-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KNLESjI6/CgRXowEMdxy52Dq1sfDtD07vBZ6lZP6zxHtbda4+Y+11OSwMgGzmKtr
 tkpF1CQvtEU76xhiYDAk/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000052617-09-000077.txt : 20090928
<SEC-HEADER>0000052617-09-000077.hdr.sgml : 20090927
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090928124320
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000052617-09-000077
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090925
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090928
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090928

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EHLINGER GREGORY F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160678

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16691
		FILM NUMBER:		091089650

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		500 WASHINGTON STREET
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47201

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IRWIN FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000052617
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				351286807
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WASHINGTON STREET
		STREET 2:		500 WASHINGTON STREET
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8123761909

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 WASHINGTON STREET
		STREET 2:		500 WASHINGTON STREET
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47201

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IRWIN UNION CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900919
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000052617</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IRWIN FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160678</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EHLINGER GREGORY F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 WASHINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>47201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5013</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.072</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22995</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>493</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>UGMA CUST FOR CHILD</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>494</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>UGMA CUST FOR CHILD</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24877</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>BY 401K</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>496</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>BY SPOUSE</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory F. Ehlinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----