Busey

What Busey does

First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ: BUSE) is a Champaign, Illinois-based regional bank holding company operating through Busey Bank, Busey Wealth Management, and Busey Mortgage. Pre-merger assets stand at $12 billion, expanding to approximately $20 billion upon closing of the CrossFirst Bankshares transaction. The company runs five integrated lines of business: personal banking, commercial banking (including a designated SBA lending program), residential mortgage, wealth management (over $13 billion in assets under care delivered through Raymond James Financial Advisors), and agricultural services (managing 90,000+ acres of farmland across the Midwest corn belt). Customers include individual consumers, small-to-mid-sized businesses, high-net-worth individuals, agricultural producers, and homebuyers served across Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Texas, and pending-merger markets in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

The technology stack is anchored by the next-generation Busey Digital Banking platform with native iOS/Android applications, a Business Access commercial online portal, and a treasury management suite covering ACH origination, Positive Pay, ZBA, Sweep accounts, Lockbox, A/R Xpress, and SmartPay. The bank relies on partner-provided infrastructure for non-core capabilities: TSYS powers merchant services and payment processing, Elan Financial Services issues credit cards, FIS provides Integrated Payables, and Raymond James delivers brokerage and investment advisory. Specialized consumer offerings include Bridge Checking (BankOn-certified second-chance account) and MyCommunity Home Loan (an ITIN-compatible mortgage for low-to-moderate income borrowers). Geographic distribution combines physical banking centers in 11+ cities with self-serve digital channels.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income from the loan portfolio (commercial, consumer, mortgage, agricultural), wealth management fees, mortgage origination and servicing, treasury management and merchant services fees, and standard banking service charges. The go-to-market is relationship-driven through community banking centers, commercial relationship managers with 10+ years of tenure, and dedicated wealth management advisors. Pricing follows a tiered subscription structure for business checking (Essential and Complete tiers) and per-transaction fees for treasury services. The company has paid dividends for 38 consecutive years and operates as a designated SBA Lender, allowing direct commercial credit decisions without SBA approval delays.

Name

Busey

Legal name

First Busey Corporation

Website

https://busey.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

First Busey Corporation (NASDAQ: BUSE) is a Champaign, Illinois-based regional bank holding company operating Busey Bank and Busey Wealth Management. It delivers integrated personal banking, commercial banking, mortgage, wealth management, and agricultural services to consumers, small/mid-sized businesses, and HNW clients across the Midwest and select Sun Belt markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), State Commercial Banks (6022), Investment Advice (6282), Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA), Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB), Branch & In-Person Banking (Teller/ATM Networks) (FSABAAAE)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Commercial lending solutions
• Wealth management services
• Mortgage lending programs
• Agricultural banking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Interest income from loan portfolio (commercial, consumer, mortgage, agricultural) minus interest paid on deposits. Core banking revenue stream for a regional bank holding company.
2. Wealth Management Fees: Fees from investment management, financial planning, trust services, estate advisory, and retirement plan services. Busey Wealth Management has over $13 billion in assets under care.
3. Mortgage Origination and Servicing: Revenue from mortgage origination, refinancing, and home equity loans through Busey Mortgage team. Includes various loan programs: conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, construction, physician loans.
4. Commercial Lending Fees: Fees from commercial real estate loans, working capital loans, fixed asset financing, SBA loans, and community development loans.
5. Treasury Management and Cash Management Fees: Fees from receivables management (lockbox, remote deposit, merchant services), payables solutions (ACH, wires), liquidity solutions (ZBA, sweep), and information reporting.
6. Service Charges and Fees: Fees from personal and business checking accounts, ATM usage, wire transfers, overdraft protection, and other banking services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Busey Bank is a regional financial institution providing personal and commercial banking (checking, savings, loans, treasury management), residential mortgage lending, wealth management (investment services via Raymond James, trust/estate advisory, retirement plan services), and agricultural banking services (farm management, brokerage, ag lending). Products are delivered through a network of physical banking centers across Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Florida, and Texas, complemented by the Busey Digital Banking web and mobile platform.

Product overview

Busey Bank is a regional banking institution offering a comprehensive financial services platform organized across five primary lines of business: Personal & Commercial Banking, Mortgage, Wealth Management, Ag Services, and Community Banking. The product architecture consists of core banking services (checking, savings, loans, cards) delivered through Busey Digital Banking (web and mobile), supplemented by specialized divisions including Busey Mortgage (residential lending with programs like MyCommunity Home Loan), Busey Wealth Management through Raymond James (investment services, retirement planning, trust/estate advisory managing $13 billion in assets), Treasury Management (business cash management, merchant services powered by TSYS), and Ag Services (farm management, brokerage, and lending with 90,000+ acres under management). The company operates Business Access for commercial online banking and provides SBA lending as a designated SBA Lender. Busey's digital-first strategy centers on the Busey Digital Banking platform with companion mobile applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Private Client at Busey: A concierge banking service that pairs high-net-worth individuals with a dedicated team of professionals for coordinated financial services.
• Busey Wealth Management
• Busey Drives Generosity
• MyCommunity Home Loan Program

