HBT Financial Inc

HBT Financial, Inc.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include statements relating to our plans, strategies and expectations, near-term loan growth, net interest margin, mortgage banking profits, wealth management fees, expenses, asset quality, capital levels, continued earnings, and liquidity. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "believe," "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "anticipate," "project," "plan" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are frequently based on assumptions that may or may not materialize and are subject to numerous uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or projected and which could materially and adversely affect our operating results, financial condition or prospects include, but are not limited to:

•the strength of the local, state, national, and international economies (including effects of inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints);

•the economic impact of any future terrorist threats and attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or other threats thereof (including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Russian invasion of Ukraine), or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets, and the response of the local, state and national governments to any such adverse external events;

•changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;

•changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business and any changes in response to the failures of other banks or as a result of the upcoming 2024 presidential election;

•changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets (including the effects of sustained, elevated interest rates);

•increased competition in the financial services sector, including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and “fintech” companies, and the inability to attract new customers;

•changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems;

•unexpected results of acquisitions, which may include failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and the possibility that transaction costs may be greater than anticipated;

•the loss of key executives or employees;

•changes in consumer spending;

•unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company;

•the economic impact of exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, floods and blizzards;

•fluctuations in the value of securities held in our securities portfolio;

•concentrations within our loan portfolio (including commercial real estate loans), large loans to certain borrowers, and large deposits from certain clients above current FDIC limits who may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure;

•the level of non-performing assets on our balance sheets;

•interruptions involving our information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers;

•breaches or failures of our information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents;

•our asset quality and any loan charge-offs;

•the effects of changes in interest rates on our net interest income, net interest margin, our investments, our loan originations, and our modeling estimates relating to interest rate changes;

•our access to sources of liquidity and capital to address our liquidity needs;

•our inability to receive dividends from the Bank, pay dividends to our common stockholders or satisfy obligations as they become due;

•the effects of problems encountered by other financial institutions;

•our ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth and the composition of such growth;

•our ability to successfully develop and commercialize new or enhanced products and services;

•current and future business, economic and market conditions in the United States ("U.S.") generally or in the States of Illinois and Iowa in particular;

•the geographic concentration of our operations in the States of Illinois and Iowa;

•our ability to attract and retain customer deposits;

•our ability to maintain the Bank’s reputation;

•possible impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets;

•the effectiveness of our risk management and internal disclosure controls and procedures;

•market perceptions associated with certain aspects of our business;

•our ability to meet our obligations as a public company, including our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

•our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items; and

•the factors discussed in "Risk Factors", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" or elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange (“SEC”) Commission on March 6, 2024.

These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the future, or to reflect circumstances and events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made.