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>0001244290</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>1719 Shore Acres Drive</com:street1>
          <com:city>Lake Forest</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60044</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>847-939-9000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Edward J. Wehmer</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Chairman</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Executive Officer</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>9500</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>940500</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>108818</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>03/05/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/26/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Wintrust Financial Corporation</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>9990</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/26/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>03/06/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>Edward J. Wehmer</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2918}]
text: 144
  0001244290
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001015328
  Wintrust Financial Corporation
  001-35077
  1719 Shore Acres Drive
  Lake Forest
  IL
  60044
  847-939-9000
  Edward J. Wehmer
  Chairman
  Director
  Executive Officer
  Common Stock
  Wintrust Investments, LLC
  231 S. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor
  Chicago
  IL
  60604
  9500
  940500
  108818
  03/05/2024
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  02/26/2024
  Purchase
  Wintrust Financial Corporation
  N
  9990
  02/26/2024
  Cash
  Y
  03/06/2024
  Edward J. Wehmer