1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------- FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 First Busey Corporation First Busey Capital Trust I - ----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Nevada 37-1078406 Delaware Applied for - ------------------------------ ------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- (State of incorporation or (IRS Employer (State of incorporation or (IRS Employer organization) Identification No.) organization) Identification No.) 201 West Main Street 201 West Main Street Urbana, Illinois 61801 Urbana, Illinois 61801 (217) 365-4556 (217) 365-4556 - -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- (Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, (Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive including area code, of registrant's principal executive officer) officer) If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ] If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X] Securities Act registration statement file numbers to which this Form relates: 333-61174, 333-61174-01 Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: ___% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities of First Busey Capital Trust I (and the Guarantee of First Busey Corporation with respect thereto) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class)

2 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED. For a full description of First Busey Capital Trust I's ___% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") and First Busey Corporation's guarantee (the "Guarantee") being registered hereby, reference is made to the information contained under the captions "Description of the Preferred Securities," "Description of the Debentures," "Description of the Guarantee" and "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Debentures and the Guarantee" in the Prospectus that forms part of the Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-61174 and Registration No. 333-61174-01) filed by First Busey Corporation and First Busey Capital Trust I with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on May 17, 2001, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information contained in the foregoing Registration Statement (as amended, the "Registration Statement"), and the Prospectus, are incorporated herein by reference. Definitive copies of the Prospectus describing the Preferred Securities will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or pursuant to an amendment to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the above-referenced sections therein shall be incorporated by reference into this registration statement on Form 8-A. ITEM 2. EXHIBITS. 1. Certificate of Trust of First Busey Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement). 2. Trust Agreement of First Busey Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement). 3. Form of Amendment and Restated Trust Agreement of First Busey Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement). 4. Form of Preferred Securities Certificate of First Busey Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement which is included as Exhibit D to Exhibit 4.5 of the Registration Statement). 5. Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement for First Busey Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement). 6. Form of Indenture relating to the Subordinate Debentures (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement). 7. Form of Subordinated Debenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement which is included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement).

3 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Dated: May 22, 2001 FIRST BUSEY CORPORATION By: /s/ Barbara J. Kuhl ------------------------------------ Barbara J. Kuhl President and Chief Operating Officer FIRST BUSEY CAPITAL TRUST I By: /s/ Barbara J. Kuhl ------------------------------------ Barbara J. Kuhl, as Administrative Trustee By: /s/ Douglas C. Mills ------------------------------------ Douglas C. Mills, as Administrative Trustee By: /s/ Barbara J. Jones ------------------------------------ Barbara J. Jones, as Administrative Trustee