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# HBT Financial Names Veteran Banker Morton to Board
- URL: https://www.theglobalbanker.com/hbt-financial-names-veteran-banker-morton-to-board/
- Published: 2026-03-25T18:32:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T15:12:30.000Z
- Description: HBT Financial, Inc. and Heartland Bank and Trust Company have appointed Michael J. Morton, a banking executive with nearly 40 years of experience, to their boards effective April 1, 2026.
- Author: TGB Editorial Team
- Tags: Executive Moves, Americas

HBT Financial, Inc., the Bloomington, Illinois-based holding company for Heartland Bank and Trust Company, has appointed Michael J. Morton, a seasoned banking executive with nearly four decades of experience, to its boards of directors. The boards of HBT Financial and Heartland Bank increased their size and appointed Morton on March 24, 2026, on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, effective April 1, 2026\. Morton's initial term will expire at the company's 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, at which he will be eligible for re-election.

The appointment expands the boards of both HBT Financial and its primary subsidiary, Heartland Bank. Morton, 63, most recently served as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at the Bank of Montreal (BMO) from 2020 to 2023\. There, he was responsible for staff development and risk oversight across multiple states and offices.

#### MORTON'S PROVEN TRACK RECORD

Prior to BMO, Morton served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at MB Financial, Inc., from 2014 to 2019\. MB Financial was acquired by Fifth Third Bancorp in 2019\. Before BMO and MB Financial, he held various roles at several Chicagoland financial institutions, and he has nearly 40 years of banking experience.

Morton holds a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University. "Mr. Morton most recently served as Vice Chair of U.S. Commercial Banking at the Bank of Montreal ('BMO') from 2020 to 2023, where he was responsible for staff development and risk oversight across multiple states and offices," the company stated in its March 25, 2026, press release. 

Morton's compensation will follow HBT Financial's standard non-employee director program, as detailed in the proxy statement for its 2025 annual meeting. The filing confirms no special arrangements, family relationships, or material interests in related-party transactions.

#### ABOUT HBT FINANCIAL

HBT Financial operates 83 full-service branches across Illinois, eastern Iowa, and suburban St. Louis, serving consumers, businesses and municipal entities. As of December 31, 2025, the company reported total assets of $5.1 billion, total loans of $3.5 billion, and total deposits of $4.4 billion.

Fred L. Drake, Executive Chairman, said: "Mike's extensive banking background and proven leadership will be a tremendous asset, and we look forward to his guidance and contributions as we continue to grow the Heartland Bank franchise."

The 8-K also states that Morton was not appointed to serve on any board committees at this time.