UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☑ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

☐ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition Period from to

Commission File Number 001-35077

Wintrust Financial Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Illinois	36-3873352
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

9700 W. Higgins Road, Suite 800

Rosemont, Illinois 60018

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 939-9000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, no par value	WTFC	The NASDAQ Global Select Market
Series D Preferred Stock, no par value	WTFCM	The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes þ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☑	Accelerated filer	☐	Non-Accelerated filer	☐
Smaller reporting company	☐	Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐ Yes ☑ No

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 28, 2019 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter), determined using the closing price of the common stock on that day of $73.16, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market, was $4,110,584,294.

As of February 26, 2020, the registrant had 57,373,345 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 28, 2020 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
	PART I
ITEM 1	Business	3
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	20
ITEM 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	36
ITEM 2.	Properties	36
ITEM 3.	Legal Proceedings	36
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	38
	PART II
ITEM 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	39
ITEM 6.	Selected Financial Data	41
ITEM 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	42
ITEM 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	92
ITEM 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	94
ITEM 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	170
ITEM 9A.	Controls and Procedures	171
ITEM 9B.	Other Information	174
	PART III
ITEM 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	174
ITEM 11.	Executive Compensation	174
ITEM 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	174
ITEM 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	175
ITEM 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	175
	PART IV
ITEM 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	176
ITEM 16.	Form 10-K Summary	181
	Signatures	182

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Overview

Wintrust Financial Corporation, an Illinois corporation (“we,” “Wintrust” or “the Company”), which was incorporated in 1992, is a financial holding company based in Rosemont, Illinois, with total assets of approximately $36.6 billion as of December 31, 2019. We conduct our businesses through three primary segments: community banking, specialty finance and wealth management. We provide community-oriented, personal and commercial banking services to customers located in the Chicago metropolitan area, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana (“our market area”) through our fifteen wholly-owned-banking subsidiaries (collectively, the “banks”), as well as the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market through Wintrust Mortgage, a division of Barrington Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Barrington Bank”). In addition, we provide specialty finance services, including financing for the payment of commercial insurance premiums and life insurance premiums (“premium finance receivables”) on a national basis through FIRST Insurance Funding (“FIRST Insurance Funding”), a division of our wholly-owned subsidiary Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Lake Forest Bank”), and Wintrust Life Finance (“Wintrust Life Finance”), a division of Lake Forest Bank, and in Canada through our premium finance company, First Insurance Funding of Canada (“FIFC Canada”), lease financing and other direct leasing opportunities through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Wintrust Asset Finance, Inc. ("Wintrust Asset Finance"), and short-term accounts receivable financing and outsourced administrative services through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee (“Tricom”). Further, we provide a full range of wealth management services primarily to customers in our market area through four separate subsidiaries, The Chicago Trust Company, N.A. (“CTC”), Wintrust Investments, LLC (“Wintrust Investments”), Great Lakes Advisors, LLC (“Great Lakes Advisors”) and Chicago Deferred Exchange Company, LLC ("CDEC").

Our Business and Reporting Segments

As set forth in Note 24, “Segment Information,” our operations consist of three primary segments: community banking, specialty finance and wealth management. The three reportable segments are strategic business units that are separately managed as they offer different products and services and have different marketing strategies. In addition, each segment’s customer base has varying characteristics and each segment has a different regulatory environment. While the Company’s management monitors each of the fifteen bank subsidiaries’ operations and profitability separately, these subsidiaries have been aggregated into one reportable operating segment due to the similarities in products and services, customer base, operations, profitability measures and economic characteristics. All segment measurements discussed below are based on the reportable segments and do not reflect intersegment eliminations.

Community Banking

Through our community banking segment, our banks provide community-oriented, personal and commercial banking services to customers located in our market area. Our customers include individuals, small to mid-sized businesses, local governmental units and institutional clients residing primarily in the banks' local service areas. The banks have a strategy to provide comprehensive community-focused banking services. In keeping with this strategy, the banks provide highly personalized and responsive service, a characteristic of locally-owned and managed institutions. As such, the banks compete for deposits principally by offering depositors a variety of deposit programs, convenient office locations, hours and other services, and for loan originations primarily through the interest rates and loan fees they charge, the efficiency and quality of services they provide to borrowers and the variety of their loan and cash management products. Using our multiple bank charter corporate structure to our advantage, we offer our MaxSafe^® deposit accounts, which provide customers with expanded Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage by spreading a customer's deposit across our fifteen banks. This product differentiates our banks from many of our competitors that have consolidated their bank charters into branches. We also have downtown Chicago and Milwaukee offices that work with each of our banks to capture commercial and industrial business. Our commercial and industrial lenders in our downtown offices operate in close partnership with lenders at our community banks. By combining our expertise in the commercial and industrial sector with our high level of personal service and a full suite of banking products, we believe we create another point of differentiation from both our larger and smaller competitors. Our banks also offer home equity, consumer, and real estate loans, safe deposit facilities, ATMs, online and mobile banking and other innovative and traditional services specially tailored to meet the needs of customers in their market areas.

We developed our banking franchise through a combination of de novo organization and the purchase of existing bank franchises. The organizational efforts began in 1991, when a group of experienced bankers and local business people identified an unfilled niche in the Chicago metropolitan area retail banking market. As large banks acquired smaller ones and personal service was

3

subjected to consolidation strategies, the opportunity increased for locally owned and operated, highly personal service-oriented banks. As a result, Lake Forest Bank was founded in December 1991 to service the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities.

As of December 31, 2019, we owned fifteen banks, including thirteen nationally chartered banks: Lake Forest Bank, Barrington Bank,Wintrust Bank, N.A. (“Wintrust Bank”), Libertyville Bank and Trust Company, N.A. (“Libertyville Bank”), Northbrook Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Northbrook Bank”), Village Bank & Trust, N.A. (“Village Bank”), Wheaton Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Wheaton Bank”), State Bank of the Lakes, N.A., Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Crystal Lake Bank”), Schaumburg Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Schaumburg Bank”), Beverly Bank & Trust Company, N.A. (“Beverly Bank”) , Old Plank Trail Community Bank, N.A. (“Old Plank Trail Bank”) and Town Bank, N.A. (“Town Bank”). In addition, we owned two Illinois-chartered banks, Hinsdale Bank and Trust Company (“Hinsdale Bank”) and St. Charles Bank & Trust Company (“St. Charles Bank”), which converted to nationally chartered banks effective January 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, we had 187 banking locations. Each nationally-chartered bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”).

We also engage in the retail origination and correspondent purchase of residential mortgages through Wintrust Mortgage as well as consumer direct lending primarily to veterans through our Veterans First brand. Certain originated loans are sold to unaffiliated companies or the Company's banks with servicing remaining within Wintrust Mortgage operations. Wintrust Mortgage maintains retail mortgage offices in a number of states, with the largest concentration located in the Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

We also offer several niche lending products through several of the banks. These include Barrington Bank's Community Advantage program, which provides lending, deposit and cash management services to condominium, homeowner and community associations; Hinsdale Bank's mortgage warehouse lending program, which provides loan and deposit services to mortgage brokerage companies located predominantly in the Chicago metropolitan area; and Lake Forest Bank's franchise lending program, which provides lending to restaurant franchisees. Other niches offered throughout our banking franchise include Wintrust Commercial Finance, which offers direct leasing opportunities; Wintrust Business Credit, which specializes in asset-based lending for middle-market companies; Wintrust SBA Lending, which is dedicated to offering expertise in Small Business Administration loans; Wintrust Commercial Real Estate, which concentrates on real estate lending solutions including commercial mortgages and construction loans; and Wintrust Government, Non-Profit & Hospital, which focuses on financial solutions for mission-based organizations such as hospitals, non-profits, educational institutions and local government operations.

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the community banking segment had net revenues of $1.1 billion, $1.0 billion and $889 million, respectively, and net income of $238 million, $241 million and $175 million, respectively. The community banking segment had total assets of $29.6 billion, $25.4 billion and $22.8 billion as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The community banking segment accounted for approximately 75% of our consolidated net revenues, excluding intersegment eliminations, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Specialty Finance

Through our specialty finance segment, we offer financing of insurance premiums for businesses and individuals; accounts receivable financing, value-added, out-sourced administrative services; and other specialty finance businesses. FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance engage in the premium finance receivables business, our most significant specialized lending niche, including commercial insurance premium finance and life insurance premium finance. We also engage in commercial insurance premium finance in Canada through our wholly-owned subsidiary FIFC Canada.

In their commercial insurance premium finance operations, FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada make loans to businesses to finance the insurance premiums they pay on their commercial insurance policies. Approved medium and large insurance agents and brokers located throughout the United States and Canada assist FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada, respectively, in arranging each commercial premium finance loan between the borrower and FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada, as the case may be. FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada evaluates each loan request according to its own underwriting criteria including the amount of the down payment on the insurance policy, the term of the loan, the credit quality of the insurance company providing the financed insurance policy, the interest rate, the borrower's previous payment history, if any, and other factors deemed appropriate. Upon approval of the loan by FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada, as the case may be, the borrower makes a down payment on the financed insurance policy, which is generally done by providing payment to the agent or broker, who then forwards it to the insurance company. FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada may either forward the financed amount of the remaining policy premiums directly to the insurance carrier or to the agent or broker for remittance to the insurance carrier on FIRST Insurance Funding's or FIFC Canada's behalf. In some cases the agent or broker may hold our collateral, in the form of the proceeds of the unearned insurance premium from the insurance company, and forward it to FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada in the event of a default by the borrower. This lending involves relatively rapid turnover of the loan portfolio and high

4

volume of loan originations. Because the agent or broker is the primary contact to the ultimate borrowers who are located nationwide and because proceeds and our collateral may be handled by the agent or brokers during the term of the loan, FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada may be more susceptible to third party (i.e., agent or broker) fraud. The Company performs various controls and procedures including ongoing credit and other reviews of the agents and brokers as well as performs various internal audit steps to mitigate against the risk of material fraud.

The commercial and property premium finance business is subject to regulation in the majority of states. Regulation typically governs notices to borrowers prior to cancellation of a policy and required communication to insurance agents and insurance companies. FIRST Insurance Funding offers financing of commercial insurance policies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  FIRST Insurance Funding’s legal department regularly monitors changes to regulations and updates policies and programs accordingly.

Wintrust Life Finance finances life insurance policy premiums generally used for estate planning purposes of high net-worth borrowers. These loans are originated directly with the borrowers with assistance from life insurance carriers, independent insurance agents, financial advisors and legal counsel. The cash surrender value of the life insurance policy is the primary form of collateral. In addition, these loans often are secured with a letter of credit, marketable securities or certificates of deposit. In some cases, Wintrust Life Finance may make a loan that has a partially unsecured position.

The life insurance premium finance business is subject to banking regulations but is not subject to additional regulatory regimes (e.g. additional state regulation). Wintrust Life Finance's compliance department regularly monitors the regulatory environment and the company's compliance with existing regulations. Wintrust Life Finance maintains a policy prohibiting the known financing of stranger-originated life insurance and has established procedures to identify and prevent the company from financing such policies. While a carrier could potentially put at risk the cash surrender value of a policy, which serves as Wintrust Life Finance's primary collateral, by challenging the validity of the insurance contract for lack of an insurable interest, Wintrust Life Finance believes it has strong counterclaims against any such claims by carriers, in addition to recourse to borrowers and guarantors as well as to additional collateral in certain cases.

Premium finance loans made by FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada are primarily secured by the insurance policies financed by the loans. These insurance policies are written by a large number of insurance companies geographically dispersed throughout the United States and Canada. Our premium finance receivables balances finance insurance policies that are spread among a large number of insurers, however one of the insurers represents approximately 13% of such balances and two additional insurers represent approximately 3% each of such balances. FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada consistently monitor carrier ratings and financial performance of our carriers. In the event ratings fall below certain levels, most of Wintrust Life Finance's life insurance premium finance policies provide for an event of default and allow Wintrust Life Finance to have recourse to borrowers and guarantors as well as to additional collateral in certain cases. For the commercial premium finance business, the term of the loans is sufficiently short such that in the event of a decline in carrier ratings, FIRST Insurance Funding or FIFC Canada, as the case may be, can restrict or eliminate additional loans to finance premiums to such carriers. The majority of premium finance receivables are purchased by the banks in order to more fully utilize their lending capacity as these loans generally provide the banks with higher yields than alternative investments.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Wintrust Asset Finance, we provide equipment financing through structured loan and lease products to customers in a variety of industries throughout the United States. Wintrust Asset Finance provides financing of fixed assets consisting of property, plant and equipment, transportation (trucks, trailers, rail, marine, buses), construction, manufacturing equipment, technology, oil and gas, restaurant equipment, medical and healthcare. During 2019, Wintrust Asset Finance contributed approximately $49.2 million to our revenue, which does not reflect intersegment eliminations.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Tricom, we provide high-yielding, short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added, outsourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services to the temporary staffing industry. Tricom’s clients, located throughout the United States, provide staffing services to businesses in diversified industries. During 2019, Tricom processed payrolls with associated client billings of approximately $592 million and contributed approximately $10.3 million to our revenue, net of interest expense. Net revenue is based on our reportable segments and does not reflect intersegment eliminations.

In 2019, our commercial premium finance operations, life insurance premium finance operations, leasing operations and accounts receivable finance operations accounted for 42%, 34%, 20% and 4%, respectively, of the total revenues of our specialty finance business. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 the specialty finance segment had net revenues of $241 million, $203 million and $179 million, respectively, and net income of $89 million, $82 million and $66 million, respectively. The specialty finance segment had total assets of $5.9 billion, $5.1 billion and $4.5 billion as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

5

The specialty finance segment accounted for 16% of our consolidated net revenues, excluding intersegment eliminations, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Wealth Management

Through our wealth management segment, we offer a full range of wealth management services through four separate subsidiaries (Wintrust Investments, CTC, Great Lakes Advisors and CDEC): trust and investment services, tax-deferred like-kind exchange services, asset management, securities brokerage services and 401(k) and retirement plan services.

Wintrust Investments, our registered broker/dealer subsidiary which has been operating since 1931, provides a full range of private client and securities brokerage services to clients located primarily in the Midwest. Wintrust Investments is headquartered in downtown Chicago, operates an office in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has established branch locations in offices at a majority of our banks. Wintrust Investments also provides a full range of investment services to clients through a network of relationships with community-based financial institutions primarily located in Illinois. Wintrust Investments is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) as a registered broker-dealer, as well as by the SEC as a registered investment adviser.

CTC, our trust subsidiary, offers trust and investment management services to clients through offices located in downtown Chicago and at various banking offices of our fifteen banks. CTC is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the OCC.

Great Lakes Advisors, our registered investment adviser with locations in downtown Chicago and Tampa, Florida as well as in various banking offices of our fifteen banks, provides money management services and advisory services to individuals, institutions, and municipal and tax-exempt organizations. Great Lakes Advisors also provides portfolio management and financial advisory services for a wide range of pension and profit-sharing plans as well as money management and advisory services to CTC. Great Lakes Advisors is regulated by the SEC as a registered investment adviser.

CDEC, our provider of tax-deferred like-kind exchange services, provides Qualified Intermediary services (as defined by U.S. Treasury regulations) for taxpayers seeking to structure tax-deferred like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 1031. Under IRC Section 1031, a taxpayer may defer the gain on the sale of certain investment property if the taxpayer utilizes the services of a Qualified Intermediary. These transactions typically generate customer deposits during the period following the sale of the property until such proceeds are used to purchase a replacement property.  These deposit flows result in a source of low-cost deposits. CDEC is the subsidiary of Elektra Holding Company, LLC ("Elektra"), which was acquired by the Company in December of 2018.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s wealth management subsidiaries had approximately $27.6 billion of assets under administration, which included $4.2 billion of assets owned by the Company and its subsidiary banks. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the wealth management segment had net revenues of $130 million, $109 million and $103 million, respectively, and net income of $28 million, $20 million and $17 million, respectively. The wealth management segment had total assets of $1.1 billion, $733 million and $618 million as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The wealth management segment accounted for 9% of our consolidated net revenues, excluding intersegment eliminations, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

6

Strategy and Competition

The Company has employed certain strategies since 2013 to achieve strong net income amid an environment characterized by low interest rates and increased competition. In general, the Company has taken a steady and measured approach to grow strategically and manage expenses. Specifically, the Company has:

• Leveraged its internal loan pipeline and external growth opportunities to grow earnings assets to increase net interest income;

• Continued efforts to reduce interest costs by improving our funding mix;

• Written call option contracts on certain securities as an economic hedge to mitigate overall interest rate risk and enhance the securities' overall return by using fees generated from these options;

• Entered into mirror-image swap transactions to both satisfy customer preferences and maintain variable rate exposure;

• Completed strategic acquisitions to expand our presence in existing and complimentary markets;

• Focused on cost control and leveraging our current infrastructure to grow without a commensurate increase in operating expenses; and

• Expanded the Wintrust Asset Finance direct leasing niche.

Our strategy and competitive position for each of our business segments is summarized in further detail, below.

Community Banking

We compete in the commercial banking industry through our banks in the communities they serve. The commercial banking industry is highly competitive and the banks face strong direct competition for deposits, loans and other financial related services. The banks compete with other commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, stockbrokers, government-sponsored entities, mutual fund companies, insurance companies, factoring companies and other commercial entities offering financial services products, including non-bank financial companies and entities commonly known as financial technology companies. Some of these competitors are local, while others are statewide or nationwide.

As a $36 billion asset financial services company, we expect to benefit from greater access to financial and managerial resources than our smaller local competitors while maintaining our commitment to local decision-making and to our community banking philosophy. In particular, we are able to provide a wider product selection and larger credit facilities than many of our smaller competitors, and we believe our service offerings help us in recruiting talented staff. We continue to add lenders throughout the community banking organization, many of whom have joined us because of our ability to offer a range of products and level of services which compete effectively with both larger and smaller market participants. We have continued to expand our product delivery systems, including a wide variety of electronic banking options for our retail and commercial customers which allow us to provide a level of service typically associated with much larger banking institutions. Consequently, management views technology as a great equalizer to offset some of the inherent advantages of its significantly larger competitors. Additionally, we have access to public capital markets whereas many of our local competitors are privately held and may have limited capital-raising capabilities.

We also believe we are positioned to compete effectively with other larger and more diversified banks, bank holding companies and other financial services companies due to the multi-chartered approach that pushes accountability for building a franchise and a high level of customer service down to each of our banking franchises. Additionally, we believe that we provide a relatively complete portfolio of products that is responsive to the majority of our customers' needs through the retail and commercial operations supplied by our banks, and through our mortgage and wealth management operations. The breadth of our product mix allows us to compete effectively with our larger competitors, while our multi-chartered approach with local and accountable management provides for what we believe is superior customer service relative to our larger and more centralized competitors. We continue to grow our digital service offerings while maintaining our expectations of high quality, more traditional banking services.

Wintrust Mortgage competes with large mortgage brokers as well as other banking organizations. Consolidation, on-going investor push-backs, enhanced regulatory guidance and the promise of equal oversight for both banks and independent lenders have created challenges for small and medium-sized independent mortgage lenders. Wintrust Mortgage's size, bank affiliation, regulatory competency, branding, technology, business development tools and reputation make the firm well positioned to compete in this environment. We continue to increase the amount of loans sold with servicing retained, including those loans sold to the Company's banks with servicing remaining within Wintrust Mortgage operations. While earnings will fluctuate with the rise and fall of long-term interest rates, we expect that mortgage banking revenue will be a continuous source of revenue for us and our mortgage lending relationships will continue to provide franchise value to our other financial service businesses.

7

In 2019, the Company opened six new branch locations in the Chicago metropolitan area as well as one new branch location in Florida (in addition to the branches acquired in the Company's acquisitions during the year). We believe this strategic branch expansion will allow us to grow into markets that we currently do not service and expand our footprint.

Specialty Finance

FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance encounter intense competition from numerous other firms, including a number of national commercial premium finance companies, companies affiliated with insurance carriers, independent insurance brokers who offer premium finance services and other lending institutions. Some of our competitors are larger and have greater financial and other resources. FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance compete with these entities by emphasizing a high level of knowledge of the insurance industry, flexibility in structuring financing transactions, and the timely funding of qualifying contracts. We believe that our commitment to service also distinguishes us from our competitors. FIFC Canada competes with one national commercial premium finance company and a few regional providers.

Wintrust Asset Finance competes with other bank-affiliated, independent, captive and vendor equipment leasing and finance companies.  Wintrust Asset Finance believes a customer-focused origination philosophy, an experienced team, strong underwriting discipline and expert asset management enables them to compete effectively in a growing and dynamic market.

Tricom competes with numerous other firms, including a small number of similar niche finance companies and payroll processing firms, as well as various finance companies, banks and other lending institutions. Tricom's management believes that its commitment to service distinguishes it from competitors.

Wealth Management Activities

Our wealth management companies (CTC, Wintrust Investments, Great Lakes Advisors and CDEC) compete with larger wealth management subsidiaries of other larger bank holding companies as well as with other trust companies, brokerage and other financial service companies, stockbrokers and financial advisors. We believe we can successfully compete for trust, tax services, asset management and brokerage business by offering personalized attention and customer service to small to midsize businesses and affluent individuals. We continue to recruit and hire experienced wealth management professionals from within the larger Chicago metropolitan area as well as Wisconsin, which is expected to help in attracting new customer relationships.

Supervision and Regulation

Regulatory Environment

Our business is heavily regulated by both federal and state agencies. Both the scope of the laws and regulations and the intensity of the supervision to which our business is subject have increased in recent years, in response to the financial crisis as well as other factors such as technological and market changes. Regulatory enforcement and fines have also increased across the banking and financial services sector. Many of these changes have occurred as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and its implementing regulations, most of which are now in place. While the regulatory environment has entered a period of rebalancing of the post financial crisis framework, we expect that our business will remain subject to extensive regulation and supervision.

On May 24, 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (the “Economic Growth Act”) was signed into law. Among other regulatory changes, the Economic Growth Act amends various sections of the Dodd-Frank Act, including section 165 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was revised to raise the asset thresholds for determining the application of enhanced prudential standards for bank holding companies (“BHCs”). The effects of these changes on the Company are expected to be limited because the Company was subject to only limited enhanced prudential standards prior to the Economic Growth Act’s enactment. Certain of our competitors, however, will benefit from a more significant reduction in regulatory burdens.

The Company is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the Federal Reserve. The Company is also subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, both as administered by the SEC, as well as the rules of NASDAQ that apply to companies with securities listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Each nationally-chartered bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the OCC. The deposits of all of our subsidiary banks are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) and, as such, the FDIC has additional oversight authority over the banks. The supervision, regulation and examination of banks and bank holding companies by bank regulatory agencies are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the DIF, and the banking system as a whole, rather than shareholders of banks and bank holding companies, and in some instances may be contrary to shareholders' interests.

8

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) has broad rulemaking authority over a wide range of federal consumer protection laws applicable to the business of our subsidiary banks and some other operating subsidiaries. Because each of our subsidiary banks has less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, our subsidiary banks’ federal banking agency, not the CFPB, is responsible for examining and supervising the subsidiary banks’ compliance with federal consumer protection laws and regulations. Our non-bank subsidiaries are subject to regulation by their functional regulators, including applicable state finance and insurance agencies, the applicable exchanges, the SEC, FINRA, and the OCC, as well as by the Federal Reserve.

Federal and state laws, and the regulations of the bank regulatory agencies issued under them, affect the scope of business, the kinds and amounts of investments banks may make, reserve requirements, capital levels, the nature and amount of collateral for loans, the establishment of branches, the ability to merge, consolidate and acquire, dealings with insiders and affiliates and the payment of dividends. The regulatory agencies have broad discretion to impose restrictions and limitations on the operations of a regulated entity where the agencies determine, among other things, that such operations are unsafe or unsound, fail to comply with applicable law or are otherwise inconsistent with laws and regulations or with the supervisory policies of these agencies.

The following is a description of some of the laws and regulations that affect our business. By necessity, the descriptions below are summaries that do not purport to be complete, and that are qualified in their entirety by reference to those statutes and regulations discussed, and all regulatory interpretations thereof. Any changes in applicable laws, regulations, or the interpretations thereof could have a material adverse effect on our business or the business of our subsidiaries.

Bank Holding Company Regulation

The Company is a bank holding company that has elected to be treated as a financial holding company. The activities of bank holding companies generally are limited to the business of banking, managing or controlling banks, and certain other activities determined by the Federal Reserve to be closely related to banking. As a financial holding company, we may engage in an expanded range of activities, including activities that are considered to be financial in nature. Financial holding companies may also engage in activities incidental or complementary to financial activities, if the Federal Reserve determines that such activities pose no substantial risk to the safety or soundness of depository institutions or the financial system in general. Impermissible activities for financial holding companies and their subsidiaries include activities that are related to commerce, such as sales of nonfinancial products or manufacturing. As a result, subject to certain exceptions, the BHC Act generally prohibits us from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of voting shares of any company engaged in activities that are not permissible for us to engage in.

Maintaining our financial holding company status requires that the Company and each of our subsidiary banks remain “well-capitalized” and “well-managed” as defined by regulation and that each of our subsidiary banks maintain at least a “satisfactory” rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). If we or our subsidiary banks fail to continue to meet these requirements, we could be subject to restrictions on new activities and acquisitions, and/or be required to cease and possibly divest operations that conduct existing activities that are not permissible for a bank holding company that is not a financial holding company.

The BHC Act generally requires us to obtain prior approval from the Federal Reserve before acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of an additional bank or bank holding company, or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. The Bank Merger Act generally requires our subsidiary banks to obtain prior regulatory approval to merge or consolidate with, or acquire substantially all of the assets of or assume deposits of, another bank. We must also be well-capitalized and well-managed, in order to acquire a bank located outside of our home state.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) and Federal Reserve regulations and policy require us to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength for our subsidiary banks, and to commit resources to support the banks. This support may be required even if doing so may adversely affect our ability to meet other obligations.

Acquisitions of Ownership of the Company

Acquisitions of the Company’s voting stock above certain thresholds may be subject to prior regulatory notice or approval under applicable federal banking laws. Investors are responsible for ensuring that they do not, directly or indirectly, acquire shares of our stock in excess of the amount that can be acquired without regulatory approval or notice under the BHC Act and the Change in Bank Control Act.

9

Volcker Rule

We are prohibited under the Volcker Rule from (1) engaging in short-term proprietary trading for our own account, and (2) having certain ownership interests in and relationships with hedge funds or private equity funds. The fundamental prohibitions of the Volcker Rule apply to banking entities of any size, including the Company and its bank subsidiaries. The Volcker Rule regulations contain exemptions for market-making, hedging, underwriting, trading in U.S. government and agency obligations and also permit certain ownership interests in certain types of funds to be retained. They also permit the offering and sponsoring of funds under certain conditions. The Volcker Rule regulations impose significant compliance and reporting obligations on banking entities. The Company has put in place the compliance programs required by the Volcker Rule and has either divested or received extensions for any holdings in illiquid funds.

As of October 2019, the five regulatory agencies charged with implementing the Volcker Rule finalized amendments to the Volcker Rule's proprietary trading and compliance provisions. These amendments tailor the Volcker Rule’s compliance requirements to the amount of a firm’s trading activity, revise the definition of trading account, clarify certain key provisions in the Volcker Rule, and modify the information companies are required to provide the federal agencies. In early 2020, the five regulatory agencies proposed additional amendments to the Volcker Rule related to the restrictions on ownership interests in and relationships with covered funds. The Company will continue to monitor the Volcker Rule-related developments and assess their impact on its operations as necessary.

Capital Requirements of the Company and Subsidiary Banks

We and our subsidiary banks are required to maintain minimum risk-based and leverage capital ratios, as well as a capital conservation buffer ("Capital Conservation Buffer"), pursuant to regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve and the OCC to implement the Basel III capital framework (“U.S. Basel III Rule”).

Regulatory Capital and Risk-weighted Assets

Regulatory capital requirements apply to Common Equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and total capital.

• Common Equity Tier 1 capital consists primarily of common stock and related surplus (net of treasury stock), retained earnings, and certain minority interests, subject to certain regulatory adjustments. For us and our subsidiary banks, Common Equity Tier 1 capital does not include most elements of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) because we exercised an opt-out election that was available to us with respect to certain changes in the capital treatment of AOCI. We made this election to avoid variations in the level of our capital depending on fluctuations in the fair value of our securities and derivatives portfolio.

• Tier 1 capital is composed of Common Equity Tier 1 capital and Additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital consists primarily of non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus, certain minority interests and, subject to certain regulatory limits, certain grandfathered cumulative perpetual preferred stock and certain grandfathered trust preferred securities.

• Total capital is composed of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital consists primarily of capital instruments and related surplus meeting specified requirements, and may include cumulative preferred stock and long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, intermediate preferred stock, certain trust preferred securities and subordinated debt. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for loan and lease losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets (“RWAs”) and, for institutions that have exercised the opt-out election regarding the treatment of AOCI up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values.

Certain adjustments to and deductions from capital are required for purposes of calculating these regulatory capital measures, including with respect to goodwill, intangible assets, certain deferred tax assets, AOCI and investments in the capital instruments of unconsolidated financial institutions. Certain of these adjustments and deductions were subject to phase-in periods that began on January 1, 2015 and ended on January 1, 2018. In July 2019, the U.S. bank regulators finalized changes to certain aspects of the U.S. Basel III capital rules that simplified, for certain bank holding companies and banks, including us and our subsidiary banks, the framework for capital deductions for mortgage servicing assets, certain deferred tax assets and investments in the capital instruments of unconsolidated financial institutions, and the recognition of minority interests in regulatory capital. These amendments are effective as of April 1, 2020, but banking organizations may adopt them as of January 1, 2020. The final rule also supersedes the transition rule that the U.S. bank regulators adopted in 2017 to allow certain banking organizations to continue to apply the transition treatment in effect in 2017 while the U.S. bank regulators considered the capital simplification proposals.

10

In addition, in December 2018, the U.S. federal banking agencies finalized rules that permit BHCs and banks to phase in, for regulatory capital purposes, the day-one impact of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“CECL”) on retained earnings over a period of three years. For further discussion of the new CECL accounting standard, including the Company's implementation of such guidance, see “Summary of Critical Accounting Policies” under Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 and Note 2 “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Capital Ratio Requirements

Under the U.S. Basel III Rule, we and our subsidiary banks are required to maintain the following minimum capital ratios:

• Common Equity Tier 1 capital to RWAs ratio (“Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio”) of 4.5%;

• Tier 1 capital to RWAs ratio (“Tier 1 Capital Ratio”) of 6.0%;

• Total capital to RWAs ratio (“Total Capital Ratio”) of 8.0%; and

• Tier 1 capital to quarterly average assets (net of goodwill, certain other intangible assets and certain other deductions) ratio (“Tier 1 Leverage Ratio”) of 4.0%.

To be well-capitalized, our subsidiary banks must maintain the following capital ratios:

• Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 6.5% or greater;

• Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 8.0% or greater;

• Total Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater; and

• Tier 1 Leverage Ratio of 5.0% or greater.

The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for bank holding companies to reflect the higher capital requirements imposed under the U.S. Basel III Rule. For purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y, including determining whether a bank holding company meets the requirements to be a financial holding company, bank holding companies, such as the Company, must maintain a Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 6.0% or greater and a Total Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater to be well-capitalized. If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to bank holding companies as that applicable to our subsidiary banks, the Company’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 would exceed such revised well-capitalized standard. The Federal Reserve may require bank holding companies, including us, to maintain capital ratios substantially in excess of mandated minimum levels, depending upon general economic conditions and a bank holding company’s particular condition, risk profile and growth plans.

Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators, including restrictions on our or our subsidiary banks’ ability to pay dividends or otherwise distribute capital or to receive regulatory approval of applications, or other restrictions on growth. Such actions, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our operations or financial condition.

In addition to meeting the minimum capital requirements, under the U.S. Basel III Rule we and our banking subsidiaries must also maintain the required Capital Conservation Buffer to avoid becoming subject to restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management. The Capital Conservation Buffer is calculated as a ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to RWAs and it effectively increases the required minimum risk-based capital ratios. The Capital Conservation Buffer requirement was phased in over a three-year period that began in January 1, 2016. The phase-in period ended on January 1, 2019, and the Capital Conservation Buffer was then at its fully phased-in level of 2.5%. The Tier 1 Leverage Ratio is not impacted by the Capital Conservation Buffer, and a banking institution may be considered well-capitalized while remaining out of compliance with the Capital Conservation Buffer.

The table below summarizes the capital requirements that we and our subsidiary banks must satisfy to avoid limitations on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments (i.e., the required minimum capital ratios plus the Capital Conservation Buffer):

	Minimum Regulatory Capital Ratio Plus Capital Conservation Buffer
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio	7.00	%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio	8.50
Total Capital Ratio	10.50

11

As of December 31, 2019, our and our subsidiary banks’ regulatory capital ratios were above the well-capitalized standards and met the Capital Conservation Buffer. Based on current estimates, we believe that we and our subsidiary banks will continue to exceed all applicable well-capitalized regulatory capital requirements and the Capital Conservation Buffer. Please refer to the table below for a summary of our regulatory capital ratios as of December 31, 2019, calculated using the regulatory capital methodology applicable to us during 2019.

	Company Regulatory Capital Ratios
	Minimum Regulatory Capital Ratio for the Company		Minimum Ratio + Capital Conservation Buffer(1)		Well-Capitalized Minimum for the Company(2)	The Company
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio	4.50	%	7.00	%	N/A	9.2	%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio	6.00		8.50		6.00	9.6
Total Capital Ratio	8.00		10.50		10.00	12.2
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio	4.00		N/A		N/A	8.7

(1) Reflects the Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.50% applicable during 2019.

(2) Reflects the well-capitalized standard applicable to the Company for purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y. The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for BHCs to reflect the higher capital requirements imposed under the U.S. Basel III Rule or to add Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 leverage ratio requirements to this standard.  As a result, the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 leverage ratio are denoted as “N/A” in this column.  If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to BHCs as the standard applicable to our subsidiary banks, the Company’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 would exceed such revised well-capitalized standard.

In addition to the above, as a result of participation in mortgage programs with certain government-sponsored entities as well as other investors, the Company has specific net worth requirements for continued participation.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company remained in compliance with such requirements.

Liquidity Requirements

Large financial firms are subject to the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”) rule, which requires them to meet certain liquidity measures by holding an adequate amount of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets, such as Treasury securities and other sovereign debt. In addition, in May 2016 the federal banking agencies proposed a Net Stable Funding Ratio (“NSFR”) rule, which would require large financial firms to meet certain net stable funding measures by funding themselves with adequate amounts of medium- and long-term funding.

In October 2019, the federal banking agencies finalized a rule that, among other things, increased the asset thresholds at which large financial firms would be subject to the LCR and the proposed NSFR. We and our subsidiary banks are not subject to the LCR and would not be subject to the NSFR as proposed. Instead, monitoring of the Company’s and our banking subsidiaries’ liquidity is addressed as a supervisory matter by our federal and state banking regulators, without required formulaic measures set by regulation.

Capital Planning and Stress Testing Requirements

Pursuant to the Economic Growth Act, which increased the asset thresholds at which company-run stress test requirements apply, we are no longer required to conduct annual company-run stress tests. While none of our subsidiary banks met the previous asset thresholds or meet the current increased asset thresholds that would cause them to be subject to stress testing requirements under this rule, we run periodic capital stress testing on the consolidated entity and the banks and use those results to inform management on appropriate levels of capital needed.

Payment of Dividends and Share Repurchases

We are a legal entity separate and distinct from our banking and non-banking subsidiaries. Since our consolidated net income consists largely of net income of our bank and non-bank subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares depends upon our receipt of dividends from our subsidiaries. There are various federal and state law limitations on the extent to which our banking subsidiaries can declare and pay dividends to us, including regulatory capital requirements, general regulatory oversight to prevent unsafe or unsound practices and federal and state banking law requirements concerning the payment of dividends out

12

of net profits or surplus. Applicable banking laws also prohibit, without prior regulatory approval, insured depository institutions, such as our bank subsidiaries, from making dividend distributions if such distributions are not paid out of available earnings. In addition, our right, and the right of our shareholders and creditors, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of our bank and non-bank subsidiaries is further subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. No assurances can be given that the banks will, in any circumstances, pay dividends to the Company.

We and our bank subsidiaries must maintain the applicable Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Conservation Buffer to avoid becoming subject to restrictions on capital distributions, including dividends. The Capital Conservation Buffer is currently at its fully phased-in level of 2.5%. For more information on the Capital Conservation Buffer, see above.

Our ability to declare and pay dividends to our shareholders is similarly limited by federal banking law and Federal Reserve regulations and policy. Federal Reserve policy provides that a bank holding company should not pay dividends unless (1) the bank holding company’s net income over the last four quarters (net of dividends paid) is sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition of the bank holding company and its subsidiaries and (3) the bank holding company will continue to meet minimum required capital adequacy ratios. The policy also provides that a bank holding company should inform the Federal Reserve reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the bank holding company’s capital structure. Bank holding companies also are required to consult with the Federal Reserve before materially increasing dividends. The Federal Reserve could prohibit or limit the payment of dividends by a bank holding company if it determines that payment of the dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

FDICIA and Prompt Corrective Action

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to take “prompt corrective action” regarding FDIC-insured depository institutions that do not meet certain capital adequacy standards. A depository institution’s treatment for purposes of the prompt corrective action provisions depends upon its level of capitalization and certain other factors. An institution that fails to remain well-capitalized becomes subject to a series of restrictions that increase in severity as its capital condition weakens. Such restrictions may include a prohibition on capital distributions, restrictions on asset growth or restrictions on the ability to receive regulatory approval of applications. The FDICIA also provides for enhanced supervisory authority over undercapitalized institutions, including authority for the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the institution. In certain instances, a bank holding company may be required to guarantee the performance of an undercapitalized subsidiary bank’s capital restoration plan.

As of December 31, 2019, each of the Company’s banks was categorized as “well-capitalized” and, in addition, met additional requirements under the Capital Conservation Buffer.

Enforcement Authority

The federal bank regulatory agencies have broad authority to issue orders to depository institutions and their holding companies prohibiting activities that constitute violations of law, rule, regulation, or administrative order, or that represent unsafe or unsound banking practices, as determined by the federal banking agencies. The federal banking agencies also are empowered to require affirmative actions to correct any violation or practice; issue administrative orders that can be judicially enforced; direct increases in capital; limit dividends and distributions; restrict growth; assess civil money penalties against institutions or individuals who violate any laws, regulations, orders, or written agreements with the agencies; order termination of certain activities of holding companies or their non-bank subsidiaries; remove officers and directors; order divestiture of ownership or control of a non-banking subsidiary by a holding company; or terminate deposit insurance and appoint a conservator or receiver.

Safety and Soundness

The federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted a set of guidelines prescribing safety and soundness standards relating to internal controls and information systems, informational security, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, and compensation, fees and benefits. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice, and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder.

During the past decade, properly managing risks has been identified as critical to the conduct of safe and sound banking activities and has become even more important as new technologies, product innovation, and the size and speed of financial transactions have changed the nature of banking markets.  The agencies have identified a spectrum of risks facing banking institutions including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, and reputational risk. Some of the regulatory pronouncements have

13

focused on operational risk, which arises from the potential that inadequate information systems, operational problems, breaches in internal controls, fraud, or unforeseen catastrophes will result in unexpected losses. New products and services, third-party risk management and cybersecurity are critical sources of operational risk that financial institutions are expected to address in the current environment. Our subsidiary banks are expected to have active board and senior management oversight; adequate policies, procedures, and limits; adequate risk measurement, monitoring, and management information systems; and comprehensive and effective internal controls.

Cross-Guarantee

Under the cross-guarantee provision of the FDIA, insured depository institutions such as our subsidiary banks may be liable to the FDIC for any losses incurred, or reasonably expected to be incurred, by the FDIC resulting from the default of, or FDIC assistance to, any other commonly controlled insured depository institution. An FDIC cross-guarantee claim against a depository institution is superior in right of payment to claims of the holding company and its affiliates against such depository institution. All of our subsidiary banks are commonly controlled within the meaning of the cross-guarantee provision.

Insurance of Deposit Accounts

The deposits of each of our subsidiary banks are insured by the Depositors Insurance Fund ("DIF") up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor. Each of our subsidiary banks is subject to deposit insurance assessments based on the risk it poses to the DIF, as determined by the capital category and supervisory category to which it is assigned. The FDIC has authority to raise or lower assessment rates on insured deposits in order to achieve statutorily required reserve ratios in the DIF and to impose special additional assessments. Until September 30, 2018, insured depository institutions with total consolidated assets of $10 billion or more were required to pay an assessment surcharge. None of our bank subsidiaries were subject to this surcharge. However, there is a risk that our subsidiary banks’ deposit insurance premiums will increase if failures of insured depository institutions deplete the DIF or if the FDIC were to change its view of the risk that they pose to the DIF.

In addition, the Deposit Insurance Fund Act of 1996 authorized the Financing Corporation (“FICO”) to impose assessments on DIF assessable deposits in order to service the interest on FICO’s bond obligations. The FICO assessment rate was adjusted quarterly through the final collection in the second quarter of 2019. The rate was approximately 0.120 basis points for the second quarter of 2019 (12 cents per $10,000 of assessable deposits).

Limits on Loans to One Borrower and Loans to Insiders

Federal banking laws impose limits on the amount of credit a bank can extend to any one person (or group of related persons). For national banks, this limit includes credit exposures arising from derivative transactions, repurchase agreements, and securities lending and borrowing transactions.

Applicable banking laws and regulations also place restrictions on loans by FDIC-insured banks and their affiliates to their directors, executive officers and principal shareholders.

Lending Standards and Guidance

The federal banking agencies have adopted uniform regulations prescribing standards for extensions of credit that are secured by liens or interests in real estate or made for the purpose of financing permanent improvements to real estate. Under these regulations, all insured depository institutions, such as our subsidiary banks, must adopt and maintain written policies establishing appropriate limits and standards for extensions of credit that are secured by liens or interests in real estate or are made for the purpose of financing permanent improvements to real estate. These policies must establish loan portfolio diversification standards, prudent underwriting standards (including loan-to-value limits) that are clear and measurable, loan administration procedures, and documentation, approval and reporting requirements. The real estate lending policies must reflect consideration of the federal bank regulators’ Interagency Guidelines for Real Estate Lending Policies.

Transaction Account Reserves

The Dodd-Frank Act eliminated prohibitions under federal law against the payment of interest on demand deposits, thus allowing businesses to have interest-bearing checking accounts.

Federal Reserve regulations require depository institutions to maintain reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). For 2020, the first $16.9 million of otherwise reservable balances are exempt from the reserve requirements; for transaction accounts aggregating more than $16.9 million to $127.5 million, the reserve requirement is 3% of

14

total transaction accounts; and for net transaction accounts in excess of $127.5 million, the reserve requirement is 10% of the aggregate amount of total transaction accounts in excess of $127.5 million. These reserve requirements are subject to annual adjustment by the Federal Reserve. Our banks are in compliance with these requirements.

De Novo Branching and De Novo Banks

With the approval of applicable regulators, national banks and state banks may establish de novo branches in states other than their home state as if such state was the bank’s home state.

For a three-year period, newly chartered banks are subject to enhanced supervisory procedures, including higher capital requirements, more frequent examinations and other requirements.

Anti-Tying Provisions

Each of our subsidiary banks is prohibited from conditioning the availability of any product or service, or varying the price for any product or service, on the requirement that the customer obtain some additional product or service from the bank or any of its affiliates, other than loans, deposits and trust services.

Transactions with Affiliates

Certain transactions between a bank and its holding company or other non-bank affiliates are subject to various restrictions imposed by state and federal law and regulation. Such “covered transactions” include loans and other extensions of credit by the bank to the affiliate, investments in securities issued by the affiliate, purchases of assets from the affiliate, certain derivative transactions that create a credit exposure to an affiliate, the acceptance of securities issued by the affiliate as collateral for a loan, and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of the affiliate. In general, these affiliate transaction rules limit the amount of covered transactions between an institution and a single affiliate, as well as the aggregate amount of covered transactions between an institution and all of its affiliates. In addition, covered transactions that are credit transactions must be secured by acceptable collateral, and all affiliate transactions, including those that do not qualify as covered transactions, must be on terms that are at least as favorable to the bank as then-prevailing in the market for comparable transactions with unaffiliated entities. Transactions between affiliated banks may be subject to certain exemptions under applicable federal law.

Community Reinvestment Act

Under the CRA, insured depository institutions, including our subsidiary banks, have a continuing and affirmative obligation to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for insured depository institutions nor does it limit an insured depository institution’s discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community, consistent with the CRA. However, insured depository institutions are rated on their performance in meeting the needs of their communities. The CRA requires each federal banking agency to take an insured depository institution’s CRA record into account when evaluating certain applications by the insured depository institution or its holding company, including applications for charters, branches and other deposit facilities, relocations, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions of assets or assumptions of liabilities, and bank and savings association acquisitions. An unsatisfactory record of performance may be the basis for denying or conditioning approval of an application by an insured depository institution or its holding company. The CRA also requires that all institutions publicly disclose their CRA ratings. Each of our subsidiary banks received a “satisfactory” or better rating from the Federal Reserve or the OCC on its most recent CRA performance evaluation.

Leaders of the federal banking agencies recently have indicated their support for revising the CRA regulatory framework, and in December 2019, the OCC and FDIC issued a joint proposed rule that would amend the CRA regulatory framework. It is too early to tell whether and to what extent any changes will be made to applicable CRA requirements.

Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws

Our subsidiary banks and some other operating subsidiaries are subject to a variety of federal and state statutes and regulations designed to protect consumers. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority over a wide range of federal consumer protection laws that apply to banks and other providers of financial products and services, including the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices, but examination and supervision is carried out by each subsidiary bank’s primary federal banking agency and, where applicable, state banking agency, not the CFPB. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act authorizes state attorneys general and other state officials to enforce consumer protection rules issued by the CFPB. State authorities have recently increased their focus on and enforcement of consumer protection rules.

15

Interest and other charges collected or contracted for by banks are subject to state usury laws and federal laws concerning interest rates. Loan operations are also subject to federal laws applicable to credit transactions, such as:    

• the federal Truth-In-Lending Act and Regulation Z issued by the CFPB, governing disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers;

• The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Regulation X issued by the CFPB, requiring that borrowers for mortgage loans for one- to four-family residential real estate receive various disclosures, including good faith estimates of settlement costs, lender servicing and escrow account practices, and prohibiting certain practices that increase the cost of settlement services;

• the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and Regulation C issued by the CFPB, requiring financial institutions to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether a financial institution is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves;

• the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B issued by the CFPB, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of various prohibited factors in extending credit;

• the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Regulation V issued by the CFPB, governing the use and provision of information to consumer reporting agencies;

• the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Regulation F issued by the CFPB, governing the manner in which consumer debts may be collected by collection agencies;

• the Service Members Civil Relief Act, applying to all debts incurred prior to commencement of active military service (including credit card and other open-end debt) and limiting the amount of interest, including service and renewal charges and any other fees or charges (other than bona fide insurance) that is related to the obligation or liability; and

• the guidance of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing such federal laws.

Deposit operations are subject to, among others:

• the Truth in Savings Act and Regulation DD issued by the CFPB, which require disclosure of deposit terms to consumers;

• Regulation CC issued by the Federal Reserve Board, which relates to the availability of deposit funds to consumers;

• the Right to Financial Privacy Act, which imposes a duty to maintain the confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records; and

• the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E issued by the CFPB, which governs automatic deposits to and withdrawals from deposit accounts and customers’ rights and liabilities arising from the use of automated teller machines and other electronic banking services.

There are consumer protection standards that apply to functional areas of operation rather than applying only to loan or deposit products. Our subsidiary banks and some other operating subsidiaries are also subject to certain state laws and regulations designed to protect consumers.

The CFPB has promulgated many mortgage-related final rules since it was established under the Dodd-Frank Act, including rules related to the ability to repay and qualified mortgage standards, mortgage servicing standards, loan originator compensation standards, high-cost mortgage requirements, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requirements and appraisal and escrow standards for higher priced mortgages. Most of the provisions of these mortgage-related final rules are currently effective. In addition, several proposed revisions to mortgage-related rules are pending finalization. The mortgage-related final rules issued by the CFPB have materially restructured the origination, servicing and securitization of residential mortgages in the United States. These rules have impacted, and will continue to impact, the business practices of mortgage lenders, including the Company.

In order to ensure compliance with all mortgage-related rules and regulations, the Company consolidated its consumer mortgage loan origination and loan servicing operations primarily within Wintrust Mortgage. All consumer mortgage applications are taken through Wintrust Mortgage, which has extensively trained loan originators located at many of our branches. While in certain limited cases our banks may offer specialized consumer mortgages to our customers, substantially all consumer mortgages for all of our banks are originated and closed by Wintrust Mortgage. Wintrust Mortgage then sells loans to third parties or to our banks. To the extent that we retain consumer mortgage loans in our bank portfolios, our banks have engaged Wintrust Mortgage to provide loan servicing.

Changes to consumer protection regulations, including those promulgated by the CFPB, could affect our business but the likelihood, timing and scope of any such changes and the impact any such change may have on us cannot be determined with any certainty. See Item 1A. Risk Factors.

16

Debit Interchange

We are subject to a statutory requirement that interchange fees for electronic debit transactions that are paid to or charged by payment card issuers, including our bank subsidiaries, be reasonable and proportional to the cost incurred by the issuer. Interchange fees for electronic debit transactions are limited to 21 cents plus 0.05% of the transaction, plus an additional one cent per transaction fraud adjustment, impose requirements regarding routing and exclusivity of electronic debit transactions, and generally require that debit cards be usable in at least two unaffiliated networks.

Anti-Money Laundering Programs

The Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”) contain anti-money laundering (“AML”) and financial transparency provisions intended to detect, and prevent the use of the U.S. financial system for, money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The BSA, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, requires depository institutions and their holding companies to undertake activities including maintaining an AML program, verifying the identity of clients, monitoring for and reporting suspicious transactions, reporting on cash transactions exceeding specified thresholds, and responding to requests for information by regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies. Each of our subsidiary banks is subject to the BSA and, therefore, is required to provide its employees with AML training, designate an AML compliance officer and undergo an annual, independent audit to assess the effectiveness of its AML program. We have implemented policies, procedures and internal controls that are designed to comply with these AML requirements. In May 2016, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), which is a unit of the Treasury Department that drafts regulations implementing the USA PATRIOT Act and other AML and BSA legislation, issued final rules governing enhanced customer due diligence. The rules impose several new obligations on covered financial institutions with respect to their “legal entity customers,” including corporations, limited liability companies and other similar entities. For each such customer that opens an account (including an existing customer opening a new account), the covered financial institution must identify and verify the customer’s “beneficial owners,” who are specifically defined in the rules. The rules contain an exemption for certain insurance premium financing transactions. Bank regulators are focusing their examinations on anti-money laundering compliance, and we will continue to monitor and augment, where necessary, our AML compliance programs. The federal banking agencies are required, when reviewing bank and bank holding company acquisition or merger applications, to take into account the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering activities of the applicant.

Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or “OFAC,” is responsible for administering economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, nationals and others, as defined by various Executive Orders and Acts of Congress.  OFAC-administered sanctions take many different forms.  For example, sanctions may include: (1) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on U.S. persons engaging in financial transactions relating to, making investments in, or providing investment-related advice or assistance to, a sanctioned country; and (2) a blocking of assets in which the government or “specially designated nationals” of the sanctioned country have an interest, by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons).  OFAC also publishes lists of persons, organizations, and countries suspected of aiding, harboring or engaging in terrorist acts, known as Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Blocked assets (e.g., property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off or transferred in any manner without a license from OFAC.  Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences.

Protection of Client Information

Legal requirements concerning the use and protection of client information affect many aspects of the Company’s business, and are continuing to evolve. They include the privacy and information safeguarding provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLB Act”), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and the amendments adopted by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, as well as state law requirements. The GLB Act requires a financial institution to disclose its privacy policy to certain customers, and requires the financial institution to allow those customers to opt-out of some sharing of the customers’ nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third persons. In accordance with these requirements, we and each of our banks and operating subsidiaries provide a written privacy notice to each affected customer when the customer relationship begins and on an annual basis. As described in the privacy notice, we protect the security of information about our customers, educate our employees about the importance of protecting customer privacy, and allow affected customers to opt out of certain types of information sharing. We and our subsidiaries also require business partners with which we share information to have adequate security safeguards and to follow the requirements of the GLB Act. The GLB Act, as interpreted by the federal banking regulators, and state laws require us to take certain actions, including possible notice to affected customers, in the event that sensitive customer information is compromised. We and/or each of the banks and operating subsidiaries may need to amend our privacy policies and

17

adapt our internal procedures in the event that these legal requirements, or the regulators’ interpretation of them, change, or if new requirements are added.

Data privacy and data protection are areas of increasing state legislative focus. For example, in June of 2018, the Governor of California signed into law the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). The CCPA, which became effective on January 1, 2020, applies to for-profit businesses that conduct business in California and meet certain revenue or data collection thresholds. The CCPA contains several exemptions, including that many, but not all, requirements of the CCPA are inapplicable to information that is collected, processed, sold or disclosed pursuant to the GLB Act. The California State Legislature has amended the CCPA since its passage, which the Governor of California has signed into law, and the California Attorney General has proposed regulations implementing the CCPA that have not yet been adopted.

The CCPA may be interpreted or applied in a manner inconsistent with our understanding or similar laws may be adopted by other states where we do business. The impact of the CCPA on our business is yet to be determined. The federal government may also pass data privacy or data protection legislation.

Like other lenders, the banks and several of our operating subsidiaries use credit bureau data in their underwriting activities. Use of such data is regulated under the FCRA, and the FCRA also regulates reporting information to credit bureaus, prescreening individuals for credit offers, sharing of information between affiliates, and using affiliate data for marketing purposes. Similar state laws may impose additional requirements on us, the banks and our operating subsidiaries.

Violation of these legal requirements may expose us to regulatory action and private litigation, including claims for damages and penalties.

Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Regulation

Wintrust Investments and Great Lakes Advisors are subject to extensive regulation under federal and state securities laws. Wintrust Investments is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Both Wintrust Investments and Great Lakes Advisors are registered as investment advisers with the SEC. In addition, Wintrust Investments is a member of several self-regulatory organizations (“SROs”), including FINRA and NYSE Chicago. In addition to SEC rules and regulations, the SROs adopt rules, subject to approval of the SEC, that govern all aspects of business in the securities industry and conduct periodic examinations of member firms. Wintrust Investments is also subject to regulation by state securities commissions in states in which it conducts business. Wintrust Investments and Great Lakes Advisors are registered only with the SEC as investment advisers, but certain of their advisory personnel are subject to regulation by state securities regulatory agencies.

As a result of federal and state registrations and SRO memberships, Wintrust Investments is subject to overlapping schemes of regulation that cover all aspects of its securities businesses. Such regulations cover uses and safekeeping of clients’ funds; record-keeping and reporting requirements; supervisory and organizational procedures intended to assure compliance with securities laws and to prevent improper trading on material nonpublic information; personnel-related matters, including qualification and licensing of supervisory and sales personnel; limitations on extensions of credit in securities transactions; clearance and settlement procedures; “suitability” determinations as to certain customer transactions; limitations on the amounts and types of fees and commissions that may be charged to customers; and regulation of proprietary trading activities and affiliate transactions. Violations of the laws and regulations governing a broker-dealer’s actions can result in censures, fines, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, revocation of licenses or registrations, the suspension or expulsion from the securities industry of a broker-dealer or its officers or employees, or other similar actions by both federal and state securities administrators, as well as the SROs.

As a registered broker-dealer, Wintrust Investments is subject to the SEC’s net capital rule as well as the net capital requirements of the SROs of which it is a member. Net capital rules, which specify minimum capital requirements, are designed to measure general financial integrity and liquidity and require that at least a minimum amount of net assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Rules of FINRA and other SROs also impose limitations and requirements on the transfer of member organizations’ assets. Compliance with net capital requirements may limit the Company’s operations requiring the intensive use of capital. These requirements restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from Wintrust Investments, which in turn may limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends, repay debt or redeem or purchase shares of the Company’s own outstanding stock. Wintrust Investments is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”), which subject to certain limitations, serves to oversee the liquidation of a member brokerage firm, and to return missing cash, stock and other securities owed to the firm’s brokerage customers, in the event a member broker-dealer fails. The general SIPC protection for customers’ securities accounts held by a member broker-dealer is up to $500,000 for each eligible customer, including a maximum of $250,000 for cash claims. SIPC does not protect brokerage customers against investment losses. In addition to SIPC coverage, the clearing firm utilized by Wintrust Investments offers certain insurance coverage.  In the event of the clearing firm’s insolvency, clients whose cash and securities

18

were not fully protected by SIPC may benefit from this additional insurance.  The policy provides coverage to each client up to $1.9 million, subject to an aggregate cap of $1 billion for all policy beneficiaries.

Wintrust Investments and Great Lakes Advisors in their capacities as investment advisers are subject to regulations covering matters such as transactions between clients, transactions between the adviser and clients, custody of client assets and management of mutual funds and other client accounts. The principal purpose of regulation and discipline of investment firms is the protection of customers, clients and the securities markets rather than the protection of creditors and shareholders of investment firms. Sanctions that may be imposed for failure to comply with laws or regulations governing investment advisers include the suspension of individual employees, limitations on an adviser’s engaging in various asset management activities for specified periods of time, the revocation of registrations, other censures and fines.

In June 2019, the SEC finalized Regulation Best Interest, which imposes a new standard of conduct on SEC-registered broker-dealers when making recommendations to retail customers. In addition the SEC finalized a new summary disclosure form that broker-dealers and registered investment advisers must provide to retail customers. Wintrust Investments and Great Lakes Advisors must comply with these requirements, as applicable, as of June 2020.

Incentive Compensation

The federal banking agencies have issued joint guidance on incentive compensation designed to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations, such as us and our subsidiary banks, do not encourage imprudent risk taking and are consistent with the safety and soundness of the organization. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal banking agencies and the SEC to issue regulations or guidelines requiring covered financial institutions, including us and our subsidiary banks, to prohibit incentive-based payment arrangements that encourage inappropriate risks by providing compensation that is excessive or that could lead to material financial loss to the institution. A proposed rule was issued in 2016. Also pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, in 2015, the SEC proposed rules that would direct stock exchanges to require listed companies to implement clawback policies to recover incentive-based compensation from current or former executive officers in the event of certain financial restatements and would also require companies to disclose their clawback policies and their actions under those policies. It is unclear when, if ever, the proposed rules will be finalized.

Employees

At December 31, 2019, the Company and its subsidiaries employed a total of 5,057 full-time-equivalent employees. The Company provides its employees with comprehensive medical and dental benefit plans, life insurance plans, 401(k) plans and an employee stock purchase plan. The Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

Available Information

The Company’s Internet address is www.wintrust.com. The Company makes available at this address, under the “Investor Relations” tab, free of charge, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its annual reports to shareholders, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. There filings are also available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

19

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities is subject to risks inherent to our business. Certain material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect Wintrust are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the SEC. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair Wintrust’s business operations. This Annual Report on Form 10-K is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our securities could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operating Environment

Deterioration in economic conditions may materially adversely affect the financial services industry and our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our business activities and earnings are affected by general business conditions in the United States and abroad, including factors such as the level and volatility of short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, home prices, unemployment and underemployment levels, bankruptcies, household income, consumer spending, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, liquidity of the global financial markets, the availability and cost of capital and credit, investor sentiment and confidence in the financial markets, and the strength of the domestic economies in which we operate. The deterioration of any of these conditions can adversely affect our consumer and commercial businesses and securities portfolios, our level of charge-offs and provision for credit losses, our capital levels and liquidity, and our results of operations.

More specifically, the U.S. economy has generally strengthened and growth in economic activity in our geographic area has increased to a moderate pace over recent periods. As a lending institution, our business is directly affected by the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, as well as by the value of collateral, such as real estate, that secures many of our loans. Any economic deterioration from current levels or slowing of current economic activity could lead to an increase in loan charge-offs and negatively affect consumer confidence as well as the level of business activity. Net charge-offs increased to $49.5 million in 2019 from $19.7 million in 2018. Our balance of non-performing loans and other real estate owned (“OREO”) was $117.6 million and $15.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2019 compared to $113.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018. Deterioration in the economy, real estate markets or increased unemployment rates, particularly in the markets in which we operate, will likely diminish the ability of our borrowers to repay loans that we have made to them, decrease the value of any collateral securing such loans and may cause increases in delinquencies, problem assets, charge-offs and provision for credit losses, all of which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Further, the underwriting and credit monitoring policies and procedures that we have adopted may not prevent losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Since our business is concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan and southern Wisconsin market areas, economic declines in the economy of this region could adversely affect our business.

