First Busey : January 2022 Investor Presentation

4Q21 QUARTERLY EARNINGS SUPPLEMENT

January 25, 2022

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this document, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered 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 Company's ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the Company's forward- looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (i) the strength of the local, state, national and international economy; (ii) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic), or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets; (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company's general business; (iv) changes in accounting policies and practice; (v) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company's assets (including the impact of The London Inter-bank Offered Rate phase-out); (vi) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vii) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (viii) the loss of key executives or associates; (ix) changes in consumer spending;

1. unexpected results of current and/or future acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated; (xi) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xii) the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and blizzards. 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 its financial results, is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This document contains financial information determined other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Management uses these "non-GAAP" measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures allow for better comparability of period to period operating performance. Additionally, the Company believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company's financial condition, and therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures used in this document to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided beginning on page 39 of this document. For more details on the Company's non-GAAP measures, refer to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

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Table of Contents

Overview of First Busey Corporation (BUSE)	5
Diversified Business Model	6
Attractive Geographic Footprint	7
Experienced Management Team	8
Investment Highlights	10
Fortress Balance Sheet	11
Robust Capital Foundation	12
High Quality Loan Portfolio	13
Participating in the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program	16
Pristine Credit Quality	17
Reserve Supports Credit & Growth Profile	18
Ample Sources of Liquidity	19
Quarterly Earnings Review	20
Earnings Performance	21
Net Interest Margin	22
Diversified and Significant Sources of Fee Income	23
Resilient and Growing Wealth Management Platform	24
FirsTech Growth and Expansion of Services	25
Continued Investment in Technology Enterprise-Wide	29
Focused Control on Expenses	30
Appendix: Additional Loan Portfolio Detail & Update on COVID	32
Appendix: Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures	39

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