# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000946673
**File Stem:** 0000946673-25-000097
**Filing Date:** 2025-11
**Character Count:** 93113
**Document Hash:** 87001470413ebe25eff5d11521e544d1
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000946673-25-000097.hdr.sgml**: 20251105

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000946673-25-000097

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: S-8

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 16

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251105

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251105

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20251105

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** BANNER CORP
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000946673
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 911691604
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** WA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** S-8
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 333-291295
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251455173

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 10 S FIRST AVENUE
- **CITY:** WALLA WALLA
- **STATE:** WA
- **ZIP:** 99362
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 509-527-3636

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 10 S FIRST AVENUE
- **CITY:** WALLA WALLA
- **STATE:** WA
- **ZIP:** 99362

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** FIRST WASHINGTON BANCORP INC /WA/
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19980727

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** FIRST SAVINGS BANK OF WASHINGTON BANCORP INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19950614

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

**FORM S-8**

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

**<u>Banner Corporation</u>**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

WASHINGTON 91-1691604 <br> (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

**10 South First Avenue**

**Walla Walla, Washington 99362**

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

**Banner Corporation 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan** 

(Full title of the plan)

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Mark Grescovich**<br>**President and Chief Executive Officer**<br>**Banner Corporation**<br>**10 South First Avenue**<br>**Walla Walla, Washington 99362**<br>**(509) 527-3636**<br>(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | **Mark Grescovich**<br>**President and Chief Executive Officer**<br>**Banner Corporation**<br>**10 South First Avenue**<br>**Walla Walla, Washington 99362**<br>**(509) 527-3636**<br>(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |
| <br>**Copies to:** | <br>**Copies to:** |
| Marc Fosse, Esq.<br>Michael Dunn, Esq.<br>Seyfarth Shaw LLP<br>560 Mission Street, Suite 3100<br>San Francisco, California 94105<br>(415) 732-1155 | Sherrey Luetjen, Esq.<br>Executive Vice President, General Counsel<br>Banner Corporation<br>10 South First Avenue<br>Walla Walla, Washington 99362<br>(509) 527-3636 |

---

Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Large accelerated filer **☒** | Accelerated filer ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer ☐ (do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
| | Emerging growth company ☐  |

---

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

------

**PART I**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS**

This registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") relates to securities of Banner Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Washington (the "Registrant" or the "Company"), to be offered pursuant to the Banner Corporation 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). The Registrant will provide to all participants in the Plan the document(s) containing the information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with Rule 428, the Registrant has not filed such document(s) either as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 or as a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. The Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Upon request, the Registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the documents included in such file.

**PART II**

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT**

**Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Incorporation of Documents By Reference.**

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on February 26, 2025;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025 filed with the Commission on May 6, 2025, August 5, 2025 and November 4, 2025;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2025 (excluding information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01), April 16, 2025 (excluding information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01), May 28, 2025, June 9, 2025, June 10, 2025, July 16, 2025 (excluding information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01), July 24, 2025, August 5, 2025, September 3, 2025, September 18, 2025, and October 15, 2025 (excluding information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Commission on April 9, 2025; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The description of the Registrant's common stock set forth in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A registering the Registrant's common stock pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act, filed August 8, 1995, and all amendments thereto or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, all documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a subsequent post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

**Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Description of Securities.**

Not applicable.

**Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.**

The validity of the shares of common stock registered hereby has been passed upon by Seyfarth Shaw LLP. A copy of this opinion is attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement.

------

**Item 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification of Directors and Officers.**

Article XIV of the Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation requires indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Washington Business Corporation Act ("WBCA"). However, the indemnity does not apply to (1) acts or omissions finally adjudged to violate law, (2) conduct finally adjudged to violate the WBCA prohibition against unlawful distributions by the corporation or (3) any transaction with respect to which it was finally adjudged that the director or officer personally received a benefit to which he/she was not legally entitled.

