UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 13F Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: December 31, 2009 Check here if Amendment [ ]: Amendment Number: ______ This Amendment (Check only one.):[ ] a restatement. [ ] adds new holdings entries. Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report: Name: Heartland Financial USA, Inc. Address: 1398 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Form 13F file number: The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements, schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form. Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager: Reporting Manager: Name: Paul J. Peckosh Title: Executive Vice President Phone: 563-589-2000 Signature, Place, and Date of Signing: /s/ Paul Peckosh _______________________________ Dubuque, Iowa February 1, 2010 Report Type (Check only one.): [ ] 13F HOLDINGS REPORT. (Check here if all holdings of this reporting manager are reported in this report.) [X] 13F NOTICE. (Check here if no holdings reported are in this report and all holdings are reported by other reporting manager(s).) [ ] 13F COMBINATION REPORT. (Check here if a portion of the holdings for this reporting manager are reported in this report and a portion are reported by other reporting manager(s).) LIST of Other Managers: No. From 13F file number name 1. 028-10581 Dubuque Bank & Trust Company