HBT Financial (HBT) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

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401 North Hershey Road

Bloomington, Illinois 61704

April 12, 2023

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of HBT Financial, Inc. to be held on May 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., Central time.

The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, with no physical in-person meeting. If you plan to attend the virtual meeting, please see “When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?” on page 1. Stockholders will be able to attend, vote and submit questions before, and for a portion of, the virtual meeting.

Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are provided in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

Your vote is important. Please take the time to carefully read each of the proposals described in the Proxy Statement and cast your vote by following the instructions in the Proxy Statement. Your vote will mean that you are represented at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether or not you attend.

Thank you for your support of HBT Financial, Inc.

Sincerely,

Fred L. Drake

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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401 North Hershey Road

Bloomington, Illinois 61704

(888) 897-2276

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 23, 2023

To the Stockholders of HBT Financial, Inc.:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of HBT Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on May 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., Central time, for the following purposes:

The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, with no physical in-person meeting. If you plan to attend the virtual meeting, please see “When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?” on page 1. Stockholders will be able to attend, vote and submit questions before, and for a portion of, the virtual meeting.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 24, 2023, the record date fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote at your earliest convenience by signing and returning the proxy card or voting instruction card you receive, or by voting over the Internet or by telephone.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Renee K. Fehr

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

April 12, 2023

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 23, 2023. The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 2023 Proxy Statement and 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.envisionreports.com/HBT.

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IMPORTANT MEETING AND VOTING INFORMATION

The information provided in this proxy statement relates to HBT Financial, Inc. (“HBT Financial” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heartland Bank and Trust Company (“Heartland Bank” or the “Bank”). Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references in this proxy statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “HBT Financial” refer collectively to HBT Financial, Inc. and Heartland Bank. On or about April 12, 2023, we began to mail to our stockholders either a notice containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and our annual report online, or a printed copy of these proxy materials.

Who is soliciting my proxy?

Our board of directors (the “Board”) is soliciting proxies for use at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders of HBT Financial (the “Annual Meeting”). If the meeting is adjourned, we may also use the proxies at any later meetings for the purposes stated in the notice of annual meeting.

What if I received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

We are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, on or about April 12, 2023, we are mailing to our record and beneficial stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials over the Internet and vote online. If you received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, you will not receive a printed copy of our proxy materials by mail unless you request one. If you wish to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, you should follow the instructions for requesting those materials included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

What am I being asked to vote on?

You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:

As of the date of this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting.

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

The Board recommends that you vote:

When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?

The Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, with no physical in-person meeting.

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Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. Central time

Meeting Access: https://meetnow.global/MLURKR2

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Stockholder of Record

If you were a stockholder of record as of March 24, 2023 (i.e., you held your shares in your own name as reflected in the records of our transfer agent, Computershare), you may attend the meeting by accessing the meeting center site at https://meetnow.global/MLURKR2 and entering the 15-digit control number found on your proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

Beneficial Owner

If you were a beneficial owner of record as of the March 24, 2023 (i.e. you held your shares in a brokerage account or by a broker, bank or other nominee), you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee. Once you have received a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee, please provide a scan or image of the legal proxy via email to our transfer agent, Computershare, at legalproxy@computershare.com, with “Legal Proxy” noted in the subject line. Requests for registration must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 18, 2023. You will then receive confirmation of your registration, with a 15-digit control number, by email from Computershare. You may then attend the meeting by accessing the meeting center site at https://meetnow.global/MLURKR2 and entering the control number.

What if I have trouble accessing the Annual Meeting virtually?

The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Internet Explorer is not a supported browser. Participants should ensure that they have a strong WiFi connection wherever they intend to participate in the meeting. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. For further assistance, should you need it, you may call (888) 724-2416.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

The record date for the Annual Meeting is March 24, 2023. Only holders of record of outstanding shares of HBT Financial common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.

What vote is required to approve the proposals at the Annual Meeting?

The election of nominees for director requires a plurality of the votes properly cast. Plurality means that the nine nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR” will be elected as directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes (as described below) will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the election of directors.

The ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote cast against the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the proposal.

On March 24, 2023, the record date for the meeting, HBT Financial had 32,127,415 shares of common stock outstanding, all of one class and each share having one vote with respect to all matters to be voted on at the meeting. Information as to common stock ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth in the table in the “Stock Ownership Matters” section.

Stockholders who deliver valid proxies or vote in person at the Annual Meeting will be considered part of the quorum. Abstentions will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker “non-votes” (as described below) are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum.

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What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

Stockholder of Record

If your shares are registered directly in your name with HBT Financial’s transfer agent, Computershare, you are considered the “stockholder of record” with respect to those shares. As a stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the persons named as proxy holders, Fred L. Drake, J. Lance Carter and Renee K. Fehr, or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you requested printed proxy materials, we have enclosed an accompanying proxy card for you to use. You may also submit your vote via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the accompanying proxy card, as described below under “How can I vote my shares?”

Beneficial Owner

If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a broker, bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name.” As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote the shares in your account. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting, unless you request and provide at the Annual Meeting a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee. Your broker, bank or other nominee has included a voting instruction form for you to use to direct them how to vote your shares. Please instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote your shares using the voting instruction form you received from them.

How can I vote my shares?

Stockholder of Record

If you hold your shares in your own name as the stockholder of record, you have three options for voting and submitting your proxy before the Annual Meeting:

Your proxy cards must be received by HBT Financial no later than the beginning of the Annual Meeting. Votes submitted by Internet or telephone must be received by 10:00 a.m. Central time on May 23, 2023.

Beneficial Holder

If you hold your shares through an account with a bank, broker or other nominee, your ability to vote over the Internet or by telephone depends on your broker’s, bank’s or nominee’s voting process. Please follow the directions on your voting instruction form carefully.

