SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                   WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549



                           FORM 8-K



                        CURRENT REPORT

              Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
             the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report                                July 30, 2002
(Date of earliest event reported)             July 16, 2002


                HEARTLAND FINANCIAL, USA, INC.
    (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                           Delaware
        (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


       0-20878                               42-1405748
(Commission File Number)                  (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)


Item 5.  Other Events

     On  July  16,  2002,  the  Board of Directors  of  Heartland
Financial  USA,  Inc.  (the "Company") authorized  management  to
acquire  and  hold in treasury up to $4,000,000 of the  Company's
common  stock, par value $1.00 per share. Currently, the  Company
holds  $1,178,000 of the Company's common stock  in  treasury.  A
portion  of the acquired shares will be used for the exercise  of
options by employees, officers and directors; issuance of  shares
under  the  Company's dividend reinvestment plan;  the  scheduled
payout to the minority shareholders of New Mexico Bank & Trust in
April  of  2003; and the issuance of stock under other  incentive
compensation agreements.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
Exhibits

     (a)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED.

          None.

     (b)  PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

          None.

     (c)  EXHIBITS.

          None.



                           SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.



July 30, 2002                   By:/s/ John K. Schmidt
                                ---------------------------
                                John K. Schmidt
                                Executive Vice President
                                and Chief Financial Officer