Heartland BancCorp Announces New Corporate Center in Whitehall Gahanna, OH – March 17, 2016 – Heartland BancCorp (“the company,” and “the bank”) (OTCQB: HLAN), announced today the location of its new corporate center, a six acre site in Whitehall along North Hamilton Road, at the gateway of Whitehall Community Park. As part of the corporate center building, Heartland Bank will open its 15th branch office in central Ohio to serve the Whitehall community. Coincidentally, the location, just south of 5th Avenue, is less than half a
mile from the Historic Port Columbus Terminal that the community bank attempted to restore for its headquarters in 2015. Initial plans call for the new two story building to be 60,000 square feet, containing the corporate offices and all support areas of the 105 year old community bank. Moody Nolan has been selected as the architect of record on this
project.

“Thanks to the continued loyalty of our clients and our best of breed community bankers, we continue to successfully expand community banking in central Ohio. I am excited to be able to partner with the City of Whitehall on multiple fronts,” said G. Scott McComb, Chairman, President and CEO of Heartland Bank. Leveraging the 96 acre Community Park location, the bank will have an employee fitness facility and locker rooms, as well as an outdoor veranda overlooking the park for corporate and business events.

“Heartland Bank exemplifies the type of business Whitehall hopes to attract. We look forward to a strong partnership with the Heartland Bank team,” stated Whitehall Mayor Kim Maggard.

“Heartland Bank’s decision to locate its corporate headquarters in Whitehall continues our development momentum. Scott McComb’s reputation as a community ambassador is well known in central Ohio and we’re excited to have Heartland here in Whitehall,” said Economic Development Director Zach Woodruff.

About Heartland BancCorp

Heartland BancCorp is a registered Ohio bank holding company and the parent of Heartland Bank, which operates twelve 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 2015, 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 12/31/14.

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.