Edgar Filing: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-21923

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Illinois		36-3873352

(State of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

(Address of principal executive offices)

(847) 615-4096

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer ¨	Non-accelerated filer ¨	Smaller reporting company ¨
	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock - no par value, 23,606,279 shares, as of May 7, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
PART I. — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.	Financial Statements		1-22

ITEM 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		23-49

ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		50-52

ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures		53

PART II. — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.	Legal Proceedings		NA

ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors		53

ITEM 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		53

ITEM 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		NA

ITEM 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		NA

ITEM 5.	Other Information		NA

ITEM 6.	Exhibits		54

	Signatures		55

PART I

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION


	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(In thousands)	2008			2007			2007

Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	160,890		$	170,190		$	124,957
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements		280,408			90,964			146,747
Interest bearing deposits with banks		11,280			10,410			16,417
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value		1,110,854			1,303,837			1,696,156
Trading account securities		1,185			1,571			1,746
Brokerage customer receivables		22,786			24,206			22,946
Mortgage loans held-for-sale (includes $86,634 carried at fair value at March 31, 2008)		102,324			109,552			117,082
Loans, net of unearned income		6,874,916			6,801,602			6,545,906
Less: Allowance for loan losses		53,758			50,389			46,526

Net loans		6,821,158			6,751,213			6,499,380
Premises and equipment, net		344,863			339,297			320,924
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		583,648			273,678			178,527
Goodwill		276,121			276,204			269,092
Other intangible assets, net		16,949			17,737			20,630

Total assets	$	9,732,466		$	9,368,859		$	9,414,604


Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	670,433		$	664,264		$	651,075
Interest bearing		6,813,149			6,807,177			7,015,728

Total deposits		7,483,582			7,471,441			7,666,803

Notes payable		70,300			60,700			47,750
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		434,482			415,183			394,519
Other borrowings		293,091			254,434			159,425
Subordinated notes		75,000			75,000			75,000
Junior subordinated debentures		249,621			249,662			249,787
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		373,097			102,884			91,579

Total liabilities		8,979,173			8,629,304			8,684,863


Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—			—			—
Common stock		26,416			26,281			25,944
Surplus		544,135			539,127			524,101
Treasury Stock		(122,252	)		(122,196	)		(77,498	)
Common stock warrants		459			459			665
Retained earnings		314,038			309,556			272,331
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(9,503	)		(13,672	)		(15,802	)

Total shareholders’ equity		753,293			739,555			729,741

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	9,732,466		$	9,368,859		$	9,414,604

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)	2008			2007

Interest income
Interest and fees on loans	$	118,953		$	127,865
Interest bearing deposits with banks		120			265
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements		634			2,826
Securities		16,081			20,885
Trading account securities		31			7
Brokerage customer receivables		357			459

Total interest income		136,176			152,307

Interest expense
Interest on deposits		61,430			75,890
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank advances		4,556			4,129
Interest on notes payable and other borrowings		2,770			1,728
Interest on subordinated notes		1,087			1,295
Interest on junior subordinated debentures		4,591			4,595

Total interest expense		74,434			87,637

Net interest income		61,742			64,670
Provision for credit losses		8,555			1,807

Net interest income after provision for credit losses		53,187			62,863

Non-interest income
Wealth management		7,865			7,619
Mortgage banking		6,096			5,463
Service charges on deposit accounts		2,373			1,888
Gain on sales of premium finance receivables		1,141			269
Administrative services		713			1,013
(Losses) gains on available-for-sale securities, net		(1,333	)		47
Other		7,701			3,434

Total non-interest income		24,556			19,733

Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits		36,672			35,917
Equipment		3,926			3,590
Occupancy, net		5,867			5,435
Data processing		2,798			2,476
Advertising and marketing		999			1,078
Professional fees		2,068			1,603
Amortization of other intangible assets		788			969
Other		9,715			8,676

Total non-interest expense		62,833			59,744

Income before income taxes		14,910			22,852
Income tax expense		5,205			8,171

Net income	$	9,705		$	14,681


Net income per common share — Basic	$	0.41		$	0.59


Net income per common share — Diluted	$	0.40		$	0.57


Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.18		$	0.16

Weighted average common shares outstanding		23,518			25,029
Dilutive potential common shares		582			817

Average common shares and dilutive common shares		24,100			25,846

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)


																		Accumulated
																		Other
	Compre-											Common						Compre-			Total
	hensive			Common					Treasury			Stock			Retained			hensive			Shareholders’
(In thousands)	Income			Stock		Surplus			Stock			Warrants			Earnings			Income (Loss)			Equity


Balance at December 31, 2006				$	25,802	$	519,233		$	(16,343	)	$	681		$	261,734		$	(17,761	)	$	773,346

Comprehensive income:
Net income	$	14,681			—		—			—			—			14,681			—			14,681
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment		2,384			—		—			—			—			—			2,384			2,384
Unrealized losses on derivative instruments		(425	)		—		—			—			—			—			(425	)		(425	)

Comprehensive income	$	16,640


Cash dividends declared on common stock					—		—			—			—			(4,084	)		—			(4,084	)

Common stock repurchases					—		—			(61,155	)		—			—			—			(61,155	)

Stock-based compensation					—		2,965			—			—			—			—			2,965

Common stock issued for:
Exercise of stock options					44		1,223			—			—			—			—			1,267
Restricted stock awards					81		(81	)		—			—			—			—			—
Exercise of common stock warrants					1		45			—			(16	)		—			—			30
Director compensation plan					16		716			—			—			—			—			732

Balance at March 31, 2007				$	25,944	$	524,101		$	(77,498	)	$	665		$	272,331		$	(15,802	)	$	729,741


Balance at December 31, 2007				$	26,281	$	539,127		$	(122,196	)	$	459		$	309,556		$	(13,672	)	$	739,555

Comprehensive income:
Net income	$	9,705			—		—			—			—			9,705			—			9,705
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment		8,091			—		—			—			—			—			8,091			8,091
Unrealized losses on derivative instruments		(3,922	)		—		—			—			—			—			(3,922	)		(3,922	)

Comprehensive income	$	13,874


Cash dividends declared on common stock					—		—			—			—			(4,231	)		—			(4,231	)

Common stock repurchases					—		—			(56	)		—			—			—			(56	)

Stock-based compensation					—		2,498			—			—			—			—			2,498

Cumulative effect of change in accounting for split-dollar life insurance					—		—			—			—			(992	)		—			(992	)

Common stock issued for:
Exercise of stock options					62		1,703			—			—			—			—			1,765
Restricted stock awards					44		(324	)		—			—			—			—			(280	)
Director compensation plan					29		1,131			—			—			—			—			1,160

Balance at March 31, 2008				$	26,416	$	544,135		$	(122,252	)	$	459		$	314,038		$	(9,503	)	$	753,293


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2008			2007
Other Comprehensive Income:
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities arising during the period, net	$	11,434		$	4,044
Unrealized losses on derivative instruments arising during the period, net		(6,380	)		(687	)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income, net		(1,333	)		47
Less: Income tax expense		2,218			1,351

Other Comprehensive Income	$	4,169		$	1,959

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(In thousands)	2008			2007

Operating Activities:
Net income	$	9,705		$	14,681
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for credit losses		8,555			1,807
Depreciation and amortization		5,018			4,954
Stock-based compensation expense		2,498			2,965
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements		555			512
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements		(394	)		(398	)
Net accretion of premium on securities		(286	)		(213	)
Mortgage servicing rights fair value change and amortization, net		829			182
Originations and purchases of mortgage loans held-for-sale		(462,860	)		(485,729	)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans held-for-sale		473,723			520,636
Bank owned life insurance income, net of claims		(613	)		(809	)
Gain on sales of premium finance receivables		(1,141	)		(269	)
Decrease in trading securities, net		386			578
Net decrease in brokerage customer receivables		1,420			1,094
Gain on mortgage loans sold		(3,635	)		(3,658	)
Losses (gains) on available-for-sale securities, net		1,333			(47	)
Gain on sales of premises and equipment, net		—			(3	)
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable and other assets, net		(2,865	)		2,367
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable and other liabilities, net		15,846			(13,307	)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities		48,074			45,343


Investing Activities:
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities		364,956			340,435
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities		187,292			29,976
Purchases of available-for-sale securities		(400,110	)		(222,548	)
Proceeds from sales of premium finance receivables		114,805			—
Net (increase) decrease in interest-bearing deposits with banks		(870	)		2,842
Net increase in loans		(200,808	)		(50,558	)
Purchases of premises and equipment, net		(9,896	)		(13,899	)

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities		55,369			86,248


Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in deposit accounts		12,106			(202,477	)
Increase (decrease) in other borrowings, net		38,657			(2,647	)
Increase in notes payable, net		9,600			35,000
Increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances, net		19,301			69,000
Excess tax benefits from stock–based compensation arrangements		394			398
Issuance of common shares resulting from exercise of stock options, employee stock purchase plan and conversion of common stock warrants		930			786
Common stock repurchases		(56	)		(61,155	)
Dividends paid		(4,231	)		(4,084	)

Net Cash Provided by (Used for) by Financing Activities		76,701			(165,179	)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		180,144			(33,588	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		261,154			305,292

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	441,298		$	271,704

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries (“Wintrust” or “the Company”) presented herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of management reflect all necessary adjustments of a normal or recurring nature for a fair presentation of results as of the dates and for the periods covered by the consolidated financial statements.

Wintrust is a financial holding company currently engaged in the business of providing traditional community banking services to customers in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin. Additionally, the Company operates various non-bank subsidiaries.

As of March 31, 2008, Wintrust had 15 wholly-owned bank subsidiaries (collectively, “the Banks”), nine of which the Company started as de novo institutions, including Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company (“Lake Forest Bank”), Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company (“Hinsdale Bank”), North Shore Community Bank & Trust Company (“North Shore Bank”), Libertyville Bank & Trust Company (“Libertyville Bank”), Barrington Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Barrington Bank”), Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Crystal Lake Bank”), Northbrook Bank & Trust Company (“Northbrook Bank”), Beverly Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Beverly Bank”) and Old Plank Trail Community Bank, N.A. (“Old Plank Trail Bank”). The Company acquired Advantage National Bank (“Advantage Bank”) in October 2003, Village Bank & Trust (“Village Bank”) in December 2003, Northview Bank and Trust (“Northview Bank”) in September 2004, Town Bank in October 2004, State Bank of The Lakes in January 2005, First Northwest Bank in March 2005 and Hinsbrook Bank and Trust (“Hinsbrook Bank”) in May 2006. In December 2004, Northview Bank’s Wheaton branch became its main office, it was renamed Wheaton Bank & Trust (“Wheaton Bank”) and its two Northfield locations became branches of Northbrook Bank and its Mundelein location became a branch of Libertyville Bank. In May 2005, First Northwest Bank was merged into Village Bank. In November 2006, Hinsbrook Bank’s Geneva branch was renamed St. Charles Bank & Trust (“St. Charles Bank”), its Willowbrook, Downers Grove and Darien locations became branches of Hinsdale Bank and its Glen Ellyn location became a branch of Wheaton Bank.

The Company provides, on a national basis, loans to businesses to finance insurance premiums on their commercial insurance policies (“premium finance receivables”) through First Insurance Funding Corporation (“FIFC”). In 2007, FIFC began to make loans to irrevocable life insurance trusts to purchase life insurance policies for high net-worth individuals. The loans are originated through independent insurance agents or financial advisors and legal counsel. The life insurance policy is the primary collateral on the loan and, in most cases, the loans are also secured by a letter of credit. FIFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crabtree Capital Corporation (“Crabtree”) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lake Forest Bank.

In November 2007, the Company acquired Broadway Premium Funding Corporation (“Broadway”). Broadway also provides loans to businesses to finance insurance premiums, mainly through insurance agents and brokers in the northeastern portion of the United States and California. Broadway is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FIFC.

Wintrust, through Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee (“Tricom”), provides high-yielding short-term accounts receivable financing (“Tricom finance receivables”) and value-added out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to the temporary staffing industry, with clients located throughout the United States. Tricom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hinsdale Bank.

The Company provides a full range of wealth management services through its trust, asset management and broker-dealer subsidiaries. Trust and investment services are provided at the Banks through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Wayne Hummer Trust Company, N.A. (“WHTC”), a de novo company started in 1998. Wayne Hummer Investments, LLC (“WHI”) is a broker-dealer providing a full range of private client and securities brokerage services to clients located primarily in the Midwest. WHI has office locations staffed by one or more registered financial advisors in a majority of the Company’s Banks. WHI also provides a full range of investment services to individuals through a network of relationships with community-based financial institutions primarily in Illinois. WHI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of North Shore Bank. Wayne Hummer Asset Management Company (“WHAMC”) provides money management services and advisory services to individuals, institutions and municipal and tax-exempt organizations, in addition to portfolio management and financial supervision for a wide range of pension and profit-sharing plans. WHAMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wintrust. WHI and WHAMC were acquired in 2002, and along with WHTC are collectively referred to as “Wealth Management”. In February 2003, the Company acquired Lake Forest Capital Management (“LFCM”), a registered investment advisor, which was merged into WHAMC.

In May 2004, the Company acquired SGB Corporation d/b/a WestAmerica Mortgage Company (“WestAmerica”) and its affiliate, Guardian Real Estate Services, Inc. (“Guardian”). WestAmerica engages primarily in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market, and Guardian provides document preparation and other loan closing services to WestAmerica and a network of mortgage brokers. WestAmerica maintains principal origination offices in ten states, including Illinois, and originates loans in other states through wholesale and correspondent offices. WestAmerica and Guardian are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Barrington Bank.

Wintrust Information Technology Services Company provides information technology support, item capture, imaging and statement preparation services to the Wintrust subsidiaries and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wintrust.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and do not include information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Operating results reported for the three-month and year-to-date periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire year. Reclassifications of certain prior period amounts have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Management believes that the estimates made are reasonable, however, changes in estimates may be required if economic or other conditions develop differently from management’s expectations. Certain policies and accounting principles inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Management views critical accounting policies to be those which are highly complex or dependent on subjective or complex judgments, estimates and assumptions, and where changes in those estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the financial statements. Management currently views the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for losses on lending-related commitments, the valuation of the retained interest in the premium finance receivables sold, the valuations required for impairment testing of goodwill, the valuation and accounting for derivative instruments and the accounting for income taxes as the areas that are most complex and require the most subjective and complex judgments and as such could be the most subject to revision as new information becomes available.

Descriptions of our significant accounting policies are included in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report. There have been no significant changes to these policies, except as discussed in Note 2 – Recent Accounting Developments, for mortgage loans held-for-sale.

(2) Recent Accounting Developments

In September 2006, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) consensus on EITF Issue 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements” (“EITF 06-4”). The EITF is limited to the recognition of a liability and related compensation costs for endorsement split-dollar insurance arrangements that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods. Therefore, the provisions of EITF 06-4 do not apply to a split-dollar insurance arrangement that provides a specified benefit to an employee that is limited to the employee’s active service period with an employer. EITF 06-4 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company adopted EITF 06-4 on January 1, 2008 and established a liability for postretirement split-dollar insurance benefits by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings of $992,000.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosure about the information used to measure fair value. The statement applies whenever other statements require, or permit, assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The statement does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances and is effective January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not materially impact the consolidated financial statements. See Note 11 – Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities, for a further discussion of this FASB Statement and the related required disclosures.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 provides entities with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value and is effective January 1, 2008. The Company elected to measure at fair value new mortgage loans originated by WestAmerica on or after January 1, 2008. Since SFAS 159 was elected for loans originated on or after January 1, 2008, there was no effect to the Company’s financial statements at the date of adoption. The fair value of the loans is determined by reference to investor price sheets for loan products with similar characteristics. Before electing this new statement, WestAmerica accounted for loans held-for-sale at the lower of cost or market (commonly referred to as LOCOM). By choosing to measure loans originated for sale into the secondary market at fair value, the earnings volatility caused by measuring the related forward commitments to sell such loans at fair value is mitigated. See Note 11 – Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities, for a more detailed discussion of fair value measurements.

