Exhibit 99.2


                    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                     18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                     AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
          SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In  connection  with the Quarterly Report of Heartland  Financial
USA,  Inc.  (the  "Company") on Form 10-Q for the  period  ending
September  30,  2002  as filed with the Securities  and  Exchange
Commission on the date hereof (the "Report), I, John K.  Schmidt,
Chief  Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to  18
U.S.C.   1350,  as adopted pursuant to  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:

      (1)  The  Report  fully complies with the  requirements  of
section  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of  1934;
and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents,
in  all material respects, the financial condition and result  of
operations of the Company.

/s/ John K. Schmidt
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John K. Schmidt
Chief Financial Officer
November 14, 2002