<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>hills8k.txt
<TEXT>
                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

[x] CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15 (d)
    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported: May 13, 2003).

                              HILLS BANCORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Iowa                        0-12668                   42-1208067
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
     of  Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

                         131 Main St, Hills, Iowa 52235
                      -----------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (319) 679-2291

                                       1
<PAGE>

ITEM 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

McGladrey  &  Pullen,  LLP is  currently  the  independent  auditors  for  Hills
Bancorporation,  (the  Company).  On May 14,  2003,  management  of the  Company
notified  McGladrey  and  Pullen,  LLP that  their  appointment  as  independent
auditors  was  terminated  effective  May 13,  2003.  KPMG  LLP was  engaged  as
independent auditors effective upon McGladrey & Pullen,  LLP's termination.  The
decision to change auditors was approved by the Audit Committee and the Board of
Directors.

In  connection  with the audits of the two fiscal years ended  December 31, 2002
and 2001, and the subsequent  interim period through May 13, 2003, there were no
disagreements  with  McGladrey  &  Pullen,  LLP  on  any  matter  of  accounting
principles or practices,  financial statement  disclosure,  or auditing scope or
procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have
caused them to make  reference in  connection  with their opinion to the subject
matter of the disagreement.

The audit  reports of  McGladrey  & Pullen,  LLP on the  consolidated  financial
statements of Hills  Bancorporation  as of and for the years ended  December 31,
2002 and 2001, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor
were they qualified or modified as to  uncertainty,  audit scope,  or accounting
principles. A letter from McGladrey & Pullen, LLP is attached as Exhibit 16.1.

ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

Letter from McGladrey & Pullen, LLP to the Securities  Exchange Commission dated
May 14, 2003.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                          Hills Bancorporation

                                                          BY: /s/ James G. Pratt
                                                              ------------------
                                                              James G. Pratt
                                                              Treasurer


                                       3
<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit List


Exhibit Number       Description of Document                         Page Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       16.1          Letter from McGladrey & Pullen, LLP                  3
                     to the Securities and Exchange Commission
                     dated May 14, 2003


                                       4


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