In November 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109 (“SAB 109”) “Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value through Earnings.” SAB 109 states that the expected cash flows related to servicing the loan should be included in the measurement of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value. Prior to SAB 109, this component of value was not incorporated into the fair value of the loan commitment. SAB 109 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The adoption of SAB 109 did not have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the full fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition date; the immediate expense recognition of transaction costs; and accounting for restructuring plans separately from the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact the new pronouncement will have on its financial statements.

(3) Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers cash and cash equivalents to include cash on hand, cash items in the process of collection, non-interest bearing amounts due from correspondent banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements with original maturities of three months or less.

(4) Available-for-sale Securities

The following table is a summary of the available-for-sale securities portfolio as of the dates shown:


	March 31, 2008				December 31, 2007				March 31, 2007
	Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair
(Dollars in thousands)	Cost		Value		Cost		Value		Cost		Value

U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—	$	33,161	$	33,109	$	33,167	$	31,440
U.S. Government agencies		195,457		196,094		321,548		322,043		531,010		524,255
Municipal		58,458		58,753		49,376		49,127		48,967		48,648
Corporate notes and other debt		43,997		40,339		45,920		42,802		59,594		58,849
Mortgage-backed		698,594		701,482		699,166		688,846		857,267		840,365
Federal Reserve/FHLB stock and other equity securities		114,507		114,186		167,591		167,910		188,635		192,599

Total available-for-sale securities	$	1,111,013	$	1,110,854	$	1,316,762	$	1,303,837	$	1,718,640	$	1,696,156

The decrease in U.S. Government agencies as of March 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007 is primarily related to the maturity of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) bonds partially offset by new purchases. As a result of the current interest rate environment and the Company’s balance sheet management strategy, not all maturities were replaced with new purchases.

The fair value of available-for-sale securities includes investments totaling approximately $127.9 million with unrealized losses of $2.1 million, which have been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months. Available-for-sale securities are reviewed for possible other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis. During this review, the Company considers the severity and duration of the unrealized losses as well as its intent and ability to hold the securities until recovery, taking into account balance sheet management strategies and its market view and outlook. The Company also assesses the nature of the unrealized losses taking into consideration market factors, such as the widening of general credit spreads, the industry in which the issuer operates and market supply and demand, as well as the creditworthiness of the issuer. As a result of other-than-temporary impairment reviews during the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized $1.9 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on certain corporate notes and other debt securities. The Company concluded that none of the other unrealized losses on the available-for-sale securities portfolio represent an other-than-temporary impairment as of March 31, 2008.

(5) Loans

The following table is a summary of the loan portfolio as of the dates shown:


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007			2007

Balance:
Commercial and commercial real estate	$	4,534,383		$	4,408,661		$	4,086,994
Home equity		695,446			678,298			650,826
Residential real estate		233,556			226,686			204,590
Premium finance receivables		1,017,011			1,078,185			1,228,013
Indirect consumer loans		230,771			241,393			245,420
Tricom finance receivables		23,478			27,719			39,436
Other loans		140,271			140,660			90,627

Total loans, net of unearned income	$	6,874,916		$	6,801,602		$	6,545,906


Mix:
Commercial and commercial real estate		66	%		65	%		62	%
Home equity		10			10			10
Residential real estate		3			3			3
Premium finance receivables		15			16			19
Indirect consumer loans		3			3			4
Tricom finance receivables		1			1			1
Other loans		2			2			1

Total loans, net of unearned income		100	%		100	%		100	%

Indirect consumer loans include auto, boat, snowmobile and other indirect consumer loans. Premium finance receivables are recorded net of unearned income. The unearned income portions of premium finance receivables were $21.8 million at March 31, 2008, $23.3 million at December 31, 2007 and $29.1 million at March 31, 2007. Total loans include net deferred loan fees and costs and fair value purchase accounting adjustments totaling $7.4 million at March 31, 2008 and $6.6 million at December 31, 2007 and $5.5 million at March 31, 2007.

(6) Deposits

The following table is a summary of deposits as of the dates shown:


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007			2007

Balance:
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	670,433		$	664,264		$	651,075
NOW accounts		1,013,603			1,014,780			894,513
Wealth management deposits		647,798			599,426			538,402
Money market accounts		797,215			701,972			719,751
Savings accounts		325,096			297,586			311,566
Time certificates of deposit		4,029,437			4,193,413			4,551,496

Total deposits	$	7,483,582		$	7,471,441		$	7,666,803


Mix:
Non-interest bearing deposits		9	%		9	%		9	%
NOW accounts		13			14			12
Wealth management deposits		9			8			7
Money market accounts		11			9			9
Savings accounts		4			4			4
Time certificates of deposit		54			56			59

Total deposits		100	%		100	%		100	%

Wealth management deposits represent FDIC-insured deposits at the Banks from customers of the Company’s wealth management subsidiaries.

(7) Notes Payable, Federal Home Loan Bank Advances, Other Borrowings and Subordinated Notes

The following table is a summary of notes payable, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, other borrowings and subordinated notes as of the dates shown:


	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008		2007		2007

Notes payable	$	70,300	$	60,700	$	47,750
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		434,482		415,183		394,519

Other borrowings:
Federal funds purchased		639		4,223		—
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		290,585		248,334		157,759
Other		1,867		1,877		1,666

Total other borrowings		293,091		254,434		159,425


Subordinated notes		75,000		75,000		75,000


Total notes payable, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, other borrowings and subordinated notes	$	872,873	$	805,317	$	676,694

Notes payable are used, as needed, to provide capital to fund continued growth at the Banks and to serve as an interim source of funds for acquisitions, common stock repurchases or other general corporate purposes. The $70.3 million balance at March 31, 2008 represents the outstanding balance on a $101.0 million loan agreement with an unaffiliated bank. The loan agreement consists of a $100.0 million revolving note, which matures on June 1, 2008 and a $1.0 million note that matures on June 1, 2015. Interest is calculated, at the Company’s option, at a floating rate equal to either: (1) LIBOR plus 115 basis points or (2) the greater of the lender’s prime rate or the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points. The loan agreement is secured by the stock of some of the Company’s bank subsidiaries.

Federal Home Loan Bank advances consist primarily of fixed rate obligations of the Banks and are collateralized by qualifying residential real estate and home equity loans and certain securities. FHLB advances are stated at par value of the debt adjusted for unamortized fair value adjustments recorded in connection with advances acquired through acquisitions.

At March 31, 2008, securities sold under repurchase agreements represent $183.4 million of customer balances in sweep accounts in connection with master repurchase agreements at the Banks and $107.2 million of short-term borrowings from brokers.

The subordinated notes represent three $25.0 million notes, issued in October 2002, April 2003 and October 2005 (funded in May 2006). The $25.0 million notes require annual principal payments of $5.0 million beginning in the sixth year, with final maturities in the tenth year. The first $5.0 million payment is due in the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company may redeem the subordinated notes at any time prior to maturity. Interest on each note is calculated at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 130 basis points.

(8) Junior Subordinated Debentures

As of March 31, 2008, the Company owned 100% of the common securities of nine trusts, Wintrust Capital Trust III, Wintrust Statutory Trust IV, Wintrust Statutory Trust V, Wintrust Capital Trust VII, Wintrust Capital Trust VIII, Wintrust Capital Trust IX, Northview Capital Trust I, Town Bankshares Capital Trust I, and First Northwest Capital Trust I (the “Trusts”) set up to provide long-term financing. The Northview, Town and First Northwest capital trusts were acquired as part of the acquisitions of Northview Financial Corporation, Town Bankshares, Ltd., and First Northwest Bancorp, Inc., respectively. The Trusts were formed for purposes of issuing trust preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the issuance of the trust preferred securities and common securities solely in junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company (or assumed by the Company in connection with an acquisition), with the same maturities and interest rates as the trust preferred securities. The junior subordinated debentures are the sole assets of the Trusts. In each Trust the common securities represent approximately 3% of the junior subordinated debentures and the trust preferred securities represent approximately 97% of the junior subordinated debentures.

The Trusts are reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as unconsolidated subsidiaries. Accordingly, the junior subordinated debentures, which include the Company’s ownership interest in the common securities of the Trusts, are reflected as “Junior subordinated debentures” and the common securities are included in available-for-sale securities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures as of March 31, 2008. The junior subordinated debentures represent the par value of the obligations owed to the Trusts and basis adjustments for unamortized fair value adjustments recognized at the respective acquisition dates for the Northview, Town and First Northwest obligations.

Junior

Earliest

Trust Preferred

Subordinated

Rate

Rate at

Issue

Maturity

Redemption

(Dollars in thousands)

Securities

Debentures

Structure

3/31/08

Date

Wintrust Capital Trust III

25,000

25,774

L+3.25

7.51

04/2003

04/2033

04/2008

Wintrust Statutory Trust IV

20,000

20,619

L+2.80

5.50

12/2003

12/2033

12/2008

Wintrust Statutory Trust V

40,000

41,238

L+2.60

5.30

05/2004

05/2034

06/2009

Wintrust Capital Trust VII

50,000

51,550

L+1.95

4.75

12/2004

03/2035

03/2010

Wintrust Capital Trust VIII

40,000

41,238

L+1.45

4.15

08/2005

09/2035

09/2010

Wintrust Capital Trust IX

50,000

51,547

Fixed

6.84

09/2006

09/2036

09/2011

Northview Capital Trust I

6,000

6,216

L+3.00

6.24

08/2003

11/2033

08/2008

Town Bankshares Capital Trust I

6,000

6,223

L+3.00

6.24

08/2003

11/2033

08/2008

First Northwest Capital Trust I

5,000

5,216

L+3.00

5.70

05/2004

05/2034

05/2009

Total

249,621

5.61

The junior subordinated debentures totaled $249.6 million at March 31, 2008, $249.7 million at December 31, 2007 and $249.8 million at March 31, 2007.

The interest rates on the variable rate junior subordinated debentures are based on the three-month LIBOR rate and reset on a quarterly basis. The interest rate on the Wintrust Capital Trust IX junior subordinated debentures changes to a variable rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.63% effective September 15, 2011. At March 31, 2008, the weighted average contractual interest rate on the junior subordinated debentures was 5.61%. In August 2006, the Company entered into $175 million of interest rate swaps to hedge the variable cash flows on certain junior subordinated debentures. The hedge-adjusted rate on the junior subordinated debentures on March 31, 2008, was 7.30%. Distributions on all issues are payable on a quarterly basis.

The Company has guaranteed the payment of distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption of the trust preferred securities, in each case to the extent of funds held by the Trusts. The Company and the Trusts believe that, taken together, the obligations of the Company under the guarantees, the junior subordinated debentures, and other related agreements provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of all of the obligations of the Trusts under the trust preferred securities. Subject to certain limitations, the Company has the right to defer the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures at any time, or from time to time, for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters. The trust preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the junior subordinated debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption. The junior subordinated debentures are redeemable in whole or in part prior to maturity at any time after the dates shown in the table, and earlier at the discretion of the Company if certain conditions are met, and, in any event, only after the Company has obtained Federal Reserve approval, if then required under applicable guidelines or regulations.

The junior subordinated debentures, subject to certain limitations, qualify as Tier 1 capital of the Company for regulatory purposes. On February 28, 2005, the Federal Reserve issued a final rule that retains Tier 1 capital treatment for these instruments but with stricter limits. Under the new rule, which is effective on March 31, 2009, and has a transition period until then, the aggregate amount of the junior subordinated debentures and certain other capital elements is limited to 25% of Tier 1 capital elements (including junior subordinated debentures), net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability. The amount of junior subordinated debentures and certain other capital elements in excess of the limit could be included in Tier 2 capital, subject to restrictions. Applying the final rule at March 31, 2008, the Company would still be considered well-capitalized under regulatory capital guidelines.

(9) Segment Information

The segment financial information provided in the following tables has been derived from the internal profitability reporting system used by management to monitor and manage the financial performance of the Company. The Company evaluates segment performance based on after-tax profit or loss and other appropriate profitability measures common to each segment. Certain indirect expenses have been allocated based on actual volume measurements and other criteria, as appropriate. Inter-segment revenue and transfers are generally accounted for at current market prices. The parent and inter-segment eliminations reflect parent company information and inter-segment eliminations. The net interest income and segment profit of the banking segment includes income and related interest costs from portfolio loans that were purchased from the premium finance segment. For purposes of internal segment profitability analysis, management reviews the results of its premium finance segment as if all loans originated and sold to the banking segment were retained within that segment’s operations, thereby causing inter-segment eliminations. Similarly, for purposes of analyzing the contribution from the wealth management segment, management allocates the net interest income earned by the banking segment on deposit balances of customers of the wealth management segment to the wealth management segment. (See “Wealth management deposits” discussion in Deposits section of this report for more information on these deposits.) The following table presents a summary of certain operating information for each reportable segment for the three months ended for the period shown:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,						$ Change in			% Change in
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007			Contribution			Contribution
Net interest income:
Banking	$	60,684		$	63,589		$	(2,905	)		(5)	%
Premium finance		16,687			14,917			1,770			12
Tricom		856			953			(97	)		(10	)
Wealth management		4,806			2,998			1,808			60
Parent and inter-segment eliminations		(21,291	)		(17,787	)		(3,504	)		(20	)

Total net interest income	$	61,742		$	64,670		$	(2,928	)		(5)	%


Non-interest income:
Banking	$	17,264		$	10,062		$	7,202			72	%
Premium finance		1,141			269			872			N/M
Tricom		714			1,013			(299	)		(30	)
Wealth management		9,685			9,419			266			3
Parent and inter-segment eliminations		(4,248	)		(1,030	)		(3,218	)		N/M

Total non-interest income	$	24,556		$	19,733		$	4,823			24	%


Segment profit (loss):
Banking	$	14,557		$	16,298		$	(1,741	)		(11)	%
Premium finance		8,390			7,417			973			13
Tricom		142			307			(165	)		(54	)
Wealth management		2,769			1,543			1,226			79
Parent and inter-segment eliminations		(16,153	)		(10,884	)		(5,269	)		48

Total segment profit	$	9,705		$	14,681		$	(4,976	)		(34)	%


Segment assets:
Banking	$	9,563,882		$	9,256,937		$	306,945			3	%
Premium finance		1,059,573			1,285,489			(225,916	)		(18	)
Tricom		38,101			51,001			(12,900	)		(25	)
Wealth management		61,293			57,096			4,197			7
Parent and inter-segment eliminations		(990,383	)		(1,235,919	)		245,536			(20	)

Total segment assets	$	9,732,466		$	9,414,604		$	317,862			3	%

N/M = Not Meaningful

(10) Derivative Financial Instruments

Management uses derivative financial instruments to protect against the risk of interest rate movements on the value of certain assets and liabilities and on future cash flows. The instruments that have been used by the Company include interest rate swaps and interest rate caps with indices that relate to the pricing of specific liabilities and covered call options that relate to specific investment securities. In addition, interest rate lock commitments provided to customers for the origination of mortgage loans that will be sold into the secondary market as well as forward agreements the Company enters into to sell such loans to protect itself against adverse changes in interest rates are deemed to be derivative instruments.

Derivative instruments have inherent risks, primarily market risk and credit risk. Market risk is associated with changes in interest rates and credit risk relates to the risk that the counterparty will fail to perform according to the terms of the agreement. The amounts potentially subject to market and credit risks are the streams of interest payments under the contracts and the market value of the derivative instrument which is determined based on the interaction of the notional amount of the contract with the underlying, and not the notional principal amounts used to express the volume of the transactions. Management monitors the market risk and credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments as part of its overall Asset/Liability management process.