Products and services

• Busey Digital Banking
• Busey Bank Personal Banking
• Busey Bank Business Banking
• Bridge Checking
• Bridge Savings
• Busey Mortgage
• MyCommunity Home Loan Program
• Ag Services
• Treasury Management
• Merchant Services
• Busey Wealth Management
• Investment Services
• Employee Retirement Plan Services
• Trust Services and Estate Advisory
• Fraud Protection Solutions
• Business Checking
• SBA Lending

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 consecutive years of dividend payments demonstrates sustained financial performance and shareholder returns
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TSYScoreTechnology or IntegrationBusey's Merchant Services Program is powered by TSYS, one of the top payment processors in the nation. TSYS enables Busey to offer comprehensive payment processing including EMV chip cards, ACH, contactless payments, next-day funding, and cloud-based reporting. Busey offers this as a core differentiator for business clients.
• Raymond James Financial ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusey Investment Services operates as Raymond James Financial Advisors, providing financial planning, investment counseling, and security brokerage services through Raymond James. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. This is the primary distribution channel for Busey's investment services.
• FINRAminorOthersBusey Investment Services and its advisors are subject to FINRA regulation and oversight as registered broker/dealer. Raymond James Financial Services is a member of FINRA and SIPC.
• MoneyPassminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusey debit card holders have surcharge-free access to the MoneyPass ATM network of approximately 40,000+ ATMs nationwide, including 3,380+ in Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.
• Fannie MaecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusey offers Fannie Mae's HomeReady mortgage program featuring 3% down payment and flexible underwriting standards for qualified borrowers.
• Freddie MaccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusey offers Freddie Mac's Home Possible mortgage program for very low-to-moderate-income borrowers with down payments as low as 3%.
• SBA (Small Business Administration)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusey is a designated SBA Lender, authorized to make commercial lending decisions without waiting for SBA approval. SBA loans available for real estate, machinery, equipment, construction, renovation, and business startups.
• IHDA (Illinois Housing Development Authority)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIHDA Access Mortgage Programs offering three down payment programs for Illinois residents with up to $10,000 in assistance. IHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) for federal tax credits. Available across Illinois communities.
• IHCDA (Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple IHCDA programs offered through Busey including Honor Our Vets ($5,000 incentive), Helping to Own (3.5% down payment assistance), Mortgage Credit Certificate, Next Home, and Affordable Home programs for Indiana residents.
• MHDC (Missouri Housing Development Commission)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMHDC First Place Program and Next Step Program for Missouri first-time homebuyers with cash assistance loans and lower interest rates. MHDC Mortgage Credit Certificate available for income-eligible first-time buyers.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Glacier Bancorp: Multi-state community bank holding company with similar decentralized community banking model, mortgage banking, and wealth management. Comparable asset size ($20B+) and roll-up acquisition strategy make it a strong operational peer.
• Lakeland Financial Corporation: Indiana-based community bank with comparable asset scale, community banking model, and SBA/commercial lending emphasis. Similar executive-led, relationship-driven culture with strong dividend history — directly comparable investor peer.
• Cullen/Frost Bankers: Texas-headquartered regional bank with strong commercial banking franchise, wealth management, and conservative credit culture. Highly relevant peer post-CrossFirst merger, since CrossFirst's Texas operations will compete directly with Frost in Dallas-Fort Worth.
• Old National Bancorp: Midwest-focused regional bank holding company with comparable $40B+ asset scale, commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage lines. Closest direct peer following Old National's acquisition of First Midwest Bancshares, mirroring Busey's Midwest consolidation strategy.
• Commerce Bancshares: Midwest regional bank with similar diversified model across commercial, consumer, and wealth management. Comparable customer-centric culture and track record of steady dividend growth and disciplined M&A — closely resembles Busey's investor profile.
• UMB Financial Corporation: Regional bank with strong commercial, treasury management, and asset management/custody franchises. Comparable fee-income diversification and institutional banking capabilities, particularly relevant for Busey's Treasury Management and Wealth Management expansion.
• Wintrust Financial Corporation: Chicago-based regional bank with similar community banking model, premium deposit franchise, wealth management, and specialty lending (SBA, mortgage). Comparable scale ($50B+ assets) and overlapping Illinois footprint make it Busey's most relevant direct peer.
• First Financial Bancorp: Ohio/Midwest regional bank with comparable commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and mortgage lines. Similar asset size, dividend track record, and selective M&A history make it a relevant peer for benchmarking.
• WesBanco: Midwest/Mid-Atlantic regional bank with similar product mix (commercial, consumer, mortgage, wealth) and community banking heritage. Comparable scale and dividend track record positions it as a close small-cap regional bank peer.
• Pinnacle Financial Partners: Tennessee-based regional bank with premium commercial banking model emphasizing experienced local bankers. Highly comparable culture, leadership profile, and SBA/commercial lending focus; representative peer for Busey's commercial banking thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/busey
• Facebookfacebook.com/BuseyBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/busey
• Instagraminstagram.com/buseybank

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Busey