HILLS BANCORPORATION

Except as otherwise supplemented herein, there have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Global Economic and Geopolitical Instability, Trade Policy and Inflationary Risks

Geopolitical instability, terrorist attacks, military conflicts, natural disasters, severe weather, widespread health emergencies and other catastrophic events could materially adversely affect our business. Tensions between China and the United States, the conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, the conflict involving Iran, and actual or threatened disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could escalate or result in broader regional or global conflicts.

These conditions, together with fiscal and monetary policies, tariffs, retaliatory trade measures, economic sanctions and other restrictions on international trade, could disrupt energy, commodity and supply chains; increase the costs of fuel, transportation, raw materials and other goods; contribute to inflation and interest-rate volatility; and reduce consumer spending, business investment and demand for credit. These effects could be particularly significant for our borrowers operating in the agriculture sector. If these developments place financial strain on our borrowers, we could experience reduced loan demand, increased credit risk, higher loan delinquencies and additional provisions for credit losses. Although we monitor these developments, we may not be able to anticipate or fully mitigate their effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Adverse Conditions in the Agricultural Economy Could Adversely Affect Our Agricultural Borrowers and Our Credit Quality

A meaningful portion of our lending activities involves agricultural producers and businesses that depend upon the agricultural sector. The financial condition and repayment capacity of these borrowers are affected by agricultural commodity prices, weather conditions, foreign demand for United States agricultural products, competition from foreign producers, tariffs and trade restrictions, government agricultural programs, interest rates and the costs and availability of fertilizer, fuel, seed, feed, equipment and labor.

Reduced or volatile foreign demand, including demand from China for United States soybeans and other agricultural products, and increased competition from producers in other countries could place downward pressure on commodity prices and reduce the revenues and cash flows of borrowers in our markets. In addition, disruptions or threatened disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could increase the cost or reduce the availability of fuel, fertilizer and fertilizer-production inputs, including sulfur.

Lower commodity prices combined with elevated fertilizer, fuel and other input costs could compress agricultural borrowers’ operating margins, increase their need for operating credit and reduce their ability to repay existing indebtedness. These conditions could result in increased loan modifications or restructurings; higher levels of past-due, criticized, classified or nonaccrual loans; reduced agricultural collateral values; and increased provisions for credit losses and charge-offs. Crop insurance, government support programs and other risk-management measures may not fully protect our borrowers or us from these risks.