WTFC Wintrust Financial Corporation

Wintrust Financial Corporation ("Wintrust") (Nasdaq:WTFC) will present at the Stifel Nicolaus Bank Conference to be held in New York on November 2, 2011. Wintrust management will participate in an interview session that is scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM, Eastern Time.

This event will have an audio webcast available and may be accessed at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/stifel/bank2011/36111125.cfm or at Wintrust's website at www.wintrust.com by clicking on the "Presentations" link located on the "Presentations and Conference Calls" page.  Listeners should go to the website at least fifteen minutes before the presentation to download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to attend the live broadcast, a replay will be available for 30 days after the conference. There is no charge to access the event.

Wintrust is a financial holding company with assets of approximately $16 billion whose common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Wintrust operates fifteen community banks that provide a full complement of commercial and consumer loan and deposit products and services through approximately 100 banking facilities in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. Wintrust also provides brokerage, trust and investment services to customers primarily in the Midwest, as well as customers of the banks, and provides services in mortgage banking, insurance premium financing and several specialty-lending niches.

CONTACT: Edward J. Wehmer, President & Chief Executive Officer
         David A. Dykstra, Senior Executive Vice President
         & Chief Operating Officer
         (847) 615-4096
         Website address:  www.wintrust.com