The Registrant has entered into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors. Each indemnification agreement provides generally that the Registrant will hold harmless and indemnify the director to the fullest extent permitted by law against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including but not limited to judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and any related expenses, incurred with respect to any proceeding in which the director is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was serving as a director of the Registrant or, at the request of the Registrant, is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of the Registrant or of another entity. Each indemnification agreement further provides that, upon the director's request, the Registrant will advance expenses to the director, subject to the director's agreeing to repay the advanced funds if it is ultimately determined, by a final, non-appealable court decision, that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses. In addition, each indemnification agreement requires the Registrant to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in effect director and officer liability insurance coverage containing substantially the same terms and conditions as the director and officer liability insurance policy in effect at the time the indemnification agreement was entered into.

The WBCA provides for indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents in certain circumstances. WBCA Section 23B.08.510 provides that a corporation may indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if (a) the director acted in good faith, (b) the director reasonably believed that the director's conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or in certain instances, at least not opposed to its best interests and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had no reasonable cause to believe the director's conduct was unlawful. However, a corporation may not indemnify a director under this section (a) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or (b) in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director in which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the director. WBCA Section 23B.08.520 provides that unless limited by the articles of incorporation, a corporation must indemnify a director who was wholly successful in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because of being a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding. WBCA Section 23B.08.540 provides a mechanism for court-ordered indemnification.

WBCA Section 23B.08.570 provides that unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, (1) an officer of the corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under WBCA Section 23B.08.520, and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under WBCA Section 23B.08.540, (2) the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under WBCA Section 23B.08.510 through 23B.08.560 to an officer, employee or agent of the corporation who is not a director to the same extent as to a director and (3) a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with law, that may be provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors or contract. WBCA Section 23B.08.580 provides that a corporation may purchase insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify the individual against the same liability under WBCA Section 23B.08.510 or 23B.08.520.

**Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exemption From Registration Claimed.**

Not applicable.

------

**Item 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits.**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| 3.1 | <u>[Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Commission on May 24, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946673/000093905722000155/banr8k51822exh31b.htm)</u>  |
| 3.2 | <u>[Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Commission on May 24, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference).](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946673/000093905722000155/banr8k51822exh32.htm)</u> |
| 5.1\* | <u>[Opinion of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.](banrex51opinionfors-82025.htm)</u> |
| 10.1\*† | <u>[Banner Corporation 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.](banrex1012025employeestock.htm)</u> |
| 23.1\* | <u>[Consent of Seyfarth Shaw LLP (included with Exhibit 5.1).](banrex51opinionfors-82025.htm)</u>  |
| 23.2\* | <u>[Consent of Baker Tilly US, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.](banrex232bakertillydraftco.htm)</u>  |
| 24.1 | <u>[Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Form S-8 Registration Statement).](#i71c80cc8c05f40c882faa41c6a61296b_19)</u> |
| 107\* | <u>[Calculation of Filing Fee Table.](exfilingfees.htm)</u> |

---

\* Filed herewith.

† Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Undertakings.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in this effective registration statement; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

*Provided, however*, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Walla Walla, State of Washington on November 5, 2025.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **BANNER CORPORATION** | **BANNER CORPORATION** |
| By | /s/Mark J. Grescovich |
| | Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark J. Grescovich<br>Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;President and Chief Executive Officer<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal Executive Officer) |

---

------

**POWER OF ATTORNEY**

<br> Each of the undersigned officers and directors of Banner Corporation hereby constitutes and appoints Mark J. Grescovich and Robert G. Butterfield, and each of them any of whom may act without joinder of the other, the individual's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement on Form S-8, and any other registration statement relating to the same offering (including any registration statement, or amendment thereto, that is to become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments to the registration statement), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **<u>Signature</u>** | **<u>Title</u>** | **<u>Date</u>** |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Mark J. Grescovich&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Mark J. Grescovich | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>(Principal Executive Officer) | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Robert G. Butterfield&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Robert G. Butterfield | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<br>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Ellen R.M. Boyer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Ellen R.M. Boyer | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Connie R. Collingsworth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Connie R. Collingsworth | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Margot J. Copeland&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Margot J. Copeland | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Roberto R. Herencia&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u><br>Roberto R. Herencia | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/John R. Layman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>John R. Layman | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/John Pedersen&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>John Pedersen | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Kevin F. Riordan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Kevin F. Riordan | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Terry Schwakopf&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Terry Schwakopf | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Millicent Tracey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Millicent Tracey | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |
| <br><u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /s/Paul J. Walsh&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u> <br>Paul J. Walsh | <br>Director | November 5, 2025 |

