Heartland Financial Announces Retirement of CIO

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF) today announced the planned retirement of Mr. Melvin E. Miller, who serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer. Miller joined Heartland and its Dubuque Bank and Trust subsidiary in 1984 as a part-time investment officer. Prior to joining Dubuque Bank and Trust, Mr. Miller served as professor and Chairman of the Accounting and Business Department at Loras College in Dubuque.

Mr. Miller's retirement will be effective August 1, 2012. The company will evaluate both internal and external candidates for his replacement.

As an advocate for Social Responsibility Investing (SRI), Miller spearheaded development of an SRI investment policy for the bank's Wealth Management Group, which became one of the first in the country to adopt such a policy. Until 2008, he served in the dual roles of overseeing the investment management function for the Wealth Management Group while heading the investment department at Heartland.

“Twenty eight years ago, Mel came to us with a deep knowledge and love of equity investing,” said Lynn B. Fuller, Chairman, President and CEO of Heartland. “He picked up the business of banking very well and mentored excellent talent behind him. Along the way, he provided strategic and thoughtful insight as a member of our Senior Management and Strategic Council teams. Moreover, Mel is well-liked as an individual and admired for his asset/liability management skills and business sense.”