Kroll Bond Rating Agency Releases Research Report “Comment on Heartland Financial USA, Inc.’s acquisition of Community Bancorporation of New Mexico,…

Kroll Bond Rating Agency Releases Research Report "Comment on Heartland Financial USA, Inc.'s acquisition of Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc."

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Investment Weekly News -- Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) released a research report entitled "Comment on Heartland Financial USA, Inc.'s acquisition of Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc."

Headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa with total assets of $6.05 billion as of year-end 2014, Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is the bank holding company of ten subsidiary banks and a consumer finance company offering banking, mortgage, investment, insurance, wealth management, and consumer finance services to customers spanning the Midwestern, Southwestern, and Western regions of the United States.

Historically, Heartland Financial has maintained a relatively acquisitive growth posture, having completed various merger transactions over the last 20 plus years and this will likely remain a strategic focus for HTLF as it is the Company's goal to eclipse $10 billion in total assets within the next 3 to 5 years. On April 16, 2015, Heartland Financial announced the merger agreement with Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc., the bank holding company of Community Bank based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Under the terms of the agreement, Community Bank will merge into HTLF's subsidiary bank, New Mexico Bank & Trust. HTLF management believes the transaction is in line with its business model and will strengthen the Company's presence in Santa Fe, a market that management is well acquainted with, while adding new commercial and retail customer prospects in Espanola and Los Alamos.

In December of 2014, KBRA assigned a senior unsecured long-term debt rating of BBB, a subordinated debt rating of BBB-, and a short-term rating of K3 to Heartland Financial USA, Inc. The outlook on all ratings is stable. The ratings are supported by Heartland Financial's experienced management team, sound regulatory capital, and solid net interest margin. The ratings are also balanced by HTLF's elevated level of NPAs during the crisis years, overall rising cost-to-income ratio, and relatively high double leverage. The ratings are based on KBRA's Global Bank and Bank Holding Company Rating Methodology, published on January 28, 2015. The ratings and supporting rationale are available at www.kbra.com.

Please use the following link to view the report: www.krollbondratings.com/show_report/2161. About Kroll Bond Rating Agency KBRA is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). In addition, KBRA is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP).

Keywords for this news article include: Economics, Investing, Finance and Investment, Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

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