---

## Ex-Filing

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? exfilingfees

**Exhibit 107.1**

**Calculation of Filing Fee Tables**

Form S-8

(Form Type)

Banner Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

<u>Table 1: Newly Registered Securities</u>

---

| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Security Type** | **Security Class Title** | **Fee Calculation Rule** | **Amount Registered**<sup>(1)</sup> | **Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit**<sup>(2)</sup> | **Maximum Aggregate Offering Price** | **Fee Rate** | **Amount of Registration Fee** |
| Equity | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) | 500000 | 61.29 | $30645000 | 0.00013810 | $4232.07 |
| Total Offering Amounts | Total Offering Amounts | Total Offering Amounts | Total Offering Amounts |  | $30645000 |  | $4232.07 |
| Total Fee Offsets | Total Fee Offsets | Total Fee Offsets | Total Fee Offsets |  |  |  |  |
| Net Fee Due | Net Fee Due | Net Fee Due | Net Fee Due |  |  |  | $4232.07 |

---

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of Banner Corporation (the "Registrant") that may be offered or issued under the Registrant's Plan to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act and based upon a $61.29 per share average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 30, 2025, a date within five business days prior to the filing of this Registration Statement.

## Exhibit 5.1

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![picture1a.jpg](picture1a.jpg) | **Exhibit 5.1**<br>**Seyfarth Shaw LLP**<br>999 Third Avenue<br>Suite 4700<br>Seattle, Washington 98104-4041<br>T (206) 946-4910<br>F (206) 946-4901<br>www.seyfarth.com |

---

November 5, 2025

Banner Corporation

10 South First Avenue

Walla Walla, Washington 99362

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Banner Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Washington (the "Company"), in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"), registering the offer and sale of up to 500,000 shares (the "Registered Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), for issuance and delivery pursuant to the Banner Corporation 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In our capacity as your counsel in connection with the Registration Statement, we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the authorization and issuance of the Plan and the Registered Shares and, for the purposes of this opinion, have assumed such proceedings will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed. In addition, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including examination of originals or copies of originals, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, we have made no independent investigations with regard to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth herein and with respect to such factual matters we have relied upon certificates of, or communications with, officers of the Company and others.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In our examination of the relevant documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal competence of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We are admitted to the practice in the State of Washington, and except as otherwise set forth herein, the opinions set forth below are limited to the laws of the State of Washington and the laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion with respect to state securities laws or regulations.

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Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that: (i) the Registered Shares have been duly authorized; (ii) upon issuance of the Registered Shares against consideration therefore pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Registered Shares will be legally issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the Company under the laws of the State of Washington.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. This opinion letter is given to you for use in connection with the issuance of the Registered Shares in accordance with the Registration Statement and is not to be relied on for any other purpose. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Registered Shares or the Registration Statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Very truly yours,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>/s/ Seyfarth Shaw LLP</u>

## Exhibit 10.1

**BANNER CORPORATION 2025 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.<u>Purpose</u>. The purpose of this 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is to provide employees of Banner Corporation, a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington (the "Company") and its Designated Companies with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock through accumulated Contributions. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of Eligible Employees and provide incentives for such persons to exert their maximum efforts for the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. The Company intends for the Plan to qualify (but makes no undertaking or representation to maintain) as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 Plan of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), and consistent with such intent the Plan is intended to be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner to permit all Eligible Employees to have equal rights and privileges on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis as described under Code Section 423. Capitalized terms used in the Plan will have the meanings set forth in Section 2 below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.<u>Definitions</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)"<u>Administrator</u>" means one or more officers of the Company or its Designated Companies appointed by the Committee to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 14.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)"<u>Affiliate</u>" means any entity, other than a Subsidiary, in which the Company has an equity or other ownership interest.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)"<u>Applicable Laws</u>" means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any jurisdiction where options are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)"<u>Board</u>" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)"<u>Change in Control</u>" means the occurrence of any of the following events:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group ("Person"), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, that for this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who prior to such acquisition is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control and provided, further, that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board also will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the shareholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 2(e)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or

