Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DRAKE FRED L 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HBT Financial, Inc. [HBT] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive Chairman (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O HBT FINANCIAL, INC., 401 N. HERSHEY ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/28/2026 (Street) BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) ___ Form filed by One Reporting Person _X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, $0.01 par value(1) 02/28/2026 A 2,596 A $ 0 10,301 D Common Stock, $0.01 par value 02/28/2026 F 1,466(2) D $26.96 8,835 D Common Stock, $0.01 par value(3) 02/28/2026 A 7,830 A $ 0 16,665 D Common Stock, $0.01 par value 02/28/2026 F 2,322(4) D $26.96 14,343 D Common Stock, $0.01 par value 61,557 I By the Fred L. Drake Revocable Trust Common Stock, $0.01 par value 17,210,400 I See footnote(5)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DRAKE FRED L C/O HBT FINANCIAL, INC. 401 N. HERSHEY ROAD BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704	X	X	Executive Chairman
HEARTLAND BANCORP, INC. VOTING TRUST U/A/D 5/4/2016 C/O HBT FINANCIAL, INC. 401 N. HERSHEY ROAD BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704		X

Signatures

/s/ Renee K. Fehr, Attorney-in-Fact for Fred L. Drake		03/03/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
/s/ Renee K. Fehr, Attorney-in-Fact for Heartland Bancorp, Inc. Voting Trust U/A/D 5/4/2016		03/03/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The reporting person received 2,596 restricted stock units ("RSUs") under the HBT Financial, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan. The RSUs vest in three annual installments, with 33% vesting on February 28, 2027, 33% vesting on February 29, 2028, and 34% vesting on February 28, 2029.
(2)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy the tax obligation on vested restricted stock units.
(3)	Shares of common stock acquired upon settlement of performance restricted stock unit award granted to the reporting person on February 28, 2023.
(4)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy the tax obligation on vested performance restricted stock units.
(5)	Consists of shares of common stock held by the Heartland Bancorp, Inc. Voting Trust U/A/D May 4, 2016 (the "Voting Trust"). Mr. Drake is the trustee of the Voting Trust and exercises sole voting and investment control over the common stock held thereby. Mr. Drake may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities held by the Voting Trust to the extent that he or his immediate family members are beneficiaries of such trust. Mr. Drake disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Voting Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

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