Midland States Bancorp, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)​

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

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MIDLAND STATES BANCORP, INC.

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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)​

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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

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No fee required

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

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NOTICE OF

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD MAY 4, 2026

To the shareholders of Midland States Bancorp, Inc.:

The annual meeting of the shareholders of Midland States Bancorp, Inc., an Illinois corporation, will be held at the Holiday Inn located at 1301 Avenue of Mid-America, Effingham, Illinois 62401, on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., local time, for the following purposes:

To elect the four nominees named in the accompanying proxy statement to serve as Class I directors, each for a term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting of shareholders.

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To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of certain executive officers, which we refer to as the “say-on-pay proposal.”

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To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, which we refer to as the “auditor ratification proposal.”

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The board of directors has fixed the close of business on March 5, 2026, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. A complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting is kept on file at the Company’s principal executive offices, located at 1201 Network Centre Drive, Effingham, Illinois 62401. If there is an insufficient number of votes for a quorum or to approve or ratify any of the foregoing proposals at the time of the meeting, the meeting may be adjourned or postponed to permit our further solicitation of proxies.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Jeffrey C. Smith

Chairman

Effingham, Illinois

March 23, 2026

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR SHAREHOLDER RIGHT TO VOTE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.