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election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the appointment or election; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, that for this Section 2(e)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)a transfer to an entity controlled by the Company's shareholders immediately after the transfer, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)a transfer of assets by the Company to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company's stock,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;D.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in Section 2(e)(iii)(2)(A) to Section 2(e)(iii)(2)(C).

For this definition, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. For this definition, persons will be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company shall not be considered "Persons" for purposes of this Section 2(e).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv)A transaction will not be a Change in Control if its primary purpose is to (A) change the jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation, or (B) create a holding company owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company's securities immediately before such transaction.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)"<u>Code</u>" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or U.S. Treasury Regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future or successor legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g)"<u>Committee</u>" means Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h)"<u>Common Stock</u>" means the common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)"<u>Company</u>" means Banner Corporation, a bank holding company incorporated in the State of Washington, or any successor entity.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j)"<u>Compensation</u>" means an Eligible Employee's base straight time gross earnings but excludes payments for incentive compensation, bonuses, equity compensation income and other similar compensation as may be determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, "Compensation" excludes any payments that an Eligible Employee receives from external sources, including government agencies or insurance carriers, such as disability insurance payments or paid family leave payments, during any leave of absence taken by an Eligible Employee. The Administrator, in its discretion, may, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, establish a different definition of Compensation for any Offering Period and include such definition in the Offering Documents for such Offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k)"<u>Contributions</u>" means the payroll deductions and other additional payments that the Company may permit to be made by a Participant to fund the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l)"<u>Designated Company</u>" means any Subsidiary or Parent of the Company that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. The initial Designated Companies will be Banner Bank, a Washington corporation, and Community Financial Corporation, an Oregon corporation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m)"<u>Director</u>" means a member of the Board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n)"<u>Effective Date</u>" means December 1, 2025.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o)"<u>Eligible Employee</u>" means any individual who is a common law employee providing services to an Employer and is customarily employed for at least 20 hours per week and more than 5 months in any calendar year by an Employer, or any lesser number of hours per week and/or number of months in any calendar year established by the Administrator (if required under applicable local law) for purposes of any separate Offering and set forth in the Offering Documents. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence that the Employer approves or is legally protected under Applicable Laws. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated three (3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such Enrollment Date in an Offering, determine for each Offering, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis or as otherwise permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2) that the definition of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if he or she: (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since his or her last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than 20 hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iii) customarily works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iv) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Code Section 414(q), or (v) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Code Section 414(q) with compensation above a certain level or is an officer or subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, provided the exclusion is applied with respect to each Offering in an identical manner to all highly compensated individuals of the Employer whose Eligible Employees are participating in that Offering. Each exclusion will be applied with respect to an Offering in a manner complying with U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e)(2)(ii).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p)"<u>Employer</u>" means the Company or a Designated Company that employs the applicable Eligible Employee(s).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q)"<u>Enrollment Date</u>" means the first Trading Day of an Offering Period.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(r)"<u>Enrollment Window</u>" means the period established by the Administrator to allow Eligible Employees to make Contribution elections for participation in the Plan with respect to an Offering Period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(s)"<u>Exchange Act</u>" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(t)"<u>Exercise Date</u>" means the last Trading Day of the Purchase Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that an Offering Period is terminated prior to its expiration pursuant to Section 20, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine that any Purchase Period also terminating under such Offering Period will terminate without options being exercised on the Exercise Date that otherwise would have occurred on the last Trading Day of such Purchase Period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(u)"<u>Fair Market Value</u>" means, as of any date, the value of a share, determined as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value will be the

