Heartland BancCorp Announces New Banking and College Partnership Offering Training Certificate for Bankers

GAHANNA, Ohio, March 23, 2017 -- Heartland BancCorp (“the company” and “the bank”) (OTCQB:HLAN), today announced it is partnering with Columbus State Community College and the Community Bankers Association of Ohio to create a Certificate of Banking Fundamentals program.  This partnership is designed to train the next generation of community bankers.

To help facilitate the program, Columbus State will help prepare students for a career in banking through targeted training in courses such as Principles of Business, Customer Service and Sales, Personal Finance, Negotiation, Principles of Banking, Business Ethics and more.  After completing the Certificate of Banking Fundamentals program, which includes 28 hours of online and/or in-class coursework, students will be eligible to participate in on-site internships at participating central Ohio financial institutions.  The internships will train students to have a successful start in a Client Service Representative, Universal Banker, or other retail/commercial positions.

Industry support for this type of certification continues to climb, according to Aza Bittinger, Jr., Senior Vice President of the Community Bankers Association of Ohio. “The certification program at Columbus State is a tremendous opportunity for students to take a step toward, and current bank professionals to take a step forward, in the development of their career path.” Bittinger continued, “We are especially pleased with the community bank outreach the next generation of bankers will be exposed to, which is in line with our focus on supporting the future of community banking. CBAO is proud to be a contributor in moving this program forward.”

 “Together with our banking partners, we are addressing the growing demand for qualified customer relations employees,” said Carmen Daniels, Chairperson of Business Programs at Columbus State. “This certificate creates a direct path for students to enter the banking industry.”

Heartland Bank CEO, G. Scott McComb, adds, "By working with such a strong and flexible partner as Columbus State, we have been able to craft an educational opportunity that will prepare aspiring youth who want to pursue career in banking, without breaking the bank. As Heartland continues to expand, were going to seek potential candidates who possess the skill set achieved in this program."

For more information about the Certificate of Banking Fundamentals program, please visit http://www.cscc.edu/academics/departments/finance/fundamentals-of-banking.shtml or call (614) 287-5353. 

About Heartland BancCorp
Heartland BancCorp is a registered Ohio bank holding company and the parent of Heartland Bank, which operates thirteen full-service, banking offices. Heartland Bank, founded in 1911, provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; alternative investment services; insurance services; and other financial products and services.  Heartland Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve, a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Heartland BancCorp is currently quoted on the OTC Markets (OTCQB) under the symbol HLAN. Learn more about Heartland Bank at HeartlandBank.com.

In May 2016, Heartland was ranked #77 on the American Banker magazine’s list of “Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks and Thrifts” based on three-year average return on equity (“ROE”) as of 12/31/15.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release.  It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to implement its strategy and expand its lending operations.

Media Contact:
G. Scott McComb
614-337-4600