Exhibit 32.1


                    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 June
30, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
the date hereof (the "Report), I, Lynn B. Fuller, Chief Executive
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/ Lynn B. Fuller
________________________
Lynn B. Fuller
Chief Executive Officer
August 14, 2003







A  signed original of this written statement required by  Section
906  has been provided to Heartland Financial USA, Inc. and  will
be retained by Heartland Financial USA, Inc. and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.