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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July&nbsp;29, 2011</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>








<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt">
<B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE<BR>

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR></TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Illinois</B><BR>
(State or other jurisdiction <BR>
of incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>36-3873352</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>727 North Bank Lane <BR>
Lake Forest, Illinois</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><B>60045</B><BR>
(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">
<B>Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan</B><BR>

(Full title of the plan)</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">
<B>David A. Dykstra<BR>

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,<BR>

Secretary and Treasurer<BR>

727 North Bank Lane<BR>

Lake Forest, Illinois 60045<BR>

(847)&nbsp;615-4096</B><BR>

(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">
<B>Copies to:<BR>

Lisa J. Reategui<BR>

Sidley Austin LLP<BR>

One South Dearborn Street<BR>

Chicago, Illinois 60603<BR>

(312)&nbsp;853-7000</B></DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR></TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Large accelerated filer </FONT><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Accelerated filer</FONT> <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Non-accelerated filer</FONT> <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
<FONT style="white-space: nowrap">(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Smaller reporting company </FONT> <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Calculation of Registration Fee</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="46%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate Offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
 <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>Title of Securities to be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Per Share</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>Registration Fee (2)</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD align="center" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock,
no par value per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">2,860,000 shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">34.51</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">98,698,600</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">11,459</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 3pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Reflects shares of common stock (the &#147;Shares&#148;), no par value per share, of Wintrust
Financial Corporation, an Illinois corporation (the &#147;Registrant&#148;), being registered hereunder that
may be issued pursuant to Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;).
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities
Act&#148;), this Registration Statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or
issued pursuant to the provisions of the Plan relating to adjustments for changes resulting from
stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar
changes.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee and, pursuant to
Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sales
price of the Shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 25, 2011.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INCORPORATION OF EARLIER REGISTRATION STATEMENTS BY REFERENCE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A Registration Statement on Form S-8 (SEC File No.&nbsp;333-140141) was filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on January&nbsp;23, 2007 covering the registration of 500,000
Shares to be offered pursuant to the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this
Registration Statement is being filed to register an additional 2,860,000 Shares under the Plan and
hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the prior Registration Statement except for Items
3 and 8, which are being updated by this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents, which have been filed with the Commission by the Registrant, are
incorporated herein by reference:
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;the Registrant&#146;s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2010,
filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;1, 2011;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;the Registrant&#146;s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2011, filed
with the Commission on May&nbsp;9, 2011;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;the Registrant&#146;s current reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
February&nbsp;2, 2011, February&nbsp;14, 2011, April&nbsp;15, 2011, May&nbsp;31, 2011, July&nbsp;29, 2011 (with respect to
advisory votes regarding executive compensation) and July&nbsp;29, 2011 (with respect to modifications
of the Registrant&#146;s articles of incorporation);
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)&nbsp;All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), since December&nbsp;31, 2010; and
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5)&nbsp;The description of the Registrant&#146;s common stock, no par value per share, contained in the
Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January&nbsp;3, 1997 under the Exchange Act,
including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold are deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of
such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above, being hereinafter referred to
as &#147;Incorporated Documents&#148;).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="91%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as
amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report
on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2006).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 of the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with
the Commission on April&nbsp;15, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Annex A of the Registrant&#146;s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the validity of the securities being registered.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Lake Forest, state of Illinois, on July&nbsp;29, 2011.</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ David A. Dykstra
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">David A. Dykstra&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" nowrap>Senior Executive Vice President and <BR>
Chief Operating
Officer, Secretary and Treasurer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Name</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Peter D. Crist
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board of Directors&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Peter D. Crist</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Edward J. Wehmer
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" rowspan="2" valign="top">President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Edward J. Wehmer</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ David L. Stoehr
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
David L. Stoehr
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Bruce K. Crowther
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Bruce K. Crowther</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Joseph F. Damico
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Joseph F. Damico</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Bert A. Getz, Jr.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Bert A. Getz, Jr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Scott K. Heitmann
