8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 18, 2017

Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 001-15393

Delaware	42-1405748
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1398 Central Avenue

Dubuque, Iowa 52001

(Address of principal executive offices)

(563) 589-2100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On January 17, 2017, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced that its board of directors approved a ten percent increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.11 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable March 3, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2017. At December 31, 2016, there were 26,119,963 common shares outstanding listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol HTLF.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

None.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

None.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release dated January 18, 2017.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 18, 2017	HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
	By:	/s/ Bryan R. McKeag
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

CONTACT:	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bryan R. McKeag	January 18, 2017
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
(563) 589-1994
bmckeag@htlf.com

HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC. INCREASES

QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND BY TEN PERCENT

Dubuque, IA, January 18, 2017 - Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced that its board of directors approved a ten percent increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.11 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable March 3, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2017.

Lynn B. Fuller, Heartland’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are very pleased to reward our shareholders with an increased dividend. The Heartland Board of Directors believes the company’s strong capital position and exceptional earnings growth in recent years allow us to increase the dividend. We are proud that Heartland has paid a dividend every quarter since its inception in 1981.”

At December 31, 2016, there were 26,119,929 common shares outstanding listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol HTLF.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a diversified financial services company with assets exceeding $8 billion. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 108 banking locations serving 85 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.

-more-

Safe Harbor Statement

This release, and future oral and written statements of Heartland and its management, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Heartland’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Although these forward-looking statements are based upon the beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Heartland’s management, there are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of management to control or predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in its forward-looking statements. These factors, which are detailed in the risk factors included in Heartland’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, include, among others: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the economic impact of past and any future terrorist threats and attacks and any acts of war, (iii) changes in state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the Company’s general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of the Company’s assets; (v) increased competition in the financial services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees; (viii) changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions; (x) unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and (xi) changes in accounting policies and practices. All statements in this release, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Heartland undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

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