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 13, 2016

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 13, 2016, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced that its board of directors approved a special cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the company's common stock. The special dividend is payable on December 29, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2016.

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 13, 2016.

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 13, 2016	HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
	By:	/s/ Bryan R. McKeag
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

CONTACT:	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bryan R. McKeag	December 13, 2016
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
(563) 589-1994
bmckeag@htlf.com

HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC. DECLARES SPECIAL CASH DIVIDEND

Dubuque, Iowa, December 13, 2016 - Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced that its board of directors declared a special cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the company's common stock at its meeting today. The special dividend is payable on December 29, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2016. Together with the four regular cash dividends paid in 2016, the special dividend brings the total dividends paid this year to $0.50 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 2016,” said Lynn B. Fuller, Heartland’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Our successful year is the result of a solid net interest margin, improved efficiencies 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 diversified financial services company with assets exceeding $8 billion. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 108 banking locations serving 85 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.

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