SECURITIES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Accrued interest receivable	$ 21,400,000
Fair value of securities pledged	1,780,000,000	$ 2,120,000,000
Securities held to maturity with unrealized losses	0	0
Amortized cost of FHLBs	$ 19,200,000	$ 19,500,000

Interest Receivable, Debt Securities

No definition available.

Name:	htlf_InterestReceivableDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock represents an equity interest in a FHLB. It does not have a readily determinable fair value because its ownership is restricted and it lacks a market (liquidity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 325
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75031641&loc=d3e63345-112809

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FederalHomeLoanBankStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated unrealized loss on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity), in unrealized loss position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121645371&loc=d3e27290-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The sum of the fair values, as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, of securities that are restricted as collateral for the payment of related debt obligations, primarily secured borrowings and repurchase agreements, and that are reclassified and separately reported in the statement of financial position because the transferee has the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge them.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66007379&loc=d3e113888-111728

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PledgedAssetsSeparatelyReportedSecuritiesPledgedAsCollateralAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant