Form 4: ASB Exec Carson Sells Shares for Tax Withholding

Associated Banc-Corp Executive Vice President Bryan Carson disposed of 978 common shares to cover tax obligations related to restricted stock vesting.

Summary

• Bryan Carson, Executive Vice President of Associated Banc-Corp, reported a transaction on February 8, 2026.
• Carson disposed of 978 shares of Common Stock with a par value of $0.01.
• The shares were valued at $29.37 per share for the purpose of the transaction.
• This disposition was made to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising from the tranche vesting of time-based restricted stock granted in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• Following this transaction, Carson beneficially owns 31,811.2431 shares directly.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral event, reflecting a standard administrative transaction related to executive compensation rather than a strategic move or a change in company fundamentals.

Positives

• The transaction indicates the vesting of previously granted restricted stock, suggesting continued long-term incentive alignment for the executive.

Negatives

• The disposition of shares, even for tax purposes, reduces the executive's direct ownership stake in the company.

Future Outlook

No specific future outlook or guidance is provided in this Form 4 filing, as it pertains to a past compensation event.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that routine insider transactions, such as sales for tax withholding upon restricted stock vesting, are common across the banking sector. These transactions typically do not signal a change in executive sentiment towards the company but rather reflect standard compensation practices and tax obligations.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The practice of executives surrendering shares to cover tax obligations upon restricted stock vesting is a standard industry practice for equity compensation across publicly traded companies. For example, executives at major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase (JPM) or Bank of America (BAC) frequently report similar Form 4 transactions when their restricted stock units (RSUs) vest.
• The specific number of shares (978) and the value ($29.37 per share) are particular to Bryan Carson's compensation structure at Associated Banc-Corp and are not directly comparable to other executives without knowing their specific grants and vesting schedules, but the mechanism of the transaction is consistent with global benchmarks for executive equity compensation.

Related Party Transactions

• Executive Vice President Bryan Carson disposed of 978 common shares to Associated Banc-Corp to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Minimal direct impact as it's a routine tax-related transaction, not a discretionary sale. It slightly reduces insider ownership but confirms prior compensation grants are vesting.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine, non-discretionary sale of shares by an executive to cover tax obligations upon restricted stock vesting. Such transactions are standard practice and do not typically indicate a change in the company's fundamental outlook or the executive's confidence. Therefore, it provides no new information that would warrant a change in investment recommendation.

Keywords

Associated Banc-Corp, ASB, Bryan Carson, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Sale, Tax Withholding, Restricted Stock, Executive Compensation, Beneficial Ownership