Wintrust Financial Corporation Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 7.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred StocK

Wintrust Financial Corp. is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and financial services. The company is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois and currently employs 5,902 full-time employees. The company provides community-oriented, personal and commercial banking services to customers generally located in the Chicago metropolitan area, southern Wisconsin, northwest Indiana and west Michigan. Its segments include community banking, specialty finance and wealth management. Through its community banking segment, its banks provide community-oriented, personal and commercial banking services to customers located in its market area. Its customers include individuals, small to mid-sized businesses, local governmental units and institutional clients residing primarily in the banks' local service areas. Through its specialty finance segment, it offers financing of insurance premiums for businesses and individuals; accounts receivable financing, value-added, out-sourced administrative services; and other specialty finance businesses. Through its wealth management segment, it offers a full range of wealth management services.