closing sales price for a share (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable. If the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a non-Trading Day (i.e., a weekend or holiday), the Fair Market Value will be such price on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date on the last Trading Day such bids and asks were reported), as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)Absent an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Board.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a weekend, holiday or other day other than a Trading Day, the Fair Market Value will be the price as determined under subsections (u)(i) or (u)(ii) above on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. Note that the determination of fair market value for purposes of Tax Withholding may be made in the Administrator's sole discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v)"<u>Fiscal Year</u>" means a fiscal year of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(w)"<u>New Exercise Date</u>" means a new Exercise Date if the Administrator shortens any Offering Period then in progress.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(x)"<u>Offering</u>" means an offer under the Plan of an option that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Section 4. For purposes of the Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan (the terms of which need not be identical) in which Eligible Employees of one or more Employers will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(a)(1), the terms of each Offering need not be

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identical provided that the terms of the Plan and an Offering together satisfy U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(y)"<u>Offering Documents</u>" means the Plan prospectus for a particular Offering and any other communications from the Company to Participants explaining, amending or modifying the terms of an Offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(z)"<u>Offering Periods</u>" means a period beginning on such date as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion and ending on such Exercise Date as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion, in each case on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, during which a purchase right granted pursuant to the Plan may be exercised. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Sections 4 and 20.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(aa)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Parent</u>" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(bb)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Participant</u>" means an Eligible Employee that participates in the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(cc)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Purchase Period</u>" means the period, as determined by the Administrator in its discretion on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, during an Offering Period that commences on the Offering Period's Enrollment Date and ends on the next Exercise Date, except that if the Administrator determines that more than one Purchase Period should occur within an Offering Period, subsequent Purchase Periods within such Offering Period commence after one Exercise Date and end with the next Exercise Date at such time or times as the Administrator determines prior to the commencement of the Offering Period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(dd)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Purchase Price</u>" means, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator prior to the applicable Offering and set forth in the Offering Documents, an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value on the Enrollment Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower; provided however, that the Purchase Price may not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value or as otherwise required for compliance with Code Section 423 (or any successor rule or provision or any other Applicable Law, regulation or stock exchange rule) or pursuant to Section 20.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ee)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Section 409A</u>" or "<u>Code Section 409A</u>" means Code Section 409A and the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be promulgated, amended or modified from time to time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ff)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Subsidiary</u>" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(gg)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Tax Withholdings</u>" means the Company's or Employer's tax, social insurance and social security liability or premium obligations in connection with the options granted under the Plan, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, and local income, employment and any other taxes (including the Participant's U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligation) that are required to be withheld by the Company or the Employer, (ii) the Participant's and, to the extent required by the Company or the Employer, the fringe benefit tax liability of the Company, if any, associated with the grant of an option or purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or sale of shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan, and (iii) any other taxes or social insurance or social security liabilities or premium the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to such option, the shares of Common Stock subject to, or other amounts or property payable under, an option, or otherwise associated with or related to participation in the Plan and with respect to which the Company or the Employer has either agreed to withhold or has an obligation to withhold.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(hh)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>Trading Day</u>" means a day on which the primary established stock exchange or national market system upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<u>U.S. Treasury Regulations</u>" means the Treasury Regulations of the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury Regulation will include such Treasury Regulation, the section of the Code under which such regulation was promulgated, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.<u>Eligibility</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)<u>Offering Periods</u>. Subject to subsection 3(b) below, any individual who is an Eligible Employee (i) as of the first day of an Enrollment Window and (ii) through the Enrollment Date will be eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to the Offering Period that begins on that Enrollment Date, subject to the Eligible Employee timely enrolling in the Plan pursuant to Section 5 and not withdrawing pursuant to Section 10 below (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11 hereof).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)<u>Limitations</u>. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Eligible Employee will be granted an option under the Plan to the extent that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)immediately after the grant of the option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Code Section 424(d)) would own capital stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (as defined in Code Section 423) of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company accrues at a rate, which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the Fair Market Value of the stock at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time, as determined in accordance with Code Section 423 and the regulations thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.<u>Offering Periods</u>. The Administrator will have the power to establish Offering Periods and change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement and termination dates thereof) provided such change is set forth in the Offering Documents prior to the Enrollment Date for all purchase rights to be granted on such Enrollment Date and no Offering Period may have a duration longer than 27 months.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.<u>Participation</u>. An Eligible Employee may participate in an Offering under the Plan by submitting, prior to the end of the Enrollment Window for such Offering, a properly completed subscription agreement authorizing Contributions and such subscription agreement must be timely submitted in the form provided by the Administrator and may be an electronic format or any other method designated by the Administrator.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6.<u>Contributions</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)At the time a Participant enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 5, he or she will elect to have Contributions (in the form of payroll deductions or otherwise, to the extent permitted by the Administrator) made on each pay day during the Offering Period that occurs after the first day of such Offering Period in an amount not to exceed 15% of the Compensation (or such other percentage or limit set by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Documents) that he or she receives on the pay day. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, should a pay day occur on an Exercise Date, a Participant will have any Contributions made on such day applied to his or her account under the then-