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Scott K. Heitmann</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Charles H. James III
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Charles H. James III</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Albin F. Moschner
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Albin F. Moschner</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Thomas J. Neis
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Thomas J. Neis</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Christopher J. Perry
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Christopher J. Perry</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Hollis W. Rademacher
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Hollis W. Rademacher</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Ingrid S. Stafford
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">July&nbsp;29, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Ingrid S. Stafford</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="91%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as
amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report
on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2006).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 of the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with
the Commission on April&nbsp;15, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Annex A of the Registrant&#146;s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the validity of the securities being registered.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
</HTML>
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sv8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Illinois
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
36-3873352
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
60045
(Zip Code)
Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
David A. Dykstra
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,
Secretary and Treasurer
727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
(847) 615-4096
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Lisa J. Reategui
Sidley Austin LLP
One South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) 853-7000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large
accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
Calculation of Registration Fee
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Amount to be
Offering Price
Aggregate Offering
Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered
Registered (1)
Per Share
Price
Registration Fee (2)
Common Stock,
no par value per share
2,860,000 shares
$
34.51
$
98,698,600
$
11,459
(1)
Reflects shares of common stock (the "Shares"), no par value per share, of Wintrust
Financial Corporation, an Illinois corporation (the "Registrant"), being registered hereunder that
may be issued pursuant to Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), this Registration Statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or
issued pursuant to the provisions of the Plan relating to adjustments for changes resulting from
stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar
changes.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee and, pursuant to
Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sales
price of the Shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 25, 2011.
REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES
INCORPORATION OF EARLIER REGISTRATION STATEMENTS BY REFERENCE
A Registration Statement on Form S-8 (SEC File No. 333-140141) was filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on January 23, 2007 covering the registration of 500,000
Shares to be offered pursuant to the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this
Registration Statement is being filed to register an additional 2,860,000 Shares under the Plan and
hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the prior Registration Statement except for Items
3 and 8, which are being updated by this Registration Statement.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents, which have been filed with the Commission by the Registrant, are
incorporated herein by reference:
(1) the Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010,
filed with the Commission on March 1, 2011;
(2) the Registrant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed
with the Commission on May 9, 2011;
(3) the Registrant's current reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
February 2, 2011, February 14, 2011, April 15, 2011, May 31, 2011, July 29, 2011 (with respect to
advisory votes regarding executive compensation) and July 29, 2011 (with respect to modifications
of the Registrant's articles of incorporation);
(4) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since December 31, 2010; and
(5) The description of the Registrant's common stock, no par value per share, contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 3, 1997 under the Exchange Act,
including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold are deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of
such documents (such documents, and the documents enumerated above, being hereinafter referred to
as "Incorporated Documents").
Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained
herein or in any other subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No.
Description
4.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as
amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006).
4.2
Amended and Restated By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the Commission on April 15, 2011).
4.3
Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Annex A of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed with the Commission on April 28, 2011).
5.1
Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the validity of the securities being registered.
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Lake Forest, state of Illinois, on July 29, 2011.
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:
/s/ David A. Dykstra
Name:
David A. Dykstra
Title:
Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating
Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Name
Title
Date
/s/ Peter D. Crist
Chairman of the Board of Directors
July 29, 2011
Peter D. Crist
/s/ Edward J. Wehmer
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
July 29, 2011
Edward J. Wehmer
/s/ David L. Stoehr
David L. Stoehr
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
July 29, 2011
/s/ Bruce K. Crowther
Director
July 29, 2011
Bruce K. Crowther
/s/ Joseph F. Damico
Director
July 29, 2011
Joseph F. Damico
/s/ Bert A. Getz, Jr.
Director
July 29, 2011
Bert A. Getz, Jr.
/s/ H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.
Director
July 29, 2011
H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.
/s/ Scott K. Heitmann
Director
July 29, 2011
Scott K. Heitmann
/s/ Charles H. James III
Director
July 29, 2011
Charles H. James III
/s/ Albin F. Moschner
Director
July 29, 2011
Albin F. Moschner
/s/ Thomas J. Neis
Director
July 29, 2011
Thomas J. Neis
/s/ Christopher J. Perry
Director
July 29, 2011
Christopher J. Perry
/s/ Hollis W. Rademacher
Director
July 29, 2011
Hollis W. Rademacher
/s/ Ingrid S. Stafford
Director
July 29, 2011
Ingrid S. Stafford
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
4.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as
amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006).
4.2
Amended and Restated By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation, as amended (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the Commission on April 15, 2011).
4.3
Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Annex A of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed with the Commission on April 28, 2011).
5.1
Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the validity of the securities being registered.
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).