Name:	htlf_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAccretionOfNonCreditImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Non-Credit Related

No definition available.

Name:	htlf_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestNonCreditRelated
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net, Credit Related

No definition available.

Name:	htlf_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetCreditRelated
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net, Intent to Sell

No definition available.

Name:	htlf_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetIntentToSell
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Number of Mortgage-backed Securities

No definition available.

Name:	htlf_OtherthanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedinEarningsNumberofMortgagebackedSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	htlf_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Other than Temporary Impairment, Non-Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings, Losses on Debt Securities Held

No definition available.

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

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 34

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e25351-111560

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

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

- Details

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

Amount before tax of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss on investments in available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities, recognized in other comprehensive loss.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 35

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e25362-111560

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=SL6284393-111563

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of other than temporary impairment losses on investments in debt and equity securities categorized as Available-for-sale which have been recognized in earnings during the period. Such impairment losses consist of other than temporary impairments (OTTI) on equity securities, credit losses on investments in debt securities, and when the entity intends to sell an impaired debt security or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the impaired debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of other than temporary impairment losses on investments in debt securities categorized as Held-to-maturity which have been recognized in earnings during the period. Such impairment losses consist of other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of investments in debt securities due to credit losses and other than temporary impairments due to other than credit losses when the entity intends to sell an impaired debt security or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the impaired debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563