May I vote at the Annual Meeting?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote your shares at the meeting if you attend. If you are a beneficial holder holding your shares through an account with a bank, broker or other nominee, you must request a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote the shares and bring that proxy to the meeting.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy so your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

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What if I return my proxy card without indicating how to vote?

Proxy cards that are signed and returned but do not contain instructions will be voted as follows:

What is a broker non-vote?

If a broker does not have discretion to vote shares held in street name on a particular proposal and does not receive instructions from the beneficial owner on how to vote the shares, the broker may return a proxy card without voting on that proposal. This is known as a “broker non-vote.” Proposal 1 (election of directors) is not a routine matter, and therefore your bank, broker or nominee may not vote your uninstructed shares on Proposal 1. If you hold your shares in “street name” (through a bank, broker or other nominee) it is critical that you cast your vote if you want it counted on Proposal 1. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of any director nominee but will be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum.

If you are a beneficial owner, your bank, broker or other nominee is permitted to vote your shares on Proposal 2 (ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm) even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from you.

Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy after I have returned a proxy or voting instruction card?

Yes.

Stockholder of Record

If you are a holder of record of HBT Financial common stock, you can change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before your proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting. You can do this in one of four ways:

If you deliver a notice of revocation or a new proxy by mail, your notice of revocation or your new proxy must be received by HBT Financial no later than the beginning of the Annual Meeting. Votes submitted by Internet or telephone must be received by 10:00 a.m. Central time on May 23, 2023.

Beneficial Owner

If your shares are held in “street name,” you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote or revoke your proxy.

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How will we solicit proxies, and who will pay for the cost of solicitation?

We will pay for the cost of this proxy solicitation. We do not intend to solicit proxies other than by use of the mail or website posting, but certain of our directors, officers and other employees, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile or email on our behalf.

Who can help answer any questions I may have?

HBT Financial stockholders who have questions about the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting or how to submit a proxy or who desire additional copies of this proxy statement, our Annual Report on Form 10-K or additional proxy cards should contact our Investor Relations department at HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704 or by phone at (888) 897-2276.

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PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our bylaws provide that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board. The Board currently consists of nine directors: Roger A. Baker, C. Alvin Bowman, Eric E. Burwell, Patrick F. Busch, J. Lance Carter, Allen C. Drake, Fred L. Drake, Linda J. Koch, and Gerald E. Pfeiffer.

The Board consists of one class of directors serving one-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. We are soliciting proxies in favor of the election of each of the nominees identified below. The shares represented by proxies will be voted in favor of the election of each of the nominees whose names are set forth below unless such proxy is specifically marked to “withhold” authority to vote for a particular nominee.

As we previously announced, effective May 24, 2023, Fred L. Drake will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Company and Heartland Bank. Our Board appointed J. Lance Carter to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank effective May 24, 2023, and from this date he will no longer serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank. The Chief Operating Officer positions will remain unfilled.

All nominees have consented to serve as directors, if elected. If any nominee is unwilling to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the persons who are designated as proxies intend to vote, in their discretion, for such other persons, if any, as may be designated by the Board. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has no reason to believe that any of the persons named below will be unable or unwilling to stand as a nominee or serve as a director, if elected. The Board believes that each nominee has valuable individual skills and experiences that, taken together, provide us with the knowledge, judgment and strategic vision necessary to provide effective oversight of HBT Financial. The biographies below reflect the particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Board to conclude that each nominee should serve on the Board. Fred L. Drake, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Director Allen C. Drake are brothers, and there are no other related persons on the Board.

Director Nominees

The names of the nominees are as follows:

Roger A. Baker

Age: 71

Roger A. Baker has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since March 1, 2022. Mr. Baker previously served as the Chairman and President of NXT Bancorporation, Inc. and Chairman of NXT Bank, which were acquired by HBT Financial on October 1, 2021. In addition to NXT Bank, Mr. Baker previously served on the Board of Directors of two other Iowa-based banks, Lincoln Savings Bank and Liberty Bank. Mr. Baker is the owner of a number of businesses, including Sinclair Elevator, Inc., a farm products and services company. Mr. Baker graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Agricultural Economics. Mr. Baker was selected to serve as a director for his experience in the banking and agricultural industries and his familiarity with the Iowa markets we serve following HBT Financial’s acquisition of NXT Bancorporation, Inc. in 2021.

C. Alvin Bowman

Age: 70

C. Alvin Bowman has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since 2019. Dr. Bowman served as the 17^th president of Illinois State University for ten years before retiring in 2013. Prior to his term as President, he served in various capacities, including Department Chair of its Speech Pathology and Audiology Department and as Interim Provost. Additionally, he was the Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education from November 2017 to December 2018. Dr. Bowman received a BA in Speech Pathology from Augustana College, a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Illinois University and a PhD in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois. He has 36 years of experience in higher education. Mr. Bowman was selected to serve as a director for his leadership, communication and organizational skills gained over the course of his career.

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Eric E. Burwell

Age: 55

Eric E. Burwell has been a director of the Company since 2009 and a director of Heartland Bank since 2005. Mr. Burwell is a Principal of Burwell Management Company, a family-owned property management company, investing in a variety of real estate, private equity, venture capital and liquid investments. Mr. Burwell received a BS in Business Administration and a BS in Finance, both from Illinois State University and holds an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. Mr. Burwell is also an Illinois licensed real estate managing broker. Mr. Burwell was selected to serve as a director for his knowledge of the real estate industry and his investment and business experience.

