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) December 16, 2015

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 December 16, 2015, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced that its board of directors at its meeting held December 15, 2015, declared a special cash dividend of $0.05 per share on the company's common stock. The special dividend is payable on December 31, 2015, to stockholders of record on December 25, 2015.

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 December 16, 2015.

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: December 16, 2015	HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
	By:	/s/ Bryan R. McKeag
		Executive Vice President
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

CONTACT:	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bryan R. McKeag	December 16, 2015
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
(563) 589-1994
bmckeag@htlf.com

HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC. DECLARES SPECIAL CASH DIVIDEND

DUBUQUE, Iowa, December 16, 2015 - Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced today that its board of directors at its meeting held December 15, 2015, declared a special cash dividend of $0.05 per share on the company's common stock. The special dividend is payable on December 31, 2015, to stockholders of record on December 25, 2015. Together with the four cash dividends paid in 2015, the special dividend brings the total dividends paid this year to $0.45 per common share.

“We are extremely pleased to reward our stockholders with this special dividend in recognition of our company’s superb financial performance in 2015,” said Lynn B. Fuller, Heartland’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Our successful year is the result of several factors including a solid net interest margin, exceptional asset growth and increased earnings from our acquisitions.”

Heartland has paid a dividend in every quarter since the company’s inception in 1981.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a $6.8 billion diversified financial services company providing banking, mortgage, private client, investment, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 94 banking locations serving 71 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California, with mortgage loan production offices in Nevada and Idaho. 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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