Heartland Financial USA , the Iowa-based banking group which counts wealth management among its services, has announced the planned retirement in April 2011 of Paul Peckosh, executive vice president, wealth management.

Mr Peckosh, who is responsible for the administration of wealth management services at the seven Heartland banks with trust powers, has held the position of executive vice president, wealth management since 2008, the firm said in a statement. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of Heartland from 1999.

Mr Peckosh has been employed by Dubuque Bank and Trust Company, a subsidiary of Heartland, since 1975.

"For more than 35 years, Paul has served in the critical roles of strategic planning and directing Heartland's wealth management services that began as a trust department with just four employees and assets of $3.5 million. Now as the wealth management group, it has more than 60 employees, provides services in seven states, and has more than $1.7 billion in assets under its supervision," said Lynn Fuller, chairman, president and chief executive of Heartland.

A replacement for Mr Peckosh has yet to be selected.