Release Details


First Busey Releases Second Quarter Earnings

Jul 22, 2008

URBANA, Ill., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Busey Corporation's (Nasdaq: BUSE) consolidated net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 was $4.6 million, or $0.13 per fully-diluted share, compared to $7.9 million, or $0.37 per fully-diluted share, for the same period in 2007. Year-to-date consolidated net income was $14.6 million, or $0.41 per fully-diluted share, compared to $15.6 million, or $0.72 per fully-diluted share, in the same period of 2007. We recorded a $12.3 million provision for loan losses during the second quarter, which represents a $0.21 per fully-diluted share charge.

The loan loss provision recorded during the second quarter is the result of our efforts to continue to identify the issues within our loan portfolio. Our management team has worked diligently to identify the problem and potential problem credits in our loan portfolio and, subsequently meet with these customers to assess the current situation and future plans. Currently, we believe to have a solid understanding of the risk in our loan portfolio. The largest portion of the risk in our loan portfolio resides in the southwest Florida market, which makes up approximately 25% of our total loan portfolio. The downstate Illinois economy, while somewhat weaker than two years ago, is holding up relatively well due to its stable academic, agricultural and healthcare employment base. However, in this weak economic environment, we have unidentified risks within the portfolio that will arise if the economic downturn continues to expand its reach, both geographically and into new industries. As known risks elevate and new risks are identified within our loan portfolio, we will make the appropriate adjustments to our allowance for loan losses.

The entire financial/banking industry is facing tough times due to the economic downturn. Weakness in a bank's loan portfolio is a primary symptom of an economic downturn. The known and expected further weakness in banks' loan portfolios has led to the entire sector experiencing sharp declines in stock prices. The Busey stock price has paralleled this industry trend.

Our balance sheet and diversified business lines continue to be a source of strength. We continue to be well capitalized under regulatory standards and will pay our third $0.20 dividend of 2008 on July 25, 2008. Our investment portfolio is sound, closing June 2008 in a net unrealized gain position. Busey Wealth Management and FirsTech, our payment processing subsidiary, continue to provide a diversified earnings stream.

Our Board of Directors and management team remains confident we will emerge from this economic downturn a stronger company. Our management team is doing everything we believe necessary to address issues as they arise. The more timely we address the issues facing us during this economic downturn, the better positioned we will be to take advantage of opportunities as the economy begins to stabilize and, ultimately, turn around.

Busey's commitment to outstanding customer service, coupled with our management team's efforts to address the symptoms of this economic environment, we believe will position your company for a bright future. As always, we welcome your questions and comments.

Corporate Profile

First Busey Corporation is a $4.3 billion financial holding company headquartered in Urbana, Illinois. First Busey Corporation has two wholly-owned banks with locations in three states. Busey Bank is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois and has forty-five banking centers serving downstate Illinois. Busey Bank has a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a loan production office in Fort Myers, Florida. As of June 30, 2008, Busey Bank had total assets of $3.8 billion. Busey Bank, N.A. is headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, with nine banking centers serving southwest Florida. Busey Bank, N.A. had total assets of $459.2 million as of June 30, 2008.

Busey Wealth Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation. Through Busey Trust Company, Busey Wealth Management delivers trust, asset management, retail brokerage and insurance products and services. As of June 30, 2008, Busey Wealth Management had approximately $3.9 billion in assets under care.

First Busey Corporation owns a retail payment processing subsidiary, FirsTech, Inc., which processes over 27 million transactions per year through online bill payments, lockbox processing and walk-in payments through its 4,000 agent locations in 36 states.

Busey provides electronic delivery of financial services through our website, http://www.busey.com.

                          SELECTED  FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
             (amounts in thousands, except ratios and per share data)

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                            June  30,   March  31,  June  30,
                                               2008        2008        2007
    EARNINGS & PER SHARE DATA
      Net income                              $4,591     $10,004      $7,864
      Basic earnings per share                 $0.13       $0.28       $0.37
      Weighted average shares of common
       stock outstanding                      35,824      35,949      21,470
      Fully-diluted earnings per share         $0.13       $0.28       $0.37
      Weighted average shares of common
       stock and dilutive
       potential common shares
       outstanding                            35,931      36,130      21,510
      Market price per share at period
       end                                    $13.22      $21.12      $19.99
      Price to book ratio                      92.13%     144.96%     223.85%
      Price to earnings ratio(1)               25.42       18.69       13.51
      Cash dividends paid per share            $0.20       $0.20       $0.18
      Book value per share                    $14.35      $14.57       $8.93
      Tangible book value per share            $6.56       $6.77       $6.25
      Common shares outstanding               35,787      35,858      21,467

