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 24, 2024

Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-15393	42-1405748
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1800 Larimer Street	Suite 1800	Denver,	Colorado	80202
(Address of principal executive offices)				(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 January 24, 2024, 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 February 27, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 12, 2024.

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 April 15, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2024.

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 and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 News Release dated January 24, 2024.

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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 24, 2024	HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
	By:	/s/ Kevin L. Thompson
		Kevin L. Thompson
		Executive Vice President
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

CONTACT:	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin L. Thompson	January 24, 2024
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
303-365-3813
kthompson@htlf.com

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (“HTLF”)

Announces Common Stock and Series E Preferred Stock Dividends

DENVER – January 24, 2024

Common Stock Dividend

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), operating under the brand name HTLF, announced its Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.30 per share. The dividend is payable on February 27, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 12, 2024.

HTLF has increased or maintained its common stock dividend every quarter for more than 40 years.

Series E Preferred Stock Dividend

The Board of Directors also approved a dividend of $175 for Series E Preferred Stock (NASDAQ: HTLFP), which results in a dividend of $0.4375 per depositary share.The dividend is payable on April 15, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2024.

About HTLF

Heartland Financial USA, Inc., is a Denver, Colorado-based bank holding company operating under the brand name HTLF, with assets of $20.13 billion as of September 30, 2023. HTLF's banks serve communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin. HTLF is committed to its core commercial business, supported by a strong retail operation, and provides a diversified line of financial services including treasury management, wealth management and investments. Additional information is available at www.htlf.com.

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XML

Cover	Jan. 24, 2024
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 24, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Entity File Number	001-15393
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	42-1405748
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80202
City Area Code	(303)
Local Phone Number	285-9200
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000920112
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1800
Entity Address, City or Town	Denver,
Entity Address, Address Line One	1800 Larimer Street
Noncumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares (each representing 1/400th interest in a share of 7.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E)
Trading Symbol	HTLFP
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Trading Symbol	HTLF
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