form8k092908.htm
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 29,
2008
Heartland
Financial USA, Inc.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or
other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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0-24724
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42-1405748
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
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1398
Central Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa
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52001
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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(563)
589-2100
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):
o Written communications
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material
pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item
8.01 Other Items
Heartland
Financial USA, Inc. expanded its relationship with TransFirst LLC by entering
into a Merchant Card Processing Referral and Sales Representative Agreement
effective September 29, 2008. Under this agreement, TransFirst agreed to pay
$5.2 million to Heartland for the purchase of all Heartland’s merchant credit
card services business and to continue providing merchant bankcard processing to
Heartland subsidiary bank clients going forward. This partnership provides an
opportunity for Heartland subsidiary banks to develop new business through
referrals while eliminating the responsibility of maintaining a large knowledge
base on a highly specialized product. As a result of this sale,
Heartland recorded a pre-tax gain of $5.2 million in its third quarter
earnings.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
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HEARTLAND
FINANCIAL USA, INC.
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Date:
October 2, 2008
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By:
/s/ Lynn B. Fuller
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Lynn
B. Fuller
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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