    AVERAGE BALANCES
      Assets                              $4,235,000  $4,196,079  $2,471,750
      Investment securities                  590,737     625,479     330,730
      Gross loans                          3,141,541   3,056,701   1,957,427
      Earning assets                       3,733,761   3,693,418   2,297,944
      Deposits                             3,200,098   3,230,782   1,993,273
      Interest-bearing liabilities         3,289,370   3,253,477   2,035,871
      Stockholders' equity                   517,936     521,701     189,061

    PERIODIC FINANCIAL DATA
      Tax equivalized net interest income    $32,133     $31,858     $20,113
      Gross loans                          3,166,705   3,131,878   1,982,802
      Allowance for loan losses               48,579      42,924      24,135

    PERFORMANCE RATIOS
      Return on average assets(1)               0.44%       0.96%       1.28%
      Return on average equity(1)               3.57%       7.71%      16.68%
      Net interest margin(1)                    3.46%       3.47%       3.51%
      Net interest spread                       3.13%       3.07%       3.05%
      Efficiency ratio(2)                      56.46%      59.17%      52.68%
      Non-interest revenue as a % of
       total revenues(3)                       30.68%      30.49%      26.17%
      Allowance for loan losses to loans        1.53%       1.37%       1.22%
      Allowance as a percentage of
       non-performing loans                    82.84%     134.29%     232.25%
      Ratio of average loan to average
       deposits                                98.17%      94.61%      98.20%
      Ratio of tangible capital to
       tangible assets                          5.88%       6.11%       5.49%

    ASSET QUALITY
      Net charge-offs                         $6,645      $1,786        $203
      Non-performing loans                    58,641      31,964      10,392
      Other non-performing assets              3,096       2,476       1,817

    1 Quarterly ratios annualized
    2 Net of security gains and amortization
    3 Net of interest expense, excludes security gains



                          SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
             (amounts in thousands, except ratios and per share data)

                                                        Six Months Ended
                                                   June 30,          June 30,
                                                     2008              2007
    EARNINGS & PER SHARE DATA
      Net income                                   $14,595           $15,600
      Basic earnings per share                       $0.41             $0.73
      Weighted average shares of common
       stock outstanding                            35,887            21,464
      Fully-diluted earnings per share               $0.41             $0.72
      Weighted average shares of common
       stock and dilutive
       potential common shares
       outstanding                                  36,031            21,526
      Market price per share at period
       end
      Price to book ratio
      Price to earnings ratio(1)                     16.12             13.79
      Cash dividends paid per share                  $0.40             $0.41
      Book value per share
      Tangible book value per share
      Common shares outstanding

    AVERAGE BALANCES
      Assets                                    $4,214,780        $2,472,547
      Investment securities                        608,041           332,834
      Gross loans                                3,099,121         1,953,355
      Earning assets                             3,713,522         2,297,342
      Deposits                                   3,215,248         1,994,556
      Interest-bearing liabilities               3,271,299         2,034,576
      Stockholders' equity                         519,418           187,201

    PERIODIC FINANCIAL DATA
      Tax equivalized net interest income          $63,991           $39,887
      Gross loans
      Allowance for loan losses

    PERFORMANCE RATIOS
      Return on average assets(1)                     0.70%             1.27%
      Return on average equity(1)                     5.65%            16.80%
      Net interest margin(1)                          3.47%             3.50%
      Net interest spread                             3.10%             3.04%
      Efficiency ratio(2)                            57.81%            53.88%
      Non-interest revenue as a % of
       total revenues(3)                             30.59%            25.61%
      Allowance for loan losses to loans
      Allowance as a percentage of
       non-performing loans
      Ratio of average loan to average
       deposits                                      96.39%            97.93%
      Ratio of tangible capital to
       tangible assets

    ASSET QUALITY
      Net charge-offs                               $8,431              $433
      Non-performing loans
      Other non-performing assets

    1 Quarterly ratios annualized
    2 Net of security gains and amortization
    3 Net of interest expense, excludes security gains


Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain, 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 ability of the Company to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company's general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company'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 acquisitions; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices. 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 the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Special Note Concerning Goodwill and Identifiable Intangibles

The excess purchase price resulting from the merger with Main Street Trust, Inc. has been allocated to goodwill and identifiable intangibles assets in accordance with current accounting guidance, to the extent that supportable documentation was available at June 30, 2008. Such amounts are subject to adjustment in the near term as additional analysis is performed or obtained from third party sources.

