Associated Banc-Corp Delivers Record Annual Net Income Available to Common Equity of $463 Million in 2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- January 22, 2026 -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) ("Associated" or "Company") today reported net income available to common equity ("earnings") of $463 million, or $2.77 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2025. These amounts compare to earnings of $112 million, or $0.72 per common share, for the year ended December 31, 2024. For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Company reported earnings of $134 million, or $0.80 per common share. These amounts compare to a loss of $164 million, or $1.03 per common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 and earnings of $122 million, or $0.73 per common share for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

"2025 was a pivotal year for Associated Bank," said President and CEO Andy Harmening. "We achieved several key milestones of our strategic plan, proved we can win in key growth markets, drove high-quality, relationship loan and deposit growth, and posted the strongest bottom line in company history."

"We enter 2026 with a stronger growth profile, enhanced profitability, stronger capital generation and consistently solid credit results. We have the talent, the product set and the value proposition to build on our momentum organically going forward. We're also excited to welcome American National Bank colleagues, customers and communities to the Associated family later this year. We look forward to providing additional updates on Associated's growth journey throughout the year."

2025 Highlights (all comparisons on a period end basis compared to 2024) •Diluted GAAP earnings per common share of $2.77 •Total period end loans of $31.2 billion (+5% vs. 2024) •Total period end deposits of $35.6 billion (+3% vs. 2024) •Total period end core customer deposits1 of $29.6 billion (+3% vs. 2024) •Record net interest income of $1.2 billion (+15% vs. 2024) •Net interest margin of 3.03% •Noninterest income of $286 million •Noninterest expense of $856 million •Provision for credit losses of $54 million •Allowance for credit losses on loans / total loans of 1.35% •Net charge offs / average loans of 0.12% •Book value / share of $28.81 •Tangible book value / share1 of $22.01 1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See financial tables for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures.

Loans

Fourth quarter 2025 period end total loans of $31.2 billion increased 1%, or $212 million, from the prior quarter. Compared to the same period last year, period end total loans increased 5%, or $1.4 billion. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 period end balances by loan category:

•Commercial and business lending increased $268 million from the prior quarter and increased $1.3 billion from the same period last year to $13.0 billion.

•Commercial real estate lending decreased $88 million from the prior quarter and increased $30 million from the same period last year to $7.2 billion.

•Consumer lending increased $31 million from the prior quarter and increased $96 million from the same period last year to $10.9 billion.

Fourth quarter 2025 average total loans of $31.0 billion increased 1%, or $245 million, from the prior quarter and increased 3%, or $793 million, from the same period last year. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 average balances by loan category:

•Commercial and business lending increased $272 million from the prior quarter and increased $1.3 billion from the same period last year to $12.7 billion.

•Commercial real estate lending decreased $26 million from the prior quarter and increased $59 million from the same period last year to $7.3 billion.

•Consumer lending decreased $1 million from the prior quarter and decreased $537 million from the same period last year to $11.0 billion.

Full year 2025 average loans of $30.6 billion were up 3%, or $893 million, from 2024. With respect to full year 2025 average balances by loan category:

•Commercial and business lending increased $1.2 billion to $12.3 billion.

•Commercial real estate lending increased $61 million to $7.3 billion.

•Consumer lending decreased $362 million to $11.0 billion.

In 2026, we expect total period end loan growth of 5% to 6% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2025, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Deposits

Fourth quarter 2025 period end deposits of $35.6 billion were up 2%, or $671 million, from the prior quarter and were up 3%, or $904 million from the same period last year. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 period end balances by deposit category:

•Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $220 million from the prior quarter and increased $351 million from the same period last year to $6.1 billion.

•Savings increased $91 million from the prior quarter and increased $339 million from the same period last year to $5.5 billion.

•Interest-bearing demand deposits increased $32 million from the prior quarter and decreased $171 million from the same period last year to $7.8 billion.