In accordance with SFAS 133, the Company recognizes all derivative financial instruments in the consolidated financial statements at fair value regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the instrument. Derivative financial instruments are included in other assets or other liabilities, as appropriate, on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are either recognized periodically in income or in shareholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income depending on whether the derivative financial instrument qualifies for hedge accounting, and if so, whether it qualifies as a fair value hedge or cash flow hedge. Generally, changes in fair values of derivatives accounted for as fair value hedges are recorded in income in the same period and in the same income statement line as changes in the fair values of the hedged items that relate to the hedged risk(s). Changes in fair values of derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective hedges, are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income, net of deferred taxes. Changes in fair values of derivative financial instruments not qualifying as hedges pursuant to SFAS 133 are reported in non-interest income. Derivative contracts are valued by a third party and are periodically validated by comparison with valuations provided by the respective counterparties.

Interest Rate Swaps

The tables below identify the Company’s interest rate swaps at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, which were entered into in August 2006 to hedge certain LIBOR-based liabilities (dollars in thousands):

March 31, 2008

Notional

Fair Value

Receive Rate

Pay Rate

Type of Hedging

Maturity Date

Amount

Gain (Loss)

(LIBOR)

(Fixed)

Relationship

Pay Fixed, Receive Variable:

September 2011

20,000

(1,594

)

2.70

5.25

Cash Flow

September 2011

40,000

(3,179

)

2.70

5.25

Cash Flow

October 2011

25,000

(1,987

)

4.26

5.26

Cash Flow

September 2013

50,000

(4,823

)

2.80

5.30

Cash Flow

September 2013

40,000

(3,864

)

2.70

5.30

Cash Flow

Total

175,000

(15,447

)


	December 31, 2007
	Notional		Fair Value			Receive Rate			Pay Rate			Type of Hedging
Maturity Date	Amount		Gain (Loss)			(LIBOR)			(Fixed)			Relationship


Pay Fixed, Receive Variable:
September 2011	$	20,000	$	(922	)		4.83	%		5.25	%	Cash Flow
September 2011		40,000		(1,847	)		4.83	%		5.25	%	Cash Flow
October 2011		25,000		(1,165	)		5.24	%		5.26	%	Cash Flow
September 2013		50,000		(2,852	)		4.99	%		5.30	%	Cash Flow
September 2013		40,000		(2,281	)		4.83	%		5.30	%	Cash Flow

Total	$	175,000	$	(9,067	)

The fair values reflect unrealized losses of $15.4 million at March 31, 2008 and $9.1 million at December 31, 2007 which were recorded as other liabilities. The change in fair values in the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net of tax, is separately disclosed in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive income.

These swaps are designated as cash flow hedges in accordance with SFAS 133. The Company uses the hypothetical derivative method to assess and measure effectiveness. No ineffectiveness was recorded on these swaps in the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

The Company’s banking subsidiaries offer certain derivative products directly to qualified commercial borrowers. The Company economically hedges customer derivative transactions by entering into offsetting derivatives executed with third parties. Derivative transactions executed as part of this program are not designated in SFAS 133 hedge relationships and are, therefore, marked-to-market through earnings each period. In most cases the derivatives have mirror-image terms, which results in the positions’ changes in fair value offsetting completely through earnings each period. However, to the extent that the derivatives are not a mirror-image, changes in fair value will not completely offset, resulting in some earnings impact each period. At March 31, 2008, the aggregate notional value of interest rate swaps with various commercial borrowers totaled approximately $39.5 million and the aggregate notional value of mirror-image interest rate swaps with third parties also totaled $39.5 million. These interest rate swaps mature between August 2010 and May 2016. These swaps were reported in the Company’s balance sheet by a derivative asset of $2.8 million and a derivative liability of $2.9 million. At December 31, 2007, the aggregate notional value of interest rate swaps with various commercial borrowers totaled approximately $32.6 million and the aggregate notional value of the mirror-image interest rate swaps with third parties also totaled $32.6 million. At December 31, 2007, these swaps were reported in the Company’s balance sheet by a derivative asset of $1.7 million and a derivative liability of $1.6 million. Interest rate swaps executed as part of this program are not reflected in the preceding tables.

Mortgage Banking Derivatives
The Company’s mortgage banking derivatives have not been designated in SFAS 133 hedge relationships. These derivatives include commitments to fund certain mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans. It is the Company’s practice to enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans when interest rate lock commitments are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of changes in interest rates on its commitments to fund the loans as well as on its portfolio of mortgage loans held-for-sale. At March 31, 2008, the Company had approximately $294 million of interest rate lock commitments and $391 million of forward commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans. The estimated fair values of these mortgage banking derivatives are reflected by a derivative asset of $772,000 and a derivative liability of $760,000. The fair values were estimated based on changes in mortgage rates from the dates of the commitments. Changes in the fair value of these mortgage banking derivatives are included in mortgage banking revenue.

Other Derivatives
Periodically, the Company will sell options to a bank or dealer for the right to purchase certain securities held within the Banks’ investment portfolios (covered call options). These option transactions are designed primarily to increase the total return associated with the investment securities portfolio. These options do not qualify as hedges pursuant to SFAS 133, and, accordingly, changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized as other non-interest income. The Company recognized premium income from these call option transactions of $6.8 million and $436,000 in the first quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were no covered call options outstanding as of March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 or March 31, 2007.

(11) Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities

Effective January 1, 2008, upon adoption of SFAS 157, the Company began to group financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the observability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:

	•		Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

	•		Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

	•		Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the above valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the assets or liabilities. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Available-for-sale and Trading account securities - Fair values for available-for-sale and trading account securities are based on quoted market prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches, such as matrix or model pricing or indicators from market makers.

Mortgage loans held-for-sale – Mortgage loans originated by WestAmerica on or after January 1, 2008 are carried at fair value. The fair value of mortgage loans held-for-sale is determined by reference to investor price sheets for loan products with similar characteristics.

Mortgage servicing rights – Fair value for mortgage servicing rights is determined utilizing a third party valuation model which stratifies the servicing rights into pools based on product type and interest rate. The fair value of each servicing rights pool is calculated based on the present value of estimated future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risk associated with that pool, given current market conditions. Estimates of fair value include assumptions about prepayment speeds, interest rates and other factors which are subject to change over time.

Derivative instruments – The Company’s derivative instruments include interest rate swaps, commitments to fund mortgages for sale into the secondary market (interest rate locks) and forward commitments to end investors for the sale of mortgage loans. Interest rate swaps are valued by a third party, using models that primarily use market observable inputs, such as yield curves, and are validated by comparison with valuations provided by the respective counterparties. The fair value for mortgage derivatives are based on changes in mortgage rates from the date of the commitments.

Retained interests from the sale of premium finance receivables – The fair value of retained interests, which include servicing rights and interest only strips, from the sale of premium finance receivables are based on certain observable inputs such as interest rates and credits spreads, as well as unobservable inputs such as prepayments, late payments and estimated net charge-offs.

The following table presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

March 31, 2008

(Dollars in thousands)

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Available-for-sale securities ⁽¹⁾

1,033,031

—

837,682

195,349

Trading account securities

1,185

—

Mortgage loans held-for-sale

86,634

—

86,634

—

Mortgage servicing rights

4,371

—

4,371

Derivative assets

3,602

—

3,602

—

Retained interests from the sale of

premium finance receivables

5,703

—

5,703

Total

1,134,526

1,185

927,918

205,423

Derivative liabilities

19,072

—

19,072

—


(1)		Excludes Federal Reserve and FHLB stock and the common securities issued by trusts formed by the Company in conjunction with Trust Preferred Securities offerings.

The aggregate remaining contractual principal balance outstanding as of March 31, 2008 for mortgage loans held-for-sale measured at fair value under SFAS 159 was $85.3 million while the aggregate fair value of mortgage loans held-for-sale was $86.6 million as shown in the above table. There were no nonaccrual loans or loans past due greater than 90 days and still accruing in the mortgage loans held-for-sale portfolio measured at fair value as of March 31, 2008.

The changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows:


	Available-			Mortgage
	for-sale			servicing			Retained
(Dollars in thousands)	securities			rights			Interests
Balance at January 1, 2008	$	95,514		$	4,730		$	4,480
Total net gains (losses) included in:
Net income ⁽¹⁾		—			(359	)		2,955
Other comprehensive income		—			—			—
Purchases, issuances and settlements, net		103,407			—			(1,732	)
Net transfers into/(out) of Level 3		(3,572	)		—			—

Balance at March 31, 2008	$	195,349		$	4,371		$	5,703


(1)		Losses for mortgage servicing rights are recorded as a component of mortgage banking revenue in non-interest income while gains for retained interests are recorded as a component of gain on sales of premium finance receivables in non-interest income.

Also, the Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain other financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from application of lower of cost or market accounting or impairment charges of individual assets. For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the first quarter that were still held in the balance sheet at the end of the period, the following table provides the carrying value of the related individual assets or portfolios at March 31, 2008.

Three Months

Ended

March 31, 2008

Fair Value

(Dollars in thousands)

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Losses Recognized

Mortgage loans held-for-sale

2,137

—

2,137

(96

)

Impaired loans

28,517

—

28,517

(2,340

)

Investment partnerships

220

—

220

(948

)

Total

30,874

—

30,874

(3,384

)

The following methods were used to measure the financial assets in the above table at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Mortgage loans held-for-sale – Certain mortgage loans held-for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market applied on an aggregate basis by loan type. Fair value is based on either quoted prices for the same or similar loans or values obtained from third parties. Charges related to adjustments to record the loans at fair value are recognized in mortgage banking revenue.

Impaired loans - A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due pursuant to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impairment is measured by estimating the fair value of the loan based on the present value of expected cash flows, the market price of the loan, or the fair value of the underlying collateral. As stated in SFAS 157, impaired loans are considered a fair value measurement where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral. Appraised values are generally used on real estate collateral-dependant impaired loans.

Investment partnerships – The Company owns limited partnership interests in several investment partnerships. These partnerships invest primarily in publicly-traded securities. Fair value of the Company’s partnership interest was based on the Company’s partnership capital account balance, which is reflective of the Company’s proportionate interest in the fair value of the underlying securities as provided by the general partner. Fair value of the underlying securities was determined by the general partner based on quoted market prices. Impairment charges were recorded in the first quarter of 2008 on two of these limited partnership interests and determined based on the difference between the Company’s partnership capital account and its recorded investment.

(12) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

A summary of the Company’s goodwill assets by business segment is presented in the following table:


	January 1,		Goodwill			Impairment		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008		Acquired			Losses		2008
Banking	$	245,696	$	—		$	—	$	245,696
Premium finance		7,221		(83	)		—		7,138
Tricom		8,958		—			—		8,958
Wealth management		14,329		—			—		14,329

Total	$	276,204	$	(83	)	$	—	$	276,121

The decrease in goodwill in the Premium finance segment in the first three months of 2008 relates to adjustments of prior estimates of fair values associated with the November 2007 acquisition of Broadway.

A summary of finite-lived intangible assets as of March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007 and the expected amortization as of March 31, 2008 is as follows (in thousands):


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2008			2007			2007
Wealth management segment:
Customer list intangibles
Gross carrying amount	$	3,252			3,252			3,252
Accumulated amortization		(2,873	)		(2,800	)		(2,551	)

Net carrying amount		379			452			701


Banking segment:
Core deposit intangibles
Gross carrying amount		27,918			27,918			27,918
Accumulated amortization		(11,348	)		(10,633	)		(7,989	)

Net carrying amount		16,570			17,285			19,929


Total other intangible assets, net	$	16,949			17,737			20,630


Estimated amortization

Actual in 3 months ended March 31, 2008	$	788
Estimated remaining in 2008		2,341
Estimated – 2009		2,717
Estimated – 2010		2,381
Estimated – 2011		2,253
Estimated – 2012		2,251

The customer list intangibles recognized in connection with the acquisitions of LFCM in 2003 and WHAMC in 2002 are being amortized over seven-year periods on an accelerated basis. The core deposit intangibles recognized in connection with the Company’s seven bank acquisitions since 2003 are being amortized over ten-year periods on an accelerated basis. Amortization expense associated with finite-lived intangibles totaled approximately $788,000 and $969,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

(13) Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (“the 2007 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders in January 2007, permits the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, rights and restricted stock, as well as the conversion of outstanding options of acquired companies to Wintrust options. The Plan provides for the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of common stock. All grants made in 2007 and 2008 were made pursuant to the Plan. As of March 31, 2008, 184,883 shares were available for future grant. The Plan replaced the Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (“the 1997 Plan”) which had substantially similar terms. The 2007 Plan and the 1997 Plan are collectively referred to as “the Plans.” The Plans cover substantially all employees of Wintrust.

The Company typically awards stock-based compensation in the form of stock options and restricted share awards. Stock options typically provide the holder the option to purchase shares of Wintrust’s common stock at the fair market value of the stock on the date the options are granted. Options generally vest ratably over a five-year period and expire at such time as the Compensation Committee determines at the time of grant. The 2007 Plan provides for a maximum term of seven years from the date of grant while the 1997 Plan provided for a maximum term of ten years. Restricted shares entitle the holders to receive, at no cost, shares of the Company’s common stock. Restricted shares generally vest over periods of one to five years from the date of grant. Holders of the restricted shares are not entitled to vote or receive cash dividends (or cash payments equal to the cash dividends) on the underlying common shares until the awards are vested. Except in limited circumstances, these awards are canceled upon termination of employment without any payment of consideration by the Company.

Compensation cost charged to income for stock options was $1.1 million and $1.4 million in the first quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Compensation cost charged to income for restricted shares was $1.4 million and $1.5 million in the first quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Stock based compensation is recognized based upon the number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest. As a result, recognized compensation expense for stock options and restricted share awards was reduced for estimated forfeitures prior to vesting. Forfeitures rates are estimated for each type of award based on historical forfeiture experience. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

Stock-based compensation cost is measured as the fair value of an award on the date of grant and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The fair value of restricted shares is determined based on the average of the high and low trading prices on the grant date. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model that utilizes the assumptions outlined in the following table. Option-pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions and are sensitive to changes in the option’s expected life and the price volatility of the underlying stock, which can materially affect the fair value estimate. Expected life is based on historical exercise and termination behavior as well as the term of the option, and expected stock price volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock, which correlates with the expected term of the options. The risk-free interest rate is based on comparable U.S. Treasury rates. Management reviews and adjusts the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of an option on a periodic basis to better reflect expected trends.


	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008			March 31, 2007
Expected dividend yield		1.1	%		0.7	%
Expected volatility		32.3	%		25.5	%
Risk-free rate		3.3	%		4.7	%
Expected option life (in years)		6.7			7.0

A summary of stock option activity under the Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 is presented below:


				Weighted		Remaining		Intrinsic
	Common			Average		Contractual		Value ⁽²⁾
*Stock Options*	Shares			Strike Price		Term ⁽¹⁾		($000)

Outstanding at January 1, 2008		2,505,181		$	34.76
Granted		53,450			31.81
Exercised		(61,908	)		15.02
Forfeited or canceled		(8,820	)		49.95

Outstanding at March 31, 2008		2,487,903		$	35.13		5.1	$	18,707


Exercisable at March 31, 2008		1,816,032		$	30.61		4.5	$	18,415


Outstanding at January 1, 2007		2,786,064		$	33.02
Granted		8,500			46.51
Exercised		(44,847	)		16.83
Forfeited or canceled		(7,310	)		44.72

Outstanding at March 31, 2007		2,742,407		$	33.29		5.6	$	39,280


Exercisable at March 31, 2007		1,887,381		$	25.65		4.6	$	38,474


⁽¹⁾		Represents the weighted average contractual life remaining in years.

⁽²⁾		Aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between the Company’s average of the high and low stock price on the last trading day of the quarter and the option exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares) that would have been received by the option holders if they had exercised their options on the last day of the quarter. This amount will change based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock.

The weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $10.95 and $16.57, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, was $1.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

A summary of restricted share award activity under the Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, is presented below:


	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008					March 31, 2007
				Weighted					Weighted
				Average					Average
	Common			Grant-Date		Common			Grant-Date
*Restricted Shares*	Shares			Fair Value		Shares			Fair Value

Outstanding at January 1		308,627		$	48.16		335,904		$	51.78
Granted		36,054			31.07		27,301			45.52
Vested (shares issued)		(43,628	)		48.94		(82,505	)		52.42
Forfeited		(2,474	)		34.85		(2,600	)		47.94

Outstanding at March 31		298,579		$	46.07		278,100		$	51.01

As of March 31, 2008, there was $17.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share based arrangements under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.

The Company issues new shares to satisfy option exercises and vesting of restricted shares.

(14) Earnings Per Share

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the periods indicated:


			For the Three Months
			Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)			2008		2007

Net income	(A	)	$	9,705	$	14,681


Average common shares outstanding	(B	)		23,518		25,029
Dilutive common shares				582		817

Average common shares and dilutive common shares	(C	)		24,100		25,846


Net income per common share:
Basic	(A/B	)	$	0.41	$	0.59

Diluted	(A/C	)	$	0.40	$	0.57

The dilutive common shares outstanding result from stock options, restricted stock unit awards, stock warrants, and shares to be issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan, all being treated as if they had been either exercised or issued, computed by application of the treasury stock method.

ITEM 2
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition as of March 31, 2008, compared with December 31, 2007, and March 31, 2007, and the results of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes contained in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and, as such, future results could differ significantly from management’s current expectations. See the last section of this discussion for further information on forward-looking statements.

Overview and Strategy

Wintrust is a financial holding company providing traditional community banking services as well as a full array of wealth management services to customers in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin. Additionally, the Company operates other financing businesses on a national basis through several non-bank subsidiaries.

Community Banking
As of March 31, 2008, the Company’s community banking franchise consisted of 15 community banks (the “Banks”) with 78 locations. The Company developed its banking franchise through the de novo organization of nine banks (54 locations) and the purchase of seven banks, one of which was merged into another of our banks, with 24 locations. Wintrust’s first bank was organized in December 1991, as a highly personal service-oriented community bank. Each of the banks organized or acquired since then share that same commitment to community banking. The historical financial performance of the Company has been affected by costs associated with growing market share in deposits and loans, establishing and acquiring banks, opening new branch facilities and building an experienced management team. The Company’s financial performance generally reflects the improved profitability of its banking subsidiaries as they mature, offset by the costs of establishing and acquiring banks and opening new branch facilities. From the Company’s experience, it generally takes 13 to 24 months for new banks to achieve operational profitability depending on the number and timing of branch facilities added.

The following table presents the Banks in chronological order based on the date in which they joined Wintrust. Each of the Banks has established additional full-service banking facilities subsequent to their initial openings.


	De novo / Acquired		Date
Lake Forest Bank		De novo	December, 1991
Hinsdale Bank		De novo	October, 1993
North Shore Bank		De novo	September, 1994
Libertyville Bank		De novo	October, 1995
Barrington Bank		De novo	December, 1996
Crystal Lake Bank		De novo	December, 1997
Northbrook Bank		De novo	November, 2000
Advantage Bank (organized 2001)		Acquired	October, 2003
Village Bank (organized 1995)		Acquired	December, 2003
Beverly Bank		De novo	April, 2004
Wheaton Bank (formerly Northview Bank; organized 1993)		Acquired	September, 2004
Town Bank (organized 1998)		Acquired	October, 2004
State Bank of The Lakes (organized 1894)		Acquired	January, 2005
First Northwest Bank (organized 1995; merged into Village Bank in May 2005)		Acquired	March, 2005
Old Plank Trail Bank		De novo	March, 2006
St. Charles Bank (formerly Hinsbrook Bank; organized 1987)		Acquired	May, 2006

Following is a summary of the activity related to the expansion of the Company’s banking franchise since March 31, 2007:

2008 Banking Expansion Activity

•

New branch locations:

Deerfield, Illinois – a branch of Northbrook Bank

2007 Banking Expansion Activity

•

New branch locations:

	Ø		Hoffman Estates, Illinois – a branch of Barrington Bank

	Ø		Hartland, Wisconsin – a new main bank facility of Town Bank

	Ø		Bloomingdale, Illinois – a branch of Advantage Bank

	Ø		Island Lake, Illinois – a branch of Libertyville Bank

Management’s ongoing focus is to balance further asset growth with earnings growth by seeking to more fully leverage the existing capacity within each of the operating subsidiaries. One aspect of this strategy is to continue to pursue specialized earning asset niches in order to maintain the mix of earning assets in higher-yielding loans as well as diversify the loan portfolio. Another aspect of this strategy is a continued focus on less aggressive deposit pricing at the Banks with significant market share and more established customer bases.

Specialty Lending
First Insurance Funding Corporation (“FIFC”) is the Company’s most significant specialized earning asset niche. FIFC makes loans to businesses to finance the insurance premiums they pay on their commercial insurance policies. The insurance premiums financed are primarily for commercial customers’ purchases of liability, property and casualty and other commercial insurance. This lending involves relatively rapid turnover of the loan portfolio and high volume of loan originations. Because of the indirect nature of this lending and because the borrowers are located nationwide, this segment may be more susceptible to third party fraud than relationship lending; however, management established various control procedures to mitigate the risks associated with this lending. The majority of these loans are purchased by the Banks in order to more fully utilize their lending capacity as these loans generally provide the Banks with higher yields than alternative investments. However, excess FIFC originations over the capacity to retain such loans within the Banks’ loan portfolios may be sold to unrelated third parties with servicing retained.

Additionally, in 2007, FIFC began to make loans to irrevocable life insurance trusts to purchase life insurance policies for high net-worth individuals. The loans are originated through independent insurance agents or financial advisors and legal counsel. The life insurance policy is the primary collateral on the loan and, in most cases, the loans are also secured by a letter of credit.

On November 1, 2007, the Company acquired Broadway Premium Funding Corporation (“Broadway”). Broadway is a commercial finance company that specializes in financing insurance premiums for corporate entities. Its products are marketed through insurance agents and brokers to their small to mid-size corporate clients. Broadway is headquartered in the state of New York and services clients primarily in the northeastern United States and California. Broadway is a subsidiary of FIFC.

FIFC and Broadway originated approximately $740 million in loan (premium finance receivables) volume in the first quarter of 2008, while FIFC originated $785 million in the first three months of 2007. FIFC and Broadway, since the date of acquisition, originated approximately $3.1 billion in loan volume in the calendar year 2007. The loans are originated by FIFC working through independent medium and large insurance agents and brokers located throughout the United States.

SGB Corporation d/b/a WestAmerica Mortgage Company (“WestAmerica”) engages primarily in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market. WestAmerica’s affiliate, Guardian Real Estate Services, Inc. (“Guardian”) provides the document preparation and other loan closing services to WestAmerica and a network of mortgage brokers. WestAmerica sells its loans with servicing released and does not currently engage in servicing loans for others. WestAmerica maintains principal origination offices in ten states, including Illinois, and originates loans in other states through wholesale and correspondent offices. WestAmerica provides the Banks with the ability to use an enhanced loan origination and documentation system which allows WestAmerica and the Banks to better utilize existing operational capacity and expand the mortgage products offered to the Banks’ customers. WestAmerica’s production of adjustable rate mortgage loan products and other variable rate mortgage loan products may be purchased by the Banks for their loan portfolios resulting in additional earning assets to the combined organization, thus adding further desired diversification to the Company’s earning asset base.

Tricom Inc. (“Tricom”) is a company that has been in business since 1989 and specializes in providing high-yielding, short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added, out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to clients in the temporary staffing industry. Tricom’s clients, located throughout the United States, provide staffing services to businesses in diversified industries. These receivables may involve greater credit risks than generally associated with the loan portfolios of more traditional community banks depending on the marketability of the collateral. The principal sources of repayments on the receivables are payments to borrowers from their customers who are located throughout the United States. Tricom mitigates this risk by employing lockboxes and other cash management techniques to protect its interests. Tricom’s revenue principally consists of interest income from financing activities and fee-based revenues from administrative services.

In addition to the earning asset niches provided by the Company’s non-bank subsidiaries, several earning asset niches operate within the Banks, including indirect auto lending which is conducted through Hinsdale Bank, and Barrington Bank’s Community Advantage program that provides lending, deposit and cash management services to condominium, homeowner and community associations. In addition, Hinsdale Bank operates a mortgage warehouse lending program that provides loan and deposit services to mortgage brokerage companies located predominantly in the Chicago metropolitan area, and Crystal Lake Bank has a specialty in small aircraft lending. The Company continues to pursue the development or acquisition of other specialty lending businesses that generate assets suitable for bank investment and/or secondary market sales.

Wealth Management
Wayne Hummer Investments LLC (“WHI”), a registered broker-dealer, provides a full-range of investment products and services tailored to meet the specific needs of individual and institutional investors throughout the country, primarily in the Midwest. In addition, WHI provides a full range of investment services to clients through a network of relationships with unaffiliated community-based financial institutions located primarily in Illinois. Although headquartered in Chicago, WHI also operates an office in Appleton, Wisconsin and has branch locations in a majority of the Company’s Banks.

Wayne Hummer Asset Management (“WHAMC”), a registered investment advisor, is the investment advisory affiliate of WHI. WHAMC provides money management, financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals and institutional, municipal and tax-exempt organizations. WHAMC also provides portfolio management and financial supervision for a wide-range of pension and profit sharing plans.

Wayne Hummer Trust Company (“WHTC”) was formed to offer trust and investment management services to all communities served by the Banks. In addition to offering trust services to existing bank customers at each of the Banks, WHTC targets small to mid-size businesses and affluent individuals whose needs command the personalized attention offered by WHTC’s experienced trust professionals. Services offered by WHTC typically include traditional trust products and services, as well as investment management services.

The following table presents a summary of the approximate amount of assets under administration and/or management in the Company’s wealth management operating subsidiaries as of the dates shown:


	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008		2007		2007
WHTC	$	968,330	$	1,009,587	$	863,021
WHAMC ⁽¹⁾		446,142		522,893		543,944
WHAMC’s proprietary mutual fund		13,115		18,015		21,948
WHI — brokerage assets in custody		5,200,000		5,600,000		5,400,000


⁽¹⁾		Excludes the proprietary mutual fund managed by WHAMC

The lower level in assets under administration and/or management in the first quarter of 2008 was primarily due to a rapid decline in the broad markets during the quarter.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Earnings Summary

The Company’s key operating measures for 2008, as compared to the same period last year, are shown below:


	Three Months			Three Months			Percentage (%) or
	Ended			Ended			Basis Point (bp)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	March 31, 2008			March 31, 2007			Change
Net income	$	9,705		$	14,681			(34	)%
Net income per common share – Diluted		0.40			0.57			(30	)

Net revenue ⁽¹⁾		86,298			84,403			2
Net interest income		61,742			64,670			(5	)

Net interest margin ⁽⁶⁾		2.98	%		3.10	%	(12		)bp
Core net interest margin ^{(2) (6)}		3.26			3.34			(8	)
Net overhead ratio ⁽³⁾		1.64			1.72			(8	)
Efficiency ratio ^{(4) (6)}		71.11			70.30			81
Return on average assets		0.42			0.63			(21	)
Return on average equity		5.25			7.94			(269	)

At end of period
Total assets	$	9,732,466		$	9,414,604			3	%
Total loans, net of unearned income		6,874,916			6,545,906			5
Total deposits		7,483,582			7,666,803			(2	)
Junior subordinated debentures		249,621			249,787			—
Total shareholders’ equity		753,293			729,741			3

Book value per common share		31.97			30.09			6
Market price per common share		34.95			44.61			(22	)

Allowance for credit losses to total loans ⁽⁵⁾		0.79	%		0.72	%	7		bp
Non-performing assets to total assets		0.94			0.34			60


(1)		Net revenue is net interest income plus non-interest income.

(2)		The core net interest margin excludes the effect of the net interest expense associated with Wintrust’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense incurred to fund common stock repurchases.

(3)		The net overhead ratio is calculated by netting total non-interest expense and total non-interest income, annualizing this amount, and dividing by that period’s total average assets. A lower ratio indicates a higher degree of efficiency.

(4)		The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing total non-interest expense by tax-equivalent net revenue (less securities gains or losses). A lower ratio indicates more efficient revenue generation.

(5)		The allowance for credit losses includes both the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for lending-related commitments.

(6)		See following section titled, “Supplemental Financial Measures/Ratios” for additional information on this performance measure/ratio.

Certain returns, yields, performance ratios, and quarterly growth rates are “annualized” in this presentation and throughout this report to represent an annual time period. This is done for analytical purposes to better discern for decision-making purposes underlying performance trends when compared to full-year or year-over-year amounts. For example, balance sheet growth rates are most often expressed in terms of an annual rate. As such, 5% growth during a quarter would represent an annualized growth rate of 20%.

Supplemental Financial Measures/Ratios

The accounting and reporting polices of Wintrust conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios are used by management to evaluate and measure the Company’s performance. These include taxable-equivalent net interest income (including its individual components), net interest margin (including its individual components), core net interest margin and the efficiency ratio. Management believes that these measures and ratios provide users of the Company’s financial information with a more meaningful view of the performance of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and of the Company’s operating efficiency. Other financial holding companies may define or calculate these measures and ratios differently.

Management reviews yields on certain asset categories and the net interest margin of the Company and its banking subsidiaries on a fully taxable-equivalent (“FTE”) basis. In this non-GAAP presentation, net interest income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt interest income on an equivalent before-tax basis. This measure ensures comparability of net interest income arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. Net interest income on a FTE basis is also used in the calculation of the Company’s efficiency ratio. The efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing non-interest expense by total taxable-equivalent net revenue (less securities gains or losses), measures how much it costs to produce one dollar of revenue. Securities gains or losses are excluded from this calculation to better match revenue from daily operations to operational expenses.

Management also evaluates the net interest margin excluding the net interest expense associated with the Company’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense incurred to fund common stock repurchases (“Core Net Interest Margin”). Because junior subordinated debentures are utilized by the Company primarily as capital instruments and the cost incurred to fund common stock repurchases is capital utilization related, management finds it useful to view the net interest margin excluding these expenses and deems it to be a more meaningful view of the operational net interest margin of the Company.

A reconciliation of certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios used by the Company to evaluate and measure the Company’s performance to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is shown below:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007

(A) Interest income (GAAP)	$	136,176		$	152,307
Taxable-equivalent adjustment:
– Loans		200			130
– Liquidity management assets		511			493
– Other earning assets		13			1

Interest income — FTE	$	136,900		$	152,931
(B) Interest expense (GAAP)		74,434			87,637

Net interest income — FTE	$	62,466		$	65,294


(C) Net interest income (GAAP) (A minus B)	$	61,742		$	64,670
Net interest income — FTE	$	62,466		$	65,294
Add: Interest expense on junior subordinated debentures and interest cost incurred for common stock repurchases⁽¹⁾		5,823			5,073

Core net interest income — FTE ⁽²⁾	$	68,289		$	70,367


(D) Net interest margin (GAAP)		2.95	%		3.06	%
Net interest margin — FTE		2.98	%		3.10	%
Core net interest margin — FTE ⁽²⁾		3.26	%		3.34	%

(E) Efficiency ratio (GAAP)		71.70	%		70.82	%
Efficiency ratio — FTE		71.11	%		70.30	%


⁽¹⁾		Interest expense from the junior subordinated debentures is net of the interest income on the Common Securities of the Trusts owned by the Company and included in interest income. Interest cost incurred for common stock repurchases is estimated using current period average rates on certain debt obligations.