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current Purchase Period or Offering Period with respect to which that Exercise Date relates. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide in the Offering Documents that all Participants in a specified Offering may contribute amounts to the Plan through payment by cash, check or other means communicated to Eligible Employees prior to each Exercise Date of each Purchase Period in the Offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)A Participant's subscription agreement will remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11 hereof) or modified for the applicable successive Offering Period during the open enrollment period for such Offering Period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)In the event Contributions are made in the form of payroll deductions, such payroll deductions for a Participant will commence on the first pay day following the Enrollment Date and will end on the last pay day on or prior to the last Exercise Date of such Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11 hereof).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)All Contributions made for a Participant will be credited to his or her account under the Plan and Contributions will be made in whole percentages of his or her Compensation only. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such account.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided under Section 10. Changes in the rate of a Participant's contributions may only be made as permitted by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion prior to the start of the applicable Offering Period and communicated to Eligible Employees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 423(b)(8) and Section 3(b), a Participant's Contributions may be decreased to 0% at any time during a Purchase Period. Subject to Code Section 423(b)(8) and Section 3(b) hereof, Contributions will recommence at the rate originally elected by the Participant effective as of the beginning of the first Purchase Period scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g)Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Plan, the Administrator may allow Participants to participate in the Plan via cash contributions instead of payroll deductions if (i) payroll deductions are not permitted or advisable under applicable local law, (ii) the Administrator determines that cash contributions are permissible under Code Section 423 for Participants.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h)At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of (or at any other time that a taxable event related to the Plan occurs), the Participant must make adequate provision for Tax Withholdings. At any time, the Company or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant's compensation the amount necessary for the Company or the Employer to satisfy applicable Tax Withholdings, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or the Employer any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Eligible Employee. In addition, the Company or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock or use any other method of withholding the Company or the Employer deems appropriate to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7.<u>Grant of Option</u>. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period will be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing such Eligible Employee's Contributions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Eligible Employee's account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event will an Eligible Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than a fixed number shares of Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19) in an amount that the Administrator may establish from time to time, in its discretion and on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, for all options to be granted on any Enrollment Date, and provided further that such purchase will be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 13 and in the subscription agreement. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such option, with respect to any Offering Period under the Plan, by electing to participate in the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Section 5. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that an Eligible Employee may purchase during each Purchase Period and/or Offering Period, as applicable. Exercise of the option will occur as provided in Section 8, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11). The option will expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.<u>Exercise of Option</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10 (or Participant's participation is terminated as provided in Section 11), his or her option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on each Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares of Common Stock subject to the option will be purchased for such Participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated Contributions from his or her account. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be purchased; any Contributions accumulated in a Participant's account, which are not sufficient to purchase a full share will be retained in the Participant's account for the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, as applicable, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10 (or the earlier termination of Participant's participation as provided in Section 11). Any other funds left over in a Participant's account after the Exercise Date will be returned to the Participant. During a Participant's lifetime, a Participant's option to purchase shares of Common Stock hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect or (y) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of