•Money market deposits increased $354 million from the prior quarter and increased $130 million from the same period last year to $6.1 billion.

•Brokered CDs decreased $161 million from the prior quarter and decreased $481 million from the same period last year to $3.8 billion.

•Other time deposits decreased $6 million from the prior quarter and increased $341 million from the same period last year to $4.0 billion.

•Network transaction deposits increased $141 million from the prior quarter and increased $397 million from the same period last year to $2.2 billion.

•Core customer deposits1 increased $691 million from the prior quarter and increased $989 million from the same period last year to $29.6 billion.

Fourth quarter 2025 average deposits of $35.6 billion increased 3%, or $923 million, from the prior quarter and increased 4%, or $1.3 billion, from the same period last year. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 average balances by deposit category:

•Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $268 million from the prior quarter and increased $326 million from the same period last year to $6.1 billion.

•Savings increased $99 million from the prior quarter and increased $305 million from the same period last year to $5.4 billion.

•Interest-bearing demand deposits increased $155 million from the prior quarter and increased $431 million from the same period last year to $8.1 billion.

•Money market deposits increased $30 million from the prior quarter and decreased $33 million from the same period last year to $5.9 billion.

•Brokered CDs increased $82 million from the prior quarter and decreased $517 million from the same period last year to $4.0 billion.

•Other time deposits increased $132 million from the prior quarter and increased $380 million from the same period last year to $4.1 billion.

•Network transaction deposits increased $157 million from the prior quarter and increased $400 million from the same period last year to $2.1 billion.

Full year 2025 average deposits of $34.8 billion increased 4%, or $1.5 billion from 2024. With respect to full year 2025 average balances by deposit category:

•Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $43 million to $5.8 billion.

•Savings increased $211 million to $5.3 billion.

•Interest-bearing demand deposits increased $473 million to $7.9 billion.

1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See financial tables for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures.

•Money market deposits decreased $40 million to $6.0 billion.

•Brokered CDs decreased $162 million to $4.1 billion.

•Other time deposits increased $645 million to $3.9 billion.

•Network transaction deposits increased $284 million to $1.9 billion.

In 2026, we expect period end total deposit growth of 5% to 6% and period end core customer deposit growth of 5% to 6% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2025, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Full year 2025 net interest income of $1.2 billion was up 15%, or $154 million, from 2024. Net interest margin of 3.03% increased 25 basis points from the prior year.

•The average yield on total earning assets decreased 16 basis points from the prior year to 5.45%.

•The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 53 basis points from the prior year to 2.98%.

•The net free funds benefit decreased 12 basis points from the prior year to 0.56%.

Fourth quarter 2025 net interest income of $310 million increased 2%, or $5 million, from the prior quarter. Net interest margin of 3.06% increased 2 basis points from the prior quarter. Compared to the same period last year, net interest income increased 15%, or $40 million, and the net interest margin increased 25 basis points.

•The average yield on total earning assets for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased 16 basis points from the prior quarter and decreased 12 basis points from the same period last year to 5.34%.

•The average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased 21 basis points from the prior quarter and decreased 47 basis points from the same period last year to 2.82%.

•The net free funds benefit for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased 2 basis points from the prior quarter and decreased 9 basis points from the same period last year to 0.55%.

We expect total net interest income growth of 5.5% to 6.5% in 2026, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Noninterest Income

Full year 2025 noninterest income of $286 million increased $296 million from the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by nonrecurring items associated with a balance sheet repositioning announced during the fourth quarter of 2024, including a $130 million loss on a mortgage portfolio sale and a $148 million net loss on a sale of investments. With respect to 2025 noninterest income line items:

•Capital markets, net increased $10 million from the prior year.

•Wealth management fees increased $4 million from the prior year.

•Mortgage banking, net increased $4 million from the prior year.

•Bank and corporate owned life insurance increased $4 million from the prior year.