Except for our premium finance business and certain other niche businesses, our success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the specific local markets in which we operate. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services to customers primarily in the Chicago metropolitan and southern Wisconsin market areas. The local economic conditions in these areas significantly impact the demand for our products and services as well as the ability of our customers to repay loans, the value of the collateral securing loans and the stability of our deposit funding sources.

In addition, the State of Illinois has experienced significant financial difficulty in recent years. To the extent that these issues impact the economic vitality of the state and the businesses operating in Illinois, businesses may be encouraged to leave the state or new employers may be discouraged to start or move businesses to Illinois, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There continues to be discussion and dialogue in the U.S. government regarding potential changes to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting other countries, including China, the European Union, Canada and

20

Mexico and retaliatory tariffs by such countries. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been imposed, and additional tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been proposed. Such tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export could cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase, which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customers’ margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and ability to service debt. This in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. It remains unclear what the U.S. government or foreign governments will or will not do with respect to tariffs already imposed, additional tariffs that may be imposed, or international trade agreements and policies.

On October 1, 2018, the United States, Canada and Mexico agreed to a new trade deal, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”) to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. On January 29, 2020, President Trump signed the USMCA into law. The full impact of the USMCA on us, our customers and on the economic conditions in the markets in which we operate is currently unknown. Changes to the terms upon which the United States, Mexico and Canada trade could negatively affect our customers or the U.S. economy or certain sectors thereof and, thus, adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to absorb losses that may occur in our loan portfolio, our financial condition and liquidity could suffer.

We maintain an allowance for loan losses that is intended to absorb credit losses that we expect to incur in our loan portfolio. At each balance sheet date, our management determines the amount of the allowance for loan losses based on our estimate of probable and reasonably estimable losses in our loan portfolio, taking into account probable losses that have been identified relating to specific borrowing relationships, as well as probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and credit undertakings that are not specifically identified.

Because our allowance for loan losses represents an estimate of inherent losses, there is no certainty that it will be adequate over time to cover credit losses in the portfolio, particularly if there is deterioration in general economic or market conditions or events that adversely affect specific customers. In 2019, we charged off $49.5 million in loans (net of recoveries) and increased our allowance for loan losses from $152.8 million at December 31, 2018 to $156.8 million at December 31, 2019. The increase in allowance in 2019 was primarily the result of significant loan growth during the period and higher specific reserves on impaired loans. Our allowance for loan losses represents 0.59% and 0.64% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company's adoption of CECL resulted in an increase in the allowance for loan losses and related coverage ratios at the time of adoption. Such accounting rules were effective as of January 1, 2020.

Although we believe our loan loss allowance is adequate to absorb reasonably estimable losses in our loan portfolio, if our estimates are inaccurate and our actual loan losses exceed the amount that is anticipated, or if the loss assumptions we used in calculating our reserves are significantly different from those we actually experience, our financial condition and liquidity could be materially adversely affected.

For more information regarding our allowance for loan losses, see “Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality” under Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, the repayment of which is largely dependent upon the financial success and economic viability of the borrower.

The repayment of our commercial loans is dependent upon the financial success and viability of the borrower. If the economy weakens for a prolonged period or experiences deterioration or if the industry or market in which the borrower operates weakens, our borrowers may experience depressed or dramatic and sudden decreases in revenues that could hinder their ability to repay their loans. Our commercial loan portfolio totaled $8.3 billion or 31% of our total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2019, compared to $7.8 billion, or 33% of our total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2018.

Commercial loans are secured by different types of collateral related to the underlying business, such as accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Should a commercial loan require us to foreclose on the underlying collateral, the unique nature of the collateral may make it more difficult and costly to liquidate, thereby increasing the risk to us of not recovering the principal amount of the loan. Accordingly, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected by defaults in this portfolio.

21

A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate, in particular commercial real estate. Deterioration in the real estate markets could lead to additional losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately 39% and 37%, respectively, of our total loan portfolio was secured by real estate, the majority of which is commercial real estate. The commercial and residential real estate market continues to experience a variety of difficulties, including the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin, in which a majority of our real estate loans are concentrated. Increases in commercial and consumer delinquency levels or declines in real estate market values would require increased net charge-offs and increases in the allowance for loan and lease losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Events impacting collateral consisting of real property could lead to additional losses which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Many of the loans in our portfolio are secured by real estate located in the Chicago metropolitan area. Any declines in economic conditions, including inflation, recession, unemployment, changes in securities markets or other factors impacting these local markets could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Deterioration in the real estate markets where collateral for our mortgage loans is located could adversely affect the borrower's ability to repay the loan and the value of the collateral securing the loan, and in turn the value of our assets. In addition, any natural disasters or severe weather events have the potential to damage our real estate collateral. Climate change could have an impact on longer-term natural weather trends and increase the occurrence and severity of such adverse weather events.

Any inaccurate assumptions in our analytical and forecasting models could cause us to miscalculate our projected revenue, capital, liquidity or losses, which could adversely affect our financial condition.

We use analytical and forecasting models to estimate the effects of economic conditions on our loan portfolio and probable loan performance. Those models reflect certain assumptions about market forces, including interest rates and consumer behavior that may be incorrect. If our analytical and forecasting models’ underlying assumptions are incorrect, improperly applied, or otherwise inadequate, we may suffer deleterious effects such as higher than expected loan losses, lower than expected net interest income, lower than expected liquidity, lower than expected capital or unanticipated charge-offs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in prevailing interest rates could adversely affect our net interest income, which is our largest source of income.  

We are exposed to interest rate risk in our core banking activities of lending and deposit taking, since changes in prevailing interest rates affect the value of our assets and liabilities. Such changes may adversely affect our net interest income, which is the difference between interest income and interest expense. Our net interest income is affected by the fact that assets and liabilities reprice at different times and by different amounts as interest rates change. Net interest income represents our largest component of net income, and was $1.1 billion and $964.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Each of our businesses may be affected differently by a given change in interest rates. For example, we expect that the results of our mortgage banking business in selling loans into the secondary market would be negatively impacted during periods of rising interest rates, whereas falling interest rates could have a negative impact on the net interest spread earned on deposits as we would be unable to lower the rates on many interest bearing deposit accounts of our customers to the same extent as many of our higher yielding asset classes.

Additionally, increases in interest rates may adversely influence the growth rate of loans and deposits, the quality of our loan portfolio, loan and deposit pricing, the volume of loan originations in our mortgage banking business and the value that we can recognize on the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary market.

After a prolonged period of low and relatively stable interest rates, interest rates rose over the course of 2017 and 2018, but declined in the second half of 2019. Interest rates continue to remain low by historical standards.

We seek to mitigate our interest rate risk through several strategies, which may not be successful. With the relatively low interest rates that prevailed in recent years, we were able to augment the total return of our investment securities portfolio by selling call options on fixed-income securities that we own. We recorded fee income of approximately $3.7 million, $3.5 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We also mitigate our interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swaps and other interest rate derivative contracts from time to time with counterparties. To the extent that the market value of any derivative contract moves to a negative market value, we are subject to loss if the counterparty defaults. In

22

the future, there can be no assurance that such mitigation strategies will be available or successful or that we will be successful in implementing any new mitigation strategies necessary to address the current rising interest rate environment. In addition, transactions entered into as part of mitigation strategies employed to mitigate risks associated with a prolonged low interest rate environment could be less beneficial or result in losses if interest rates continue to rise.

Our liquidity position may be negatively impacted if economic conditions do not continue to improve or if they decline.

Liquidity is a measure of whether our cash flows and liquid assets are sufficient to satisfy current and future financial obligations, such as demand for loans, deposit withdrawals and operating costs. Our liquidity position is affected by a number of factors, including the amount of cash and other liquid assets on hand, payment of interest and dividends on debt and equity instruments that we have issued, capital we inject into our bank subsidiaries, proceeds we raise through the issuance of securities, our ability to draw upon our revolving credit facility and dividends received from our banking subsidiaries. Our future liquidity position may be adversely affected by multiple factors, including:

• if our banking subsidiaries report net losses or their earnings are weak relative to our cash flow needs;

• if it is necessary for us to make capital injections to our banking subsidiaries;

• if changes in regulations require us to maintain a greater level of capital, as more fully described below;

• if we are unable to access our revolving credit facility due to a failure to satisfy financial and other covenants; or

• if we are unable to raise additional capital on terms that are satisfactory to us.

Weakness or worsening of the economy, real estate markets or unemployment levels may increase the likelihood that one or more of these events will occur. If our liquidity is adversely affected, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The financial services industry is very competitive, and if we are not able to compete effectively, we may lose market share and our business could suffer.

We face competition in attracting and retaining deposits, making loans, and providing other financial services (including wealth management services) throughout our market area. Our competitors include national, regional and other community banks, and a wide range of other financial institutions such as credit unions, government-sponsored enterprises, mutual fund companies, insurance companies, factoring companies and other non-bank financial companies such as marketplace lenders and other financial technology (“FinTech”) companies. Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources and market presence or more advanced technology than Wintrust and, as a result of their size, may be able to offer a broader range of products and services, better pricing for those products and services, or newer technologies to deliver those products and services than we can. Several of our local competitors have experienced improvements in their financial condition over the past few years and are better positioned to compete for loans, acquisitions and personnel. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. For example, the Economic Growth Act and its implementing regulations significantly reduce the regulatory burden of certain large BHCs and raise the asset thresholds at which more onerous requirements apply, which could cause certain large BHCs to become more competitive or to more aggressively pursue expansion. Also, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as mobile payment and other automatic transfer and payment systems, and for banks that do not have a physical presence in our markets to compete for deposits. The absence of regulatory requirements may give non-bank financial companies a competitive advantage over Wintrust.

Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including, among other things:

• the ability to develop, maintain and build upon long-term customer relationships based on top quality service and high ethical standards;

• the scope, relevance and pricing of products and services offered to meet customer needs and demands;

• the ability to expand our market position;

• the ability to uphold our reputation in the marketplace;

• the rate at which we introduce new products and services relative to our competitors;

• customer satisfaction with our level of service; and

• industry and general economic trends.

If we are unable to compete effectively, we will lose market share and income from deposits, loans and other products may be reduced. This could adversely affect our profitability and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

23

If we are unable to continue to identify favorable acquisitions or successfully integrate our acquisitions, our growth may be limited and our results of operations could suffer.

In the past several years, we have completed numerous acquisitions of banks, other financial service related companies and financial service related assets, including acquisitions of troubled financial institutions, as more fully described below. We expect to continue to make such acquisitions in the future. Wintrust seeks merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar, have experienced management, possess either significant market presence or have potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale or expanded services. Failure to successfully identify and complete acquisitions likely will result in Wintrust achieving slower growth.

The Economic Growth Act could result in increased competition for merger or acquisition partners, potentially resulting in higher acquisition prices or an inability to complete desired acquisitions. Acquiring other banks, businesses or branches involves various risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things:

• potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities or asset quality issues of the target company;

• failure to adequately estimate the level of loan losses at the target company;

• difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of the target company;

• potential disruption to our business, including diversion of our management's time and attention;

• the possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company;

• difficulty in estimating the value of the target company; and

• potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company.

Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values, and, therefore, some dilution of Wintrust’s tangible book value and net income per common share may occur as a result of any future acquisitions. In addition, certain acquisitions may expose us to additional regulatory risks, including from foreign governments. Our ability to comply with any such regulations will impact the success of any such acquisitions. Furthermore, failure to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected benefits from an acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our participation in FDIC-assisted acquisitions may present additional risks to our financial condition and results of operations.

As part of our growth strategy, we have made opportunistic partial acquisitions of troubled financial institutions in transactions facilitated by the FDIC through our bank subsidiaries. These acquisitions, and any future FDIC-assisted transactions we may undertake, involve greater risk than traditional acquisitions because they are typically conducted on an accelerated basis, allowing less time for us to prepare for and evaluate possible transactions, or to prepare for integration of an acquired institution. These transactions also present risks of customer loss, strain on management resources related to collection and management of problem loans and problems related to the integration of operations and personnel of the acquired financial institutions. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully integrate the financial institutions we acquire, or that we will realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions. Additionally, while the FDIC may agree to assume certain losses in transactions that it facilitates, there can be no assurances that we would not be required to raise additional capital as a condition to, or as a result of, participation in an FDIC-assisted transaction. Any such transactions and related issuances of stock may have dilutive effect on earnings per share. Furthermore, we may face competition from other financial institutions with respect to proposed FDIC-assisted transactions.

We may also be subject to certain risks relating to any future loss sharing agreements with the FDIC. Under a loss sharing agreement, the FDIC generally agrees to reimburse the acquiring bank for a portion of any losses relating to covered assets of the acquired financial institution. This was an important financial term of any FDIC-assisted transaction, as troubled financial institutions often have poorer asset quality. As a condition to reimbursement, however, the FDIC requires the acquiring bank to follow certain servicing procedures. A failure to follow servicing procedures or any other breach of a loss sharing agreement by us would result in the loss of FDIC reimbursement. In addition, reimbursable losses and recoveries under loss sharing agreements are based on the book value of the relevant loans and other assets as determined by the FDIC as of the effective dates of the acquisitions. The amount that the acquiring banks realizes on these assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in our financial statements, based upon the timing and amount of collections on the covered loans. Any failure to receive reimbursement, or any material differences between the amount of reimbursements that we receive and the carrying value reflected in our financial statements, would have a material negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

24

Damage to our reputation may harm our business.

Maintaining trust in the Company is critical to our ability to attract and maintain customers, investors and employees. If our reputation is damaged, our business could be significantly harmed. Harm to our reputation could arise from numerous sources, including, among others, employee misconduct, security breaches, compliance failures, litigation or regulatory outcomes or governmental investigations. Our reputation could also be harmed by the failure or perceived failure of an affiliate or a vendor or other third party with which we do business, to comply with laws or regulations. In addition, our reputation or prospects could be significantly damaged by adverse publicity or negative information regarding the Company, whether or not true, that may be posted on social media, non-mainstream news services or other parts of the internet, and this risk can be magnified by the speed and pervasiveness with which information is disseminated through those channels.

Actions by the financial services industry generally or by certain members of or individuals in the industry can also affect our reputation. For example, the role played by financial services firms during and after the financial crisis, including concerns that consumers have been treated unfairly by financial institutions or that a financial institution had acted inappropriately with respect to the methods employed in offering products to customers, have damaged the reputation of the industry as a whole.

Should any of these or other events or factors that can undermine our reputation occur, there is no assurance that the additional costs and expenses that we may need to incur to address the issues giving rise to the damage to our reputation would not adversely affect our earnings and results of operations, or that damage to our reputation will not impair our ability to retain our existing customers and employees or attract new customers and employees. Harm to our reputation or the reputation of our industry may also result in greater regulatory or legislative scrutiny, which may lead to changes in laws or regulations that could constrain our business or operations. Events that result in damage to our reputation may also increase our litigation risk.

An actual or perceived reduction in our financial strength may cause others to reduce or cease doing business with us, which could result in a decrease in our net interest income and fee revenues.

Our customers rely upon our financial strength and stability and evaluate the risks of doing business with us. If we experience diminished financial strength or stability, actual or perceived, including due to market or regulatory developments, announced or rumored business developments or results of operations, or a decline in stock price, customers may withdraw their deposits or otherwise seek services from other banking institutions and prospective customers may select other service providers. The risk that we may be perceived as less creditworthy relative to other market participants is increased in the current market environment, where the consolidation of financial institutions, including major global financial institutions, is resulting in a smaller number of much larger counterparties and competitors. As our community banks become more closely identified with the Wintrust name, the impact of any perceived weakness or creditworthiness at either the holding company or our community banks may be greater than in prior periods. If customers reduce their deposits with us or select other service providers for all or a portion of the services that we provide them, net interest income and fee revenues will decrease accordingly, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

If our credit rating is lowered, our financing costs could increase.

We have been rated by Fitch Ratings as "BBB+" and DBRS as "A (low)". A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization.

Our creditworthiness is not fixed and should be expected to change over time as a result of company performance and industry conditions. We cannot give any assurances that our credit ratings will remain at current levels, and it is possible that our ratings could be lowered or withdrawn by Fitch Ratings or DBRS. Any actual or threatened downgrade or withdrawal of our credit rating could affect our perception in the marketplace and our ability to raise capital, and could increase our debt financing costs.

If our growth requires us to raise additional capital, that capital may not be available when it is needed or the cost of that capital may be very high.

We are required by regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations (see “ - Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment - If we fail to meet our regulatory capital ratios, we may be forced to raise capital or sell assets”) and as we grow, internally and through acquisitions, the amount of capital required to support our operations grows as well. We may need to raise additional capital to support continued growth both internally and through acquisitions. Any capital we obtain may result in the dilution of the interests of existing holders of our common stock.

Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time which are outside our control and on our financial condition and performance. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, or on terms

25

acceptable to us, our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth and acquisitions could be materially impaired and our financial condition and liquidity could be materially and negatively affected.

Disruption in the financial markets could result in lower fair values for our investment securities portfolio.

The Company's available-for-sale debt and trading securities as well as certain equity securities are carried at fair value.

Accounting standards require the Company to categorize these securities according to a fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2019, approximately 96% of the Company's available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities with a readily determinable fair value were categorized in level 1 or 2 of the fair value hierarchy (meaning that their fair values were determined by unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, quoted prices for similar assets or other observable inputs). Significant prolonged reduced investor demand could manifest itself in lower fair values for these securities and may result in recognition of an other-than-temporary or permanent impairment of available-for-sale debt securities and unrealized losses of equity securities with a readily determinable fair value recognized in earnings, which could lead to accounting charges and have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. 

The remaining securities in our available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities with a readily determinable fair value portfolios were categorized as level 3 (meaning that their fair values were determined by inputs that are unobservable in the market and therefore require a greater degree of management judgment). The determination of fair value for securities categorized in level 3 involves significant judgment due to the complexity of factors contributing to the valuation, many of which are not readily observable in the market. In addition, the nature of the business of the third party source that is valuing the securities at any given time could impact the valuation of the securities. Consequently, the ultimate sales price for any of these securities could vary significantly from the recorded fair value at December 31, 2019, especially if the security is sold during a period of illiquidity or market disruption or as part of a large block of securities under a forced transaction.

There can be no assurance that decline in market value of available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities with a readily determinable fair value associated with these disruptions will not result in other-than-temporary or permanent impairments, and unrealized losses, respectively, of these assets, which would lead to accounting charges which could have a material negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.

Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

New lines of business and new products and services are essential to our ability to compete but may subject us to additional risks.

We continually implement new lines of business and offer new products and services within existing lines of business to offer our customers a competitive array of products and services. The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, such as the rapid adoption of mobile payment platforms. The effective use of technology can increase efficiency and enable financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. However, some new technologies needed to compete effectively result in incremental operating costs. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in operations. Many of our competitors, because of their larger size and available capital, have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could cause a loss of customers and have a material adverse effect on our business.

At the same time, there can be substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets for such services are still developing. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products or services, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved, and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of business and/or new product

26

or service could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties, could fail or be breached, which could disrupt our business and adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, as well as cause legal or reputational harm.

The potential for operational risk exposure exists throughout our business and, as a result of our interactions with, and reliance on, third parties, is not limited to our own internal operational functions. Our operational and security systems and infrastructure, including our computer systems, data management, and internal processes, as well as those of third parties, are integral to our performance. We rely on our employees and third parties in our day-to-day and ongoing operations, who may, as a result of human error, misconduct, malfeasance or failure, or breach of our or of third-party systems or infrastructure, expose us to risk. For example, our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by any significant disruptions to us or to third parties with whom we interact or upon whom we rely. In addition, our ability to implement backup systems and other safeguards with respect to third-party systems is more limited than with respect to our own systems. Our financial, accounting, data processing, backup or other operating or security systems and infrastructure may fail to operate properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors, including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, which could adversely affect our ability to process transactions or provide services. Such events may include sudden increases in customer transaction volume; electrical, telecommunications or other major physical infrastructure outages; natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods; disease pandemics; and events arising from local or larger scale political or social matters, including wars and terrorist acts. In addition, we may need to take our systems offline if they become infected with malware or a computer virus or as a result of another form of cyber-attack. In the event that backup systems are utilized, they may not process data as quickly as our primary systems and some data might not have been saved to backup systems, potentially resulting in a temporary or permanent loss of such data. We frequently update our systems to support our operations and growth and to remain compliant with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. This updating entails significant costs and creates risks associated with implementing new systems and integrating them with existing ones, including business interruptions. Implementation and testing of controls related to our computer systems, security monitoring and retaining and training personnel required to operate our systems also entail significant costs. Operational risk exposures could adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, as well as cause reputational harm. In addition, we may not have adequate insurance coverage to compensate for losses from a major interruption.

We face security risks, including denial of service attacks, hacking, social engineering attacks targeting our colleagues and customers, malware intrusion and data corruption attempts, in addition to the resulting identity theft that could result in the disclosure of confidential information, all of which could adversely affect our business or reputation, and create significant legal and financial exposure.

Our computer systems and network infrastructure and those of third parties, on which we are highly dependent, are subject to security risks and could be susceptible to cyberattacks, such as denial of service attacks, hacking, terrorist activities or identity theft. Our business relies on the secure processing, transmission, storage and retrieval of confidential, personal, proprietary and other information in our computer and data management systems and networks, and in the computer and data management systems and networks of third parties. In addition, to access our network, products and services, our customers and other third parties may use personal mobile devices or computing devices that are outside of our network environment and are subject to their own cybersecurity risks.

We, our customers, regulators and other third parties, including other financial services institutions and companies engaged in data processing, have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of, cyber-attacks. These cyber-attacks include computer viruses, malicious or destructive code, phishing attacks, denial of service or information, ransomware, improper access by employees or vendors, attacks on personal email of employees, ransom demands to not expose security vulnerabilities in our systems or the systems of third parties or other security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of confidential, proprietary and other information of ours, our employees, our customers or of third parties, damage to our systems or other material disruption of our or our customers’ or other third parties’ network access or business operations. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities or incidents. Despite efforts to ensure the integrity of our systems and implement controls, processes, policies and other protective measures, we may not be able to anticipate all security breaches, nor may we be able to implement guaranteed preventive measures against such security breaches. Cyber threats are rapidly evolving and we may not be able to anticipate or prevent all such attacks and could be held liable for any security breach or loss.

27

Cybersecurity risks for banking organizations have significantly increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, and the use of the internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions. For example, cybersecurity risks may increase in the future as we continue to increase our mobile-payment and other internet-based product offerings and expand our internal usage of web-based products and applications. In addition, cybersecurity risks have significantly increased in recent years in part due to the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime affiliates, terrorist organizations, hostile foreign governments, disgruntled employees or vendors, activists and other external parties, including those involved in corporate espionage. Even the most advanced internal control environment may be vulnerable to compromise. Targeted social engineering attacks and "spear phishing" attacks are becoming more sophisticated and are extremely difficult to prevent. In such an attack, an attacker will attempt to fraudulently induce colleagues, customers or other users of our systems to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to its data or that of its clients. Persistent attackers may succeed in penetrating defenses given enough resources, time, and motive. The techniques used by cyber criminals change frequently, may not be recognized until launched or until well after a breach has occurred. The risk of a security breach caused by a cyber-attack at a vendor or by unauthorized vendor access has also increased in recent years. Additionally, the existence of cyber-attacks or security breaches at third-party vendors with access to our data may not be disclosed to us in a timely manner.

We also face indirect technology, cybersecurity and operational risks relating to the customers, clients and other third parties with whom we do business or upon whom we rely to facilitate or enable our business activities, including, for example, financial counterparties, regulators and providers of critical infrastructure such as internet access and electrical power. As a result of increasing consolidation, interdependence and complexity of financial entities and technology systems, a technology failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach that significantly degrades, deletes or compromises the systems or data of one or more financial entities could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including us. This consolidation, interconnectivity and complexity increases the risk of operational failure, on both individual and industry-wide bases, as disparate systems need to be integrated, often on an accelerated basis. Any third-party technology failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach, termination or constraint could, among other things, adversely affect our ability to effect transactions, service our clients, manage our exposure to risk or expand our business.

Cyber-attacks or other information or security breaches, whether directed at us or third parties, may result in a material loss or have material consequences. Furthermore, the public perception that a cyber-attack on our systems has been successful, whether or not this perception is correct, may damage our reputation with customers and third parties with whom we do business. Hacking of personal information and identity theft risks, in particular, could cause serious reputational harm. A successful penetration or circumvention of system security could cause us serious negative consequences, including our loss of customers and business opportunities, significant disruption to our operations and business, misappropriation or destruction of our confidential information and/or that of our customers, or damage to our or our customers’ and/or third parties’ computers or systems, and could result in a violation of applicable privacy laws and other laws, litigation exposure, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, remediation costs, loss of confidence in our security measures, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensatory costs, remediation costs, additional compliance costs, and could adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Our vendors may be responsible for failures that adversely affect our operations.

We use and rely upon many external vendors to provide us with day-to-day products and services essential to our operations. We are thus exposed to risk that such vendors will not perform as contracted or at agreed-upon service levels. The failure of our vendors to perform as contracted or at necessary service levels for any reason could disrupt our operations, which could adversely affect our business. In addition, if any of our vendors experience insolvency or other business failure, such failure could affect our ability to obtain necessary products or services from a substitute vendor in a timely and cost-effective manner or prevent us from effectively pursuing certain business objectives entirely. Our failure to implement business objectives due to vendor nonperformance could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We issue debit cards, and debit card transactions pose a particular cybersecurity risk that is outside of our control.

Debit card numbers are susceptible to theft at the point of sale via the physical terminal through which transactions are processed and by other means of hacking. The security and integrity of these transactions are dependent upon retailers’ vigilance and willingness to invest in technology and upgrades. Despite third-party security risks that are beyond our control, we offer our customers protection against fraud and attendant losses for unauthorized use of debit cards in order to stay competitive in the marketplace. Offering such protection to our customers exposes us to potential losses which, in the event of a data breach at one or more retailers of considerable magnitude, may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

28

We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information we receive about our customers and counterparties to make credit decisions.

We rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties in deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions. This information could include financial statements, credit reports, and other financial information. We also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties, or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports, or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel, our ability to provide high quality service will be diminished, we may lose key customer relationships, and our results of operations may suffer.

We believe that our future success depends, in part, on our ability to attract and retain experienced personnel, including our senior management and other key personnel. Our business model is dependent upon our ability to provide high quality and personal service. In addition, as a holding company that conducts its operations through our subsidiaries, we are focused on providing entrepreneurial-based compensation to the chief executives of each our business units. As a Company with start-up and growth oriented operations, we are cognizant that to attract and retain the managerial talent necessary to operate and grow our businesses we often have to compensate our executives with a view to the business we expect them to manage, rather than the size of the business they currently manage. Accordingly, any executive compensation restrictions may negatively impact our ability to retain and attract senior management. The departure of a senior manager or other key personnel may damage relationships with certain customers, or certain customers may choose to follow such personnel to a competitor. The loss of any of our senior managers or other key personnel, or our inability to identify, recruit and retain such personnel, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.

A significant portion of the Company's loan portfolio is secured by real property. In the ordinary course of business, the Company may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, the Company may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. In addition, we own and operate a number of properties that may be subject to similar environmental liability risks.

Environmental laws may require the Company to incur substantial expenses and could materially reduce the affected property's value or limit the Company's ability to use or sell the affected property. The costs associated with investigation and remediation activities could be substantial. In addition, if we are the owner or former owner of a contaminated site, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. Although the Company has policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to claims and legal actions that could negatively affect our results of operations or financial condition.

Periodically, as a result of our normal course of business, we are involved in claims and related litigation from our customers, employees or other parties. These claims and legal actions, whether meritorious or not, as well as reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies could involve large monetary claims and significant legal expense. In addition, such actions may negatively impact our reputation in the marketplace and lessen customer demand. If such claims and legal actions are not decided in Wintrust's favor, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

Losses incurred in connection with actual or projected repurchases and indemnification payments related to mortgages that we have sold into the secondary market may exceed our financial statement reserves and we may be required to increase such reserves in the future. Increases to our reserves and losses incurred in connection with actual loan repurchases and indemnification payments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We engage in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market. In connection with such sales, we make certain representations and warranties, which, if breached, may require us to repurchase such loans, substitute other loans or indemnify the purchasers of such loans for actual losses incurred in respect of such loans. Due, in part, to increased mortgage payment delinquency rates and declining housing prices during the post 2007 period, we have been receiving such

29

requests for loan repurchases and indemnification payments relating to the representations and warranties with respect to such loans. We have been able to reach settlements with a number of purchasers, and believe that we have established appropriate reserves with respect to indemnification requests. It is possible that the number of such requests will increase or that we will not be able to reach settlements with respect to such requests in the future. Accordingly, it is possible that losses incurred in connection with loan repurchases and indemnification payments may be in excess of our financial statement reserves, and we may be required to increase such reserves and may sustain additional losses associated with such loan repurchases and indemnification payments in the future. Increases to our reserves and losses incurred by us in connection with actual loan repurchases and indemnification payments in excess of our reserves could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks through alternative methods. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts or mutual funds. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

We may be adversely impacted by the soundness of other financial institutions.

Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk as well as market and liquidity risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when collateral held by us cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount due to us. Any such losses could have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

De novo operations often involve significant expenses and delayed returns and may negatively impact Wintrust's profitability.

Our financial results have been and will continue to be impacted by our strategy of branch openings and de novo bank formations. We expect to increase the opening of additional branches and may, under certain circumstances, resume de novo bank formations. It may take longer than expected or more than the amount of time Wintrust has historically experienced for new banks and/or banking facilities to reach profitability, and there can be no guarantee that these branches or banks will ever be profitable. Moreover, the FDIC's enhanced supervisory period for de novo banks of three years, including higher capital requirements during this period, could also delay a new bank's ability to contribute to the Company's earnings and impact the Company's willingness to expand through de novo bank formation. To the extent we undertake additional de novo bank, branch and business formations, our level of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets will be impacted by startup costs associated with such operations, and it is likely to continue to experience the effects of higher expenses relative to operating income from the new operations. These expenses may be higher than we expected or than our experience has shown, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to examinations and challenges by tax authorities that may impact our financial results.

In the normal course of business, we, as well as our subsidiaries, are routinely subject to examinations from federal and state tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due in connection with investments we have made and the businesses in which we have engaged. Recently, federal and state tax authorities have become increasingly aggressive in challenging tax positions taken by financial institutions. These tax positions may relate to among other things tax compliance, sales and use, franchise, gross receipts, payroll, property and income tax issues, including tax base, apportionment and tax credit planning. The challenges made by tax authorities may result in adjustments to the timing or amount of taxable income or deductions or the allocation of income among tax jurisdictions. If any such challenges are made and are not resolved in our favor, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

30

Changes in federal and state tax laws and changes in interpretation of existing laws can impact our financial results

The federal government enacted the Tax Act on December 22, 2017, and given the current economic and political environment and ongoing budgetary pressures, the enactment of further new federal or state tax legislation may occur. The enactment of such legislation, or changes in the interpretation of existing law, including provisions impacting tax rates, apportionment, consolidation or combination, income, expenses, credits and exemptions may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in accounting policies or accounting standards could materially adversely affect how we report our financial results and financial condition.

Our accounting policies are fundamental to understanding our financial results and financial condition. Some of these policies require use of estimates and assumptions that affect the value of our assets or liabilities and financial results. Some of our accounting policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. If such estimates or assumptions underlying our financial statements are incorrect, we may experience material losses. From time to time, the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes, such as the new CECL standard discussed above, can be hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in the restatement of prior period financial statements.

We are a bank holding company, and our sources of funds, including to pay dividends, are limited.

We are a bank holding company and our operations are primarily conducted by and through our 15 operating banks, which are subject to significant federal and state regulation. Cash available to pay dividends to our shareholders, repurchase our shares or repay our indebtedness is derived primarily from dividends received from our banks and our ability to receive dividends from our subsidiaries is restricted. Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends our banks can pay to us without regulatory approval. The banks may not pay cash dividends if that payment could reduce the amount of their capital below that necessary to meet the “adequately capitalized” level in accordance with regulatory capital requirements. It is also possible that, depending upon the financial condition of the banks and other factors, regulatory authorities could conclude that payment of dividends or other payments, including payments to us, is an unsafe or unsound practice and impose restrictions or prohibit such payments. Our inability to receive dividends from our banks could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Anti-takeover provisions could negatively impact our shareholders.

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation, by-laws and Illinois law may have the effect of impeding the acquisition of control of Wintrust by means of a tender offer, a proxy fight, open-market purchases or otherwise in a transaction not approved by our board of directors. For example, our board of directors may issue additional authorized shares of our capital stock to deter future attempts to gain control of Wintrust, including the authority to determine the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock, such as voting rights, conversion rates and liquidation preferences. As a result of the ability to fix voting rights for a series of preferred stock, the board has the power, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty, to issue a series of preferred stock to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block a merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks control, and thereby assist the incumbent board of directors and management to retain their respective positions. In addition, our articles of incorporation expressly elect to be governed by the provisions of Section 7.85 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act, which would make it more difficult for another party to acquire us without the approval of our board of directors.

The ability of a third party to acquire us is also limited under applicable banking regulations. The BHC Act requires any “bank holding company” (as defined in the BHC Act) to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring more than 5% of our outstanding common stock. Any person other than a bank holding company is required to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire 10% or more of our outstanding common stock under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978. Any holder of 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, other than an individual, is subject to regulation as a “bank holding company” under the BHC Act. For purposes of calculating ownership thresholds under these banking regulations, bank regulators would likely at least take the position that the minimum number of shares, and could take the position that the maximum number of shares, of Wintrust common stock that a holder is entitled to receive pursuant to securities convertible into or settled in Wintrust common stock, including pursuant to any warrants to purchase Wintrust common stock held by such holder, must be taken into account in calculating a shareholder's aggregate holdings of Wintrust common stock.

These provisions may have the effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt that is not approved by our board of directors but which our individual shareholders may deem to be in their best interests or in which our shareholders may receive a substantial

31

premium for their shares over then-current market prices. As a result, shareholders who might desire to participate in such a transaction may not have an opportunity to do so. Such provisions will also render the removal of our current board of directors or management more difficult.

Uncertainty about the future of LIBOR may adversely affect our business.

On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is currently impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

On April 3, 2018, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York commenced publication of three reference rates based on overnight U.S. Treasury repurchase agreement transactions, including the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which has been recommended as an alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (“ARRC”). Further, the Bank of England has commenced publication of a reformed Sterling Overnight Index Average (“reformed SONIA”), comprised of a broader set of overnight Sterling money market transactions, as of April 23, 2018. Reformed SONIA has been recommended as the alternative to Sterling LIBOR by the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates.

Although SOFR appears to be the preferred replacement rate for U.S dollar LIBOR, it is unclear if other benchmarks may emerge or if other rates will be adopted outside of the United States. We cannot predict what effect any such alternatives will have on the value of LIBOR-based securities or financial arrangements, including the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR’s role in determining market interest rates globally. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and other interest rates. In the event that a published LIBOR rate is unavailable after 2021, the dividend rate on the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock, which currently is based on the LIBOR rate, will be determined as set forth in the accompanying offering documents, and the value of such securities may be adversely affected.

We anticipate significant operational challenges for the transition away from LIBOR including, but not limited to, amending existing loan agreements with borrowers on loans that may have not been modified with fallback language and adding effective fallback language to new agreements in the event that LIBOR is discontinued before maturity. In addition, the transition away from LIBOR could prompt inquiries or other actions from regulators in respect of the Company’s preparation and readiness for the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, as well as result in disputes, litigation or other actions with counterparties regarding the interpretation and enforceability of certain fallback language in LIBOR-based contracts and securities. Currently, the manner and impact of this transition and related developments, as well as the effect of these developments on our funding costs, loan, derivative and investment portfolios, asset-liability management and business, is uncertain.

Our business could be adversely affected by the occurrence of extraordinary events, such as acts of war, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and public health threats.

An act of war, terrorist activity, including acts of domestic terrorism, a major epidemic or pandemic, natural disaster, or the threat of such an event or other public health threat, could adversely affect our customers and our business. Such events could significantly impact the demand for our products and services as well as the ability of our customers to repay loans, affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the value of the collateral securing loans, adversely impact our employee base, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue, and cause us to incur additional expenses. The occurrence or threat of any such extraordinary event could result in a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment

If we fail to meet our regulatory capital ratios, we may be forced to raise capital or sell assets.

As a banking institution, we are subject to regulations that require us to maintain certain capital ratios, such as the ratio of our Tier 1 capital to our risk-based assets, and in recent years these regulatory and market expectations have increased substantially. If our regulatory capital ratios decline, as a result of decreases in the value of our loan portfolio or otherwise, we may be required to improve such ratios by either raising additional capital or by disposing of assets. If we choose to dispose of assets, we cannot be certain that we will be able to do so at prices that we believe to be appropriate, and our future operating results could be negatively affected. If we choose to raise additional capital, we may accomplish this by selling additional shares of common stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, which could significantly dilute the ownership percentage of holders of our

32

common stock and cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Additionally, events or circumstances in the capital markets generally may increase our capital costs and impair our ability to raise capital at any given time.

Changes in the United States’ monetary policy may restrict our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner.

Our ability to profitably operate is dependent, in part, upon federal fiscal policies that cannot be predicted. We are particularly affected by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve, which influence money supply in the United States. Any change in the United States’ monetary policy, or worsening federal budgetary pressures, could affect our access to capital. During the past few years, the Federal Reserve has made two notable changes to U.S. monetary policy. First, following a prolonged period of low and relatively stable interest rates, it began to raise interest rates, but has more recently started to decrease the federal funds rate. Second, it has stated its intention to end its quantitative easing program and has begun to vary the size of its balance sheet by selling or buying securities, which also affects interest rates. Additionally, any trend toward inflation, economic decline, destabilizing of financial markets, or other factors beyond our control may significantly affect consumer demand for our products and consumers’ ability to repay loans, reducing our results of operations.

Legislative and regulatory actions taken now or in the future regarding the financial services industry may significantly increase our costs or limit our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner.

We are subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. The cost of compliance with such laws and regulations can be substantial and adversely affect our ability to operate profitably. While we are unable to predict the scope or impact of any potential legislation or regulatory action until it becomes final, it is possible that changes in applicable laws, regulations or interpretations thereof could significantly increase our regulatory compliance costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, negatively impact the recoverability of certain of our recorded assets, require us to increase our regulatory capital, interfere with our executive compensation plans, or limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner including our plan for de novo growth and growth through acquisitions.

Both the scope of the laws and regulations and the intensity of the supervision to which our business is subject have increased in recent years, in response to the financial crisis as well as other factors such as technological and market changes. For example, as cybersecurity and data privacy risks for banking organizations and the broader financial system have significantly increased in recent years, cybersecurity and data privacy issues have become the subject of increasing legislative and regulatory focus. For example, in June of 2018, the Governor of California signed into law the CCPA. The CCPA, which became effective on January 1, 2020, applies to for-profit businesses that conduct business in California and meet certain revenue or data collection thresholds. For more information regarding data privacy laws and regulations, see “Protection of Client Information” under Supervision and Regulation in Item 1.

Regulatory enforcement and fines have also increased across the banking and financial services sector. Many of these changes have occurred as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations, most of which are now in place. While the regulatory environment has entered a period of rebalancing of the post financial crisis framework, we expect that our business will remain subject to extensive regulation and supervision.

On May 24, 2018, the Economic Growth Act was signed into law. Among other regulatory changes, the Economic Growth Act amends various sections of the Dodd-Frank Act, including section 165 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which was revised to raise the asset thresholds for determining the application of enhanced prudential standards for BHCs. The effects of these changes on the Company are expected to be limited because the Company was subject to only limited enhanced prudential standards prior to the Economic Growth Act’s enactment. Certain of our competitors, however, will benefit from a more significant reduction in regulatory burdens, and, as a result, may become more competitive or aggressive in pursuing expansion.

Financial reform legislation and increased regulatory rigor around consumer protection mortgage-related issues may reduce our ability to market our products to consumers and may limit our ability to profitably operate our mortgage business.

The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority over a wide range of federal consumer protection laws applicable to the business of our subsidiary banks and some other operating subsidiaries, including the authority to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts and practices, but examination and supervision of our subsidiary banks is carried out by the primary federal banking agency and, where applicable, the state banking agency. Consumer protection is an area of heightened regulatory focus, and the CFPB has promulgated a number of specific regulatory requirements in this area. These rules have increased and may further increase the costs of doing business for all market participants, including our subsidiaries.

In particular, the mortgage-related rules issued by the CFPB have materially restructured the origination, servicing and securitization of residential mortgages in the United States. These rules have impacted, and will continue to impact, the business practices of

33

mortgage lenders, including the Company. For example, in order to ensure compliance with mortgage-related rules issued by the CFPB, the Company consolidated its consumer mortgage loan origination and loan servicing operations within Wintrust Mortgage.

In the wake of the mortgage crisis, the CFPB and federal and state banking agencies are closely examining the mortgage and mortgage servicing activities of depository financial institutions. Should these or other agencies have serious concerns with respect to our operations in this regard, the effect of such concerns could have a material adverse effect on our profits.

Federal, state and local consumer lending laws may restrict our ability to originate certain mortgage loans or increase our risk of liability with respect to such loans and could increase our cost of doing business.

Federal, state and local laws have been adopted that are intended to eliminate certain lending practices considered “predatory.” These laws prohibit practices such as steering borrowers away from more affordable products, selling unnecessary insurance to borrowers, repeatedly refinancing loans and making loans without a reasonable expectation that the borrowers will be able to repay the loans irrespective of the value of the underlying property. The CFPB has promulgated many mortgage-related rules since it was established under the Dodd-Frank Act, including rules relating to the ability to repay loans and relating to qualified mortgage standards. Most of these mortgage-related rules have been adopted, although portions of certain of these rules have not yet become effective. In addition, several proposed revisions to mortgage-related rules are pending finalization. We may find it necessary to tighten our mortgage loan underwriting standards in response to the CFPB rules, which may constrain our ability to make loans consistent with our business strategies. It is our policy not to make predatory loans and to determine borrowers' ability to repay, but the law and related rules create the potential for increased liability with respect to our lending and loan investment activities. They increase our cost of doing business and, ultimately, may prevent us from making certain loans and cause us to reduce the average percentage rate or the points and fees on loans that we do make. In addition, regulation related to redlining, fair lending, CRA compliance and BSA compliance create significant burdens which necessitate increased costs. Any failure to comply with any of these regulations could have a significant impact on our ability to operate, our ability to acquire or open new banks and/or result in meaningful fines.

Regulatory initiatives regarding bank capital requirements may require heightened capital.

The U.S. Basel III Rule, as well as other aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to banking organizations, have increased our compliance costs, impacted the profitability of our business activities and may change certain of our business practices, including the ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans, and achieve satisfactory interest spreads, and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. These changes also may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes to operations in order to comply, and could therefore also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to engage in capital distributions, including paying dividends or repurchasing stock, may be restricted if we do not maintain the required Capital Conservation Buffer. In addition, we anticipate that our pro forma capital ratios will be an important factor considered by the Federal Reserve in evaluating whether proposed payments of dividends or stock repurchases are consistent with its prudential expectations. For more information regarding capital requirements, see “Capital Requirements of the Company and Subsidiary Banks” under Supervision and Regulation in Item 1.

Our FDIC insurance premiums may increase, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

Insured institution failures leading up to and following the financial crisis, as well as deterioration in banking and economic conditions, significantly increased FDIC loss provisions, resulting in a decline of its deposit insurance fund to historical lows at the peak of the crisis. In response, the Dodd-Frank Act and FDIC regulations changed the assessment base for federal deposit insurance from the amount of insured deposits to average total consolidated assets less average tangible capital, eliminated the maximum size of the DIF, eliminated the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to depository institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds, and increased the minimum reserve ratio of the DIF from 1.15% to 1.35%. These developments also caused our FDIC insurance premiums to increase. There is a risk that the banks' deposit insurance premiums will increase in the future if failures of insured depository institutions once again deplete the DIF. Any such increase may negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Non-compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, BSA or other laws and regulations could result in fines or sanctions.

The USA PATRIOT Act and the BSA require financial institutions to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money laundering or the funding of terrorist activities. If such activities are detected, financial institutions are obligated to file suspicious activity reports with FinCEN. These rules require certain financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of customers seeking to open new accounts. Failure to comply with these regulations could

34

result in fines or sanctions. An increasing number of banking institutions have received large fines for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. Although we have developed policies and procedures designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, no assurance can be given that these policies and procedures will be effective in preventing violations of these laws and regulations.

Risks Related to Our Niche Businesses

Our premium finance business may involve a higher risk of delinquency or collection than our other lending operations, and could expose us to losses.

We provide financing for the payment of commercial insurance premiums and life insurance premiums on a national basis through FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance, respectively, and financing for the payment of commercial insurance premiums in Canada through our wholly-owned subsidiary, FIFC Canada. Commercial insurance premium finance loans involve a different, and possibly higher, risk of delinquency or collection than life insurance premium finance loans and the loan portfolios of our bank subsidiaries because these loans are issued primarily through relationships with a large number of unaffiliated insurance agents and because the borrowers are located nationwide. As a result, risk management and general supervisory oversight may be difficult. As of December 31, 2019, we had $3.4 billion of commercial insurance premium finance loans outstanding, of which $3.0 billion related to the Company's U.S. operations at FIRST Insurance Funding and $456.4 million related to the Company's Canadian operations at FIFC Canada. Together, these loans represented 13% of our total loan portfolio as of such date.

FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada may also be more susceptible to third party fraud with respect to commercial insurance premium finance loans because these loans are originated and many times funded through relationships with unaffiliated insurance agents and brokers. In the second quarter of 2010, fraud perpetrated against a number of premium finance companies in the industry, including the property and casualty division of FIRST Insurance Funding, increased both the Company's net charge-offs and provision for credit losses by $15.7 million. Acts of fraud are difficult to detect and deter, and we cannot assure investors that our risk management procedures and controls will prevent losses from fraudulent activity.

Wintrust Life Finance may be exposed to the risk of loss in our life insurance premium finance business because of fraud. While Wintrust Life Finance maintains a policy prohibiting the known financing of stranger-originated life insurance and has established procedures to identify and prevent the company from financing such policies, Wintrust Life Finance cannot be certain that it will never provide loans with respect to such a policy. In the event such policies were financed, a carrier could potentially put at risk the cash surrender value of a policy, which serves as Wintrust Life Finance's primary collateral, by challenging the validity of the insurance contract for lack of an insurable interest.

See the below risk factor “Widespread financial difficulties or credit downgrades among commercial and life insurance providers could lessen the value of the collateral securing our premium finance loans and impair the financial condition and liquidity of FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada” for a discussion of further risks associated with our insurance premium finance activities.

While FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance are licensed as required and carefully monitors compliance with regulation of each of its businesses, there can be no assurance that either will not be negatively impacted by material changes in the regulatory environment. FIFC Canada is not required to be licensed in most provinces of Canada, but there can be no assurance that future regulations which impact the business of FIFC Canada will not be enacted.

Additionally, to the extent that affiliates of insurance carriers, banks, and other lending institutions add greater service and flexibility to their financing practices in the future, our competitive position and results of operations could be adversely affected. Wintrust Life Finance's life insurance premium finance business could be materially negatively impacted by changes in the federal or state estate tax provisions. There can be no assurance that FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance will be able to continue to compete successfully in its markets.

Widespread financial difficulties or credit downgrades among commercial and life insurance providers could lessen the value of the collateral securing our premium finance loans and impair the financial condition and liquidity of FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada.

FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada's premium finance loans are primarily secured by the insurance policies financed by the loans. These insurance policies are written by a large number of insurance companies geographically dispersed throughout the country. Our premium finance receivables balances finance insurance policies which are spread among a large number of insurers; however, one of the insurers represents approximately 13% of such balances and two additional insurers represent approximately 3% each of such balances. FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada consistently

35

monitor carrier ratings and financial performance of our carriers. While FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada can mitigate its risks as a result of this monitoring to the extent that commercial or life insurance providers experience widespread difficulties or credit downgrades, the value of our collateral will be reduced. FIRST Insurance Funding, Wintrust Life Finance and FIFC Canada are also subject to the possibility of insolvency of insurance carriers in the commercial and life insurance businesses that are in possession of our collateral. If one or more large nationwide insurers were to fail, the value of our portfolio could be significantly negatively impacted. A significant downgrade in the value of the collateral supporting our premium finance business could impair our ability to create liquidity for this business, which, in turn could negatively impact our ability to expand.

Our wealth management business in general, and Wintrust Investments' brokerage operation, in particular, exposes us to certain risks associated with the securities industry.

Our wealth management business in general, and Wintrust Investments' brokerage operations in particular, present special risks not borne by community banks that focus exclusively on community banking. For example, the brokerage industry is subject to fluctuations in the stock market that may have a significant adverse impact on transaction fees, customer activity and investment portfolio gains and losses. Likewise, additional or modified regulations may adversely affect our wealth management operations. Each of our wealth management operations is dependent on a small number of professionals whose departure could result in the loss of a significant number of customer accounts. A significant decline in fees and commissions or trading losses suffered in the investment portfolio could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, we are subject to claim arbitration risk arising from customers who claim their investments were not suitable or that their portfolios were inappropriately traded. These risks increase when the market, as a whole, declines. The risks associated with retail brokerage may not be supported by the income generated by our wealth management operations.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company’s executive offices are located at 9700 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont, Illinois. The Company also leases office locations and retail space at 231 S. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago and at 731 N. Jackson Street in downtown Milwaukee. The Company’s community banking segment operates through 187 banking facilities, the majority of which are owned. The Company owns 230 automatic teller machines, the majority of which are housed at banking locations. The banking facilities are located in communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana as well as one banking location in Naples, Florida. Excess space in certain properties is leased to third parties. Wintrust Mortgage, also of our banking segment, is headquartered in our corporate headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois and has 43 locations in 11 states, all of which are leased, as well as office locations at several of our banks.

The Company’s wealth management subsidiaries have two locations in downtown Chicago, one in Appleton, Wisconsin, and one in Tampa, Florida, all of which are leased, as well as office locations at several of our banks. FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance have one location in Northbrook, Illinois which is owned and locations at 231 S. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago, Newark, New Jersey, Long Island, New York and Newport Beach, California, all of which are leased. FIFC Canada has three locations in Canada that are leased, located in Toronto, Ontario; Wainwright, Alberta; and Vancouver, British Columbia. Wintrust Asset Finance is located in our corporate headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois and has locations in Frisco, Texas, Mishawaka, Indiana, and Irvine, California, all of which are leased. Tricom has one location in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin which is owned. In addition, the Company owns other real estate acquired for further expansion that, when considered in the aggregate, is not material to the Company’s financial position.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In accordance with applicable accounting principles, the Company establishes an accrued liability for litigation and threatened litigation actions and proceedings when those actions present loss contingencies which are both probable and estimable. In actions for which a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, the Company determines whether it can estimate a loss or range of possible loss. To determine whether a possible loss is estimable, the Company reviews and evaluates its material litigation on an ongoing basis, in conjunction with any outside counsel handling the matter, in light of potentially relevant factual and legal developments. This review may include information learned through the discovery process, rulings on substantive or dispositive motions, and settlement discussions.

36

Lehman Holdings Matter

On January 15, 2015, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. (“Lehman Holdings”) sent a demand letter asserting that Wintrust Mortgage must indemnify it for losses arising from loans sold by Wintrust Mortgage to Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB under a Loan Purchase Agreement between Wintrust Mortgage, as successor to SGB Corporation, and Lehman Brothers Bank. The demand was the precursor for triggering the alternative dispute resolution process mandated by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Lehman Holdings triggered the mandatory alternative dispute resolution process on October 16, 2015. On February 3, 2016, following a ruling by the federal Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that was adverse to Lehman Holdings on the statute of limitations that is applicable to similar loan purchase claims, Lehman Holdings filed a complaint against Wintrust Mortgage and 150 other entities from which it had purchased loans in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The mandatory mediation was held on March 16, 2016, but did not result in a consensual resolution of the dispute. The court entered a case management order governing the litigation on November 1, 2016. Lehman Holdings filed an amended complaint against Wintrust Mortgage on December 29, 2016. On March 31, 2017, Wintrust Mortgage moved to dismiss the amended complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and improper venue or to transfer venue. Argument on the motions to dismiss were heard on June 12, 2018. The motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction was denied on August 14, 2018 and the defendants’ motion to transfer venue was denied on October 2, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage appealed the denial of its motion to dismiss based on improper venue and the denial of its motion to transfer venue.

On October 2, 2018, Lehman Holdings asked the court for permission to amend its complaints against Wintrust Mortgage and the other defendants to add loans allegedly purchased from the defendants and sold to various RMBS trusts. The court granted this request and allowed Lehman Holdings to assert the additional claims against existing defendants as a supplemental complaint. Lehman Holdings filed its supplemental complaint against Wintrust Mortgage on December 4, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage filed its response to the supplemental complaint on May 13, 2019. Wintrust Mortgage is currently evaluating whether it has obtained sufficient information to assess the merits of Lehman Holding’s additional claims and to estimate the likelihood or amount of any potential liability for the additional claims.

The Company has reserved an amount for the Lehman Holdings action that is immaterial to its results of operations or financial condition. Such litigation and threatened litigation actions necessarily involve substantial uncertainty and it is not possible at this time to predict the ultimate resolution or to determine whether, or to what extent, any loss with respect to these legal proceedings may exceed the amounts reserved by the Company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Matter

On April 9, 2018, JPMorgan Chase & Co. as successor in interest to Bear Stearns and certain related Bear Stearns entities (collectively, “JPMC”) sent a demand letter to Wintrust Mortgage asserting an indemnification claim of approximately $4.6 million. JPMC alleges that it incurred this loss due to its reliance on misrepresentations in the loans Wintrust Mortgage originated, underwrote and sold to JPMC in the years prior to 2009. Wintrust Mortgage disputed JPMC’s allegations. On March 27, 2019, JPMC and Wintrust Mortgage settled the dispute for an immaterial amount.

Wintrust Mortgage Matter

On October 17, 2018, a former Wintrust Mortgage employee filed a lawsuit against Wintrust Mortgage in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, alleging violation of California wage payment statutes on behalf of herself and all other hourly, non-exempt employees of Wintrust Mortgage in California from October 17, 2014 through the present. Wintrust Mortgage received service of the complaint on November 4, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage's response to the complaint was filed on February 25, 2019. On November 1, 2019, the plaintiff’s counsel filed a letter with the California Department of Labor advising that it was initiating an action under California’s Private Attorney General Act statute based on the same alleged violations. In November 2019, the parties reached a settlement agreement. The parties are documenting the settlement. Once finalized, the parties will submit the settlement to the court for approval. The Company has reserved an amount for this litigation that is immaterial to its results of operations or financial condition. Such litigation and threatened litigation actions necessarily involve substantial uncertainty and it is not possible at this time to predict the ultimate resolution or to determine whether, or to what extent, any loss with respect to these legal proceedings may exceed the amounts reserved by the Company.

Northbrook Bank Matter

On October 17, 2018, two individual plaintiffs filed suit against Northbrook Bank and Tamer Moumen in the Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois, on behalf of themselves and a class of approximately 42 investors in a hedge fund run by defendant Moumen,

37

Plaintiffs allege that defendant Moumen ran a fraudulent Ponzi scheme and ran those funds through deposit accounts at Northbrook Bank. They allege the bank was negligent in failing to close the deposit accounts and that it intentionally aided and abetted defendant Moumen in the alleged fraud. They contend that Northbrook Bank is liable for losses in excess of $6 million. Northbrook Bank filed its motion to dismiss the complaint on January 15, 2019, which was granted on March 5, 2019. On April 3, 2019, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint based on similar allegations. Northbrook Bank believed the amended complaint did not cure the pleading defects recognized by the court and filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint on May 17, 2019. The court heard this motion on July 17, 2019 and once again dismissed the complaint without prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on August 12, 2019. Northbrook again moved to dismiss the complaint. On November 6, 2019, the court dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Plaintiffs filed an appeal on December 2, 2019. Northbrook Bank believes plaintiffs’ allegations are legally and factually meritless and otherwise lacks sufficient information to estimate the amount of any potential liability.

Other Matters

In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries, from time to time, are subject to pending and threatened legal action and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.

Based on information currently available and upon consultation with counsel, management believes that the eventual outcome of any pending or threatened legal actions and proceedings described above, including our ordinary course litigation, will not have a material adverse effect on the operations or financial condition of the Company. However, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, if unfavorable, may be material to the results of operations or financial condition for a particular period.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

38

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market under the symbol WTFC.

Performance Graph

The following performance graph compares the five-year percentage change in the Company’s cumulative shareholder return on common stock compared with the cumulative total return on composites of (1) all NASDAQ Global Select Market stocks for United States companies (broad market index) and (2) all NASDAQ Global Select Market bank stocks (peer group index). Cumulative total return is computed by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the share price at the beginning of the measurement period. The NASDAQ Global Select Market for United States companies’ index comprises all domestic common shares traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market. The NASDAQ Global Select Market bank stocks index comprises all banks traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market.

This graph and other information furnished in the section titled “Performance Graph” under this Part II, Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting” materials or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, as amended.

	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Wintrust Financial Corporation	100.00	103.76	155.20	176.15	142.19	151.63
NASDAQ — Total US	100.00	100.48	113.55	137.83	130.33	170.96
NASDAQ — Bank Index	100.00	102.21	129.34	153.13	128.02	175.61

39

Approximate Number of Equity Security Holders

As of February 10, 2020, there were approximately 1,679 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends on Common Stock

The Company’s Board of Directors approved the first semi-annual dividend on the Company’s common stock in January 2000 and continued to approve a semi-annual dividend until quarterly dividends were approved starting in 2014. The payment of dividends is subject to statutory restrictions and restrictions arising under the terms of the Company's Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), the terms of the Company’s Trust Preferred Securities offerings and under certain financial covenants in the Company’s revolving and term facilities. Under the terms of these separate facilities entered into on September 18, 2018, the Company is prohibited from paying dividends on any equity interests, including its common stock and preferred stock, if such payments would cause the Company to be in default under its facilities or exceed a certain threshold.

The following is a summary of the cash dividends paid in 2019 and 2018:

Record Date	Payable Date	Dividend per Share
November 7, 2019	November 21, 2019	$0.25
August 8, 2019	August 22, 2019	$0.25
May 9, 2019	May 23, 2019	$0.25
February 7, 2019	February 21, 2019	$0.25
November 8, 2018	November 23, 2018	$0.19
August 9, 2018	August 23, 2018	$0.19
May 10, 2018	May 24, 2018	$0.19
February 8, 2018	February 22, 2018	$0.19

On January 23, 2020, Wintrust Financial Corporation announced that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per share of outstanding common stock. The dividend was paid on February 20, 2020 to shareholders of record as of February 6, 2020.

The final determination of timing, amount and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend on the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other relevant factors. Because the Company’s consolidated net income consists largely of net income of the banks and certain wealth management subsidiaries, the Company’s ability to pay dividends generally depends upon its receipt of dividends from these entities. The Company's and the banks’ ability to pay dividends is subject to banking laws, regulations and policies. See “Supervision and Regulation - Payment of Dividends and Share Repurchases” in Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, the banks and certain wealth management subsidiaries paid $139.0 million, $111.0 million and $122.0 million, respectively, in dividends to the Company.

Reference is also made to Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contained in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the restrictions on the ability of certain subsidiaries to transfer funds to the Company in the form of dividends.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

No purchases of the Company’s common shares were made by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during the year ended December 31, 2019. On October 24, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $125 million of outstanding shares of its common stock. Refer to Note 28 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Subsequent Events,” contained in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of subsequent repurchases by the Company.

40

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
Selected Financial Condition Data (at end of year):
Total assets	$	36,620,583		$	31,244,849		$	27,915,970		$	25,668,553		$	22,909,348
Total loans, excluding loans held-for-sale and covered loans	26,800,290			23,820,691			21,640,797			19,703,172			17,118,117
Total deposits	30,107,138			26,094,678			23,183,347			21,658,632			18,639,634
Junior subordinated debentures	253,566			253,566			253,566			253,566			268,566
Total shareholders’ equity	3,691,250			3,267,570			2,976,939			2,695,617			2,352,274
Selected Statements of Income Data:
Net interest income	$	1,054,919		$	964,903		$	832,076		$	722,193		$	641,529
Net revenue (1)	1,462,091			1,321,053			1,151,582			1,047,623			913,126
Net income	355,697			343,166			257,682			206,875			156,749
Net income per common share – Basic	6.11			5.95			4.53			3.83			3.05
Net income per common share – Diluted	6.03			5.86			4.40			3.66			2.93
Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:
Performance Ratios:
Net interest margin	3.45		%	3.59		%	3.41		%	3.24		%	3.34		%
Net interest margin - fully taxable equivalent (non-GAAP) (2)	3.47			3.61			3.44			3.26			3.36
Non-interest income to average assets	1.23			1.23			1.21			1.34			1.29
Non-interest expense to average assets	2.79			2.85			2.78			2.81			2.99
Net overhead ratio (3)	1.57			1.62			1.56			1.47			1.70
Return on average assets	1.07			1.18			0.98			0.85			0.75
Return on average common equity	10.41			11.26			9.26			8.37			7.15
Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) (2)	13.22			13.95			11.63			10.90			9.44
Average total assets	$	33,232,083		$	29,028,420		$	26,369,702		$	24,292,231		$	20,999,837
Average total shareholders’ equity	3,461,535			3,098,740			2,842,081			2,549,929			2,232,989
Average loans to average deposits ratio (excluding covered loans)	91.4		%	93.7		%	92.7		%	90.9		%	89.9		%
Average loans to average deposits ratio (including covered loans)	91.4			93.7			92.9			91.4			91.0
Common Share Data at end of year:
Market price per common share	$	70.90		$	66.49		$	82.37		$	72.57		$	48.52
Book value per common share (2)	$	61.68		$	55.71		$	50.96		$	47.12		$	43.42
Tangible book value per common share (2)	$	49.70		$	44.67		$	41.68		$	37.08		$	33.17
Common shares outstanding	57,821,891			56,407,558			55,965,207			51,880,540			48,383,279
Other Data at end of year: (5)
Tier 1 leverage ratio	8.7		%	9.1		%	9.3		%	8.9		%	9.1		%
Tier 1 capital ratio	9.6			9.7			9.9			9.7			10.0
Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio	9.2			9.3			9.4			8.6			8.4
Total capital ratio	12.2			11.6			12.0			11.9			12.2
Allowance for credit losses (4)	$	158,461		$	154,164		$	139,174		$	123,964		$	106,349
Non-performing loans	117,588			113,234			90,162			87,454			84,057
Allowance for credit losses(4) to total loans, excluding covered loans	0.59		%	0.65		%	0.64		%	0.63		%	0.62		%
Non-performing loans to total loans, excluding covered loans	0.44			0.48			0.42			0.44			0.49
Number of:
Bank subsidiaries	15			15			15			15			15
Banking offices	187			167			157			155			152

(1) Net revenue includes net interest income and non-interest income.

(2) See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Ratios,” for a reconciliation of this performance measure/ratio to GAAP.

(3) The net overhead ratio is calculated by netting total non-interest expense and total non-interest income, annualizing this amount, and dividing by that period’s total average assets. A lower ratio indicates a higher degree of efficiency.

(4) The allowance for credit losses includes both the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments, but excludes the allowance for covered loan losses.

(5) Asset quality ratios exclude covered loans.

41

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified through the use of words such as “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “would” and “could.” Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts, are premised on many factors and assumptions, and represent only management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Similarly, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, which may include, but are not limited to, those listed below and the Risk Factors discussed under Item 1A on page 20 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements may be deemed to include, among other things, statements relating to the Company’s future financial performance, the performance of its loan portfolio, the expected amount of future credit reserves and charge-offs, delinquency trends, growth plans, regulatory developments, securities that the Company may offer from time to time, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on financial condition and results of operations from expected developments or events, the Company’s business and growth strategies, including future acquisitions of banks, specialty finance or wealth management businesses, internal growth and plans to form additional de novo banks or branch offices. Actual results could differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including the following:

• economic conditions that affect the economy, housing prices, the job market and other factors that may adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and the performance of its loan portfolios, particularly in the markets in which it operates;

• negative effects suffered by us or our customers resulting from changes in U.S. trade policies;

• the extent of defaults and losses on the Company’s loan portfolio, which may require further increases in its allowance for credit losses;

• estimates of fair value of certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which could change in value significantly from period to period;

• the financial success and economic viability of the borrowers of our commercial loans;

• commercial real estate market conditions in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin;

• the extent of commercial and consumer delinquencies and declines in real estate values, which may require further increases in the Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses;

• inaccurate assumptions in our analytical and forecasting models used to manage our loan portfolio;

• changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, the capital markets and other market indices that may affect, among other things, the Company’s liquidity and the value of its assets and liabilities;

• competitive pressures in the financial services business which may affect the pricing of the Company’s loan and deposit products as well as its services (including wealth management services), which may result in loss of market share and reduced income from deposits, loans, advisory fees and income from other products;

• failure to identify and complete favorable acquisitions in the future or unexpected difficulties or developments related to the integration of the Company’s recent or future acquisitions;

• unexpected difficulties and losses related to FDIC-assisted acquisitions;

• harm to the Company’s reputation;

• any negative perception of the Company’s financial strength;

• ability of the Company to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed;

• disruption in capital markets, which may lower fair values for the Company’s investment portfolio;

• ability of the Company to use technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands and create efficiencies in operations and to manage risks associated therewith;

• failure or breaches of our security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties;

• security breaches, including denial of service attacks, hacking, social engineering attacks, malware intrusion or data corruption attempts and identity theft;

• adverse effects on our information technology systems resulting from failures, human error or cyberattacks;

• adverse effects of failures by our vendors to provide agreed upon services in the manner and at the cost agreed, particularly our information technology vendors;

• increased costs as a result of protecting our customers from the impact of stolen debit card information;

• accuracy and completeness of information the Company receives about customers and counterparties to make credit decisions;

42

• ability of the Company to attract and retain senior management experienced in the banking and financial services industries;

• environmental liability risk associated with lending activities;

• the impact of any claims or legal actions to which the Company is subject, including any effect on our reputation;

• losses incurred in connection with repurchases and indemnification payments related to mortgages and increases in reserves associated therewith;

• the loss of customers as a result of technological changes allowing consumers to complete their financial transactions without the use of a bank;

• the soundness of other financial institutions;

• the expenses and delayed returns inherent in opening new branches and de novo banks;

• examinations and challenges by tax authorities, and any unanticipated impact of the Tax Act;

• changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations such as the new CECL standard, and the impact on the Company’s financial statements;

• the ability of the Company to receive dividends from its subsidiaries;

• uncertainty about the future of LIBOR;

• a decrease in the Company’s capital ratios, including as a result of declines in the value of its loan portfolios, or otherwise;

• legislative or regulatory changes, particularly changes in regulation of financial services companies and/or the products and services offered by financial services companies;

• a lowering of our credit rating;

• changes in U.S. monetary policy and changes to the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet as a result of the end of its program of quantitative easing or otherwise;

• regulatory restrictions upon our ability to market our products to consumers and limitations on our ability to profitably operate our mortgage business;

• increased costs of compliance, heightened regulatory capital requirements and other risks associated with changes in regulation and the regulatory environment;

• the impact of heightened capital requirements;

• increases in the Company’s FDIC insurance premiums, or the collection of special assessments by the FDIC;

• delinquencies or fraud with respect to the Company’s premium finance business;

• credit downgrades among commercial and life insurance providers that could negatively affect the value of collateral securing the Company’s premium finance loans;

• the Company’s ability to comply with covenants under its credit facility; and

• fluctuations in the stock market, which may have an adverse impact on the Company’s wealth management business and brokerage operation.

Therefore, there can be no assurances that future actual results will correspond to any forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Any such statement speaks only as of the date the statement was made or as of such date that may be referenced within the statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as required by law. Persons are advised, however, to consult further disclosures management makes on related subjects in its reports filed with the SEC and in its press releases.

43

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion highlights the significant factors affecting the operations and financial condition of Wintrust for the three years ended December 31, 2019. The detailed financial discussion focuses on 2019 results compared to 2018. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, and Selected Financial Highlights appearing elsewhere within this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

For a discussion of 2018 results compared to 2017, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Wintrust Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed on February 28, 2019.

OPERATING SUMMARY

Wintrust’s key measures of profitability and balance sheet changes are shown in the following table:

	Years Ended December 31,									Percentage % or Basis Point (bp) Change	Percentage % or Basis Point (bp) Change
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2019			2018			2017			2018 to 2019	2017 to 2018
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682		4%	33%
Net income per common share — Diluted	6.03			5.86			4.40			3	33
Net revenue (1)	1,462,091			1,321,053			1,151,582			11	15
Net interest income	1,054,919			964,903			832,076			9	16
Net interest margin	3.45		%	3.59		%	3.41		%	(14) bp	18 bp
Net interest margin - fully taxable equivalent (non-GAAP) (2)	3.47			3.61			3.44			(14)	17
Net overhead ratio (3)	1.57			1.62			1.56			(5)	6
Return on average assets	1.07			1.18			0.98			(11)	20
Return on average common equity	10.41			11.26			9.26			(85)	200
Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) (2)	13.22			13.95			11.63			(73)	232
At end of period
Total assets	$	36,620,583		$	31,244,849		$	27,915,970		17%	12%
Total loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, excluding covered loans	26,800,290			23,820,691			21,640,797			13	10
Total deposits	30,107,138			26,094,678			23,183,347			15	13
Total shareholders’ equity	3,691,250			3,267,570			2,976,939			13	10
Book value per common share (2)	61.68			55.71			50.96			11	9
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) (2)	49.70			44.67			41.68			11	7
Market price per common share	70.90			66.49			82.37			7	(19)
Excluding covered loans:
Allowance for credit losses to total loans(4)	0.59		%	0.65		%	0.64		%	(6) bp	1 bp
Non-performing loans to total loans	0.44			0.48			0.42			(4)	6

(1) Net revenue is net interest income plus non-interest income.

(2) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Ratios” for additional information on this performance measure/ratio.

(3) The net overhead ratio is calculated by netting total non-interest expense and total non-interest income and dividing by that period’s total average assets. A lower ratio indicates a higher degree of efficiency.

(4) The allowance for credit losses includes both the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for lending-related commitments.

Please refer to the Consolidated Results of Operations section later in this discussion for an analysis of the Company’s operations for the past three years.

44

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES/RATIOS

The accounting and reporting policies of Wintrust conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios are used by management to evaluate and measure the Company’s performance. These include taxable-equivalent net interest income (including its individual components), taxable-equivalent net interest margin (including its individual components), the taxable-equivalent efficiency ratio, tangible common equity ratio, tangible book value per common share and return on average tangible common equity. Management believes that these measures and ratios provide users of the Company’s financial information a more meaningful view of the performance of the Company's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and of the Company’s operating efficiency. Other financial holding companies may define or calculate these measures and ratios differently.

Management reviews yields on certain asset categories and the net interest margin of the Company and its banking subsidiaries on a fully taxable-equivalent (“FTE”) basis. In this non-GAAP presentation, net interest income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt interest income on an equivalent before-tax basis using tax rates effective as of the end of the period. This measure ensures comparability of net interest income arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. Net interest income on a FTE basis is also used in the calculation of the Company’s efficiency ratio. The efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing non-interest expense by total taxable-equivalent net revenue (less securities gains or losses), measures how much it costs to produce one dollar of revenue. Securities gains or losses are excluded from this calculation to better match revenue from daily operations to operational expenses. Management considers the tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share as useful measurements of the Company’s equity. The Company references the return on average tangible common equity as a measurement of profitability.

45

The following table presents a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios used by the Company to evaluate and measure the Company’s performance to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the last five years.

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)	2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Interest Margin and Efficiency Ratio:
(A) Interest Income (GAAP)	$	1,385,142		$	1,170,810		$	946,468		$	812,457		$	718,464
Taxable-equivalent adjustment:
-Loans	3,935			3,403			3,760			2,282			1,431
-Liquidity management assets	2,280			2,258			3,713			3,630			3,221
-Other earning assets	9			11			14			40			57
(B) Interest Income (non-GAAP)	$	1,391,366		$	1,176,482		$	953,955		$	818,409		$	723,173
(C) Interest Expense (GAAP)	330,223			205,907			114,392			90,264			76,935
(D) Net Interest Income (GAAP) (A minus C)	1,054,919			964,903			832,076			722,193			641,529
(E) Net interest Income (non-GAAP) (B minus C)	1,061,143			970,575			839,563			728,145			646,238
Net interest margin (GAAP)	3.45		%	3.59		%	3.41		%	3.24		%	3.34		%
Net interest margin, fully taxable equivalent (non-GAAP)	3.47			3.61			3.44			3.26			3.36
(F) Non-interest income	$	407,172		$	356,150		$	319,506		$	325,430		$	271,597
(G) Gains (losses) on investment securities, net	3,525			(2,898		)	45			7,645			323
(H) Non-interest expense	928,126			826,088			731,817			681,685			628,419
Efficiency ratio (H/(D+F-G))	63.63		%	62.40		%	63.55		%	65.55		%	68.84		%
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) (H/(E+F-G))	63.36			62.13			63.14			65.18			68.49
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Tangible Common Equity Ratio:
Total shareholders' equity (GAAP)	$	3,691,250		$	3,267,570		$	2,976,939		$	2,695,617		$	2,352,274
(I) Less: Convertible preferred stock (GAAP)	—			—			—			(126,257		)	(126,287		)
Less: Non-convertible preferred stock (GAAP)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets (GAAP)	(692,277		)	(622,565		)	(519,505		)	(520,438		)	(495,970		)
(J) Total tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP)	$	2,873,973		$	2,520,005		$	2,332,434		$	1,923,922		$	1,605,017
(K) Total assets (GAAP)	$	36,620,583		$	31,244,849		$	27,915,970		$	25,668,553		$	22,909,348
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets (GAAP)	(692,277		)	(622,565		)	(519,505		)	(520,438		)	(495,970		)
(L) Total tangible assets (non-GAAP)	$	35,928,306		$	30,622,284		$	27,396,465		$	25,148,115		$	22,413,378
Common equity to assets ratio (GAAP) (M/K)	9.7		%	10.1		%	10.2		%	9.5		%	9.2		%
Tangible common equity ratio (non-GAAP) (J/L)	8.0			8.2			8.5			7.7			7.2
Tangible common equity ratio, assuming full conversion of preferred stock (non-GAAP) ((J-I)/L)	8.0			8.2			8.5			8.2			7.7
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Tangible Book Value per Common Share:
Total shareholders’ equity (GAAP)	$	3,691,250		$	3,267,570		$	2,976,939		$	2,695,617		$	2,352,274
Less: Preferred stock (GAAP)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(251,257		)	(251,287		)
(M) Total common equity	$	3,566,250		$	3,142,570		$	2,851,939		$	2,444,360		$	2,100,987
(N) Actual common shares outstanding	57,822			56,408			55,965			51,881			48,383
Book value per common share (M/N)	$	61.68		$	55.71		$	50.96		$	47.12		$	43.42
Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP) (J/N)	49.70			44.67			41.68			37.08			33.17
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Return on Average Tangible Common Equity:
(O) Net income applicable to common shares	$	347,497		$	334,966		$	247,904		$	192,362		$	145,880
Add: Intangible asset amortization	11,844			4,571			4,401			4,789			4,621
Less: Tax effect of intangible asset amortization	(3,068		)	(1,164		)	(1,494		)	(1,803		)	(1,742		)
After-tax intangible asset amortization	8,776			3,407			2,907			2,986			2,879
(P) Tangible net income applicable to common shares (non-GAAP)	$	356,273		$	338,373		$	250,811		$	195,348		$	148,759
Total average shareholders' equity	$	3,461,535		$	3,098,740		$	2,842,081		$	2,549,929		$	2,232,989
Less: Average preferred stock	(125,000		)	(125,000		)	(165,114		)	(251,258		)	(191,416		)
(Q) Total average common shareholders' equity	$	3,336,535		$	2,973,740		$	2,676,967		$	2,298,671		$	2,041,573
Less: Average intangible assets	(641,802		)	(548,223		)	(519,910		)	(506,241		)	(466,225		)
(R) Total average tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP)	$	2,694,733		$	2,425,517		$	2,157,057		$	1,792,430		$	1,575,348
Return on average common equity (O/Q)	10.41		%	11.26		%	9.26		%	8.37		%	7.15		%
Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) (P/R)	13.22			13.95			11.63			10.90			9.44

46

OVERVIEW AND STRATEGY

2019 Highlights

The Company recorded net income of $355.7 million for the year of 2019 compared to $343.2 million and $257.7 million for the years of 2018 and 2017, respectively. The results for 2019 demonstrate continued operating strengths including strong loan and deposit growth which, despite compression in net interest margin, resulted in higher net interest income, higher revenue from the wealth management and mortgage banking businesses and growth in the leasing business.

The Company increased its loan portfolio from $23.8 billion at December 31, 2018 to $26.8 billion at December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to the growth in the Company's commercial real estate portfolio, residential real estate portfolio and the premium finance receivables portfolios as well as its commercial banking initiative. Loan growth was also attributed to the acquisitions of SBC, Incorporated (“SBC”), STC Bancshares Corp. (“STC”) and Rush-Oak Corporation (“ROC”). The Company is focused on making new loans, including in the commercial and commercial real estate sector, where opportunities that meet our underwriting standards exist. For more information regarding changes in the Company’s loan portfolio, see “Analysis of Financial Condition – Interest Earning Assets” and Note 4 “Loans” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management considers the maintenance of adequate liquidity to be important to the management of risk. Accordingly, during 2019, the Company continued its practice of maintaining appropriate funding capacity to provide the Company with adequate liquidity for its ongoing operations. In this regard, the Company benefited from its strong deposit base, a liquid short-term investment portfolio and its access to funding from a variety of external funding sources. The Company had overnight liquid funds and interest-bearing deposits with banks of $2.5 billion and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company recorded net interest income of $1.1 billion in 2019 compared to $964.9 million and $832.1 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The higher level of net interest income recorded in 2019 compared to 2018 resulted primarily from a $3.7 billion increase in average earning assets, partially offset by a 14 basis point decrease in the net interest margin in 2019 due to higher costs of deposits (see “Net Interest Margin” section later in this Item 7 for further detail).

Non-interest income totaled $407.2 million in 2019, increasing $51.0 million, or 14%, compared to 2018. The increase in non-interest income in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily attributable to an increase in wealth management and mortgage banking revenues, higher operating lease income from growth in our leasing divisions, higher gains on investment securities, higher service charges on deposits, an increase on fees from customer interest rate swaps and positive adjustments from foreign currency remeasurement (see “Non-Interest Income” section later in this Item 7 for further detail).

Non-interest expense totaled $928.1 million in 2019, increasing $102.0 million, or 12%, compared to 2018. The increase compared to 2018 was primarily attributable to a $66.3 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, $9.3 million higher equipment expense, higher operating lease equipment depreciation, an increase in amortization of intangible assets due to certain other intangible assets recognized as a result of the acquisition of CDEC, and higher marketing expenses. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was, specifically, attributable to a $43.8 million increase in salaries resulting from annual salary increases and larger staffing as the Company grew (including growth from acquisitions), a $13.0 million increase in commissions and incentive compensation primarily attributable to the Company's incentive compensation programs, and a $9.5 million increase in employee benefits due to higher payroll taxes, employee insurance and retirement savings plan costs. These increases were partially offset during the period by lower costs for consulting services and professional fees, data processing and FDIC insurance (see “Non-Interest Expense” section later in this Item 7 for further detail).

As the Company continues to experience strong growth in its balance sheet, controlling operating expenses is a continued focus throughout the Company's various business units. Management monitors expense control from period to period throughout the Company and places an emphasis on the Company's net overhead ratio, which provides a measure of efficiency both on a consolidated basis and across business units. The Company's goal is to maintain a net overhead ratio below 1.50% on a consolidated basis.

Economic Environment

The economic environment in 2019 was characterized by compression in net interest margin, especially in the second half of the year, and continued competition as banks have experienced improvements in their financial condition allowing them to be more active in the lending market. The Company has employed certain strategies to manage net income in the current rate environment, including those discussed below.

47

Net Interest Income

The Company has leveraged its internal loan pipeline and external growth opportunities to grow its earning assets base. The Company also continues its efforts to improve its funding mix. In 2019, the Company's net interest margin decreased to 3.45% (3.47% on a fully tax-equivalent basis) as compared to 3.59% (3.61% on a fully tax-equivalent basis) in 2018 primarily as a result of rising costs of deposits. As a result of the growth in earning assets, partially offset by reduced net interest margin, the Company increased net interest income by $90.0 million in 2019 compared to 2018.

The Company has continued its practice of writing call options against certain U.S. Treasury and Agency securities to economically hedge the securities positions and receive fee income to compensate for net interest margin compression. In 2019, the Company recognized $3.7 million in fees on covered call options compared to $3.5 million in 2018.

The Company utilizes “back to back” interest rate derivative transactions, primarily interest rate swaps, to receive floating rate interest payments related to customer loans. In these arrangements, the Company makes a floating rate loan to a borrower who prefers to pay a fixed rate. To accommodate the risk management strategy of certain qualified borrowers, the Company enters a swap with its borrower to effectively convert the borrower's variable rate loan to a fixed rate. However, in order to minimize the Company's exposure on these transactions and continue to receive a floating rate, the Company simultaneously executes an offsetting mirror-image swap with various third parties.

Non-Interest Income

The interest rate environment impacts the profitability and mix of the Company's mortgage banking business which generated revenues of $154.3 million in 2019 and $137.0 million in 2018, representing 11% and 10% of total net revenue in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Mortgage banking revenue is primarily comprised of gains on sales of mortgage loans originated for new home purchases as well as mortgage refinancing. Mortgage revenue is also impacted by changes in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights ("MSRs"). Mortgage originations for sale totaled $4.5 billion and $4.0 billion in 2019 and 2018, respectively. In 2019, approximately 52% of originations were mortgages associated with new home purchases, while 48% of originations were related to refinancing of mortgages. In 2018, approximately 75% of originations were mortgages associated with new home purchases, while 25% of originations were related to refinancing of mortgages.

Non-Interest Expense

Management believes expense management is important to enhance profitability amid the low interest rate environment and increased competition. Cost control and an efficient infrastructure should position the Company appropriately as it continues its growth strategy. Management continues to be disciplined in its approach to growth and plans to leverage the Company's existing expense infrastructure to expand its presence in existing and complimentary markets. Potentially impacting the cost control strategies discussed above, the Company anticipates increased costs resulting from the regulatory environment in which we operate as well as continued investment in technology.

Credit Quality

The Company's credit quality metrics remained at historically favorable levels in 2019. The Company continues to actively address non-performing assets and remains disciplined in its approach to grow without sacrificing asset quality.

In particular:

• The Company’s 2019 provision for credit losses, totaled $53.9 million, compared to $34.8 million in 2018 and $30.0 million in 2017. Net charge-offs increased to $49.5 million in 2019 (of which $35.9 million related to commercial and commercial real estate loans), compared to $19.7 million in 2018 (of which $8.8 million related to commercial and commercial real estate loans) and $15.0 million in 2017 (of which $5.3 million related to commercial and commercial real estate loans).

• The Company's allowance for loan losses increased to $156.8 million at December 31, 2019, reflecting an increase of $4.1 million, or 3%, when compared to 2018. At December 31, 2019, approximately $66.9 million, or 43%, of the allowance for loan losses was associated with commercial real estate loans and another $64.9 million, or 41%, was associated with commercial loans.

• The Company has significant exposure to commercial real estate. At December 31, 2019, $8.0 billion, or 30%, of our loan portfolio was commercial real estate, with approximately 86% located in our market area. The commercial real estate loan portfolio, excluding purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans, was comprised of $1.2 billion related to land and construction,

48

$1.0 billion related to office buildings loans, $1.1 billion related to retail loans, $1.0 billion related to industrial use, $1.3 billion related to multi-family loans and $2.1 billion related to mixed use and other use types. In analyzing the commercial real estate market, the Company does not rely upon the assessment of broad market statistical data, in large part because the Company’s market area is diverse and covers many communities, each of which is impacted differently by economic forces affecting the Company’s general market area. As such, the extent of the decline in real estate valuations can vary meaningfully among the different types of commercial and other real estate loans made by the Company. The Company uses its multi-chartered structure and local management knowledge to analyze and manage the local market conditions at each of its banks. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $26.1 million of non-performing commercial real estate loans representing approximately 0.33% of the total commercial real estate loan portfolio.

• Total non-performing loans (loans on non-accrual status and loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest) were $117.6 million (of which $26.1 million, or 22%, was related to commercial real estate) at December 31, 2019, an increase of $4.3 million compared to December 31, 2018. Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans were 0.44% at December 31, 2019 compared to 0.48% at December 31, 2018.

• The Company’s other real estate owned decreased by $9.6 million, to $15.2 million during 2019, from $24.8 million at December 31, 2018. The decrease in other real estate owned is primarily a result of $14.5 million of OREO disposals and resolutions during 2019. The $15.2 million of other real estate owned as of December 31, 2019 was comprised of $13.3 million of commercial real estate property, $1.0 million of residential real estate property and $810,000 of residential real estate development property.

During 2019, management continued its efforts to aggressively resolve problem loans through liquidation, rather than retention of loans or real estate acquired as collateral through the foreclosure process. Management believes these actions will serve the Company well in the future by providing some protection for the Company from further valuation deterioration and permitting Management to spend less time on resolution of problem loans and more time on growing the Company’s core business and the evaluation of other opportunities.

Management continues to direct significant attention toward the prompt identification, management and resolution of problem loans. The Company has restructured certain loans by providing economic concessions to borrowers to better align the terms of their loans with their current ability to pay. At December 31, 2019, approximately $63.8 million in loans had terms modified representing troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”), with $36.7 million of these TDRs continuing in accruing status. See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional discussion of TDRs.

The Company enters into residential mortgage loan sale agreements with investors in the normal course of business. The Company’s practice is generally not to retain long-term fixed rate mortgages on its balance sheet in order to mitigate interest rate risk, and consequently sells most of such mortgages into the secondary market. These agreements provide recourse to investors through certain representations concerning credit information, loan documentation, collateral and insurability. Investors request the Company to indemnify them against losses on certain loans or to repurchase loans which the investors believe do not comply with applicable representations. An increase in requests for loss indemnification can negatively impact mortgage banking revenue as additional recourse expense. The liability for estimated losses on repurchase and indemnification claims for residential mortgage loans previously sold to investors was $2.4 million at both December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Community Banking

Through our community banking franchise, we provide banking and financial services primarily to individuals, small to mid-sized businesses, local governmental units and institutional clients residing primarily in the local areas we service. Profitability of this franchise is primarily driven by our net interest income and margin, our funding mix and related costs, the level of non-performing loans and other real estate owned, the amount of mortgage banking revenue and our history of acquiring banking operations and establishing de novo banking locations.

Net interest income and margin. The primary source of our revenue is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income and fees on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on liabilities to fund those assets, including deposits and other borrowings. Net interest income can change significantly from period to period based on general levels of interest rates, customer prepayment patterns, the mix of interest-earning assets and the mix of interest-bearing and non-interest bearing deposits and borrowings.

Funding mix and related costs. The most significant source of funding in community banking is core deposits, which are comprised of non-interest bearing deposits, non-brokered interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings deposits and domestic time deposits.

49

Our branch network is the principal source of core deposits, which generally carry lower interest rates than wholesale funds of comparable maturities. Community banking profitability has been bolstered in recent years as the Company funded strong loan growth with a more desirable blend of funds.

Level of non-performing loans and other real estate owned. The level of non-performing loans and other real estate owned can significantly impact our profitability as these loans and other real estate owned do not accrue any income, can be subject to charge-offs and write-downs due to deteriorating market conditions and generally result in additional legal and collections expenses. The Company's credit quality measures have remained at historically low levels in recent years.

Mortgage banking revenue. Our community banking franchise is also influenced by the level of fees generated by the origination of residential mortgages and the sale of such mortgages into the secondary market by Wintrust Mortgage. The Company recognized an increase of $17.3 million in mortgage banking revenue in 2019 compared to 2018 as a result of higher origination volumes in 2019 and increased servicing fees. Mortgage originations for sale totaled $4.5 billion and $4.0 billion in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Expansion of banking operations. Our historical financial performance has been affected by costs associated with growing market share in deposits and loans, establishing and acquiring banks, opening new branch facilities and building an experienced management team. Our financial performance generally reflects the improved profitability of our banking subsidiaries as they mature, offset by the costs of establishing and acquiring banks and opening new branch facilities.

In determining the timing of the opening of additional branches of existing banks, and the acquisition of additional banks, we consider many factors, particularly our perceived ability to obtain an adequate return on our invested capital driven largely by the then existing cost of funds and lending margins, the general economic climate and the level of competition in a given market. See discussion of 2019 and 2018 acquisition activity in the “Recent Acquisition Transactions” section below.

In addition to the factors considered above, before we engage in expansion through de novo branches we must first make a determination that the expansion fulfills our objective of enhancing shareholder value through potential future earnings growth and enhancement of the overall franchise value of the Company. Generally, we believe that, in normal market conditions, expansion through de novo growth is a better long-term investment than acquiring banks because the cost to bring a de novo location to profitability is generally substantially less than the premium paid for the acquisition of a healthy bank. Each opportunity to expand is unique from a cost and benefit perspective. Both FDIC-assisted and non-FDIC-assisted acquisitions offer a unique opportunity for the Company to expand into new and existing markets in a non-traditional manner. Potential acquisitions are reviewed in a similar manner as a de novo branch opportunities, however, FDIC-assisted and non-FDIC-assisted acquisitions have the ability to immediately enhance shareholder value. Factors including the valuation of our stock, other economic market conditions, the size and scope of the particular expansion opportunity and competitive landscape all influence the decision to expand via de novo growth or through acquisition.

Specialty Finance

Through our specialty finance segment, we offer financing of insurance premiums for businesses and individuals; lease financing and other direct leasing opportunities; accounts receivable financing, value-added, out-sourced administrative services; and other specialty finance businesses.

Financing of Commercial Insurance Premiums

The primary driver of profitability related to the financing of commercial insurance premiums is the net interest spread that FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada can produce between the yields on the loans generated and the cost of funds allocated to the business unit. The commercial insurance premium finance business is a competitive industry and yields on loans are influenced by the market rates offered by our competitors. The majority of loans originated by FIRST Insurance Funding are purchased by the banks in order to more fully utilize their lending capacity as these loans generally provide the banks with higher yields than alternative investments. We fund these loans primarily through our deposits, the cost of which is influenced by competitors in the retail banking markets in our market area.

Financing of Life Insurance Premiums

The primary driver of profitability related to the financing of life insurance premiums is the net interest spread that Wintrust Life Finance can produce between the yields on the loans generated and the cost of funds allocated to the business unit. Profitability of financing both commercial and life insurance premiums is also meaningfully impacted by leveraging information technology systems, maintaining operational efficiency and increasing average loan size, each of which allows us to expand our loan volume without significant capital investment.

50

Wealth Management

We offer a full range of wealth management services including trust and investment services, tax-deferred like-kind exchange services, asset management solutions, securities brokerage services, and 401(k) and retirement plan services through four separate subsidiaries (Wintrust Investments, CTC, Great Lakes Advisors and CDEC).

The primary drivers of profitability of the wealth management business can be associated with the level of commission received related to the trading performed by the brokerage customers for their accounts and the amount of assets under management in which the unit receives a management fee for advisory, administrative and custodial services. As such, revenues are influenced by a rise or fall in the debt and equity markets and the resulting increase or decrease in the value of our client accounts on which our fees are based. The commissions received by the brokerage unit are not as directly influenced by the directionality of the debt and equity markets but rather the desire of our customers to engage in trading based on their particular situations and outlooks of the market or particular stocks and bonds. Profitability in the brokerage business is impacted by commissions which fluctuate over time.

Financial Regulatory Reform

Our business is heavily regulated by both federal and state agencies. Both the scope of the laws and regulations and the intensity of the supervision to which our business is subject have increased in recent years, in response to the financial crisis as well as other factors such as technological and market changes. Many of these changes have occurred as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations, most of which are now in place. While the regulatory environment has entered a period of rebalancing of the post financial crisis framework, we expect that our business will remain subject to extensive regulation and supervision.

The exact impact of the changing regulatory environment on our business and operations depends upon legislative or regulatory changes to reform the financial regulatory framework and the actions of our competitors, customers, and other market participants. Legislative and regulatory changes could have a significant impact on us by, for example, requiring us to change our business practices; requiring us to meet more stringent capital, liquidity and leverage ratio requirements; limiting our ability to pursue business opportunities; imposing additional costs and compliance obligations on us; limiting fees we can charge for services; impacting the value of our assets; or otherwise adversely affecting our businesses and our earnings’ capabilities. We have already experienced significant increases in compliance related costs in recent years, and we are now subject to more stringent risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements than we were prior to the adoption of the U.S. Basel III Rules. We are also now subject to many mortgage-related rules promulgated by the CFPB that materially restructured the origination, services and securitization of residential mortgages in the United States. We will continue to monitor the impact that the implementation of applicable rules, regulations and policies arising out of any legislative or regulatory changes may have on our organization. For further discussion of the laws and regulations applicable to us and our subsidiary banks, please refer to “Business-Supervision and Regulation.”

Recent Transactions

Acquisition of SBC

On November 1, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of SBC. SBC was the parent company of Countryside Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Countryside Bank’s six banking offices located in Countryside, Burbank, Darien, Homer Glen, Oak Brook and Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $619.8 million in assets, including approximately $423.0 million in loans, and approximately $507.8 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $40.3 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of STC

On October 7, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of STC.  STC was the parent company of STC Capital Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired STC Capital Bank’s five banking offices located in the communities of St. Charles, Geneva and South Elgin, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $250.1 million in assets, including approximately $174.3 million in loans, and approximately $201.2 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $19.1 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of ROC

On May 24, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of ROC. ROC was the parent company of Oak Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Oak Bank’s one banking location in Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date,

51

the Company acquired approximately $223.4 million in assets, including approximately $124.7 million in loans, and approximately $161.2 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $11.7 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of CDEC

On December 14, 2018, the Company acquired Elektra, the parent company of CDEC. CDEC is a provider of Qualified Intermediary services (as defined by U.S. Treasury regulations) for taxpayers seeking to structure tax-deferred like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031. CDEC has successfully facilitated more than 8,000 like-kind exchanges in the past decade for taxpayers nationwide. These transactions typically generate customer deposits during the period following the sale of the property until such proceeds are used to purchase a replacement property. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $37.3 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of certain assets and assumption of certain liabilities of AEB

On December 7, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of certain liabilities of American Enterprise Bank (“AEB”). Through this asset acquisition, the Company acquired approximately $164.0 million in assets, including approximately $119.3 million in loans, and approximately $150.8 million in deposits.

Acquisition of Chicago Shore Corporation

On August 1, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of CSC. CSC was the parent company of Delaware Place Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Delaware Place Bank’s one banking location in Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $282.8 million in assets, including approximately $152.7 million in loans, and approximately $213.1 million in deposits. Additionally, the Company recorded goodwill of approximately $26.6 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of iFreedom Direct Corporation DBA Veterans First Mortgage

On January 4, 2018, the Company acquired certain assets, including mortgage servicing rights, and assumed certain liabilities of the mortgage banking business of iFreedom Direct Corporation DBA Veterans First Mortgage (“Veterans First”), in a business combination. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $9.1 million related to the acquisition.

Acquisition of American Homestead Mortgage, LLC

On February 14, 2017, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the mortgage banking business of American Homestead Mortgage, LLC ("AHM"), in a business combination. AHM is located in Montana's Flathead Valley. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $1.0 million related to the acquisition.

Other Completed Transactions

Issuance of Subordinated Notes Due 2029

In June 2019, the Company completed a public offering of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.85% Subordinated Notes due 2029. The Company received proceeds prior to expenses of approximately $296.7 million from the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, which were intended to be used for general corporate purposes.

Expiration of Common Stock Warrants

On December 19, 2018, the Company’s publicly traded warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock expired. Warrants not exercised prior to this date totaling 409 warrant shares expired and became void, and the holders did not receive any shares of the Company’s common stock.

Termination of Loss Share Agreements

On October 16, 2017, the Company entered into agreements with the FDIC that terminated all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company made a net payment of $15.2 million to the FDIC as consideration for the early termination of the loss share agreements. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.4 million to write off the remaining loss share asset, relieve the claw-back liability and recognize the payment to the FDIC.

52

Mandatory Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock

On April 27, 2017, the Company caused a mandatory conversion of its remaining 124,184 shares of 5.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C (the "Series C Preferred Stock") (issued in March 2012) into 3,069,828 shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion rate of 24.72 shares of common stock per share of Series C Preferred Stock. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares for an amount considered insignificant.

SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States and prevailing practices of the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Certain policies and accounting principles inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments, and as such have a greater possibility that changes in those estimates and assumptions could produce financial results that are materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required or elected to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment write-down or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event, and are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates and assumptions.

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is presented in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis section, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Management views critical accounting policies to be those which are highly dependent on subjective or complex judgments, estimates and assumptions, and where changes in those estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the financial statements. Management views critical accounting policies to include the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for losses on lending-related commitments, loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, estimations of fair value, the valuations required for impairment testing of goodwill, the valuation and accounting for derivative instruments and income taxes as the accounting areas that require the most subjective and complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.

Allowance for Credit Losses, including the Allowance for Loan Losses and Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the fair value of the underlying collateral and amount and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience, and consideration of current economic trends and conditions, all of which are susceptible to significant change. The loan portfolio also represents the largest asset type on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company also maintains an allowance for lending-related commitments, specifically unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit, which relates to certain amounts the Company is committed to lend but for which funds have not yet been disbursed. See Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 and the section titled “Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality” in Item 7 for a description of the methodology used to determine the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for lending-related commitments.

As of January 1, 2020, the Company adopted CECL, which impacts the measurement of the Company’s allowance for credit losses (including the allowance for losses on lending-related commitments). CECL replaces the previous incurred loss methodology, which delays recognition until such loss is probable, with a methodology that reflects an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses considering current economic condition and forecasts. Though other assets, including investment securities and other receivables, are considered in-scope of the standard and will require a measurement of the allowance for credit loss, the most significant impact of CECL remains within the Company’s loan portfolios and related lending commitments.

Based upon the Company’s current composition of assets as well as current considerations of existing and expected future economic conditions, at adoption, the Company estimates an increase to the allowance for credit losses (consisting of the allowance for loan losses and allowance for losses on lending-related commitments prior to adoption) of approximately 25% to 40% related to its loan portfolios and related lending commitments. The estimated increase is partly related to additions to existing reserves for unfunded lending-related commitments due to the consideration under CECL of utilization by the Company's borrowers over the life of such commitments, as well as for acquired loans, which previously considered credit discounts. The Company estimates an insignificant impact at adoption of measuring an allowance for credit losses for the other in-scope assets noted above. The adjustment at adoption on January 1, 2020 is recognized as an adjustment to the balance sheet (retained earnings or the related

53

asset basis dependent upon whether the asset is purchased credit deteriorated from a prior acquisition). After adoption, adjustments to the allowance for credit losses will primarily be recorded as provision for credit losses on the Company’s income statement. The estimate of the allowance for credit losses is highly dependent upon considerations of current and expected economic conditions, which may result in earnings volatility across economic cycles. See Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for additional discussion of the Company's implementation and adoption of CECL.

Loans Acquired with Evidence of Credit Quality Deterioration since Origination

Under accounting guidance applicable to loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, the excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated life of the loans, using the effective-interest method. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the nonaccretable difference. Changes in the expected cash flows from the date of acquisition will either impact the accretable yield or result in a charge to the provision for credit losses. Subsequent decreases to expected principal cash flows will result in a charge to provision for credit losses and a corresponding increase to allowance for loan losses. Subsequent increases in expected principal cash flows will result in recovery of any previously recorded allowance for loan losses, to the extent applicable, and a reclassification from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield for any remaining increase. All changes in expected interest cash flows, including the impact of prepayments, will result in reclassifications to/from the nonaccretable difference.

Accounting guidance as discussed above applicable to loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination is eliminated under the requirements of CECL and replaced by specific guidance related to purchased credit deteriorated financial assets. Under CECL, the nonaccretable difference (credit discount) determined at acquisition on purchased credit deteriorated financial assets is recorded as an allowance for credit losses and added to the purchase price to determine the initial amortized cost of the financial asset. The accretable yield will be recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated life of the financial asset, using the effective-interest method. Changes in expected cash flows from the date of acquisition will only impact the allowance for credit losses (no impact to accretable yield). See Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for additional discussion of the Company's implementation and adoption of CECL.

Estimations of Fair Value

A portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Condition, with changes in fair value recorded either through earnings or other comprehensive income in accordance with applicable accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These include the Company’s trading account securities, available-for-sale securities, equity securities with a readily determinable fair value, derivatives, mortgage loans held-for-sale, certain loans held-for-investment and mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”). The determination of fair value is important for certain other assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets, impaired loans, and other real estate owned that are periodically evaluated for impairment using fair value estimates.

Fair value is generally defined as the amount at which an asset or liability could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing, unrelated parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. Fair value is based on quoted market prices in an active market, or if market prices are not available, is estimated using models employing techniques such as matrix pricing or discounting expected cash flows. The significant assumptions used in the models, which include assumptions for interest rates, discount rates, prepayments and credit losses, are independently verified against observable market data where possible. Where observable market data is not available, the estimate of fair value becomes more subjective and involves a high degree of judgment. In this circumstance, fair value is estimated based on management’s judgment regarding the value that market participants would assign to the asset or liability. This valuation process takes into consideration factors such as market illiquidity. Imprecision in estimating these factors can impact the amount recorded on the balance sheet for a particular asset or liability with related impacts to earnings or other comprehensive income. See Note 22, “Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a further discussion of fair value measurements.

Impairment Testing of Goodwill

The Company performs impairment testing of goodwill for each of its reporting units on an annual basis or more frequently when events warrant, using a qualitative or quantitative approach. Using a qualitative approach, the Company reviews any recent events or circumstances that would indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. These events and circumstances include the performance of the Company, the condition of the related industry in which the reporting unit operates and general economic environment and other factors. If the Company determines it is not more likely than not that there is impairment based on an evaluation of these events and circumstances, the Company may forgo the two-step quantitative approach.

54

Using a quantitative approach, the goodwill impairment analysis involves a two-step process. The first step is a comparison of the reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit was determined to have been higher than its fair value, the second step would have to be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The second step allocates the fair value to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical purchase price allocation analysis that would calculate the implied fair value of goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the recorded goodwill, the Company would record an impairment charge for the difference. Valuations are estimated in good faith by management through the use of publicly available valuations of comparable entities and discounted cash flow models using internal financial projections in the reporting unit’s business plan.

Under both a qualitative and quantitative approach, the goodwill impairment analysis requires management to make subjective judgments in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Events and factors that may significantly affect the analysis include: a significant decline in the Company’s expected future cash flows, a substantial increase in the discount rate, a sustained, significant decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate. Other factors might include changing competitive forces, customer behaviors and attrition, revenue trends, cost structures, along with specific industry and market conditions. Adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of intangible assets and could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had three reporting units: Community Banking, Specialty Finance and Wealth Management. Based on the Company’s 2019 goodwill impairment testing, no goodwill impairment was indicated for any of the reporting units on their respective annual testing dates. See Note 8, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a further discussion of goodwill impairment testing.

Derivative Instruments

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage risks such as interest rate risk or market risk. The Company’s policy prohibits using derivatives for speculative purposes.

Accounting for derivatives differs significantly depending on whether a derivative is designated as an accounting hedge, which is a transaction intended to reduce a risk associated with a specific asset or liability or future expected cash flow at the time it is purchased. In order to qualify as an accounting hedge, a derivative must be designated as such at inception by management and meet certain criteria. Management must also continue to evaluate whether the instrument effectively reduces the risk associated with that item. To determine if a derivative instrument continues to be an effective hedge, the Company must make assumptions and judgments about the continued effectiveness of the hedging strategies and the nature and timing of forecasted transactions. If the Company’s hedging strategy were to become ineffective, hedge accounting would no longer apply and the reported results of operations or financial condition could be materially affected. See Note 21, “Derivative Financial Instruments,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a further discussion of derivative accounting.

Income Taxes

The Company is subject to the income tax laws of the United States, its states, Canada and other jurisdictions where it conducts business. These laws are complex and subject to potentially different interpretations by the taxpayer and the various taxing authorities. In determining the provision for income taxes, management must make judgments and estimates about the application of these inherently complex laws, related regulations and case law. In the process of preparing the Company’s tax returns, management attempts to make reasonable interpretations of the tax laws. These interpretations are subject to challenge by the tax authorities upon audit or to reinterpretation based on management’s ongoing assessment of facts and evolving case law. Management reviews its uncertain tax positions and recognition of the benefits of such positions on a regular basis.

On a quarterly basis, management assesses the reasonableness of its effective tax rate based upon its current best estimate of net income and the applicable taxes expected for the full year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reassessed on a quarterly basis, if business events or circumstances warrant. Additionally, any enactment of new tax rates such as the enactment of the Tax Act in December 2017 requires the Company to re-measure its existing deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the new tax rate, with such adjustments recognized in current year earnings.

55

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of Wintrust’s results of operations requires an understanding that a majority of the Company’s bank subsidiaries have been started as de novo banks since December 1991. Wintrust has a strategy of continuing to build its customer base and securing broad product penetration in each marketplace that it serves. The Company has expanded its banking franchise from three banks with five offices in 1994 to 15 banks with 187 offices at the end of 2019. FIRST Insurance Funding and Wintrust Life Finance have matured into separate divisions that generated, on a national basis, $8.4 billion in total premium finance receivables in 2019 within the United States. FIFC Canada, acquired in 2012, originated $984.4 million in Canadian commercial premium finance receivables in 2019. In addition, the wealth management companies have been building a team of experienced professionals who are located within a majority of the banks.

Earnings Summary

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2019, totaled $355.7 million, or $6.03 per diluted common share, compared to $343.2 million, or $5.86 per diluted common share, in 2018, and $257.7 million, or $4.40 per diluted common share, in 2017. During 2019, net income increased by $12.5 million and earnings per diluted common share increased by $0.17. During 2018, net income increased by $85.5 million and earnings per diluted common share increased by $1.46. Net income increased in 2019 as compared to 2018 primarily as a result of an increase in net interest income driven by growth in earning assets, lower FDIC insurance costs and an increase in mortgage banking revenue, partially offset by compression of net interest margin, increased salary and employee benefits and higher amortization of other intangible assets.

Net Interest Income

The primary source of the Company’s revenue is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income and fees on earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense on the liabilities to fund those assets, including interest bearing deposits and other borrowings. The amount of net interest income is affected by both changes in the level of interest rates, and the amount and composition of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities.

Net interest income in 2019 totaled $1.1 billion, up from $964.9 million in 2018 and $832.1 million in 2017, representing an increase of $90.0 million, or 9%, in 2019 and an increase of $132.8 million, or 16%, in 2018. The table presented later in this section, titled “Changes in Interest Income and Expense,” presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and expense, by major category, attributable to changes in the volume of the balance sheet category and changes in the rate earned or paid with respect to that category of assets or liabilities for 2019 and 2018. Average earning assets increased $3.7 billion, or 14%, in 2019 and $2.5 billion, or 10%, in 2018. Loans are the most significant component of the earning asset base as they earn interest at a higher rate than the other earning assets. Average loans, excluding covered loans, increased $2.5 billion, or 11%, in 2019 and $2.0 billion, or 10%, in 2018. Total average loans, excluding covered loans, as a percentage of total average earning assets were 82%, 84% and 85% in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The average yield on loans, excluding covered loans, was 4.93% in 2019, 4.66% in 2018 and 4.19% in 2017, reflecting an increase of 27 basis points in 2019 and an increase of 47 basis points in 2018. The higher loan yields in 2019 compared to 2018 is primarily a result of the rising interest rate environment during 2019. The average yield on liquidity management assets was 2.79% in 2019, 2.78% in 2018 and 2.28% in 2017, reflecting an increase of one basis point in 2019 and an increase of 50 basis points in 2018. The average rate paid on interest bearing deposits, the largest component of the Company’s interest bearing liabilities, was 1.35% in 2019, 0.95% in 2018 and 0.52% in 2017, representing an increase of 40 basis points in 2019 and an increase of 43 basis points in 2018. The higher level of interest bearing deposits rates in 2019 compared to 2018 is primarily due to upward re-pricing of retail deposits as a result of rising interest rates. As a result of the above, net interest margin decreased to 3.45% (3.47% on a fully tax-equivalent basis) in 2019 compared to 3.59% (3.61% on a fully tax-equivalent basis) in 2018.

Net interest income and net interest margin were also affected by amortization of valuation adjustments to earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities of acquired businesses. Assets and liabilities of acquired businesses are required to be recognized at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. These valuation adjustments represent the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of assets and liabilities acquired. These adjustments are amortized into interest income and interest expense based upon the estimated remaining lives of the assets and liabilities acquired.

Average Balance Sheets, Interest Income and Expense, and Interest Rate Yields and Costs

The following table sets forth the average balances, the interest earned or paid thereon, and the effective interest rate, yield or cost for each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. The yields and costs include loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs that are considered adjustments to yields. Interest income on non-accruing loans is reflected in the year that it is collected, to the extent it is not applied to principal.

56

Such amounts are not material to net interest income or the net change in net interest income in any year. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balances. Net interest income and the related net interest margin have been adjusted to reflect tax-exempt income, such as interest on municipal securities and loans, on a tax-equivalent basis. This table should be referred to in conjunction with discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

	Average Balance  for the year ended December 31,									Interest for the year ended December 31,									Yield/Rate for the year ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017			2019		2018		2017
Assets
Interest bearing deposits with banks and cash equivalents	$	1,494,418		$	888,671		$	856,020		$	30,503		$	17,091		$	9,254		2.04	%	1.92	%	1.08	%
Investment securities	3,651,091			3,045,555			2,590,260			110,326			89,640			67,028			3.02		2.94		2.59
FHLB and FRB stock	96,924			101,681			89,333			5,416			5,331			4,370			5.59		5.24		4.89
Total liquidity management assets (1) (6)	$	5,242,433		$	4,035,907		$	3,535,613		$	146,245		$	112,062		$	80,652		2.79	%	2.78	%	2.28	%
Other earning assets (1) (2) (6)	16,385			20,681			25,951			714			777			662			4.36		3.75		2.55
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	308,645			332,863			319,147			11,992			15,738			12,332			3.89		4.73		3.86
Loans, net of unearned income (1) (3) (6)	24,986,736			22,500,482			20,469,799			1,232,415			1,047,905			858,058			4.93		4.66		4.19
Covered loans	—			—			40,665			—			—			2,251			—		—		5.54
Total earning assets (6)	$	30,554,199		$	26,889,933		$	24,391,175		$	1,391,366		$	1,176,482		$	953,955		4.55	%	4.38	%	3.91	%
Allowance for loan and covered loan losses	(164,587		)	(148,342		)	(133,432		)
Cash and due from banks	292,807			266,086			239,638
Other assets	2,549,664			2,020,743			1,872,321
Total assets	$	33,232,083		$	29,028,420		$	26,369,702
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Deposits — interest bearing:
NOW and interest bearing demand deposits	$	2,903,441		$	2,436,791		$	2,402,254		$	20,079		$	9,773		$	5,027		0.69	%	0.40	%	0.21	%
Wealth management deposits	2,761,936			2,356,145			2,125,177			31,121			27,839			13,952			1.13		1.18		0.66
Money market accounts	6,659,376			5,105,244			4,482,137			91,940			42,973			12,588			1.38		0.84		0.28
Savings accounts	2,834,381			2,684,661			2,471,663			20,975			11,444			7,715			0.74		0.43		0.31
Time deposits	5,467,192			4,872,590			4,423,067			114,777			74,524			44,044			2.10		1.53		1.00
Total interest bearing deposits	$	20,626,326		$	17,455,431		$	15,904,298		$	278,892		$	166,553		$	83,326		1.35	%	0.95	%	0.52	%
FHLB advances	658,669			713,539			380,412			9,878			12,412			8,798			1.50		1.74		2.31
Other borrowings	428,834			289,615			255,136			13,897			8,599			5,370			3.24		2.97		2.10
Subordinated notes	309,178			139,140			139,022			15,555			7,121			7,116			5.03		5.12		5.12
Junior subordinated notes	253,566			253,566			253,566			12,001			11,222			9,782			4.67		4.37		3.81
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	22,276,573		$	18,851,291		$	16,932,434		$	330,223		$	205,907		$	114,392		1.48	%	1.09	%	0.67	%
Non-interest bearing deposits	6,711,298			6,545,251			6,182,048
Other liabilities	782,677			533,138			413,139
Equity	3,461,535			3,098,740			2,842,081
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	33,232,083		$	29,028,420		$	26,369,702
Interest rate spread (4) (6)																			3.07	%	3.29	%	3.24	%
Less: Fully taxable-equivalent adjustment										$	(6,224	)	$	(5,672	)	$	(7,487	)	(0.02	)	(0.02	)	(0.03	)
Net free funds/contribution (5)	$	8,277,626		$	8,038,642		$	7,458,741											0.40		0.32		0.20
Net interest income/margin (6) (GAAP)										$	1,054,919		$	964,903		$	832,076		3.45	%	3.59	%	3.41	%
Fully taxable-equivalent adjustment										6,224			5,672			7,487			0.02		0.02		0.03
Net interest income/margin (6), fully taxable-equivalent (non-GAAP)										$	1,061,143		$	970,575		$	839,563		3.47	%	3.61	%	3.44	%

(1) Interest income on tax-advantaged loans, trading securities and investment securities reflects a tax-equivalent adjustment based on a marginal federal corporate tax rate in effect as of the applicable period. The total adjustments for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $6.2 million, $5.7 million and $7.5 million, respectively.

(2) Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities.

(3) Loans, net of unearned income, include non-accrual loans.

(4) Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield earned on earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

(5) Net free funds is the difference between total average earning assets and total average interest-bearing liabilities. The estimated contribution to net interest margin from net free funds is calculated using the rate paid for total interest-bearing liabilities.

(6) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Ratios” for additional information on this performance ratio.

57

Changes In Interest Income and Expense

The following table shows the dollar amount of changes in interest income and expense by major categories of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities attributable to changes in volume or rate for the periods indicated:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019 Compared to 2018									2018 Compared to 2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Change Due to Rate			Change Due to Volume			Total Change			Change Due to Rate			Change Due to Volume			Total Change
Interest income:
Interest bearing deposits with banks and cash equivalents	$	1,217		$	12,195		$	13,412		$	7,457		$	380		$	7,837
Investment securities	2,816			17,848			20,664			12,039			12,028			24,067
FHLB and FRB stock	343			(258		)	85			328			633			961
Total liquidity management assets	$	4,376		$	29,785		$	34,161		$	19,824		$	13,041		$	32,865
Other earning assets	111			(172		)	(61		)	268			(150		)	118
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	(2,658		)	(1,088		)	(3,746		)	2,860			546			3,406
Loans, net of unearned income	64,322			119,656			183,978			100,551			89,653			190,204
Covered loans	—			—			—			(1,126		)	(1,125		)	(2,251		)
Total interest income	$	66,151		$	148,181		$	214,332		$	122,377		$	101,965		$	224,342
Interest Expense:
Deposits — interest bearing:
NOW and interest bearing demand deposits	$	1,069		$	9,237		$	10,306		$	3,671		$	1,075		$	4,746
Wealth management deposits	(743		)	4,025			3,282			9,713			4,174			13,887
Money market accounts	33,870			15,097			48,967			28,537			1,848			30,385
Savings accounts	8,852			679			9,531			3,046			683			3,729
Time deposits	30,382			9,871			40,253			25,357			5,123			30,480
Total interest expense — deposits	$	73,430		$	38,909		$	112,339		$	70,324		$	12,903		$	83,227
FHLB advances	(1,627		)	(907		)	(2,534		)	(2,590		)	6,204			3,614
Other borrowings	743			4,555			5,298			1,673			1,556			3,229
Subordinated notes	(127		)	8,561			8,434			—			5			5
Junior subordinated notes	779			—			779			1,440			—			1,440
Total interest expense	$	73,198		$	51,118		$	124,316		$	70,847		$	20,668		$	91,515
Net interest income (GAAP)	(7,047		)	97,063			90,016			$	51,530		81,297			132,827
Fully taxable-equivalent adjustment	$	3,484		$	(2,932	)	$	552		$	(2,605	)	$	790		$	(1,815	)
Net interest income, fully-taxable equivalent (non-GAAP)	$	(3,563	)	$	94,131		$	90,568		$	48,925		$	82,087		$	131,012

The changes in net interest income are created by changes in both interest rates and volumes. In the table above, volume variances are computed using the change in volume multiplied by the previous year’s rate. Rate variances are computed using the change in rate multiplied by the previous year’s volume. The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated between factors in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.

58

Non-Interest Income

The following table presents non-interest income by category for 2019, 2018 and 2017:

	Years ended December 31,									2019 compared to 2018					2018 compared to 2017
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017			$ Change			% Change		$ Change			% Change
Brokerage	$	18,825		$	22,391		$	22,863		$	(3,566	)	(16	)%	$	(472	)	(2	)%
Trust and asset management	78,289			68,572			58,903			9,717			14		9,669			16
Total wealth management	$	97,114		$	90,963		$	81,766		$	6,151		7	%	$	9,197		11	%
Mortgage banking	154,293			136,990			113,472			17,303			13		23,518			21
Service charges on deposit accounts	39,070			36,404			34,513			2,666			7		1,891			5
Gains (losses) on investment securities, net	3,525			(2,898		)	45			6,423			NM		(2,943		)	NM
Fees from covered call options	3,670			3,519			4,402			151			4		(883		)	(20	)
Trading (losses) gains, net	(158		)	11			(845		)	(169		)	NM		856			NM
Operating lease income, net	47,041			38,451			29,646			8,590			22		8,805			30
Other:
Interest rate swap fees	13,072			11,027			7,379			2,045			19		3,648			49
BOLI	4,947			4,982			3,524			(35		)	(1	)	1,458			41
Administrative services	4,197			4,625			4,165			(428		)	(9	)	460			11
Foreign currency measurement gain (loss)	783			(1,673		)	1,464			2,456			NM		(3,137		)	NM
Early pay-offs of capital leases	35			601			1,228			(566		)	(94	)	(627		)	(51	)
Miscellaneous	39,583			33,148			38,747			6,435			19		(5,599		)	(14	)
Total Other	$	62,617		$	52,710		$	56,507		$	9,907		19	%	$	(3,797	)	(7	)%
Total Non-Interest Income	$	407,172		$	356,150		$	319,506		$	51,022		14	%	$	36,644		11	%

 NM—Not Meaningful

Notable contributions to the change in non-interest income are as follows:

Wealth management revenue is comprised of the trust and asset management revenue of the CTC and Great Lakes Advisors, the brokerage commissions, managed money fees and insurance product commissions at Wintrust Investments and fees from tax-deferred like-kind exchange services provided by CDEC.

Brokerage revenue is directly impacted by trading volumes. In 2019, brokerage revenue totaled $18.8 million, reflecting a decrease of $3.6 million, or 16%, compared to 2018. The decrease in brokerage revenue during 2019 compared to 2018 can be attributed to decreased customer trading activity.

Trust and asset management revenue totaled $78.3 million in 2019, an increase of $9.7 million, or 14%, compared to 2018. Trust and asset management fees are based primarily on the market value of the assets under management or administration as well as volume of tax-deferred like-kind exchange services provided during a period. Such revenue increased from 2018 to 2019 primarily as a result of fees earned from business generated by CDEC, which was acquired in December 2018, market appreciation related to managed money accounts with fees based on assets under management and higher asset levels from new customers and new financial advisors.

