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) October 18, 2023

Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

Commission File Number: 001-15393

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

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

1800 Larimer Street
Suite 1800
Denver,	Colorado	80202

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(303) 285-9200

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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):

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share	HTLF	Nasdaq Stock Market
Depositary Shares (each representing 1/400th interest in a share of 7.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E)	HTLFP	Nasdaq Stock Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On October 18, 2023, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a news release announcing that its Board of Directors had approved the following dividends:

Common Stock Dividend

A cash dividend on its outstanding common stock of $0.30 per share, payable on November 29, 2023, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 14, 2023.

Series E Preferred Stock Dividend

A cash dividend on its outstanding Series E Preferred Stock of $175 per share, which results in a dividend of $0.4375 per depositary share, payable on January 16, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2023.

A copy of the news release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits.

99.1 News Release dated October 18, 2023.

104    The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL.

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: October 18, 2023	HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
	By:	/s/ Bryan R. McKeag
		Bryan R. McKeag
		Executive Vice President
		Chief Financial Officer