Fourth quarter 2025 total noninterest income of $79 million decreased $2 million from the prior quarter and increased $286 million from the same period last year. The comparable quarter decrease was primarily driven by nonrecurring items associated with the balance sheet repositioning announced during the fourth quarter of 2024, including a $130 million loss on a mortgage portfolio sale and a $148 million net loss on a sale of investments. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 noninterest income line items:

•Wealth management fees were up slightly from the prior quarter and increased $2 million from the same period last year.

•Capital markets, net increased slightly from the prior quarter and increased $2 million from the same period last year.

•Asset gains (losses), net decreased $3 million from the prior quarter and were up slightly from the same period last year.

•Mortgage banking, net decreased $1 million from the prior quarter and decreased slightly from the same period last year.

We expect total noninterest income growth of between 4% and 5% in 2026, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Noninterest Expense

Full year 2025 noninterest expense of $856 million increased 5%, or $37 million, from 2024. With respect to full year 2025 noninterest expense line items:

•Personnel expense increased $34 million from the prior year.

•Technology expense increased $3 million from the prior year.

•Business development and advertising expense increased $3 million from the prior year.

•Loss on prepayments of FHLB advances decreased $14 million from the prior year, driven by the nonrecurring expense recognized in 2024 for a loss on prepayments of FHLB advances associated with the balance sheet repositioning announced during the fourth quarter of 2024.

•Other noninterest expense increased $8 million from the prior year.

Fourth quarter 2025 noninterest expense of $219 million increased $3 million from the prior quarter and decreased $5 million from the same period last year. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 noninterest expense line items:

•Personnel expense decreased $1 million from the prior quarter and increased $9 million from the same period last year.

•FDIC assessment expense decreased $3 million from the prior quarter and decreased $3 million from the same period last year.

•Loss on prepayments of FHLB advances decreased $14 million from the prior year, driven by the nonrecurring expense recognized in 2024 for a loss on prepayments of FHLB advances associated with the balance sheet repositioning announced during the fourth quarter of 2024.

We expect total noninterest expense to grow by 3% in 2026, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Taxes

The fourth quarter of 2025 had a tax expense of $26 million compared to $30 million of tax expense in the prior quarter and $16 million of tax benefit in the same period last year. The tax benefit in the comparable quarter was driven primarily by a loss on income before income taxes as a result of nonrecurring items associated with the balance sheet repositioning announced during the fourth quarter of 2024.

In 2026, we expect the annual effective tax rate to be between 19% and 21%, assuming no change in the corporate tax rate and excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Credit

Full year 2025 provision for credit losses was $54 million, compared to a provision of $85 million in the prior year.

The fourth quarter 2025 provision for credit losses was $7 million, compared to a provision of $16 million in the prior quarter and a provision of $17 million in the same period last year. With respect to fourth quarter 2025 credit quality:

•Nonaccrual loans of $100 million decreased $6 million, or 5%, from the prior quarter and decreased $23 million, or 19%, from the same period last year. The nonaccrual loans to total loans ratio was 0.32% in the fourth quarter, down from 0.34% in the prior quarter and down from 0.41% in the same period last year.

•Net charge offs of $2 million decreased $11 million, or 83%, from the prior quarter and decreased $10 million, or 81%, from the same period last year.

•The allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) of $419 million increased $5 million from the prior quarter and increased $17 million from the same period last year. The ACLL to total loans ratio was 1.35% in the fourth quarter, up from 1.34% in the prior quarter and flat from the same period last year.

In 2026, we expect to adjust provision to reflect changes to risk grades, economic conditions, loan volumes, and other indications of credit quality, excluding any impact from the acquisition of American National Corporation.

Capital

The Company’s capital position remains strong, with a CET1 capital ratio of 10.49% at December 31, 2025. The Company’s capital ratios continue to be in excess of the Basel III “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmarks on a fully phased in basis.