Patrick F. Busch

Age: 66

Patrick F. Busch has been a director of the Company since 1998 and a director of Heartland Bank since 1995. Mr. Busch is Vice Chairman of Heartland Bank. He joined us in 1995 and was President and Chief Lending Officer of Heartland Bank from March 2010 until December 2022 and Executive Vice President of the Company from December 2009 to December 2022. As Chief Lending Officer, Mr. Busch was critical in establishing the loan culture and integrating acquisitions over the years. He played a leading role in Heartland Bank’s organic growth in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign and Peoria. As Vice Chairman, he is responsible for oversight of the Cook County and Chicago Suburban senior lenders and mortgage lending. Mr. Busch received a BS in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and completed the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Mr. Busch was selected to serve as a director for his deep understanding of the banking industry and his experience establishing our loan culture and integrating acquisitions during his tenure with us.

J. Lance Carter

Age: 52

J. Lance Carter has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since 2011. Mr. Carter is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank. Mr. Carter joined us in 2001 and served as Heartland Bank’s Chief Credit Officer from March 2010 to December 2018. He was named Executive Vice President of the Company in December 2011 and Chief Operating Officer in June 2015. Mr. Carter was named President of the Company in August 2019, and President of Heartland Bank in January 2023. Mr. Carter’s responsibilities include oversight of day-to-day operations of all areas of Heartland Bank. Mr. Carter holds a BS in Finance and an MBA from the University of Illinois. He has also completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mr. Carter was selected to serve as a director for his experience in the banking industry and knowledge of the Company gained during his tenure with us. Effective May 24, 2023, Mr. Carter will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank, and from this date he will no longer serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank.

Allen C. Drake

Age: 71

Allen C. Drake has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since 1981. He became an officer of Heartland Bank in 1981 and served for 27 years, until retiring as Chairman and Chief Financial Officer in 2007. During his tenure as an executive officer with us, he was President of one of our predecessor banks and served on the board of several of our predecessor banks. He was involved in merger and acquisition activities, technology innovation, trust, finance and systems integrations. Mr. Drake received a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Mr. Drake was selected to serve as a director for his knowledge of Heartland Bank gained during his tenure with the Bank, including his experience with lending, administration, technology, personnel, finance, trust and strategic planning.

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Fred L. Drake

Age: 66

Fred L. Drake serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Heartland Bank. He has been a director of the Company since 1984 and a director of Heartland Bank since 1982. He became an officer of Heartland Bank in 1983. Mr. Drake has served as our Chairman since 2006 and Chief Executive Officer since 1998. He also served as our President from 1998 to August 2019. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Drake leads our executive team. In 1992, as President of Heartland Bank, he led our entry into the Bloomington-Normal market, one of the Bank’s most successful initiatives, setting the tone for the Company’s organic growth in the 1990s and early 2000s. He provides leadership in all facets, including overall strategy, growth, and acquisitions. Mr. Drake received a BS in Finance and an MBA, both from the University of Illinois. Mr. Drake was selected to serve as a director for his leadership in all facets of our company, including overall strategy, organic growth and acquisitions, overall experience in the banking industry and his knowledge of the Company gained during his tenure with us. Effective May 24, 2023, Mr. Drake will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Company and Heartland Bank.

Linda J. Koch

Age: 61

Linda J. Koch has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since 2020. Ms. Koch served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Bankers Association from 2001 to 2020. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Koch was responsible for the leadership, strategy, and operational management of the Illinois Bankers Association. During that same time, Ms. Koch served on the Board of Trustees of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Koch received a BA in Legal Studies from the University of Illinois Springfield and is a certified association executive (CAE). Ms. Koch was selected to serve as a director for her experience in the banking industry and her leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills gained over the course of her career.

Gerald E. Pfeiffer

Age: 72

Gerald E. Pfeiffer has been a director of the Company and Heartland Bank since 2019. Mr. Pfeiffer served as Partner/Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP from 1994 until December 2016, where he was responsible for audit engagement services to financial institutions and oversight of income tax, regulatory compliance and information technology services. Mr. Pfeiffer also served as the Chief Financial Officer for Bridgeview Bancorp, Inc. from January 2017 to May 2019, where he was responsible for oversight of all financial reporting functions. Mr. Pfeiffer received a BS in Accounting from Bradley University and has 46 years of experience in providing professional services to financial institutions. Mr. Pfeiffer was selected to serve as a director for his experience overseeing financial reporting functions and providing professional services to financial institutions.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR. IF NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, PROXIES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ALL THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

Board Composition

Our Board currently consists of nine directors and will remain at nine members for the Annual Meeting.

Board Leadership Structure

Our Board and our Bank’s board of directors meet at least quarterly. We do not have a policy regarding the separation of the Chairman of our Board and our Chief Executive Officer, as our Board believes that it is in the best interests of our organization to make that determination from time to time based on the position and direction of our organization and the membership of our Board. Historically, the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman have been combined and held by Fred L. Drake. Effective May 24, 2023, Fred L. Drake will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Company and Heartland Bank. Our Board appointed J. Lance Carter to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank effective May 24, 2023.

Controlled Company Status

We are a “controlled company,” as that term is set forth in Rule 5615(c) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, because more than 50% of our voting power is held in a voting trust (the “Voting Trust”) pursuant to which Fred L. Drake, our Chief Executive Officer, exercises voting control. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a “controlled company” may elect not to comply with certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, including the requirements: (1) that a majority of our board of directors consists of “independent directors,” as defined under Nasdaq Listing Rules; (2) that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that consists entirely of independent directors; (3) that we have a compensation committee that consists entirely of independent directors; (4) that our independent directors meet in executive session at least twice annually; and (5) that we conduct annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance committee and compensation committee.

The “controlled company” exemption does not modify the independence requirements for our Audit Committee, and our Audit Committee is in compliance with the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Nasdaq Listing Rules.