    Net Income by
     Segment
    (dollars in          QTD        QTD       %        YTD        YTD       %
      thousands)   6/30/2008  3/31/2008  Change  6/30/2008  6/30/2007  Change

     Consolidated     $4,591    $10,004  (54.11)   $14,595    $15,600   (6.44)
     Busey Bank        6,395     11,602  (44.88)    17,997     16,018   12.35
     Busey Bank, N.A. (2,002)    (1,047) (91.21)    (3,049)       642 (574.92)
     Busey Wealth
      Management         871        446   95.29      1,317      1,164   13.14
     FirsTech            703        629   11.76      1,332          -       -


Net income information reflects reported earnings for prior periods. The pro forma effects of the merger with Main Street are not reflected in the June 30, 2007 net income data. The provision for loan losses is the primary reason net income is down at Busey Bank and Busey Bank, N.A. quarter over quarter. YTD June 30, 2008 for Busey Bank and Busey Wealth Management net income reflects the increase from the merger with Main Street. Busey Bank's increase YTD June 30, 2008 over the same period in the prior year is due to the merger with Main Street Bank & Trust, offset by the $9.2 million, pre-tax, of provision for loan losses recorded during 2008.

    Loan Portfolio Quality
    (dollars in thousands)

    Allowance for    Balance        YTD               YTD    Balance   Balance
     Loan Losses  12/31/2007  Provision  Charge Offs, Net  6/30/2008 3/31/2008

      Busey Bank     $35,796     $9,150           $(4,226)   $40,720   $35,791
      Busey Bank,
       N.A.            6,764      5,300            (4,205)     7,859     7,133
                     $42,560    $14,450           $(8,431)   $48,579   $42,924



                Balance    IL / IN         FL Commercial     Retail    Balance
              6/30/2008  6/30/2008  6/30/2008  6/30/2008  6/30/2008  3/31/2008

    Non-Accrual Loans
      Busey
       Bank     $39,032    $13,607    $25,425    $37,098     $1,934    $12,704
      Busey
       Bank,
       N.A.      14,123          -     14,123      6,329      7,794     13,947
                $53,155    $13,607    $39,548    $43,427     $9,728    $26,651

    2008 Charge-offs on Non-Accrual Loans
      Busey
       Bank     $10,520     $5,520     $5,000    $10,053       $467     $7,592
      Busey
       Bank,
       N.A.       5,482          -      5,482      1,943      3,539      2,917
                $16,002     $5,520    $10,482    $11,996     $4,006    $10,509

    Specific Allocation of ALL
      Busey
       Bank      $7,283     $2,833     $4,450     $7,233        $50     $1,040
      Busey
       Bank,
       N.A.       1,112          -      1,112        100      1,012        690
                 $8,395     $2,833     $5,562     $7,333        $50     $1,040

    90+ Days Past Due
      Busey
       Bank      $5,032     $5,032         $-     $2,588     $2,444     $5,087
      Busey
       Bank,
       N.A.         454          -        454        149        305        227
                 $5,486     $5,032       $454     $2,737     $2,749     $5,314


Non-performing loans increased $26.7 million primarily related to increased non-accrual loans. Busey Bank's non-accrual loans increased $26.3 million due primarily to loans to two different customers in its Florida loan production office that totaled $23.8 million at June 30, 2008. We have charged off $2.0 million and have $4.2 million of specific allowance allocated to these loans.

Overall, Busey Bank has charged off $10.5 million of its non-accrual loans during 2008. Charge offs reduce the reported principal of the balance of the loan, whereas, a specific allocation of allowance for loan losses (ALL) does not reduce the reported principal balance of the loan. Non-accrual loans are reported net of charge-offs, but gross of related specific allocations of ALL.

Our ALL as a percentage of non-performing loans has decreased below 100% due to the $16.0 million of charge-offs taken during 2008. As loan balances are charged off to reflect the loss we expect upon final resolution of the loan collection process, no additional allowance is necessary to cover the expected loss related to that loan. Certain loans will have amounts charged off and a specific allocation of ALL assigned to the loan. In this case, we expect a loss, but a reasonable possibility exists the loss will not be as large as we estimate. Therefore, the known loss is charged off and the remaining potential loss is assigned a specific allocation of ALL.