Mortgage banking revenue totaled $154.3 million in 2019 compared to $137.0 million in 2018 reflecting an increase of $17.3 million, or 13%, in 2019, and an increase of $23.5 million, or 21%, in 2018. Mortgage banking revenue includes revenue from activities related to originating, selling and servicing residential real estate loans for the secondary market. A main factor in the mortgage banking revenue recognized by the Company is the volume of mortgage loans originated or purchased for sale. Mortgage originations for sale totaled $4.5 billion for the year ended 2019 compared to $4.0 billion for the same period of 2018. Mortgage revenue is also impacted by changes in the fair value of MSRs. The Company records MSRs at fair value on a recurring basis.

During 2019, the fair value of the MSRs portfolio increased as retained servicing rights led to capitalization of $44.9 million, partially offset by negative fair value adjustments of $14.8 million and a reduction in value due to payoffs and paydowns

59

of the existing portfolio. The Company purchased options and entered into interest rate swaps in 2019 to economically hedge a portion of the fair value changes recorded in earnings related to its MSRs portfolio. There were no such options outstanding as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company held 4 interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $55.0 million for such purpose of economically hedging a portion of the fair value adjustment related to its mortgage servicing rights portfolio. See Note 6, “Mortgage Servicing Rights,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a summary of the changes in the carrying value of MSRs.

The table below presents additional selected information regarding mortgage banking for the respective periods.

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Retail originations	$	2,730,865		$	2,412,232		$	3,142,824
Correspondent originations	385,729			848,997			549,261
Veterans First originations	1,381,327			694,209			—
Total originations for sale (A)	$	4,497,921		$	3,955,438		$	3,692,085
Originations for investment	460,734			258,930			285,440
Total originations	4,958,655			4,214,368			3,977,525
Purchases as a percentage of originations for sale	52		%	75		%	75		%
Refinances as a percentage of originations for sale	48			25			25
Total	100		%	100		%	100		%
Production Margin:
Production revenue (B) (1)	$	122,047		$	92,250		$	90,458
Production margin (B/A)	2.71		%	2.33		%	2.45		%
Mortgage Servicing:
Loans serviced for others (C)	$	8,243,251		$	6,545,870		$	2,929,133
MSRs, at fair value (D)	85,638			75,183			33,676
Percentage of MSRs to loans serviced for others (D/C)	1.04		%	1.15		%	1.15		%
Servicing Income	$	23,156		$	15,269		$	6,417
Components of MSRs:
MSR - current period capitalization	44,943			33,071			18,341
MSR - collection of expected cash flow - paydowns(2)	(1,901		)	(2,267		)	—
MSR - collection of expected cash flow - payoffs	(18,217		)	(2,772		)	(2,595		)
Valuation:
MSR - changes in fair value model assumptions	(14,778		)	(331		)	(1,173		)
Gain on derivative contract held as an economic hedge, net	519			—			—
MSR valuation adjustment, net of gain on derivative contract held as an economic hedge	(14,259		)	(331		)	(1,173		)

(1) Production revenue represents revenue earned from the origination and subsequent sale of mortgages, including gains on loans sold and fees from originations, processing and other related activities, and excludes servicing fees, changes in fair value of servicing rights and changes to the mortgage recourse obligation.

(2) Change in MSR value due to collection of expected cash flows from paydowns and payoffs in 2017 is combined and shown in total in the payoff line. The component detail is not available for 2017.

Service charges on deposit accounts totaled $39.1 million in 2019, $36.4 million in 2018 and $34.5 million in 2017, reflecting an increase of 7% in 2019 and 5% in 2018. The increase in recent years is primarily a result of higher account analysis fees on deposit accounts which have increased as a result of the Company's commercial banking initiative as well as additional service charges on deposit accounts from acquired institutions.

The Company recognized $3.5 million in net gains in 2019 compared to $2.9 million in net losses on investment securities in 2018. The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment charges in 2019 or 2018.

60

Fees from covered call option transactions totaled $3.7 million in 2019, versus $3.5 million in 2018 and $4.4 million in 2017. The Company has typically written call options with terms of less than three months against certain U.S. Treasury and agency securities held in its portfolio for liquidity and other purposes. Management has effectively entered into these transactions with the goal of economically hedging security positions and enhancing its overall return on its investment portfolio by using fees generated from these options to compensate for net interest margin compression. These option transactions are designed to mitigate overall interest rate risk and to increase the total return associated with holding certain investment securities and do not qualify as hedges pursuant to accounting guidance. There were no outstanding call option contracts at December 31, 2019, 2018, or 2017, respectively.

The Company recognized $158,000 of trading losses in 2019 compared to trading gains of $11,000 in 2018 and trading losses of $845,000 in 2017. Trading gains and losses recorded by the Company primarily result from fair value adjustments related to interest rate derivatives not designated as hedges.

Operating lease income totaled $47.0 million in 2019 compared to $38.5 million in 2018. The increase annually is primarily related to growth in business from the Company's leasing divisions.

Interest rate swap fee revenue totaled $13.1 million in 2019, $11.0 million in 2018 and $7.4 million in 2017. Swap fee revenues result from interest rate swap transactions related to both customer-based trades and the related matched trades with inter-bank dealer counterparties. The revenue recognized on this customer-based activity is sensitive to the pace of organic loan growth, the shape of the yield curve and the customers’ expectations of interest rates. The fluctuations in swap fee revenue in 2019 primarily results from fluctuations in interest rate swap transactions related to both customer-based trades and the related matched trades with inter-bank dealer counterparties.

Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) generated non-interest income of $4.9 million in 2019 compared to $5.0 million in 2018. This income typically represents adjustments to the cash surrender value of BOLI policies and proceeds received from death benefits. The Company initially purchased BOLI to consolidate existing term life insurance contracts of executive officers and to mitigate the mortality risk associated with death benefits provided for in executive employment contracts and in connection with certain deferred compensation arrangements. The Company has also assumed additional BOLI policies as the result of the acquisition of certain banks. The cash surrender value of BOLI totaled $187.5 million at December 31, 2019 and $147.9 million at December 31, 2018, and is included in other assets.

Administrative services revenue generated by Tricom was $4.2 million in 2019, $4.6 million in 2018 and $4.2 million in 2017. This revenue comprises income from administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to temporary staffing service clients located throughout the United States. Tricom also earns interest and fee income from providing high-yielding, short-term accounts receivable financing to this same client base, which is included in the net interest income category.

The Company realized gains of $35,000, $601,000 and $1.2 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, representing gains realized from the early pay-off of leases originated and managed by the Company's leasing division.

Miscellaneous other non-interest income totaled $39.6 million in 2019 compared to $33.1 million in 2018. Miscellaneous income includes loan servicing fees, income from other investments, service charges and other fees. The increase in miscellaneous other income for 2019 compared to 2018 resulted primarily from loan syndication fees.

61

Non-Interest Expense

The following table presents non-interest expense by category for 2019, 2018 and 2017:

	Years ended December 31,						2019 compared to 2018					2018 compared to 2017
(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018		2017		$ Change			% Change		$ Change		% Change
Salaries and employee benefits:
Salaries	$	310,352	$	266,563	$	226,151	$	43,789		16	%	$	40,412	18	%
Commissions and incentive compensation	148,600		135,558		133,511		13,042			10		2,047		2
Benefits	87,468		77,956		70,416		9,512			12		7,540		11
Total salaries and employee benefits	$	546,420	$	480,077	$	430,078	$	66,343		14	%	$	49,999	12	%
Equipment	52,328		42,949		38,358		9,379			22		4,591		12
Operating lease equipment	35,760		29,305		24,107		6,455			22		5,198		22
Occupancy, net	64,289		57,814		52,920		6,475			11		4,894		9
Data processing	27,820		35,027		31,495		(7,207		)	(21	)	3,532		11
Advertising and marketing	48,595		41,140		30,830		7,455			18		10,310		33
Professional fees	27,471		32,306		27,835		(4,835		)	(15	)	4,471		16
Amortization of other intangible assets	11,844		4,571		4,401		7,273			NM		170		4
FDIC insurance	9,199		17,209		16,231		(8,010		)	(47	)	978		6
OREO expenses, net	3,628		6,120		3,593		(2,492		)	(41	)	2,527		70
Other:
Commissions — 3rd party brokers	2,918		4,264		4,178		(1,346		)	(32	)	86		2
Postage	9,597		8,685		6,763		912			11		1,922		28
Miscellaneous	88,257		66,621		61,028		21,636			32		5,593		9
Total other	$	100,772	$	79,570	$	71,969	$	21,202		27	%	$	7,601	11	%
Total Non-Interest Expense	$	928,126	$	826,088	$	731,817	$	102,038		12	%	$	94,271	13	%

NM—Not Meaningful

Notable contributions to the change in non-interest expense are as follows:

Salaries and employee benefits is the largest component of non-interest expense, accounting for 59% of the total in 2019 compared to 58% in 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, salaries and employee benefits totaled $546.4 million and increased $66.3 million, or 14%, compared to 2018. This increase can be attributed to a $43.8 million increase in salaries resulting from annual salary increases and larger staffing as the Company grows, including growth from the various acquisitions during the period.

Equipment expense totaled $52.3 million in 2019 compared to $42.9 million in 2018, reflecting an increase of 22% in 2019. The increase in equipment expense in 2019 and 2018 was primarily related to increased software costs. Equipment expense includes furniture, equipment and computer software, depreciation and repairs and maintenance costs.

Operating lease equipment expense totaled $35.8 million in 2019, $29.3 million in 2018 and $24.1 million in 2017. The increase in both years was primarily related to growth in business from the Company's leasing divisions.

Occupancy expense for the years 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $64.3 million, $57.8 million and $52.9 million, respectively, reflecting increases of 11% in 2019 and 9% in 2018. The increase in 2019 was primarily the result of higher maintenance and repairs and lower rental income earned on owned properties. Occupancy expense includes depreciation on premises, real estate taxes and insurance, utilities and maintenance of premises, as well as net rent expense for leased premises.

Data processing expenses totaled $27.8 million in 2019 compared to $35.0 million in 2018, representing a decrease of 21% in 2019. The amount of data processing expenses incurred fluctuates based on the overall growth of loan and deposit accounts as well as additional expenses recorded related to bank acquisition transactions.

Advertising and marketing expenses totaled $48.6 million for 2019 compared to $41.1 million for 2018. Marketing costs are incurred to promote the Company’s brand, commercial banking capabilities, the Company’s MaxSafe^® suite of products, community-based products, to attract loans and deposits and to announce new branch openings as well as the expansion of the Company's non-bank businesses. The increase in 2019 was primarily due to expenses for community-related advertisements and

62

sponsorships. The level of marketing expenditures depends on the type of marketing programs utilized which are determined based on the market area, targeted audience, competition and various other factors. Management continues to utilize mass market media promotions as well as targeted marketing programs in certain market areas. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company incurred increased advertising and marketing costs to increase Wintrust's name recognition associated with the overall goal of becoming recognized as “Chicago’s Bank” and “Wisconsin’s Bank.”

Professional fees totaled $27.5 million in 2019, $32.3 million in 2018 and $27.8 million in 2017. The decrease in 2019 as compared to 2018 related primarily to lower legal fees and consulting costs. Professional fees include legal, audit and tax fees, external loan review costs and regulatory exam assessments.

FDIC insurance expense totaled $9.2 million in 2019 compared to $17.2 million in 2018 reflecting a decrease of 47% in 2019. The decrease in 2019 as compared to 2018 is related to assessment credits received by the FDIC.

OREO expense was $3.6 million in 2019, $6.1 million in 2018 and $3.6 million in 2017. The decrease in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily the result of lower negative valuation adjustments of OREO properties. OREO expenses include all costs associated with obtaining, maintaining and selling other real estate owned properties as well as valuation adjustments.

Miscellaneous non-interest expense increased $21.6 million, or 32%, in 2019 compared to 2018, partly as a result of higher telecommunication costs and higher travel-related expenses. Miscellaneous non-interest expense includes ATM expenses, correspondent banking charges, directors’ fees, telephone and communication, travel and entertainment, corporate insurance, dues and subscriptions, problem loan expenses, operating losses and lending origination costs that are not deferred.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense of $124.4 million in 2019 compared to $117.0 million in 2018 and $132.3 million in 2017. The effective tax rates were 25.9% in 2019, 25.4% in 2018 and 33.9% in 2017. The lower effective tax rates for 2019 and 2018 as compared to 2017 were primarily due to the reduction of the federal corporate income tax rate effective January 1, 2018, from 35% to 21% as a result of the enactment of the Tax Act. Please refer to Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further discussion and analysis of the Company's tax position, including a reconciliation of the tax expense computed at the statutory tax rate to the Company's actual tax expense.

Operating Segment Results

As described in Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, the Company’s operations consist of three primary segments: community banking, specialty finance and wealth management. The Company’s profitability is primarily dependent on the net interest income, provision for credit losses, non-interest income and operating expenses of its community banking segment. For purposes of internal segment profitability, management allocates certain intersegment and parent company balances. Management allocates a portion of revenues to the specialty finance segment related to loans and leases originated by the specialty finance segment and sold or assigned to the community banking segment. Similarly, for purposes of analyzing the contribution from the wealth management segment, management allocates a portion of the net interest income earned by the community banking segment on deposit balances of customers of the wealth management segment to the wealth management segment. Finally, expenses incurred at the Wintrust parent company are allocated to each segment based on each segment's risk-weighted assets.

The community banking segment’s net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled $841.6 million as compared to $791.8 million for the same period in 2018, an increase of $49.8 million, or 6%. The increase in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily attributable to growth in earning assets, partially offset by lower net interest margin. The community banking segment's provision for credit losses totaled $47.9 million in 2019 compared to $28.6 million in 2018. The provision for credit losses increased in 2019 compared to 2018 due primarily to a significant increase in loans during 2019. Non-interest income for the community banking segment increased $36.0 million, or 15%, in 2019 when compared to 2018. The increase in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily attributable to an increase in mortgage banking revenue. The community banking segment’s net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled $238.5 million, a decrease of $2.3 million, compared to net income of $240.8 million in 2018. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $65.4 million increase in non-interest expense, primarily due to higher salaries and benefits within the community banking segment.

The specialty finance segment’s net interest income totaled $161.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $137.0 million in the same period of 2018, an increase of $24.7 million, or 18%. The increase in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily attributable to growth in average loans and higher yields on the premium finance receivables portfolios. The specialty finance segment's provision for credit losses totaled $6.0 million in 2019 compared to $6.2 million in 2018. The specialty finance segment’s non-interest income totaled $79.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $65.9 million in 2018.

63

The increase in non-interest income in 2019 is primarily a result of higher originations and increased balances related to the premium finance portfolio and growth in business from the Company's leasing division. For 2019, our commercial premium finance operations, life insurance premium finance operations, leasing operations and accounts receivable finance operations accounted for 42%, 34%, 20% and 4%, respectively, of the total revenues of our specialty finance business. Net income of the specialty finance segment totaled $89.4 million and $82.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The wealth management segment reported net interest income of $30.1 million for 2019 and $17.5 million for 2018. Net interest income for this segment is primarily comprised of an allocation of net interest income earned by the community banking segment on non-interest bearing and interest-bearing wealth management customer account balances on deposit at the banks. Wealth management customer account balances on deposit at the banks averaged $1.7 billion and $894.9 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. This segment recorded non-interest income of $100.1 million for 2019 as compared to $91.9 million for 2018. This increase is primarily due to growth in assets from new and existing customers and market appreciation. Distribution of wealth management services through each bank continues to be a focus of the Company as the number of brokers in its banks continues to increase. The Company is committed to growing the wealth management segment in order to better service its customers and create a more diversified revenue stream. The wealth management segment reported net income of $27.8 million for 2019 compared to $20.3 million for 2018.

Analysis of Financial Condition

Total assets were $36.6 billion at December 31, 2019, representing an increase of $5.4 billion, or 17.2%, when compared to December 31, 2018. Total funding, which includes deposits, all notes and advances, including secured borrowings and junior subordinated debentures, was $31.9 billion at December 31, 2019 and $27.3 billion at December 31, 2018. See Notes 3, 4, and 10 through 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for additional period-end detail on the Company’s interest-earning assets and funding liabilities.

Interest-Earning Assets

The following table sets forth, by category, the composition of average earning assets and the relative percentage of each category to total average earning assets for the periods presented:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019				2018				2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	$	308,645	1	%	$	332,863	1	%	$	319,147	1	%
Loans:
Commercial	8,056,731		26		7,223,368		27		6,241,253		26
Commercial real estate	7,325,865		24		6,655,352		25		6,363,002		26
Home equity	526,853		2		602,258		2		691,629		3
Residential real estate	1,042,997		4		849,766		3		763,863		3
Premium finance receivables	7,920,379		26		7,035,390		26		6,281,896		26
Other loans	113,911		—		134,348		1		128,156		1
Total loans, net of unearned income excluding covered loans(1)	$	24,986,736	82	%	$	22,500,482	84	%	$	20,469,799	85	%
Covered loans	—		—		—		—		40,665		—
Total average loans (1)	$	24,986,736	82	%	$	22,500,482	84	%	$	20,510,464	85	%
Liquidity management assets (2)	$	5,242,433	17	%	$	4,035,907	15	%	$	3,535,613	14	%
Other earning assets (3)	16,385		—		20,681		—		25,951		—
Total average earning assets	$	30,554,199	100	%	$	26,889,933	100	%	$	24,391,175	100	%
Total average assets	$	33,232,083			$	29,028,420			$	26,369,702
Total average earning assets to total average assets			92	%			93	%			92	%

(1) Includes non-accrual loans.

(2) Liquidity management assets include investment securities, other securities, interest earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements.

(3) Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities.

64

Total average earning assets increased $3.7 billion, or 14%, in 2019. Average earning assets comprised 92% of average total assets in 2019 and 93% in 2018.

Mortgage loans held-for-sale. Average mortgage loans held-for-sale totaled $308.6 million in 2019, compared to $332.9 million in 2018. By selling residential mortgage loans into the secondary market, the Company eliminates the interest-rate risk associated with these loans, as they are predominantly long-term fixed rate loans, and provides a source of non-interest revenue.

Loans. Average total loans, net of unearned income, totaled $25.0 billion and increased $2.5 billion, or 11%, in 2019. Average commercial loans totaled $8.1 billion in 2019, and increased $833.4 million, or 12%, over the average balance in 2018, while average commercial real estate loans totaled $7.3 billion in 2019, increasing $670.5 million, or 10%, since 2018. Combined, these categories comprised 62% of the average loan portfolio in 2019 and 2018, respectively. The growth realized in these categories for 2019 and 2018 is primarily attributable to increased business development efforts and various acquisitions during the period.

Home equity loans averaged $526.9 million in 2019, and decreased $75.4 million, or 13%, when compared to the average balance in 2018. Unused commitments on home equity lines of credit totaled $800.6 million at December 31, 2019 and $807.9 million at December 31, 2018. The Company has been actively managing its home equity portfolio to ensure that diligent pricing, appraisal and other underwriting activities continue to exist.

Residential real estate loans averaged $1.0 billion in 2019, and increased $193.2 million, or 23%, from the average balance in 2018.

Average premium finance receivables totaled $7.9 billion in 2019, and accounted for 32% of the Company’s average total loans. In 2019, average premium finance receivables increased $885.0 million, or 13%, compared to 2018. The increase during 2019 was the result of continued originations within the portfolio due to effective marketing and customer servicing. Approximately $9.4 billion of premium finance receivables were originated in 2019 compared to approximately $7.9 billion in 2018.

Other loans represent a wide variety of personal and consumer loans to individuals as well as high-yielding short-term accounts receivable financing to clients in the temporary staffing industry located throughout the United States. Consumer loans generally have shorter terms and higher interest rates than mortgage loans but generally involve more credit risk due to the type and nature of the collateral. Additionally, short-term accounts receivable financing may also involve greater credit risks than generally associated with the loan portfolios of more traditional community banks depending on the marketability of the collateral.

Covered loans represented loans acquired through the nine FDIC-assisted transactions, all of which occurred prior to 2013. These loans were subject to loss sharing agreements with the FDIC. The FDIC agreed to reimburse the Company for 80% of losses incurred on the purchased loans, foreclosed real estate, and certain other assets. On October 16, 2017, the Company entered into agreements with the FDIC that terminated all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC. The Company will be solely responsible for all future charge-offs, recoveries, gains, losses and expenses related to the previously covered assets as the FDIC will no longer share in those amounts. See Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a discussion of these acquisitions, including the aggregation of these loans by risk characteristics when determining the initial and subsequent fair value.

Liquidity Management Assets. Funds that are not utilized for loan originations are used to purchase investment securities and short term money market investments, to sell as federal funds and to maintain in interest-bearing deposits with banks. Average liquidity management assets accounted for 17% and 15% of total average earning assets in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Average liquidity management assets increased $1.2 billion in 2019 compared to 2018. The balances of these assets can fluctuate based on management’s ongoing effort to manage liquidity and for asset liability management purposes.

Other earning assets. Other earning assets include brokerage customer receivables and trading account securities. In the normal course of business, Wintrust Investments activities involve the execution, settlement, and financing of various securities transactions. Wintrust Investments customer securities activities are transacted on either a cash or margin basis. In margin transactions, Wintrust Investments, under an agreement with the out-sourced securities firm, extends credit to its customer, subject to various regulatory and internal margin requirements, collateralized by cash and securities in customer’s accounts. In connection with these activities, Wintrust Investments executes and the out-sourced firm clears customer transactions relating to the sale of securities not yet purchased, substantially all of which are transacted on a margin basis subject to individual exchange regulations. Such transactions may expose Wintrust Investments to off-balance-sheet risk, particularly in volatile trading markets, in the event margin requirements are not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers may incur. In the event a customer fails to satisfy its obligations, Wintrust Investments under an agreement with the out-sourced securities firm, may be required to purchase or sell financial instruments at prevailing market prices to fulfill the customer's obligations. Wintrust Investments seeks to control the risks associated with its customers’ activities by requiring customers to maintain margin collateral in compliance with various

65

regulatory and internal guidelines. Wintrust Investments monitors required margin levels daily and, pursuant to such guidelines, requires customers to deposit additional collateral or to reduce positions when necessary.

Investment Securities Portfolio

Supplemental Statistical Data

The following statistical information is provided in accordance with the requirements of The Securities Act Industry Guide 3, Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies, which is part of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the SEC. This data should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis which are contained in Item 8 and Item 7, respectively, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s investment securities portfolios, by investment category, as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019				2018				2017
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	120,275	$	121,088	$	126,199	$	126,404	$	144,904	$	143,822
U.S. Government agencies	365,639		365,442		139,420		140,307		157,638		156,915
Municipal	141,701		145,318		136,831		138,490		113,197		115,352
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	97,051		93,810		97,079		90,045		30,309		30,051
Other	1,000		1,031		1,000		1,000		1,000		999
Mortgage-backed: (1)
Mortgage-backed securities	2,328,383		2,346,610		1,641,146		1,586,339		1,291,695		1,260,186
Collateralized mortgage obligations	32,775		32,915		43,819		43,496		60,092		59,539
Equity securities (2)	—		—		—		—		34,234		36,802
Total available-for-sale securities	$	3,086,824	$	3,106,214	$	2,185,494	$	2,126,081	$	1,833,069	$	1,803,666
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	$	902,974	$	899,673	$	814,864	$	787,429	$	579,062	$	565,019
Municipal	231,426		238,723		252,575		248,667		247,387		247,497
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	1,134,400	$	1,138,396	$	1,067,439	$	1,036,096	$	826,449	$	812,516
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value (2)	$	48,044	$	50,840	$	34,410	$	34,717	$	—	$	—

(1) Consisting entirely of residential mortgage-backed securities, none of which are subprime.

(2) As a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018, equity securities with readily determinable fair value are no longer presented within available-for-sale securities and are now presented as equity securities with readily determinable fair values in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition for the current period.

66

Tables presenting the carrying amounts and gross unrealized gains and losses for securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are included by reference to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following table presents the carrying value of the investment securities portfolios as of December 31, 2019, by maturity distribution. Carrying value represents the fair value of investment securities classified as available-for-sale, the amortized cost of those classified as held-to-maturity and the fair value of equity securities with readily determinable fair values.

(Dollars in thousands)	Within 1 year		From 1 to 5 years		From 5 to 10 years		After 10 years		Mortgage- backed		Equity Securities		Total
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	121,088	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	121,088
U.S. Government agencies	—		9,651		79,389		276,402		—		—		365,442
Municipal	43,859		50,256		34,681		16,522		—		—		145,318
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	20,088		3,126		70,596		—		—		—		93,810
Other	—		1,031		—		—		—		—		1,031
Mortgage-backed: (1)
Mortgage-backed securities	—		—		—		—		2,346,610		—		2,346,610
Collateralized mortgage obligations	—		—		—		—		32,915		—		32,915
Total available-for-sale securities	$	185,035	$	64,064	$	184,666	$	292,924	$	2,379,525	$	—	$	3,106,214
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	$	2,501	$	1,675	$	103,927	$	794,871	$	—	$	—	$	902,974
Municipal	3,560		27,022		109,177		91,667		—		—		231,426
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	6,061	$	28,697	$	213,104	$	886,538	$	—	$	—	$	1,134,400
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	50,840	$	50,840

 (1) Consisting entirely of residential mortgage-backed securities, none of which are subprime.

The weighted average yield for each range of maturities of securities, on a tax-equivalent basis, is shown below as of December 31, 2019:

	Within 1 year		From 1 to 5 years		From 5 to 10 years		After 10 years		Mortgage- backed		Equity Securities		Total
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	2.58	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	2.58	%
U.S. Government agencies	—		3.07		2.71		3.17		—		—		3.07
Municipal	2.32		3.10		3.16		3.52		—		—		2.93
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	3.17		2.73		4.25		—		—		—		3.97
Other	—		2.89		—		—		—		—		2.89
Mortgage-backed: (1)
Mortgage-backed securities	—		—		—		—		2.81		—		2.81
Collateralized mortgage obligations	—		—		—		—		3.17		—		3.17
Total available-for-sale securities	2.58	%	3.07	%	3.38	%	3.19	%	2.81	%	—	%	2.87	%
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	1.59	%	2.43	%	3.01	%	3.20	%	—	%	—	%	3.17	%
Municipal	2.47		3.45		3.43		3.64		—		—		3.50
Total held-to-maturity securities	2.11	%	3.39	%	3.23	%	3.25	%	—	%	—	%	3.23	%
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	0.65	%	0.65	%

(1) Consisting entirely of residential mortgage-backed securities, none of which are subprime.

67

Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality

Loan Portfolio

The following table shows the Company’s loan portfolio by category as of December 31 for each of the five previous fiscal years:

	2019				2018				2017				2016				2015
			% of				% of				% of				% of				% of
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Total		Amount		Total		Amount		Total		Amount		Total		Amount		Total
Commercial	$	8,285,920	31	%	$	7,828,538	33	%	$	6,787,677	31	%	$	6,005,422	30	%	$	4,713,909	27	%
Commercial real estate	8,020,276		30		6,933,252		29		6,580,618		30		6,196,087		31		5,529,289		32
Home equity	513,066		2		552,343		2		663,045		3		725,793		4		784,675		5
Residential real estate	1,354,221		5		1,002,464		4		832,120		4		705,221		4		607,451		3
Premium finance receivables—commercial	3,442,027		13		2,841,659		12		2,634,565		12		2,478,581		12		2,374,921		14
Premium finance receivables—life insurance	5,074,602		19		4,541,794		19		4,035,059		19		3,470,027		18		2,961,496		17
Consumer and other	110,178		—		120,641		1		107,713		1		122,041		1		146,376		1
Total loans, net of unearned income, excluding covered loans	$	26,800,290	100	%	$	23,820,691	100	%	$	21,640,797	100	%	$	19,703,172	100	%	$	17,118,117	99	%
Covered loans	—		—		—		—		—		—		58,145		—		148,673		1
Total loans	$	26,800,290	100	%	$	23,820,691	100	%	$	21,640,797	100	%	$	19,761,317	100	%	$	17,266,790	100	%

Commercial and commercial real estate loans. Our commercial and commercial real estate loan portfolios are comprised primarily of commercial real estate loans and lines of credit for working capital purposes. The table below sets forth information regarding the types, amounts and performance of our loans within these portfolios as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	As of December 31, 2019						As of December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		% of Total Balance		Allowance For Loan  Losses Allocation		Balance		% of Total Balance		Allowance For Loan  Losses Allocation
Commercial:
Commercial, industrial and other	$	5,159,805	31.7	%	$	44,230	$	5,120,096	34.6	%	$	46,586
Franchise	937,482		5.7		7,976		948,979		6.4		8,919
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	292,781		1.8		2,166		144,199		1.0		1,162
Asset-based lending	989,018		6.1		7,871		1,026,056		7.0		9,138
Leases	878,528		5.4		2,647		565,680		3.8		1,502
PCI - commercial loans (1)	28,306		0.2		30		23,528		0.2		519
Total commercial	$	8,285,920	50.9	%	$	64,920	$	7,828,538	53.0	%	$	67,826
Commercial Real Estate:
Construction	$	1,023,300	6.3	%	$	10,006	$	760,824	5.2	%	$	8,999
Land	177,483		1.1		4,779		141,481		1.0		3,953
Office	1,044,769		6.4		9,903		939,322		6.4		6,239
Industrial	1,032,866		6.3		6,724		902,248		6.1		6,088
Retail	1,097,930		6.7		6,738		892,478		6.0		9,338
Multi-family	1,311,542		8.0		12,528		976,560		6.6		9,395
Mixed use and other	2,094,946		12.8		16,086		2,205,195		14.9		16,210
PCI - commercial real estate (1)	237,440		1.5		114		115,144		0.8		45
Total commercial real estate	$	8,020,276	49.1	%	$	66,878	$	6,933,252	47.0	%	$	60,267
Total commercial and commercial real estate	$	16,306,196	100.0	%	$	131,798	$	14,761,790	100.0	%	$	128,093
Commercial real estate—collateral location by state:
Illinois	$	6,176,353	77.0	%			$	5,336,454	77.0	%
Wisconsin	744,975		9.3				684,425		9.9
Total primary markets	$	6,921,328	86.3	%			$	6,020,879	86.9	%
Indiana	218,963		2.7				169,817		2.4
Florida	114,629		1.4				52,237		0.8
Arizona	64,022		0.8				61,893		0.9
California	64,345		0.8				68,133		1.0
Other (no individual state greater than 0.8%)	636,989		8.0				560,293		8.0
Total	$	8,020,276	100.0	%			$	6,933,252	100.0	%

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 310-30. Loan agings are based upon contractually required payments.

68

We make commercial loans for many purposes, including working capital lines, which are generally renewable annually and supported by business assets, personal guarantees and additional collateral. Our allowance for loan losses in our commercial loan portfolio is $64.9 million as of December 31, 2019 compared to $67.8 million as of December 31, 2018. Commercial business lending is generally considered to involve a slightly higher degree of risk than traditional consumer bank lending. The most significant fluctuations in the commercial portfolio allowance for loan losses from 2018 to 2019 occurred as a result of resolving a $7.5 million impaired relationship during the third quarter of 2019 that was previously fully reserved for. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in the allowance as a result of growth in the commercial portfolio and higher required specific reserves on impaired loans within the portfolio.

Our commercial real estate loans are generally secured by a first mortgage lien and assignment of rents on the property. Since most of our bank branches are located in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin, 86.3% of our commercial real estate loan portfolio is located in this region as of December 31, 2019. We have been able to effectively manage our total non-performing commercial real estate loans. As of December 31, 2019, our allowance for loan losses related to this portfolio is $66.9 million compared to $60.3 million as of December 31, 2018.

The Company also participates in mortgage warehouse lending by providing interim funding to unaffiliated mortgage bankers to finance residential mortgages originated by such bankers for sale into the secondary market. The Company’s loans to the mortgage bankers are secured by the business assets of the mortgage companies as well as the specific mortgage loans funded by the Company, after they have been pre-approved for purchase by third party end lenders. The Company may also provide interim financing for packages of mortgage loans on a bulk basis in circumstances where the mortgage bankers desire to competitively bid on a number of mortgages for sale as a package in the secondary market. Amounts advanced with respect to any particular mortgage loan are usually required to be repaid within 21 days. During 2019, our mortgage warehouse lines increased to $292.8 million as of December 31, 2019 from $144.2 million as of December 31, 2018.

Home equity loans. Our home equity loans and lines of credit are originated by each of our banks in their local markets where we have a strong understanding of the underlying real estate value. Our banks monitor and manage these loans, and we conduct an automated review of all home equity loans and lines of credit at least twice per year. This review collects current credit performance for each home equity borrower and identifies situations where the credit strength of the borrower is declining, or where there are events that may influence repayment, such as tax liens or judgments. Our banks use this information to manage loans that may be higher risk and to determine whether to obtain additional credit information or updated property valuations.

The rates we offer on new home equity lending are based on several factors, including appraisals and valuation due diligence, in order to reflect inherent risk, and we place additional scrutiny on larger home equity requests. In a limited number of cases, we issue home equity credit together with first mortgage financing, and requests for such financing are evaluated on a combined basis. It is not our practice to advance more than 85% of the appraised value of the underlying asset, which ratio we refer to as the loan-to-value ratio, or LTV ratio, and a majority of the credit we previously extended, when issued, had an LTV ratio of less than 80%. Our home equity loan portfolio has performed well in light of the ongoing volatility in the overall residential real estate market.

Residential real estate. Our residential real estate portfolio predominantly includes one- to four-family adjustable rate mortgages, construction loans to individuals and bridge financing loans for qualifying customers. As of December 31, 2019, our residential loan portfolio totaled $1.4 billion, or 5% of our total outstanding loans.

Our adjustable rate mortgages relate to properties located principally in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin or vacation homes owned by local residents. These adjustable rate mortgages are often non-agency conforming. Adjustable rate mortgage loans decrease the interest rate risk we face on our mortgage portfolio. However, this risk is not eliminated due to the fact that such loans generally provide for periodic and lifetime limits on the interest rate adjustments among other features. Additionally, adjustable rate mortgages may pose a higher risk of delinquency and default because they require borrowers to make larger payments when interest rates rise. As of December 31, 2019, $13.8 million of our residential real estate mortgages, or 1.0% of our residential real estate loan portfolio were classified as nonaccrual, $5.8 million were 90 or more days past due and still accruing (0.4%), $21.1 million were 30 to 89 days past due (1.5%) and $1.3 billion were current (97.1%). We believe that since our loan portfolio consists primarily of locally originated loans, and since the majority of our borrowers are longer-term customers with lower LTV ratios, we face a relatively low risk of borrower default and delinquency.

While we generally do not originate loans for our own portfolio with long-term fixed rates due to interest rate risk considerations, we can accommodate customer requests for fixed rate loans by originating such loans and then selling them into the secondary market, for which we receive fee income. We may also selectively retain certain of these loans within the banks’ own portfolios where they are non-agency conforming, or where the terms of the loans make them favorable to retain. A portion of the loans we sold into the secondary market were sold with the servicing of those loans retained. The amount of loans serviced for others as of

69

December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $8.2 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively. All other mortgage loans sold into the secondary market were sold without the retention of servicing rights.

The Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") optional repurchase programs allow financial institutions acting as servicers to buy back individual delinquent mortgage loans that meet certain criteria from the securitized loan pool for which the institution was the original transferor of such loans. At the option of the servicer and without prior authorization from GNMA, the servicer may repurchase such delinquent loans for an amount equal to the remaining principal balance of the loan. Under FASB ASC Topic 860, “Transfers and Servicing,” this repurchase option is considered a conditional option until the delinquency criteria are met, at which time the option becomes unconditional. When the Company is deemed to have regained effective control over these loans under the unconditional repurchase option and the expected benefit of the potential repurchase is more than trivial, the loans can no longer be reported as sold and must be brought back onto the balance sheet as loans, regardless of whether the Company intends to exercise the repurchase option. These loans are reported as loans held-for-investment, part of the residential real estate portfolio, with the offsetting liability being reported in accrued interest payable and other liabilities. Rebooked GNMA loans held-for-investment amounted to $123.1 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $82.5 million at December 31, 2018.

It is not our current practice to underwrite, and we have no plans to underwrite, subprime, Alt A, no or little documentation loans, or option ARM loans. As of December 31, 2019, approximately $1.0 million of our mortgage loans consist of interest-only loans.

Premium finance receivables — commercial. FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada originated approximately $8.3 billion in commercial insurance premium finance receivables during 2019 as compared to approximately $6.8 billion in 2018. FIRST Insurance Funding and FIFC Canada make loans to businesses to finance the insurance premiums they pay on their commercial insurance policies. The loans are originated by working through independent medium and large insurance agents and brokers located throughout the United States and Canada. The insurance premiums financed are primarily for commercial customers’ purchases of liability, property and casualty and other commercial insurance.

This lending involves relatively rapid turnover of the loan portfolio and high volume of loan originations. Because of the indirect nature of this lending through third party agents and brokers and because the borrowers are located nationwide and in Canada, this segment is more susceptible to third party fraud than relationship lending. The Company performs ongoing credit and other reviews of the agents and brokers, and performs various internal audit steps to mitigate against the risk of any fraud. The majority of these loans are purchased by the banks in order to more fully utilize their lending capacity as these loans generally provide the banks with higher yields than alternative investments.

Premium finance receivables — life insurance. Wintrust Life Finance originated approximately $1.1 billion in life insurance premium finance receivables in 2019 as compared to $1.0 billion in 2018. The Company continues to experience a high level of competition and pricing pressure within the current market. These loans are originated directly with the borrowers with assistance from life insurance carriers, independent insurance agents, financial advisors and legal counsel. The life insurance policy is the primary form of collateral. In addition, these loans often are secured with a letter of credit, marketable securities or certificates of deposit. In some cases, Wintrust Life Finance may make a loan that has a partially unsecured position.

Consumer and other. Included in the consumer and other loan category is a wide variety of personal and consumer loans to individuals as well as high yielding short-term accounts receivable financing to clients in the temporary staffing industry located throughout the United States. The banks originate consumer loans in order to provide a wider range of financial services to their customers.

Consumer loans generally have shorter terms and higher interest rates than mortgage loans but generally involve more credit risk than mortgage loans due to the type and nature of the collateral. Additionally, short-term accounts receivable financing may also involve greater credit risks than generally associated with the loan portfolios of more traditional community banks depending on the marketability of the collateral.

Foreign. The Company had approximately $456.4 million of loans to businesses with operations in foreign countries as of December 31, 2019 compared to $337.1 million at December 31, 2018. This balance as of December 31, 2019 consists of loans originated by FIFC Canada.

70

Maturities and Sensitivities of Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

The following table classifies the loan portfolio at December 31, 2019 by date at which the loans reprice or mature, and the type of rate exposure:

(Dollars in thousands)	One year or less		From one to five years		Over five years		Total
Commercial
Fixed rate	$	180,519	$	1,454,680	$	796,323	$	2,431,522
Variable rate	5,832,290		21,972		136		5,854,398
Total commercial	$	6,012,809	$	1,476,652	$	796,459	$	8,285,920
Commercial real estate
Fixed rate	$	480,094	$	2,112,534	$	370,604	$	2,963,232
Variable rate	5,019,250		37,787		7		5,057,044
Total commercial real estate	$	5,499,344	$	2,150,321	$	370,611	$	8,020,276
Home equity
Fixed rate	$	25,854	$	3,741	$	9,348	$	38,943
Variable rate	473,879		—		244		474,123
Total home equity	$	499,733	$	3,741	$	9,592	$	513,066
Residential real estate
Fixed rate	$	40,630	$	22,015	$	390,926	$	453,571
Variable rate	85,597		347,368		467,685		900,650
Total residential real estate	$	126,227	$	369,383	$	858,611	$	1,354,221
Premium finance receivables - commercial
Fixed rate	$	3,362,547	$	79,480	$	—	$	3,442,027
Variable rate	—		—		—		—
Total premium finance receivables - commercial	$	3,362,547	$	79,480	$	—	$	3,442,027
Premium finance receivables - life insurance
Fixed rate	$	14,171	$	132,629	$	25,247	$	172,047
Variable rate	4,902,555		—		—		4,902,555
Total premium finance receivables - life insurance	$	4,916,726	$	132,629	$	25,247	$	5,074,602
Consumer and other
Fixed rate	$	77,621	$	10,470	$	1,927	$	90,018
Variable rate	20,160		—		—		20,160
Total consumer and other	$	97,781	$	10,470	$	1,927	$	110,178
Total per category
Fixed rate	$	4,181,436	$	3,815,549	$	1,594,375	$	9,591,360
Variable rate	16,333,731		407,127		468,072		17,208,930
Total loans, net of unearned income, excluding covered loans	$	20,515,167	$	4,222,676	$	2,062,447	$	26,800,290
Variable Rate Loan Pricing by Index:
Prime							$	2,162,148
One- month LIBOR							8,552,261
Three- month LIBOR							334,925
Twelve- month LIBOR							5,521,391
Other							638,205
Total variable rate							$	17,208,930

71

Past Due Loans and Non-Performing Assets

Our ability to manage credit risk depends in large part on our ability to properly identify and manage problem loans. To do so, the Company operates a credit risk rating system under which our credit management personnel assign a credit risk rating to each loan at the time of origination and review loans on a regular basis to determine each loan’s credit risk rating on a scale of 1 through 10 with higher scores indicating higher risk. The credit risk rating structure used is shown below:

1 Rating	—	Minimal Risk (Loss Potential — none or extremely low) (Superior asset quality, excellent liquidity, minimal leverage)
2 Rating	—	Modest Risk (Loss Potential demonstrably low) (Very good asset quality and liquidity, strong leverage capacity)
3 Rating	—	Average Risk (Loss Potential low but no longer refutable) (Mostly satisfactory asset quality and liquidity, good leverage capacity)
4 Rating	—	Above Average Risk (Loss Potential variable, but some potential for deterioration) (Acceptable asset quality, little excess liquidity, modest leverage capacity)
5 Rating	—	Management Attention Risk (Loss Potential moderate if corrective action not taken) (Generally acceptable asset quality, somewhat strained liquidity, minimal leverage capacity)
6 Rating	—	Special Mention (Loss Potential moderate if corrective action not taken) (Assets in this category are currently protected, potentially weak, but not to the point of substandard classification)
7 Rating	—	Substandard Accrual (Loss Potential distinct possibility that the bank may sustain some loss, but no discernible impairment) (Must have well defined weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt)
8 Rating	—	Substandard Non-accrual (Loss Potential well documented probability of loss, including potential impairment) (Must have well defined weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt)
9 Rating	—	Doubtful (Loss Potential extremely high) (These assets have all the weaknesses in those classified “substandard” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of current existing facts, conditions, and values, highly improbable)
10 Rating	—	Loss (fully charged-off) (Loans in this category are considered fully uncollectible.)

Each loan officer is responsible for monitoring his or her loan portfolio, recommending a credit risk rating for each loan in his or her portfolio and ensuring the credit risk ratings are appropriate. These credit risk ratings are then ratified by the bank’s chief credit officer and/or concurrence credit officer. Credit risk ratings are determined by evaluating a number of factors including, a borrower’s financial strength, cash flow coverage, collateral protection and guarantees. A third party loan review firm independently reviews a significant portion of the loan portfolio at each of the Company’s subsidiary banks to evaluate the appropriateness of the management-assigned credit risk ratings. These ratings are subject to further review at each of our bank subsidiaries by the applicable regulatory authority, including the FRB of Chicago and the OCC, and are also reviewed by our loan review and internal audit staff.

The Company’s problem loan reporting system includes all loans with credit risk ratings of 6 through 9. This system is designed to provide an on-going detailed tracking mechanism for each problem loan. Once management determines that a loan has deteriorated to a point where it has a credit risk rating of 6 or worse, the Company’s Managed Asset Division performs an overall credit and collateral review. As part of this review, all underlying collateral is identified and the valuation methodology is analyzed and tracked. As a result of this initial review by the Company’s Managed Asset Division, the credit risk rating is reviewed and a portion of the outstanding loan balance may be deemed uncollectible or an impairment reserve may be established. The Company’s impairment analysis utilizes an independent re-appraisal of the collateral (unless such a third-party evaluation is not possible due to the unique nature of the collateral, such as a closely-held business or thinly traded securities). In the case of commercial real-estate collateral, an independent third party appraisal is ordered by the Company’s Real Estate Services Group to determine if

72

there has been any change in the underlying collateral value. These independent appraisals are reviewed by the Real Estate Services Group and sometimes by independent third party valuation experts and may be adjusted depending upon market conditions. An appraisal is ordered at least once a year for these loans, or more often if market conditions dictate. In the event that the underlying value of the collateral cannot be easily determined, a detailed valuation methodology is prepared by the Managed Asset Division. A summary of this analysis is provided to the directors’ loan committee of the bank which originated the credit for approval of a charge-off, if necessary.

Through the credit risk rating process, loans are reviewed to determine if they are performing in accordance with the original contractual terms. If the borrower has failed to comply with the original contractual terms, further action may be required by the Company, including a downgrade in the credit risk rating, movement to non-accrual status, a charge-off or the establishment of a specific impairment reserve. In the event a collateral shortfall is identified during the credit review process, the Company will work with the borrower for a principal reduction and/or a pledge of additional collateral and/or additional guarantees. In the event that these options are not available, the loan may be subject to a downgrade of the credit risk rating. If we determine that a loan amount, or portion thereof, is uncollectible the loan’s credit risk rating is immediately downgraded to an 8 or 9 and the uncollectible amount is charged-off. Any loan that has a partial charge-off continues to be assigned a credit risk rating of an 8 or 9 for the duration of time that a balance remains outstanding. The Managed Asset Division undertakes a thorough and ongoing analysis to determine if additional impairment and/or charge-offs are appropriate and to begin a workout plan for the credit to minimize actual losses.

The Company’s approach to workout plans and restructuring loans is built on the credit-risk rating process. A modification of a loan with an existing credit risk rating of 6 or worse or a modification of any other credit, which will result in a restructured credit risk rating of 6 or worse must be reviewed for TDR classification. In that event, our Managed Assets Division conducts an overall credit and collateral review. A modification of a loan is considered to be a TDR if both (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and (2) for economic or legal reasons, the bank grants a concession to a borrower that it would not otherwise consider. The modification of a loan where the credit risk rating is 5 or better both before and after such modification is not considered to be a TDR. Based on the Company’s credit risk rating system, it considers that borrowers whose credit risk rating is 5 or better are not experiencing financial difficulties and therefore, are not considered TDRs.

TDRs, which are by definition considered impaired loans, are reviewed at the time of modification and on a quarterly basis to determine if a specific reserve is needed. The carrying amount of the loan is compared to the expected payments to be received, discounted at the loan’s original rate, or for collateral dependent loans, to the fair value of the collateral less the estimated cost to sell. Any shortfall is recorded as a specific reserve.

For non-TDR loans, if based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due to it according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, a loan is considered impaired and a specific impairment reserve analysis is performed and, if necessary, a specific reserve is established. In determining the appropriate reserve for collateral-dependent loans, the Company considers the results of appraisals for the associated collateral.

73

Non-Performing Assets

The following table sets forth the Company’s non-performing assets and TDRs performing under the contractual terms of the loan agreement, excluding PCI loans, as of the dates shown:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017 (1)			2016			2015
Loans past due greater than 90 days and still accruing:
Commercial	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	174		$	541
Commercial real estate	—			—			—			—			—
Home equity	—			—			—			—			—
Residential real estate	—			—			3,278			—			—
Premium finance receivables – commercial	11,517			7,799			9,242			7,962			10,294
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	—			—			—			3,717			—
Consumer and other	163			109			40			144			150
Total loans past due greater than 90 days and still accruing	$	11,680		$	7,908		$	12,560		$	11,997		$	10,985
Non-accrual loans:
Commercial	37,224			50,984			15,696			15,875			12,712
Commercial real estate	26,113			19,129			22,048			21,924			26,645
Home equity	7,363			7,147			8,978			9,761			6,848
Residential real estate	13,797			16,383			17,977			12,749			12,043
Premium finance receivables – commercial	20,590			11,335			12,163			14,709			14,561
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	590			—			—			—			—
Consumer and other	231			348			740			439			263
Total non-accrual loans	$	105,908		$	105,326		$	77,602		$	75,457		$	73,072
Total non-performing loans:
Commercial	$	37,224		$	50,984		$	15,696		$	16,049		$	13,253
Commercial real estate	26,113			19,129			22,048			21,924			26,645
Home equity	7,363			7,147			8,978			9,761			6,848
Residential real estate	13,797			16,383			21,255			12,749			12,043
Premium finance receivables – commercial	32,107			19,134			21,405			22,671			24,855
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	590			—			—			3,717			—
Consumer and other	394			457			780			583			413
Total non-performing loans	$	117,588		$	113,234		$	90,162		$	87,454		$	84,057
Other real estate owned	5,208			11,968			20,244			17,699			26,849
Other real estate owned – from acquisitions	9,963			12,852			20,402			22,583			17,096
Other repossessed assets	4			280			153			581			174
Total non-performing assets	$	132,763		$	138,334		$	130,961		$	128,317		$	128,176
TDRs performing under the contractual terms of the loan agreement	$	36,725		$	33,281		$	39,683		$	29,911		$	42,744
TDRs not performing under the contractual terms of the loan agreement	27,111			32,821			10,103			11,797			9,109
Total non-performing loans by category as a percent of its own respective category’s period-end balance:
Commercial	0.45		%	0.65		%	0.23		%	0.27		%	0.28		%
Commercial real estate	0.33			0.28			0.34			0.35			0.48
Home equity	1.44			1.29			1.35			1.34			0.87
Residential real estate	1.02			1.63			2.55			1.81			1.98
Premium finance receivables – commercial	0.93			0.67			0.81			0.91			1.05
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	0.01			—			—			0.11			—
Consumer and other	0.36			0.38			0.72			0.48			0.28
Total non-performing loans	0.44		%	0.48		%	0.42		%	0.44		%	0.49		%
Total non-performing assets, as a percentage of total assets	0.36		%	0.44		%	0.47		%	0.50		%	0.56		%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans	133.37		%	134.92		%	152.95		%	139.83		%	125.39		%

(1) Includes $2.6 million of non-performing loans and $2.9 million of other real estate owned reclassified from covered assets as a result of the termination of all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC during the fourth quarter of 2017.

74

Loan Portfolio Aging

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2019, 0.5% of the entire portfolio is in a non-performing loan status (non-accrual or greater than 90 days past due and still accruing interest) with 1.1% either one or two payments past due. In total, 98.4% of the Company’s total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2019 is current according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreements.

The tables below show the aging of the Company’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

As of December 31, 2019 (Dollars in thousands)	Non- accrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Loan Balances:
Commercial:
Commercial, industrial and other	$	33,983	$	—	$	1,647	$	48,840	$	5,075,335	$	5,159,805
Franchise	2,391		—		—		216		934,875		937,482
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		4,189		288,592		292,781
Asset-based lending	128		—		956		5,769		982,165		989,018
Leases	722		—		249		10,996		866,561		878,528
PCI - commercial (1)	—		1,855		423		7,314		18,714		28,306
Total commercial	$	37,224	$	1,855	$	3,275	$	77,324	$	8,166,242	$	8,285,920
Commercial real-estate:
Construction	1,030		—		1,499		16,656		1,004,115		1,023,300
Land	1,082		—		—		11,393		165,008		177,483
Office	8,034		—		3,692		6,127		1,026,916		1,044,769
Industrial	99		—		1,660		10,203		1,020,904		1,032,866
Retail	6,789		—		6,168		3,546		1,081,427		1,097,930
Multi-family	913		—		731		3,088		1,306,810		1,311,542
Mixed use and other	8,166		—		9,823		15,429		2,061,528		2,094,946
PCI - commercial real-estate (1)	—		14,946		7,973		31,125		183,396		237,440
Total commercial real-estate	$	26,113	$	14,946	$	31,546	$	97,567	$	7,850,104	$	8,020,276
Home equity	7,363		—		454		3,533		501,716		513,066
Residential real estate, including PCI	13,797		5,771		3,089		18,041		1,313,523		1,354,221
Premium finance receivables:
Commercial insurance loans	20,590		11,517		12,119		18,783		3,379,018		3,442,027
Life insurance loans	590		—		—		32,559		4,902,171		4,935,320
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		139,282		139,282
Consumer and other, including PCI	231		287		40		344		109,276		110,178
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	105,908	$	34,376	$	50,523	$	248,151	$	26,361,332	$	26,800,290

As of December 31, 2019	Non- accrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Aging as a % of Loan Balance:
Commercial:
Commercial, industrial and other	0.7	%	—	%	0.0	%	0.9	%	98.4	%	100.0	%
Franchise	0.3		—		—		0.0		99.7		100.0
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		1.4		98.6		100.0
Asset-based lending	0.0		—		0.1		0.6		99.3		100.0
Leases	0.1		—		0.0		1.3		98.6		100.0
PCI - commercial (1)	—		6.6		1.5		25.8		66.1		100.0
Total commercial	0.5	%	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.9	%	98.6	%	100.0	%
Commercial real estate:
Construction	0.1		—		0.2		1.6		98.1		100.0	%
Land	0.6		—		—		6.4		93.0		100.0
Office	0.8		—		0.3		0.6		98.3		100.0
Industrial	0.0		—		0.2		1.0		98.8		100.0
Retail	0.6		—		0.6		0.3		98.5		100.0
Multi-family	0.1		—		0.1		0.2		99.6		100.0
Mixed use and other	0.4		—		0.5		0.7		98.4		100.0
PCI - commercial real-estate (1)	—		6.3		3.4		13.1		77.2		100.0
Total commercial real-estate	0.3	%	0.2	%	0.4	%	1.2	%	97.9	%	100.0	%
Home equity	1.4		—		0.1		0.7		97.8		100.0
Residential real estate, including PCI	1.0		0.4		0.2		1.3		97.1		100.0
Premium finance receivables:
Commercial insurance loans	0.6		0.3		0.4		0.5		98.2		100.0
Life insurance loans	0.0		—		—		0.6		99.4		100.0
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		100.0		100.0
Consumer and other, including PCI	0.2		0.3		0.0		0.3		99.2		100.0
Total loans, net of unearned income	0.4	%	0.1	%	0.2	%	0.9	%	98.4	%	100.0	%

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with ASC 310-30. Loan agings are based upon contractually required payments.

75

As of December 31, 2018 (Dollars in thousands)	Nonaccrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Loan Balances:
Commercial:
Commercial, industrial and other	$	34,298	$	—	$	1,451	$	21,618	$	5,062,729	$	5,120,096
Franchise	16,051		—		—		8,738		924,190		948,979
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		—		144,199		144,199
Asset-based lending	635		—		200		3,156		1,022,065		1,026,056
Leases	—		—		—		1,250		564,430		565,680
PCI - commercial (1)	—		3,313		—		99		20,116		23,528
Total commercial	$	50,984	$	3,313	$	1,651	$	34,861	$	7,737,729	$	7,828,538
Commercial real-estate:
Construction	1,554		—		—		9,424		749,846		760,824
Land	107		—		170		107		141,097		141,481
Office	3,629		—		877		5,077		929,739		939,322
Industrial	285		—		—		16,596		885,367		902,248
Retail	10,753		—		1,890		1,729		878,106		892,478
Multi-family	311		—		77		5,575		970,597		976,560
Mixed use and other	2,490		—		1,617		8,983		2,192,105		2,205,195
PCI - commercial real-estate (1)	—		6,241		6,195		4,075		98,633		115,144
Total commercial real-estate	$	19,129	$	6,241	$	10,826	$	51,566	$	6,845,490	$	6,933,252
Home equity	7,147		—		131		3,105		541,960		552,343
Residential real estate, including PCI	16,383		1,292		1,692		6,171		976,926		1,002,464
Premium finance receivables:
Commercial insurance loans	11,335		7,799		11,382		15,085		2,796,058		2,841,659
Life insurance loans	—		—		8,407		24,628		4,340,856		4,373,891
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		167,903		167,903
Consumer and other	348		227		87		733		119,246		120,641
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	105,326	$	18,872	$	34,176	$	136,149	$	23,526,168	$	23,820,691

As of December 31, 2018	Nonaccrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Aging as a % of Loan Balance:
Commercial:
Commercial, industrial and other	0.7	%	—	%	0.0	%	0.4	%	98.9	%	100.0	%
Franchise	1.7		—		—		0.9		97.4		100.0
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		—		100.0		100.0
Asset-based lending	0.1		—		0.0		0.3		99.6		100.0
Leases	—		—		—		0.2		99.8		100.0
PCI - commercial (1)	—		14.1		—		0.4		85.5		100.0
Total commercial	0.7	%	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.4	%	98.9	%	100.0	%
Commercial real-estate:
Construction	0.2		—		—		1.2		98.6		100.0
Land	0.1		—		0.1		0.1		99.7		100.0
Office	0.4		—		0.1		0.5		99.0		100.0
Industrial	0.0		—		—		1.8		98.1		100.0
Retail	1.2		—		0.2		0.2		98.4		100.0
Multi-family	0.0		—		0.0		0.6		99.4		100.0
Mixed use and other	0.1		—		0.1		0.4		99.4		100.0
PCI - commercial real-estate (1)	—		5.4		5.4		3.5		85.7		100.0
Total commercial real-estate	0.3	%	0.1	%	0.2	%	0.7	%	98.7	%	100.0	%
Home equity	1.3		—		0.0		0.6		98.1		100.0
Residential real estate, including PCI	1.6		0.1		0.2		0.6		97.5		100.0
Premium finance receivables:
Commercial insurance loans	0.4		0.3		0.4		0.5		98.4		100.0
Life insurance loans	—		—		0.2		0.5		99.3		100.0
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		100.0		100.0
Consumer and other	0.3		0.2		0.1		0.6		98.8		100.0
Total loans, net of unearned income	0.4	%	0.1	%	0.1	%	0.6	%	98.8	%	100.0	%

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with ASC 310-30. Loan agings are based upon contractually required payments.

As of December 31, 2019, $50.5 million of all loans, or 0.2%, were 60 to 89 days past due and $248.2 million, or 0.9%, were 30 to 59 days (or one payment) past due. As of December 31, 2018, $34.2 million of all loans, or 0.1%, were 60 to 89 days past due and $136.1 million, or 0.6%, were 30 to 59 days (or one payment) past due. Many of the commercial and commercial real estate

76

loans shown as 60 to 89 days and 30 to 59 days past due are included on the Company’s internal problem loan reporting system. Loans on this system are closely monitored by management on a monthly basis.

The Company’s home equity and residential loan portfolios continue to exhibit low delinquency ratios. Home equity loans at December 31, 2019 that are current with regard to the contractual terms of the loan agreement represent 97.8% of the total home equity portfolio. Residential real estate loans, including PCI loans, at December 31, 2019 that are current with regards to the contractual terms of the loan agreements comprise 97.1% of these residential real estate loans outstanding.

Non-performing Loans Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of non-performing loans, excluding PCI loans, for the periods presented:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	113,234		$	90,162
Additions	96,355			92,428
Return to performing status	(14,774		)	(14,449		)
Payments received	(45,168		)	(29,807		)
Transfers to OREO and other repossessed assets	(3,061		)	(7,138		)
Charge-offs	(39,591		)	(15,792		)
Net change for niche loans (1)	10,593			(2,170		)
Balance at end of period	$	117,588		$	113,234

 

(1) This includes activity for premium finance receivables and indirect consumer loans.

PCI loans are excluded from non-performing loans as they continue to earn interest income from the related accretable yield, independent of performance with contractual terms of the loan. See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further discussion of non-performing loans and the loan aging during the respective periods.

77

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of the probable and reasonably estimable loan losses that are inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is determined quarterly using a methodology that incorporates important risk characteristics of each loan, as described below under “How We Determine the Allowance for Credit Losses” in this Item 7. This process is subject to review at each of our bank subsidiaries by the applicable regulatory authority, including the FRB of Chicago and the OCC.

