The following is a news release from FirstBank & Trust:

First Bank Lubbock Bancshares, Inc. (“FBLB”), parent company of FirstBank & Trust in Lubbock, and Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (“Heartland”) (NASDAQ: HTLF) of Dubuque, IA, jointly announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which FBLB will merge with and into Heartland and, as a result, FirstBank & Trust will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland.

FirstBank & Trust will continue to operate under its present brand and management team as Heartland’s 11th state-chartered community bank.

Founded in 1996 by Lubbock resident and long-time banker, Barry Orr, FirstBank & Trust is a
commercial and retail bank with approximately $930 million in total assets, $652 million in net loans
outstanding and $824 million in deposits as of September 30, 2017. The bank serves Lubbock and
its surrounding communities from eight full-service banking centers throughout West Texas.
Additionally, the bank offers mortgage lending services from eight offices throughout Texas through
its wholly-owned subsidiary, PrimeWest Mortgage Corporation. 

Barry Orr, Chairman and CEO of FirstBank & Trust, said, “This merger with Heartland is a ‘win-win’
for FirstBank & Trust as it enhances everything we do. We are pleased to partner with a strong and
well-respected public company that will preserve our history and “Family First” culture while
adding deep resources and a commitment to exceptional customer service. With Heartland as our
parent company, we will remain a locally-managed community bank, and retain the ability to make
important decisions that affect our customers. As our board of directors considered our strategic
options in today’s complex banking environment, and the importance of identifying a potential
quality merger partner, Heartland stood out as an exceptional choice for our customers, employees
and shareholders.” 

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a bank holding company operating 10 independently-chartered
banks in the Midwest, Southwest and Western United States. Following the merger with FBLB, and
the previously announced acquisition of Signature Bank in Minnesota, Heartland will operate banks
in 12 states with 126 full-service banking locations. Each bank has its own president, bank charter
and board of directors, with a name that connects it with its local market area. Founded in 1981,
Heartland has never had a loss year.

“We are highly impressed with the talented management team at FirstBank & Trust and the solid
community banking franchise it has built in Lubbock,” said Lynn B. Fuller, Chairman and CEO of
Heartland. “When we first became acquainted over two years ago, it was immediately apparent that
a partnership with FirstBank & Trust would be an excellent way for us to establish a sizable presence in Texas and a platform for further expansion. With our well established and growing New Mexico franchise, acquiring FirstBank & Trust is a natural transition into West Texas. We strongly believe in the prospects of the Texas market and I am confident that FirstBank & Trust will be an outstanding addition to the Heartland organization.”

Based on Heartland’s closing common stock price of $50.15 per share on December 11, 2017, the
stock and cash transaction is valued at approximately $185.6 million (including the cash
consideration to be paid to holders of FBLB’s stock appreciation rights). The actual transaction value will change due to fluctuations in the price of Heartland common stock and is subject to certain adjustments.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of
Directors of Heartland and FBLB, FBLB common shareholders will receive 3.0934 shares of
Heartland common stock for each share of FBLB common stock (approximately 3,351,000 Heartland shares in the aggregate, subject to certain potential adjustments) and total cash of $17.5 million, which includes the cash payable to holders of FBLB’s stock appreciation rights in the amount of approximately $11.5 million, and certain other potential adjustments as set forth in the definitive merger agreement. The transaction is subject to approval by bank regulators, FBLB shareholders and customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018 with a systems conversion planned for the third quarter of 2018.

Heartland and FBLB anticipate that the transaction will qualify as a tax-free exchange with respect
to the stock consideration received by FBLB’s shareholders. Heartland expects the transaction to be accretive to its earnings per share within the first year of combined operations. Further information regarding the financial impact of the transaction can be found in the investor presentation filed as an exhibit to Heartland’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 12, 2017 or in the investor relations section of Heartland’s website.

Orr added, “The combination of FirstBank & Trust with the Heartland family of community banks
significantly increases our lending capabilities and gives us access to additional products and
services while preserving our legacy as a locally-managed community bank. We believe our team’s
experience and expertise, and the strength of our PrimeWest Mortgage subsidiary will complement
Heartland. We are thrilled to combine with an organization that shares our dedication to customer
service and its communities and is recognized for that commitment. We are grateful that our
community continues to vote FirstBank & Trust the “Best Bank” in West Texas year after year.
Heartland shares similar recognition, having been twice recognized by Forbes as one the “Best Banks in America.”

Fuller concluded, “We are proud to be adding FirstBank & Trust, a blue chip West Texas franchise, to the Heartland family and establishing a sizable presence in Texas. Further, we are very excited to serve the metro Lubbock market with its healthy and growing economy. Barry Orr is well-known and respected banker who has developed a successful track record of growth in West Texas. We are excited he and his team will be leading our flagship bank in Texas and forming the nucleus of what will soon become the next billion dollar charter in the Heartland organization.

Advisors:
In connection with the transaction, Panoramic Capital Advisors, Inc. served as financial advisor to Heartland and Dorsey & Whitney LLP served as Heartland’s legal counsel. Stephens Inc. served as financial advisor to FBLB and Fenimore, Kay, Harrison, & Ford, LLP served as FBLB’s legal counsel.

Conference Call:
Heartland will host a live conference call for analysts and investors on Wednesday, December 13,
2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate, dial 877-407-0782 at least five minutes before start time. Live audio of the call will also be Webcast and corresponding investor presentation slides will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations webpage, which may be accessed at www.htlf.com. A webcast replay will be available until December 13, 2018, by logging on to www.htlf.com.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company with assets of approximately $9.8 billion. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, treasury management, card services, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 117 banking locations serving 88 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.

About FirstBank & Trust
FirstBank & Trust, a subsidiary of First Bank Lubbock Bancshares, Inc., is an independent community bank serving Lubbock and its surrounding communities. Through its subsidiary, PrimeWest Mortgage Corporation, the bank also engages in mortgage lending in Lubbock and the South Plains. FirstBank & Trust’s strengths are in commercial and industrial lending, as well as residential construction and development lending. Serving over 15,000 retail relationships, FirstBank & Trust provides banking services such as digital banking, a wide ATM network, instant-issue debit cards, and low-cost credit cards. Additionally, the bank offers an array of financial and wealth management services, such as money management, and retirement and education planning, as well as investment products including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, and insurance products. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Lubbock, Texas. Additional information about FirstBank & Trust is available at www.firstbanklubbock.com. FirstBank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

(News release from FirstBank & Trust)