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 * HORSTMANN DOUGLAS J   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, Lending (Last) (First) (Middle) 1398 CENTRAL AVE. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 11/17/2017 (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               74,676 I Trust (1) Common Stock 11/17/2017   A   2,000 D $ 49.86 72,676 I Trust (1) Common Stock               25,000 I Trust (2) Common Stock               27,000 I Spouse's Trust (3) Common Stock               10,720 (4) I 401(k)

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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

2016 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance)

(5)

(6)

(6)

Common Stock

758

0

D

2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (1-year performance)

(5)

(7)

(7)

Common Stock

1,133

$ 0

D

2017 Performance Based Restricted Stock (3-year performance)

(5)

(8)

(8)

Common Stock

566

$ 0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HORSTMANN DOUGLAS J 1398 CENTRAL AVE. DUBUQUE, IA 52001			EVP, Lending

Signatures

/s/ Douglas J. Horstmann		11/17/2017
**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 by Doulgas J Horstmann Trust under agreement dated 8/13/2011 FBO Douglas J Horstmann Declaration of Trust
(2)	These shares are held by Douglas J Horstmann Declaration of Trust under agreement dated 8/13/2011, Douglas J Horstmann, Trustee
(3)	These shares are held by Karen M Horstmann Declaration of Trust dated 8/13/2011, Karen M Horstmann, Trustee
(4)	Based on a plan statement dated August 2016
(5)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock.
(6)	These restricted stock units vest in 2019 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(7)	These restricted stock units vest on 1-19-2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.
(8)	These restricted stock units vest in 2020 if certain performance measures are achieved by the Issuer.

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