The following table sets forth the allocation of the allowance for loan and covered loan losses and the allowance for losses on lending-related commitments by major loan type and the percentage of loans in each category to total loans for the past five fiscal years:

	December 31, 2019					December 31, 2018					December 31, 2017					December 31, 2016					December 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount			% of  Loan Type to Total Loans		Amount			% of  Loan Type to Total Loans		Amount			% of  Loan Type to Total Loans		Amount			% of  Loan Type to Total Loans		Amount			% of  Loan Type to Total Loans
Allowance for loan losses and allowance for covered loan losses allocation:
Commercial	$	64,920		31	%	$	67,826		33	%	$	57,811		31	%	$	44,493		30	%	$	36,135		27	%
Commercial real-estate	66,878			30		60,267			29		55,227			30		51,422			31		43,758			32
Home equity	3,878			2		8,507			2		10,493			3		11,774			4		12,012			5
Residential real-estate	9,800			5		7,194			4		6,688			4		5,714			4		4,734			3
Premium finance receivables – commercial	8,132			13		6,144			12		5,356			12		6,125			12		6,016			14
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	1,515			19		1,571			19		1,490			19		1,500			18		1,217			17
Consumer and other	1,705			0		1,261			1		840			1		1,263			1		1,528			1
Total allowance for loan losses	$	156,828		100	%	$	152,770		100	%	$	137,905		100	%	$	122,291		100	%	$	105,400		99	%
Covered loans	—			—		—			—		—			—		1,322			—		3,026			1
Total allowance for loan losses and allowance for covered loan losses	$	156,828		100	%	$	152,770		100	%	$	137,905		100	%	$	123,613		100	%	$	108,426		100	%
Allowance category as a percent of total allowance for loan losses and allowance for covered loan losses:
Commercial	41		%			44		%			42		%			36		%			33		%
Commercial real-estate	43					39					40					42					40
Home equity	3					6					7					9					11
Residential real-estate	6					5					5					5					4
Premium finance receivables—commercial	5					4					4					5					6
Premium finance receivables—life insurance	1					1					1					1					1
Consumer and other	1					1					1					1					2
Total allowance for loan losses	100		%			100		%			100		%			99		%			97		%
Covered loans	—					—					—					1					3
Total allowance for loan losses	100		%			100		%			100		%			100		%			100		%
Allowance for losses on lending-related commitments:
Commercial and commercial real estate	$	1,633				$	1,394				$	1,269				$	1,673				$	949
Total allowance for credit losses including allowance for covered loan losses	$	158,461				$	154,164				$	139,174				$	125,286				$	109,375

Management determined that the allowance for loan losses was appropriate at December 31, 2019, and that the loan portfolio is well diversified and well secured, without undue concentration in any specific risk area. While this process involves a high degree of management judgment, the allowance for credit losses is based on a comprehensive, well documented, and consistently applied analysis of the Company’s loan portfolio. This analysis takes into consideration all available information existing as of the financial statement date, including environmental factors such as economic, industry, geographical and political factors. The relative level of allowance for credit losses is reviewed and compared to industry peers. This review encompasses the levels of total nonperforming loans, portfolio mix, portfolio concentrations, current geographic risks and overall levels of net charge-offs. Historical trending of both the Company’s results and the industry peers is also reviewed to analyze comparative significance.

78

Allowance for Credit Losses, Excluding Covered Loans

The following tables summarize the activity in our allowance for credit losses during the last five fiscal years.

(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year	$	152,770		$	137,905		$	122,291		$	105,400		$	91,705
Provision for credit losses	53,864			34,832			29,982			34,790			33,747
Other adjustments (1)	(21		)	(181		)	573			(291		)	(737		)
Reclassification (to) from allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments	(238		)	(126		)	69			(725		)	(138		)
Charge-offs:
Commercial	35,880			14,532			5,159			7,915			4,253
Commercial real estate	5,402			1,395			4,236			1,930			6,543
Home equity	3,702			2,245			3,952			3,998			4,227
Residential real estate	798			1,355			1,284			1,730			2,903
Premium finance receivables – commercial	12,902			12,228			7,335			8,193			7,060
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	—			—			—			—			—
Consumer and other	522			880			729			925			521
Total charge-offs	$	59,206		$	32,635		$	22,695		$	24,691		$	25,507
Recoveries:
Commercial	2,845			1,457			1,870			1,594			1,432
Commercial real estate	2,516			5,631			2,190			2,945			2,840
Home equity	479			541			746			484			312
Residential real estate	422			2,075			452			225			283
Premium finance receivables – commercial	3,203			3,069			2,128			2,374			1,288
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	—			—			—			—			16
Consumer and other	194			202			299			186			159
Total recoveries	$	9,659		$	12,975		$	7,685		$	7,808		$	6,330
Net charge-offs, excluding covered loans	$	(49,547	)	$	(19,660	)	$	(15,010	)	$	(16,883	)	$	(19,177	)
Allowance for loan losses at year end	$	156,828		$	152,770		$	137,905		$	122,291		$	105,400
Allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments at year end	$	1,633		$	1,394		$	1,269		$	1,673		$	949
Allowance for credit losses at year end	$	158,461		$	154,164		$	139,174		$	123,964		$	106,349
Net charge-offs (recoveries) by category as a percentage of its own respective category’s average:
Commercial	0.41		%	0.18		%	0.05		%	0.12		%	0.07		%
Commercial real estate	0.04			(0.06		)	0.03			(0.02		)	0.07
Home equity	0.61			0.28			0.46			0.46			0.52
Residential real estate	0.04			(0.08		)	0.11			0.23			0.49
Premium finance receivables – commercial	0.30			0.33			0.20			0.24			0.24
Premium finance receivables – life insurance	—			—			—			—			0.00
Consumer and other	0.29			0.50			0.34			0.54			0.23
Total loans, net of unearned income, excluding covered loans	0.20		%	0.09		%	0.07		%	0.09		%	0.12		%
Net charge-offs as a percentage of the provision for credit losses	91.99		%	56.44		%	50.06		%	48.53		%	56.83		%
Year-end total loans (excluding covered loans)	$	26,800,290		$	23,820,691		$	21,640,797		$	19,703,172		$	17,118,117
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans at end of year	0.59		%	0.64		%	0.64		%	0.62		%	0.62		%
Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans at end of year	0.59		%	0.65		%	0.64		%	0.63		%	0.62		%

(1) Includes $742,000 of allowance for covered loan losses reclassified as a result of the termination of all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC during the fourth quarter of 2017.

The allowance for credit losses, excluding the allowance for covered loan losses, is comprised of an allowance for loan losses, which is determined with respect to loans that we have originated, and an allowance for lending-related commitments. Our allowance for lending-related commitments is determined with respect to funds that we have committed to lend but for which funds have not yet been disbursed and is computed using a methodology similar to that used to determine the allowance for loan losses. The allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments totaled $1.6 million as of December 31, 2019 compared to $1.4 million as of December 31, 2018.

79

Additions to the allowance for loan losses are charged to earnings through the provision for credit losses. Charge-offs represent the amount of loans that have been determined to be uncollectible during a given period, and are deducted from the allowance for loan losses, and recoveries represent the amount of collections received from loans that had previously been charged off, and are credited to the allowance for loan losses. See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this report for further discussion of activity within the allowance for loan losses during the period and the relationship with respective loan balances for each loan category and the total loan portfolio, excluding covered loans.

How We Determine the Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for loan losses includes an element for estimated probable but undetected losses and for imprecision in the credit risk models used to calculate the allowance. If the loan is impaired, the Company analyzes the loan for purposes of calculating our specific impairment reserves as part of the Problem Loan Reporting system review. A general reserve is separately determined for loans not considered impaired. See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this report for further discussion of the specific impairment reserve and general reserve as it relates to the allowance for credit losses for each loan category and the total loan portfolio, excluding covered loans.

Specific Impairment Reserves

Loans with a credit risk rating of a 6 through 9 are reviewed to determine if (a) an amount is deemed uncollectible (a charge-off) or (b) it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect amounts due in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan (impaired loan). If a loan is impaired, the carrying amount of the loan is compared to the expected payments to be received, discounted at the loan’s original rate, or for collateral dependent loans, to the fair value of the collateral less the estimated cost to sell. Any shortfall is recorded as a specific impairment reserve.

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $120.0 million of impaired loans with $62.9 million of this balance requiring $12.3 million of specific impairment reserves. At December 31, 2018, the Company had $127.3 million of impaired loans with $60.2 million of this balance requiring $11.4 million of specific impairment reserves. The most significant fluctuations in the recorded investment of impaired loans with specific impairment from 2018 to 2019 occurred within the franchise portfolio. The recorded investment decreased as a result of an impaired relationship being charged-off during 2019.

See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this report for further discussion of impaired loans and the related specific impairment reserve.

General Reserves

For loans with a credit risk rating of 1 through 7 that are not considered impaired loans, reserves are established based on the type of loan collateral, if any, and the assigned credit risk rating. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective as it requires significant estimates, including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on the average historical loss experience over a nine-year period, and consideration of current environmental factors and economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change.

We determine this component of the allowance for loan losses by classifying each loan into (i) categories based on the type of collateral that secures the loan (if any), and (ii) one of ten categories based on the credit risk rating of the loan, as described above under “Past Due Loans and Non-Performing Assets” in this Item 7. Each combination of collateral and credit risk rating is then assigned a specific loss factor that incorporates the following factors:

• historical loss experience;

• changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses;

• changes in national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio;

• changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of the loans;

• changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;

• changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of non-accrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;

• changes in the quality of the bank’s loan review system;

80

• changes in the underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans;

• the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and

• the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the bank’s existing portfolio.

In 2019, the Company modified its historical loss experience analysis by incorporating nine-year average loss rate assumptions for its historical loss experience to capture an extended credit cycle. The current nine-year average loss rate assumption analysis is computed for each of the Company’s collateral codes. The historical loss experience is combined with the specific loss factor for each combination of collateral and credit risk rating which is then applied to each individual loan balance to determine an appropriate general reserve. The historical loss rates are updated on a quarterly basis and are driven by the performance of the portfolio and any changes to the specific loss factors are driven by management judgment and analysis of the factors described above. The Company also analyzes the three-, four-, five-, six-, seven- and eight-year average historical loss rates on a quarterly basis as a comparison.

Home Equity and Residential Real Estate Loans

The determination of the appropriate allowance for loan losses for residential real estate and home equity loans differs slightly from the process used for commercial and commercial real estate loans. The same credit risk rating system, Problem Loan Reporting system, collateral coding methodology and loss factor assignment are used. The only significant difference is in how the credit risk ratings are assigned to these loans.

The home equity loan portfolio is reviewed on a loan by loan basis by analyzing current FICO scores of the borrowers, line availability, recent line usage, an approaching maturity and the aging status of the loan. Certain of these factors, or combination of these factors, may cause a portion of the credit risk ratings of home equity loans across all banks to be downgraded. Similar to commercial and commercial real estate loans, once a home equity loan’s credit risk rating is downgraded to a 6 through 9, the Company’s Managed Asset Division reviews and advises the subsidiary banks as to collateral valuations and as to the ultimate resolution of the credits that deteriorate to a non-accrual status to minimize losses.

Residential real estate loans that are downgraded to a credit risk rating of 6 through 9 also enter the problem loan reporting system and have the underlying collateral evaluated by the Managed Assets Division.

Premium Finance Receivables

The determination of the appropriate allowance for loan losses for premium finance receivables is based on the assigned credit risk rating of loans in the portfolio. Loss factors are assigned to each risk rating in order to calculate an allowance for credit losses. The allowance for loan losses for these categories is entirely a general reserve.

Methodology in Assessing Impairment and Charge-off Amounts

In determining the amount of impairment or charge-offs associated with collateral dependent loans, the Company values the loan generally by starting with a valuation obtained from an appraisal of the underlying collateral and then deducting estimated selling costs to arrive at a net appraised value. We obtain the appraisals of the underlying collateral typically on an annual basis from one of a pre-approved list of independent, third party appraisal firms. Types of appraisal valuations include “as-is,” “as-complete,” “as-stabilized,” bulk, fair market, liquidation and “retail sellout” values.

In many cases, the Company simultaneously values the underlying collateral by marketing the property to market participants interested in purchasing properties of the same type. If the Company receives offers or indications of interest, we will analyze the price and review market conditions to assess whether in light of such information the appraised value overstates the likely price and that a lower price would be a better assessment of the market value of the property and would enable us to liquidate the collateral. Additionally, the Company takes into account the strength of any guarantees and the ability of the borrower to provide value related to those guarantees in determining the ultimate charge-off or reserve associated with any impaired loans. Accordingly, the Company may charge-off a loan to a value below the net appraised value if it believes that an expeditious liquidation is desirable in the circumstance and it has legitimate offers or other indications of interest to support a value that is less than the net appraised value. Alternatively, the Company may carry a loan at a value that is in excess of the appraised value if the Company has a guarantee from a borrower that the Company believes has realizable value. In evaluating the strength of any guarantee, the Company evaluates the financial wherewithal of the guarantor, the guarantor’s reputation, and the guarantor’s willingness and desire to work with the Company. The Company then conducts a review of the strength of a guarantee on a frequency established as the circumstances and conditions of the borrower warrant.

81

In circumstances where the Company has received an appraisal but has no third party offers or indications of interest, the Company may enlist the input of realtors in the local market as to the highest valuation that the realtor believes would result in a liquidation of the property given a reasonable marketing period of approximately 90 days. To the extent that the realtors’ indication of market clearing price under such scenario is less than the net appraised valuation, the Company may take a charge-off on the loan to a valuation that is less than the net appraised valuation.

The Company may also charge-off a loan below the net appraised valuation if the Company holds a junior mortgage position in a piece of collateral whereby the risk to acquiring control of the property through the purchase of the senior mortgage position is deemed to potentially increase the risk of loss upon liquidation due to the amount of time to ultimately market the property and the volatile market conditions. In such cases, the Company may abandon its junior mortgage and charge-off the loan balance in full.

In other cases, the Company may allow the borrower to conduct a “short sale,” which is a sale where the Company allows the borrower to sell the property at a value less than the amount of the loan. Many times, it is possible for the current owner to receive a better price than if the property is marketed by a financial institution which the market place perceives to have a greater desire to liquidate the property at a lower price. To the extent that we allow a short sale at a price below the value indicated by an appraisal, we may take a charge-off beyond the value that an appraisal would have indicated.

Other market conditions may require a reserve to bring the carrying value of the loan below the net appraised valuation such as litigation surrounding the borrower and/or property securing our loan or other market conditions impacting the value of the collateral.

Having determined the net value based on the factors such as those noted above and compared that value to the book value of the loan, the Company arrives at a charge-off amount or a specific reserve included in the allowance for loan losses. In summary, for collateral dependent loans, appraisals are used as the fair value starting point in the estimate of net value. Estimated costs to sell are deducted from the appraised value to arrive at the net appraised value. Although an external appraisal is the primary source of valuation utilized for charge-offs on collateral dependent loans, alternative sources of valuation may become available between appraisal dates. As a result, we may utilize values obtained through these alternative sources, which include purchase and sale agreements, legitimate indications of interest, negotiated short sales, realtor price opinions, sale of the note or support from guarantors, as the basis for charge-offs. These alternative sources of value are used only if deemed to be more representative of value based on updated information regarding collateral resolution. In addition, if an appraisal is not deemed current, a discount to appraised value may be utilized. Any adjustments from appraised value to net value are detailed and justified in an impairment analysis, which is reviewed and approved by the Company’s Managed Assets Division.

TDRs

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $63.8 million in loans classified as TDRs. The $63.8 million in TDRs represents 255 credits in which economic concessions were granted to certain borrowers to better align the terms of their loans with their current ability to pay. The balance decreased from $66.1 million representing 134 credits at December 31, 2018.

Concessions were granted on a case-by-case basis working with these borrowers to find modified terms that would assist them in retaining their businesses or their homes and attempt to keep these loans in an accruing status for the Company. Typical concessions include reduction of the interest rate on the loan to a rate considered lower than market and other modification of terms including forgiveness of a portion of the loan balance, extension of the maturity date, and/or modifications from principal and interest payments to interest-only payments for a certain period. See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” of Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion regarding the effectiveness of these modifications in keeping the modified loans current based upon contractual terms.

Subsequent to its restructuring, any TDR that becomes nonaccrual or more than 90 days past-due and still accruing interest will be included in the Company’s nonperforming loans. Each TDR was reviewed for impairment at December 31, 2019 and approximately $5.7 million of impairment was present and appropriately reserved for through the Company’s normal reserving methodology in the Company’s allowance for loan losses. Additionally, the Company was committed to lend additional funds to borrowers totaling $0.9 million at December 31, 2018 under the contractual terms related to TDRs. There were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers at December 31, 2019.

82

The table below presents a summary of TDRs for the respective periods, presented by loan category and accrual status:

	December 31,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Accruing TDRs:
Commercial	$	4,905	$	8,545
Commercial real estate	9,754		13,895
Residential real estate and other	22,066		10,841
Total accruing TDRs	$	36,725	$	33,281
Non-accrual TDRs: (1)
Commercial	$	13,834	$	27,774
Commercial real estate	7,119		1,552
Residential real estate and other	6,158		3,495
Total non-accrual TDRs	$	27,111	$	32,821
Total TDRs:
Commercial	$	18,739	$	36,319
Commercial real estate	16,873		15,447
Residential real estate and other	28,224		14,336
Total TDRs	$	63,836	$	66,102

(1) Included in total non-performing loans.

TDR Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of TDRs as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and shows the changes in the balance during those periods:

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (Dollars in thousands)	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Residential Real Estate and Other			Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	36,319		$	15,447		$	14,336		$	66,102
Additions during the period	26,341			7,018			20,206			53,565
Reductions:
Charge-offs	(20,771		)	(589		)	38			(21,322		)
Transferred to OREO and other repossessed assets	—			—			—			—
Removal of TDR loan status (1)	—			(856		)	—			(856		)
Payments received	(23,150		)	(4,147		)	(6,356		)	(33,653		)
Balance at period end	$	18,739		$	16,873		$	28,224		$	63,836

Year Ended December 31, 2018 (Dollars in thousands)	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Residential Real Estate and Other			Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	23,917		$	17,500		$	8,369		$	49,786
Additions during the period	18,967			514			9,762			29,243
Reductions:
Charge-offs	(2,385		)	(2		)	(468		)	(2,855		)
Transferred to OREO and other repossessed assets	(37		)	(119		)	—			(156		)
Removal of TDR loan status (1)	(654		)	(631		)	—			(1,285		)
Payments received	(3,489		)	(1,815		)	(3,327		)	(8,631		)
Balance at period end	$	36,319		$	15,447		$	14,336		$	66,102

(1) Loan was previously classified as a TDR and subsequently performed in compliance with the loan’s modified terms for a period of six months (including over a calendar year-end) at a modified interest rate which represented a market rate at the time of restructuring. Per our TDR policy, the TDR classification is removed.

83

Year Ended December 31, 2017 (Dollars in thousands)	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Residential Real Estate and Other			Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	6,130		$	28,146		$	7,432		$	41,708
Additions during the period	20,031			1,245			3,049			24,325
Reductions:
Charge-offs	(454		)	(1,024		)	(156		)	(1,634		)
Transferred to OREO and other repossessed assets	—			(770		)	(165		)	(935		)
Removal of TDR loan status (1)	(610		)	(2,331		)	—			(2,941		)
Payments received	(1,180		)	(7,766		)	(1,791		)	(10,737		)
Balance at period end	$	23,917		$	17,500		$	8,369		$	49,786

(1) Loan was previously classified as a TDR and subsequently performed in compliance with the loan’s modified terms for a period of six months (including over a calendar year-end) at a modified interest rate which represented a market rate at the time of restructuring. Per our TDR policy, the TDR classification is removed.

Potential Problem Loans

Management believes that any loan where there are serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms should be identified as a non-performing loan and should be included in the disclosure of “Past Due Loans and Non-Performing Assets.” Accordingly, at the periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company has no potential problem loans as defined by SEC regulations.

Loan Concentrations

Loan concentrations are considered to exist when there are amounts loaned to multiple borrowers engaged in similar activities which would cause them to be similarly impacted by economic or other conditions. The Company had no concentrations of loans exceeding 10% of total loans at December 31, 2019, except for loans included in the specialty finance operating segment, which are diversified throughout the United States and Canada.

Other Real Estate Owned

In certain circumstances, the Company is required to take action against the real estate collateral of specific loans. The Company uses foreclosure only as a last resort for dealing with borrowers experiencing financial hardships. The Company employs extensive contact and restructuring procedures to attempt to find other solutions for our borrowers. The tables below present a summary of other real estate owned and shows the activity for the respective periods and the balance for each property type:

	Year Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31,			December 31,
	2019			2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	24,820		$	40,646
Disposal/resolved	(14,516		)	(19,375		)
Transfers in at fair value, less costs to sell	5,722			7,936
Additions from acquisition	2,179			1,578
Fair value adjustments	(3,034		)	(5,965		)
Balance at end of period	$	15,171		$	24,820

	Period End
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31,		December 31,
	2019		2018
Residential real estate	$	1,016	$	3,446
Residential real estate development	810		1,426
Commercial real estate	13,345		19,948
Total	$	15,171	$	24,820

84

Deposits and Other Funding Sources

Total deposits at December 31, 2019, were $30.1 billion, increasing $4.0 billion, or 15%, compared to the $26.1 billion at December 31, 2018. Average deposit balances in 2019 were $27.3 billion, reflecting an increase of $3.3 billion, or 14%, compared to the average balances in 2018.

The increase in year end and average deposits in 2019 over 2018 is primarily attributable to the various acquisitions and branch openings along with additional deposits associated with relationships from marketing efforts. Average non-interest bearing deposits increased $166.0 million, or 3% in 2019 compared to 2018, with period end balances ending at 24% of total deposits at December 31, 2019, compared to 25% at December 31, 2018.

The following table presents the composition of average deposits by product category for each of the last three years:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019				2018				2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent
Non-interest bearing deposits	$	6,711,298	25	%	$	6,545,251	28	%	$	6,182,048	28	%
NOW and interest bearing demand deposits	2,903,441		11		2,436,791		10		2,402,254		11
Wealth management deposits	2,761,936		10		2,356,145		10		2,125,177		10
Money market accounts	6,659,376		24		5,105,244		21		4,482,137		20
Savings accounts	2,834,381		10		2,684,661		11		2,471,663		11
Time certificates of deposit	5,467,192		20		4,872,590		20		4,423,067		20
Total average deposits	$	27,337,624	100	%	$	24,000,682	100	%	$	22,086,346	100	%

Wealth management deposits are funds from the brokerage customers of Wintrust Investments, CDEC, trust and asset management customers of the Company and brokerage customers from unaffiliated companies which have been placed into deposit accounts of the banks (“wealth management deposits” in the table above). Wealth management deposits consist primarily of money market accounts. Consistent with reasonable interest rate risk parameters, these funds have generally been invested in loan production of the banks as well as other investments suitable for banks.

85

The following table presents average deposit balances for each bank and the relative percentage of total consolidated average deposits held by each bank during each of the past three years:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019				2018				2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent		Balance		Percent
Wintrust Bank	$	5,249,917	19	%	$	4,549,385	19	%	$	3,848,012	17	%
Lake Forest Bank	3,000,910		12		2,627,628		11		2,494,951		11
Northbrook Bank	2,263,964		8		1,835,242		8		1,748,342		8
Hinsdale Bank	2,191,744		8		1,945,538		8		1,761,825		8
Town Bank	1,879,208		7		1,675,926		7		1,599,066		8
Barrington Bank	1,708,232		6		1,552,299		6		1,435,608		7
Wheaton Bank	1,540,076		6		1,311,340		6		1,183,185		5
Village Bank	1,422,208		5		1,234,009		5		1,195,933		5
Old Plank Trail Bank	1,405,279		5		1,283,627		5		1,215,786		6
Libertyville Bank	1,348,820		5		1,244,853		5		1,140,095		5
Beverly Bank	1,229,752		4		1,070,510		4		959,179		4
St. Charles Bank	1,085,324		4		941,276		4		906,791		4
State Bank of the Lakes	1,061,278		4		956,470		4		882,684		4
Schaumburg Bank	995,613		4		925,259		4		912,886		4
Crystal Lake Bank	955,299		3		847,320		4		802,003		4
Total deposits	$	27,337,624	100	%	$	24,000,682	100	%	$	22,086,346	100	%
Percentage increase from prior year			14	%			9	%			10	%

Various acquisitions, are partially responsible for the deposit fluctuations from 2018 to 2019. These acquisitions are discussed in Note 7, “Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions.” The Company's continued overall growth during 2019 and 2018 also contributed to these deposit fluctuations.

Other Funding Sources. Although deposits are the Company’s primary source of funding its interest-earning assets, the Company’s ability to manage the types and terms of deposits is somewhat limited by customer preferences and market competition. As a result, in addition to deposits and the issuance of equity securities and the retention of earnings, the Company uses several other funding sources to support its growth. These sources include short-term borrowings, notes payable, FHLB advances, subordinated debt, secured borrowings and junior subordinated debentures. The Company evaluates the terms and unique characteristics of each source, as well as its asset-liability management position, in determining the use of such funding sources.

The following table sets forth, by category, the composition of the average balances of other funding sources for the periods presented:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019				2018				2017
	Average		Percent		Average		Percent		Average		Percent
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		of Total		Balance		of Total		Balance		of Total
Federal Home Loan Bank advances	$	658,669	40	%	$	713,539	51	%	$	380,412	37	%
Subordinated notes	309,178		19		139,140		10		139,022		13
Notes payable	137,170		8		67,176		5		46,744		5
Short-term borrowings	44,240		3		21,270		2		38,756		4
Other	47,028		3		48,333		3		33,964		3
Secured borrowings	200,396		12		152,836		11		135,672		13
Total other borrowings	428,834		26		289,615		21		255,136		25
Junior subordinated debentures	253,566		15		253,566		18		253,566		25
Total other funding sources	$	1,650,247	100	%	$	1,395,860	100	%	$	1,028,136	100	%

Notes payable balances represent the balances on a $200.0 million loan agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with unaffiliated banks consisting of a $50.0 million revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $150.0 million term facility (“Term Facility”). Both the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Facility are available for corporate purposes such as to provide capital

86

to fund continued growth at existing bank subsidiaries, possible future acquisitions and for other general corporate matters. At December 31, 2019, the Company had a balance under the Term Facility of $123.1 million. The Company was contractually required to borrow the entire amount of the Term Facility on September 18, 2018 and all such borrowings must be repaid by September 18, 2023. During 2019, the Company borrowed $35.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility and paid-off such amount prior to December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the Company had no outstanding balance on the $50.0 million Revolving Credit Facility. In connection with the establishment of this loan agreement in 2018, all outstanding notes payable under a separate $150.0 million loan agreement with unaffiliated banks dated December 15, 2014 (as subsequently amended, the “Prior Credit Agreement”) were paid in full. The Prior Credit Agreement consisted of a term facility with an original outstanding balance of $75.0 million and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility. The Company had a balance under the term facility of the Prior Credit Agreement of $41.2 million at December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, no balance was outstanding under the revolving credit facility of the Prior Credit Agreement .

FHLB advances provide the banks with access to fixed rate funds which are useful in mitigating interest rate risk and achieving an acceptable interest rate spread on fixed rate loans or securities. FHLB advances to the banks totaled $674.9 million at December 31, 2019 and $426.3 million at December 31, 2018. See Note 11, “Federal Home Loan Bank Advances,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the terms of these advances.

The average balance of secured borrowings primarily represents a third party Canadian transaction (“Canadian Secured Borrowing”). Under the Canadian Secured Borrowing, in December 2014, the Company, through its subsidiary, FIFC Canada, sold an undivided co-ownership interest in all receivables owed to FIFC Canada to an unrelated third party in exchange for a cash payment of approximately C$150 million pursuant to a receivables purchase agreement (“Receivables Purchase Agreement”). The Receivables Purchase Agreement was amended in December 2015, effectively extending the maturity date from December 15, 2015 to December 15, 2017. Additionally, at that time, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$10 million, which increased the total payments to C$160 million. The Receivables Purchase Agreement was again amended in December 2017, effectively extending the maturity date from December 15, 2017 to December 16, 2019. Additionally, at that time, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$10 million, which increased the total payments to C$170 million. In June 2018, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$20 million, which increased the total payments to C$190 million. The Receivables Purchase Agreement was again amended in February 2019, effectively extending the maturity date from December 16, 2019 to December 15, 2020. Additionally, in February 2019, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$20 million, which increased the total payments to C$210 million. In May 2019, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$70 million, which increased the total payments to C$280 million. These transactions were not considered sales of receivables and, as such, related proceeds received are reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition as a secured borrowing owed to the unrelated third party, net of unamortized debt issuance costs, and translated to the Company’s reporting currency as of the respective date. At December 31, 2019, the translated balance of the Canadian Secured Borrowing totaled $215.5 million with an interest rate of 2.729%. The remaining $12.7 million within secured borrowings at December 31, 2018 represents other sold interests in certain loans by the Company that were not considered sales and, as such, related proceeds received are reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition as a secured borrowing owed to the various unrelated third parties.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, subordinated notes totaled $436.1 million and $139.2 million, respectively. During 2019, the Company issued $300.0 million of subordinated notes receiving $296.7 million in proceeds, net of underwriting discount. The notes have a stated interest rate of 4.85% and mature in June 2029. During 2014, the Company issued $140.0 million of subordinated notes receiving $139.1 million in proceeds, net of underwriting discount. The notes have a stated interest rate of 5.00% and mature in June 2024.

Short-term borrowings include securities sold under repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased. These borrowings totaled $20.5 million and $50.6 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Securities sold under repurchase agreements represent sweep accounts for certain customers in connection with master repurchase agreements at the banks as well as short-term borrowings from banks and brokers. This funding category typically fluctuates based on customer preferences and daily liquidity needs of the banks, their customers and the banks’ operating subsidiaries. See Note 13, “Other Borrowings,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these borrowings.

The Company has $253.6 million of junior subordinated debentures outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The amounts reflected on the balance sheet represent the junior subordinated debentures issued to eleven trusts by the Company and equal the amount of the preferred and common securities issued by the trusts. See Note 14, “Junior Subordinated Debentures,” of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures. Starting in 2016, none of the junior subordinated debentures qualified as Tier 1 regulatory capital of the Company resulting in $245.5 million of the junior subordinated debentures, net of common securities, being included in the Company's Tier 2 regulatory capital.

87

Other borrowings at December 31, 2019 include a fixed-rate promissory note issued by the Company in June 2017 (“Fixed-Rate Promissory Note”) related to and secured by two office buildings owned by the Company. At December 31, 2019, the Fixed-Rate Promissory Note had a balance of $46.4 million. Under the Fixed-Rate Promissory Note, the Company will make monthly principal payments and pay interest at a fixed rate of 3.36% until maturity on June 30, 2022. Additionally, at December 31, 2017, other borrowings included non-recourse notes related to certain capital leases totaled $151,000. See Note 13, “Other Borrowings,” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further discussion of these borrowings.

Shareholders’ Equity. Total shareholders’ equity was $3.7 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $423.7 million from the December 31, 2018 total of $3.3 billion. The increase in 2019 was primarily a result of net income of $355.7 million, $71.8 million from the issuance of shares of the Company's common stock related to the acquisition of STC and SBC, $57.3 million in net unrealized gains from investment securities, net of tax, $11.3 million credited to surplus for stock-based compensation costs, $9.4 million from the issuance of shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to various stock compensation plans, net of treasury shares, and $5.9 million of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax, partially offset by common stock dividends of $56.9 million and preferred stock dividends of $8.2 million, and $21.0 million of net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company and the banks are subject to various regulatory capital requirements established by the federal banking agencies that take into account risk attributable to balance sheet and off-balance sheet activities. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory — and possibly discretionary — actions by regulators, that if undertaken could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the banks must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines require bank holding companies to maintain a minimum ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%, of which at least 4.50% must be in the form of Common Equity Tier 1 capital and 6.0% must be in the form of Tier 1 capital. The Federal Reserve also requires a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of 4.0%. In addition the Federal Reserve continues to consider the Tier 1 leverage ratio in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

The following table summarizes the capital guidelines for bank holding companies as of December 31, 2019, as well as certain ratios relating to the Company’s equity and assets as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

	Minimum Ratios		Minimum Ratio + Capital Conservation Buffer (1)		Minimum Well Capitalized Ratios (2)	2019		2018		2017
Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets	4.5	%	7.00	%	N/A	9.2	%	9.3	%	9.4	%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets	6.0		8.50		6.0	9.6		9.7		9.9
Total capital to risk-weighted assets	8.0		10.50		10.0	12.2		11.6		12.0
Tier 1 leverage ratio	4.0		N/A		N/A	8.7		9.1		9.3
Total average equity to total average assets	N/A		N/A		N/A	10.4		10.7		10.8
Dividend payout ratio	N/A		N/A		N/A	16.6		13.0		12.7

(1) Reflects the Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.5% applicable during 2019.

(2) Reflects the well-capitalized standard applicable to the Company for purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y. The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for BHCs to reflect the higher capital requirements imposed under the U.S. Basel III Rule or to add Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 leverage ratio requirements to this standard.  As a result, the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 leverage ratio are denoted as “N/A” in this column.  If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to BHCs as the standard applicable to our subsidiary banks, the Company’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 would exceed such revised well-capitalized standard.

As reflected in the table, each of the Company’s capital ratios at December 31, 2019, exceeded the well-capitalized ratios established by the Federal Reserve. Refer to Note 19 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the capital positions of the banks.

The Company’s principal sources of funds at the holding company level are dividends from its subsidiaries, borrowings under its loan agreement with unaffiliated banks and proceeds from the issuances of subordinated debt and additional equity. Refer to Notes 12, 13, 14 and 23 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on the Company’s subordinated notes,

88

other borrowings, junior subordinated debentures and shareholders’ equity, respectively. Management is committed to maintaining the Company’s capital levels above the “Well Capitalized” levels established by the Federal Reserve for bank holding companies.

In June 2015, the Company issued and sold 5,000,000 shares of the Series D Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25 per share for $125.0 million in a public offering. Dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears when, as and if declared by the Board at a rate of 6.50% per annum on the original liquidation preference of $25 per share from the original issuance date to, but excluding, July 15, 2025. From (and including) July 15, 2025, dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock will be payable quarterly in arrears, when, as and if declared by the Board, at a floating rate equal to the then-applicable three-month LIBOR (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) plus a spread of 4.06% per annum. The dividend rate of such floating rate dividends will be reset quarterly. The Company received proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and related costs, of approximately $120.8 million from the issuance, which were intended to be used for general corporate purposes. The Series D Preferred Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WTFCM.”

The Series C Preferred Stock was convertible into common stock at the option of the holder subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. In 2016, 30 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock were converted at the option of the respective holders into 729 shares of the Company's common stock. In 2015, 180 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock were converted at the option of the respective holders into 4,374 shares of the Company's common stock. On April 25, 2017, 2,073 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock were converted at the option of the respective holder into 51,244 shares of the Company's common stock. On April 27, 2017, the Company caused a mandatory conversion of its remaining 124,184 shares of Series C Preferred Stock into 3,069,828 shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion rate of 24.72 shares of common stock per share of Series C Preferred Stock. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares for an amount considered insignificant.

The Board approved the first semi-annual dividend on the Company’s common stock in January 2000 and continued to approve semi-annual dividends until quarterly dividends were approved starting in 2014. The payment of dividends is also subject to statutory restrictions and restrictions arising under the terms of the Company's Series D Preferred Stock, the Company’s trust preferred securities offerings units and under certain financial covenants in the Company’s revolving and term facilities. Under the terms of these separate facilities entered into on September 18, 2018, the Company is prohibited from paying dividends on any equity interests, including its common stock and preferred stock, if such payments would cause the Company to be in default under its facilities or exceed a certain threshold. In January, April, July and October of 2019, Wintrust declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share. In January, April, July and October of 2018, Wintrust declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share. In January of 2020, Wintrust declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per common share. Taking into account the limitations on the payment of dividends, the final determination of timing, amount and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend on the Company’s earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other relevant factors.

Banking laws impose restrictions upon the amount of dividends that can be paid to the holding company by the banks. Based on these laws, the banks could, subject to minimum capital requirements, declare dividends to the Company without obtaining regulatory approval in an amount not exceeding (a) undivided profits, and (b) the amount of net income reduced by dividends paid for the current and prior two years.

Since the banks are required to maintain their capital at the well-capitalized level (due to the Company being a financial holding company), funds otherwise available as dividends from the banks are limited to the amount that would not reduce any of the banks’ capital ratios below the well-capitalized level. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, the subsidiaries paid dividends to Wintrust totaling $139.0 million, $111.0 million, and $122.0 million, respectively. At January 1, 2020, subject to minimum capital requirements at the banks, approximately $542.0 million, excluding the effect of the CECL transition entry, was available as dividends from the banks without prior regulatory approval and without compromising the banks’ well-capitalized positions.

Liquidity management at the banks involves planning to meet anticipated funding needs at a reasonable cost. Liquidity management is guided by policies, formulated and monitored by the Company’s senior management and each Bank’s asset/liability committee, which take into account the marketability of assets, the sources and stability of funding and the level of unfunded commitments. The banks’ principal sources of funds are deposits, short-term borrowings and capital contributions from the holding company. In addition, the banks are eligible to borrow under FHLB advances and certain banks are eligible to borrow at the FRB Discount Window, another source of liquidity.

Core deposits are the most stable source of liquidity for community banks due to the nature of long-term relationships generally established with depositors and the security of deposit insurance provided by the FDIC. Core deposits are generally defined in the industry as total deposits less time deposits with balances greater than $100,000. Due to the affluent nature of many of the communities that the Company serves, management believes that many of its time deposits with balances in excess of $100,000

89

are also a stable source of funds. Currently, standard deposit insurance coverage is $250,000 per depositor per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

While the Company obtains a portion of its total deposits through brokered deposits, the Company does so primarily as an asset-liability management tool to assist in the management of interest rate risk, and the Company does not consider brokered deposits to be a vital component of its current liquidity resources. Historically, brokered deposits have represented a small component of the Company’s total deposits outstanding, as set forth in the table below:

	December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
Total deposits	$	30,107,138		$	26,094,678		$	23,183,347		$	21,658,632		$	18,639,634
Brokered Deposits (1)	1,011,404			1,071,562			1,445,306			1,159,475			862,026
Brokered deposits as a percentage of total deposits (1)	3.4		%	4.1		%	6.2		%	5.4		%	4.6		%

(1) Brokered Deposits include certificates of deposit obtained through deposit brokers, deposits received through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Program, as well as wealth management deposits of brokerage customers from unaffiliated companies which have been placed into deposit accounts of the banks.

The banks routinely accept deposits from a variety of municipal entities. Typically, these municipal entities require that banks pledge marketable securities to collateralize these public deposits. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the banks had approximately $1.7 billion of securities collateralizing public deposits and other short-term borrowings. Public deposits requiring pledged assets are not considered to be core deposits, however they provide the Company with a reliable, lower cost, short-term funding source than what is available through many other wholesale alternatives.

Other than as discussed in this section, the Company is not aware of any known trends, commitments, events, regulatory recommendations or uncertainties that would have any material adverse effect on the Company’s capital resources, operations or liquidity.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company has various financial obligations, including contractual obligations and commitments that may require future cash payments.

Contractual Obligations. The following table presents, as of December 31, 2019, significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations to third parties by payment date. Further discussion of the nature of each obligation is included in the referenced note to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8:

		Payments Due in
(Dollars in thousands)	Note Reference	One year or less		From one to three years	From three to five years	Over five years	Total
Deposits	10	$	27,904,074	2,138,292	63,982	790	30,107,138
FHLB advances (1)	11	6,468		2,960	25,442	640,000	674,870
Subordinated notes	12	—		—	139,338	296,757	436,095
Other borrowings	13	259,836		90,755	64,556	3,027	418,174
Junior subordinated debentures	14	—		—	—	253,566	253,566
Lease commitments	16	26,837		43,847	37,724	152,231	260,639
Purchase obligations (2)		37,681		74,386	68,323	63,271	243,661
Total		$	28,234,896	2,350,240	399,365	1,409,642	32,394,143

(1) Certain advances provide the FHLB with call dates which are not reflected in the above table.

(2) Purchase obligations presented above primarily relate to certain contractual cash obligations for pending acquisitions, marketing obligations and services related to the construction of facilities, data processing and the outsourcing of certain operational activities.

The Company also enters into derivative contracts under which the Company is required to either receive cash from or pay cash to counterparties depending on changes in interest rates. Derivative contracts are carried at fair value representing the net present

90

value of expected future cash receipts or payments based on market rates as of the balance sheet date. Because the derivative assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at December 31, 2019 do not represent the amounts that may ultimately be paid under these contracts, these assets and liabilities are not included in the table of contractual obligations presented above.

Commitments. The following table presents a summary of the amounts and expected maturities of significant commitments as of December 31, 2019. Further information on these commitments is included in Note 20 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

(Dollars in thousands)	One year or less		From one to three years	From three to five years	Over five years	Total
Commitment type:
Commercial, commercial real estate and construction	$	2,403,893	1,772,956	725,724	216,303	5,118,876
Residential real estate	595,050		—	—	—	595,050
Revolving home equity lines of credit	800,649		—	—	—	800,649
Letters of credit	227,624		25,043	38,720	420	291,807
Commitments to sell mortgage loans	837,181		—	—	—	837,181

Our remaining commitment to fund community investments totaled $29.3 million, which includes future cash outlays for the construction and development of properties for low-income housing, support for small businesses, and historic tax credit projects that qualify for CRA purposes. These commitments are not included in the commitments table above, as the timing and amounts are based upon the financing arrangements provided in each project’s partnership or operating agreement and could change due to variances in the construction schedule, project revisions, or the cancellation of the project.

Contingencies. The Company enters into residential mortgage loan sale agreements with investors in the normal course of business. These agreements usually require certain representations concerning credit information, loan documentation, collateral and insurability. Investors have requested the Company to indemnify them against losses on certain loans or to repurchase loans which the investors believe do not comply with applicable representations. Upon completion of its own investigation, the Company generally repurchases or provides indemnification on certain loans. Indemnification requests are generally received within two years subsequent to sale. Management maintains a liability for estimated losses on loans expected to be repurchased or on which indemnification is expected to be provided and regularly evaluates the adequacy of this recourse liability based on trends in repurchase and indemnification requests, actual loss experience, known and inherent risks in the loans and current economic conditions. At December 31, 2019, the liability for estimated losses on repurchase and indemnification was $2.4 million and was included in other liabilities on the balance sheet.

91

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

Effects of Inflation

A banking organization’s assets and liabilities are primarily monetary. Changes in the rate of inflation do not have as great an impact on the financial condition of a bank as do changes in interest rates. Moreover, interest rates do not necessarily change at the same percentage as inflation. Accordingly, changes in inflation are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.

Asset-Liability Management

As an ongoing part of its financial strategy, the Company attempts to manage the impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on net interest income. This effort entails providing a reasonable balance between interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and maintenance of yield. Asset-liability management policies are established and monitored by management in conjunction with the boards of directors of the banks, subject to general oversight by the Risk Management Committee of the Company’s Board. The policies establish guidelines for acceptable limits on the sensitivity of the market value of assets and liabilities to changes in interest rates.

Interest rate risk arises when the maturity or re-pricing periods and interest rate indices of the interest earning assets, interest bearing liabilities, and derivative financial instruments are different. It is the risk that changes in the level of market interest rates will result in disproportionate changes in the value of, and the net earnings generated from, the Company’s interest earning assets, interest bearing liabilities and derivative financial instruments. The Company continuously monitors not only the organization’s current net interest margin, but also the historical trends of these margins. In addition, management attempts to identify potential adverse changes in net interest income in future years as a result interest rate fluctuations by performing simulation analysis of various interest rate environments. If a potential adverse change in net interest margin and/or net income is identified, management takes appropriate action with its asset-liability structure to mitigate these potentially adverse situations. Please refer to Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further discussion of the net interest margin.

Since the Company’s primary source of interest bearing liabilities is from customer deposits, the Company’s ability to manage the types and terms of such deposits is somewhat limited by customer preferences and local competition in the market areas in which the banks operate. The rates, terms and interest rate indices of the Company’s interest earning assets result primarily from the Company’s strategy of investing in loans and securities that permit the Company to limit its exposure to interest rate risk, together with credit risk, while at the same time achieving an acceptable interest rate spread.

The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is reviewed on a regular basis by management and the Risk Management Committees of the boards of directors of the banks and the Company. The objective of the review is to measure the effect on net income and to adjust balance sheet and derivative financial instruments to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time maximize net interest income.

The following interest rate scenarios display the percentage change in net interest income over a one-year time horizon assuming increases and decreases of 100 and 200 basis points. The Static Shock Scenario results incorporate actual cash flows and repricing characteristics for balance sheet instruments following an instantaneous, parallel change in market rates based upon a static (i.e. no growth or constant) balance sheet. Conversely, the Ramp Scenario results incorporate management’s projections of future volume and pricing of each of the product lines following a gradual, parallel change in market rates over twelve months. Actual results may differ from these simulated results due to timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions and management strategies. The interest rate sensitivity for both the Static Shock and Ramp Scenarios at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is as follows:

Static Shock Scenarios	+200 Basis Points		+100 Basis Points		-100 Basis Points		-200 Basis Points
December 31, 2019	18.6	%	9.7	%	(10.9	)%	(21.2	)%
December 31, 2018	15.6		7.9		(8.6	)	(20.4	)

 

Ramp Scenarios	+200 Basis Points		+100 Basis Points		-100 Basis Points		-200 Basis Points
December 31, 2019	9.3	%	4.8	%	(5.0	)%	(10.4	)%
December 31, 2018	7.4		3.8		(3.6	)	(8.5	)

92

One method utilized by financial institutions, including the Company, to manage interest rate risk is to enter into derivative financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments include interest rate swaps, interest rate caps, floors and collars, futures, forwards, option contracts and other financial instruments with similar characteristics. Additionally, the Company enters into commitments to fund certain mortgage loans (interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of mortgage loans to third party investors. See Note 21, “Derivative Financial Instruments,” of the Financial Statements presented under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on the Company’s derivative financial instruments.

During 2019 and 2018, the Company entered into certain covered call option transactions related to certain securities held by the Company. The Company uses these option transactions (rather than entering into other derivative interest rate contracts, such as interest rate floors) to economically hedge positions and compensate for net interest margin compression by increasing the total return associated with the related securities through fees generated from these options. Although the revenue received from these options is recorded as non-interest income rather than interest income, the increased return attributable to the related securities from these options contributes to the Company’s overall profitability. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk may be impacted by these transactions. To mitigate this risk, the Company may acquire fixed rate term debt or use other financial derivative instruments. There were no covered call options outstanding as of December 31, 2019 or 2018.

93

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of condition of Wintrust Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 28, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

94

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.

Allowance for loan losses
Description of the Matter	The Company’s loan portfolio totaled $26.8 billion as of December 31, 2019, and the associated allowance for loan losses (allowance) was $156.8 million. As discussed in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the allowance represents management’s estimate of the probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance is composed of the following components: 1) specific reserves on impaired loans, 2) a general reserve based upon historical loss experience and 3) qualitative factors to adjust the historical loss experience used, if deemed necessary. Such qualitative factors assessed by management include the following: i) an assessment of internally-evaluated problem loans and historical loss experience; ii) changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, changes in historical loss experience; iii) changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collections, charge-off and recovery practices; iv) changes in experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff; v) changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments; vi) changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans and trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, TDRs and other loan modifications; vii) changes in the quality of the Company’s loan review system; viii) changes in the underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans; and ix) the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the bank’s existing portfolio. Auditing management’s estimate of the allowance involves a high degree of subjectivity, in particular due to the degree of management judgement involved in evaluating the qualitative factors. Management’s identification and measurement of the qualitative factors is highly judgmental and could have a significant effect on the allowance.
How we Addressed the Matter in Our Audit	We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over management’s process for assessing, challenging, and reviewing the need for and measurement of the qualitative factors and controls over the clerical accuracy of the application of the qualitative factors within the allowance. To test the qualitative factors used to adjust the historical loss experience, our audit procedures included among others, 1) evaluating the basis of the qualitative factors; 2) testing the completeness and accuracy of information used by management to calculate the qualitative factors by comparing the information to the Company’s historical performance data and third-party macroeconomic data; and 3) testing that the qualitative factors approved by management were appropriately applied to the Company’s loan portfolio. In addition, we evaluated the overall allowance amount, inclusive of the adjustments for qualitative factors, and whether the allowance appropriately reflects losses incurred in the loan portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet date. For example, we compared the overall allowance amount to those established by similar banking institutions with similar loan portfolios.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1999.

Chicago, Illinois

February 28, 2020

95

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION

	December 31,
(In thousands, except share data)	2019			2018
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	286,167		$	392,142
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	309			58
Interest bearing deposits with banks	2,164,560			1,099,594
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value	3,106,214			2,126,081
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost ($1.1 billion and $1.0 billion fair value at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)	1,134,400			1,067,439
Trading account securities	1,068			1,692
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	50,840			34,717
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	100,739			91,354
Brokerage customer receivables	16,573			12,609
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	377,313			264,070
Loans, net of unearned income	26,800,290			23,820,691
Allowance for loan losses	(156,828		)	(152,770		)
Net loans	26,643,462			23,667,921
Premises and equipment, net	754,328			671,169
Lease investments, net	231,192			233,208
Accrued interest receivable and other assets	1,061,141			696,707
Trade date securities receivable	—			263,523
Goodwill	645,220			573,141
Other intangible assets	47,057			49,424
Total assets	$	36,620,583		$	31,244,849
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	7,216,758		$	6,569,880
Interest bearing	22,890,380			19,524,798
Total deposits	30,107,138			26,094,678
Federal Home Loan Bank advances	674,870			426,326
Other borrowings	418,174			393,855
Subordinated notes	436,095			139,210
Junior subordinated debentures	253,566			253,566
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities	1,039,490			669,644
Total liabilities	32,929,333			27,977,279
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, no par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized:
Series D - $25 liquidation value; 5,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018	125,000			125,000
Common stock, no par value; $1.00 stated value; 100,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2019 and 2018; 57,950,803 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and 56,518,119 shares issued at December 31, 2018	57,951			56,518
Surplus	1,650,278			1,557,984
Treasury stock, at cost, 128,912 shares at December 31, 2019 and 110,561 shares at December 31, 2018	(6,931		)	(5,634		)
Retained earnings	1,899,630			1,610,574
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(34,678		)	(76,872		)
Total shareholders’ equity	3,691,250			3,267,570
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	36,620,583		$	31,244,849

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

96

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)	2019			2018			2017
Interest income
Interest and fees on loans	$	1,228,480		$	1,044,502		$	856,549
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	11,992			15,738			12,332
Interest bearing deposits with banks	29,803			17,090			9,252
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements	700			1			2
Investment securities	108,046			87,382			63,315
Trading account securities	39			43			25
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock	5,416			5,331			4,370
Brokerage customer receivables	666			723			623
Total interest income	1,385,142			1,170,810			946,468
Interest expense
Interest on deposits	278,892			166,553			83,326
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank advances	9,878			12,412			8,798
Interest on other borrowings	13,897			8,599			5,370
Interest on subordinated notes	15,555			7,121			7,116
Interest on junior subordinated debentures	12,001			11,222			9,782
Total interest expense	330,223			205,907			114,392
Net interest income	1,054,919			964,903			832,076
Provision for credit losses	53,864			34,832			29,768
Net interest income after provision for credit losses	1,001,055			930,071			802,308
Non-interest income
Wealth management	97,114			90,963			81,766
Mortgage banking	154,293			136,990			113,472
Service charges on deposit accounts	39,070			36,404			34,513
Gains (losses) on investment securities, net	3,525			(2,898		)	45
Fees from covered call options	3,670			3,519			4,402
Trading (losses) gains, net	(158		)	11			(845		)
Operating lease income, net	47,041			38,451			29,646
Other	62,617			52,710			56,507
Total non-interest income	407,172			356,150			319,506
Non-interest expense
Salaries and employee benefits	546,420			480,077			430,078
Equipment	52,328			42,949			38,358
Operating lease equipment	35,760			29,305			24,107
Occupancy, net	64,289			57,814			52,920
Data processing	27,820			35,027			31,495
Advertising and marketing	48,595			41,140			30,830
Professional fees	27,471			32,306			27,835
Amortization of other intangible assets	11,844			4,571			4,401
FDIC insurance	9,199			17,209			16,231
OREO expenses, net	3,628			6,120			3,593
Other	100,772			79,570			71,969
Total non-interest expense	928,126			826,088			731,817
Income before taxes	480,101			460,133			389,997
Income tax expense	124,404			116,967			132,315
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682
Preferred stock dividends	8,200			8,200			9,778
Net income applicable to common shares	$	347,497		$	334,966		$	247,904
Net income per common share—Basic	$	6.11		$	5.95		$	4.53
Net income per common share—Diluted	$	6.03		$	5.86		$	4.40
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	1.00		$	0.76		$	0.56
Weighted average common shares outstanding	56,857			56,300			54,703
Dilutive potential common shares	762			908			1,983
Average common shares and dilutive common shares	57,619			57,208			56,686

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

97

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
Before tax	79,702			(27,408		)	22,123
Tax effect	(21,361		)	7,354			(7,706		)
Net of tax	58,341			(20,054		)	14,417
Reclassification of net gains on available-for-sale securities included in net income
Before tax	899			33			45
Tax effect	(241		)	(9		)	(18		)
Net of tax	658			24			27
Reclassification of amortization of unrealized gains on investment securities transferred to held-to-maturity from available-for-sale
Before tax	479			89			1,479
Tax effect	(131		)	(24		)	(585		)
Net of tax	348			65			894
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	57,335			(20,143		)	13,496
Unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments
Before tax	(28,685		)	(1,160		)	4,958
Tax effect	7,687			310			(1,959		)
Net unrealized (losses) gains on derivative instruments	(20,998		)	(850		)	2,999
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Before tax	7,483			(12,216		)	9,446
Tax effect	(1,626		)	3,026			(2,448		)
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	5,857			(9,190		)	6,998
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	42,194			(30,183		)	23,493
Comprehensive income	$	397,891		$	312,983		$	281,175

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

98

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

(In thousands, except per share data)	Preferred stock			Common stock		Surplus			Treasury stock			Retained earnings			Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			Total shareholders' equity
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	251,257		$	51,978	$	1,365,781		$	(4,589	)	$	1,096,518		$	(65,328	)	$	2,695,617
Net income	—			—		—			—			257,682			—			257,682
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—			—		—			—			—			23,493			23,493
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $0.56 per share	—			—		—			—			(30,765		)	—			(30,765		)
Dividends on preferred stock, $1.94 per share	—			—		—			—			(9,778		)	—			(9,778		)
Stock-based compensation	—			—		12,858			—			—			—			12,858
Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock to common stock	(126,257		)	3,121		123,136			—			—			—			—
Common stock issued for:
Exercise of stock options and warrants	—			813		23,261			—			—			—			24,074
Restricted stock awards	—			88		(88		)	(397		)	—			—			(397		)
Employee stock purchase plan	—			36		2,494			—			—			—			2,530
Director compensation plan	—			32		1,593			—			—			—			1,625
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	125,000		$	56,068	$	1,529,035		$	(4,986	)	$	1,313,657		$	(41,835	)	$	2,976,939
Cumulative effect adjustment from the adoption :
ASU 2016-01	—			—		—			—			1,880			(1,880		)	—
ASU 2017-12	—			—		—			—			(116		)	—			(116		)
ASU 2018-02	—			—		—			—			2,974			(2,974		)	—
Net income	—			—		—			—			343,166			—			343,166
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—			—		—			—			—			(30,183		)	(30,183		)
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $0.76 per share	—			—		—			—			(42,787		)	—			(42,787		)
Dividends on preferred stock, $1.64 per share	—			—		—			—			(8,200		)	—			(8,200		)
Stock-based compensation	—			—		13,496			—			—			—			13,496
Common stock issued for:
Exercise of stock options and warrants	—			299		11,359			(192		)	—			—			11,466
Restricted stock awards	—			101		(101		)	(456		)	—			—			(456		)
Employee stock purchase plan	—			31		2,492			—			—			—			2,523
Director compensation plan	—			19		1,703			—			—			—			1,722
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	125,000		$	56,518	$	1,557,984		$	(5,634	)	$	1,610,574		$	(76,872	)	$	3,267,570
Cumulative effect adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2017-08	—			—		—			—			(1,531		)	—			(1,531		)
Net income	—			—		—			—			355,697			—			355,697
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—			—		—			—			—			42,194			42,194
Cash dividends declared on common stock, $1.00 per share	—			—		—			—			(56,910		)	—			(56,910		)
Dividends on preferred stock, $1.64 per share	—			—		—			—			(8,200		)	—			(8,200		)
Stock-based compensation	—			—		11,304			—			—			—			11,304
Common stock issued for:
Acquisitions	—			1,074		70,682			—			—			—			71,756
Exercise of stock options and warrants	—			146		5,541			(844		)	—			—			4,843
Restricted stock awards	—			150		(150		)	(453		)	—			—			(453		)
Employee stock purchase plan	—			44		2,775			—			—			—			2,819
Director compensation plan	—			19		2,142			—			—			—			2,161
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	125,000		$	57,951	$	1,650,278		$	(6,931	)	$	1,899,630		$	(34,678	)	$	3,691,250

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

99

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Operating Activities:
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Provision for credit losses	53,864			34,832			29,768
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	88,362			67,665			63,107
Deferred income tax expense	44,557			55,224			63,243
Stock-based compensation expense	11,304			13,496			12,858
Net amortization of premium on securities	6,605			7,411			6,098
Accretion of discounts on loans	(26,624		)	(20,318		)	(22,784		)
Mortgage servicing rights fair value change, net	35,536			5,370			1,857
Originations and purchases of mortgage loans held-for-sale	(4,497,921		)	(3,955,438		)	(3,692,085		)
Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans held-for-sale	4,484,838			4,076,887			3,869,137
BOLI income	(4,846		)	(5,448		)	(3,524		)
Decrease (increase) in trading securities, net	624			(697		)	994
Net (increase) decrease in brokerage customer receivables	(3,964		)	13,822			(1,250		)
Gains on mortgage loans sold	(135,607		)	(104,998		)	(88,699		)
(Gains) losses on investment securities, net, and dividend reinvestment on equity securities	(3,525		)	2,000			(45		)
Losses (gains) on sales of premises and equipment, net	92			64			(192		)
Net losses on sales and fair value adjustments of other real estate owned	1,921			4,664			639
Gain on termination of loss share agreements with the FDIC	—			—			(385		)
Increase in accrued interest receivable and other assets, net	(133,022		)	(133,519		)	(126,583		)
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable and other liabilities, net	(11,898		)	(27,001		)	31,790
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	265,993			377,182			401,626
Investing Activities:
Proceeds from maturities and calls of available-for-sale securities	718,345			352,683			276,097
Proceeds from maturities and calls of held-to-maturity securities	422,959			11,129			108,943
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	972,253			214,196			344,674
Proceeds from sales of equity securities with readily determinable fair value	19,200			1,895			—
Proceeds from sales and capital distributions of equity securities without readily determinable fair value	1,764			1,324			—
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(2,226,834		)	(1,095,375		)	(774,041		)
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities	(493,389		)	(253,129		)	(301,909		)
Purchases of equity securities with readily determinable fair value	(32,729		)	—			—
Purchases of equity securities without readily determinable fair value	(4,394		)	(4,592		)	—
(Purchase) redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock, net	(9,385		)	(1,365		)	43,505
Distributions from investments in partnerships, net	1,955			3,409			512
Net cash paid in business combinations	(108,365		)	(53,871		)	(284		)
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned	14,516			19,375			18,742
Proceeds paid to the FDIC related to reimbursements on covered assets	—			—			(15,411		)
Net increase in interest-bearing deposits with banks	(983,513		)	(15,988		)	(81,621		)
Net increase in loans	(2,229,637		)	(1,883,354		)	(1,863,245		)
Redemption of BOLI	326			8,438			—
Purchases of premises and equipment, net	(82,021		)	(68,273		)	(59,194		)
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities	(4,018,949		)	(2,763,498		)	(2,303,232		)
Financing Activities:
Increase in deposit accounts	3,142,499			2,547,399			1,524,848
Increase (decrease) in other borrowings, net	15,480			137,257			(4,888		)
Increase (decrease) in Federal Home Loan Bank advances, net	248,442			(147,999		)	403,000
Cash payments to settle contingent consideration liabilities recognized in business combinations	(66		)	—			(1,097		)
Proceeds from the issuance of subordinated notes, net	296,617			—			—
Issuance of common shares resulting from exercise of stock options, employee stock purchase plan and conversion of common stock warrants	10,667			15,903			28,229
Common stock repurchases for tax withholdings related to stock-based compensation	(1,297		)	(648		)	(397		)
Dividends paid	(65,110		)	(50,987		)	(40,543		)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	3,647,232			2,500,925			1,909,152
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(105,724		)	114,609			7,546
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	392,200			277,591			270,045
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	286,476		$	392,200		$	277,591
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	327,329		$	197,911		$	112,783
Income taxes, net	60,845			69,118			76,812
Business combinations and asset acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired, including cash and cash equivalents	1,093,254			485,368			1,022
Value ascribed to goodwill and other intangible assets	80,581			109,548			999
Fair value of liabilities assumed	896,686			423,234			738
Non-cash activities
Transfer to other real estate owned from loans	5,722			7,936			15,013
Common stock issued for acquisitions	71,756			—			—

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

100

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting and reporting policies of Wintrust Financial Corporation (“Wintrust” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and prevailing practices of the banking industry. In the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts contained in the consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the estimates made are reasonable; however, changes in estimates may be required if economic or other conditions change beyond management’s expectations. Reclassifications of certain prior year amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. The following is a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements of Wintrust include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then share in the earnings of the Company. The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding is increased by the assumed conversion of any outstanding convertible preferred stock shares from the beginning of the year or date of issuance, if later, and the number of common shares that would be issued assuming the exercise of stock options, the issuance of restricted shares and stock warrants using the treasury stock method. The adjustments to the weighted-average common shares outstanding are only made when such adjustments will dilute earnings per common share. Net income applicable to common shares used in the diluted earnings per share calculation can be affected by the conversion of the Company's preferred stock. Where the effect of this conversion would reduce the loss per share or increase the income per share, net income applicable to common shares is not adjusted by the associated preferred dividends.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”) when it obtains control of a business. When determining whether a business has been acquired, the Company first evaluates whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired are concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If concentrated in such a manner, the set of assets and activities is not a business. If not concentrated in such a manner, the Company assesses whether the set meets the definition of a business by containing inputs, outputs and at least one substantive process. If the set represents a business, the Company recognizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, immediately expenses transaction costs and accounts for restructuring plans separately from the business combination. There is no separate recognition of the acquired allowance for loan losses on the acquirer’s balance sheet as credit related factors are incorporated directly into the fair value of the loans recorded at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Alternatively, a gain is recorded equal to the amount by which the fair value of assets purchased exceeds the fair value of liabilities assumed and consideration paid.