⁽²⁾		Core net interest income and core net interest margin are by definition non-GAAP measures/ratios. The GAAP equivalents are the net interest income and net interest margin determined in accordance with GAAP (lines C and D in the table).

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and prevailing practices of the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Critical accounting policies inherently have greater complexity and greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments than other accounting policies, and as such have a greater possibility that changes in those estimates and assumptions could produce financial results that are materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates and assumptions. Management currently views critical accounting policies to include the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for losses on lending-related commitments, the valuation of the retained interest in the premium finance receivables sold, the valuations required for impairment testing of goodwill, the valuation and accounting for derivative instruments and the accounting for income taxes as the areas that are most complex and require the most subjective and complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available. For a more detailed discussion on these critical accounting policies, see “Summary of Critical Accounting Policies” beginning on page 28 of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report.

Net Income

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 totaled $9.7 million, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 34%, compared to the $14.7 million recorded in the first quarter of 2007. As compared to the $15.6 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007, net income decreased $5.9 million or 38%. On a per share basis, net income for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $0.40 per diluted common share, a decrease of $0.17 per share, or 30%, as compared to the 2007 first quarter total of $0.57 per diluted common share. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, net income per diluted share in the first quarter of 2008 decreased by $0.25, or 38%.

Significant items affecting the first quarter of 2008 results include margin compression resulting from the Federal Reserves Board’s 200 basis point rate drop during the first quarter of 2008, other-than-temporary impairment charges primarily associated with corporate debt investments, and an increase in provision for credit losses to cover additional loan losses and to raise the overall level of reserves, offset by a higher level of covered call option income and gains on premium finance receivables sold. The return on average equity for the first quarter of 2008 was 5.25%, compared to 7.94% for the prior year first quarter and 8.56% for the fourth quarter of 2007.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income, which represents the difference between interest income and fees on earning assets and interest expense on deposits and borrowings, is the major source of earnings for the Company. Interest rate fluctuations and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income. Net interest margin represents tax-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of the average earning assets during the period.

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s net interest income and related net interest margins, calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis, for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter of 2007 (linked quarters):


	For the Three Months Ended								For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008								March 31, 2007
(Dollars in thousands)	Average			Interest		Rate			Average			Interest		Rate


Liquidity management assets ^{(1) (2) (8)}	$	1,391,400		$	17,346		5.01	%	$	1,913,693		$	24,469		5.19	%
Other earning assets ^{(2) (3)(8)}		26,403			401		6.10			25,392			467		7.47
Loans, net of unearned income ^{(2) (4) (8)}		7,012,642			119,153		6.83			6,619,361			127,995		7.84

Total earning assets ⁽⁸⁾	$	8,430,445		$	136,900		6.53	%	$	8,558,446		$	152,931		7.25	%

Allowance for loan losses		(51,364	)							(47,514	)
Cash and due from banks		124,745								131,699
Other assets		869,713								811,144

Total assets	$	9,373,539							$	9,453,775


Interest-bearing deposits	$	6,747,980		$	61,430		3.66	%	$	7,081,407		$	75,890		4.35	%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		426,911			4,556		4.29			385,904			4,129		4.34
Notes payable and other borrowings		332,019			2,770		3.36			184,313			1,728		3.80
Subordinated notes		75,000			1,087		5.73			75,000			1,295		6.91
Junior subordinated debentures		249,635			4,591		7.28			249,801			4,595		7.36

Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	7,831,545		$	74,434		3.82	%	$	7,976,425		$	87,637		4.45	%

Non-interest bearing deposits		642,917								644,543
Other liabilities		155,080								83,215
Equity		743,997								749,592

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	9,373,539							$	9,453,775


Interest rate spread ^{(5) (8)}							2.71	%							2.80	%
Net free funds/contribution ⁽⁶⁾	$	598,900					0.27		$	582,021					0.30

Net interest income/Net interest margin ⁽⁸⁾				$	62,466		2.98	%				$	65,294		3.10	%

Core net interest margin ^{(7) (8)}							3.26	%							3.34	%


(1)		Liquidity management assets include available-for-sale securities, interest earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.
(2)		Interest income on tax-advantaged loans, trading account securities and securities reflects a tax-equivalent adjustment based on a marginal federal corporate tax rate of 35%. The total adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were $724,000 and $624,000, respectively.
(3)		Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities.
(4)		Loans, net of unearned income, include mortgages held-for-sale and non-accrual loans.
(5)		Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield earned on earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
(6)		Net free funds are the difference between total average earning assets and total average interest-bearing liabilities. The estimated contribution to net interest margin from net free funds is calculated using the rate paid for total interest-bearing liabilities.
(7)		The core net interest margin excludes the effect of the net interest expense associated with Wintrust’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense incurred to fund common stock repurchases.
(8)		See “Supplemental Financial Measures/Ratios” for additional information on this performance measure/ratio.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 2007

Tax-equivalent net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 totaled $62.5 million, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 4%, as compared to the $65.3 million recorded in the same quarter of 2007.

For the first quarter of 2008, the net interest margin was 2.98%, down 12 basis points when compared to the net interest margin of 3.10% in the same quarter of 2007. The core net interest margin, which excludes the net interest expense related to the Company’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense attributable to funding common stock repurchases, was 3.26% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 3.34% for the first quarter of 2007.

The yield on total earning assets was 6.53% for the first quarter of 2008 and 7.25% in the first quarter of 2007. The first quarter 2008 yield on loans was 6.83%, a 101 basis point decrease when compared to the prior year first quarter yield of 7.84%. The average loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 95% in 2008 compared to the 86% in same quarter of 2007 as a result of strong commercial and commercial real estate loan growth combined with a reduction in the retail deposit base as the Company worked to reduce levels of higher rate certificates of deposits. In the fourth quarter of 2007 the Company reinstated its program of selling premium finance receivables as the average loan-to-deposit ratio was above the target of 85% to 90%. By selling $114.8 million of premium finance receivables at the end of the first quarter of 2008, the period-end loan-to-deposit ratio as of March 31, 2008 declined to 92%. The liquidity management assets yield in the first quarter of 2008 was 5.01% compared to 5.19% in the first quarter of 2007. The decline in the balance of liquidity management assets is attributed to the ongoing effort to manage liquidity and for asset liability management purposes.

The rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities was 3.82% in the first quarter of 2008 and 4.45% in the first quarter of 2007. The interest-bearing deposit rate in the first quarter of 2008 declined 69 basis points to 3.66% from a rate of 4.35% in the same quarter in 2007. Progress was made in the first quarter of 2008 in shifting the mix of retail deposits away from certificates of deposit into lower cost, more variable rate NOW, savings, money market and wealth management deposits.

The rate paid on wholesale funding, consisting of Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago advances, notes payable, subordinated notes, other borrowings and junior subordinated debentures, decreased to 4.79% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 5.29% in the first quarter of 2007. The Company utilizes certain borrowing sources to fund the additional capital requirements of the Banks, manage capital, manage its interest rate risk position and for general corporate purposes.

The lower levels of net interest income and net interest margin in the first quarter of 2008 were caused by margin compression and lower levels of average earnings assets. Interest rate compression occurred as the Federal Reserve quickly lowered rates preventing large portions of NOW, savings and money market accounts from repricing at the same magnitude as variable rate earning assets. Disciplined retail deposit pricing and the repricing of maturing retail certificates of deposit at lower rates coupled with widening credit spreads on new loan volumes is expected to lessen the impact of the compression of the net interest margin.


	For the Three Months Ended								For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008								December 31, 2007
(Dollars in thousands)	Average			Interest		Rate			Average			Interest		Rate


Liquidity management assets ^{(1) (2) (8)}	$	1,391,400		$	17,346		5.01	%	$	1,552,675		$	20,158		5.15	%
Other earning assets ^{(2) (3)(8)}		26,403			401		6.10			23,875			427		7.09
Loans, net of unearned income ^{(2) (4) (8)}		7,012,642			119,153		6.83			6,985,850			132,096		7.50

Total earning assets ⁽⁸⁾	$	8,430,445		$	136,900		6.53	%	$	8,562,400		$	152,681		7.07	%

Allowance for loan losses		(51,364	)							(50,190	)
Cash and due from banks		124,745								131,240
Other assets		869,713								853,661

Total assets	$	9,373,539							$	9,497,111


Interest-bearing deposits	$	6,747,980		$	61,430		3.66	%	$	6,845,466		$	70,965		4.11	%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		426,911			4,556		4.29			411,480			4,550		4.39
Notes payable and other borrowings		332,019			2,770		3.36			433,983			4,783		4.37
Subordinated notes		75,000			1,087		5.73			75,000			1,308		6.82
Junior subordinated debentures		249,635			4,591		7.28			249,677			4,673		7.32

Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	7,831,545		$	74,434		3.82	%	$	8,015,606		$	86,279		4.27	%

Non-interest bearing deposits		642,917								657,029
Other liabilities		155,080								99,331
Equity		743,997								725,145

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	9,373,539							$	9,497,111


Interest rate spread ^{(5) (8)}							2.71	%							2.80	%
Net free funds/contribution ⁽⁶⁾	$	598,900					0.27		$	546,794					0.28

Net interest income/Net interest margin ⁽⁸⁾				$	62,466		2.98	%				$	66,402		3.08	%

Core net interest margin ^{(7) (8)}							3.26	%							3.37	%


(1)		Liquidity management assets include available-for-sale securities, interest earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.
(2)		Interest income on tax-advantaged loans, trading account securities and securities reflects a tax-equivalent adjustment based on a marginal federal corporate tax rate of 35%. The total adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $724,000 and for the three months ended December 31, 2007 was $964,000.
(3)		Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities.
(4)		Loans, net of unearned income, include mortgages held-for-sale and non-accrual loans.
(5)		Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield earned on earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
(6)		Net free funds are the difference between total average earning assets and total average interest-bearing liabilities. The estimated contribution to net interest margin from net free funds is calculated using the rate paid for total interest-bearing liabilities.
(7)		The core net interest margin excludes the effect of the net interest expense associated with Wintrust’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense incurred to fund common stock repurchases.
(8)		See “Supplemental Financial Measures/Ratios” for additional information on this performance measure/ratio.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 compared to the Quarter Ended December 31, 2007

Tax-equivalent net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 totaled $62.5 million, a decrease of $3.9 million, or 6%, as compared to the $66.4 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007.

For the first quarter of 2008, the net interest margin was 2.98%, down 10 basis points when compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. The core net interest margin, which excludes the net interest expense related to the Company’s junior subordinated debentures and the interest expense related to the repurchases of common stock, was 3.26% for the first quarter of 2008 and 3.37% for the fourth quarter of 2007.

The yield on total earning assets for the first quarter of 2008 was 6.53% as compared to the 7.07% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The first quarter of 2008 yield on loans was 6.83%, a 67 basis point decrease when compared to the fourth quarter 2007 yield of 7.50%. The average loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 95% compared to 93% in the fourth quarter of 2007 as a result of strong commercial and commercial real estate loan growth combined with a reduction in the retail deposit base as the Company worked to reduce levels of higher rate certificates of deposits. In the fourth quarter of 2007 the Company reinstated its program of selling premium finance receivables as the average loan-to-deposit ratio was above the target of 85% to 90%. The liquidity management assets yield in the first quarter of 2008 was 5.01% compared to 5.15% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The decline in the balance of liquidity management assets is attributed to the ongoing effort to manage liquidity and for asset liability management purposes.

The rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 3.82% in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to 4.27% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased in the first quarter of 2008 to 3.66% compared to 4.11% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The average balance of retail certificates of deposits declined $187 million while the average balance of savings, NOW, money market and wealth management deposits increased $123 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. Progress was made in the first quarter of 2008 in shifting mix of retail deposits away from certificates of deposit into lower cost, more variable rate NOW, savings, money market and wealth management deposits.

The rate paid on wholesale funding, consisting of Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago advances, notes payable, subordinated notes, other borrowings and junior subordinated debentures, decreased to 4.79% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 5.16% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The Company utilizes certain borrowing sources to fund the additional capital requirements of the Banks, manage capital, manage its interest rate risk position and for general corporate purposes.

The lower levels of net interest income and net interest margin in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 were caused by margin compression and lower levels of average earnings assets. Interest rate compression occurred as the Federal Reserve quickly lowered rates preventing large portions of NOW, savings and money market accounts from repricing at the same magnitude as variable rate earning assets. The interest rates on a majority of those balances declined by only a small portion of the 200 basis point decrease enacted by the Federal Reserve during the first quarter of 2008. Continued disciplined retail deposit pricing and the repricing of maturing retail certificates of deposit at lower rates coupled with widening credit spreads on new loan volumes is expected to lessen the impact of the compression of the net interest margin.

Analysis of Changes in Tax-equivalent Net Interest Income

The following table presents an analysis of the changes in the Company’s tax-equivalent net interest income comparing the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 and the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The reconciliations set forth the changes in the tax-equivalent net interest income as a result of changes in volumes, changes in rates and differing number of days in each period.


	First Quarter				First Quarter
	of 2008				of 2008
	Compared to				Compared to
	First Quarter				Fourth Quarter
(Dollars in thousands)	of 2007				of 2007
Tax-equivalent net interest income for comparative period		$	65,294			$	66,402
Change due to mix and growth of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities (volume)			1,929				572
Change due to interest rate fluctuations (rate)			(5,475	)			(3,779	)
Change due to number of days in each period			718				(729	)

Tax-equivalent net interest income for the period ended March 31, 2008		$	62,466			$	62,466

Non-interest Income

For the first quarter of 2008, non-interest income totaled $24.6 million and increased $4.8 million, or 24%, compared to the first quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to a higher level of fees from covered call options and gain on sales of premium finance receivables, partially offset by a $2.8 million non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charge on certain corporate debt investment securities and investment partnerships.

The following table presents non-interest income by category for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,					$			%
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007		Change			Change
Brokerage	$	5,038		$	5,071	$	(33	)		(1	)
Trust and asset management		2,827			2,548		279			11

Total wealth management		7,865			7,619		246			3

Mortgage banking		6,096			5,463		633			12
Service charges on deposit accounts		2,373			1,888		485			26
Gain on sales of premium finance receivables		1,141			269		872			N/M
Administrative services		713			1,013		(300	)		(30	)
(Losses) gains on available-for-sale securities, net		(1,333	)		47		(1,380	)		N/M
Other:
Fees from covered call options		6,780			436		6,344			N/M
Bank Owned Life Insurance		613			809		(196	)		(24	)
Miscellaneous		308			2,189		(1,881	)		(86	)

Total other		7,701			3,434		4,267			N/M

Total non-interest income	$	24,556		$	19,733	$	4,823			24

N/M = Not Meaningful

Wealth management is comprised of the trust and asset management revenue of WHTC and the asset management fees, brokerage commissions, trading commissions and insurance product commissions at WHI and WHAMC. Wealth management totaled $7.9 million in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of $246,000, or 3%, from the $7.6 million recorded in the first quarter of 2007. Declines in most major market indices in the first quarter of 2008 impacted the revenue from the fee based managed asset portfolios. The Company anticipates continued growth of the wealth management platform throughout its banking locations.

Mortgage banking includes revenue from activities related to originating, selling and servicing residential real estate loans for the secondary market. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, this revenue source totaled $6.1 million, an increase of $633,000, or 12%, when compared to the first quarter of 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized revenue related to fair value adjustments on new mortgage loans originated by WestAmerica. See Note 2 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for a discussion of the Company’s adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” However, the Company also recognized higher valuation adjustments (additional expense) on mortgage servicing rights in the first quarter of 2008 as a result of the current interest rate environment. Future growth of mortgage banking is impacted by the interest rate environment and will continue to be dependent upon the relative level of long-term interest rates. A continuation of the existing depressed residential real-estate environment may continue to hamper mortgage banking production growth.