We have elected to be treated as a “controlled company” and, while in 2022 we met many of the governance standards applicable to a Nasdaq company that is not a “controlled company,” we are not required to do so and we may not meet those standards in the future.

Director Independence

The Board has reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with us, either directly or indirectly. Based on this review, the Board has determined that each of Roger A. Baker, C. Alvin Bowman, Eric E. Burwell, Linda J. Koch, and Gerald E. Pfeiffer is independent under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and Nasdaq Listing Rules, and, therefore, we do have a majority of independent directors serving on the board. In making the independence determination, the Board considered:

The Board concluded that these relationships did not impair Ms. Koch’s independence.

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Board Diversity Matrix

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Board’s Role in Risk Management and Oversight

Our Board is ultimately responsible for the oversight of our overall risk management processes while the Bank’s board of directors is responsible for risk management oversight at the Bank. Our Board approves policies that set operational standards and risk limits at the Bank, and any changes to the Bank’s risk management program require approval by the Bank’s board of directors. Management is responsible for the implementation, integrity and maintenance of our risk management systems ensuring the directives are implemented and administered in compliance with the approved policy. Our Chief Risk Officer supervises the overall management of our risk management program, reports to management and yet also retains independent access to both our Board and the Bank’s board of directors.

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Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees

The Board held nine meetings during 2022. During 2022, no director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate total number of meetings of the Board held during the period in which he or she was a director and of the total number of meetings held by all of the committees of the Board on which he served. We expect, but do not require, our directors to attend our Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

The following table shows the membership of the Board and each standing committee:

*Represents the Chair of such committee.

Committees of the Board

Our Board has established standing committees in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. These committees are currently the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees is currently comprised of independent directors and each operates under a written charter. Our Board also may establish such other committees as it deems appropriate, in accordance with applicable law and regulations and our corporate governance documents.

Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things, (1) appointing, compensating, retaining, overseeing and terminating our independent registered public accounting firm; (2) confirming our independent registered public accounting firm is independent from management; (3) reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the scope of their audit; (4) approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm; (5) overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual consolidated financial statements that we file with the SEC; (6) reviewing and monitoring our accounting principles, accounting policies, financial reporting processes and controls and compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; (7) establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters; (8) reviewing and approving related party transactions; and (9) reviewing and discussing policies and guidelines with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Audit Committee’s charter is available under the Governance page of our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/.

The Audit Committee consists of Mr. Baker, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Koch, and Mr. Pfeiffer (Chair). The Board has determined that Mr. Pfeiffer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in the rules of the SEC, and that each member of the Audit Committee is independent under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq Listing Rules and has the ability to read and understand financial statements.

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Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things, (1) reviewing and approving executive officer compensation goals, objectives and plans; (2) reviewing and recommending the compensation of our directors; (3) reviewing and approving employment agreements, severance arrangements and change in control agreements/provisions between us and our executive officers; and (4) administering our stock plans and other incentive compensation plans. The Compensation Committee’s charter is available under the Governance page of our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/.

In 2022 and 2023, an independent compensation consultant, McLagan Partners Inc. (“McLagan”), was retained to provide, on an as-needed basis, assistance and advice to the Compensation Committee on a variety of Compensation Committee responsibilities, such as the review of our short-term and long-term incentive plans and ongoing Compensation Committee education on compensation topics. The Compensation Committee first retained McLagan for these and related services in 2020. Prior to retaining McLagan, the Compensation Committee reviewed McLagan’s independence in accordance with factors relevant to SEC and Nasdaq rules regarding independence and conflicts of interest. After considering such information, the Compensation Committee concluded that the services of McLagan did not raise any conflict of interest that would impair its independence.

The Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Burwell (Chair), Ms. Koch, and Mr. Pfeiffer. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq Listing Rules.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, (1) identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors; (2) overseeing the organization of our board of directors to discharge the board’s duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently; (3) identifying best practices and recommending corporate governance principles; and (4) developing and recommending to our Board a set of corporate governance guidelines and principles applicable to us. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s charter is available under the Governance page of our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Mr. Bowman (Chair), Mr. Burwell and Mr. Pfeiffer. The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq Listing Rules.

Director Nomination Process

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee works with the Board to determine the appropriate mix of characteristics, skills and experience for the Board as a whole and for individual directors. In evaluating the suitability of individuals for Board membership, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account many factors, including: whether the individual meets various independence requirements; the individual’s general understanding of the varied disciplines relevant to the success of a publicly traded company in today’s business environment; understanding of HBT Financial’s business and markets; professional expertise and educational background; and other factors that promote diversity of views and experience. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recruiting and recommending a slate of directors that can best perpetuate HBT Financial’s success and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment, using its diversity of experience. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-nomination, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers the director’s attendance at, participation in, and contributions to Board and committee activities.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines new nominees for the position of independent director who satisfy the requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, taking into account the following considerations: personal qualities and characteristics, accomplishments and reputation in the business community; current knowledge and contacts in the communities in which HBT Financial does business and in HBT Financial’s industry or other industries relevant to the Company’s business; ability and willingness to commit adequate time to Board and committee matters; the fit of the individual’s skills and personality with those of other directors and potential directors in building a Board that is effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of HBT Financial; and diversity of viewpoints, background, experience and other demographics.

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The Board will consider as potential nominees individuals properly recommended by stockholders. Recommendations for individuals proposed for consideration should be addressed to the Board, c/o Corporate Secretary, HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704. Each recommendation should include a personal biography of the suggested nominee, an indication of the background or experience that qualifies the person for consideration and a statement that the person has agreed to serve if nominated and elected. The Board evaluates candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner in which it evaluates other nominees. Stockholders who themselves wish to effectively nominate a person for election to the Board, as contrasted with recommending a potential nominee to the Board for its consideration, are required to comply with the advance notice and other requirements set forth in our bylaws, as described below under “Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Advance Notice Procedures.”

