HBT Financial Reports Annual Meeting Voting Results; Directors Re-elected

What Happened
HBT Financial, Inc. filed an 8-K on May 21, 2026 reporting the final voting results from its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held that day. The company's stockholders elected all nominees to the Board to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting, approved a non‑binding advisory vote on executive compensation, and ratified RSM US LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.

Key Details

• Directors elected (to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting):
  • James T. Ashworth — For: 27,059,117; Withheld: 2,376,732; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Roger A. Baker — For: 25,000,775; Withheld: 4,435,074; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • C. Alvin Bowman — For: 28,718,944; Withheld: 716,905; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Eric E. Burwell — For: 28,991,291; Withheld: 444,558; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Patrick F. Busch — For: 27,007,149; Withheld: 2,428,700; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • J. Lance Carter — For: 27,013,170; Withheld: 2,422,679; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Allen C. Drake — For: 25,580,054; Withheld: 3,855,795; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Fred L. Drake — For: 26,987,539; Withheld: 2,448,310; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Linda J. Koch — For: 29,175,783; Withheld: 260,066; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Michael J. Morton — For: 29,251,868; Withheld: 183,981; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Gerald E. Pfeiffer — For: 29,128,103; Withheld: 307,746; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
  • Nancy L. Ruyle — For: 29,315,448; Withheld: 120,401; Broker Non‑Votes: 2,625,219
• Advisory (non‑binding) vote to approve executive compensation: For 29,046,470; Against 200,525; Abstentions 188,854; Broker Non‑Votes 2,625,219.
• Ratification of RSM US LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2026: For 31,873,848; Against 37,991; Abstentions 149,229.

Why It Matters

• Board continuity: Election of all nominees maintains the current board composition through the 2027 Annual Meeting, which matters for strategic and oversight continuity.
• Governance signals: The strong, non‑binding shareholder approval of executive compensation (over 29 million votes For) indicates general investor support for the company's pay practices, though the vote is advisory and not legally binding.
• Auditor continuity: Ratification of RSM US LLP provides clarity on the company’s external audit provider for fiscal year 2026, removing uncertainty around audit oversight for investors.

For investors, these results primarily reflect governance and oversight outcomes rather than changes to operations or financial guidance.