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additional shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Plan by the Company's shareholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.<u>Delivery</u>. As soon as reasonably practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares of Common Stock occurs, the Company will arrange the delivery to each Participant of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of his or her option in a form determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) and pursuant to rules established by the Administrator. The Company may permit or require that shares of Common Stock be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a trustee or designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares of Common Stock be retained with such broker, trustee or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions or other dispositions of such shares. No Participant will have any voting, dividend, or other shareholder rights with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted under the Plan until such shares have been purchased and delivered to the Participant as provided in this Section 9.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10.<u>Withdrawal</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all the Contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by (i) submitting to the Company's stock administration office (or its designee) a written notice of withdrawal in the form determined by the Administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other withdrawal procedure determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may set forth a deadline of when a withdrawal must occur to be effective prior to a given Exercise Date in accordance with policies it may approve from time to time. All of the Participant's Contributions credited to his or her account will be paid to such Participant as soon as administratively practicable after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant's option for the Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be made for such Offering Period. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, Contributions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)A Participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period will not have any effect on his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods that commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11.<u>Termination of Employment</u>. Upon a Participant's ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to such Participant's account during the Offering Period but not yet used to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15, and such Participant's option will be automatically terminated. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator in a manner that is permitted by and compliant with Code Section 423, a Participant whose employment transfers between entities through a termination with an immediate rehire (with no break in service) by the Company or a Designated Company will not be treated as terminated under the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12.<u>No Interest</u>. No interest will accrue on the Contributions of a participant in the Plan, except as may be required by Applicable Law, as determined by the Company, and if so required by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, will, with respect to Offerings under the 423 Component, apply to all Participants in the relevant Offering, except to the extent otherwise permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(f).

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13.<u>Stock</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that will be made available for sale under the Plan will be 500,000 shares of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning for the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal Year in which the first Enrollment Date (if any) occurs equal to the least of (i) 25,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, or (iii) an amount determined by the Administrator.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Until the shares of Common Stock are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), a Participant will have only the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to such shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)Shares of Common Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or, if so required under Applicable Laws, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)The stock purchasable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or by public tender offer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.<u>Administration</u>. The Plan will be administered by the Administrator appointed by the Committee; provided, however, the Administrator will consist of such officers or members of the Board as required by Applicable Laws. The Administrator will have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to delegate ministerial duties to any of the Company's employees, to designate separate Offerings under the Plan, to designate Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Company as participating Plan, to determine eligibility, to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan and to establish such procedures that it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and to hire such third-party consultants, recordkeepers, advisors or attorneys as the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of Contributions, making of Contributions to the Plan (including, without limitation, in forms other than payroll deductions), establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold Contributions, payment of interest, selection of any designated broker for the Plan, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates that vary with applicable local requirements. Every finding, decision, and determination made by the Administrator will, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. Each finding, decision, and determination made by the Administrator will be administered, interpreted and construed as necessary so that all Eligible Employees have equal rights and privileges on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis enabling the Plan to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Code Section 423.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15.<u>Designation of Beneficiary</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)If permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, from the Participant's account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, if permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant's account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death prior to exercise of the

