-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MDjlDG4EGB1AQ+ZGhafCZuVMyB+sMdDs2T3TST5yf/f2WWzs69FcUIt7ocjfL7t2
 BtA/C53jJsp7Ks3TxD9pIw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-013403.txt : 20031224
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-013403.hdr.sgml : 20031224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031224133135
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-013403
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PECKOSH PAUL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184328

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15393
		FILM NUMBER:		031073552

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1398 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			DUBUQUE
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920112
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				421405748
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1398 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			DUBUQUE
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5635892000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1398 CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			DUBUQUE
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			52001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HTLF</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184328</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PECKOSH PAUL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1398 CENTRAL AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DUBUQUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>52001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>SVP, Trust</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>250</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>58942</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1632</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>401(k)</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1600</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3856</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>IRA</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2007-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.75</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2009-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>6000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-01-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>1500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-06-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.20</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-01-15</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.76</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-01-21</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 3,063 shares held jointly with reporting person's spouse.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Represents options to buy granted under the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, a Rule 16(b)(3) plan, which options vest one-third per year beginning on the 3rd anniversary of date of grant.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Paul J. Peckosh</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-24</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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