content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001244289</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001015328</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Wintrust Financial Corporation</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-35077</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>1309 Estate Lane East</com:street1>
          <com:city>Lake Forest</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60045</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>8479399000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>David L. Stoehr</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>CFO</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Wintrust Investments, LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>231 S. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor</com:street1>
            <com:city>Chicago</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>60604</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>1607</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>182410.57</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>66500386</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>10/24/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>01/28/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Wintrust Financial Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1607</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>01/28/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>10/24/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/David L. Stoehr</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2783}]
text: 144
  0001244289
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001015328
  Wintrust Financial Corporation
  001-35077
  1309 Estate Lane East
  Lake Forest
  IL
  60045
  8479399000
  David L. Stoehr
  CFO
  Common Stock
  Wintrust Investments, LLC
  231 S. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor
  Chicago
  IL
  60604
  1607
  182410.57
  66500386
  10/24/2024
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  01/28/2023
  Purchase
  Wintrust Financial Corporation
  N
  1607
  01/28/2023
  Cash
  Y
  10/24/2024
  /s/David L. Stoehr