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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 18, 2006

                             FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Nevada                     0-15959                37-1078406
  ----------------------------        ------------         -------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)              File Number)         Identification No.)

              201 W. Main St., Urbana, IL                       61801
       ----------------------------------------               ----------
       (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (217) 365-4513


         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-4(c))

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ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION. On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, the Registrant issued a press release disclosing financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The press release is made part of this Form and is attached as Exhibit 99.1. The press release made a part of this Form includes forward looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements include but are not limited to comments with respect to the objectives and strategies, financial condition, results of operations and business of the Registrant. These forward looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk that predictions and other forward looking statements will not be achieved. The Registrant cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward looking statements.

SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: April 18, 2006 FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION By: /s/ Barbara J. Harrington ------------------------- Name: Barbara J. Harrington Title: Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX 99.1 Press Release, dated April 18, 2006.

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

    FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION EARNINGS RELEASE FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

                URBANA, ILL., APRIL 18 /PRNEWSWIRE-FIRSTCALL/ --

                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     Net income increased $331,000 or 5.1% to $6,867,000 during the quarter
ended March 31, 2006, compared to $6,536,000 during the first quarter of 2005.
The growth in earnings is due to increases in net interest income and
non-interest income which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest
expenses. Earnings per share on a fully-diluted basis were $0.32 during the
first quarter of 2006, reflecting no change from earnings per share of $0.32
during the first quarter of 2005.

     Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2006 was 3.70%, compared to
3.64% during the first quarter of 2005. Net interest income increased $2,237,000
or 13.8% to $18,498,000 during the first quarter of 2006, compared to
$16,261,000 in the comparable quarter in 2005. Interest income increased
$7,597,000 to $33,160,000 during the first quarter of 2006, compared to
$25,563,000 during the comparable period in 2005, due primarily to loan growth
combined with higher yields on investment securities and outstanding loans.
Interest expense increased $5,360,000 or 57.6% to $14,662,000 during the first
quarter of 2006, compared to $9,302,000 during the comparable period in 2005,
due primarily to increased deposit and borrowing costs combined with growth in
deposits and long-term debt. The increase in long-term debt is associated
primarily with the July, 2005, acquisition of Tarpon Coast.

     Provision for loan losses was $400,000 during the first quarter of 2006
compared to $690,000 during the comparable period in 2005. As a percentage of
total outstanding loans, the allowance for loan losses was 1.33% as of March 31,
2006 and 1.31% as of March 31, 2005. The Corporation recognized $96,000 in net
credit losses during the first quarter of 2006 compared to $126,000 during the
comparable period in 2005.

     Non-interest income increased $618,000 or 11.1% to $6,173,000 during the
first quarter of 2006 from $5,555,000 during the first quarter of 2005. Growth
in non-interest income is due primarily to growth in service charge income,
brokerage commissions, gains on the sale of real estate loans, and trust fees.
During the first quarter of 2006 the Corporation recognized net gains of
$224,000 from the sale of securities compared to $162,000 during the first
quarter in 2005.

     Non-interest expense increased $2,894,000 or 25.7% to $14,143,000 during
the first quarter of 2006 compared to $11,249,000 during the first quarter of
2005, due primarily to increased operating costs and amortization expense
associated with growth in the Florida market. The Corporation adopted Statement
of Financial Accounting Standard 123R, Share Based Payment, on January 1, 2006.
Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Corporation's
first quarter operating results.

                                FINANCIAL SUMMARY

                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                      March 31,
                                             ----------------------------
                                                 2006            2005
                                             ------------    ------------
                                                (in thousands, except
                                                   per share data)
Earnings & Per Share Data
Net income                                   $      6,867    $      6,536
Basic earnings per share                             0.32            0.32
Fully diluted earnings per share                     0.32            0.32
Dividends per share                                  0.16            0.14

Average Balances
Assets                                       $  2,255,128    $  1,982,410
Investment securities                             331,980         328,204
Loans                                           1,748,415       1,491,894
Earning assets                                  2,086,000       1,847,684
Deposits                                        1,795,128       1,577,835
Stockholders' equity                              170,350         138,305

Performance Ratios
Return on average assets                             1.23%           1.34%
Return on average equity                            16.35%          19.17%
Net interest margin                                  3.70%           3.64%
Efficiency ratio                                    55.25%          50.26%