Service charges on deposit accounts totaled $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2008, an increase of $485,000, or 26%, when compared to the same quarter of 2007. The majority of deposit service charges relates to customary fees on overdrawn accounts and returned items. The level of service charges received is substantially below peer group levels, as management believes in the philosophy of providing high quality service without encumbering that service with numerous activity charges.

Gain on sales of premium finance receivables results from the Company’s sales of premium finance receivables to unrelated third parties. In the first quarter of 2008, 84% of the receivables originated by FIFC were purchased by the Banks to more fully utilize their lending capacity. However, from the third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007, all of the receivables originated by FIFC were purchased by the Banks. In the fourth quarter of 2007, due to the Company’s average loan-to-average deposit ratio being consistently above the target of 85% to 90%, the Company reinstated its program of selling premium finance receivables, with servicing retained, to unrelated third parties. Having a program in place to sell premium finance receivables to third parties allows the Company to execute its strategy to be asset-driven while providing the benefits of additional sources of liquidity and revenue.

In the first quarter of 2008, the Company sold $114.8 million of premium finance receivables to unrelated third parties and recognized gains of $1.1 million. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company did not sell premium finance receivables to unrelated third parties but did recognize gains of $269,000 related to clean up calls and excess cash flows on loans previously sold. Recognized gains related to sales activity are significantly influenced by the spread between the yield on the loans sold and the rate passed on to the purchaser. The yield on loans sold and the rate passed on to the purchaser typically do not react in a parallel fashion, therefore causing the spreads to vary from period to period. This interest rate spread averaged 5.09% in the first quarter of 2008.

The Company continues to maintain an interest in the loans sold and establishes a servicing asset, interest only strip and a recourse obligation upon each sale. Recognized gains, recorded in accordance with SFAS 140, as well as the Company’s retained interests in these loans are based on the Company’s projection of cash flows that will be generated from the loans. The cash flow model incorporates the amounts contractually due from customers, including an estimate of late fees, the amounts due to the purchaser of the loans, commissions paid to agents as well as estimates of the terms of the loans and credit losses. Significant differences in actual cash flows and the projected cash flows can cause impairment to the servicing asset and interest only strip as well as adjustments to the recourse obligation. The Company typically makes a clean up call by repurchasing the remaining loans in the pools sold after approximately ten months from the sale date. Upon repurchase, the loans are recorded in the Company’s premium finance receivables portfolio and any remaining balance of the Company’s retained interest is recorded as an adjustment to the gain on sale of premium finance receivables. The Company continuously monitors the performance of the loan pools to the projections and adjusts the assumptions in its cash flow model when warranted.

At March 31, 2008 and 2007, premium finance receivables sold and serviced for others for which the Company retains a recourse obligation related to credit losses totaled $247.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The recourse obligation is estimated in computing the net gain on the sale of the premium finance receivables. At March 31, 2008 and 2007, the recourse obligation carried in other liabilities was approximately $263,000 and $52,000, respectively.

Credit losses incurred on loans sold are applied against the recourse obligation liability that is established at the date of sale. Credit losses, net of recoveries, in the first three months of 2008 for premium finance receivables sold and serviced for others, totaled $5,400. At March 31, 2008, non-performing loans related to this sold portfolio were approximately $1.4 million of the sold loans. Ultimate losses on premium finance receivables are substantially less than the non-performing loans for the reasons noted in the “Non-performing Premium Finance Receivables” portion of the “Asset Quality” section of this report.

The administrative services revenue contributed by Tricom added $713,000 to total non-interest income in the first quarter of 2008 and $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. This revenue comprises income from administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services to temporary staffing service clients located throughout the United States. Tricom also earns interest and fee income from providing high-yielding, short-term accounts receivable financing to this same client base, which is included in the net interest income category. Tricom’s revenue source continues to be hampered by competitive pricing and current economic conditions.

The Company recognized $1.3 million of losses on available-for-sale securities in the first quarter of 2008 compared to gains of $47,000 in the prior year quarter. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized $1.9 million of non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charges on certain corporate debt investment securities which were

partially offset by gains on sales of securities. See Note 4 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for details of other-than-temporary impairment charges.

Fees from covered call option transactions were $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $436,000 in the first quarter of 2007. The interest rate environment for the first three months of 2008 has been conducive to entering into a significantly higher level of covered call option transactions than in the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, call option contracts were written against $853 million of underlying securities compared to $90 million in the first three months of 2007. The same security may be included in this total more than once to the extent that multiple option contracts were written against it if the initial option contracts were not exercised. The Company writes call options with terms of less than three months against certain U.S. Treasury and agency securities held in its portfolio for liquidity and other purposes. These call option transactions are designed to increase the total return associated with the investment securities portfolio and do not qualify as hedges pursuant to SFAS 133. There were no outstanding call options at March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 or March 31, 2007.

Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) income totaled $613,000 in the first quarter of 2008 and $809,000 in the same period of 2007. The Company originally purchased BOLI to consolidate existing term life insurance contracts of executive officers and to mitigate the mortality risk associated with death benefits provided for in executive employment contracts and later in connection with certain deferred compensation arrangements. As of March 31, 2008, the Company’s recorded investment in BOLI was $85.3 million and is included in other assets.

Miscellaneous other non-interest income includes service charges and fees and miscellaneous income and totaled $308,000 in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. The lower miscellaneous other non-interest income in 2008 is primarily the result of the Company recording a $948,000 non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charge on certain investment partnerships.

Non-interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $62.8 million and increased approximately $3.1 million, or 5%, from the first quarter 2007 total of $59.7 million. The Company added five locations in the past 12 months that added to all categories of non-interest expense. Salary and employee benefits, equipment, occupancy and marketing are directly impacted by the addition of new locations.

The following table presents non-interest expense by category for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		March 31,		$			%
(Dollars in thousands)	2008		2007		Change			Change
Salaries and employee benefits	$	36,672	$	35,917	$	755			2
Equipment		3,926		3,590		336			9
Occupancy, net		5,867		5,435		432			8
Data processing		2,798		2,476		322			13
Advertising and marketing		999		1,078		(79	)		(7	)
Professional fees		2,068		1,603		465			29
Amortization of other intangible assets		788		969		(181	)		(19	)
Other:
Commissions – 3^rd party brokers		985		1,026		(41	)		(4	)
Postage		986		845		141			17
Stationery and supplies		742		771		(29	)		(4	)
FDIC Insurance		1,286		604		682			N/M
Miscellaneous		5,716		5,430		286			5

Total other		9,715		8,676		1,039			12


Total non-interest expense	$	62,833	$	59,744	$	3,089			5

N/M = Not Meaningful

Salaries and employee benefits comprised 58% and 60% of total non-interest expense in the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $755,000 in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007 primarily from increases in base compensation and Company-sponsored health and dental insurance premiums.

The combined equipment and occupancy expense for the first quarter of 2008 was $9.8 million, an increase of $768,000, or 9%, compared to the same period of 2007. These expenses increased primarily as a result of the additional banking locations from the Company’s continued expansion of its banking franchise.

Professional fees include legal, audit and tax fees, external loan review costs and normal regulatory exam assessments. The $465,000 increase in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period of 2007 is primarily a result of increased legal costs related to non-performing loans.

FDIC insurance totaled $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $604,000 in the first quarter of 2007. The significant increase in 2008 is a result of a higher rate structure imposed on all financial institutions beginning in 2007. The Banks, like most banks, received credits for overcharges by the FDIC in past years, effectively reducing their premiums. While most of the Banks received and used these credits during the first two quarters of 2007, the total amount of credits received by the Company was less than other bank holding companies since most of the Banks are de novo operations that started in the last 16 years.

Miscellaneous expense includes expenses such as ATM expenses, correspondent bank charges, directors’ fees, telephone, travel and entertainment, corporate insurance and dues and subscriptions.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense of $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $8.2 million for the same period of 2007. The effective tax rate was 34.9% and 35.8% in the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively. The lower effective tax rate in the 2008 quarterly period as compared to the same period in 2007 is primarily due to lower levels of pre-tax income in the 2008 period coupled with increased amounts of tax-advantaged income in the 2008 period.

Operating Segment Results

As described in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s operations consist of four primary segments: banking, premium finance, Tricom and wealth management. The Company’s profitability is primarily dependent on the net interest income, provision for credit losses, non-interest income and operating expenses of its banking segment. The net interest income of the banking segment includes interest income and related interest costs from portfolio loans that were purchased from the premium finance segment. For purposes of internal segment profitability analysis, management reviews the results of its premium finance segment as if all loans originated and sold to the banking segment were retained within that segment’s operations. Similarly, for purposes of analyzing the contribution from the wealth management segment, management allocates the net interest income earned by the banking segment on deposit balances of customers of the wealth management segment to the wealth management segment. (See “Wealth management deposits” discussion in Deposits section of this report for more information on these deposits.)

The banking segment’s net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 totaled $60.7 million as compared to $63.6 million for the same period in 2007, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 5%. This decrease primarily resulted from margin compression as certain variable rate retail deposit rates were unable to decline at the same magnitude as variable rate earning assets. The banking segment’s non-interest income totaled $17.3 million in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of $7.2 million, or 72%, when compared to the first quarter of 2007 total of $10.1 million. The increase was primarily attributable to fees from covered call options partially offset by non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charges on certain corporate debt investment securities. The banking segment’s net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 totaled $14.6 million, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 11%, as compared to the first quarter of 2007 total of $16.3 million.

Net interest income for the premium finance segment totaled $16.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, an increase of $1.8 million, or 12%, compared to the $14.9 million in the same period in 2007. In November 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Broadway Premium Funding Corporation which is now included in premium finance segment since the date of acquisition. The premium finance segment’s non-interest income totaled $1.1 million and $269,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This increase is due to gains recognized from the sale of premium finance receivables to unrelated third party financial institutions in the first quarter of 2008. There were no sales of premium finance receivables to unrelated third party financial institutions in the first quarter of 2007. Net after-tax profit of the premium finance segment totaled $8.4 million and $7.4 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The Tricom segment data reflects the business associated with short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, which Tricom provides to its clients in the temporary staffing industry. The segment’s net interest income was $856,000 in the first quarter of 2008 and $953,000 in the first quarter of 2007. Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2008 was $714,000 compared to $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. Revenue trends at Tricom reflect the general staffing trends of the economy and the entrance of new competitors in most market places served by Tricom. The segment’s net income was $142,000 in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $307,000 in the prior year quarter.

The wealth management segment reported net interest income of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $3.0 million in the same quarter of 2007. Net interest income is comprised of the net interest earned on brokerage customer receivables at WHI and an allocation of the net interest income earned by the banking segment on non-interest bearing and interest-bearing wealth management customer account balances on deposit at the Banks (“wealth management deposits”). The allocated net interest income included in this segment’s profitability was $4.5 million ($2.8 million after tax) in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2.7 million ($1.7 million after tax) in the first quarter of 2007. The increase in net interest income was primarily a result of the growth in average wealth management deposits. This segment recorded non-interest income of $9.7 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $9.4 million for the first quarter of 2007. The wealth management segment’s net income totaled $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to a net income of $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2007.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Total assets were $9.7 billion at March 31, 2008, representing an increase of $317.9 million, or 3% when compared to the $9.4 billion at March 31, 2007. The increase in total assets included approximately $251.0 million of securities purchased during the first quarter of 2008 that settled in the second quarter of 2008. Total funding, which includes deposits, all notes and advances, including the junior subordinated debentures, was $8.6 billion at March 31, 2008 and 2007. See Notes 4-8 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for additional period-end detail on the Company’s interest-earning assets and funding liabilities.

Interest-Earning Assets

The following table sets forth, by category, the composition of average earning asset balances and the relative percentage of total average earning assets for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008					December 31, 2007					March 31, 2007
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Percent			Balance		Percent			Balance		Percent
Loans:
Commercial and commercial real estate	$	4,469,377		53	%	$	4,312,529		50	%	$	4,058,140		47	%
Home equity		686,681		8			664,992		8			655,770		8
Residential real estate ⁽¹⁾		329,220		4			328,040		4			320,367		4
Premium finance receivables		1,127,110		13			1,256,230		15			1,204,856		14
Indirect consumer loans		237,519		3			247,712		3			247,397		3
Tricom finance receivables		24,749		—			31,827		—			37,451		1
Other loans		137,986		2			144,520		2			95,380		1

Total loans, net of unearned income	$	7,012,642		83	%	$	6,985,850		82	%	$	6,619,361		78	%
Liquidity management assets ⁽²⁾		1,391,400		17			1,552,675		18			1,913,693		22
Other earning assets ⁽³⁾		26,403		—			23,875		—			25,392		—

Total average earning assets	$	8,430,445		100	%	$	8,562,400		100	%	$	8,558,446		100	%

Total average assets	$	9,373,539				$	9,497,111				$	9,453,775


Total average earning assets to total average assets				90	%				90	%				91	%


(1)		Residential real estate loans include mortgage loans held-for-sale.
(2)		Liquidity management assets include available-for-sale securities, interest earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.
(3)		Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities.

Total average earning assets for the first quarter of 2008 decreased $128.0 million, or 1%, to $8.4 billion, compared to the first quarter of 2007 and $132.0 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. The ratio of total average earning assets as a percent of total average assets at March 31, 2008 was relatively unchanged from the prior quarter and the first quarter of 2007.

Total average loans during the first quarter of 2008 increased $393.3 million, or 6%, over the previous year first quarter. The increase in average loans in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the average balances in the first quarter of 2007 was primarily funded by proceeds from maturing liquidity management assets. Commercial and commercial real estate loans, the largest loan category, represented the majority of the increase in loan balances as the Company increased its business development efforts in this area. Partially offsetting this increase were lower average premium finance receivables which resulted from the Company’s decision in the fourth quarter of 2007 to reinstate its program of selling premium finance receivables to unrelated third parties. The Company sold $114.8 million of premium finance receivables in the first quarter of 2008 while there were no sales in the same quarter of 2007. Average total loans increased $26.8 million, or 2% on an annualized basis, over the average balance in the fourth quarter of 2007. The slower growth of loans from the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the growth from the prior year first quarter is the result from the Company’s response to the current lending environment surrounding pricing and credit terms.

Liquidity management assets include available-for-sale securities, interest earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements. The balances of these assets can fluctuate based on deposit inflows and outflows, the level of other funding sources and loan demand. Total average liquidity management assets for the first quarter of 2008 decreased $522.3 million, or 27%, and $161.3 million, or 42% (annualized), compared to the first quarter of 2007 and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The decreases are primarily related to exercised covered call options written on certain available-for-sale securities. As a result of the current interest rate environment and the Company’s balance sheet strategy, not all maturities were replaced with new purchases. Proceeds from reduction in liquidity management assets were used to fund loan growth as well as deposit outflows. The Company has put in place a deposit pricing strategy which has resulted in a gradual shift away from dependence upon retail certificates of deposit. This strategy has limited overall deposit growth and contributed to an increase in the average loan-to-deposit ratio.

Other earning assets in the table include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities at WHI. In the normal course of business, WHI activities involve the execution, settlement, and financing of various securities transactions. WHI’s customer securities activities are transacted on either a cash or margin basis. In margin transactions, WHI, under an agreement with the out-sourced securities firm, extends credit to its customers, subject to various regulatory and internal margin requirements, collateralized by cash and securities in customer’s accounts. In connection with these activities, WHI executes and the out-sourced firm clears customer transactions relating to the sale of securities not yet purchased, substantially all of which are transacted on a margin basis subject to individual exchange regulations. Such transactions may expose WHI to off-balance-sheet risk, particularly in volatile trading markets, in the event margin requirements are not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers may incur. In the event a customer fails to satisfy its obligations, WHI under an agreement with the outsourced securities firm, may be required to purchase or sell financial instruments at prevailing market prices to fulfill the customer’s obligations. WHI seeks to control the risks associated with its customers’ activities by requiring customers to maintain margin collateral in compliance with various regulatory and internal guidelines. WHI monitors required margin levels daily and, pursuant to such guidelines, requires customers to deposit additional collateral or to reduce positions when necessary.

