Heartland Financial USA (HTLF) S-4 Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Heartland Financial USA, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports dated March 1, 2017, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the registration statement.

Des Moines, Iowa

March 24, 2017