HBT Financial Raises Quarterly Dividend 8.7% to $0.25

HBT Financial, Inc. increased its quarterly cash dividend to $0.25 per share from $0.23, an 8.7% raise. The shares went ex-dividend on Aug. 11, 2026. The increase brings the annualized dividend to $1 per share and extends the company’s consecutive dividend-growth record to four years. HBT’s dividend history confirms the latest distribution.

At a share price of $36.01, the new annual rate represents a forward yield of 2.78%. That yield will fluctuate as the stock price changes.

Earnings and acquisition support the increase

Management tied the higher payout to stronger earnings following HBT’s acquisition and integration of CNB Bank Shares. President and Chief Executive Officer J. Lance Carter said the resulting increase in earnings supported the dividend raise while allowing the company to maintain capital for its balance sheet and strategic priorities. HBT’s second-quarter earnings release provides the company’s explanation.

The second quarter was HBT’s first full reporting period after completing the CNB transaction on March 1. HBT reported net income of $27.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared with $11.2 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter. Net interest income benefited from higher average interest-earning assets following the merger and improved asset yields, partially offset by higher funding costs. The company also said all material cost savings from the transaction were being realized. The SEC-filed release details those results.

HBT is the Bloomington, Illinois-based holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company. Its banking roots date to 1920, and its network comprised 83 full-service branches across Illinois, eastern Iowa and suburban St. Louis as of June 30, 2026. At that date, the company reported $6.7 billion in total assets and said it exceeded all applicable regulatory capital requirements. HBT’s quarterly report provides additional operating and capital information.

What it means for income investors

The increase lifts annualized income to $1 per share while preserving a quarterly payment schedule. HBT carries a dividend safety score of 75 out of 100 and an A safety grade. Those measures and the four-year growth streak indicate recent payout consistency, but future dividends remain subject to board approval and the company’s earnings, capital needs and financial condition.