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that is designed to ensure that our directors, executive officers and employees meet the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics requires that our directors, executive officers and employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest.

The Code of Ethics is available under the Governance page of our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/. We will disclose any amendments to or waivers of the Code of Ethics on our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Burwell, Ms. Koch, and Mr. Pfeiffer are the members of our Compensation Committee, and none of them is or has been our officer or employee. No member of the Compensation Committee has any relationship that would be required to be reported under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. No member of the Compensation Committee serves or served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or Compensation Committee.

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Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters

We are committed to having sound corporate governance principles, which are essential to running our business efficiently and maintaining our integrity in the marketplace. Our Board has adopted corporate governance guidelines which set forth the framework within which our Board, assisted by its committees, direct the affairs of HBT Financial.

In particular, our corporate governance guidelines govern certain activities, including:

Our corporate governance guidelines are available on the Governance page of our website at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/.

Communications with the Board

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate directly with our Board by sending a written communication in an envelope addressed to: Board of Directors, HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Loans to Officers, Directors and Affiliates

We offer loans in the ordinary course of business to our insiders, including our executive officers and directors, their related interests and immediate family members and other employees. Applicable law and our written credit policies require that loans to insiders be on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated parties, and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. Loans to non-insider employees and other non-insiders are subject to the same requirements and underwriting standards and meet our normal lending guidelines, except that non-insider employees and other non-insiders may receive preferential interest rates and fees as an employee benefit. Loans to individual employees, directors and executive officers must also comply with our statutory lending limits and regulatory requirements regarding lending limits and collateral. All extensions of credit to related parties must be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, and directors with a personal interest in any loan application are excluded from the consideration of such loan application.

Stockholder Agreement

In connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”), we entered into an Amended Restated Stockholder Agreement (the “Stockholder Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2019, by and among the Company and the stockholders party thereto, which amended and superseded the Restated Stockholder Agreement dated December 28, 2006. The Stockholder Agreement addresses the rights and responsibilities of HBT Financial and its pre-IPO stockholders in connection with the conversion to C corporation status, which occurred in October 2019.

Pursuant to the Stockholder Agreement, upon our filing any tax return (amended or otherwise), in the event of any restatement of our taxable income or pursuant to a determination by, or a settlement with, a taxing authority, for any period on or prior to October 10, 2019 (the “Termination Date”), depending on the nature of the adjustment we may be required to make a payment to each of its pre-IPO stockholders in an amount equal to such stockholder’s incremental tax liability, which amount may be material. In addition, we agreed to indemnify each pre-IPO stockholder with respect to unpaid income tax liabilities to the extent that such unpaid income tax liabilities are attributable to an adjustment to our taxable income for any period after the Termination Date. In both cases, the amount of the payment will be based on the assumption that each pre-IPO stockholder is taxed at the highest rate applicable to individuals for the relevant periods. We also agreed to indemnify each pre-IPO stockholder for any interest, penalties, losses, costs or expenses arising out of any claim under the Stockholder Agreement. Each pre-IPO stockholder agreed to indemnify us with respect to our unpaid tax liabilities (including interest and penalties) to the extent that such unpaid tax liabilities are attributable to a decrease in such stockholder’s taxable income for any tax period and a corresponding increase in our taxable income for any period.

Voting Trust Agreement

The Voting Trust was established pursuant to the voting trust agreement (the “Voting Trust Agreement”), dated as of May 4, 2016, by and among the Company, Fred L. Drake, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and certain of our stockholders who are members of Mr. Drake’s family and are party thereto (the “Depositors”) representing 53.5% of our outstanding stock. In accordance with the Voting Trust Agreement, all shares of common stock owned by the Depositors prior to the initial public offering are held in the Voting Trust and the Trustee exercises sole voting discretion over the common stock. Depositors are entitled to receive any dividends or other cash distributions made in respect of the shares underlying their respective interests in the Voting Trust.

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Interests in the Voting Trust are represented by certificates. The Voting Trust Agreement provides that the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in the Stockholder Agreement shall apply to the Depositors in the same manner and with the same effect as if the Depositors continued to hold the underlying shares. The Voting Trust was established with an initial duration of 15 years, which may be extended for up to an additional five years upon the written approval of holders of voting trust certificates corresponding to at least 66% of the shares of common stock subject to the Voting Trust. In addition, the Voting Trust will terminate sooner if the Trustee ceases to act and a successor trustee is not appointed within one year in accordance with the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement. Upon termination of the Voting Trust, holders of voting trust certificates are entitled to receive shares of common stock in accordance with their respective interests in the Voting Trust. The Voting Trust Agreement may only be amended with the written consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of voting common stock represented by voting trust certificates.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with our initial public offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the Voting Trust. The agreement provides the Voting Trust with certain demand and piggyback registration rights in respect of any registrable shares of our common stock held by it, subject to various conditions and limitations as set forth in the agreement. Any shares distributed by the Voting Trust to its Depositors will continue to be registrable shares if the Depositor would be the owner of at least 4% of our outstanding common stock on the date of distribution, but only for as long as the Depositor continues to own at least 4% of our outstanding common stock.

Other Transactions

Kevin Gramm is the brother-in-law of Mark Scheirer, Heartland Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, and is a commercial lender for Heartland Bank. Kevin Gramm received $144,266 for his services in 2022. Mr. Gramm is not an executive officer of the Company.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

Transactions by us with related parties are subject to a formal written policy, as well as regulatory requirements and restrictions. These requirements and restrictions include Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Reserve’s Regulation W, which governs certain transactions by us with our affiliates, and the Federal Reserve’s Regulation O, which governs certain loans by us to executive officers, directors and principal stockholders. We have adopted policies to comply with these regulatory requirements and restrictions.

