Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Townsend Andrew E
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA INC [HTLF] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Chief Credit Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1398 CENTRAL AVE		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/19/2018
(Street)

DUBUQUE, IA 52001		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               1,163 I 401(k)
Common Stock               24,289 D (1)  
Common Stock 01/22/2018   M   334 A $ 55.55 24,623 D  
Common Stock 01/20/2018   M   298 A $ 55.5 24,921 D  
Common Stock 01/19/2018   M   435 A $ 55.5 25,356 D  
Common Stock 01/19/2018   M   270 A $ 55.5 25,626 D  
Common Stock 01/19/2018   M   235 A $ 55.5 25,861 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
2017 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (3)   (3) Common Stock 1,033   $ 0 D  
2017 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2) 01/19/2018   F     344   (3)   (3) Common Stock 689 $ 55.5 $ 0 D  
2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance) (2)               (4)   (4) Common Stock 516   $ 0 D  
2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (1-year performance) (2)               (5)   (5) Common Stock 631   $ 0 D  
2016 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (6)   (6) Common Stock 826   $ 0 D  
2016 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2) 01/19/2018   F     413   (6)   (6) Common Stock 413 $ 55.5 $ 0 D  
2016 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (6)   (6) Common Stock 1,333   $ 0 D  
2016 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2) 01/19/2018   F     666   (6)   (6) Common Stock 667 (7) $ 55.5 $ 0 D  
2016 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance) (2)               (8)   (8) Common Stock 657   $ 0 D  
2016 Performance Based Restricted Stock (1-year performance) (2)               (8)   (8) Common Stock 1,379   $ 0 D  
2015 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (9)   (9) Common Stock 1,250   $ 0 D  
2015 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2) 01/20/2018   F     417   (9)   (9) Common Stock 833 $ 55.5 $ 0 D  
2014 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (10)   (10) Common Stock 833   0 D  
2013 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2)               (11)   (11) Common Stock 467   $ 0 D  
2013 Time-Based Restricted Stock (2) 01/22/2018   F     467   (11)   (11) Common Stock 0 $ 55.55 $ 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Townsend Andrew E
1398 CENTRAL AVE
DUBUQUE, IA 52001		       EVP, Chief Credit Officer  

Signatures

 /s/ Andrew E Townsend   01/23/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These shares are held in Jt. Ten.
(2) Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock.
(3) Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest in 01-2018, 1/3 vest in 01-2019 and 1/3 vest in 01-2020.
(4) These restricted stock units vest in 2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(5) These restricted stock units vest on 1-19-2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(6) Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest on 1-19-2017, 1/3 vest on 1-19-2018, and 1/3 vest on 1-19-2019.
(7) These restricted stock units were granted outside of the annual awarding of restricted stock units due to employment change.
(8) These restricted stock units vest in 2019 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(9) Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest on 1-20-2018, 1/3 vest on 1-20-2019, and 1/3 vest on 1-20-2020.
(10) Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest on 3-11-2017, 1/3 vest on 3-11-2018, and 1/3 vest on 3-11-2019.
(11) Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest on 1-22-2016, 1/3 vest on 1-22-2017, and 1/3 vest on 1-22-2018.

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