Deposits

Total deposits at March 31, 2008, were $7.5 billion and decreased $183.2 million, or 2%, compared to total deposits at March 31, 2007 and were relatively unchanged since the prior year end. See Note 6 to the financial statements of Item 1 of this report for a summary of period end deposit balances.

The following table sets forth, by category, the composition of average deposit balances and the relative percentage of total average deposits for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2008					December 31, 2007					March 31, 2007
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Percent			Balance		Percent			Balance		Percent
Non-interest bearing	$	642,917		9	%	$	657,029		9	%	$	644,543		8	%
NOW accounts		977,905		13			994,810		13			848,303		11
Wealth management deposits		642,126		9			580,533		8			532,494		7
Money market accounts		753,399		10			686,901		9			699,018		9
Savings accounts		307,091		4			295,415		4			307,472		4
Time certificates of deposit		4,067,459		55			4,287,807		57			4,694,120		61

Total average deposits	$	7,390,897		100	%	$	7,502,495		100	%	$	7,725,950		100	%

Total average deposits for the first quarter of 2008 were $7.4 billion, a decrease of $335.1 million, or 4%, from the first quarter of 2007. Total average deposits for the first quarter of 2008 decreased $111.6 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, from the fourth quarter of 2007. These decreases result from the Company placing a lower level of reliance on customer accounts with only time certificates of deposit. Total time certificates of deposit represented 55% of total average deposits in the first quarter of 2008, compared to 57% in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 61% in the first quarter of 2007.

Wealth management deposits represent FDIC-insured deposits (primarily money market accounts) at the Banks from customers of the Company’s wealth management subsidiaries. Consistent with reasonable interest rate risk parameters, the funds have generally been invested in loan production of the Banks as well as other investments suitable for banks.

Other Funding Sources

Although deposits are the Company’s primary source of funding its interest-earning assets, the Company’s ability to manage the types and terms of deposits is somewhat limited by customer preferences and market competition. As a result, in addition to deposits and the issuance of equity securities, as well as the retention of earnings, the Company uses several other funding sources to support its growth. These sources include short-term borrowings, notes payable, Federal Home Loan Bank advances, subordinated debt and junior subordinated debentures. The Company evaluates the terms and unique characteristics of each source, as well as its asset-liability management position, in determining the use of such funding sources.

Average total interest-bearing funding, from sources other than deposits and including junior subordinated debentures, totaled $1.1 billion in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of $188.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2007 average balance of $895.0 million.

The following table sets forth, by category, the composition of average other funding sources for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008		2007		2007
Notes payable	$	63,155	$	64,442	$	30,550
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		426,911		411,480		385,904
Other borrowings:
Federal funds purchased		7,994		113,434		686
Securities sold under repurchase agreements and other		260,870		256,107		153,077

Total other borrowings		268,864		369,541		153,763

Subordinated notes		75,000		75,000		75,000
Junior subordinated debentures		249,635		249,677		249,801

Total other funding sources	$	1,083,565	$	1,170,140	$	895,018

Notes payable balances represent the balances on a credit agreement with an unaffiliated bank. This credit facility is available for corporate purposes such as to provide capital to fund growth at existing bank subsidiaries, possible future acquisitions and for other general corporate matters.

FHLB advances provide the Banks with access to fixed rate funds which are useful in mitigating interest rate risk and achieving an acceptable interest rate spread on fixed rate loans or securities.

Securities sold under repurchase agreements represent sweep accounts for certain customers in connection with master repurchase agreements at the Banks and short-term borrowings from brokers. This funding category fluctuates based on customer preferences and daily liquidity needs of the Banks, their customers and the Banks’ operating subsidiaries.

The Company borrowed $75.0 million under three separate $25 million subordinated note agreements. Each subordinated note requires annual principal payments of $5.0 million beginning in the sixth year of the note and has terms of ten years with final maturity dates in 2012, 2013 and 2015. The first $5.0 million payment is due in the fourth quarter of 2008. These notes qualify as Tier II regulatory capital.

Junior subordinated debentures were issued to nine trusts by the Company and equal the amount of the preferred and common securities issued by the trusts. Junior subordinated debentures, subject to certain limitations, currently qualify as Tier I regulatory capital. Interest expense on these debentures is deductible for tax purposes, resulting in a cost-efficient form of regulatory capital.

See Notes 7 and 8 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for details of period end balances and other information for these various funding sources. There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business in the Company’s contractual obligations during the first quarter of 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity was $753.3 million at March 31, 2008, reflecting an increase of $23.6 million since March 31, 2007 and $13.7 million since the end of 2007. The increase from December 31, 2007, was the result of the retention of approximately $5.5 million of earnings (net income of $9.7 million less dividends of $4.2 million), a $4.2 million decrease in unrealized net losses from available-for-sale securities and the mark-to-market adjustment on cash flow hedges, net of tax, a $2.6 million increase from the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock (and related tax benefit) pursuant to various stock compensation plans and $2.5 million credited to surplus for stock-based compensation costs, partially offset by a $992,000 cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings from the adoption of a new accounting standard. See Note 2 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for details on new accounting standards.

The following tables reflect various consolidated measures of capital as of the dates presented and the capital guidelines established by the Federal Reserve Bank for a bank holding company:


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2008			2007			2007
Leverage ratio		7.9	%		7.7	%		7.7	%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets		8.9			8.7			9.1
Total capital to risk-weighted assets		10.4			10.2			10.7
Total average equity-to-total average assets *		7.9			7.7			7.9


*		based on quarterly average balances


	Minimum
	Capital			Adequately			Well
	Requirements			Capitalized			Capitalized
Leverage ratio		4.0	%		4.0	%		5.0	%
Tier 1capital to risk-weighted assets		4.0			4.0			6.0
Total capital to risk-weighted assets		8.0			8.0			10.0

The Company attempts to maintain an efficient capital structure in order to provide higher returns on equity. Additional capital is required from time to time, however, to support the growth of the organization. The Company’s principal sources of funds at the holding company level are dividends from its subsidiaries, borrowings under its loan agreement with an unaffiliated bank and proceeds from the issuance of subordinated debt, junior subordinated debentures and additional equity. Refer to Notes 7 and 8 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for further information on these various funding sources. The issuances of subordinated debt, junior subordinated debentures and additional common stock are the primary forms of regulatory capital that are considered as the Company evaluates its capital position. Management is committed to maintaining the Company’s capital levels above the “Well Capitalized” levels established by the Federal Reserve for bank holding companies.

In January 2008, Wintrust declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.18 per common share. In January and July 2007, Wintrust declared semi-annual cash dividends of $0.16 per common share. The dividend payout ratio (annualized) was 22.4% for the first three months of 2008 and 13.8% for the first three months of 2007. The Company targets an earnings retention ratio of approximately 85% to 90% to support continued growth.

In July 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock over 18 months. Through April 2007, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 1.8 million shares at an average price of $45.74 per share under the July 2006 share repurchase plan. In April 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated the July 2006 authorization and authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 1.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock over 12 months. The Company began to repurchase shares under this authorization in July 2007 and repurchased all 1.0 million shares at an average price of $37.57 per share during the third and fourth quarters of 2007. In January 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 1.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock over the next 12 months. No shares have been repurchased under the January 2008 share repurchase plan.

ASSET QUALITY

Allowance for Credit Losses

The following table presents a summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses for the periods presented:


	March 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period	$	50,389		$	46,055

Provision for credit losses		8,555			1,807

Charge-offs:
Commercial and commercial real estate loans		3,957			947
Home equity loans		—			51
Residential real estate loans		219			—
Consumer and other loans		69			233
Premium finance receivables		883			525
Indirect consumer loans		258			99
Tricom finance receivables		25			25

Total charge-offs		5,411			1,880


Recoveries:
Commercial and commercial real estate loans		40			343
Home equity loans		—			18
Residential real estate loans		—			—
Consumer and other loans		12			29
Premium finance receivables		128			118
Indirect consumer loans		45			36
Tricom finance receivables		—			—

Total recoveries		225			544

Net charge-offs		(5,186	)		(1,336	)


Allowance for loan losses at period-end	$	53,758		$	46,526

Allowance for lending-related commitments at period-end	$	493		$	457

Allowance for credit losses at period-end	$	54,251		$	46,983


Annualized net charge-offs by category as a percentage of its own respective category’s average:
Commercial and commercial real estate loans		0.35	%		0.06	%
Home equity loans		—			0.02
Residential real estate loans		0.27			—
Consumer and other loans		0.16			0.87
Premium finance receivables		0.27			0.14
Indirect consumer loans		0.36			0.10
Tricom finance receivables		0.41			0.27

Total loans, net of unearned income		0.30	%		0.08	%


Net charge-offs as a percentage of the provision for credit losses		60.62	%		73.96	%

Loans at period-end	$	6,874,916		$	6,545,906
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans at period-end		0.78	%		0.71	%
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans at period-end		0.79	%		0.72	%

Management believes that the loan portfolio is well diversified and well secured, without undue concentration in any specific risk area. Loan quality is continually monitored by management and is reviewed by the Banks’ Boards of Directors and their Credit Committees on a monthly basis. Independent external reviews of the loan portfolio are provided by the examinations conducted by regulatory authorities and an independent loan review performed by an entity engaged by the Board of Directors. The amount of additions to the allowance for loan losses, which is charged to earnings through the provision for credit losses, is determined based on management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management evaluates on at least a quarterly basis a variety of factors, including actual charge-offs during the year, historical loss experience, delinquent and other potential problem loans, and economic conditions and trends in the market area in assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

The Company allocates allowance to specific loan portfolio groups and maintains its allowance for loan losses at a level believed adequate by management to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and is based on the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, an assessment of internal problem loan identification system (“Problem Loan Report”) loans and actual loss experience, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, historical loss experience, changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collections, charge-off, and recovery practices, changes in experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff, changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments and changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans and trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, troubled debt restructurings and other loan modifications. The allowance for loan losses also includes an element for estimated probable but undetected losses and for imprecision in the credit risk models used to calculate the allowance. The Company reviews Problem Loan Report loans on a case-by-case basis to allocate a specific dollar amount of reserves, whereas all other loans are reserved for based on assigned reserve percentages evaluated by loan groupings. The loan groupings utilized by the Company are commercial, commercial real estate, residential real estate, home equity, premium finance receivables, indirect consumer, Tricom finance receivables and consumer. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective as it requires significant estimates, including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience, and consideration of current environmental factors and economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. The Company also maintains an allowance for lending-related commitments which relates to certain amounts that the Company is committed to lend but for which funds have not yet been disbursed and is computed using a methodology similar to that used to determine the allowance for loan losses. Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries are credited to the allowance. A provision for credit losses is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of the factors previously mentioned, as well as other pertinent factors. Evaluations are conducted at least quarterly and more frequently if deemed necessary.

The provision for credit losses totaled $8.6 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net charge-offs totaled $5.2 million, an increase from the $1.3 million of net charge-offs recorded in the same period of 2007. On a ratio basis, annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were 0.30% in the first quarter of 2008 and 0.08% in the first quarter of 2007.

Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to provide for inherent losses in the portfolio. There can be no assurances however, that future losses will not exceed the amounts provided for, thereby affecting future results of operations. The amount of future additions to the allowance for loan losses will be dependent upon management’s assessment of the adequacy of the allowance based on its evaluation of economic conditions, changes in real estate values, interest rates, the regulatory environment, the level of past-due and non-performing loans, and other factors.

Past Due Loans and Non-performing Assets

The following table sets forth Wintrust’s non-performing assets at the dates indicated. The information in the table should be read in conjunction with the detailed discussion following the table.


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007			2007
Loans past due greater than 90 days and still accruing:
Residential real estate and home equity ⁽¹⁾	$	387		$	51		$	286
Commercial, consumer and other		8,557			14,742			3,696
Premium finance receivables		8,133			8,703			6,074
Indirect consumer loans		635			517			269
Tricom finance receivables		—			—			—

Total past due greater than 90 days and still accruing		17,712			24,013			10,325


Non-accrual loans:
Residential real estate and home equity ⁽¹⁾		3,655			3,215			3,568
Commercial, consumer and other		51,184			33,267			9,660
Premium finance receivables		13,542			10,725			7,455
Indirect consumer loans		399			560			383
Tricom finance receivables		49			74			299

Total non-accrual		68,829			47,841			21,365


Total non-performing loans:
Residential real estate and home equity ⁽¹⁾		4,042			3,266			3,854
Commercial, consumer and other		59,741			48,009			13,356
Premium finance receivables		21,675			19,428			13,529
Indirect consumer loans		1,034			1,077			652
Tricom finance receivables		49			74			299

Total non-performing loans		86,541			71,854			31,690

Other real estate owned		4,873			3,858			627

Total non-performing assets	$	91,414		$	75,712		$	32,317


Total non-performing loans by category as a percent of its own respective category’s period end balance:
Residential real estate and home equity ⁽¹⁾		0.44	%		0.36	%		0.45	%
Commercial, consumer and other		1.28			1.06			0.32
Premium finance receivables		2.13			1.80			1.10
Indirect consumer loans		0.45			0.45			0.27
Tricom finance receivables		0.21			0.27			0.76

Total non-performing loans		1.26	%		1.06	%		0.48	%


Total non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets		0.94	%		0.81	%		0.34	%


Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans		62.12	%		70.13	%		146.82	%


⁽¹⁾		Nonaccrual and past due greater than 90 days and still accruing residential mortgage loans held for sale accounted for at lower of cost or market are excluded from the non-performing balances above. These balances totaled $2.1 million as of March 31, 2008, $2.0 million as of December 31, 2007 and $0 as of March 31, 2007.

Non-performing Residential Real Estate and Home Equity

The non-performing residential real estate and home equity loans totaled $4.0 million as of March 31, 2008 compared to $3.3 million at December 31, 2007 and $3.9 million as of March 31, 2007. The March 31, 2008 non-performing balance is comprised of $2.2 million of residential real estate loans (eight individual credits) and $1.8 million of home equity loans (14 individual credits). The average balance of loans in this category is approximately $184,000. On average, this is less than two non-performing residential real estate and home equity loans per chartered bank within the Company. The Company believes control and collection of these loans is very manageable. Management does not expect any material losses from the resolution of any of the credits in this category.

Non-performing Commercial, Consumer and Other
The commercial, consumer and other non-performing loan category totaled $59.7 million as of March 31, 2008 compared to $48.0 million as of December 31, 2007 and $13.4 million as of March 31, 2007.

The March 31, 2008 non-performing balance of $59.7 million is collateralized by $40.1 million of residential real estate development, $11.1 million of commercial, $5.8 million of commercial real estate, $2.4 million of commercial real estate development and $0.3 million of consumer. The residential real estate development component is comprised of 14 credit relationships with three relationships representing $29.5 million of the total.

Subsequent to March 31, 2008, $1.5 million of loans in this category have been resolved and a letter of intent has been signed to resolve a single credit totaling $10.4 million. Management is pursuing the resolution of all credits in this category. However, given the current state of the residential real estate market, resolution of certain credits could span a lengthy period of time until market conditions stabilize.

Non-performing Premium Finance Receivables

The following table presents the level of non-performing premium finance receivables as of the dates indicated, and the amount of net charge-offs for the quarterly periods then ended.


	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2008			2007			2007

Non-performing premium finance receivables	$	21,675		$	19,428		$	13,529
- as a percent of premium finance receivables outstanding		2.13	%		1.80	%		1.10	%
Net charge-offs of premium finance receivables	$	755		$	517		$	407
- annualized as a percent of average premium finance receivables		0.27	%		0.16	%		0.14	%

The level of non-performing premium finance receivables as a percent of total premium finance receivables at March 31, 2008 is higher than the levels reported at March 31, 2007 and at December 31, 2007. As noted below, fluctuations in this category may occur due to timing and nature of account collections from insurance carriers. Management is comfortable with administering the collections at this level of non-performing premium finance receivables and expects that such ratios will remain at relatively low levels.