We have a written policy governing the review and approval of transactions with related parties that will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year. The policy provides that the related party transactions are reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved or ratified by our Audit Committee. In determining whether or not to approve a related party transaction, our Audit Committee takes into account, among other relevant factors, whether the related party transaction is in our best interests, whether its terms are no less favorable than terms generally available to unaffiliated third parties, the results of an appraisal, if any, whether there was a bidding process, the valuation methodology and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. In the event that we become aware of a related party transaction that was not approved under the policy before it was entered into, our Audit Committee reviews such transaction as promptly as reasonably practical and will take such course of action as may be deemed appropriate under the circumstances. In the event a member of our Audit Committee is not disinterested with respect to the related party transaction under review, that member may not participate in the review, approval or ratification of that related party transaction.

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STOCK OWNERSHIP MATTERS

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common shares to file initial reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes of ownership on Forms 4 and 5 with the SEC. These officers, directors and 10% beneficial owners are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Specific due dates for these reports have been established by regulation, and we are required to report in this Proxy Statement any failure to file by these dates during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and 10% beneficial owners have been complied with for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, except that our director, Linda J. Koch, filed a late Form 4 on February 28, 2022 to report a transaction which occurred on February 22, 2022, and our director, Roger A. Baker, filed a Form 5 on January 23, 2023 to report a previously unreported transaction which occurred on November 14, 2022.

Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of March 24, 2023 for:

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Percentage of ownership is based on 32,127,415 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on March 24, 2023. Except as disclosed in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each beneficial owner identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all our common stock shown as beneficially owned by the beneficial owner. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each listed stockholder is: HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of our executive officers:

As we previously announced, effective May 24, 2023, Fred L. Drake will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Company and Heartland Bank. Our Board appointed J. Lance Carter to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank effective May 24, 2023, and from this date he will no longer serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Heartland Bank.

Biographical information for Fred L. Drake and J. Lance Carter is set forth above under “Proposal 1—Election of Directors.” The following is certain biographical information for our other executive officers as of April 12, 2023.

Peter R. Chapman has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank since January 2023. Prior to joining the Company in 2022, Mr. Chapman served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc (“Great Western”). Prior to joining Great Western, Mr. Chapman held a number of senior operational and financial positions at National Australia Bank and was a Senior Manager within the financial services practice of Ernst & Young in Australia and New York. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Chapman is responsible for oversight of accounting, financial and tax reporting, bond investments, ALCO, municipal deposits and loans, investor relations, and information technology. Mr. Chapman is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Lawrence J. Horvath is Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank. He joined us in 2010 and currently oversees commercial lending for all Heartland Bank markets outside Cook County and the Chicago Suburban area. He served as Executive Vice President, Senior Lender of Heartland Bank from April 2013 to March 2019 and was named Regional Senior Lending Manager in 2019. In January 2023, Mr. Horvath was named Chief Lending Officer. Mr. Horvath has been active in the Bloomington community serving on boards of various community organizations. In addition, he currently serves on the loan committee for the largest community development corporation in the state and is also Heartland Bank’s representative serving on the board for Illinois Real Estate Title Center. Mr. Horvath holds a BS in Finance from Western Illinois University.

Diane H. Lanier is Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank. She joined us in 1997 as our Marketing Director and assumed her current role as Chief Retail Officer of Heartland Bank in March 2010. She was named Executive Vice President of the Company in 2011 and Chief Retail Officer of the Company in December 2018. Ms. Lanier also served as Corporate Secretary of the Company from 2009 until 2021. As Chief Retail Officer, Ms. Lanier has oversight of the retail branch and support operations, retail lending, payments, digital banking, and marketing. Ms. Lanier received a BS in Marketing from Louisiana State University and completed the ABA School of Bank Marketing and Management.

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Mark W. Scheirer is Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank. Mr. Scheirer joined us in 2011 and has served in multiple capacities, including as a Senior Credit Officer, and as Chief Credit Officer beginning in December 2018. As Chief Credit Officer, Mr. Scheirer is responsible for the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio and all credit administration activities for our subsidiary bank. He has a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois and has also completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Andrea E. Zurkamer is Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank. Ms. Zurkamer joined us as our Director of Risk Management in June 2013 and was named our Chief Risk Officer in 2017. Previously, Ms. Zurkamer worked as a bank auditor and consultant for CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for 13 years. As our Chief Risk Officer, Ms. Zurkamer is responsible for overall risk management, including internal audit, loan review, compliance, community reinvestment, BSA, operational risk management, and fraud prevention. Ms. Zurkamer is also responsible for human resources. She has a BS in Financial Accounting from Illinois State University and is also a certified public accountant (CPA) and a certified enterprise risk professional (CERP).

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These include, but are not limited to, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our proxy statements, including an exemption from the requirement to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis, as well as exemptions from the requirement to hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and the requirements to obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies. As an emerging growth company, we are permitted to limit reporting of compensation disclosure to our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers, which are referred to as our “Named Executive Officers.”

This Executive Compensation section discusses the material components of the compensation for our Named Executive Officers. As of the year ended December 31, 2022, our Named Executive Officers were as follows:

Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents summary information regarding the total compensation paid to, earned by and awarded to each of our Named Executive Officers for 2022 and 2021.

