $0.33        $0.73        $0.65
    Fully-diluted earnings
     per share               $0.37        $0.33        $0.72        $0.65
    Diluted average
     shares outstanding 21,510,376   21,433,249   21,525,552   21,446,704

Corporate Profile

First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) is a financial holding company headquartered in Urbana, Illinois. First Busey Corporation has two wholly- owned banking subsidiaries with locations in three states. Busey Bank is headquartered in Urbana, Illinois and has twenty-two banking centers serving Champaign, McLean, Ford, Peoria, and Tazewell Counties in Illinois. Busey Bank also has a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a loan production office in Ft. Myers, Florida. On June 30, 2007, Busey Bank had total assets of $2.0 billion. Busey Bank Florida and Tarpon Coast National Bank merged at the close of business on February 17, 2006, and the resultant bank is Busey Bank, N.A. Busey Bank N.A. is headquartered in Port Charlotte, Florida, with nine banking centers serving Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties in Southwest Florida. Busey Bank N.A. had total assets of $445 million as of June 30, 2007. Busey provides electronic delivery of financial services through Busey e-bank, http://www.busey.com.

Busey Investment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation and owns three subsidiaries. First Busey Trust & Investment Co. specializes in asset management and trust services. First Busey Securities, Inc. (member NASD/SIPC) is a full-service broker/dealer subsidiary. Busey Insurance Services, Inc. is a provider of personal insurance products. Busey Investment Group has approximately $2.6 billion in assets under care.

First Busey Corporation's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market under the symbol "BUSE". First Busey Corporation has a repurchase program in effect under which it is authorized to purchase up to 750,000 shares of stock.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These may include statements as to the benefits of the merger, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues and the accretion/dilution to reported earnings that may be realized from the merger as well as other statements of expectations regarding the merger and any other statements regarding future results or expectations. Each of First Busey and Main Street intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this statement for purposes of these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations of each of First Busey and Main Street, are generally identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," or "project" or similar expressions. The companies' respective ability to predict results, or the actual effect of future plans or strategies, is inherently uncertain.

SOURCE First Busey Corporation

Contact: Barbara Harrington, Chief Financial Officer of First Busey Corporation, +1-217-365-4302