If the set of assets and activities do not constitute a business, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. The cost of a group of assets acquired is allocated to the individual assets acquired or liabilities assumed based on the relative fair value and does not result in the recognition of goodwill. Generally, any excess of the cost of the transaction over the fair value of the individual assets acquired or liabilities assumed, or, in contrast, any excess of the fair value of the individual assets acquired or liabilities assumed over the cost of the transaction, should be allocated on a relative fair value basis. Certain "non-qualifying" assets are excluded from this allocation, and are recognized at the individual asset's fair value.

Results of operations of the acquired business are included in the income statement from the effective date of acquisition. Subsequent adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified in reporting periods after the acquisition date of the business combination and asset acquisitions are recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined.

101

Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, Wintrust considers cash on hand, cash items in the process of collection, non-interest bearing amounts due from correspondent banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements with original maturities of three months or less, to be cash equivalents.

Investment Securities

The Company classifies debt and equity securities upon purchase in one of five categories: trading, held-to-maturity debt securities, available-for-sale debt securities, equity securities with a readily determinable fair value or equity securities without a readily determinable fair value. Debt and equity securities held for resale are classified as trading securities. Debt securities for which the Company has the ability and positive intent to hold until maturity are classified as held-to-maturity. All other debt securities are classified as available-for-sale as they may be sold prior to maturity in response to changes in the Company’s interest rate risk profile, funding needs, demand for collateralized deposits by public entities or other reasons. Equity securities are classified based upon whether a readily determinable fair value exists on such security. The fair value of an equity security is readily determinable if it meets certain conditions, including whether sales prices or bid-ask quotes are currently available on certain securities exchanges; traded only in a foreign market that is of a breadth and scope comparable to one of the U.S. markets; or the security is an investment in a mutual fund or similar structure with a fair value per share or unit that is determined and published, and is the basis for current transactions.

Held-to-maturity debt securities are stated at amortized cost, which represents actual cost adjusted for premium amortization and discount accretion using methods that approximate the effective interest method. Available-for-sale debt securities are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of related taxes, included in shareholders’ equity as a separate component of other comprehensive income. Trading account securities and equity securities with a readily determinable fair value are stated at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses from sales and fair value adjustments are included in other non-interest income. Equity securities without a readily determinable fair value are stated at either a calculated net asset value per share, if available, or the cost of the security minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar instrument of the same issuer.

Subsequent to classification at the time of purchase, the Company may transfer debt securities between trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale. For debt securities transferred to trading, the current unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer, net of related taxes, is immediately recognized in earnings. Debt securities transferred from trading to either held-to-maturity or available-for-sale has already recognized any unrealized gain or loss into earnings and this amount is not reversed. Unrealized gains or losses, net related taxes, for available-for-sale debt securities transferred to held-to-maturity remains as a separate component of other comprehensive income and an offsetting discount included in the amortized cost of the held-to-maturity debt security. These amounts are amortized over the remaining life of the debt security in equal and offsetting amounts. Unrealized gains or losses for held-to-maturity debt securities transferred to available-for-sale are recognized at the transfer date as a separate component of other comprehensive income, net of related taxes.

Declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale debt investment securities (with certain exceptions for debt securities noted below) that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are charged to earnings as a realized loss, and a new cost basis for the securities is established. In evaluating other-than-temporary impairment, management considers the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value in the near term. Declines in the fair value of debt securities below amortized cost are deemed to be other-than-temporary in circumstances where: (1) the Company has the intent to sell a security; (2) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; or (3) the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the debt security. If the Company intends to sell a debt security or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before recovery, an other-than-temporary impairment write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the debt security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. If an entity does not intend to sell the debt security or it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the debt security before recovery, the other-than-temporary impairment write-down is separated into an amount representing credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and an amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income.

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value with changes recognized in net income. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. Such investments are included within accrued interest receivable and other assets within the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition.

102

Interest and dividends, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, are recognized as interest income when earned. Realized gains and losses on sales (using the specific identification method), unrealized gains and losses on equity securities and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in non-interest income.

FHLB and FRB Stock

Investments in FHLB and FRB stock are restricted as to redemption and are carried at cost.

Securities Purchased Under Resale Agreements and Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements

Securities purchased under resale agreements and securities sold under repurchase agreements are generally treated as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the amount at which the securities were acquired or sold plus accrued interest. Securities, consisting of U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government agency and mortgage-backed securities, pledged as collateral under these financing arrangements cannot be sold by the secured party. The fair value of collateral either received from or provided to a third party is monitored and additional collateral is obtained or requested to be returned as deemed appropriate.

Brokerage Customer Receivables

The Company, under an agreement with an out-sourced securities clearing firm, extends credit to its brokerage customers to finance their purchases of securities on margin. The Company receives income from interest charged on such extensions of credit. Brokerage customer receivables represent amounts due on margin balances. Securities owned by customers are held as collateral for these receivables.

Mortgage Loans Held-for-Sale

Mortgage loans are classified as held-for-sale when originated or acquired with the intent to sell the loan into the secondary market. ASC 825, “Financial Instruments” provides entities with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Mortgage loans classified as held-for-sale are measured at fair value which is determined by reference to investor prices for loan products with similar characteristics. Changes in fair value are recognized in mortgage banking revenue.

Market conditions or other developments may change management’s intent with respect to the disposition of these loans and loans previously classified as mortgage loans held-for-sale may be reclassified to the loans held-for-investment portfolio, with the balance transferred continuing to be carried at fair value.

Loans and Leases, Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Covered Loan Losses and Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments

Loans are generally reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income. Interest income is recognized when earned. Loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs are deferred and amortized over the expected life of the loan as an adjustment to the yield using methods that approximate the effective interest method. Finance charges on premium finance receivables are earned over the term of the loan, using a method which approximates the effective yield method.

Leases classified as capital leases are included within lease loans for financial statement purposes. Capital leases are stated as the sum of remaining minimum lease payments from lessees plus estimated residual values less unearned lease income. Unearned lease income on capital leases is recognized over the term of the leases using the effective interest method.

Interest income is not accrued on loans where management has determined that the borrowers may be unable to meet contractual principal and/or interest obligations, or where interest or principal is 90 days or more past due, unless the loans are adequately secured and in the process of collection. Cash receipts on non-accrual loans are generally applied to the principal balance until the remaining balance is considered collectible, at which time interest income may be recognized when received.

The Company maintains its allowance for loan losses at a level believed appropriate by management to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and is based on the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective as it requires significant estimates, including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on the average historical loss experience, and qualitative considerations. The allowance for loan losses includes the following components: 1) specific reserves on impaired loans, 2) a general reserve based upon historical loss experience and 3) qualitative factors to adjust the historical loss experience used, if deemed necessary.

103

If a loan is impaired, the Company analyzes the loan for purposes of calculating our specific impairment reserves. Loans with a credit risk rating of a 6 through 9 are reviewed to determine if (a) an amount is deemed uncollectible (a charge-off) or (b) it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect amounts due in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan (an impaired loan). If a loan is impaired, the carrying amount of the loan is compared to the expected payments to be received, discounted at the loan’s original rate, or for collateral dependent loans, to the fair value of the collateral less the estimated cost to sell. Any shortfall is recorded as a specific reserve. For loans that are not considered impaired loans, a general reserve is established based on historical loss experience, adjusted for certain qualitative factors, related to the type of loan collateral, if any, and the assigned credit risk rating. Such qualitative factors assessed by management include the following:

• an assessment of internally-evaluated problem loans and historical loss experience;

• changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, changes in historical loss experience;

• changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collections, charge-off and recovery practices;

• changes in experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff;

• changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments;

• changes in the volume and severity of past due and classified loans and trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, TDRs and other loan modifications;

• changes in the quality of the Company’s loan review system;

• changes in the underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans; and

• the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the bank’s existing portfolio.

All such estimates and considerations may be susceptible to significant change. Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries are credited to the allowance. A provision for credit losses is charged to income based on management’s periodic evaluation of the factors previously mentioned, as well as other pertinent factors. Evaluations are conducted at least quarterly and more frequently if deemed necessary.

Under accounting guidance applicable to loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, the excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated life of the loans, using the effective-interest method. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the nonaccretable difference. Changes in the expected cash flows from the date of acquisition will either impact the accretable yield or result in a charge to the provision for credit losses. Subsequent decreases to expected principal cash flows will result in a charge to provision for credit losses and a corresponding increase to allowance for loan losses. Subsequent increases in expected principal cash flows will result in recovery of any previously recorded allowance for loan losses, to the extent applicable, and a reclassification from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield for any remaining increase. All changes in expected interest cash flows, including the impact of prepayments, will result in reclassifications to/from nonaccretable differences.

In estimating expected losses, the Company evaluates loans for impairment in accordance ASC 310, “Receivables.” A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due pursuant to the contractual terms of the loan. Impaired loans include non-accrual loans, restructured loans or loans with principal and/or interest at risk, even if the loan is current with all payments of principal and interest. Impairment is measured by estimating the fair value of the loan based on the present value of expected cash flows, the market price of the loan, or the fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell. If the estimated fair value of the loan is less than the recorded book value, a valuation allowance is established as a component of the allowance for loan losses. For TDRs in which impairment is calculated by the present value of future cash flows, the Company records interest income representing the decrease in impairment resulting from the passage of time during the respective period, which differs from interest income from contractually required interest on these specific loans.

The Company also maintains an allowance for lending-related commitments, specifically unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit, to provide for the risk of loss inherent in these arrangements. The allowance is computed using a methodology similar to that used to determine the allowance for loan losses. This allowance is included in other liabilities on the statement of condition while the corresponding provision for these losses is recorded as a component of the provision for credit losses.

104

Mortgage Servicing Rights ("MSRs")

MSRs are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Condition at fair value in accordance with ASC 860, “Transfers and Servicing.” The Company originates mortgage loans for sale to the secondary market. Certain loans are originated and sold with servicing rights retained. MSRs associated with loans originated and sold, where servicing is retained, are capitalized at the time of sale at fair value based on the future net cash flows expected to be realized for performing the servicing activities, and included in other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The change in the fair value of MSRs is recorded as a component of mortgage banking revenue in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company measures the fair value of MSRs by stratifying the servicing rights into pools based on homogeneous characteristics, such as product type and interest rate. The fair value of each servicing rights pool is calculated based on the present value of estimated future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risk associated with that pool, given current market conditions. Estimates of fair value include assumptions about prepayment speeds, interest rates and other factors which are subject to change over time. Changes in these underlying assumptions could cause the fair value of MSRs to change significantly in the future.

Lease Investments

The Company’s investments in equipment and other assets held on operating leases are reported as lease investments, net. Rental income on operating leases is recognized as income over the lease term on a straight-line basis. Equipment and other assets held on operating leases is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of the cost of the assets held on operating leases, less any residual value, is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the leases, which is generally seven years or less.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Useful lives generally range from two to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, two to seven years for software and computer-related equipment and seven to 39 years for buildings and improvements. Land improvements are amortized over a period of 15 years and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the respective lease including any lease renewals deemed to be reasonably assured. Land and antique furnishings and artwork are not subject to depreciation. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized, and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Internal costs related to the configuration, testing and installation of new software and the modification of existing software that provides additional functionality are capitalized.

Long-lived depreciable assets are evaluated periodically for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the expected undiscounted future cash flows of a long-lived asset are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the asset based on a quoted market price, if applicable, or a discounted cash flow analysis. Impairment losses are recognized in other non-interest expense.

FDIC Loss Share Asset (Liability)

From 2010 to 2012, the Company acquired the banking operations, including the acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of liabilities, of nine financial institutions in FDIC-assisted transactions. Loans comprised the majority of the assets acquired in nearly all of these FDIC-assisted transactions. Eight FDIC-assisted transactions were subject to loss sharing agreements with the FDIC whereby the FDIC agreed to reimburse the Company for 80% of losses incurred on the purchased loans, other real estate owned (“OREO”), and certain other assets. Additionally, clawback provisions within these loss share agreements with the FDIC required the Company to reimburse the FDIC in the event that actual losses on covered assets were lower than the original loss estimates agreed upon with the FDIC with respect of such assets in the loss share agreements. The Company refers to the loans subject to these loss sharing agreements as “covered loans” and uses the term “covered assets” to refer to covered loans, covered OREO and certain other covered assets during periods subject to such agreements. As of dates subject to such agreements, the loans covered by the loss share agreements were classified and presented as covered loans and the estimated reimbursable losses were recorded as an FDIC indemnification asset or liability in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.

The loss share assets and liabilities were measured separately from the loan portfolios because they were not contractually embedded in the loans and were not transferable with the loans should the Company choose to dispose of them. Fair values at the acquisition dates were estimated based on projected cash flows available for loss-share based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool and the loss share percentages. Therefore, the Company only recognized a provision for credit losses and charge-offs on the acquired loans for any further credit deterioration subsequent to the acquisition date. Reductions to expected losses, to the

105

extent such reductions to expected losses were the result of an improvement to the actual or expected cash flows from the covered assets, reduced the FDIC loss share asset or increased any FDIC loss share liability. Additional expected losses, to the extent such expected losses resulted in the recognition of an allowance for loan losses, increased the FDIC loss share asset or reduced any FDIC loss share liability. The allowance for loan losses for loans acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions was determined without giving consideration to the amounts recoverable through loss share agreements (since the loss share agreements are separately accounted for and thus presented “gross” on the balance sheet). On the Consolidated Statements of Income, the provision for credit losses was reported net of changes in the amount recoverable under the loss share agreements.

A summary of activity in the allowance for covered loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:

	Year Ended
	December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	1,322
Allowance for covered loan losses transferred to allowance for loan losses subsequent to loss share termination or expiration	(742		)
Provision for covered loan losses before benefit attributable to FDIC loss share agreements	(1,063		)
Benefit attributable to FDIC loss share agreements	1,592
Net provision for covered loan losses and transfer from allowance for covered loan losses to allowance for loan losses	$	(213	)
Increase in FDIC indemnification liability	(1,592		)
Loans charged-off	(517		)
Recoveries of loans charged-off	1,000
Net recoveries	$	483
Balance at end of period	$	—

Subsequent to the acquisition date, reimbursements received from the FDIC for actual incurred losses reduced FDIC loss share assets or increased FDIC loss share liabilities. In accordance with certain clawback provisions, the Company was required to reimburse the FDIC when actual losses were less than certain thresholds established for each loss share agreement. The balance of these estimated reimbursements and any related amortization were adjusted periodically for changes in the expected losses on covered assets. On the Consolidated Statements of Condition, estimated reimbursements from clawback provisions were recorded as a reduction to FDIC loss share assets or an increase to FDIC loss share liabilities. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a $4.9 million reduction to the estimated loss share liability as a result of an adjustment related to such clawback provisions. Although these assets and liabilities were contractual receivables from and payables to the FDIC, there were no contractual interest rates. Additional expected losses, to the extent such expected losses resulted in the recognition of an allowance for loan losses, increased FDIC loss share assets or reduced FDIC loss share liabilities. The corresponding amortization or accretion was recorded as a component of non-interest income on the Consolidated Statements of Income during periods covered by the loss share agreements.

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s FDIC loss share liability during the period indicated:

	Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	16,701
Reductions from reimbursable expenses	(291		)
Amortization	1,044
Changes in expected reimbursements from the FDIC for changes in expected credit losses	(1,658		)
Resolution through payments paid to the FDIC and termination of loss share agreements	(15,796		)
Balance at end of period	$	—

On October 16, 2017, the Company entered into agreements with the FDIC that terminated all existing loss share agreements with the FDIC. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company made a net payment of $15.2 million to the FDIC as consideration for the early termination of the loss share agreements. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.4 million to write off the remaining loss share asset, relieve the claw-back liability and recognize the payment to the FDIC. The allowance for

106

covered loan losses previously measured is included within the allowance for credit losses, excluding covered loans, for subsequent periods.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned is comprised of real estate acquired in partial or full satisfaction of loans and is included in other assets. Other real estate owned is recorded at its estimated fair value less estimated selling costs at the date of transfer. Any excess of the related loan balance over the fair value less expected selling costs is charged to the allowance for loan losses. In contrast, any excess of the fair value less expected selling costs over the related loan balance is recorded as a recovery of prior charge-offs on the loan and, if any portion of the excess exceeds prior charge-offs, as an increase to earnings. Subsequent changes in value are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount and are recorded in other non-interest expense. Gains and losses upon sale, if any, are also charged to other non-interest expense. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, other real estate owned, excluding covered other real estate owned, totaled $15.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired. Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that also lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. In accordance with accounting standards, goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently when events warrant, using a qualitative or quantitative approach. Intangible assets which have finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and also are subject to impairment testing. Intangible assets which have indefinite lives are evaluated each reporting date to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. If an indefinite useful life can no longer be supported for such asset, the intangible asset will begin amortization over the estimated useful life at that point of time. If an indefinite useful life can be supported, the asset is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently when events warrant, using a qualitative or quantitative approach. All of the Company’s intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over varying periods not exceeding twenty years.

Bank-Owned Life Insurance ("BOLI")

The Company maintains BOLI on certain executives. BOLI balances are recorded at their cash surrender values and are included in other assets. Changes in the cash surrender values are included in non-interest income. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, BOLI totaled $187.5 million and $147.9 million, respectively.

Derivative Instruments

The Company enters into derivative transactions principally to protect against the risk of adverse price or interest rate movements on the future cash flows or the value of certain assets and liabilities. The Company is also required to recognize certain contracts and commitments, including certain commitments to fund mortgage loans held-for-sale, as derivatives when the characteristics of those contracts and commitments meet the definition of a derivative. The Company accounts for derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” which requires that all derivative instruments be recorded in the statement of condition at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and further, on the type of hedging relationship.

Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or liability attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Formal documentation of the relationship between a derivative instrument and a hedged asset or liability, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction and an assessment of effectiveness is required at inception to apply hedge accounting. In addition, formal documentation of ongoing effectiveness testing is required to maintain hedge accounting.

Fair value hedges are accounted for by recording the changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument and the changes in the fair value related to the risk being hedged of the hedged asset or liability on the statement of condition with corresponding offsets recorded in the income statement. The adjustment to the hedged asset or liability is included in the basis of the hedged item, while the fair value of the derivative is recorded as a freestanding asset or liability. Actual cash receipts or payments and related amounts accrued during the period on derivatives included in a fair value hedge relationship are recorded as adjustments to the interest income or expense recorded on the hedged asset or liability.

107

Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument on the statement of condition as either a freestanding asset or liability, with a corresponding offset recorded in other comprehensive income within shareholders’ equity, net of deferred taxes. Amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense in the period or periods the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.

Under both the fair value and cash flow hedge scenarios, changes in the fair value of derivatives not considered to be highly effective in hedging the change in fair value or the expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized in earnings as non-interest income during the period of the change.

Derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges according to accounting guidance are reported on the statement of condition at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as non-interest income during the period of the change.

Commitments to fund mortgage loans (i.e. interest rate locks) to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of these mortgage loans are accounted for as derivatives and are not designated in hedging relationships. Fair values of these mortgage derivatives are estimated based on changes in mortgage rates from the date of the commitments. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives are included in mortgage banking revenue.

Forward currency contracts used to manage foreign exchange risk associated with certain assets are accounted for as derivatives and are not designated in hedging relationships. Foreign currency derivatives are recorded at fair value based on prevailing currency exchange rates at the measurement date. Changes in the fair values of these derivatives resulting from fluctuations in currency rates are recognized in earnings as non-interest income during the period of change.

Periodically, the Company sells options to an unrelated bank or dealer for the right to purchase certain securities held within the banks’ investment portfolios (“covered call options”). These option transactions are designed primarily as an economic hedge to compensate for net interest margin compression by increasing the total return associated with holding the related securities as earning assets by using fee income generated from these options. These transactions are not designated in hedging relationships pursuant to accounting guidance and, accordingly, changes in fair values of these contracts, are reported in other non-interest income.

Periodically, the Company will purchase options for the right to purchase securities not currently held within the banks' investment portfolios or enter into interest rate swaps in which the Company elects to not designate such derivatives as hedging instruments. These option and swap transactions are designed primarily to economically hedge a portion of the fair value adjustments related to the Company's mortgage servicing rights portfolio. The gain or loss associated with these derivative contracts are included in mortgage banking revenue.

Trust Assets, Assets Under Management and Brokerage Assets

Assets held in fiduciary or agency capacity for customers are not included in the consolidated financial statements as they are not assets of Wintrust or its subsidiaries. Fee income is recognized on an accrual basis and is included as a component of non-interest income.

Income Taxes

Wintrust and its subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income tax return. Income tax expense is based upon income in the consolidated financial statements rather than amounts reported on the income tax return. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using currently enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized as an income tax benefit or income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

Positions taken in the Company’s tax returns may be subject to challenge by the taxing authorities upon examination. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, uncertain tax positions are initially recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the positions will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are both initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely being realized upon settlement with the tax authority, assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. Interest and penalties on income tax uncertainties are classified within income tax expense in the income statement.

108

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

In accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” compensation cost is measured as the fair value of the awards on their date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options and the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant is used to estimate the fair value of restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

Accounting guidance permits for the recognition of stock based compensation for the number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest. As a result, recognized compensation expense for stock options and restricted share awards is reduced for estimated forfeitures prior to vesting. Forfeitures rates are estimated for each type of award based on historical forfeiture experience. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

The Company issues new shares to satisfy option exercises and vesting of restricted shares.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of deferred taxes, changes in deferred gains and losses on investment securities transferred from available-for-sale debt securities to held-to-maturity debt securities, net of deferred taxes, adjustments related to cash flow hedges, net of deferred taxes and foreign currency translation adjustments, net of deferred taxes. The Company has a policy for releasing the income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income using an individual security approach.

Stock Repurchases

The Company periodically repurchases shares of its outstanding common stock through open market purchases or other methods. Repurchased shares are recorded as treasury shares on the trade date using the treasury stock method, and the cash paid is recorded as treasury stock.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company revalues assets, liabilities, revenue and expense denominated in non-U.S. currencies into U.S. dollars at the end of each month using applicable exchange rates.

Gains and losses relating to translating functional currency financial statements for U.S. reporting are included in other comprehensive income. Gains and losses relating to the re-measurement of transactions to the functional currency are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Going Concern

In connection with preparing financial statements for each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, exist that would raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. If substantial doubt exists, specific disclosures are required to be included in the Company's financial statements issued. Through its evaluation, the Company did not identify any conditions or events that would raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Amortization of Premium on Certain Debt Securities

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, “Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities,” to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. The amortization period for such securities was shortened to the earliest call date. The Company adopted ASU No. 2017-08 as of January 1, 2019 under a modified retrospective approach. As a result, the Company recognized a cumulative effect adjustment of $1.5 million representing the accelerated amortization of premiums on certain callable debt securities directly to retained earnings on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition.

109

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” to improve transparency and comparability across entities regarding leasing arrangements. This ASU requires the recognition of a separate lease liability representing the required discounted lease payments over the lease term and a separate lease asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the same lease term. Further, this ASU provides clarification regarding the identification of certain components of contracts that would represent a lease as well as requires additional disclosures to the notes of the financial statements. Additionally, in January 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-01, "Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842," to permit an entity to elect an optional practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 land easements that exist or expired before the entity's adoption of Topic 842 and that were not previously accounted for as leases under existing accounting guidance.

The FASB has continued to issue various updates to clarify and improve specific areas of ASU No. 2016-02. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,” to clarify the implementation guidance within ASU No. 2016-02 surrounding narrow aspects of Topic 842, including lessee reassessment of lease classifications, the rate implicit in a lease, lessor reassessment of lease terms and purchase options and variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate. Also, in July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements,” to clarify the implementation guidance within ASU No. 2016-02 surrounding comparative period reporting requirements for initial adoption as well as separating lease and non-lease components in a contract and allocating consideration in the contract to the separate components. Also, in December 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-20, “Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors,” to clarify the implementation guidance within ASU No. 2016-02 surrounding specific aspects of lessor accounting. In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-01, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,” to clarify the implementation guidance within ASU No. 2016-02 surrounding aspects of Topic 842, including determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers, presentation on the statement of cash flows, and transition disclosures related to Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 and all subsequent updates issued to clarify and improve specific areas of this ASU as of January 1, 2019. The Company elected an optional transition method to apply the new guidance at the date of adoption (i.e. January 1, 2019) and continue applying current lease accounting guidance for comparative periods (i.e. reporting periods in 2018). As a result, as of January 1, 2019, the Company recognized a separate lease liability and right-of-use asset of approximately $199.4 million and $170.6 million, respectively, for leasing arrangements in which the Company is a lessee. The difference in the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset represents any remaining amounts related to prepayments, payment deferrals and lease incentives as of January 1, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset was $197.6 million and $165.7 million, respectively. The separate liability and asset are included within accrued interest payable and other liabilities and accrued interest receivable and other assets, respectively, within the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition. The leasing arrangements requiring recognition on the Consolidated Statements of Condition primarily related to certain banking facilities under operating lease agreements as well as other leasing arrangements in which the Company has the right-of-use of specific signage related to sponsorships and other agreements and certain automatic teller machines and other equipment. The Company utilized the following other transition elections and practical expedients:

• For lessee arrangements of certain classes of underlying assets, including banking facilities and equipment, the Company elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components and instead to account for each separate lease and non-lease component as a single lease component.

• For lessor arrangements that meet certain criteria (leasing of space in owned facilities), the Company elected the practical expedient to account for each separate lease and non-lease component as a single lease component.

• A package of practical expedients applied to leases existing prior to the effective date that must all be elected together and allow a Company to not reassess:

◦ whether any expiring or existing contracts are or contain a lease;

◦ lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and

◦ whether initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases qualify for capitalization.

• A practical expedient that permits the Company to continue applying its current policy for accounting for expired or existing land easements.

• An accounting policy election for short-term leases (i.e. terms of 12 months or less with no purchase option expected to be exercised) to apply accounting similar to ASC 840, specifically to not recognize separate lease liabilities and right-of-use assets.

As noted above, in accordance with ASU No. 2016-02 and all subsequent updates, the Company recognized a separate lease liability and right-of-use asset related to leasing arrangements in which the Company is the lessee of the identified asset. These lease arrangements include primarily the use of certain buildings, retail space and office space for the Company's operations and are considered operating leases. The underlying agreements of these arrangements often require fixed payments on a monthly

110

basis. These fixed payments are included as consideration when measuring the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset noted above. Other payments are made on a monthly basis for certain items that are considered variable, including payments for insurance, real estate taxes and maintenance. Additionally, underlying agreements often have an initial period of use followed by certain extension periods. The Company considers such extensions for purposes of lease classification and the measurement of the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset. If the Company is reasonably certain to elect to extend the leasing arrangement, the lease term would include these periods for the purposes noted above. As a lessee, the Company cannot readily determine the rate implicit in the lease. As a result, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate when measuring the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset. The Company estimated the incremental borrowing rate as the rate of interest that would be paid to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term in a similar economic environment.

(2) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Allowance for Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” to replace the current incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses, which delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred, with a methodology that reflects an estimate of all expected credit losses and considers additional reasonable and supportable forecasted information when determining lifetime credit loss estimates. This impacts the calculation of an allowance for credit losses for all financial assets measured under the amortized cost basis, including held-to-maturity debt securities and purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") assets at the time of and subsequent to acquisition. Additionally, credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities would be recorded through the allowance for credit losses and not as a direct adjustment to the amortized cost of the securities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is to be applied under a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition as of the first reporting period of adoption.

The FASB has continued to issue various updates to clarify and improve specific areas of ASU No. 2016-13. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses,” to clarify the implementation guidance within ASU No. 2016-13 surrounding narrow aspects of Topic 326, including the impact of the guidance on operating lease receivables. In May 2019, FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief," allowing for the irrevocable election of the fair value option for certain financial assets, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, within the scope previously measured at amortized cost basis. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses,” to clarify and improve implementation guidance on certain aspects of Topic 326, including expected recoveries on purchased financial assets with credit deterioration, financial assets secured by collateral maintenance provisions, adjustment of the effective interest rate for troubled debt restructurings for prepayment assumptions existing at the time of adoption of Topic 326, and disclosure relief for accrued interest receivable balances. Like ASU No. 2016-13, these ASUs are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is to be applied under a modified retrospective approach.

The Company has continued its efforts in implementation of ASU No. 2016-13 and all subsequent updates issued to clarify and improve specific areas of this ASU. As discussed previously, throughout the implementation process, the Company has utilized a committee consisting of individuals from various areas of the Company tasked with transitioning to the new requirements. Implementation activities in prior periods included a review of historical internal data, the development and initial validation of modeling methodologies, including the determination of appropriate segmentation and assumptions, and the consideration of certain accounting policy elections. At this time, the Company is finalizing its model methodologies and processes, and continues to review recent model results for its loan portfolios and held-to-maturity debt investment securities. Controls and processes have been designed and implemented for the continued implementation process and are being designed for the ongoing process following adoption.

The Company's model methodologies consider characteristics of the specific portfolio or asset segment, risk rating distributions and historical probability of default and loss given default, adjusted for current conditions and a single future economic forecast determined by the Company. Other assumptions in the Company's measurement methodology include the following:

• Future economic forecasts will be over an eight-quarter reasonable and supportable forecast period.

• In the event that the life of the asset exceeds the reasonable and supportable forecast period, measurement of expected credit losses will revert to historical loss information over four quarters.

• Future prepayments are considered when determining expected credit losses over the life of an asset.

111

Further, as noted above, certain accounting policy elections are available under the new rules. The Company will utilize the following approach to such elections:

• The Company will not measure an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest if such accrued interest is written off in a timely manner when deemed uncollectible. Any such write-off of accrued interest will reverse previously recognized interest income.

• The Company will not include accrued interest within presentation and disclosures of the carrying amount of financial assets held at amortized cost.

• The Company will estimate expected credit losses by measuring the face amount or unpaid principal balance component of the amortized cost basis of a financial asset separately from other components such as premiums, discount and deferred fees and costs.

• The Company will not maintain current accounting policies for existing purchase credit impaired ("PCI") financial assets. At the effective date, such assets will be considered PCD assets and measured accordingly under the new rules.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. When the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an entity would no longer be required to determine goodwill impairment by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit was acquired in a business combination. Goodwill impairment would be recognized according to the excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit over the calculated fair value of such unit. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is to be applied under a prospective approach. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirement for Fair Value Measurement,” to modify disclosure requirements on fair value measurements and inputs. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is to be applied prospectively or retrospectively depending upon the disclosure requirement. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Intangibles

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with similar requirements related to implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. In addition, the amendment requires any capitalized implementation costs related to a hosting arrangement to be expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and is to be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Codification Improvements

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments." The FASB has continued to issue various updates to clarify and improve specific areas of ASU No. 2016-01, ASU No. 2016-13, and ASU No. 2017-12. Amendments related to ASU No. 2016-01 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and can be early adopted, under a modified retrospective approach, since the Company has already adopted ASU No. 2016-01. Since the Company has not yet adopted ASU No. 2016-13, the effective dates and transition requirements for the amendments related to ASU No. 2019-04 are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU No. 2016-13 described above. Amendments related to ASU No. 2017-12 are effective as of the beginning of the first annual period beginning after the issuance date of ASU No. 2019-04 and can be early adopted since the Company has already adopted ASU No. 2017-12. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

112

Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes," to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740, "Income Taxes". The guidance also improves consistent application by clarifying and amending existing guidance from ASC 740. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein and is to be applied on a retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective approach, depending on the specific amendment. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

(3) Investment Securities

A summary of the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities portfolios presenting carrying amounts and gross unrealized gains and losses as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

	December 31, 2019									December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Fair Value
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	120,275	$	813	$	—		$	121,088	$	126,199	$	391	$	(186	)	$	126,404
U.S. Government agencies	365,639		3,557		(3,754		)	365,442		139,420		917		(30		)	140,307
Municipal	141,701		3,785		(168		)	145,318		136,831		2,427		(768		)	138,490
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	97,051		761		(4,002		)	93,810		97,079		35		(7,069		)	90,045
Other	1,000		31		—			1,031		1,000		—		—			1,000
Mortgage-backed: (1)
Mortgage-backed securities	2,328,383		21,240		(3,013		)	2,346,610		1,641,146		2,510		(57,317		)	1,586,339
Collateralized mortgage obligations	32,775		280		(140		)	32,915		43,819		500		(823		)	43,496
Total available-for-sale securities	$	3,086,824	$	30,467	$	(11,077	)	$	3,106,214	$	2,185,494	$	6,780	$	(66,193	)	$	2,126,081
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	$	902,974	$	2,159	$	(5,460	)	$	899,673	$	814,864	$	1,141	$	(28,576	)	$	787,429
Municipal	231,426		7,536		(239		)	238,723		252,575		1,100		(5,008		)	248,667
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	1,134,400	$	9,695	$	(5,699	)	$	1,138,396	$	1,067,439	$	2,241	$	(33,584	)	$	1,036,096
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	$	48,044	$	3,511	$	(715	)	$	50,840	$	34,410	$	1,532	$	(1,225	)	$	34,717

(1) Consisting entirely of residential mortgage-backed securities, none of which are subprime.

Equity securities without readily determinable fair values totaled $29.5 million as of December 31, 2019. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are included as part of accrued interest receivable and other assets in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition. The Company recorded $505,000 of upward adjustments and $106,000 of downward adjustments on such securities in 2019 related to observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. The Company monitors its equity investments without a readily determinable fair values to identify potential transactions that may indicate an observable price change requiring adjustment to its carrying amount.

113

The following tables present the portion of the Company’s available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities portfolios which has gross unrealized losses, reflecting the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively:

As of December 31, 2019	Continuous unrealized losses existing for less than 12 months					Continuous unrealized losses existing for greater than 12 months					Total
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair value		Unrealized losses			Fair value		Unrealized losses			Fair value		Unrealized losses
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
U.S. Government agencies	193,533		(3,754		)	—		—			193,533		(3,754		)
Municipal	28,246		(165		)	52		(3		)	28,298		(168		)
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	67,838		(3,760		)	2,758		(242		)	70,596		(4,002		)
Other	—		—			—		—			—		—
Mortgage-backed:
Mortgage-backed securities	751,053		(3,013		)	—		—			751,053		(3,013		)
Collateralized mortgage obligations	9,419		(132		)	1,305		(8		)	10,724		(140		)
Total available-for-sale securities	$	1,050,089	$	(10,824	)	$	4,115	$	(253	)	$	1,054,204	$	(11,077	)
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	$	40,144	$	(5,460	)	$	—	$	—		$	40,144	$	(5,460	)
Municipal	9,797		(239		)	—		—			9,797		(239		)
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	49,941	$	(5,699	)	$	—	$	—		$	49,941	$	(5,699	)

As of December 31, 2018	Continuous unrealized losses existing for less than 12 months					Continuous unrealized losses existing for greater than 12 months					Total
(Dollars in thousands)	Fair value		Unrealized losses			Fair value		Unrealized losses			Fair value		Unrealized losses
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	5,485	$	(5	)	$	24,829	$	(181	)	$	30,314	$	(186	)
U.S. Government agencies	—		—			11,167		(30		)	11,167		(30		)
Municipal	10,676		(178		)	22,147		(590		)	32,823		(768		)
Corporate notes:
Financial issuers	37,076		(2,921		)	42,934		(4,148		)	80,010		(7,069		)
Other	—		—			—		—			—		—
Mortgage-backed:
Mortgage-backed securities	114,958		(124		)	1,340,916		(57,193		)	1,455,874		(57,317		)
Collateralized mortgage obligations	510		(1		)	34,255		(822		)	34,765		(823		)
Total available-for-sale securities	$	168,705	$	(3,229	)	$	1,476,248	$	(62,964	)	$	1,644,953	$	(66,193	)
Held-to-maturity securities
U.S. Government agencies	$	—	$	—		$	601,238	$	(28,576	)	$	601,238	$	(28,576	)
Municipal	38,239		(637		)	158,302		(4,371		)	196,541		(5,008		)
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	38,239	$	(637	)	$	759,540	$	(32,947	)	$	797,779	$	(33,584	)

The Company conducts a regular assessment of its investment securities to determine whether securities are other-than-temporarily impaired considering, among other factors, the nature of the securities, credit ratings or financial condition of the issuer, the extent and duration of the unrealized loss, expected cash flows, market conditions and the Company’s ability to hold the securities through the anticipated recovery period.

The Company does not consider securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2019 to be other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company does not intend to sell these investments and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell these investments before recovery of the amortized cost bases, which may be the maturity dates of the securities. The unrealized

114

losses within each category have occurred as a result of changes in interest rates, market spreads and market conditions subsequent to purchase. Securities with continuous unrealized losses existing for more than twelve months were primarily corporate notes, collateralized mortgage-backed securities, and municipal securities.

The following table provides information as to the amount of gross gains and gross losses realized and proceeds received through the sales and calls of investment securities:

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Realized gains on investment securities	$	931		$	1,144		$	147
Realized losses on investment securities	(32		)	(1,111		)	(102		)
Net realized gains on investment securities	899			$	33		$	45
Unrealized gains on equity securities with readily determinable fair value	3,057			2,771			—
Unrealized losses on equity securities with readily determinable fair value	(568		)	(4,910		)	—
Net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities with readily determinable fair value	2,489			(2,139		)	—
Upward adjustments of equity securities without readily determinable fair values	505			325			—
Downward adjustments of equity securities without readily determinable fair values	(106		)	—			—
Impairment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values	(262		)	(1,117		)	—
Adjustment and impairment, net, of equity securities without readily determinable fair values	137			(792		)	—
Other than temporary impairment charges	—			—			—
Gains (losses) on investment securities, net	3,525			(2,898		)	45
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	972,253			214,196			344,674
Proceeds from sales of equity securities with readily determinable fair value	19,200			1,895			—
Proceeds from sales and capital distributions of equity securities without readily determinable fair value	1,764			1,324			—

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $262,000 of impairment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values. The Company conducts a quarterly assessment of its equity securities without readily determinable fair values to determine whether impairment exists in such equity securities, considering, among other factors, the nature of the securities, financial condition of the issuer and expected future cash flows.

Net losses/gains on investment securities resulted in income tax expense (benefit) of $913,000, ($737,000) and $18,000 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

115

The amortized cost and fair value of securities as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, by contractual maturity, are shown in the following table. Contractual maturities may differ from actual maturities as borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Mortgage-backed securities are not included in the maturity categories in the following maturity summary as actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the underlying mortgages may be called or prepaid without penalties:

	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Available-for-sale securities
Due in one year or less	$	183,996	$	185,035	$	82,206	$	82,153
Due in one to five years	62,679		64,064		168,855		169,307
Due in five to ten years	186,683		184,666		121,129		115,206
Due after ten years	292,308		292,924		128,339		129,580
Mortgage-backed	2,361,158		2,379,525		1,684,965		1,629,835
Total available-for-sale securities	$	3,086,824	$	3,106,214	$	2,185,494	$	2,126,081
Held-to-maturity securities
Due in one year or less	$	6,061	$	6,074	$	10,009	$	9,979
Due in one to five years	28,697		28,986		29,436		28,995
Due in five to ten years	213,104		216,957		295,897		290,206
Due after ten years	886,538		886,379		732,097		706,916
Total held-to-maturity securities	$	1,134,400	$	1,138,396	$	1,067,439	$	1,036,096

At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, securities having a carrying value of $1.7 billion, were pledged as collateral for public deposits, trust deposits, FHLB advances, securities sold under repurchase agreements and derivatives. At December 31, 2019, there were no securities of a single issuer, other than U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities, which exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity.

(4) Loans

The following table shows the Company's loan portfolio by category as of the dates shown:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019			December 31, 2018
Balance:
Commercial	$	8,285,920		$	7,828,538
Commercial real estate	8,020,276			6,933,252
Home equity	513,066			552,343
Residential real estate	1,354,221			1,002,464
Premium finance receivables—commercial	3,442,027			2,841,659
Premium finance receivables—life insurance	5,074,602			4,541,794
Consumer and other	110,178			120,641
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	26,800,290		$	23,820,691
Mix:
Commercial	31		%	33		%
Commercial real estate	30			29
Home equity	2			2
Residential real estate	5			4
Premium finance receivables—commercial	13			12
Premium finance receivables—life insurance	19			19
Consumer and other	—			1
Total loans, net of unearned income	100		%	100		%

The Company’s loan portfolio is generally comprised of loans to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses located within the geographic market areas that the banks serve. The premium finance receivables portfolios are made to customers throughout

116

the United States and Canada. The Company strives to maintain a loan portfolio that is diverse in terms of loan type, industry, borrower and geographic concentrations. Such diversification reduces the exposure to economic downturns that may occur in different segments of the economy or in different industries.

Certain premium finance receivables are recorded net of unearned income. The unearned income portions of such premium finance receivables were $118.4 million and $112.9 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Total loans, excluding PCI loans, include net deferred loan fees and costs and fair value purchase accounting adjustments totaling $9.1 million and $4.5 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. PCI loans are recorded net of credit discounts. See “Acquired Loan Information at Acquisition - PCI Loans” below.

Certain real estate loans, including mortgage loans held-for-sale, commercial, consumer, and home equity loans with balances totaling approximately $6.8 billion and $6.1 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure the availability of borrowings from certain federal agency banks. At December 31, 2019, approximately $6.4 billion of these pledged loans are included in a blanket pledge of qualifying loans to the FHLB. The remaining $359.3 million of pledged loans was used to secure potential borrowings at the FRB discount window. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the banks had outstanding borrowings of $674.9 million and $426.3 million, respectively, from the FHLB in connection with these collateral arrangements. See Note 11, “Federal Home Loan Bank Advances,” for a summary of these borrowings.

It is the policy of the Company to review each prospective credit in order to determine the appropriateness and, when required, the adequacy of security or collateral necessary to obtain when making a loan. The type of collateral, when required, will vary from liquid assets to real estate. The Company seeks to assure access to collateral, in the event of default, through adherence to state lending laws and the Company’s credit monitoring procedures.

Acquired Loan Information at Acquisition — PCI Loans

As part of the Company's previous acquisitions, the Company acquired loans for which there was evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination (PCI loans) and we determined that it was probable that the Company would be unable to collect all contractually required principal and interest payments. The following table presents the unpaid principal balance and carrying value for these acquired loans as of the dates shown:

	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Unpaid Principal Balance		Carrying Value		Unpaid Principal Balance		Carrying Value
PCI loans	$	455,784	$	425,372	$	341,555	$	318,394

See Note 5, “Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans,” for further discussion regarding the allowance for loan losses associated with PCI loans at December 31, 2019.

The following table provides estimated details as of the date of acquisition on loans acquired in 2019 with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination:

(Dollars in thousands)	ROC		STC		SBC
Contractually required payments including interest	$	29,963	$	54,422	$	140,541
Less: Nonaccretable difference	2,606		5,066		7,604
Cash flows expected to be collected (1)	$	27,357	$	49,356	$	132,937
Less: Accretable yield	2,319		5,974		8,477
Fair value of PCI loans acquired	$	25,038	$	43,382	$	124,460

(1) Represents undiscounted expected principal and interest cash at acquisition.

Accretable Yield Activity — PCI Loans

Changes in expected cash flows may vary from period to period as the Company periodically updates its cash flow model assumptions for PCI loans. The factors that most significantly affect the estimates of gross cash flows expected to be collected, and accordingly the accretable yield, include changes in the benchmark interest rate indices for variable-rate products and changes in prepayment assumptions and loss estimates. The following table provides activity for the accretable yield of PCI loans.

117

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Accretable yield, beginning balance	$	34,876		$	36,565
Acquisitions	16,770			6,175
Accretable yield amortized to interest income	(18,226		)	(16,711		)
Reclassification from non-accretable difference (1)	5,516			4,835
Increases in interest cash flows due to payments and changes in interest rates	6,012			4,012
Accretable yield, ending balance	$	44,948		$	34,876

 

(1) Reclassification is the result of subsequent increases in expected principal cash flows.

Accretion to interest income accounted for under ASC 310-30 totaled $18.2 million and $16.7 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively.  These amounts include accretion and are included together within interest and fees on loans in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(5) Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans

The tables below show the aging of the Company’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

As of December 31, 2019 (Dollars in thousands)	Nonaccrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Loan Balances:
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	33,983	$	—	$	1,647	$	48,840	$	5,075,335	$	5,159,805
Franchise	2,391		—		—		216		934,875		937,482
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		4,189		288,592		292,781
Asset-based lending	128		—		956		5,769		982,165		989,018
Leases	722		—		249		10,996		866,561		878,528
PCI - commercial (1)	—		1,855		423		7,314		18,714		28,306
Total commercial	$	37,224	$	1,855	$	3,275	$	77,324	$	8,166,242	$	8,285,920
Commercial real estate:
Construction	1,030		—		1,499		16,656		1,004,115		1,023,300
Land	1,082		—		—		11,393		165,008		177,483
Office	8,034		—		3,692		6,127		1,026,916		1,044,769
Industrial	99		—		1,660		10,203		1,020,904		1,032,866
Retail	6,789		—		6,168		3,546		1,081,427		1,097,930
Multi-family	913		—		731		3,088		1,306,810		1,311,542
Mixed use and other	8,166		—		9,823		15,429		2,061,528		2,094,946
PCI - commercial real estate (1)	—		14,946		7,973		31,125		183,396		237,440
Total commercial real estate	$	26,113	$	14,946	$	31,546	$	97,567	$	7,850,104	$	8,020,276
Home equity	7,363		—		454		3,533		501,716		513,066
Residential real estate, including PCI	13,797		5,771		3,089		18,041		1,313,523		1,354,221
Premium finance receivables
Commercial insurance loans	20,590		11,517		12,119		18,783		3,379,018		3,442,027
Life insurance loans	590		—		—		32,559		4,902,171		4,935,320
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		139,282		139,282
Consumer and other, including PCI	231		287		40		344		109,276		110,178
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	105,908	$	34,376	$	50,523	$	248,151	$	26,361,332	$	26,800,290

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with ASC 310-30. Loan agings are based upon contractually required payments. See Note 4, “Loans,” for further discussion of these purchased loans.

118

As of December 31, 2018 (Dollars in thousands)	Nonaccrual		90+ days and still accruing		60-89 days past due		30-59 days past due		Current		Total Loans
Loan Balances:
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	34,298	$	—	$	1,451	$	21,618	$	5,062,729	$	5,120,096
Franchise	16,051		—		—		8,738		924,190		948,979
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	—		—		—		—		144,199		144,199
Asset-based lending	635		—		200		3,156		1,022,065		1,026,056
Leases	—		—		—		1,250		564,430		565,680
PCI - commercial (1)	—		3,313		—		99		20,116		23,528
Total commercial	$	50,984	$	3,313	$	1,651	$	34,861	$	7,737,729	$	7,828,538
Commercial real estate
Construction	$	1,554	$	—	$	—	$	9,424	$	749,846	$	760,824
Land	107		—		170		107		141,097		141,481
Office	3,629		—		877		5,077		929,739		939,322
Industrial	285		—		—		16,596		885,367		902,248
Retail	10,753		—		1,890		1,729		878,106		892,478
Multi-family	311		—		77		5,575		970,597		976,560
Mixed use and other	2,490		—		1,617		8,983		2,192,105		2,205,195
PCI - commercial real estate (1)	—		6,241		6,195		4,075		98,633		115,144
Total commercial real estate	$	19,129	$	6,241	$	10,826	$	51,566	$	6,845,490	$	6,933,252
Home equity	7,147		—		131		3,105		541,960		552,343
Residential real estate, including PCI	16,383		1,292		1,692		6,171		976,926		1,002,464
Premium finance receivables
Commercial insurance loans	11,335		7,799		11,382		15,085		2,796,058		2,841,659
Life insurance loans	—		—		8,407		24,628		4,340,856		4,373,891
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	—		—		—		—		167,903		167,903
Consumer and other, including PCI	348		227		87		733		119,246		120,641
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	105,326	$	18,872	$	34,176	$	136,149	$	23,526,168	$	23,820,691

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with ASC 310-30. Loan agings are based upon contractually required payments. See Note 4, “Loans,” for further discussion of these purchased loans.

The Company's ability to manage credit risk depends in large part on our ability to properly identify and manage problem loans. To do so, the Company operates a credit risk rating system under which credit management personnel assign a credit risk rating (1 to 10 rating) to each loan at the time of origination and review loans on a regular basis.

Each loan officer is responsible for monitoring his or her loan portfolio, recommending a credit risk rating for each loan in his or her portfolio and ensuring the credit risk ratings are appropriate. These credit risk ratings are then ratified by the bank’s chief credit officer and/or concurrence credit officer. Credit risk ratings are determined by evaluating a number of factors including: a borrower’s financial strength, cash flow coverage, collateral protection and guarantees.

The Company’s Problem Loan Reporting system includes all loans with credit risk ratings of 6 through 9. This system is designed to provide an on-going detailed tracking mechanism for each problem loan. Once management determines that a loan has deteriorated to a point where it has a credit risk rating of 6 or worse, the Company’s Managed Asset Division performs an overall credit and collateral review. As part of this review, all underlying collateral is identified and the valuation methodology is analyzed and tracked. As a result of this initial review by the Company’s Managed Asset Division, the credit risk rating is reviewed and a portion of the outstanding loan balance may be deemed uncollectible or an impairment reserve may be established. The Company’s impairment analysis utilizes an independent re-appraisal of the collateral (unless such a third-party evaluation is not possible due to the unique nature of the collateral, such as a closely-held business or thinly traded securities). In the case of commercial real estate collateral, an independent third party appraisal is ordered by the Company’s Real Estate Services Group to determine if

119

there has been any change in the underlying collateral value. These independent appraisals are reviewed by the Real Estate Services Group and sometimes by independent third party valuation experts and may be adjusted depending upon market conditions.

Through the credit risk rating process, loans are reviewed to determine if they are performing in accordance with the original contractual terms. If the borrower has failed to comply with the original contractual terms, further action may be required by the Company, including a downgrade in the credit risk rating, movement to non-accrual status, a charge-off or the establishment of a specific impairment reserve. If the Company determines that a loan amount or portion thereof is uncollectible the loan’s credit risk rating is immediately downgraded to an 8 or 9 and the uncollectible amount is charged-off. Any loan that has a partial charge-off continues to be assigned a credit risk rating of an 8 or 9 for the duration of time that a balance remains outstanding. The Company undertakes a thorough and ongoing analysis to determine if additional impairment and/or charge-offs are appropriate and to begin a workout plan for the credit to minimize actual losses.

If, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due to it according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, a specific impairment reserve is established. In determining the appropriate charge-off for collateral-dependent loans, the Company considers the results of appraisals for the associated collateral.

Non-performing loans include all non-accrual loans (8 and 9 risk ratings) as well as loans 90 days past due and still accruing interest, excluding PCI loans. The remainder of the portfolio is considered performing under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The following table presents the recorded investment based on performance of loans by class, per the most recent analysis at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Performing				Non-performing				Total
	December 31,		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Loan Balances:
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	5,125,822	$	5,085,798	$	33,983	$	34,298	$	5,159,805	$	5,120,096
Franchise	935,091		932,928		2,391		16,051		937,482		948,979
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	292,781		144,199		—		—		292,781		144,199
Asset-based lending	988,890		1,025,421		128		635		989,018		1,026,056
Leases	877,806		565,680		722		—		878,528		565,680
PCI - commercial (1)	28,306		23,528		—		—		28,306		23,528
Total commercial	$	8,248,696	$	7,777,554	$	37,224	$	50,984	$	8,285,920	$	7,828,538
Commercial real estate
Construction	1,022,270		759,270		1,030		1,554		1,023,300		760,824
Land	176,401		141,374		1,082		107		177,483		141,481
Office	1,036,735		935,693		8,034		3,629		1,044,769		939,322
Industrial	1,032,767		901,963		99		285		1,032,866		902,248
Retail	1,091,141		881,725		6,789		10,753		1,097,930		892,478
Multi-family	1,310,629		976,249		913		311		1,311,542		976,560
Mixed use and other	2,086,780		2,202,705		8,166		2,490		2,094,946		2,205,195
PCI - commercial real estate (1)	237,440		115,144		—		—		237,440		115,144
Total commercial real estate	$	7,994,163	$	6,914,123	$	26,113	$	19,129	$	8,020,276	$	6,933,252
Home equity	505,703		545,196		7,363		7,147		513,066		552,343
Residential real estate, including PCI	1,340,424		986,081		13,797		16,383		1,354,221		1,002,464
Premium finance receivables
Commercial insurance loans	3,409,920		2,822,525		32,107		19,134		3,442,027		2,841,659
Life insurance loans	4,934,730		4,373,891		590		—		4,935,320		4,373,891
PCI - life insurance loans (1)	139,282		167,903		—		—		139,282		167,903
Consumer and other, including PCI	109,784		120,184		394		457		110,178		120,641
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	26,682,702	$	23,707,457	$	117,588	$	113,234	$	26,800,290	$	23,820,691

(1) PCI loans represent loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination, in accordance with ASC 310-30. See Note 4, “Loans,” for further discussion of these purchased loans.

120

A summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses by loan portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

Year Ended  December 31, 2019 (Dollars in thousands)	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Home Equity			Residential Real Estate			Premium Finance Receivable			Consumer and Other			Total Loans
Allowance for credit losses
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period	$	67,826		$	60,267		$	8,507		$	7,194		$	7,715		$	1,261		$	152,770
Other adjustments	—			(35		)	(20		)	(15		)	49			—			(21		)
Reclassification to/from allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments	—			(238		)	—			—			—			—			(238		)
Charge-offs	(35,880		)	(5,402		)	(3,702		)	(798		)	(12,902		)	(522		)	(59,206		)
Recoveries	2,845			2,516			479			422			3,203			194			9,659
Provision for credit losses	30,129			9,770			(1,386		)	2,997			11,582			772			53,864
Allowance for loan losses at period end	$	64,920		$	66,878		$	3,878		$	9,800		$	9,647		$	1,705		156,828
Allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments at period end	—			1,633			—			—			—			—			1,633
Allowance for credit losses at period end	$	64,920		$	68,511		$	3,878		$	9,800		$	9,647		$	1,705		$	158,461
By measurement method:
Individually evaluated for impairment	5,719			5,638			450			387			—			142			12,336
Collectively evaluated for impairment	59,171			62,759			3,428			9,386			9,647			1,563			145,954
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality	30			114			—			27			—			—			171
Loans at period end:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	42,130		$	35,867		$	19,108		$	22,528		$	—		$	412		$	120,045
Collectively evaluated for impairment	8,215,484			7,746,969			493,958			1,313,565			8,377,347			107,550			26,254,873
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality	28,306			237,440			—			18,128			139,282			2,216			425,372
Loans held at fair value	—			—			—			132,718			—			—			132,718

Year Ended  December 31, 2018 (Dollars in thousands)	Commercial			Commercial Real Estate			Home Equity			Residential Real Estate			Premium Finance Receivable			Consumer and Other			Total Loans
Allowance for credit losses
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period	$	57,811		$	55,227		$	10,493		$	6,688		$	6,846		$	840		$	137,905
Other adjustments	(3		)	(85		)	(5		)	(25		)	(63		)	—			(181		)
Reclassification to/from allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments	—			(126		)	—			—			—			—			(126		)
Charge-offs	(14,532		)	(1,395		)	(2,245		)	(1,355		)	(12,228		)	(880		)	(32,635		)
Recoveries	1,457			5,631			541			2,075			3,069			202			12,975
Provision for credit losses	23,093			1,015			(277		)	(189		)	10,091			1,099			34,832
Allowance for loan losses at period end	$	67,826		$	60,267		$	8,507		$	7,194		$	7,715		$	1,261		$	152,770
Allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments at period end	—			1,394			—			—			—			—			1,394
Allowance for credit losses at period end	$	67,826		$	61,661		$	8,507		$	7,194		$	7,715		$	1,261		$	154,164
By measurement method:
Individually evaluated for impairment	6,558			4,287			282			204			—			116			11,447
Collectively evaluated for impairment	60,749			57,329			8,225			6,894			7,715			1,145			142,057
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality	519			45			—			96			—			—			660
Loans at period end:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	59,529		$	33,274		$	12,255		$	22,064		$	—		$	397		$	127,519
Collectively evaluated for impairment	7,745,482			6,784,834			540,088			877,526			7,215,550			117,441			23,280,921
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality	23,527			115,144			—			9,017			167,903			2,803			318,394
Loan held at fair value	—			—			—			93,857			—			—			93,857

121

Impaired Loans

A summary of impaired loans, including TDRs, at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Impaired loans (included in non-performing and restructured loans):
Impaired loans with an allowance for loan loss required (1)	$	62,886	$	60,219
Impaired loans with no allowance for loan loss required	57,159		67,050
Total impaired loans (2)	$	120,045	$	127,269
Allowance for loan losses related to impaired loans	$	12,336	$	11,437
TDRs	63,836		66,102
Reduction of interest income from non-accrual loans	5,202		3,422
Interest income recognized on impaired loans	9,383		7,347

(1) These impaired loans require an allowance for loan losses because the estimated fair value of the loans or related collateral is less than the recorded investment in the loans.

(2) Impaired loans are considered by the Company to be non-accrual loans, TDRs or loans with principal and/or interest at risk, even if the loan is current with all payments of principal and interest.