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Non-Equity Incentive Compensation

Pursuant to their employment agreements, each Named Executive Officer had a target bonus opportunity for 2022 equal to 40% of annual base salary, or $237,188 for Mr. Drake, $187,254 for Mr. Carter and $178,412 for Mr. Busch. Named Executive Officers can earn up to a maximum of 150% of their target bonus and their annual bonus may be as low as 0% if the Company’s performance targets are not met. The payout percentage of the target bonus is determined following the end of each year and is based on a corporate scorecard using financial performance metrics during the year. The financial performance metrics included: (1) pre-provision net revenue less net charge-offs, weighted 50%, (2) efficiency ratio (tax equivalent basis), weighted 10%, (3) nonperforming assets to total assets, weighted 10%, and (4) performance relative to a peer group, weighted 30%. In February 2023, the Compensation Committee approved bonus payouts for 2022 performance equal to 142.42% of their target bonus as follows: $337,804 for Mr. Drake, $266,687 for Mr. Carter and $254,094 for Mr. Busch.

Equity Compensation

On February 28, 2022, we awarded 6,135 RSUs and 6,135 PRSUs to Mr. Drake, 4,844 RSUs and 4,844 PRSUs to Mr. Carter, and 4,615 RSUs and 4,615 PRSUs to Mr. Busch under our Omnibus Incentive Plan. The RSUs include dividend equivalent rights and vest in three annual installments, with 33% vesting on February 28, 2023, 33% vesting on February 29, 2024, and 34% vesting on February 28, 2025. The PRSUs include dividend equivalent rights and vest on February 28, 2025 and the number of PRSUs which may be earned and become vested depends on the Company’s achievement of average annual return on tangible common equity (“ROATCE”), both in absolute and relative terms, over a three-year performance period (the “Performance Period”). If average annual ROATCE for the Performance Period is less than 5%, no PRSUs will be earned. If average annual ROATCE for the Performance Period is 5% or more but less than 17%, the PRSUs will be earned at between 25% and 150% of target depending upon percentile rank within a group of companies. If average annual ROATCE for the Performance Period is 17% or greater, the PRSUs will be earned at 150%. Dividend equivalents on the RSUs and PRSUs are accrued and are paid in cash at the time the RSUs and PRSUs vest. If a recipient’s employment is terminated for any reason other than death, disability, or retirement, then the unvested RSUs and PRSUs will be forfeited. In the event of death or disability, then 100% of unvested RSUs and PRSUs will become vested.

In the event of retirement, if the RSUs or PRSUs were awarded at least 12 months prior to retirement and if the recipient has met the retirement eligibility requirements, defined as (1) attained either age 55 and 15 years of continuous service or age 60 and 5 years of continuous service, and (2) the recipient has provided for an orderly transition of duties to a successor, then 100% of unvested RSUs and PRSUs will continue to vest in accordance with the originally established vesting schedule.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2022 Fiscal Year End

The following table summarizes, for each of our Named Executive Officers, the number of shares of our common stock underlying outstanding equity awards held as of December 31, 2022.

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Employment Agreements

Employment Agreements with Fred L. Drake, J. Lance Carter and Patrick F. Busch

On February 22, 2021, we entered into amended and restated employment agreements with each of Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter. These agreements replaced the existing employment agreements with each of Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter. The terms of the employment agreements are substantially similar for Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter except as provided below.

Under their respective agreements, Mr. Drake serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HBT Financial and Chairman of the board of Heartland Bank, and Mr. Carter serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of HBT Financial and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Heartland Bank. Each of the agreements with Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter provide for an initial term ending December 31, 2023, with automatic one-year renewals beginning at the end of the initial term, unless either party chooses to not renew. The annual base salaries under the agreements are reviewed annually for adjustment by our Board or Compensation Committee. In February 2023, the Compensation Committee approved base salaries of $592,971 for Mr. Drake and $495,755 for Mr. Carter effective March 1, 2023. Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter are eligible to earn a performance-based annual cash bonus and an annual long-term incentive award for each fiscal year ending during the employment period. The target incentive bonus opportunity will be as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to time. The initial cash bonus opportunity was set at 40 percent of annual base salary and the long-term incentive award opportunity was set at 40 percent of annual base salary for each of Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter. Mr. Drake and Mr. Carter are also eligible to participate in the benefit plans generally available to Company executives.

Under the employment agreements, upon a termination by HBT Financial without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (each as defined in the agreement), the executives are eligible to receive severance benefits. If the termination is within 12 months after a “change in control” (as defined in the agreement), the executive is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of such executive’s then-current base salary and target bonus, plus a lump sum payment equal to the cost of 18 months of continued COBRA coverage. If the termination is not within 12 months after a change in control, the executive is entitled to continued base salary for six months after termination. All severance benefits under the agreements are conditioned upon the executive’s execution of a release of claims against HBT Financial and its affiliates.

The employment agreements contain confidential information, non-competition, and employee and customer non-solicitation restrictive covenants. The confidential information covenant is perpetual. The non-competition and non-solicitation covenants run during employment and for six months after a termination by us without cause or by the executive for good reason not in connection with a change in control, six months after a termination due to disability, 12 months after a termination by us for cause or by the executive without good reason, and 24 months after a termination by us without cause or by executive for good reason within 12 months following a change in control.

On February 22, 2021, we also entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mr. Busch, which contained substantially similar terms to Mr. Drake’s and Mr. Carter’s amended and restated employment agreements. On November 18, 2022, we entered into an amendment to Mr. Busch’s amended and restated employment agreement, as Mr. Busch expressed his intention to retire from his positions as of December 31, 2022 and continue thereafter as an employee of Heartland Bank. Pursuant to the amendment, Mr. Busch’s employment agreement terminated as of December 31, 2022, except that Mr. Busch continued to be eligible to earn a performance-based annual cash bonus and an annual long-term incentive award with respect to the 2022 performance period and will continue to be subject to the restrictive covenants described in the employment agreement while employed with the Bank. On January 1, 2023, Mr. Busch transitioned to the role of Heartland Bank’s Vice Chairman, in which he continues to serve, and receives an annual base salary of $280,000. Mr. Busch is eligible to receive bonuses, long-term incentive awards and other incentive compensation as may be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee.

