WTFC Wintrust Financial Corporation

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wintrust Financial Corporation ("Wintrust") (NASDAQ:WTFC) today announced it will release its fourth quarter 2008 earnings on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at 6:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time). A conference call will be held the same day at 1:00 p.m. (CDT). Individuals interested in listening should call (877) 365-7575 and enter Conference ID #81574677. A simultaneous audio-only web cast and replay of the conference call may be accessed via the Company's web site at (http://www.wintrust.com/), Presentations & Conference Calls, Conference Calls, Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings Release Conference Call. The text of the fourth quarter earnings press release will be available on the Company's website at (http://www.wintrust.com/), Investor News, Press Releases. ABOUT WINTRUST Wintrust is a financial holding company with assets of approximately $10 billion whose common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ:WTFC). Wintrust operates fifteen community bank subsidiaries that are located in the greater Chicago and Milwaukee market areas. Additionally, the Company operates various non-bank subsidiaries including one of the largest commercial insurance premium finance companies operating in the United States, a company providing short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, companies engaging primarily in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market throughout the United States, and companies providing wealth management services including broker-dealer, money management services, advisory services, and trust and estate services. Currently, Wintrust operates more than 75 banking offices and is in the process of constructing several additional branch facilities. 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." The forward-looking information is premised on many factors, some of which are outlined below. 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 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. -- The risk that the terms of the U.S. Treasury Department's Capital Purchase Program could change. -- The other risk factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Persons are advised, however, to consult further disclosures management makes on related subjects in its reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its press releases. DATASOURCE: Wintrust Financial Corporation CONTACT: Edward J. Wehmer, President & Chief Executive Officer, or David A. Dykstra, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, both of Wintrust Financial Corporation, +1-847-615-4096 Web site: http://www.wintrust.com/

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