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☑ ☐ UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - Q QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For quarterly period ended September 30 , 2021 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For 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 ) 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 ) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Exchange Act : Title of Each Class Common Stock , par value $ 1.00 per share Depositary Shares , each representing 1 / 400th interest in a share of 7.00 % Fixed - Rate Reset Non - Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered HTLF HTLFP Nasdaq Stock Market Nasdaq Stock Market Stock , Series E 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 , a 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 . Large accelerated filer ☑ Accelerated Filer Non - accelerated filer Emerging growth company ☐ ☐ 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 is a shell company ( as defined by Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act ) . Yes □ No ☑