Health and Retirement Benefits

We provide medical, dental, vision, life insurance and disability benefits to all eligible employees. Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in these benefits on the same basis as all other employees.

We maintain a 401(k) savings plan that allows participants, including our Named Executive Officers, to defer cash compensation (subject to applicable IRS guidelines). Eligible participants are all employees of Heartland Bank. Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same basis as all other employees. We provide discretionary employer matching contributions of 50% of the first 10% of an employee’s eligible compensation deferred for the year under the 401(k) plan.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table presents the total compensation we paid to non-employee directors for service on our Board during 2022.

Each of our non-employee directors receives an annual retainer of $12,000. The Chair of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $5,000; the Chair of the Compensation Committee receives an additional annual fee of $3,000 and the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,000. Additionally, Ms. Koch receives an additional annual fee of $3,000 for legislative and regulatory updates in the banking industry. We also pay our non-employee directors a meeting fee of $300 for each meeting of the Company’s Board, a meeting fee of $350 for each committee meeting and a meeting fee of $500 for each meeting of Heartland Bank’s board of directors. In addition, we make annual equity awards to our non-employee directors.

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INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

RSM US LLP (“RSM”) has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since June 2017.

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of HBT Financial’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for the audit fee negotiations with RSM and preapproves any engagement of RSM.

Audit and Related Fees

For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, RSM billed us for the following services:

Pre-Approval Policy

Our Audit Committee has established a policy governing our use of the services of our independent registered public accounting firm. Under the policy, our Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm in order to ensure that the provision of such services does not impair the public accountants’ independence. All fees paid to RSM for our fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were pre-approved by our Audit Committee.

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PROPOSAL 2—RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors appointed RSM as HBT Financial’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 and seeks ratification of the appointment by HBT Financial’s stockholders. The Audit Committee, however, retains sole authority over the appointment and replacement of HBT Financial independent auditors. As a result, despite any ratification of this engagement of RSM by HBT Financial’s stockholders, the Audit Committee will continue to be authorized to terminate the engagement at any time during the year, to retain another independent registered public accounting firm to examine and audit the consolidated financial statements of HBT Financial’s for the year ending December 31, 2023, or to take any other related action if judged by the Audit Committee to be in the best interests of HBT Financial. If the appointment of RSM as HBT Financial’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 is not ratified by the stockholders, then the matter will be referred to the Audit Committee for further review and action.

Representatives of RSM will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE’S APPOINTMENT OF RSM AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee Report that follows shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing made by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, notwithstanding any general statement contained in any such filing incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference, except to the extent we incorporate this report by specific reference.

HBT Financial’s management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including internal control over financial reporting. As part of the Audit Committee’s oversight function, the Audit Committee has:

On the basis of these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that HBT Financial’s audited financial statements be included in HBT Financial’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board,

Gerald E. Pfeiffer (Chair)

Roger A. Baker

C. Alvin Bowman

Linda J. Koch

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SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES

Stockholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2024 may do so by following the procedures prescribed in SEC Rule 14a-8. To be eligible for inclusion, stockholder proposals must be received by the Corporate Secretary of HBT Financial no later than December 14, 2023, and must otherwise comply with the SEC’s rules. Proposals should be sent to: Corporate Secretary, HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704.

If you intend to present a proposal at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2024, or if you want to nominate one or more directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2024, you must comply with the advance notice provisions of HBT Financial’s bylaws. If you intend to present a proposal at the Annual Meeting, or if you want to nominate one or more directors, you must give timely notice thereof delivered by hand in writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above. Our Corporate Secretary must receive the notice not less than 90 days and not more than 120 days before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. This means that, for our 2024 Annual Meeting, our Corporate Secretary must receive the notice no earlier than January 24, 2024 and no later than February 23, 2024. You may contact our Corporate Secretary at the address set forth above for a copy of the relevant bylaw provisions regarding the requirements for making stockholder proposals and nominating director candidates.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website, https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/, our reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC’s internet website, www.sec.gov, also contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC.

WE WILL PROVIDE, WITHOUT CHARGE, ON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF ANY STOCKHOLDER, A COPY OF OUR 2022 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD DIRECT SUCH REQUESTS TO OUR CORPORATE SECRETARY, HBT FINANCIAL, INC., 401 NORTH HERSHEY ROAD, BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS 61704.

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OTHER MATTERS

Householding

In a further effort to reduce printing costs and postage fees, we may adopt a practice approved by the SEC called “householding.” Under this practice, stockholders who have the same address and last name and have elected to receive paper copies of proxy materials will receive only one copy of our proxy materials, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies us that he or she wishes to continue receiving individual copies. Upon request, HBT Financial will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Proxy Statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. Conversely, stockholders sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of Annual Reports or Proxy Statements may request delivery of a single copy.

Requests in this regard should be addressed to:

HBT Financial, Inc.

Attn: Investor Relations

401 North Hershey Road

Bloomington, Illinois 61704

Beneficial owners can request information about householding from their bank, broker or other nominee.

Stockholders who beneficially own shares of our common stock held in street name may contact their broker, bank or other similar organization to request information about householding.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

A copy of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K is available at https://ir.hbtfinancial.com/. To request an additional copy of the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K without charge, please write to Investor Relations, HBT Financial, Inc., 401 North Hershey Road, Bloomington, Illinois 61704.

Solicitation of Proxies

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by HBT Financial. Officers and other employees of HBT Financial may solicit proxies personally, by mail, by telephone and by facsimile. HBT Financial may request banks and brokers or other similar agents to transmit the proxy material to the beneficial owners for their voting instructions and will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.