FOURTH QUARTER 2025 EARNINGS RELEASE CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) today, January 22, 2026. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp fourth quarter 2025 earnings call. The fourth quarter 2025 financial tables with an accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $45 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from nearly 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. The Company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management’s plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “should," “intend,” "target," “outlook,” "project," "guidance," "forecast," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include the ability or anticipated timing to complete the proposed transaction involving Associated Banc-Corp ("Associated") and American National Bank ("American National"); the ability to integrate the two businesses successfully and in a timely manner, if at all; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction are not realized when expected or at all; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated; and such other risk factors as identified in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs and other SEC filings, and such factors are incorporated herein by reference.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release and related materials may contain references to measures which are not defined in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These financial measures have been included as they provide meaningful supplemental information to assess trends in the Corporation’s results of operations. Information concerning these non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the financial tables. Management believes these measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators, and analysts to evaluate the adequacy of earnings per common share, provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods.

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(a) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation below for a reconciliation to GAAP financial measures.

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(a) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation below for a reconciliation to GAAP financial measures.

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(a)Prior period has been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

(b)The yield on tax-exempt loans and securities is computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21%.

(c)Loans held for sale have been included in the average balances.

Numbers may not recalculate due to rounding conventions.

(a)Prior period has been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

(b)The yield on tax-exempt loans and securities is computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21%.

(c)Loans held for sale have been included in the average balances.

N/M = Not meaningful

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(a) Loans held for sale have been included in the average balances.

(b) Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

(c) Includes repurchase agreements.

(d) Total deposits excluding brokered CDs and network transaction deposits. This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation below for a reconciliation to GAAP financial measures.

N/M = Not meaningful

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(a) Excluding guaranteed student loans.

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(a)Based on period end common shares outstanding.

(b)This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation below for a reconciliation to GAAP financial measures.

(c)This ratio is annualized.

(d)Ratio is based upon basic earnings per common share.

(e)In millions. Excludes assets held in brokerage accounts.

(f)Does not include repurchases related to tax withholding on equity compensation.

(g)The Federal Reserve establishes regulatory capital requirements, including well-capitalized standards for the Corporation. The regulatory capital requirements effective for the Corporation follow Basel III, subject to certain transition provisions.

(h)December 31, 2025 data is estimated.

(i)The Corporation is not classified as an advanced approaches holding company as defined by the Federal Reserve. As such, the Corporation has elected to be subject to the AOCI-related adjustments when calculating common equity tier 1 capital which allows the Corporation to opt-out of the requirement to include most components of AOCI in common equity tier 1 capital.

Numbers may not recalculate due to rounding conventions.

(a)Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

(b)Announced initiatives include the loss on mortgage portfolio sale and loss on prepayment of FHLB advances as a result of balance sheet repositionings that the Corporation announced in the fourth quarter of 2024. The net loss on the sale of investments is already excluded from noninterest income within the efficiency ratio.

(c)During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to acquire American National. These costs, incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition, represent nonrecurring costs.

Numbers may not recalculate due to rounding conventions.

(a)These items classified as nonrecurring items are the result of balance sheet repositionings that the Corporation announced in the fourth quarter of 2024.

(b)Prior periods have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

(c)2020 announced initiatives impacting noninterest expense consisted of cost saving efforts that were executed during the third quarter of 2020. These initiatives included a $44.7 million loss on prepayment of FHLB advances, $9.6 million in severance, and $5.6 million in write-downs related to branch sales and lease breakage related to announced branch consolidations.

(d)During the first quarter of 2020, the Corporation finalized the acquisition of First Staunton. These costs, incurred in connection with the acquisition, represent nonrecurring costs.

(e)2020 announced initiatives impacting noninterest income consisted of a $163.3 million asset gain related to the sale of ABRC (Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting, the Corporation's insurance division) which was sold in June 2020, as well as a gain on sale of branches totalling $7.4 million, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2020.