<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