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited, in thousands,
    except per share data)       June 30,    March 31,  December 31,  June 30,
                                   2008        2008        2007        2007
    Assets
    Cash and due from banks      $124,639    $123,068    $125,228     $56,104
    Federal funds sold                  -           -         459      14,100
    Investment securities         580,891     600,953     610,422     323,201
    Net loans                   3,118,126   3,088,954   3,010,665   1,958,667
    Premises and equipment         82,198      81,269      80,400      41,328
    Goodwill and other
     intangibles                  278,835     279,982     280,487      57,623
    Other assets                   80,742      77,596      85,264      49,173
    Total assets               $4,265,431  $4,251,822  $4,192,925  $2,500,196

    Liabilities &
     Stockholders' Equity
    Non-interest bearing
     deposits                    $376,452    $395,115    $389,672    $230,595
    Interest-bearing deposits   2,797,511   2,853,193   2,817,526   1,813,142
    Total deposits             $3,173,963  $3,248,308  $3,207,198  $2,043,737

    Federal funds purchased &
     securities sold under
     agreements to repurchase     217,734     142,496     203,119      52,697
    Short-term borrowings         117,000     116,000      10,523           -
    Long-term debt                151,910     127,910     150,910     139,825
    Junior subordinated debt
     owed to unconsolidated
     trusts                        55,000      55,000      55,000      55,000
    Other liabilities              36,301      39,487      36,478      17,210
    Total liabilities          $3,751,908  $3,729,201  $3,663,228  $2,308,469
    Total stockholders' equity   $513,523    $522,621    $529,697    $191,727
    Total liabilities &
     stockholders' equity      $4,265,431  $4,251,822  $4,192,925  $2,500,196

    Per Share Data
    Book value per share           $14.35      $14.57      $14.58       $8.93
    Tangible book value per
     share                          $6.56       $6.77       $6.86       $6.25
    Ending number of shares
     outstanding                   35,787      35,858      36,332      21,467



    Condensed Consolidated
     Statements of Income
    (Unaudited, in thousands,       Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
     except per share data)              June 30,               June 30,
                                     2008        2007        2008       2007

    Interest and fees on loans    $48,611     $36,232    $100,262     $71,747
    Interest on investment
     securities                     6,079       3,820      12,880       7,581
    Other interest income               3         128         108         287
    Total interest income         $54,693     $40,180    $113,250     $79,615

    Interest on deposits           19,174      16,921      42,021      33,507
    Interest on short-term
     borrowings                     1,756         805       3,515       1,510
    Interest on long-term debt      1,391       1,788       3,121       3,672
    Junior subordinated debt
     owed to unconsolidated
     trusts                           846       1,003       1,805       2,002
    Total interest expense        $23,167     $20,517     $50,462     $40,691

    Net interest income           $31,526     $19,663     $62,788     $38,924
    Provision for loan losses      12,300         680      14,450         980
    Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses    $19,226     $18,983     $48,338     $37,944

    Fees for customer services      3,994       2,923       7,845       5,589
    Trust fees                      3,698       1,689       6,771       3,399
    Remittance processing           3,028           -       5,975           -
    Commissions and brokers'
     fees                             686         657       1,388       1,242
    Gain on sales of loans          1,206         764       2,366       1,420
    Net security gains                 30         427         502         930
    Other                           1,343         937       3,322       1,749
    Total non-interest income     $13,985      $7,397     $28,169     $14,329

    Salaries and wages             11,851       6,955      23,363      13,699
    Employee benefits               2,586       1,384       5,722       2,937
    Net occupancy expense           2,325       1,363       4,789       2,826
    Furniture and equipment
     expense                        2,350         855       4,267       1,679
    Data processing expense         1,628         482       3,316       1,016
    Amortization expense            1,130         254       2,259         509
    Other operating expenses        5,282       3,229      11,529       6,554
    Total non-interest expense    $27,152     $14,522     $55,245     $29,220

    Income before income taxes     $6,059     $11,858     $21,262     $23,053
    Income taxes                    1,468       3,994       6,667       7,453
    Net income                     $4,591      $7,864     $14,595     $15,600

    Per Share Data
    Basic earnings per share        $0.13       $0.37       $0.41       $0.73
    Fully-diluted earnings per
     share                          $0.13       $0.37       $0.41       $0.72
    Diluted average shares
     outstanding                   35,931      21,510      36,031      21,526

SOURCE First Busey Corporation

Contact: Barbara Harrington, EVP & CFO of First Busey Corporation, +1-217-365-4516