Loan Performance
Net credit losses                            $         96    $        126
Accruing loans 90+ days past due                      865           1,830
Non-accrual loans                                   4,769           1,974
Foreclosed assets                                     258           4,191

March 31, 2006
NASDAQ symbol                 BUSE
Closing price                 $21.10
Price/earnings ratio          14.86X
Price/book ratio              264%
52-week price range           $18.07 - $21.25
Book value per share          $7.99
YTD dividend per share        $0.16
Common shares outstanding     21.5 million

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) March 31, ---------------------------- 2006 2005 ------------ ------------ (in thousands except per share data) Asset Cash and due from banks $ 48,983 $ 48,403 Federal funds sold 14,500 21,300 Investment securities 330,216 317,867 Loans 1,760,498 1,507,949 Less allowance for loan losses (23,494) (19,781) Net loans $ 1,737,004 $ 1,488,168 Premises and equipment, net 39,863 27,245 Goodwill and other intangibles 58,969 35,442 Other assets 43,531 42,705 Total assets $ 2,273,066 $ 1,981,130 Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity Non-interest bearing deposit $ 245,160 $ 197,371 Interest-bearing deposits 1,580,567 1,391,931 Total deposits $ 1,825,727 $ 1,589,302 Federal funds purchased & securities sold under agreements to repurchase 49,724 43,075 Short-term borrowings - 10,000 Long-term debt 159,883 147,851 Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts 50,000 40,000 Other liabilities 16,179 12,054 Total liabilities $ 2,101,513 $ 1,842,282 Common stock $ 22 $ 6,291 Common stock to be issued 326 - Surplus 44,973 21,767 Retained earnings 133,175 118,030 Other comprehensive income 6,159 6,965 Treasury stock (11,041) (11,737) Unearned ESOP shares (2,058) (2,456) Deferred compensation for stock grants (3) (12) Total stockholders' equity $ 171,553 $ 138,848 Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $ 2,273,066 $ 1,981,130 Per Share Data Book value per share $ 7.99 $ 6.76 Tangible book value per share $ 5.24 $ 5.03 Ending number of shares outstanding 21,477,532 20,537,651

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, ---------------------------- 2006 2005 ------------ ------------ (in thousands, except common share data) Interest and fees on loans $ 29,982 $ 22,862 Interest on investment securities 3,125 2,541 Other interest income 53 160 Total interest income $ 33,160 $ 25,563 Interest on deposits $ 11,331 $ 6,775 Interest on short-term borrowings 488 229 Interest on long-term debt 1,850 1,541 Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts 993 757 Total interest expense $ 14,662 $ 9,302 Net interest income $ 18,498 $ 16,261 Provision for loans losses 400 690 Net interest income after provision $ 18,098 $ 15,571 Trust fees $ 1,516 $ 1,440 Commissions and brokers' fees 669 526 Fees for customer services 2,536 2,333 Gain on sale of loans 534 423 Net security gains 224 162 Other 694 671 Total non-interest income $ 6,173 $ 5,555 Salaries and wages $ 6,497 $ 5,197 Employee benefits 1,503 1,204 Net occupancy expense 1,247 947 Furniture and equipment expense 800 683 Data processing expense 404 489 Amortization expense 352 195 Other operating expenses 3,340 2,534 Total non-interest expense $ 14,143 $ 11,249 Income before income taxes $ 10,128 $ 9,877 Income taxes 3,261 3,341 Net Income $ 6,867 $ 6,536 Common Share Data Basic earnings per share $ 0.32 $ 0.32 Fully-diluted earnings per share $ 0.32 $ 0.32 Average shares outstanding 21,460,308 20,584,835

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-one 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 March 31, 2006, Busey Bank had total assets of $1.8 billion. On July 29, 2005, First Busey Corporation acquired Tarpon Coast Bancorp, Inc. and its primary subsidiary, Tarpon Coast National Bank, Port Charlotte, Florida. 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 a federally-chartered bank headquartered in Port Charlotte, Florida, with seven banking centers serving Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties in Southwest Florida. Busey Bank N.A. had total assets of $422 million as of March 31, 2006. 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 $2.3 billion in assets under care. First Busey Corporation's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange 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. SOURCE First Busey Corporation -0- 04/18/2006 /CONTACT: Barbara J. Kuhl, President & COO of First Busey Corporation, +1-217-365-4513/ /Web site: http://www.busey.com/ (BUSE)