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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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) 03/11/2019 (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               27,395 D (1)   Common Stock               1,163 I 401(k) Common Stock 03/11/2019   M   294 A $ 45.77 27,689 D

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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
2018 Time-Based Restricted Stock	(2)							(3)	(3)	Common Stock	523		0	D
2018 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance)	(2)							(4)	(4)	Common Stock	1,047		0	D
2018 Performance Based Restricted Stock (1-year performance)	(2)							(5)	(5)	Common Stock	177 (6)		0	D
2017 Time-Based Restricted Stock	(2)							(7)	(7)	Common Stock	344		0	D
2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance)	(2)							(8)	(8)	Common Stock	516		$ 0	D
2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (1-year performance)	(2)							(9)	(9)	Common Stock	631		$ 0	D
2016 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance)	(2)							(10)	(10)	Common Stock	657		$ 0	D
2015 Time-Based Restricted Stock	(2)							(11)	(11)	Common Stock	417		0	D
2014 Time-Based Restricted Stock	(2)							(12)	(12)	Common Stock	417		0	D
2014 Time-Based Restricted Stock	(2)	03/11/2019		M			417	(12)	(12)	Common Stock	0	$ 45.77	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		03/12/2019
**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 on 3-6-2019, 1/3 vest on 3-6-2020, and 1/3 vest on 3-6-2021.
(4)	These restricted stock units vest in 2021 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(5)	These restricted stock units vest on 3-6-2021 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(6)	Reflects the forfeiture of 608 Performance Based Restricted Stock Units granted but not earned in 2018.
(7)	Of these restricted stock units, 1/3 vest in 01-2018, 1/3 vest in 01-2019 and 1/3 vest in 01-2020.
(8)	These restricted stock units vest in 2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(9)	These restricted stock units vest on 1-19-2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(10)	These restricted stock units vest in 2019 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(11)	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.
(12)	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.

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