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option. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent will be required for such designation to be effective.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by delivering a new beneficiary designation in a form determined by the Administrator, which beneficiary designation form must be received by the Administrator prior to the date of death of the Participant. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant's death, the Company will deliver such shares and/or cash to the Participant's surviving spouse or, if none, to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)All beneficiary designations will be in such form and manner as the Administrator may designate from time to time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16.<u>Transferability</u>. Neither Contributions credited to a Participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17.<u>Use of Funds</u>. The Company may use all Contributions received or held by it under the Plan for any corporate purpose, and the Company will not be obligated to segregate such Contributions. Until shares of Common Stock are issued, Participants will have only the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18.<u>Reports</u>. Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Eligible Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19.<u>Adjustments, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger, or Change in Control</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)<u>Adjustments</u>. If any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in cash, shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of shares or other securities of the Company, other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the shares of Common Stock, or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any of its successors) affecting the shares of Common Stock occurs (including a Change in Control), the Administrator, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share, the class and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan that has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Sections 7 and 13.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)<u>Dissolution or Liquidation</u>. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date, and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date will be before the date of the Company's proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically, prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant's option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant's option will be exercised

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automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof (or, prior to such New Exercise Date, Participant's participation has terminated as provided in Section 11 hereof).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)<u>Merger or Change in Control</u>. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or Change in Control, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the Offering Period with respect to which such option relates will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date on which such Offering Period will end. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of the Company's proposed merger or Change in Control. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant's option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant's option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof (or, prior to such New Exercise Date, Participant's participation has terminated as provided in Section 11 hereof).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20.<u>Amendment or Termination</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend or suspend the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. However, shareholder approval will be required for any amendment of the Plan for which shareholder approval is required by Applicable Law and has not already been provided consistent therewith. The Board of Directors will have the sole authority to terminate the Plan. If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of shares of Common Stock on the next Exercise Date (which may be sooner than originally scheduled, if determined by the Administrator in its discretion), or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all amounts then credited to Participants' accounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock will be returned to the Participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required under Applicable Laws, as further set forth in Section 12 hereof) as soon as administratively practicable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Without shareholder consent and without limiting Section 20(a), the Administrator will be entitled to change the Offering Periods and/or Purchase Periods, designate separate Offerings, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit Contributions in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed Contribution elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with Contribution amounts, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable that are consistent with the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto), including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period or Purchase Period including an Offering Period or Purchase Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)shortening any Offering Period or Purchase Period by setting a New Exercise Date, including an Offering Period or Purchase Period underway at the time of the Administrator action;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv)reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a Participant may elect to set aside as Contributions; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v)reducing the maximum number of shares of Common Stock a Participant may purchase during any Offering Period or Purchase Period.

Such modifications or amendments will not require shareholder approval or the consent of any Participants.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21.<u>Notices</u>. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan will be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22.<u>Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares</u>. Shares of Common Stock will not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto will comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;23.<u>Code Section 409A</u>. The Plan is intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A, and, to the extent not exempt, is intended to comply with Section 409A and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an option granted under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A or that any provision in the Plan would cause an option under the Plan to be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding option granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the Participant's consent, to exempt any outstanding option or future option that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such options to comply with Section 409A, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Administrator would not violate Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any of its Parent, Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall have no obligation or liability to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless a Participant or any other party for any taxes or costs that may be imposed on or incurred by a Participant or any other person as a result of Section 409A, including but not limited to if the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with

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respect thereto. The Company makes no representation that the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan is compliant with or exempt from Section 409A.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24.<u>Term of Plan</u>. The Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (i) its adoption by the Board or (ii) the Effective Date. It will continue in effect for a term of 20 years, unless sooner terminated under Section 20.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;25.<u>Shareholder Approval</u>. The Plan will be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within 12 months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;26.<u>Governing Law</u>. The Plan will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington (except its choice-of-law provisions).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;27.<u>No Right to Employment</u>. Participation in the Plan by a Participant will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, as applicable. Further, the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company may dismiss a Participant from employment at any time, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28.<u>Severability</u>. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason in any jurisdiction or as to any Participant, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as to such jurisdiction or Participant as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had not been included.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;29.<u>Compliance with Applicable Laws</u>. The terms of this Plan are intended to comply with all Applicable Laws and will be construed accordingly.

## Exhibit 23.2

Exhibit 23.2

**Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Banner Corporation, of our report dated February 26, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Banner Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "Company") and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Company, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Baker Tilly US, LLP

Portland, Oregon

November 5, 2025

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