Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
INTEREST INCOME:
Interest and fees on loans and leases	$ 38,399	$ 36,966
Interest on securities:
Taxable	7,572	7,411
Nontaxable	2,271	3,564
Interest on interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions	0	1
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME	48,242	47,942
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Interest on deposits	5,775	8,026
Interest on short-term borrowings	213	259
Interest on other borrowings	4,061	3,936
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE	10,049	12,221
NET INTEREST INCOME	38,193	35,721
Provision for loan and lease losses	2,354	10,009
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES	35,839	25,712
NONINTEREST INCOME:
Service charges and fees	3,584	3,361
Loan servicing income	1,760	1,549
Trust fees	2,613	2,479
Brokerage and insurance commissions	910	848
Securities gains, net	3,943	2,089
Gain (loss) on trading account securities	(3)	216
Impairment loss on securities	(981)	0
Gains on sale of loans	8,502	1,402
Valuation adjustment on mortgage servicing rights	13	0
Income on bank owned life insurance	482	403
Other noninterest income	2,565	261
TOTAL NONINTEREST INCOME	23,388	12,608
NONINTEREST EXPENSES
Salaries and employee benefits	23,996	18,186
Occupancy	2,482	2,386
Furniture and equipment	1,446	1,409
Professional fees	2,760	3,019
FDIC insurance assessments	864	1,345
Advertising	1,071	850
Intangible assets amortization	131	146
Net loss on repossessed assets	2,904	1,632
Other noninterest expenses	4,486	3,914
NONINTEREST EXPENSES	40,140	32,887
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	19,087	5,433
Income taxes	6,272	1,212
NET INCOME	12,815	4,221
Net income available to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	26	16
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO HEARTLAND	12,841	4,237
Preferred dividends and discount	(1,021)	(1,336)
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 11,820	$ 2,901
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC	$ 0.72	$ 0.18
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED	$ 0.71	$ 0.18
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$ 0.10	$ 0.10