<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000920112
<NAME> HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          21,372                  24,299
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,635                   4,278
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,929                   9,050
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                   000                     000
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    185,692                 156,948
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           6,481                   2,328
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             6,548                   2,432
<LOANS>                                        516,610                 455,859
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (6,853)                 (5,892)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 771,113                 675,438
<DEPOSITS>                                     591,662                 528,175
<SHORT-TERM>                                    60,197                  33,401
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              8,823                   8,732
<LONG-TERM>                                     39,582                  40,400
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              000                     000
<PREFERRED>                                        000                     000
<COMMON>                                         4,854                   4,854
<OTHER-SE>                                      65,995                  59,876
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 771,113                 675,438
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 10,740                   9,886
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,878                   2,443
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   170                     288
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                13,788                  12,617
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               5,996                   5,717
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,370                   6,807
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,418                   5,810
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      321                     747
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 293                   1,322
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  5,254                   4,685
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,692                   2,964
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,692                   2,964
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    000                     000
<CHANGES>                                          000                     000
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,918                   2,278
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .40                     .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .40                     .48
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.94                    3.86
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,884                     704
<LOANS-PAST>                                       206                     277
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    29                     000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    000                     000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 6,191                   5,580
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     (38)                   (490)
<RECOVERIES>                                        48                      55
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,853                   5,892
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,838                   3,185
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                000                     000
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          3,015                   2,707