Blogs

Even as Covid-19 infections caused by the delta variant continue to rise in some areas of the country, economic activity continues to increase. Consumer spending rose at an annualized rate of 11.8 percent in the second quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Payroll employment increased by 943,000 in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, above expectations. The best news is that spending increases were led by food services and hospitality, some of the mainstays of local economies. Commercial enterprises are now seeking ways to grow as the economy expands...

As more economic stimulus has been poured into the economy over the last year in an attempt to stave off the worst effects of the pandemic, an increasing number of economic professionals have warned against a coming spike in inflation. While the United States historically has had a low overall rate of inflation compared to other countries, there are still some troubling signs for businesses to shield themselves against. Some inflation is inevitable as the country emerges from the pandemic simply as a normalization from the unusually low growth in 2020. Finding ways to creatively cope with a...

February 8, 2021 – First Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, through its parent company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), has been named a “Forbes Best Bank 2021.” Heartland is the only bank headquartered in Iowa to receive the prestigious recognition from Forbes, again this year. In its annual review of the largest publicly traded banks and thrifts, Forbes ranked Heartland 52nd among a nationwide group of 100 leading banking organizations with assets ranging from $9 billion to over $2 trillion. “We are proud to be named among the best banks in America for 2021,” said Lynn H. “Tut” Fuller, President and...

Greg Garland to be new CEO Lubbock, Texas, January 28, 2021 — FirstBank & Trust of Texas today announced the retirement of CEO Barry Orr, effective March 31, 2021. Mr. Orr is the organizer and founder of FirstBank & Trust, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. FirstBank & Trust, originally named FirstBank Lubbock Bancshares, opened in 1996 with $10 million in assets. By building relationships and serving the communities of West Texas, Mr. Orr led the growth of the bank to over $1 billion in assets before it was acquired by Heartland Financial, USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF) in 2018...

First Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank announced today that it will donate $20,000 to school on World Teachers’ Day. Phoenix, AZ – October 5, 2020 – First Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, a member of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced today that it will donate $20,000 to Academy of Math and Science – Camelback on World Teachers’ Day. “World Teachers’ Day is dedicated to recognizing teachers for the important work they do to help our children learn, grow and succeed,” said Bill Callahan, First Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank's President and CEO. “It also serves as a reminder that this is a particularly challenging year for many of our K...