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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2020 □ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number : 001-15393 HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA , INC . ( Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter ) Delaware ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization ) Large accelerated filer Emerging growth company 42-1405748 ( I.R.S. Employer identification number ) 1398 Central Avenue , Dubuque , Iowa 52001 ( Address of principal executive offices ) ( Zip Code ) ( 563 ) 589-2100 ( Registrant's telephone number , including area code ) Title of Class Common Stock $ 1.00 par value Depositary Shares , each representing 1 / 400th interest in a share of 7.00 % Fixed - Rate Reset Non - Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock , Series E Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Trading Symbol ( s ) . HTLF HTLFP Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : None Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes No Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Exchange Act . Yes No Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered The Nasdaq Global Select Market The Nasdaq Global Select Market Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically , every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( § 232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , smaller reporting company , or an emerging growth company . See the definitions of " large accelerated filer , " " accelerated filer , " " smaller reporting company , " and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act . Accelerated filer 0 Non - accelerated filer Smaller reporting company If an emerging growth company , indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13 ( a ) of the Exchange Act . Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on or attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 ( b ) of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act ( 15 U.S.C. 7262 ( b ) ) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company ( as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b - 2 ) . Yes No