The ratio of non-performing premium finance receivables fluctuates throughout the year due to the nature and timing of canceled account collections from insurance carriers. Due to the nature of collateral for premium finance receivables it customarily takes 60-150 days to convert the collateral into cash collections. Accordingly, the level of non-performing premium finance receivables is not necessarily indicative of the loss inherent in the portfolio. In the event of default, Wintrust has the power to cancel the insurance policy and collect the unearned portion of the premium from the insurance carrier. In the event of cancellation, the cash returned in payment of the unearned premium by the insurer should generally be sufficient to cover the receivable balance, the interest and other charges due. Due to notification requirements and processing time by most insurance carriers, many receivables will become delinquent beyond 90 days while the insurer is processing the return of the unearned premium. Management continues to accrue interest until maturity as the unearned premium is ordinarily sufficient to pay-off the outstanding balance and contractual interest due.

Non-performing Indirect Consumer Loans
Total non-performing indirect consumer loans were $1.0 million at March 31, 2008, compared to $1.1 million at December 31, 2007 and $652,000 at March 31, 2007. The ratio of these non-performing loans to total indirect consumer loans was 0.45% at March 31, 2008 compared to 0.45% at December 31, 2007 and 0.27% at March 31 2007. As noted in the Allowance for Credit Losses table, net charge-offs (annualized) as a percent of total indirect consumer loans were 0.36% for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 compared to 0.10% in the same period in 2007. The level of non-performing and net charge-offs of indirect consumer loans continue to be below standard industry ratios for this type of lending.

Credit Quality Review Procedures
The Company utilizes a loan rating system to assign risk to loans and utilizes that risk rating system to assist in identifying Problem Loan Report loans as a means of reporting non-performing and potential problem loans. At each scheduled meeting of the Boards of Directors of the Banks and the Wintrust Risk Management Committee, a Problem Loan Report is presented, showing all loans that are non-performing and loans that may warrant additional monitoring. Accordingly, in addition to those loans disclosed under “Past Due Loans and Non-performing Assets,” there are certain loans in the portfolio which management has identified, through its Problem Loan Report, which exhibit a higher than normal credit risk. These Problem Loan Report credits are reviewed individually by management to determine whether any specific reserve amount should be allocated to each respective credit. However, these loans are still performing and, accordingly, are not included in non-performing loans. Management’s philosophy is to be proactive and conservative in assigning risk ratings to loans and identifying loans to be on the Problem Loan Report. The principal amount of loans on the Company’s Problem Loan Report (exclusive of those loans reported as non-performing) as of March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007, and March 31, 2007 totaled $157.6 million, $142.1 million and $104.4 million, respectively. The increase from March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008 is primarily a result of Problem Loan Report credits in the commercial and commercial real estate category. These loans are performing and, accordingly, Management does not have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms.

LIQUIDITY

Wintrust manages the liquidity position of its banking operations to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet customers’ needs for loans and deposit withdrawals. The liquidity to meet these demands is provided by maturing assets, liquid assets that can be converted to cash and the ability to attract funds from external sources. Liquid assets refer to money market assets such as Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits with banks, as well as available-for-sale debt securities which are not pledged to secure public funds.

Please refer to the Interest-Earning Assets, Deposits, Other Funding Sources and Shareholders’ Equity discussions of this report for additional information regarding the Company’s liquidity position.

INFLATION

A banking organization’s assets and liabilities are primarily monetary. Changes in the rate of inflation do not have as great an impact on the financial condition of a bank as do changes in interest rates. Moreover, interest rates do not necessarily change at the same percentage as inflation. Accordingly, changes in inflation are not expected to have a material impact on the Company. An analysis of the Company’s asset and liability structure provides the best indication of how the organization is positioned to respond to changing interest rates. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks” section of this report for additional information.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking information in this document can be identified through the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “estimate,” “contemplate,” “possible,” and “point.” Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts, are premised on many factors, and represent only management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Similarly, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, which may include, but are not limited to, those listed below and the Risk Factors discussed in Item 1A on page 115 of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements may be deemed to include, among other things, statements relating to the Company’s projected growth, anticipated improvements in earnings, earnings per share and other financial performance measures, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on financial results of condition from expected developments or events, the Company’s business and growth strategies, including anticipated internal growth, plans to form additional de novo banks and to open new branch offices, and to pursue additional potential development or acquisitions of banks, wealth management entities or specialty finance businesses. Actual results could differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including the following:

	•		Competitive pressures in the financial services business which may affect the pricing of the Company’s loan and deposit products as well as its services (including wealth management services).

	•		Changes in the interest rate environment, which may influence, among other things, the growth of loans and deposits, the quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, the pricing of loans and deposits and net interest income.

	•		The extent of defaults and losses on our loan portfolio.

	•		Unexpected difficulties or unanticipated developments related to the Company’s strategy of de novo bank formations and openings. De novo banks typically require 13 to 24 months of operations before becoming profitable, due to the impact of organizational and overhead expenses, the startup phase of generating deposits and the time lag typically involved in redeploying deposits into attractively priced loans and other higher yielding earning assets.

	•		The ability of the Company to obtain liquidity and income from the sale of premium finance receivables in the future and the unique collection and delinquency risks associated with such loans.

	•		Failure to identify and complete acquisitions in the future or unexpected difficulties or unanticipated developments related to the integration of acquired entities with the Company.

	•		Legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or significant litigation involving the Company.

	•		Changes in general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates.

	•		The ability of the Company to receive dividends from its subsidiaries.

	•		The loss of customers as a result of technological changes allowing consumers to complete their financial transactions without the use of a bank.

	•		The ability of the Company to attract and retain senior management experienced in the banking and financial services industries.

Therefore, there can be no assurances that future actual results will correspond to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of Wintrust. Any such statement speaks only as of the date the statement was made or as of such date that may be referenced within the statement. Wintrust does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Persons are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures management makes on related subjects in its reports filed with the SEC and in its press releases.

ITEM 3
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

As an ongoing part of its financial strategy, the Company attempts to manage the impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on net interest income. This effort entails providing a reasonable balance between interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and maintenance of yield. Asset-liability management policies are established and monitored by management in conjunction with the boards of directors of the Banks, subject to general oversight by the Risk Management Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The policies establish guidelines for acceptable limits on the sensitivity of the market value of assets and liabilities to changes in interest rates.

Interest rate risk arises when the maturity or repricing periods and interest rate indices of the interest earning assets, interest bearing liabilities, and derivative financial instruments are different. It is the risk that changes in the level of market interest rates will result in disproportionate changes in the value of, and the net earnings generated from, the Company’s interest earning assets, interest bearing liabilities and derivative financial instruments. The Company continuously monitors not only the organization’s current net interest margin, but also the historical trends of these margins. In addition, management attempts to identify potential adverse changes in net interest income in future years as a result interest rate fluctuations by performing simulation analysis of various interest rate environments. If a potential adverse change in net interest margin and/or net income is identified, management would take appropriate actions with its asset-liability structure to mitigate these potentially adverse situations. Please refer to Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further discussion of the net interest margin.

Since the Company’s primary source of interest bearing liabilities is from customer deposits, the Company’s ability to manage the types and terms of such deposits may be somewhat limited by customer preferences and local competition in the market areas in which the Banks operate. The rates, terms and interest rate indices of the Company’s interest earning assets result primarily from the Company’s strategy of investing in loans and securities that permit the Company to limit its exposure to interest rate risk, together with credit risk, while at the same time achieving an acceptable interest rate spread.

The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed on a regular basis by management and the Risk Management Committees of the boards of directors of the Banks and the Company. The objective is to measure the effect on net income and to adjust balance sheet and derivative financial instruments to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time maximize net interest income. Tools used by management include a standard gap analysis and a rate simulation model whereby changes in net interest income are measured in the event of various changes in interest rate indices. An institution with more assets than liabilities repricing over a given time frame is considered asset sensitive and will generally benefit from rising rates, and conversely, a higher level of repricing liabilities versus assets would generally be beneficial in a declining rate environment.

Standard gap analysis reflects contractual repricing information for assets, liabilities and derivative financial instruments. While the gap position and related ratios illustrated in the following table are useful tools that management can use to assess the general positioning of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ balance sheets, it is only as of a point in time and static in nature. The following table illustrates the Company’s estimated interest rate sensitivity and periodic and cumulative gap positions based on contractual repricing and maturities as of March 31, 2008:


	Time to Maturity or Repricing
	0-90			91-365			1-5			Over 5
(Dollars in thousands)	Days			Days			Years			Years			Total

Assets:
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	$	280,408			—			—			—			280,408
Interest-bearing deposits with banks		11,280			—			—			—			11,280
Available-for-sale securities		409,006			88,790			227,683			385,375			1,110,854

Total liquidity management assets		700,694			88,790			227,683			385,375			1,402,542
Loans, net of unearned income ⁽¹⁾		3,803,784			1,507,849			1,485,392			180,215			6,977,240
Other earning assets		23,971			—			—			—			23,971

Total earning assets		4,528,449			1,596,639			1,713,075			565,590			8,403,753
Other non-earning assets		—			—			—			1,328,713			1,328,713

Total assets (RSA)	$	4,528,449			1,596,639			1,713,075			1,894,303			9,732,466


Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
Interest-bearing deposits ⁽²⁾	$	4,157,496			1,986,516			667,761			1,376			6,813,149
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		71,982			68,000			269,500			25,000			434,482
Notes payable and other borrowings		363,391			—			—			—			363,391
Subordinated notes		75,000			—			—			—			75,000
Junior subordinated debentures		198,074			—			51,547			—			249,621

Total interest-bearing liabilities		4,865,943			2,054,516			988,808			26,376			7,935,643
Demand deposits		—			—			—			670,433			670,433
Other liabilities		—			—			—			373,097			373,097
Shareholders’ equity		—			—			—			753,293			753,293

Effect of derivative financial instruments:⁽³⁾
Interest rate swaps (Company pays fixed, receives floating)		(175,000	)		—			85,000			90,000			—
Interest rate swap (Company pays floating, receives fixed)		—			—			—			—			—

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity including effect of derivative financial instruments (RSL)	$	4,690,943			2,054,516			1,073,808			1,913,199			9,732,466

Repricing gap (RSA — RSL)	$	(162,494	)		(457,877	)		639,267			(18,896	)
Cumulative repricing gap	$	(162,494	)		(620,371	)		18,896			—

Cumulative RSA/Cumulative RSL		97	%		91	%		100	%
Cumulative RSA/Total assets		47	%		63	%		81	%
Cumulative RSL/Total assets		48	%		69	%		80	%

Cumulative GAP/Total assets		(2	)%		(6	)%		—	%
Cumulative GAP/Cumulative RSA		(4	)%		(10	)%		—	%


(1)		Loans, net of unearned income, include mortgage loans held-for-sale and nonaccrual loans.

(2)		Non-contractual interest-bearing deposits are subject to immediate withdrawal and, therefore, are included in 0-90 days.

(3)		Excludes interest rate swaps to qualified commercial customers as they are offset with interest rate swaps entered into with third parties and have no effect on the Company’s interest rate sensitivity. See Note 10 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these interest rate swaps.

As seen in the table, the Company’s gap analysis as of March 31, 2008, reflects that the Company is in a negative gap position. The Company’s funding sources and deposit mix, and the inability to have negative interest rates can create undue margin compression even for liability sensitive institutions operating in a low interest rate environment.

As a result of the static position and inherent limitations of gap analysis, management uses an additional measurement tool to evaluate its asset-liability sensitivity that determines exposure to changes in interest rates by measuring the percentage change in net interest income due to changes in interest rates over a two-year time horizon. Management measures its exposure to changes in interest rates using many different interest rate scenarios. One interest rate scenario utilized is to measure the percentage change in net interest income assuming an instantaneous permanent parallel shift in the yield curve of 100 and 200 basis points, both upward and downward. Utilizing this measurement concept, the interest rate risk of the Company, expressed as a percentage change in net interest income over a two-year time horizon due to changes in interest rates, at March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007, is as follows:


	+ 200			+ 100			- 100			- 200
	Basis			Basis			Basis			Basis
	Points			Points			Points			Points

Percentage change in net interest income due to an immediate 100 and 200 basis point shift in the yield curve:
March 31, 2008		7.8	%		2.5	%		(7.8)	%		(13.9)	%
December 31, 2007		9.5	%		6.4	%		(1.4)	%		(9.9)	%
March 31, 2007		7.7	%		5.4	%		(4.3)	%		(9.9)	%

These results are based solely on an instantaneous permanent parallel shift in the yield curve and do not reflect the net interest income sensitivity that may arise from other factors, such as changes in the shape of the yield curve or the change in spread between key market rates. The above results are conservative estimates due to the fact that no management actions to mitigate potential changes in net interest income are included in this simulation process. These management actions could include, but would not be limited to, delaying a change in deposit rates, extending the maturities of liabilities, the use of derivative financial instruments, changing the pricing characteristics of loans or modifying the growth rate of certain types of assets or liabilities.

One method utilized by financial institutions to manage interest rate risk is to enter into derivative financial instruments. A derivative financial instrument includes interest rate swaps, interest rate caps and floors, futures, forwards, option contracts and other financial instruments with similar characteristics. Additionally, the Company enters into commitments to fund certain mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors. See Note 10 of the Financial Statements presented under Item 1 of this report for further information on the Company’s derivative financial instruments.

During the first three months of 2008, the Company also entered into certain covered call option transactions related to certain securities held by the Company. The Company uses these option transactions (rather than entering into other derivative interest rate contracts, such as interest rate floors) to increase the total return associated with the related securities. Although the revenue received from these options is recorded as non-interest income rather than interest income, the increased return attributable to the related securities from these options contributes to the Company’s overall profitability. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk may be impacted by these transactions. To mitigate this risk, the Company may acquire fixed rate term debt or use financial derivative instruments. There were no covered call options outstanding as of March 31, 2008.

ITEM 4
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation under their supervision, with the participation of other members of management as they deemed appropriate, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as contemplated by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (and its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the periodic reports the Company is required to file and submit to the SEC under the Exchange Act.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – Other Information

Item 1A: Risk factors

There were no material changes from the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On April 30, 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 1.0 million shares of its outstanding common stock over the next 12 months. All shares authorized to be repurchased pursuant to this authorization were repurchased as of November 2007. In January 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to 1.0 million shares of its outstanding common stock over the next 12 months. No shares were repurchased pursuant to this authorization. Following is a summary of the stock repurchases made during the first quarter of 2008.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


	(a)		(b)		(c)		(d)
					Total Number of		Maximum Number
	Total				Shares Purchased		of Shares that May
	Number of		Average		as Part of Publicly		Yet Be Purchased
	Shares		Price Paid		Announced Plans		Under the Plans
Period	Purchased		per Share		or Programs		or Programs

January 1 — January 31		—	$	—		—		—
February 1 — February 28		—		—		—		—
March 1 — March 31		1,581		35.06		—		—

Total		1,581	$	35.06		—		—

All shares repurchased in the first quarter of 2008 were repurchased under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan to satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with restricted share awards.

Item 6: Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits

3.1		Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006).

3.2		Amended and Restated By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2007).

4.1		Certain instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, none of which authorize a total amount of indebtedness in excess of 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, have not been filed as Exhibits. The Company hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any of these agreements to the Commission upon request.

10.1		Wintrust Financial Corporation Cash Incentive and Retention Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2008).

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1		Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SIGNATURES

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

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)



Date: May 12, 2008	/s/ DAVID L. STOEHR
	David L. Stoehr
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)