The following tables present impaired loans evaluated for impairment by loan class as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	As of						For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019 (Dollars in thousands)	Recorded Investment		Unpaid  Principal Balance		Related Allowance		Average  Recorded Investment		Interest Income Recognized
Impaired loans with a related ASC 310 allowance recorded
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	23,821	$	29,713	$	5,593	$	30,125	$	2,450
Franchise	—		—		—		—		—
Asset-based lending	130		130		1		130		8
Leases	2,038		2,038		125		2,196		106
Commercial real estate
Construction	—		—		—		—		—
Land	88		88		7		93		7
Office	7,475		7,759		3,305		7,542		356
Industrial	—		—		—		—		—
Retail	4,993		4,993		26		5,058		229
Multi-family	1,158		1,158		22		1,174		52
Mixed use and other	7,538		7,592		2,278		7,603		357
Home equity	8,650		9,157		450		8,746		337
Residential real estate	6,816		6,936		387		6,889		224
Consumer and other	179		198		142		186		13
Impaired loans with no related ASC 310 allowance recorded
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	12,756	$	17,124	$	—	$	21,850	$	1,469
Franchise	2,391		8,845		—		9,621		855
Asset-based lending	128		1,385		—		4,876		273
Leases	866		903		—		980		58
Commercial real estate
Construction	1,030		1,554		—		1,117		84
Land	994		1,303		—		1,137		70
Office	559		645		—		1,072		59
Industrial	99		209		—		116		12
Retail	6,789		10,010		—		7,340		535
Multi-family	913		1,024		—		1,166		56
Mixed use and other	4,231		4,500		—		4,355		260
Home equity	10,458		13,265		—		11,955		666
Residential real estate	15,712		18,227		—		16,176		827
Consumer and other	233		388		—		258		20
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	120,045	$	149,144	$	12,336	$	151,761	$	9,383

122

	As of						For the Year Ended
December 31, 2018 (Dollars in thousands)	Recorded Investment		Unpaid  Principal Balance		Related Allowance		Average  Recorded Investment		Interest Income Recognized
Impaired loans with a related ASC 310 allowance recorded
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	16,703	$	17,029	$	4,866	$	17,868	$	1,181
Franchise	16,021		16,256		1,375		16,221		909
Asset-based lending	557		557		317		689		50
Leases	1,730		1,730		—		1,812		91
Commercial real estate
Construction	1,554		1,554		550		1,554		76
Land	—		—		—		—		—
Office	573		638		21		587		25
Industrial	—		—		—		—		—
Retail	14,633		14,633		3,413		14,694		676
Multi-family	—		—		—		—		—
Mixed use and other	1,188		1,221		293		1,354		66
Home equity	3,133		3,470		282		3,165		131
Residential real estate	4,011		4,263		204		4,056		159
Consumer and other	116		129		116		119		7
Impaired loans with no related ASC 310 allowance recorded
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	$	18,314	$	21,501	$	—	$	20,547	$	1,143
Franchise	5,152		5,154		—		5,320		403
Asset-based lending	207		601		—		569		51
Leases	845		879		—		936		56
Commercial real estate
Construction	1,117		1,117		—		1,218		52
Land	3,396		3,491		—		3,751		198
Office	3,629		3,642		—		3,651		184
Industrial	322		450		—		363		30
Retail	1,592		1,945		—		1,699		110
Multi-family	1,498		1,595		—		1,529		55
Mixed use and other	3,522		3,836		—		3,611		227
Home equity	9,122		12,383		—		9,323		564
Residential real estate	18,053		20,765		—		18,552		883
Consumer and other	281		407		—		293		20
Total loans, net of unearned income	$	127,269	$	139,246	$	11,437	$	133,481	$	7,347

Average recorded investment in impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 were $151.8 million, $133.5 million, and $115.3 million, respectively. Interest income recognized on impaired loans was $9.4 million, $7.3 million and $6.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

TDRs

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $63.8 million in loans modified in TDRs. The $63.8 million in TDRs represents 255 credits in which economic concessions were granted to certain borrowers to better align the terms of their loans with their current ability to pay.

The Company’s approach to restructuring loans, excluding PCI loans, is built on its credit risk rating system which requires credit management personnel to assign a credit risk rating to each loan. In each case, the loan officer is responsible for recommending a credit risk rating for each loan and ensuring the credit risk ratings are appropriate. These credit risk ratings are then reviewed and approved by the bank’s chief credit officer and/or concurrence credit officer. Credit risk ratings are determined by evaluating a number of factors including a borrower’s financial strength, cash flow coverage, collateral protection and guarantees. The Company’s credit risk rating scale is one through ten with higher scores indicating higher risk. In the case of loans rated six or worse following modification, the Company’s Managed Assets Division evaluates the loan and the credit risk rating and determines that the loan has been restructured to be reasonably assured of repayment and of performance according to the modified terms and is supported by a current, well-documented credit assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and prospects for repayment under the revised terms.

123

A modification of a loan, excluding PCI loans, with an existing credit risk rating of 6 or worse or a modification of any other credit, which will result in a restructured credit risk rating of 6 or worse, must be reviewed for possible TDR classification. In that event, our Managed Assets Division conducts an overall credit and collateral review. A modification of these loans is considered to be a TDR if both (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and (2) for economic or legal reasons, the bank grants a concession to a borrower that it would not otherwise consider. The modification of a loan, excluding PCI loans, where the credit risk rating is 5 or better both before and after such modification is not considered to be a TDR. Based on the Company’s credit risk rating system, it considers that borrowers whose credit risk rating is 5 or better are not experiencing financial difficulties and therefore, are not considered TDRs.

All credits determined to be a TDR will continue to be classified as a TDR in all subsequent periods, unless the borrower has been in compliance with the loan’s modified terms for a period of six months (including over a calendar year-end) and the current interest rate represents a market rate at the time of restructuring. The Managed Assets Division, in consultation with the respective loan officer, determines whether the modified interest rate represented a current market rate at the time of restructuring. Using knowledge of current market conditions and rates, competitive pricing on recent loan originations, and an assessment of various characteristics of the modified loan (including collateral position and payment history), an appropriate market rate for a new borrower with similar risk is determined. If the modified interest rate meets or exceeds this market rate for a new borrower with similar risk, the modified interest rate represents a market rate at the time of restructuring. Additionally, before removing a loan from TDR classification, a review of the current or previously measured impairment on the loan and any concerns related to future performance by the borrower is conducted. If concerns exist about the future ability of the borrower to meet its obligations under the loans based on a credit review by the Managed Assets Division, the TDR classification is not removed from the loan.

TDRs are reviewed at the time of modification and on a quarterly basis to determine if a specific reserve is necessary. The carrying amount of the loan is compared to the expected payments to be received, discounted at the loan’s original rate, or for collateral dependent loans, to the fair value of the collateral. Any shortfall is recorded as a specific reserve. The Company, in accordance with ASC 310-10, continues to individually measure impairment of these loans after the TDR classification is removed.

Each TDR was reviewed for impairment at December 31, 2019 and approximately $5.7 million of impairment was present and appropriately reserved for through the Company’s normal reserving methodology in the Company’s allowance for loan losses. For TDRs in which impairment is calculated by the present value of future cash flows, the Company records interest income representing the decrease in impairment resulting from the passage of time during the respective period, which differs from interest income from contractually required interest on these specific loans. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded $66,000 and $113,000, respectively, in interest income representing this decrease in impairment.

TDRs may arise in which, due to financial difficulties experienced by the borrower, the Company obtains through physical possession one or more collateral assets in satisfaction of all or part of an existing credit. Once possession is obtained, the Company reclassifies the appropriate portion of the remaining balance of the credit from loans to OREO, which is included within other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. For any residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, the Company is considered to possess the related collateral only if legal title is obtained upon completion of foreclosure, or the borrower conveys all interest in the residential real estate property to the Company through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $1.8 million of foreclosed residential real estate properties included within OREO. Further, the recorded investment in residential mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which foreclosure proceedings are in process totaled $13.5 million and $14.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

124

The tables below present a summary of the post-modification balance of loans restructured during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, which represent TDRs:

Year ended  December 31, 2019	Total (1)(2)			Extension at Below Market Terms (2)			Reduction of Interest Rate (2)			Modification to Interest-only Payments (2)			Forgiveness of Debt (2)
(Dollars in thousands)	Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	23	$	26,265	11	$	6,917	2	$	605	13	$	20,872	—	$	—
Franchise	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Asset-based lending	1	76		1	76		—	—		—	—		—	—
Leases	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Commercial real estate
Office	2	5,382		2	5,382		—	—		1	5,070		—	—
Industrial	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Mixed use and other	5	1,636		3	1,083		—	—		2	423		—	—
Residential real estate and other	145	20,206		117	17,258		28	5,415		1	311		—	—
Total loans	176	$	53,565	134	$	30,716	30	$	6,020	17	$	26,676	—	$	—
Year ended December 31, 2018	Total (1)(2)			Extension at Below Market Terms (2)			Reduction of Interest Rate (2)			Modification to Interest-only Payments (2)			Forgiveness of Debt (2)
(Dollars in thousands)	Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	4	$	13,441	3	$	691	—	$	—	1	$	12,750	—	$	—
Franchise	3	5,157		1	35		—	—		2	5,122		—	—
Asset-based lending	1	130		1	130		—	—		—	—		—	—
Leases	1	239		1	239		—	—		—	—		—	—
Commercial real estate
Office	1	59		1	59		—	—		—	—		—	—
Industrial	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Mixed use and other	2	455		2	455		1	85		—	—		—	—
Residential real estate and other	59	9,762		58	9,523		27	2,789		—	—		1	239
Total loans	71	$	29,243	67	$	11,132	28	$	2,874	3	$	17,872	1	$	239
Year ended December 31, 2017	Total (1)(2)			Extension at Below Market Terms (2)			Reduction of Interest Rate (2)			Modification to Interest-only Payments (2)			Forgiveness of Debt (2)
(Dollars in thousands)	Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	5	$	3,775	1	$	95	1	$	2,272	3	$	1,408	—	$	—
Franchise	3	16,256		—	—		—	—		3	16,256		—	—
Asset-based lending	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Leases	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Commercial real estate
Office	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Industrial	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Mixed use and other	1	1,245		1	1,245		—	—		—	—		—	—
Residential real estate and other	12	3,049		10	2,925		8	2,643		1	55		1	69
Total loans	21	$	24,325	12	$	4,265	9	$	4,915	7	$	17,719	1	$	69

 

(1) TDRs may have more than one modification representing a concession. As such, TDRs during the period may be represented in more than one of the categories noted above.

(2) Balances represent the recorded investment in the loan at the time of the restructuring.

125

During the year ended December 31, 2019, $53.6 million, or 176 loans, were determined to be TDRs, compared to $29.2 million, or 71 loans, and $24.3 million, or 21 loans, in the years ended 2018 and 2017, respectively. Of these loans extended at below market terms, the weighted average extension had a term of approximately 18 months in 2019 compared to 48 months in 2018 and 35 months in 2017. Further, the weighted average decrease in the stated interest rate for loans with a reduction of interest rate during the period was approximately 218 basis points, 172 basis points and 485 basis points during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Interest-only payment terms were approximately five months during the year ended 2019 compared to seven months and 11 months for the years ended 2018 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, no principal balances were forgiven on the loans noted above in 2019 compared to $8,000 of principal balance forgiven during 2018 and $73,000 of principal balance forgiven during 2017.

The tables below present a summary of all loans restructured in TDRs during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, and such loans which were in payment default under the restructured terms during the respective periods: 

	Year Ended December 31, 2019						Year Ended December 31, 2018						Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Total (1)(3)			Payments in Default  (2)(3)			Total (1)(3)			Payments in Default  (2)(3)			Total (1)(3)			Payments in Default  (2)(3)
(Dollars in thousands)	Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance		Count	Balance
Commercial
Commercial, industrial and other	23	$	26,265	11	$	22,499	4	$	13,441	2	$	174	5	$	3,775	4	$	3,681
Franchise	—	—		—	—		3	5,157		2	5,122		3	16,256		—	—
Asset-based lending	1	76		1	76		1	130		—	—		—	—		—	—
Leases	—	—		—	—		1	239		—	—		—	—		—	—
Commercial real-estate
Office	2	5,382		1	312		1	59		—	—		—	—		—	—
Industrial	—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—		—	—
Mixed use and other	5	1,636		2	553		2	455		2	455		1	1,245		1	1,245
Residential real estate and other	145	20,206		12	5,126		59	9,762		9	1,957		12	3,049		3	2,052
Total loans	176	$	53,565	27	$	28,566	71	$	29,243	15	$	7,708	21	24,325		8	6,978

(1) Total TDRs represent all loans restructured in TDRs during the year indicated.

(2) TDRs considered to be in payment default are over 30 days past-due subsequent to the restructuring.

(3) Balances represent the recorded investment in the loan at the time of the restructuring.

126

(6) Mortgage Servicing Rights (“MSRs”)

Following is a summary of the changes in the carrying value of MSRs, accounted for at fair value, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

	December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Balance at beginning of year	$	75,183		$	33,676		$	19,103
Additions from loans sold with servicing retained	44,943			33,071			18,341
Additions from acquisitions	408			13,806			—
Estimate of changes in fair value due to:
Payoffs and paydowns	(20,118		)	(5,039		)	(2,595		)
Changes in valuation inputs or assumptions	(14,778		)	(331		)	(1,173		)
Fair value at end of year	$	85,638		$	75,183		$	33,676
Unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans serviced for others	$	8,243,251		$	6,545,870		$	2,929,133

The Company recognizes MSR assets upon the sale of residential real estate loans to external third parties when it retains the obligation to service the loans and the servicing fee is more than adequate compensation. The initial recognition of MSR assets from loans sold with servicing retained and subsequent changes in fair value of all MSRs are recognized in mortgage banking revenue. MSRs are subject to changes in value from actual and expected prepayment of the underlying loans. The Company did not specifically hedge the value of its MSRs in 2018 or 2017. Starting in 2019, the Company periodically purchased options for the right to purchase securities not currently held within the banks' investment portfolio and entered into interest rate swaps in which the Company elected to not designate such derivatives as hedging instruments. These option and swap transactions are designed primarily to economically hedge a portion of the fair value adjustments related to MSRs. For more information regarding such economic hedges in 2019, see Note 21, "Derivative Financial Instruments" in Item 8 of this report.

Fair values are determined by using a discounted cash flow model that incorporates the objective characteristics of the portfolio as well as subjective valuation parameters that purchasers of servicing would apply to such portfolios sold into the secondary market. The subjective factors include loan prepayment speeds, discount rates, servicing costs and other economic factors. The Company uses a third party to assist in the valuation of MSRs.

(7) Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions

Bank Acquisitions

On November 1, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of SBC. SBC was the parent company of Countryside Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Countryside Bank's six banking offices located in Countryside, Burbank, Darien, Homer Glen, Oak Brook and Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $619.8 million in assets, including approximately $423.0 million in loans, and approximately $507.8 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $40.3 million related to the acquisition.

On October 7, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of STC. STC was the parent company of STC Capital Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired STC Capital Bank's five banking offices located in the communities of St. Charles, Geneva and South Elgin, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $250.1 million in assets, including approximately $174.3 million in loans, and approximately $201.2 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $19.1 million related to the acquisition.

On May 24, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of ROC. ROC was the parent company of Oak Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Oak Bank's one banking location in Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $223.4 million in assets, including approximately $124.7 million in loans, and approximately $161.2 million in deposits. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $11.7 million related to the acquisition.

On December 7, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of certain liabilities of AEB. Through this asset acquisition, the Company acquired approximately $164.0 million in assets, including approximately $119.3 million in loans, and approximately $150.8 million in deposits.

127

On August 1, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of CSC. CSC was the parent company of Delaware Place Bank. Through this business combination, the Company acquired Delaware Place Bank's one banking location in Chicago, Illinois. As of the acquisition date, the Company acquired approximately $282.8 million in assets, including approximately $152.7 million in loans, and approximately $213.1 million in deposits. Additionally, the Company recorded goodwill of approximately $26.6 million related to the acquisition.

Wealth Management Acquisitions

On December 14, 2018, the Company acquired Elektra, the parent company of CDEC. CDEC is a provider of Qualified Intermediary services (as defined by U.S. Treasury regulations) for taxpayers seeking to structure tax-deferred like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031. CDEC has successfully facilitated more than 8,000 like-kind exchanges in the past decade for taxpayers nationwide. These transactions typically generate customer deposits during the period following the sale of the property until such proceeds are used to purchase a replacement property. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $37.3 million related to the acquisition.

Mortgage Banking Acquisitions

On January 4, 2018, the Company acquired Veterans First with assets including mortgage-servicing-rights on approximately 10,000 loans, totaling an estimated $1.6 billion in unpaid principal balance. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $9.1 million related to the acquisition.

On February 14, 2017, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of the mortgage banking business of AHM. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $1.0 million related to the acquisition.

PCI loans

Purchased loans acquired in a business combination are recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date. For PCI loans, expected future cash flows at the purchase date in excess of the fair value of loans are recorded as interest income over the life of the loans if the timing and amount of the future cash flows is reasonably estimable (“accretable yield”). The difference between contractually required payments and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the non-accretable difference and represents probable losses in the portfolio.

In determining the acquisition date fair value of PCI loans, and in subsequent accounting, the Company aggregates these purchased loans into pools of loans by common risk characteristics, such as credit risk rating and loan type. Subsequent to the purchase date, increases in cash flows over those expected at the purchase date are recognized as interest income prospectively. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will result in a provision for loan losses.

The Company purchased a portfolio of life insurance premium finance receivables in 2009. These purchased life insurance premium finance receivables are valued on an individual basis. If credit related conditions deteriorate, an allowance related to these loans will be established as part of the provision for credit losses.

See Note 4, “Loans,” for more information on loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination.

(8) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

A summary of the Company’s goodwill assets by business segment is presented in the following table:

(Dollars in thousands)	January 1, 2019		Goodwill Acquired		Impairment Loss		Goodwill Adjustments			December 31, 2019
Community banking	$	465,085	$	71,189	$	—	$	122		$	536,396
Specialty finance	38,343		—		—		1,108			39,451
Wealth management	69,713		—		—		(340		)	69,373
Total	$	573,141	$	71,189	$	—	$	890		$	645,220

The community banking segment's goodwill increased $71.3 million in 2019 as a result of the acquisition of SBC, STC and ROC. The specialty finance segment's goodwill increased $1.1 million in 2019 as a result of foreign currency translation adjustments related to the Canadian acquisitions. The wealth management segment's goodwill decreased in 2019 as a result of the subsequent measurement period adjustments related to the acquisition of CDEC.

128

The Company assesses each reporting unit’s goodwill for impairment on at least an annual basis and considers potential indicators of impairment at each reporting date between annual goodwill impairment tests. Annual goodwill impairment tests were historically performed as of June 30 for the Company’s community banking reporting unit and as of December 31 for the Company’s specialty finance and wealth management reporting units. At June 30, 2019, the Company utilized a qualitative approach for its annual goodwill impairment test of the community banking reporting unit and determined that it was not more likely than not that an impairment existed at that time.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company voluntarily changed the dates of its annual goodwill impairment tests to October 1 for all reporting units on a prospective basis. The change was made to more closely align the impairment testing dates with the timing of the Company’s long-term planning and forecasting process.

At October 1, 2019, the Company utilized a quantitative approach for its annual goodwill impairment tests of the specialty finance and wealth management reporting units and determined that no impairment existed at that time. To ensure no more than 12 months elapsed between impairment tests, the Company utilized a qualitative approach as of October 1, 2019 for its goodwill impairment test of the community banking reporting unit and determined that it was not more likely than not that an impairment existed at that time. As of December 31, 2019, the Company identified no indicators of goodwill impairment within the community banking, specialty finance or wealth management reporting units.

A summary of finite-lived intangible assets as of the dates shown and the expected amortization as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:

	December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Community banking segment:
Core deposit and other intangibles:
Gross carrying amount	$	55,206		$	55,366
Accumulated amortization	(26,326		)	(29,406		)
Net carrying amount	$	28,880		$	25,960
Trademark with indefinite lives:
Carrying amount	5,800			5,800
Total net carrying amount	$	34,680		$	31,760
Specialty finance segment:
Customer list intangibles:
Gross carrying amount	$	1,965		$	1,958
Accumulated amortization	(1,552		)	(1,436		)
Net carrying amount	$	413		$	522
Wealth management segment:
Customer list and other intangibles:
Gross carrying amount	$	20,430		$	20,430
Accumulated amortization	(8,466		)	(3,288		)
Net carrying amount	$	11,964		$	17,142
Total intangible assets:
Gross carrying amount	$	83,401		$	83,554
Accumulated amortization	(36,344		)	(34,130		)
Total other intangible assets, net	$	47,057		$	49,424

Estimated amortization for the year-ended:
2020	$	11,017
2021	7,692
2022	6,135
2023	4,670
2024	3,263

129

The core deposit intangibles recognized in connection with prior bank acquisitions are amortized over a ten-year period on an accelerated basis. The customer list intangibles recognized in connection with the purchase of life insurance premium finance assets in 2009 are being amortized over an 18-year period on an accelerated basis while the customer list intangibles recognized

in connection with prior acquisitions within the wealth management segment are being amortized over a period of up to ten-years on a straight-line basis. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of certain trade and domain names recognized in connection with the Veterans First acquisition. As indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, the Company assesses impairment on at least an annual basis.

Total amortization expense associated with finite-lived intangibles in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $11.8 million, $4.6 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

(9) Premises and Equipment, Net

A summary of premises and equipment at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

	December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Land	$	168,066	$	164,232
Buildings and leasehold improvements	646,153		586,968
Furniture, equipment, and computer software	243,926		201,055
Construction in progress	25,940		16,179
	$	1,084,085	$	968,434
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	329,757		297,265
Total premises and equipment, net	$	754,328	$	671,169

Depreciation and amortization expense related to premises and equipment totaled $38.0 million in 2019, $33.2 million in 2018 and $31.5 million in 2017.

(10) Deposits

The following is a summary of deposits at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Balance:
Non-interest bearing	$	7,216,758		$	6,569,880
NOW and interest bearing demand deposits	3,093,159			2,897,133
Wealth management deposits	3,123,063			2,996,764
Money market	7,854,189			5,704,866
Savings	3,196,698			2,665,194
Time certificates of deposit	5,623,271			5,260,841
Total deposits	$	30,107,138		$	26,094,678
Mix:
Non-interest bearing	24		%	25		%
NOW and interest bearing demand deposits	10			11
Wealth management deposits	10			12
Money market	26			22
Savings	11			10
Time certificates of deposit	19			20
Total deposits	100		%	100		%

Wealth management deposits represent deposit balances of the Company’s subsidiary banks from brokerage customers of Wintrust Investments, CDEC, trust and asset management customers of the Company and brokerage customers from unaffiliated companies which have been placed into deposit accounts.

130

The scheduled maturities of time certificates of deposit at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Due within one year	$	3,420,207	$	3,213,010
Due in one to two years	2,024,189		1,251,446
Due in two to three years	114,103		710,836
Due in three to four years	37,743		47,979
Due in four to five years	26,239		37,563
Due after five years	790		7
Total time certificate of deposits	$	5,623,271	$	5,260,841

The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Maturing within three months	$	756,974	$	682,940
After three but within six months	893,023		667,079
After six but within 12 months	728,255		921,547
After 12 months	1,466,201		1,350,717
Total	$	3,844,453	$	3,622,283

Time deposits in denominations of $250,000 or more were $1.7 billion and $1.6 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

(11) Federal Home Loan Bank Advances

A summary of the outstanding FHLB advances at December 31, 2019 and 2018, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
1.57% advance due June 2019	$	—	$	1,991
1.75% advance due June 2020	3,981		3,940
1.72% advance due June 2020	2,487		2,461
1.88% advance due June 2021	2,960		2,934
4.18% advance due February 2022	—		25,000
1.52% advance due March 2022	—		50,000
1.45% advance due May 2022	—		50,000
1.46% advance due May 2022	—		90,000
1.98% advance due January 2023	—		100,000
0.00% advance due April 2024	442		—
2.98% advance due August 2024	25,000		—
2.05% variable-rate advance due January 2028	100,000		100,000
0.41% advance due February 2029	440,000		—
1.36% advance due December 2029	100,000		—
Total FHLB advances	$	674,870	$	426,326

FHLB advances consist of obligations of the banks and are collateralized by qualifying commercial and residential real estate, and home equity loans and certain securities. The banks have arrangements with the FHLB whereby, based on available collateral, they could have borrowed an additional $2.9 billion at December 31, 2019.

FHLB advances are stated at par value of the debt adjusted for unamortized prepayment fees paid at the time of prior restructurings of FHLB advances and unamortized fair value adjustments recorded in connection with advances acquired through acquisitions and debt issuance costs. Unamortized prepayment fees are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method.

131

In 2019, the Company paid-off approximately $315.0 million of FHLB advances prior to the respective maturity date. Approximately $540.0 million of the FHLB advances outstanding at December 31, 2019, have varying put or call dates ranging from February 2020 to December 2021. At December 31, 2019, the weighted average contractual interest rate on FHLB advances was 0.91%.

(12) Subordinated Notes

At December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding subordinated notes totaling $436.1 million compared to $139.2 million at December 31, 2018. In 2019, the Company issued $300.0 million of subordinated notes receiving $296.7 million in proceeds, net of underwriting discount. The notes have a stated interest rate of 4.85% and mature in June 2029. In 2014, the Company issued $140.0 million of subordinated notes receiving $139.1 million in proceeds, net of underwriting discount. The notes have a stated interest rate of 5.00% and mature in June 2024.

In connection with the issuance of subordinated notes in 2019 and 2014, the Company incurred costs totaling $3.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. These costs are a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the subordinated notes and are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. At December 31, 2019, the unamortized balances of costs for both issuances were approximately $3.9 million. These subordinated notes qualify as Tier II capital under the regulatory capital requirements, subject to restrictions.

(13) Other Borrowings

The following is a summary of other borrowings at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019		2018
Notes payable	$	123,090	$	144,461
Short-term borrowings	20,520		50,593
Other	46,447		47,722
Secured borrowings	228,117		151,079
Total other borrowings	$	418,174	$	393,855

Notes Payable

On September 18, 2018, the Company established a $150.0 million term facility ("Term Facility"), which is part of a $200.0 million loan agreement ("Credit Agreement") with unaffiliated banks. The Credit Agreement consists of the Term Facility with an original outstanding balance of $150.0 million and a $50.0 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility"). At December 31, 2019, the Company had a notes payable balance of $123.1 million under the Term Facility. The Term Facility is stated at par of the current outstanding balance of the debt adjusted for unamortized costs paid by the Company in relation to the debt issuance. The Company was contractually required to borrow the entire amount of the Term Facility on September 18, 2018 and all such borrowings must be repaid by September 18, 2023. Beginning December 31, 2018, the Company is required to make quarterly payments of principal plus interest on the Term Facility. During 2019, the Company borrowed $35.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility and paid-off such amount prior to December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the Company had no outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility, which matures September 15, 2020. Unamortized costs paid by the Company in relation to the issuance of the Revolving Credit Facility are classified in other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Condition.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement that are considered “Base Rate Loans” bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (1) 50 basis points (in the case of a borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility) or 75 basis points (in the case of a borrowing under the Term Facility) plus (2) the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 50 basis points, (b) the lender's prime rate, and (c) the Eurodollar Rate (as defined below) that would be applicable for an interest period of one month plus 100 basis points. Borrowings under the agreement that are considered “Eurodollar Rate Loans” bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (1) 125 basis points (in the case of a borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility) or 125 basis points (in the case of a borrowing under the Term Facility) plus (2) the LIBOR rate for the applicable period, as adjusted for statutory reserve requirements for eurocurrency liabilities (the “Eurodollar Rate”). A commitment fee is payable quarterly equal to 0.20% of the actual daily amount by which the lenders' commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility exceeded the amount outstanding under such facility.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are secured by pledges of and first priority perfected security interests in the Company's equity interest in its bank subsidiaries and contain several restrictive covenants, including the maintenance of various capital adequacy levels, asset quality and profitability ratios, and certain restrictions on dividends and other indebtedness. At December 31,

132

2019, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Facility are available to be utilized, as needed, to provide capital to fund continued growth at the Company’s banks and to serve as an interim source of funds for acquisitions, common stock repurchases or other general corporate purposes.

In connection with the establishment of the Credit Agreement, all outstanding notes payable under a $150.0 million loan agreement with unaffiliated banks dated December 15, 2014 (as subsequently amended) were paid in full. This loan agreement consisted of a term facility with an original outstanding balance of $75.0 million and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility.

Short-term Borrowings

Short-term borrowings include securities sold under repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased. These borrowings totaled $20.5 million and $50.6 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, securities sold under repurchase agreements represent $20.5 million and $50.6 million, respectively, of customer sweep accounts in connection with master repurchase agreements at the banks. The Company records securities sold under repurchase agreements at their gross value and does not offset positions on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had pledged securities related to its customer balances in sweep accounts of $29.7 million. Securities pledged for customer balances in sweep accounts and short-term borrowings from brokers are maintained under the Company’s control and consist of U.S. Government agency and mortgage-backed securities. These securities are included in the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities portfolios as reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition.

The following is a summary of these securities pledged as of December 31, 2019 disaggregated by investment category and maturity, and reconciled to the outstanding balance of securities sold under repurchase agreements:

(Dollars in thousands)	Overnight Sweep Collateral
Available-for-sale securities pledged
Mortgage-backed securities	$	25,696
Held-to-maturity securities pledged
U.S. Government agencies	4,000
Total collateral pledged	$	29,696
Excess collateral	9,176
Securities sold under repurchase agreements	$	20,520

Other Borrowings

Other borrowings at December 31, 2019 and 2018 represent a fixed-rate promissory note issued by the Company in June 2017 (“Fixed-Rate Promissory Note”) related to and secured by two office buildings owned by the Company. At December 31, 2019, the Fixed-Rate Promissory Note had a balance of $46.4 million. Under the Fixed-Rate Promissory Note, the Company will make monthly principal payments and pay interest at a fixed rate of 3.36% until maturity on June 30, 2022. The Fixed-Rate Promissory Note contains several restrictive covenants, including the maintenance of various capital adequacy levels, asset quality and profitability ratios, and certain restrictions on dividends and other indebtedness. At December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants.

Secured Borrowings

Secured borrowings at December 31, 2019 primarily represents transactions to sell an undivided co-ownership interest in all receivables owed to the Company's subsidiary, FIFC Canada. In December 2014, FIFC Canada sold such interest to an unrelated third party in exchange for a cash payment of approximately C$150 million pursuant to a receivables purchase agreement (“Receivables Purchase Agreement”). The Receivables Purchase Agreement was amended in December 2015, extending the maturity date from December 15, 2015 to December 15, 2017. Additionally, at that time, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$10 million, which increased the total payments to C$160 million. The Receivables Purchase Agreement was again amended in December 2017, extending the maturity date from December 15, 2017 to December 16, 2019. Additionally, at that time, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$10 million, which increased the total payments to C$170 million. In June 2018, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$20 million, which increased the total payments to C$190 million. The Receivables Purchase Agreement was again amended in February 2019, effectively extending the maturity date from December 16, 2019 to December 15, 2020. Additionally, in February 2019, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$20 million, which increased the total payments to C$210 million. In May 2019, the unrelated third party paid an additional C$70 million, which increased the

133

total payments to C$280 million. These transactions were not considered sales of receivables and, as such, related proceeds received are reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition as a secured borrowing owed to the unrelated third party, net of unamortized debt issuance costs, and translated to the Company’s reporting currency as of the respective date. At December 31, 2019, the translated balance of the secured borrowing totaled $215.5 million compared to $139.3 million at December 31, 2018. Additionally, the interest rate under the Receivables Purchase Agreement at December 31, 2019 was 2.729%. The remaining $12.7 million within secured borrowings at December 31, 2019 represents other sold interests in certain loans by the Company that were not considered sales and, as such, related proceeds received are reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition as a secured borrowing owed to the various unrelated third parties.

(14) Junior Subordinated Debentures

As of December 31, 2019, the Company owned 100% of the common securities of eleven trusts, Wintrust Capital Trust III, Wintrust Statutory Trust IV, Wintrust Statutory Trust V, Wintrust Capital Trust VII, Wintrust Capital Trust VIII, Wintrust Capital Trust IX, Northview Capital Trust I, Town Bankshares Capital Trust I, First Northwest Capital Trust I, Suburban Illinois Capital Trust II, and Community Financial Shares Statutory Trust II (the “Trusts”) set up to provide long- term financing. The Northview, Town, First Northwest, Suburban and Community Financial Shares capital trusts were acquired as part of the acquisitions of Northview Financial Corporation, Town Bankshares, Ltd., First Northwest Bancorp, Inc., Suburban and CFIS, respectively. The Trusts were formed for purposes of issuing trust preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the issuance of the trust preferred securities and common securities solely in junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company (or assumed by the Company in connection with an acquisition), with the same maturities and interest rates as the trust preferred securities. The junior subordinated debentures are the sole assets of the Trusts. In each Trust, the common securities represent approximately 3% of the junior subordinated debentures and the trust preferred securities represent approximately 97% of the junior subordinated debentures.

The Trusts are reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as unconsolidated subsidiaries. Accordingly, in the Consolidated Statements of Condition, the junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company to the Trusts are reported as liabilities and the common securities of the Trusts, all of which are owned by the Company, are included in investment securities.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The junior subordinated debentures represent the par value of the obligations owed to the Trusts.

	Common Securities		Trust Preferred Securities		Junior Subordinated Debentures				Rate Structure	Contractual rate at 12/31/2019			Maturity Date	Earliest Redemption Date
(Dollars in thousands)					2019		2018					Issue Date
Wintrust Capital Trust III	$	774	$	25,000	$	25,774	$	25,774	L+3.25	5.24	%	04/2003	04/2033	04/2008
Wintrust Statutory Trust IV	619		20,000		20,619		20,619		L+2.80	4.74		12/2003	12/2033	12/2008
Wintrust Statutory Trust V	1,238		40,000		41,238		41,238		L+2.60	4.54		05/2004	05/2034	06/2009
Wintrust Capital Trust VII	1,550		50,000		51,550		51,550		L+1.95	3.84		12/2004	03/2035	03/2010
Wintrust Capital Trust VIII	1,238		25,000		26,238		26,238		L+1.45	3.39		08/2005	09/2035	09/2010
Wintrust Capital Trust IX	1,547		50,000		51,547		51,547		L+1.63	3.52		09/2006	09/2036	09/2011
Northview Capital Trust I	186		6,000		6,186		6,186		L+3.00	4.91		08/2003	11/2033	08/2008
Town Bankshares Capital Trust I	186		6,000		6,186		6,186		L+3.00	4.91		08/2003	11/2033	08/2008
First Northwest Capital Trust I	155		5,000		5,155		5,155		L+3.00	4.94		05/2004	05/2034	05/2009
Suburban Illinois Capital Trust II	464		15,000		15,464		15,464		L+1.75	3.64		12/2006	12/2036	12/2011
Community Financial Shares Statutory Trust II	109		3,500		3,609		3,609		L+1.62	3.51		06/2007	09/2037	06/2012
Total					$	253,566	$	253,566		4.12	%

The junior subordinated debentures totaled $253.6 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The interest rates on the variable rate junior subordinated debentures are based on the three-month LIBOR rate and reset on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2019, the weighted average contractual interest rate on the junior subordinated debentures was 4.12%. The Company entered into interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $210.0 million to hedge the variable cash flows on certain junior subordinated debentures. The hedge-adjusted contractual interest rate on the junior subordinated debentures as of December 31, 2019, was 4.45%. Distributions on the common and preferred securities issued by the Trusts are payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rates being earned by the Trusts on the junior subordinated debentures. Interest expense on the junior subordinated debentures is deductible for income tax purposes.

134

The Company has guaranteed the payment of distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption of the trust preferred securities, in each case to the extent of funds held by the Trusts. The Company and the Trusts believe that, taken together, the obligations of the Company under the guarantees, the junior subordinated debentures, and other related agreements provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, of all of the obligations of the Trusts under the trust preferred securities. Subject to certain limitations, the Company has the right to defer the payment of interest on the junior subordinated debentures at any time, or from time to time, for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters. The trust preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the junior subordinated debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption. The junior subordinated debentures are redeemable in whole or in part prior to maturity at any time after the earliest redemption dates shown in the table, and earlier at the discretion of the Company if certain conditions are met, and, in any event, only after the Company has obtained Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") approval, if then required under applicable guidelines or regulations.

At December 31, 2019, the Company included $245.5 million of the junior subordinated debentures, net of common securities, in Tier 2 regulatory capital.

(15) Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table presents revenue from contracts with customers, disaggregated by the revenue source:

(Dollars in thousands)		Years Ended
Revenue from contracts with customers	Location in income statement	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Brokerage and insurance product commissions	Wealth management	$	18,825	$	22,391	$	22,863
Trust	Wealth management	18,767		13,263		12,547
Asset management	Wealth management	59,522		55,309		46,356
Total wealth management		97,114		90,963		81,766
Mortgage broker fees	Mortgage banking	768		1,188		1,565
Service charges on deposit accounts	Service charges on deposit accounts	39,070		36,404		34,513
Administrative services	Other non-interest income	4,197		4,625		4,165
Card related fees	Other non-interest income	7,816		7,441		5,858
Other deposit related fees	Other non-interest income	12,500		11,892		11,127
Total revenue from contracts with customers		$	161,465	$	152,513	$	138,994

Wealth Management Revenue

Wealth management revenue is comprised of brokerage and insurance product commissions, managed money fees and trust and asset management revenue of the Company's four wealth management subsidiaries: Wintrust Investments, Great Lakes Advisors, CTC and CDEC. All wealth management revenue is recognized in the wealth management segment.

Brokerage and insurance product commissions consists primarily of commissions earned from trade execution services on behalf of customers and from selling mutual funds, insurance and other investment products to customers. For trade execution services, the Company recognizes commissions and receives payment from the brokerage customers at the point of transaction execution. Commissions received from the investment or insurance product providers are recognized at the point of sale of the product. The Company also receives trail and other commissions from providers for certain plans. These are generally based on qualifying account values and are recognized once the performance obligation, specific to each provider, is satisfied on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

Trust revenue is earned primarily from trust and custody services that are generally performed over time as well as fees earned on funds held during the facilitation of tax-deferred like-kind exchange transactions. Revenue is determined periodically based on a schedule of fees applied to the value of each customer account using a time-elapsed method to measure progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. Fees are typically billed on a calendar month or quarter basis in advance or in arrears depending upon the contract. Upfront fees received related to the facilitation of tax-deferred like-kind exchange

135

transactions are deferred until the transaction is completed. Additional fees earned for certain extraordinary services performed on behalf of the customers are recognized when the service has been performed.

Asset management revenue is earned from money management and advisory services that are performed over time. Revenue is based primarily on the market value of assets under management or administration using a time-elapsed method to measure progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. Fees are typically billed on a calendar month or quarter basis in advance or in arrears depending upon the contract. Certain programs provide the customer with an option of paying fees as a percentage of the account value or incurring commission charges for each trade similar to brokerage and insurance product commissions. Trade commissions and any other fees received for additional services are recognized at a point in time once the performance obligation is satisfied.

Mortgage Broker Fees

For customers desiring a mortgage product not currently offered by the Company, the Company may refer such customers and, with permission, direct such customers' applications to certain third party mortgage brokers. Mortgage broker fees are received from these brokers for such customer referrals upon settlement of the underlying mortgage. The Company's entitlement to the consideration is contingent on the settlement of the mortgage which is highly susceptible to factors outside of the Company's influence, such as the third party broker's underwriting requirements. Also, the uncertainty surrounding the consideration could be resolved in varying lengths of time, dependent upon the third party brokers. Therefore, mortgage broker fees are recognized at the settlement of the underlying mortgage when the consideration is received. Broker fees are recognized in the community banking segment.

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts include fees charged to deposit customers for various services, including account analysis services, and are based on factors such as the size and type of customer, type of product and number of transactions. The fees are based on a standard schedule of fees and, depending on the nature of the service performed, the service is performed at a point in time or over a period of a month. When the service is performed at a point in time, the Company recognizes and receives revenue when the service has been performed. When the service is performed over a period of a month, the Company recognizes and receives revenue in the month the service has been performed. Service charges on deposit accounts are recognized in the community banking segment.

Administrative Services

Administrative services revenue is earned from providing outsourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to temporary staffing service clients located throughout the United States. Fees are charged periodically (typically a payroll cycle) and computed in accordance with the contractually determined rate applied to the total gross billings administered for the period. The revenue is recognized over the period using a time-elapsed method to measure progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. Other fees are charged on a per occurrence basis as the service is provided in the billing cycle. The Company has certain contracts with customers to perform outsourced administrative services and short-term accounts receivable financing. For these contracts, the total fee is allocated between the administrative services revenue and interest income during the client onboarding process based on the specific client and services provided. Administrative services revenue is recognized in the specialty finance segment.

Card and Deposit Related Fees

Card related fees include interchange and merchant revenue, and fees related to debit and credit cards. Interchange revenue is related to the Company issued debit cards. Other deposit related fees primarily include pay by phone processing fees, ATM and safe deposit box fees, check order charges and foreign currency related fees. Card and deposit related fees are generally based on volume of transactions and are recognized at the point in time when the service has been performed. For any consideration that is constrained, the revenue is recognized once the uncertainty is known. Upfront fees received from certain contracts are recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the contract. Card and deposit related fees are recognized in the community banking segment.

136

Contract Balances

The following table provides information about contract assets, contract liabilities and receivables from contracts with customers:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Contract assets	$	—	$	—
Contract liabilities	$	1,356	$	1,727
Mortgage broker fees receivable	$	19	$	44
Administrative services receivable	194		275
Wealth management receivable	9,118		13,610
Card related fees receivable	266		—
Total receivables from contracts with customer	$	9,597	$	13,929

Contract liabilities represent upfront fees that the Company received at inception of certain contracts. The revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at beginning of the period totaled $759,000 and $369,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Receivables are recognized in the period the Company provides services when the Company's right to consideration is unconditional. Card related fee receivable is the result of volume based fee that the Company receives from a customer on an annual basis in the second quarter of each year. Payment terms on other invoiced amounts are typically 30 days or less. Contract liabilities and receivables from contracts with customers are included within the accrued interest payable and other liabilities and accrued interest receivable and other assets line items, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.

Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations

For contracts with an original expected length of more than one year, the following table presents the estimated future timing of recognition of upfront fees related to card and deposit related fees. These upfront fees represent performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied at the end of the reporting period.

(Dollars in thousands)
Estimated—2020	$	757
Estimated—2021	303
Estimated—2022	153
Estimated—2023	143
Estimated—2024	—
Total	$	1,356

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

The Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the Company transfers a promised service to a customer and when the customer pays for that services is one year or less.

The Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.

137

(16) Lease Commitments

In accordance with ASU No. 2016-02 and all subsequent updates issued to clarify and improve specific areas of this ASU, as of January 1, 2019, the Company recognized a separate lease liability and right-of-use asset of approximately $199.4 million and $170.6 million, respectively, for leasing arrangements in which the Company is a lessee. The difference in the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset represents any remaining amounts related to prepayments, payment deferrals and lease incentives as of January 1, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the separate lease liability and right-of-use asset was $197.6 million and $165.7 million, respectively. The separate liability and asset are included within accrued interest payable and other liabilities and accrued interest receivable and other assets, respectively, within the Company's Consolidated Statements of Condition. The leasing arrangements requiring recognition on the Consolidated Statements of Condition primarily related to certain banking facilities under operating lease agreements as well as other leasing arrangements in which the Company has the right-of-use of specific signage related to sponsorships and other agreements and certain automatic teller machines and other equipment. See Note 1,“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” for further discussion of the Company's adoption of ASU No. 2016-02.

The following tables provide a summary of lease costs and future required fixed payments related to the Company's leasing arrangements in which it is the lessee:

	Year Ended
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019
Operating lease cost	$	22,750
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use asset	36
Interest on lease liability	64
Short-term lease cost	561
Variable lease cost	3,202
Sublease income	(598		)
Total lease cost	$	26,015
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities	$	23,859
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities	60
Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	9,396
Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities	3,498
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases	13.2 years
Weighted average remaining lease term - finance leases	39.6 years
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.09		%
Weighted average discount rate - finance leases	4.43		%

(In thousands)	Payments
2020	$	26,837
2021	22,403
2022	21,444
2023	19,315
2024	18,409
2025 and thereafter	152,231
Total minimum future amounts	$	260,639
Impact of measuring the lease liability on a discounted basis	(63,000		)
Total lease liability	$	197,639

138

In addition to the lessee arrangements discussed above, the Company also leases certain owned premises and receives rental income from such lessor agreements. Gross rental income related to the Company’s buildings totaled $9.4 million, $11.8 million and $9.8 million, in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The approximate annual gross rental receipts under noncancelable agreements for office space with remaining terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2019, are as follows (in thousands):

 

	Receipts
2020	$	7,337
2021	6,370
2022	4,733
2023	3,057
2024	2,181
2025 and thereafter	4,821
Total minimum future amounts	$	28,499

(17) Income Taxes

Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is summarized as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Current income taxes:
Federal	$	55,664		$	44,266		$	54,977
State	18,270			18,349			12,852
Foreign	5,913			(872		)	1,243
Total current income taxes	$	79,847		$	61,743		$	69,072
Deferred income taxes:
Federal	$	33,345		$	40,500		$	51,668
State	13,099			11,705			10,403
Foreign	(1,887		)	3,019			1,172
Total deferred income taxes	$	44,557		$	55,224		$	63,243
Total income tax expense	$	124,404		$	116,967		$	132,315

The Company's income before income taxes in 2019, 2018 and 2017 includes $12.2 million, $5.3 million and $7.8 million, respectively, of foreign income attributable to its Canadian subsidiary.

The tax effects of certain transactions are recorded directly to shareholders' equity rather than income tax expense. The tax effect of fair value adjustments on securities available-for-sale and derivative instruments in cash flow hedges are recorded directly to shareholders' equity as part of other comprehensive income (loss) and are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The tax effect of unrealized gains and losses on certain foreign currency transactions is also recorded in shareholders' equity as part of other comprehensive income (loss).

139

A reconciliation of the differences between taxes computed using the statutory Federal income tax rate and actual income tax expense is as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Income tax expense using the statutory Federal income tax rate of 21% in 2019 and 2018, and 35% in 2017, on income before taxes	$	100,821		$	96,628		$	136,499
Increase (decrease) in tax resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest, net of interest expense disallowance	(3,958		)	(3,869		)	(4,658		)
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit	24,600			23,584			15,115
Income earned on bank owned life insurance	(959		)	(1,002		)	(1,167		)
Excess tax benefits on share based compensation	(1,447		)	(3,107		)	(5,470		)
Enactment of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Re-measurement of net deferred tax liabilities	—			(1,209		)	(10,402		)
Transition tax on deferred foreign earnings	—			—			2,850
Meals, entertainment and related expenses	2,148			1,840			1,710
FDIC insurance expense	1,274			1,832			—
Non-deductible compensation expense	1,019			1,366			55
Foreign subsidiary, net	1,979			1,591			(271		)
Tax benefits related to tax credit investments, net	(513		)	(656		)	(698		)
Other, net	(560		)	(31		)	(1,248		)
Income tax expense	$	124,404		$	116,967		$	132,315

In 2017, the Company recognized a provisional tax benefit of $7.6 million to reflect the impact of enactment of the Tax Act. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company finalized the provisional amount and recorded an additional net tax benefit of $1.2 million as provided in the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin SAB 118.

140

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Deferred tax assets:
Right-of-use liability	$	52,472		$	—
Allowance for credit losses	41,809			40,342
Deferred compensation	23,555			22,363
Stock-based compensation	8,487			7,544
Loans	5,673			4,540
Net unrealized losses on derivatives included in other comprehensive income	4,781			—
Federal net operating loss carryforward	4,016			5,348
Other real estate owned	2,198			2,429
Nonaccrued interest	2,164			1,357
AMT credit carryforward	1,338			1,395
Net unrealized losses on securities included in other comprehensive income	—			15,430
Other	2,366			4,376
Total gross deferred tax assets	148,859			105,124
Deferred tax liabilities:
Equipment leasing	120,114			90,306
Premises and equipment	51,544			28,517
Right-of-use asset	43,912			—
Capitalized servicing rights	20,277			16,663
Goodwill and intangible assets	12,819			12,921
Net unrealized gains on securities included in other comprehensive income	5,443			—
Deferred loan fees and costs	4,604			3,446
Fair value adjustments on loans	3,603			2,833
Net unrealized gains on derivatives included in other comprehensive income	—			2,863
Other	5,397			5,295
Total gross deferred liabilities	267,713			162,844
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(118,854	)	$	(57,720	)

Management has determined that a valuation allowance is not required for the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019 because it is more likely than not that these assets could be realized through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, tax planning strategies and future taxable income. This conclusion is based on the Company's historical earnings, its current level of earnings and prospects for continued growth and profitability.

The Company has a Federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward of $1.3 million which is subject to IRC Section 383 annual limitation. The AMT credit has no expiration date and pursuant to the Tax Act will be fully refundable by 2021. The Company has a Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of $19.1 million that begins to expire in 2029 through 2037 and is subject to IRC Section 382 annual limitation. The AMT credit and the NOL carryforwards were a result of acquisitions.

The Company accounts for uncertainties in income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits:

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018		2017
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year	$	11,538		$	10,821	$	11,626
Gross increases for tax positions taken in current period	—			—		—
Gross increases (decreases) for positions taken in prior periods	268			717		(805		)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(966		)	—		—
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of the year	$	10,840		$	11,538	$	10,821

141

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $8.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties on unrecognized tax positions are recorded in income tax expense. Total interest income accrued at December 31, 2019 and 2018 on unrecognized tax benefits was $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, net of tax effect. Interest and penalties are included in the liability for uncertain tax positions, but are not included in the unrecognized tax benefits rollforward presented above. The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in numerous state jurisdictions and in Canada. In the ordinary course of business we are routinely subject to audit by the taxing authorities of these jurisdictions. Currently, the Company's U.S. federal income tax returns are open and subject to audit for the 2016 tax return year forward, and in general, the Company's state income tax returns are open and subject to audit from the 2016 tax return year forward, subject to individual state statutes of limitation. The Company's Canadian subsidiary's Canadian income tax returns are also subject to audit for the 2016 tax return year forward.

(18) Stock Compensation Plans and Other Employee Benefit Plans

Stock Incentive Plan

In May 2015, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (“the 2015 Plan”) which provides for the issuance of up to 5,485,000 shares of common stock. The 2015 Plan replaced the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (“the 2007 Plan”), which replaced the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (“the 1997 Plan”). The 2015 Plan, the 2007 Plan and the 1997 Plan are collectively referred to as “the Plans.” The 2015 Plan has substantially similar terms to the 2007 Plan and the 1997 Plan. Awards granted under the Plans for which common shares are not issued by reason of cancellation, forfeiture, lapse of such award or settlement of such award in cash, are again available under the 2015 Plan. All grants made after the approval of the 2015 Plan have been made pursuant to the 2015 Plan. As of December 31, 2019, approximately 3.0 million shares were available for future grants (assuming the maximum number of shares are issued for the performance awards outstanding.) The Plans cover substantially all employees of Wintrust. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers all stock-based compensation programs and authorizes all awards granted pursuant to the Plans.

The Plans permit the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted share or unit awards, performance awards and other incentive awards valued in whole or in part by reference to the Company’s common stock, all on a stand-alone, combination or tandem basis. The Company historically awarded stock-based compensation in the form of time-vested nonqualified stock options and time-vested restricted share unit awards (“restricted shares”). In general, the grants of options provide for the purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at the fair market value of the stock on the date the options are granted. Options under the 2015 Plan and the 2007 Plan generally vest ratably over periods of three to five years and have a maximum term of seven years from the date of grant. Restricted shares entitle the holders to receive, at no cost, shares of the Company’s common stock. Restricted shares generally vest over periods of one to five years from the date of grant.

Beginning in 2011, the Company has awarded annual grants under the Long-Term Incentive Program (“LTIP”), which is administered under the Plans. The LTIP is designed in part to align the interests of management with interests of shareholders, foster retention, create a long-term focus based on sustainable results and provide participants a target long-term incentive opportunity. It is anticipated that LTIP awards will continue to be granted annually. LTIP grants since 2017 have consisted of performance-based stock and performance-based cash awards; however grants had previously included non-qualified stock options. Stock options granted under the LTIP have a term of seven years and will generally vest equally over three years based on continued service. Performance-based stock and cash awards granted under the LTIP are contingent upon the achievement of pre-established long-term performance goals set in advance by the Compensation Committee over a three-year period. These performance awards are granted at a target level, and based on the Company’s achievement of the pre-established long-term goals, the actual payouts can range from 0% to 150% of the target award. The awards typically vest in the quarter after the end of the performance period upon certification of the payout by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Holders of performance-based stock awards are entitled to receive, at no cost, the shares earned based on the achievement of the pre-established long-term goals.

Holders of restricted share awards and performance-based stock awards received under the Plans are not entitled to vote or receive cash dividends (or cash payments equal to the cash dividends) on the underlying common shares until the awards are vested. Shares that are vested but are not issuable pursuant to deferred compensation arrangements accrue additional shares based on the value of dividends otherwise paid.

Except in limited circumstances, unvested awards granted under the Plans are canceled upon termination of employment without any payment of consideration by the Company.

142

Stock-based compensation is measured as the fair value of an award on the date of grant, and the measured cost is recognized over the period which the recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The fair values of restricted share and performance-based stock awards are determined based on the average of the high and low trading prices on the grant date, and the fair value of stock options is estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The option-pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions and is sensitive to changes in the option’s expected life and the price volatility of the underlying stock, which can materially affect the fair value estimate. Options granted since the inception of the LTIP in 2011 were primarily granted as LTIP awards. Expected life of the options granted since the inception of the LTIP awards has been based on the safe harbor rule of the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 “Share-Based Payment” as the Company believes historical exercise data may not provide a reasonable basis to estimate the expected term of these options. Expected stock price volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock, which correlates with the expected life of the options. Management reviews and adjusts the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of an option on a periodic basis to better reflect expected trends during periods when options are granted. No options have been granted since 2016.

Stock based compensation is recognized based on the number of awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical forfeiture experience. For performance-based stock awards, an estimate is made of the number of shares expected to vest as a result of actual performance against the performance criteria to determine the amount of compensation expense to be recognized. The estimate is reevaluated quarterly and total compensation expense is adjusted for any change in the current period.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income was $11.3 million, $13.5 million and $12.9 million and the related tax benefits were $2.6 million, $3.1 million and $5.1 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

A summary of the Plans’ stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

Stock Options	Common Shares		Weighted Average Strike Price		Remaining Contractual Term(1)	Intrinsic Value(2) ($000)
Outstanding at January 1, 2017	1,698,912		$	41.50
Granted	—		—
Exercised	(593,459	)	40.57
Forfeited or canceled	(20,697	)	42.83
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	1,084,756		$	41.98	4.0	$	43,817
Exercisable at December 31, 2017	562,810		$	41.82	3.3	$	22,820
Outstanding at January 1, 2018	1,084,756		$	41.98
Granted	—		—
Exercised	(282,614	)	41.25
Forfeited or canceled	(7,128	)	39.84
Outstanding at December 31, 2018	795,014		$	42.25	3.1	$	19,268
Exercisable at December 31, 2018	613,932		$	42.54	3.1	$	14,705
Outstanding at January 1, 2019	795,014		$	42.25
Granted	—		—
Options outstanding in acquired plans	106,748		38.83
Exercised	(146,430	)	38.84
Forfeited or canceled	—		—
Outstanding at December 31, 2019	755,332		$	42.43	2.8	$	21,503
Exercisable at December 31, 2019	735,396		$	42.42	2.7	$	20,947
Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2019	755,332		$	42.43	2.8	$	21,503

(1) Represents the weighted average contractual remaining life in years.

(2) Aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between the Company’s stock price at year end and the option exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares) that would have been received by the option holders if they had exercised their options on the last day of the year. Options with exercise prices above the year end stock price are excluded from the calculation of intrinsic value. The intrinsic value will change based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock.

The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, was $4.7 million, $13.3 million and $20.1 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from option exercises totaled $1.3 million, $3.5 million and $7.8 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Cash received from option exercises under the Plans for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $5.7 million, $11.7 million and $24.1 million, respectively.

143

A summary of the Plans’ restricted share activity for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

	2019				2018				2017
Restricted Shares	Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1	143,263		$	60.80	127,787		$	53.33	133,425		$	49.94
Granted	24,285		68.58		35,654		84.36		16,552		73.16
Vested and issued	(21,529	)	70.99		(18,324	)	54.31		(19,639	)	47.13
Forfeited or canceled	(1,691	)	79.50		(1,854	)	63.50		(2,551	)	52.26
Outstanding at end of year	144,328		$	60.37	143,263		$	60.80	127,787		$	53.33
Vested, but not issuable at end of year	92,183		$	52.24	90,520		$	51.94	89,723		$	51.64

A summary of the Plans’ performance-based stock award activity, based on the target level of the awards, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

	2019				2018				2017
Performance Shares	Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Common Shares		Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1	396,855		$	67.71	359,196		$	54.37	298,180		$	43.64
Granted	175,823		71.56		134,380		88.27		145,853		72.60
Added by performance factor at vesting	33,950		40.99		—		—		—		—
Vested and issued	(128,238	)	41.00		(82,307	)	44.39		(68,712	)	46.85
Forfeited or canceled	(12,875	)	75.08		(14,414	)	60.05		(16,125	)	52.98
Outstanding at end of year	465,515		$	74.37	396,855		$	67.71	359,196		$	54.37
Vested, but deferred at year end	33,828		$	43.01	21,530		$	43.54	108,143		$	44.16

At December 31, 2019, the maximum number of performance-based shares that could be issued on outstanding awards if performance is attained at the maximum amount was approximately 681,000 shares.

The actual tax benefit realized upon the vesting of restricted shares and performance-based stock is based on the fair value of the shares on the issue date and the estimated tax benefit of the awards is based on fair value of the awards on the grant date. The actual tax benefit realized upon the vesting of restricted shares and performance-based stock in 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $870,000, $994,000 and $975,000, respectively, more than the expected tax benefit for those shares. These differences in actual and expected tax benefits were recorded to income tax expense.

As of December 31, 2019, there was $10.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share based arrangements under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $9.8 million, $8.0 million and $8.9 million, respectively.

The Company issues new shares to satisfy its obligation to issue shares granted pursuant to the Plans.

Cash Incentive and Retention Plan

The Cash Incentive and Retention Plan (“CIRP”) allows the Company to provide cash compensation to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ officers and employees. The CIRP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The CIRP generally provides for the grants of cash awards, which may be earned pursuant to the achievement of performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee and/or continued employment. The performance criteria, if any, established by the Compensation Committee must relate to one or more of the criteria specified in the CIRP, which includes: earnings, earnings growth, revenues, stock price, return on assets, return on equity, improvement of financial ratings, achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives and expenses. These criteria may relate to the Company, a particular line of business or a specific subsidiary of the Company. The Company had no expense related to the CIRP in 2019, 2018 and 2017, and no awards were paid in those years. There were no outstanding awards under this plan at December 31, 2019.

144

Other Employee Benefits

Wintrust and its subsidiaries also provide 401(k) Retirement Savings Plans (“401(k) Plans”). The 401(k) Plans cover all employees meeting certain eligibility requirements. Contributions by employees are made through salary deferrals at their direction, subject to certain Plan and statutory limitations. Employer contributions to the 401(k) Plans are made at the employer’s discretion. Generally, participants completing 501 hours of service are eligible to share in an allocation of employer contributions. The Company’s expense for the employer contributions to the 401(k) Plans was approximately $12.3 million in 2019, $10.4 million in 2018, and $8.9 million in 2017.

The Wintrust Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) is designed to encourage greater stock ownership among employees, thereby enhancing employee commitment to the Company. The ESPP gives eligible employees the right to accumulate funds over an offering period to purchase shares of common stock. All shares offered under the ESPP will be either newly issued shares of the Company or shares issued from treasury, if any. In accordance with the ESPP, beginning January 1, 2015, the purchase price of the shares of common stock is equal to 95% of the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the last day of the offering period. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, 43,386, 33,977 and 35,022, respectively, shares of common stock were purchased by participants and no compensation expense was recorded. The Company plans to continue to offer common stock through this ESPP on an ongoing basis, and in 2018, increased the shares authorized under the ESPP by 200,000 shares. At December 31, 2019, the Company had an obligation to issue 10,523 shares of common stock to participants and had 172,677 shares available for future grants under the ESPP.

As a result of the Company's acquisition of HPK Financial Corporation (“HPK”) in December 2012, the Company assumed the obligations of a noncontributory pension plan. The HPK Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2006, with no additional credit earned for service or compensation paid after that date. Similarly, in connection with the Company's acquisition of Diamond Bancorp, Inc. ("Diamond") in October 2013, the Company assumed the obligation of Diamond's pension plan. The Diamond Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004, and only service and compensation prior to this date is considered in determining benefits. In 2019, both of these plans were terminated and participant account balances were distributed. The Company recorded expense (income) of $487,000, ($38,000) and $1.2 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to these plans.

The Company does not currently offer other postretirement benefits such as health care or other pension plans.

Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan

The Wintrust Financial Corporation Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan (“DDFS Plan”) allows directors of the Company and its subsidiaries to choose to receive payment of directors’ fees in either cash or common stock of the Company and to defer the receipt of the fees. The DDFS Plan is designed to encourage stock ownership by directors. All shares offered under the DDFS Plan will be either newly issued shares of the Company or shares issued from treasury. The number of shares issued is determined on a quarterly basis based on the fees earned during the quarter and the fair market value per share of the common stock on the last trading day of the preceding quarter. The shares are issued annually and the directors are entitled to dividends and voting rights upon the issuance of the shares. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, a total of 18,577 shares, 18,856 shares and 27,508 shares, respectively, were issued to directors. For those directors that elect to defer the receipt of the common stock, the Company maintains records of stock units representing an obligation to issue shares of common stock. The number of stock units equals the number of shares that would have been issued had the director not elected to defer receipt of the shares. Additional stock units are credited at the time dividends are paid, however no voting rights are associated with the stock units. The shares of common stock represented by the stock units are issued in the year specified by the directors in their participation agreements. At December 31, 2019, the Company has an obligation to issue 295,228 shares of common stock to directors and has 42,311 shares available for future grants under the DDFS Plan.

(19) Regulatory Matters

Banking laws place restrictions upon the amount of dividends that can be paid to Wintrust by the banks. Based on these laws, the banks could, subject to minimum capital requirements, declare dividends to Wintrust without obtaining regulatory approval in an amount not exceeding (a) undivided profits, and (b) the amount of net income reduced by dividends paid for the current and prior two years. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, cash dividends totaling $139.0 million, $111.0 million and $122.0 million, respectively, were paid to Wintrust by the banks and other subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2019, before considering the impact of ASU No. 2016-13 and all subsequent updates issued to clarify and improve specific areas of this ASU, the banks had approximately $542.0 million available to be paid as dividends to Wintrust without prior regulatory approval and without reducing their capital below the well-capitalized level.

145

The banks are also required by the Federal Reserve Act to maintain reserves against deposits. Reserves are held either in the form of vault cash or balances maintained with the FRB and are based on the average daily deposit balances and statutory reserve ratios prescribed by the type of deposit account. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, reserve balances of approximately $750.0 million and $611.1 million, respectively, were required to be maintained at the FRB.

The Company and the banks are subject to various regulatory capital requirements established by the federal banking agencies that take into account risk attributable to balance sheet and off-balance sheet activities. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory — and possibly discretionary — actions by regulators, that if undertaken could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the banks must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the banks to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined) and Tier 1 leverage capital (as defined) to average quarterly assets (as defined). The Federal Reserve’s capital guidelines require bank holding companies to maintain a minimum ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%, of which at least 4.50% must be in the form of Common Equity Tier 1 capital and 6.0% must be in the form of Tier 1 capital. The Federal Reserve also requires a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets of 4.0%. In addition the Federal Reserve continues to consider the Tier 1 leverage ratio in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

As reflected in the following table, the Company met all minimum capital requirements at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	2019		2018
Total capital to risk weighted assets	12.2	%	11.6	%
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets	9.6		9.7
Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets	9.2		9.3
Tier 1 leverage Ratio	8.7		9.1

Wintrust is designated as a financial holding company. Bank holding companies approved as financial holding companies may engage in an expanded range of activities, including the businesses conducted by its wealth management subsidiaries. As a financial holding company, Wintrust’s banks are required to maintain their capital positions at the “well-capitalized” level. As of December 31, 2019, the banks were categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. The ratios required for the banks to be “well capitalized” by regulatory definition are 10.0%, 8.0%, 6.5% and 5.0% for total capital to risk-weighted assets, Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets and Tier 1 leverage ratio, respectively.

146

The banks’ actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are presented in the following table:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019								December 31, 2018
	Actual				To Be Well Capitalized by Regulatory Definition				Actual				To Be Well Capitalized by Regulatory Definition
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
Lake Forest Bank	$	461,643	12.0	%	$	386,358	10.0	%	$	424,872	12.5	%	$	338,823	10.0	%
Hinsdale Bank	339,158		12.6		268,915		10.0		256,166		11.9		220,004		10.0
Wintrust Bank	709,328		11.8		602,969		10.0		613,037		11.5		533,154		10.0
Libertyville Bank	173,298		11.7		148,745		10.0		161,453		11.9		135,262		10.0
Barrington Bank	320,347		12.1		263,235		10.0		258,301		11.1		231,871		10.0
Crystal Lake Bank	124,373		12.1		102,488		10.0		107,041		11.6		92,542		10.0
Northbrook Bank	273,571		12.5		213,524		10.0		236,201		11.1		213,524		10.0
Schaumburg Bank	123,145		12.0		102,250		10.0		113,797		11.4		100,151		10.0
Village Bank	171,084		11.4		149,803		10.0		151,653		11.2		135,695		10.0
Beverly Bank	170,716		11.5		148,838		10.0		146,054		11.8		123,618		10.0
Town Bank	226,252		11.5		197,639		10.0		208,479		11.3		184,825		10.0
Wheaton Bank	187,518		11.4		165,019		10.0		165,798		11.3		147,354		10.0
State Bank of the Lakes	127,003		11.5		110,369		10.0		111,530		11.1		100,654		10.0
Old Plank Trail Bank	161,899		11.6		139,529		10.0		151,889		11.4		132,842		10.0
St. Charles Bank	156,023		11.7		133,119		10.0		115,607		11.4		101,337		10.0
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
Lake Forest Bank	$	440,585	11.4	%	$	309,087	8.0	%	$	402,156	11.9	%	$	271,058	8.0	%
Hinsdale Bank	328,046		12.2		215,132		8.0		244,036		11.3		176,003		8.0
Wintrust Bank	668,922		11.1		482,375		8.0		545,649		10.2		426,523		8.0
Libertyville Bank	164,915		11.1		118,996		8.0		152,939		11.3		108,209		8.0
Barrington Bank	313,195		11.9		210,588		8.0		252,189		10.9		185,497		8.0
Crystal Lake Bank	119,374		11.7		81,991		8.0		102,404		11.1		74,033		8.0
Northbrook Bank	260,577		11.9		170,819		8.0		223,849		10.5		170,819		8.0
Schaumburg Bank	118,260		11.6		81,800		8.0		108,338		10.8		80,120		8.0
Village Bank	161,666		10.8		119,842		8.0		142,333		10.5		108,556		8.0
Beverly Bank	164,827		11.1		119,071		8.0		141,140		11.4		98,894		8.0
Town Bank	217,958		11.0		158,111		8.0		199,982		10.8		147,860		8.0
Wheaton Bank	181,195		11.0		132,015		8.0		159,718		10.8		117,883		8.0
State Bank of the Lakes	119,740		10.9		88,295		8.0		107,234		10.7		80,523		8.0
Old Plank Trail Bank	155,975		11.2		111,623		8.0		145,779		11.0		106,273		8.0
St. Charles Bank	151,665		11.4		106,495		8.0		111,454		11.0		81,069		8.0
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
Lake Forest Bank	$	440,585	11.4	%	$	251,133	6.5	%	$	402,156	11.9	%	$	220,235	6.5	%
Hinsdale Bank	328,046		12.2		174,795		6.5		244,036		11.3		143,002		6.5
Wintrust Bank	668,922		11.1		391,930		6.5		545,649		10.2		346,550		6.5
Libertyville Bank	164,915		11.1		96,684		6.5		152,939		11.3		87,920		6.5
Barrington Bank	313,195		11.9		171,102		6.5		252,189		10.9		150,716		6.5
Crystal Lake Bank	119,374		11.7		66,617		6.5		102,404		11.1		60,152		6.5
Northbrook Bank	260,577		11.9		138,791		6.5		223,849		10.5		138,791		6.5
Schaumburg Bank	118,260		11.6		66,463		6.5		108,338		10.8		65,098		6.5
Village Bank	161,666		10.8		97,372		6.5		142,333		10.5		88,201		6.5
Beverly Bank	164,827		11.1		96,745		6.5		141,140		11.4		80,352		6.5
Town Bank	217,958		11.0		128,465		6.5		199,982		10.8		120,136		6.5
Wheaton Bank	181,195		11.0		107,262		6.5		159,718		10.8		95,780		6.5
State Bank of the Lakes	119,740		10.9		71,740		6.5		107,234		10.7		65,425		6.5
Old Plank Trail Bank	155,975		11.2		90,694		6.5		145,779		11.0		86,347		6.5
St. Charles Bank	151,665		11.4		86,528		6.5		111,454		11.0		65,869		6.5

147

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019								December 31, 2018
	Actual				To Be Well Capitalized by Regulatory Definition				Actual				To Be Well Capitalized by Regulatory Definition
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio:
Lake Forest Bank	$	440,585	10.7	%	$	223,497	5.0	%	$	402,156	10.7	%	$	187,634	5.0	%
Hinsdale Bank	328,046		10.4		147,512		5.0		244,036		10.4		117,308		5.0
Wintrust Bank	668,922		9.7		324,017		5.0		545,649		9.7		281,090		5.0
Libertyville Bank	164,915		10.0		82,848		5.0		152,939		10.0		76,247		5.0
Barrington Bank	313,195		12.9		115,309		5.0		252,189		12.9		97,759		5.0
Crystal Lake Bank	119,374		9.9		58,613		5.0		102,404		9.9		51,974		5.0
Northbrook Bank	260,577		9.8		132,394		5.0		223,849		9.8		114,125		5.0
Schaumburg Bank	118,260		9.5		60,266		5.0		108,338		9.5		57,111		5.0
Village Bank	161,666		9.5		89,945		5.0		142,333		9.5		75,197		5.0
Beverly Bank	164,827		10.7		79,777		5.0		141,140		10.7		66,109		5.0
Town Bank	217,958		10.0		116,750		5.0		199,982		10.0		100,257		5.0
Wheaton Bank	181,195		9.8		98,039		5.0		159,718		9.8		81,767		5.0
State Bank of the Lakes	119,740		9.2		63,078		5.0		107,234		9.2		58,068		5.0
Old Plank Trail Bank	155,975		9.6		80,708		5.0		145,779		9.6		76,096		5.0
St. Charles Bank	151,665		9.8		74,348		5.0		111,454		9.8		56,915		5.0

Wintrust’s mortgage banking division and broker/dealer subsidiary are also required to maintain minimum net worth capital requirements with various governmental agencies. The mortgage banking division’s net worth requirements are governed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the broker/dealer’s net worth requirements are governed by the SEC. As of December 31, 2019, these business units met their minimum net worth capital requirements.

(20) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has outstanding, at any time, a number of commitments to extend credit. These commitments include revolving home equity line and other credit agreements, term loan commitments and standby and commercial letters of credit. Standby and commercial letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Standby letters of credit are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of the underlying contract with the third party, while commercial letters of credit are issued specifically to facilitate commerce and typically result in the commitment being drawn on when the underlying transaction is consummated between the customer and the third party.

These commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Commitments to extend commercial, commercial real estate and construction loans totaled $5.1 billion and $4.7 billion as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and unused home equity lines totaled $800.6 million and $807.9 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Standby and commercial letters of credit totaled $291.8 million at December 31, 2019 and $233.3 million at December 31, 2018.

In addition, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had approximately $595.1 million and $389.7 million, respectively, in commitments to fund residential mortgage loans to be sold into the secondary market. These lending commitments are also considered derivative instruments. The Company also enters into forward contracts for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans at specified interest rates to reduce the interest rate risk associated with commitments to fund loans as well as mortgage loans held-for-sale. These forward contracts are also considered derivative instruments and had contractual amounts of approximately $837.2 million at December 31, 2019 and $481.6 million at December 31, 2018. See Note 21, “Derivative Financial Instruments,” for further discussion on derivative instruments.

The Company enters into residential mortgage loan sale agreements with investors in the normal course of business. These agreements usually require certain representations concerning credit information, loan documentation, collateral and insurability. On occasion, investors have requested the Company to indemnify them against losses on certain loans or to repurchase loans which the investors believe do not comply with applicable representations. Management maintains a liability for estimated losses on loans expected to be repurchased or on which indemnification is expected to be provided and regularly evaluates the adequacy

148

of this recourse liability based on trends in repurchase and indemnification requests, actual loss experience, known and inherent risks in the loans, and current economic conditions.

The Company sold approximately $4.5 billion of mortgage loans in 2019 and $4.1 billion in 2018. The liability for estimated losses on repurchase and indemnification claims for residential mortgage loans previously sold to investors was $2.4 million and $2.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and was included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. Losses charged against the liability were $639,000 in 2019 as compared to $183,000 in 2018. These losses relate to mortgages which experienced early payment and other defaults meeting certain representation and warranty recourse requirements.

The Company has unfunded commitments to investment partnerships that qualify for CRA purposes totaling $29.3 million as of December 31, 2019. Of these commitments, $323,000 related to legally-binding unfunded commitments for tax-credit investments and was included within other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Company utilizes an out-sourced securities clearing platform and has agreed to indemnify the clearing broker of Wintrust Investments for losses that it may sustain from the customer accounts introduced by Wintrust Investments. As of December 31, 2019, the total amount of customer balances maintained by the clearing broker and subject to indemnification was approximately $15.8 million. Wintrust Investments seeks to control the risks associated with its customers’ activities by requiring customers to maintain margin collateral in compliance with various regulatory and internal guidelines.

In accordance with applicable accounting principles, the Company establishes an accrued liability for litigation and threatened litigation actions and proceedings when those actions present loss contingencies which are both probable and estimable. In actions for which a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, the Company determines whether it can estimate a loss or range of possible loss. To determine whether a possible loss is estimable, the Company reviews and evaluates its material litigation on an ongoing basis, in conjunction with any outside counsel handling the matter, in light of potentially relevant factual and legal developments. This review may include information learned through the discovery process, rulings on substantive or dispositive motions, and settlement discussions.

Lehman Holdings Matter

On January 15, 2015, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. (“Lehman Holdings”) sent a demand letter asserting that Wintrust Mortgage must indemnify it for losses arising from loans sold by Wintrust Mortgage to Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB under a Loan Purchase Agreement between Wintrust Mortgage, as successor to SGB Corporation, and Lehman Brothers Bank. The demand was the precursor for triggering the alternative dispute resolution process mandated by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Lehman Holdings triggered the mandatory alternative dispute resolution process on October 16, 2015. On February 3, 2016, following a ruling by the federal Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that was adverse to Lehman Holdings on the statute of limitations that is applicable to similar loan purchase claims, Lehman Holdings filed a complaint against Wintrust Mortgage and 150 other entities from which it had purchased loans in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The mandatory mediation was held on March 16, 2016, but did not result in a consensual resolution of the dispute. The court entered a case management order governing the litigation on November 1, 2016. Lehman Holdings filed an amended complaint against Wintrust Mortgage on December 29, 2016. On March 31, 2017, Wintrust Mortgage moved to dismiss the amended complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and improper venue or to transfer venue. Argument on the motions to dismiss were heard on June 12, 2018. The motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction was denied on August 14, 2018 and the defendants’ motion to transfer venue was denied on October 2, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage appealed the denial of its motion to dismiss based on improper venue and the denial of its motion to transfer venue.

On October 2, 2018, Lehman Holdings asked the court for permission to amend its complaints against Wintrust Mortgage and the other defendants to add loans allegedly purchased from the defendants and sold to various RMBS trusts. The court granted this request and allowed Lehman Holdings to assert the additional claims against existing defendants as a supplemental complaint. Lehman Holdings filed its supplemental complaint against Wintrust Mortgage on December 4, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage filed its response to the supplemental complaint on May 13, 2019. Wintrust Mortgage is currently evaluating whether it has obtained sufficient information to assess the merits of Lehman Holding’s additional claims and to estimate the likelihood or amount of any potential liability for the additional claims.

The Company has reserved an amount for the Lehman Holdings action that is immaterial to its results of operations or financial condition. Such litigation and threatened litigation actions necessarily involve substantial uncertainty and it is not possible at this time to predict the ultimate resolution or to determine whether, or to what extent, any loss with respect to these legal proceedings may exceed the amounts reserved by the Company.

149

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Matter

On April 9, 2018, JPMorgan Chase & Co. as successor in interest to Bear Stearns and certain related Bear Stearns entities (collectively, “JPMC”) sent a demand letter to Wintrust Mortgage asserting an indemnification claim of approximately $4.6 million. JPMC alleges that it incurred this loss due to its reliance on misrepresentations in the loans Wintrust Mortgage originated, underwrote and sold to JPMC in the years prior to 2009. Wintrust Mortgage disputed JPMC’s allegations. On March 27, 2019, JPMC and Wintrust Mortgage settled the dispute for an immaterial amount.

Wintrust Mortgage Matter

On October 17, 2018, a former Wintrust Mortgage employee filed a lawsuit against Wintrust Mortgage in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, alleging violation of California wage payment statutes on behalf of herself and all other hourly, non-exempt employees of Wintrust Mortgage in California from October 17, 2014 through the present. Wintrust Mortgage received service of the complaint on November 4, 2018. Wintrust Mortgage's response to the complaint was filed on February 25, 2019. On November 1, 2019, the plaintiff’s counsel filed a letter with the California Department of Labor advising that it was initiating an action under California’s Private Attorney General Act statute based on the same alleged violations. In November 2019, the parties reached a settlement agreement. The parties are documenting the settlement. Once finalized, the parties will submit the settlement to the court for approval. The Company has reserved an amount for this litigation that is immaterial to its results of operations or financial condition. Such litigation and threatened litigation actions necessarily involve substantial uncertainty and it is not possible at this time to predict the ultimate resolution or to determine whether, or to what extent, any loss with respect to these legal proceedings may exceed the amounts reserved by the Company.

Northbrook Bank Matter

On October 17, 2018, two individual plaintiffs filed suit against Northbrook Bank and Tamer Moumen in the Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois, on behalf of themselves and a class of approximately 42 investors in a hedge fund run by defendant Moumen, Plaintiffs allege that defendant Moumen ran a fraudulent Ponzi scheme and ran those funds through deposit accounts at Northbrook Bank. They allege the bank was negligent in failing to close the deposit accounts and that it intentionally aided and abetted defendant Moumen in the alleged fraud. They contend that Northbrook Bank is liable for losses in excess of $6 million. Northbrook Bank filed its motion to dismiss the complaint on January 15, 2019, which was granted on March 5, 2019. On April 3, 2019, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint based on similar allegations. Northbrook Bank believed the amended complaint did not cure the pleading defects recognized by the court and filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint on May 17, 2019. The court heard this motion on July 17, 2019 and once again dismissed the complaint without prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on August 12, 2019. Northbrook again moved to dismiss the complaint. On November 6, 2019, the court dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Plaintiffs filed an appeal on December 2, 2019. Northbrook Bank believes plaintiffs’ allegations are legally and factually meritless and otherwise lacks sufficient information to estimate the amount of any potential liability.

Other Matters

In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries, from time to time, are subject to pending and threatened legal action and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.

Based on information currently available and upon consultation with counsel, management believes that the eventual outcome of any pending or threatened legal actions and proceedings described above, including our ordinary course litigation, will not have a material adverse effect on the operations or financial condition of the Company. However, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, if unfavorable, may be material to the results of operations or financial condition for a particular period.

(21) Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company primarily enters into derivative financial instruments as part of its strategy to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates. Derivative instruments represent contracts between parties that result in one party delivering cash to the other party based on a notional amount and an underlying term (such as a rate, security price or price index) as specified in the contract. The amount of cash delivered from one party to the other is determined based on the interaction of the notional amount of the contract with the underlying term. Derivatives are also implicit in certain contracts and commitments.

The derivative financial instruments currently used by the Company to manage its exposure to interest rate risk include: (1) interest rate swaps and collars to manage the interest rate risk of certain fixed and variable rate assets and variable rate liabilities; (2) interest rate lock commitments provided to customers to fund certain mortgage loans to be sold into the secondary market; (3) forward commitments for the future delivery of such mortgage loans to protect the Company from adverse changes in interest rates and

150

corresponding changes in the value of mortgage loans held-for-sale; (4) covered call options to economically hedge specific investment securities and receive fee income effectively enhancing the overall yield on such securities to compensate for net interest margin compression; and (5) options and swaps to economically hedge a portion of the fair value adjustments related to the Company's mortgage servicing rights portfolio. The Company also enters into derivatives (typically interest rate swaps) with certain qualified borrowers to facilitate the borrowers’ risk management strategies and concurrently enters into mirror-image derivatives with a third party counterparty, effectively making a market in the derivatives for such borrowers. Additionally, the Company enters into foreign currency contracts to manage foreign exchange risk associated with certain foreign currency denominated assets.

The Company recognizes derivative financial instruments in the consolidated financial statements at fair value regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the instrument. The Company records derivative assets and derivative liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Condition within accrued interest receivable and other assets and accrued interest payable and other liabilities, respectively. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are either recognized in income or in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss depending on whether the derivative financial instrument qualifies for hedge accounting and, if so, whether it qualifies as a fair value hedge or cash flow hedge.

Changes in fair values of derivatives accounted for as fair value hedges are recorded in income in the same period and in the same income statement line as changes in the fair values of the hedged items that relate to the hedged risk(s). Changes in fair values of derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of deferred taxes, and reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in fair values of derivative financial instruments not designated in a hedging relationship pursuant to ASC 815 are reported in non-interest income during the period of the change. Derivative financial instruments are valued by a third party and are corroborated by comparison with valuations provided by the respective counterparties. Fair values of certain mortgage banking derivatives (interest rate lock commitments and forward commitments to sell mortgage loans) are estimated based on changes in mortgage interest rates from the date of the loan commitment. The fair value of foreign currency derivatives is computed based on changes in foreign currency rates stated in the contract compared to those prevailing at the measurement date.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

	Derivative Assets					Derivative Liabilities
(Dollars in thousands)		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018			December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815:
Interest rate derivatives designated as Cash Flow Hedges		$	—	$	6,270		$	19,385	$	1,656
Interest rate derivatives designated as Fair Value Hedges		310		2,636			6,523		1,756
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815		$	310	$	8,906		$	25,908	$	3,412
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815:
Interest rate derivatives		$	100,259	$	59,519		$	100,897	$	59,159
Interest rate lock commitments		2,860		3,405			259		2,694
Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans		142		—			2,070		1,486
Foreign exchange contracts		73		1,342			70		1,337
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815		$	103,334	$	64,266		$	103,296	$	64,676
Total Derivatives		$	103,644	$	73,172		$	129,204	$	68,088

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to net interest income and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. Interest rate collars designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of amounts in which the interest rate specified in the contract exceeds the agreed upon cap strike price or the payment of amounts in which the interest rate specified in the contract is below the agreed upon floor strike price at the end of each period.

151

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had fifteen interest rate swap derivatives designated as cash flow hedges of variable rate deposits and certain junior subordinated debentures, and one interest rate collar derivative designated as a cash flow hedge of the Company’s variable rate Term Facility. When the relationship between the hedged item and hedging instrument is highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, changes in the fair value of these cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and are subsequently reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on such variable rate deposits. The changes in fair value (net of tax) are separately disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The table below provides details on these cash flow hedges, summarized by derivative type and maturity, as of December 31, 2019:

(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019
Maturity Date	Notional Amount		Fair Value Asset (Liability)
Interest Rate Swaps:
October 2021	$	25,000	$	(311	)
November 2021	20,000		(272		)
December 2021	165,000		(2,293		)
May 2022	370,000		(4,880		)
June 2022	160,000		(1,997		)
July 2022	230,000		(2,861		)
August 2022	235,000		(2,923		)
Interest Rate Collars:
September 2023	123,214		(3,848		)
Total Cash Flow Hedges	$	1,328,214	$	(19,385	)

In 2018, the Company terminated five interest rate swap derivatives designated as cash flow hedges of variable rate deposits with a total notional value of $650.0 million. As the hedged forecasted transactions (interest payments on variable rate deposits) will still occur over the remaining term of the terminated derivatives, any prior changes in the fair value of these cash flow hedges will continue to be included within accumulated other comprehensive income or loss and reclassified to interest expense as interest payments continue to be made. In 2019 and 2018, the Company reclassified approximately $4.7 million and $427,000, respectively, from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense related to these terminated interest rate swap derivatives.

A rollforward of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss related to interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2019			2018
Unrealized gain at beginning of period	$	10,742		$	11,902
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense on deposits, other borrowings and junior subordinated debentures	(10,250		)	(7,313		)
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in other comprehensive income	(18,435		)	6,153
Unrealized (loss) gain at end of period	$	(17,943	)	$	10,742

As of December 31, 2019, the Company estimates that during the next twelve months, $5.8 million will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss as an increase to interest expense.

Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges involve the payment of fixed amounts to a counterparty in exchange for the Company receiving variable payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has fifteen interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $162.9 million that were designated as fair value hedges primarily associated with fixed rate commercial and industrial and commercial real estate

152

loans as well as life insurance premium finance receivables. One of these interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $6.9 million has terms starting after December 31, 2019.

For derivatives designated and that qualify as fair value hedges, the net gain or loss from the entire change in the fair value of the derivative instrument is recognized in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect, including the net gain or loss, of the hedged item (interest income earned on fixed rate loans) when the hedged item affects earnings.

The following table presents the carrying amount of the hedged assets/(liabilities) and the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustment included in the carrying amount of the hedged assets/(liabilities) that are designated as a fair value hedge accounting relationship as of December 31, 2019:

		December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands) Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships	Location in the Statement of Condition	Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)		Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)		Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment Remaining for any Hedged Assets (Liabilities) for which Hedge Accounting has been Discontinued
Interest rate swaps	Loans, net of unearned income	$	167,281	$	5,647	$	—
	Available-for-sale debt securities	1,391		81		—

The following table presents the gain or loss recognized related to derivative instruments that are designated as fair value hedges for the respective period:

(Dollars in thousands) Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships	Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative	Year Ended December 31,
		2019
Interest rate swaps	Interest and fees on loans	$	8
	Interest income - investment securities	—

In 2018, one interest rate swap designated as a fair value hedge accounting relationship was terminated as a result of the full prepayment of the underlying loan (hedged asset). At the time of the termination, the fair value of the interest rate swap asset was approximately $1.4 million with an offsetting cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying value of the underlying loan totaling $1.6 million. As the underlying loan was fully paid-off, the remaining cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying value of the underlying loan was recorded to interest income.

Non-Designated Hedges

The Company does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges are used to manage the Company’s economic exposure to interest rate movements and other identified risks but do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements of ASC 815. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in earnings.

Interest Rate Derivatives—The Company has interest rate derivatives, including swaps and option products, resulting from a service the Company provides to certain qualified borrowers. The Company’s banking subsidiaries execute certain derivative products (typically interest rate swaps) directly with qualified commercial borrowers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies. For example, these arrangements allow the Company’s commercial borrowers to effectively convert a variable rate loan to a fixed rate. In order to minimize the Company’s exposure on these transactions, the Company simultaneously executes offsetting derivatives with third parties. In most cases, the offsetting derivatives have mirror-image terms, which result in the positions’ changes in fair value substantially offsetting through earnings each period. However, to the extent that the derivatives are not a mirror-image and because of differences in counterparty credit risk, changes in fair value will not completely offset resulting in some earnings impact each period. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in other non-interest income. At December 31, 2019, the Company had interest rate derivative transactions with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $7.4 billion (all interest rate swaps and caps with customers and third parties) related to this program. These interest rate derivatives had maturity dates ranging from January 2020 to February 2045.

153

Mortgage Banking Derivatives—These derivatives include interest rate lock commitments provided to customers to fund certain mortgage loans to be sold into the secondary market and forward commitments for the future delivery of such loans. It is the Company’s practice to enter into forward commitments for the future delivery of a portion of our residential mortgage loan production when interest rate lock commitments are entered into in order to economically hedge the effect of future changes in interest rates on its commitments to fund the loans as well as on its portfolio of mortgage loans held-for-sale. The Company’s mortgage banking derivatives have not been designated as being in hedge relationships. At December 31, 2019, the Company had forward commitments to sell mortgage loans with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $837.2 million and interest rate lock commitments with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $454.6 million. The fair values of these derivatives were estimated based on changes in mortgage rates from the dates of the commitments. Changes in the fair value of these mortgage banking derivatives are included in mortgage banking revenue.

Foreign Currency Derivatives—These derivatives include foreign currency contracts used to manage the foreign exchange risk associated with foreign currency denominated assets and transactions. Foreign currency contracts, which include spot and forward contracts, represent agreements to exchange the currency of one country for the currency of another country at an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon settlement date. As a result of fluctuations in foreign currencies, the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of the foreign currency denominated assets or forecasted transactions increase or decrease. Gains or losses on the derivative instruments related to these foreign currency denominated assets or forecasted transactions are expected to substantially offset this variability. As of December 31, 2019, the Company held foreign currency derivatives with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $34.5 million.

Other Derivatives—Periodically, the Company will sell options to a bank or dealer for the right to purchase certain securities held within the banks’ investment portfolios (covered call options). These option transactions are designed primarily to mitigate overall interest rate risk and to increase the total return associated with the investment securities portfolio. These options do not qualify as accounting hedges pursuant to ASC 815, and, accordingly, changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized as other non-interest income. There were no covered call options outstanding as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

Periodically, the Company will purchase options for the right to purchase securities not currently held within the banks' investment portfolios or enter into interest rate swaps in which the Company elects to not designate such derivatives as hedging instruments. These option and swap transactions are designed primarily to economically hedge a portion of the fair value adjustments related to the Company's mortgage servicing rights portfolio. The gain or loss associated with these derivative contracts are included in mortgage banking revenue. There were no such options outstanding as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the Company held four interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $55.0 million for such purpose of economically hedging a portion of the fair value adjustment related to its mortgage servicing rights portfolio.

Amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to derivative instruments not designated in hedge relationships were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)		December 31,
Derivative	Location in income statement	2019			2018
Interest rate swaps and caps	Trading gains (losses), net	$	(380	)	$	(75	)
Mortgage banking derivatives	Mortgage banking revenue	100			(792		)
Covered call options	Fees from covered call options	3,670			3,519
Foreign exchange contracts	Trading gains (losses), net	43			20
Derivative contract held as economic hedge on MSRs	Mortgage banking revenue	519			—

Credit Risk

Derivative instruments have inherent risks, primarily market risk and credit risk. Market risk is associated with changes in interest rates and credit risk relates to the risk that the counterparty will fail to perform according to the terms of the agreement. The amounts potentially subject to market and credit risks are the streams of interest payments under the contracts and the market value of the derivative instrument and not the notional principal amounts used to express the volume of the transactions. Market and credit risks are managed and monitored as part of the Company’s overall asset-liability management process, except that the credit risk related to derivatives entered into with certain qualified borrowers is managed through the Company’s standard loan underwriting process since these derivatives are secured through collateral provided by the loan agreements. Actual exposures are monitored against various types of credit limits established to contain risk within parameters. When deemed necessary, appropriate types and amounts of collateral are obtained to minimize credit exposure.

154

The Company has agreements with certain of its interest rate derivative counterparties that contain cross-default provisions, which provide that if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. The Company also has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision allowing the counterparty to terminate the derivative positions if the Company fails to maintain its status as a well or adequately capitalized institution, which would require the Company to settle its obligations under the agreements. As of December 31, 2019, the fair value of interest rate derivatives in a net liability position that were subject to such agreements, which includes accrued interest related to these agreements, was $123.7 million. If the Company had breached any of these provisions and the derivatives were terminated as a result, the Company would have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at the termination value and would have been required to pay any additional amounts due in excess of amounts previously posted as collateral with the respective counterparty.

The Company is also exposed to the credit risk of its commercial borrowers who are counterparties to interest rate derivatives with the banks. This counterparty risk related to the commercial borrowers is managed and monitored through the banks’ standard underwriting process applicable to loans since these derivatives are secured through collateral provided by the loan agreement. The counterparty risk associated with the mirror-image swaps executed with third parties is monitored and managed in connection with the Company’s overall asset liability management process.

The Company records interest rate derivatives subject to master netting agreements at their gross value and does not offset derivative assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The table below summarizes the Company's interest rate derivatives and offsetting positions as of the dates shown.

	Derivative Assets						Derivative Liabilities
	Fair Value						Fair Value
(Dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2019			December 31, 2018			December 31, 2019			December 31, 2018
Gross Amounts Recognized	$	100,569		$	68,425		$	126,805		$	62,571
Less: Amounts offset in the Statements of Condition	—			—			—			—
Net amount presented in the Statements of Condition	$	100,569		$	68,425		$	126,805		$	62,571
Gross amounts not offset in the Statements of Condition
Offsetting Derivative Positions	$	(2,561	)	$	(28,124	)	$	(2,561	)	$	(28,124	)
Collateral Posted	—			(23,810		)	(124,244		)	(2,640		)
Net Credit Exposure	$	98,008		$	16,491		$	—		$	31,807

(22) Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

The Company measures, monitors and discloses certain of its assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. These financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the observability of the inputs used to determine fair value. These levels are:

• Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

• Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

A financial instrument’s categorization within the above valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the assets or liabilities. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

155

Available-for-sale debt securities, trading account securities and equity securities with readily determinable fair value —Fair values for available-for-sale debt securities, trading account securities and equity securities with readily determinable fair value are typically based on prices obtained from independent pricing vendors. Securities measured with these valuation techniques are generally classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Typically, standard inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades for similar securities, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data including market research publications are used to fair value these securities. When these inputs are not available, broker/dealer quotes may be obtained by the vendor to determine the fair value of the security. We review the vendor’s pricing methodologies to determine if observable market information is being used, versus unobservable inputs. Fair value measurements using significant inputs that are unobservable in the market due to limited activity or a less liquid market are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of U.S. Treasury securities and certain equity securities with readily determinable fair value are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. As such, these securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company’s Investment Operations Department is responsible for the valuation of Level 3 available-for-sale debt securities. The methodology and variables used as inputs in pricing Level 3 securities are derived from a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. The unobservable inputs are determined through internal assumptions that may vary from period to period due to external factors, such as market movement and credit rating adjustments.

At December 31, 2019, the Company classified $112.0 million of municipal securities as Level 3. These municipal securities are bond issues for various municipal government entities primarily located in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin and are privately placed, non-rated bonds without CUSIP numbers. The Company also classified $2.6 million of U.S. Government agencies as Level 3 at December 31, 2019. The Company’s methodology for pricing these securities focuses on three distinct inputs: equivalent rating, yield and other pricing terms. To determine the rating for a given non-rated municipal bond, the Investment Operations Department references a rated, publicly issued bond by the same issuer if available. A reduction is then applied to the rating obtained from the comparable bond, as the Company believes if liquidated, a non-rated bond would be valued less than a similar bond with a verifiable rating. The reduction applied by the Company is one complete rating grade (i.e. a “AA” rating for a comparable bond would be reduced to “A” for the Company’s valuation). For bond issues without comparable bond proxies, a rating of "BBB" was assigned. At the year ended 2019, all of the ratings derived by the Investment Operations Department using the above process were "BBB" or better. The fair value measurement of municipal bonds is sensitive to the rating input, as a higher rating typically results in an increased valuation. The remaining pricing inputs used in the bond valuation are observable. Based on the rating determined in the above process, Investment Operations obtains a corresponding current market yield curve available to market participants. Other terms including coupon, maturity date, redemption price, number of coupon payments per year, and accrual method are obtained from the individual bond term sheets. Certain municipal bonds held by the Company at December 31, 2019 are now continuously callable. When valuing these bonds, the fair value is capped at par value as the Company assumes a market participant would not pay more than par for a continuously callable bond. To determine the rating for the U.S. Government agency securities, the Investment Operations Department assigned a AAA rating as it is guaranteed by the U.S. government.

Mortgage loans held-for-sale—The fair value of mortgage loans held-for-sale is determined by reference to investor price sheets for loan products with similar characteristics. As such, these loans are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Loans held-for-investment—The fair value for loans in which the Company elected the fair value option is estimated by discounting future scheduled cash flows for the specific loan through maturity, adjusted for estimated credit losses and prepayments. The Company uses a discount rate based on the actual coupon rate of the underlying loan. At December 31, 2019, the Company classified $9.6 million of loans held-for-investment as Level 3. The weighted average discount rate used as an input to value these loans at December 31, 2019 was 3.47% with discount rates applied ranging from 3%-4%. The higher the rate utilized to discount estimated future cash flows, the lower the fair value measurement. As noted above, the fair value estimate includes assumptions of prepayment speeds and credit losses. The Company included a prepayment speed assumption of 14.12% at December 31, 2019. Prepayment speeds are inversely related to the fair value of these loans as an increase in prepayment speeds results in a decreased valuation. Additionally, the weighted average credit discount used as an input to value the specific loans was 1.37% with credit discounts ranging from 0%-8% at December 31, 2019.

156

MSRs—Fair value for MSRs is determined utilizing a valuation model which calculates the fair value of each servicing rights based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The Company uses a discount rate commensurate with the risk associated with each servicing rights, given current market conditions. At December 31, 2019, the Company classified $85.6 million of MSRs as Level 3. The weighted average discount rate used as an input to value the pool of MSRs at December 31, 2019 was 9.96% with discount rates applied ranging from 7%-17%. The higher the rate utilized to discount estimated future cash flows, the lower the fair value measurement. The fair value of MSRs was also estimated based on other assumptions including prepayment speeds and the cost to service. Prepayment speeds ranged from 0%-94% or a weighted average prepayment speed of 14.12%. Further, for current and delinquent loans, the Company assumed the weighted average cost of servicing of $77 and $396, respectively, per loan. Prepayment speeds and the cost to service are both inversely related to the fair value of MSRs as an increase in prepayment speeds or the cost to service results in a decreased valuation. See Note 6, “Mortgage Servicing Rights (“MSRs”),” for further discussion of MSRs.

Derivative instruments—The Company’s derivative instruments include interest rate swaps, caps and collars, commitments to fund mortgages for sale into the secondary market (interest rate locks), forward commitments to end investors for the sale of mortgage loans and foreign currency contracts. Interest rate swaps, caps and collars are valued by a third party, using models that primarily use market observable inputs, such as yield curves, and are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments that are subject to master netting agreements is measured on a net basis by counterparty portfolio. The fair value for mortgage-related derivatives is based on changes in mortgage rates from the date of the commitments. The fair value of foreign currency derivatives is computed based on change in foreign currency rates stated in the contract compared to those prevailing at the measurement date.

At December 31, 2019, the Company classified $2.6 million of derivative assets related to interest rate locks as Level 3. The fair value of interest rate locks is based on prices obtained for loans with similar characteristics from third parties, adjusted for the pull-through rate, which represents the Company’s best estimate of the likelihood that a committed loan will ultimately fund. The weighted-average pull-through rate at December 31, 2019 was 81.86% with pull-through rates applied ranging from 23% to 100%. Pull-through rates are directly related to the fair value of interest rate locks as an increase in the pull-through rate results in an increased valuation.

Nonqualified deferred compensation assets—The underlying assets relating to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan are included in a trust and primarily consist of non-exchange traded institutional funds which are priced based by an independent third party service. These assets are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

157

The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods presented:

	December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	121,088	$	121,088	$	—	$	—
U.S. Government agencies	365,442		—		362,796		2,646
Municipal	145,318		—		33,368		111,950
Corporate notes	94,841		—		94,841		—
Mortgage-backed	2,379,525		—		2,379,525		—
Trading account securities	1,068		—		1,068		—
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	50,840		42,774		8,066		—
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	377,313		—		377,313		—
Loans held-for-investment	132,718		—		123,098		9,620
MSRs	85,638		—		—		85,638
Nonqualified deferred compensations assets	14,213		—		14,213		—
Derivative assets	103,644		—		101,013		2,631
Total	$	3,871,648	$	163,862	$	3,495,301	$	212,485
Derivative liabilities	$	129,204	$	—	$	129,204	$	—
	December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury	$	126,404	$	126,404	$	—	$	—
U.S. Government agencies	140,307		—		137,157		3,150
Municipal	138,490		—		29,564		108,926
Corporate notes	91,045		—		91,045		—
Mortgage-backed	1,629,835		—		1,629,835		—
Trading account securities	1,692		—		1,692		—
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	34,717		—		34,717		—
Mortgage loans held-for-sale	264,070		—		264,070		—
Loans held-for-investment	93,857		—		82,510		11,347
MSRs	75,183		—		—		75,183
Nonqualified deferred compensations assets	11,282		—		11,282		—
Derivative assets	73,172		—		70,715		2,457
Total	$	2,680,054	$	126,404	$	2,352,587	$	201,063
Derivative liabilities	$	68,088	$	—	$	68,088	$	—

The aggregate remaining contractual principal balance outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 for mortgage loans held- for-sale measured at fair value under ASC 825 was $368.0 million and $253.7 million, respectively, while the aggregate fair value of mortgage loans held-for-sale was $377.3 million and $264.1 million, respectively, as shown in the above tables. There were $1.8 million of loans past due greater than 90 days and still accruing interest in the mortgage loans held-for-sale portfolio as of December 31, 2019 and $1.9 million of loans as of December 31, 2018.

158

The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows:

				U.S. Government Agencies			Loans held-for-investment			MSRs		Derivative assets
(Dollars in thousands)	Municipal
Balance at January 1, 2019	$	108,926		$	3,150		$	11,347		$	75,183	$	2,457
Total net gains included in:
Net income (1)	—			—			827			10,047		174
Other comprehensive income	3,147			126			—			—		—
Purchases (2)	38,686			—			—			408		—
Issuances	—			—			—			—		—
Sales	—			—			—			—		—
Settlements	(38,809		)	(630		)	(5,447		)	—		—
Net transfers into/(out of) Level 3	—			—			2,893			—		—
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	111,950		$	2,646		$	9,620		$	85,638	$	2,631

(Dollars in thousands)	Municipal			U.S. Government Agencies			Loans held-for-investment			MSRs		Derivative assets
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	77,181		$	3,779		$	33,717		$	33,676	$	2,157
Total net gains (losses) included in:
Net income (1)	—			—			(1,077		)	27,701		300
Other comprehensive loss	(8,541		)	(314		)	—			—		—
Purchases (2)	63,644			—			—			13,806		—
Issuances	—			—			—			—		—
Sales	—			—			—			—		—
Settlements	(23,358		)	(315		)	(28,367		)	—		—
Net transfers into/(out of) Level 3	—			—			7,074			—		—
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	108,926		$	3,150		$	11,347		$	75,183	$	2,457

(1) Changes in the balance of MSRs and derivative assets related to fair value adjustments are recorded as a component of mortgage banking revenue. Changes in the balance of loans held-for-investment related to fair value adjustments are recorded as other non-interest income.

(2) Mortgage servicing rights purchased as a part of the ROC and Veterans First business combinations in 2019 and 2018, respectively. See Note 7 - Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions for further discussion.

Also, the Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain other financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from impairment charges on individual assets. For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that were still held in the balance sheet at the end of the period, the following table provides the carrying value of the related individual assets or portfolios at December 31, 2019.

	December 31, 2019								Year Ended December 31, 2019 Fair Value Losses Recognized, net
(Dollars in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Impaired loans-collateral based	$	90,307	$	—	$	—	$	90,307	$	44,591
Other real estate owned (1)	15,171		—		—		15,171		3,034
Total	$	105,478	$	—	$	—	$	105,478	$	47,625

(1) Fair value losses recognized, net on other real estate owned include valuation adjustments and charge-offs during the respective period.

Impaired loans—A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due pursuant to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. A loan modified in a TDR is an impaired loan according to applicable accounting guidance. Impairment is measured by estimating the fair value of the loan based

159

on the present value of expected cash flows, the market price of the loan, or the fair value of the underlying collateral. Impaired loans are considered a fair value measurement where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral. Appraised values, which may require adjustments to market-based valuation inputs, are generally used on real estate collateral-dependent impaired loans.

The Company’s Managed Assets Division is primarily responsible for the valuation of Level 3 inputs of impaired loans. For more information on the Managed Assets Division review of impaired loans refer to Note 5 – Allowance for Loan Losses, Allowance for Losses on Lending-Related Commitments and Impaired Loans. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $120.0 million of impaired loans classified as Level 3. Of the $120.0 million of impaired loans, $90.3 million were measured at fair value based on the underlying collateral of the loan as shown in the table above. The remaining $29.7 million were valued based on discounted cash flows in accordance with ASC 310.

Other real estate owned—Other real estate owned is comprised of real estate acquired in partial or full satisfaction of loans and is included in other assets. Other real estate owned is recorded at its estimated fair value less estimated selling costs at the date of transfer, with any excess of the related loan balance over the fair value less expected selling costs charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent changes in value are reported as adjustments to the carrying amount and are recorded in other non-interest expense. Gains and losses upon sale, if any, are also charged to other non-interest expense. Fair value is generally based on third party appraisals and internal estimates that are adjusted by a discount representing the estimated cost of sale and is therefore considered a Level 3 valuation.

The Company’s Managed Assets Division is primarily responsible for the valuation of Level 3 inputs for other real estate owned. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $15.2 million of other real estate owned classified as Level 3. The unobservable input applied to other real estate owned relates to the 10% reduction to the appraisal value representing the estimated cost of sale of the foreclosed property. A higher discount for the estimated cost of sale results in a decreased carrying value.

The valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used to measure both recurring and non-recurring Level 3 fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
	Fair Value		Valuation Methodology	Significant Unobservable Input	Range of Inputs	Weighted Average of Inputs			Impact to valuation from an increased or higher input value
Measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Municipal securities	$	111,950	Bond pricing	Equivalent rating	BBB-AA+	N/A			Increase
U.S. Government agencies	2,646		Bond pricing	Equivalent rating	AAA	AAA			Increase
Loans held-for-investment	9,620		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	3%-4%	3.47%			Decrease
				Credit discount	0%-8%	1.37%			Decrease
				Constant prepayment rate (CPR)	14.12%	14.12%			Decrease
MSRs	85,638		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	7%-17%	9.96%			Decrease
				Constant prepayment rate (CPR)	0%-94%	14.12%			Decrease
				Cost of servicing	$70-$200	$	77		Decrease
				Cost of servicing - delinquent	$200-$1,000	$	396		Decrease
Derivatives	2,631		Discounted cash flows	Pull-through rate	23%-100%	81.86		%	Increase
Measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
Impaired loans—collateral based	90,307		Appraisal value	Appraisal adjustment - cost of sale	10%	10.00%			Decrease
Other real estate owned	15,171		Appraisal value	Appraisal adjustment - cost of sale	10%	10.00%			Decrease

160

The Company is required under applicable accounting guidance to report the fair value of all financial instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Condition, including those financial instruments carried at cost. The table below presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of the dates shown:

	December 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Financial Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	286,476	$	286,476	$	392,200	$	392,200
Interest bearing deposits with banks	2,164,560		2,164,560		1,099,594		1,099,594
Available-for-sale securities	3,106,214		3,106,214		2,126,081		2,126,081
Held-to-maturity securities	1,134,400		1,138,396		1,067,439		1,036,096
Trading account securities	1,068		1,068		1,692		1,692
Equity securities with readily determinable fair value	50,840		50,840		34,717		34,717
FHLB and FRB stock, at cost	100,739		100,739		91,354		91,354
Brokerage customer receivables	16,573		16,573		12,609		12,609
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, at fair value	377,313		377,313		264,070		264,070
Loans held-for-investment, at fair value	132,718		132,718		93,857		93,857
Loans held-for-investment, at amortized cost	26,667,572		26,659,903		23,726,834		23,780,739
Nonqualified deferred compensation assets	14,213		14,213		11,282		11,282
Derivative assets	103,644		103,644		73,172		73,172
Accrued interest receivable and other	303,090		303,090		260,281		260,281
Total financial assets	$	34,459,420	$	34,455,747	$	29,255,182	$	29,277,744
Financial Liabilities
Non-maturity deposits	$	24,483,867	$	24,483,867	$	20,833,837	$	20,833,837
Deposits with stated maturities	5,623,271		5,635,475		5,260,841		5,283,063
FHLB advances	674,870		715,129		426,326		429,830
Other borrowings	418,174		418,174		393,855		393,855
Subordinated notes	436,095		458,796		139,210		138,345
Junior subordinated debentures	253,566		243,158		253,566		263,846
Derivative liabilities	129,204		129,204		68,088		68,088
Accrued interest payable	19,940		19,940		16,025		16,025
Total financial liabilities	$	32,038,987	$	32,103,743	$	27,391,748	$	27,426,889

Not all the financial instruments listed in the table above are subject to the disclosure provisions of ASC Topic 820, as certain assets and liabilities result in their carrying value approximating fair value. These include cash and cash equivalents, interest bearing deposits with banks, brokerage customer receivables, FHLB and FRB stock, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable and non-maturity deposits.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair values of financial instruments that were not previously disclosed.

Held-to-maturity securities. Held-to-maturity securities include U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities and municipal bonds issued by various municipal government entities primarily located in the Chicago metropolitan area and southern Wisconsin. Fair values for held-to-maturity securities are typically based on prices obtained from independent pricing vendors. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has generally categorized these held-to-maturity securities as a Level 2 fair value measurement. Fair values for certain other held-to-maturity securities are based on the bond pricing methodology discussed previously related to certain available-for-sale securities. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized these held-to-maturity securities as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

Loans held-for-investment, at amortized cost. Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are analyzed by type such as commercial, residential real estate, etc. Each category is further segmented by interest rate type (fixed and variable) and term. For variable-rate loans that reprice frequently, estimated fair values are based on carrying values. The fair value of residential loans is based on secondary market sources for securities backed by similar loans, adjusted for differences in loan characteristics. The fair value for other fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting scheduled cash flows

161

through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect credit and interest rate risks inherent in the loan. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized loans as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

Deposits with stated maturities. The fair value of certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently in effect for deposits of similar remaining maturities. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized deposits with stated maturities as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

FHLB advances. The fair value of FHLB advances is obtained from the FHLB, which uses a discounted cash flow analysis based on current market rates of similar maturity debt securities to discount cash flows. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized FHLB advances as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

Subordinated notes. The fair value of the subordinated notes is based on a market price obtained from an independent pricing vendor. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized subordinated notes as a Level 2 fair value measurement.

Junior subordinated debentures. The fair value of the junior subordinated debentures is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company has categorized junior subordinated debentures as a Level 3 fair value measurement.

(23) Shareholders’ Equity

A summary of the Company’s common and preferred stock at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

	2019		2018
Common Stock:
Shares authorized	100,000,000		100,000,000
Shares issued	57,950,803		56,518,119
Shares outstanding	57,821,891		56,407,558
Cash dividend per share	$	1.00	$	0.76
Preferred Stock:
Shares authorized	20,000,000		20,000,000
Shares issued	5,000,000		5,000,000
Shares outstanding	5,000,000		5,000,000

The Company reserves shares of its authorized common stock specifically for the 2015 Plan, the ESPP and the DDFS. The reserved shares and these plans are detailed in Note 18 - Stock Compensation Plans and Other Employee Benefit Plans.

Series C Preferred Stock

In March 2012, the Company issued and sold 126,500 shares of Series C Preferred Stock for $126.5 million in a public offering. When, as and if declared, dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock were payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of 5.00% per annum. The Series C Preferred Stock was convertible into common stock at the option of the holder subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. In 2016, pursuant to such terms, 30 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock were converted at the option of the respective holders into 729 shares of the Company's common stock. On April 25, 2017, 2,073 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock were converted at the option of the respective holder into 51,244 shares of the Company's common stock, pursuant to the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock. On April 27, 2017, the Company caused a mandatory conversion of its remaining 124,184 shares of Series C Preferred Stock into 3,069,828 shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion rate of 24.72 shares of common stock per share of Series C Preferred Stock. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares for an amount considered insignificant.

Series D Preferred Stock

In June 2015, the Company issued and sold 5,000,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock for $125.0 million in a public offering. When, as and if declared, dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears at a fixed rate of 6.50% per annum from the original issuance date to, but excluding, July 15, 2025, and from (and including) that date at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 4.06% per annum.

162

Common Stock Warrants

Pursuant to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (the “U.S. Treasury”) Capital Purchase Program, on December 19, 2008, the Company issued to the U.S. Treasury a warrant to exercise 1,643,295 warrant shares of Wintrust common stock with a term of 10 years. In February 2011, the U.S. Treasury sold all of its interest in the warrant issued to it in a secondary underwritten public offering. During 2017, certain holders of the interest in the warrant exercised 318,491 warrant shares, which resulted in 219,372 shares of common stock issued. During 2018, certain holders of the interest in the warrant exercised 22,952 warrant shares, which resulted in 16,571 shares of common stock issued. On December 19, 2018, the Company’s warrant shares expired. Any warrant shares not exercised prior to this date expired and became void, and the holder did not receive any shares of the Company’s common stock.

Other

At the January 2020 Board of Directors meeting, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.28 per share ($1.12 on an annualized basis) was

declared. It was paid on February 20, 2020 to shareholders of record as of February 6, 2020.

The following tables summarize the components of other comprehensive income (loss), including the related income tax effects, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

(In thousands)	Accumulated Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities			Accumulated Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments			Accumulated Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance at January 1, 2019	$	(42,353	)	$	7,857		$	(42,376	)	$	(76,872	)
Other comprehensive income during the period, net of tax, before reclassification	58,341			(13,481		)	5,857			50,717
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income, net of tax	(658		)	(7,517		)	—			(8,175		)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income related to amortization of unrealized gains on investment securities transferred to held-to-maturity from available-for-sale	(348		)	—			—			(348		)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) during the period, net of tax	$	57,335		$	(20,998	)	$	5,857		$	42,194
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	14,982		$	(13,141	)	$	(36,519	)	$	(34,678	)
Balance at January 1, 2018	$	(15,813	)	$	7,164		$	(33,186	)	$	(41,835	)
Cumulative effect adjustment from the adoption of:
ASU 2016-01	$	(1,880	)	$	—		$	—		(1,880		)
ASU 2018-02	$	(4,517	)	$	1,543		$	—		(2,974		)
Other comprehensive (loss) income during the period, net of tax, before reclassification	(20,054		)	4,498			(9,190		)	(24,746		)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income, net of tax	(24		)	(5,348		)	—			(5,372		)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income related to amortization of unrealized gains on investment securities transferred to held-to-maturity from available-for-sale	(65		)	—			—			(65		)
Net other comprehensive loss during the period, net of tax	$	(20,143	)	$	(850	)	$	(9,190	)	$	(30,183	)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	(42,353	)	$	7,857		$	(42,376	)	$	(76,872	)
Balance at January 1, 2017	$	(29,309	)	$	4,165		$	(40,184	)	$	(65,328	)
Other comprehensive income during the period, net of tax, before reclassification	14,417			3,010			6,998			24,425
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income, net of tax	(27		)	(11		)	—			(38		)
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income related to amortization of unrealized gains on investment securities transferred to held-to-maturity from available-for-sale	(894		)	—			—			(894		)
Net other comprehensive income during the period, net of tax	$	13,496		$	2,999		$	6,998		$	23,493
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(15,813	)	$	7,164		$	(33,186	)	$	(41,835	)

163

	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended,
Details Regarding the Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	December 31,						Impacted Line on the Consolidated Statements of Income
	2019			2018
Accumulated unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities
Gains included in net income	$	899		$	33		Gains on investment securities, net
	899			33			Income before taxes
Tax effect	(241		)	(9		)	Income tax expense
Net of tax	$	658		$	24		Net income
Accumulated unrealized losses on derivative instruments
Amount reclassified to interest expense on deposits	$	(10,954	)	$	(7,549	)	Interest on deposits
Amount reclassified to interest expense on other borrowings	576			236			Interest on other borrowings
Amount reclassified to interest expense on junior subordinated debentures	128			—			Interest on junior subordinated debentures
	10,250			7,313			Income before taxes
Tax effect	(2,733		)	(1,965		)	Income tax expense
Net of tax	$	7,517		$	5,348		Net income

(24) Segment Information

The Company’s operations consist of three primary segments: community banking, specialty finance and wealth management.

The three reportable segments are strategic business units that are separately managed as they offer different products and services and have different marketing strategies. In addition, each segment’s customer base has varying characteristics and each segment has a different regulatory environment. While the Company’s management monitors each of the fifteen bank subsidiaries’ operations and profitability separately, these subsidiaries have been aggregated into one reportable operating segment due to the similarities in products and services, customer base, operations, profitability measures and economic characteristics.

For purposes of internal segment profitability, management allocates certain intersegment and parent company balances. Management allocates a portion of revenues to the specialty finance segment related to loans and leases originated by the specialty finance segment and sold or assigned to the community banking segment. Similarly, for purposes of analyzing the contribution from the wealth management segment, management allocates a portion of the net interest income earned by the community banking segment on deposit balances of customers of the wealth management segment to the wealth management segment. See Note 10, “Deposits,” for more information on these deposits. Finally, expenses incurred at the Wintrust parent company are allocated to each segment based on each segment's risk-weighted assets.

The segment financial information provided in the following tables has been derived from the internal profitability reporting system used by management to monitor and manage the financial performance of the Company. The accounting policies of the segments are substantially similar to those described in the "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Note 1. The Company evaluates segment performance based on after-tax profit or loss and other appropriate profitability measures common to each segment.

164

The following is a summary of certain operating information for reportable segments:

(Dollars in thousands)	Community Banking		Specialty Finance		Wealth Management		Total Operating Segments		Intersegment Eliminations			Consolidated
2019
Net interest income	$	841,601	$	161,720	$	30,118	$	1,033,439	$	21,480		$	1,054,919
Provision for credit losses	47,914		5,950		—		53,864		—			53,864
Non-interest income	274,652		79,467		100,121		454,240		(47,068		)	407,172
Non-interest expense	747,202		111,377		95,135		953,714		(25,588		)	928,126
Income tax expense	82,639		34,424		7,341		124,404		—			124,404
Net income	$	238,498	$	89,436	$	27,763	$	355,697	$	—		$	355,697
Total assets at end of year	$	29,583,112	$	5,916,835	$	1,120,636	$	36,620,583	$	—		$	36,620,583
2018
Net interest income	$	791,838	$	136,981	$	17,455	$	946,274	$	18,629		$	964,903
Provision for credit losses	28,586		6,246		—		34,832		—			34,832
Non-interest income	238,668		65,898		91,896		396,462		(40,312		)	356,150
Non-interest expense	681,749		84,248		81,774		847,771		(21,683		)	826,088
Income tax expense	79,361		30,325		7,281		116,967		—			116,967
Net income	$	240,810	$	82,060	$	20,296	$	343,166	$	—		$	343,166
Total assets at end of year	$	25,438,454	$	5,073,011	$	733,384	$	31,244,849	$	—		$	31,244,849
2017
Net interest income	$	677,481	$	118,320	$	18,919	$	814,720	$	17,356		$	832,076
Provision for credit losses	27,059		2,709		—		29,768		—			29,768
Non-interest income	211,354		60,405		84,312		356,071		(36,565		)	319,506
Non-interest expense	599,455		74,559		77,012		751,026		(19,209		)	731,817
Income tax expense	87,486		35,775		9,054		132,315		—			132,315
Net income	$	174,835	$	65,682	$	17,165	$	257,682	$	—		$	257,682
Total assets at end of year	$	22,781,923	$	4,515,766	$	618,281	$	27,915,970	$	—		$	27,915,970

165

(25) Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements

Condensed parent company only financial statements of Wintrust follow:

Statements of Financial Condition

	December 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018
Assets
Cash	$	96,245		$	37,931
Available-for-sale debt securities and equity securities with readily determinable fair value	14,695			12,765
Investment in and receivable from subsidiaries	4,266,278			3,660,968
Loans, net of unearned income	75			1,200
Allowance for loan losses	(5		)	—
Net loans	$	70		$	1,200
Goodwill	8,371			8,371
Other assets	353,064			206,902
Total assets	$	4,738,723		$	3,928,137
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Other liabilities	$	188,275		$	75,609
Subordinated notes	436,095			139,210
Other borrowings	169,537			192,182
Junior subordinated debentures	253,566			253,566
Shareholders’ equity	3,691,250			3,267,570
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	4,738,723		$	3,928,137

Statements of Income

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Income
Dividends and other revenue from subsidiaries	$	198,918		$	171,388		$	155,969
Other income	3,044			4			2,488
Total income	$	201,962		$	171,392		$	158,457
Expenses
Interest expense	$	34,649		$	22,375		$	19,207
Salaries and employee benefits	72,925			64,726			50,683
Other expenses	116,132			108,038			74,618
Total expenses	$	223,706		$	195,139		$	144,508
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries	$	(21,744	)	$	(23,747	)	$	13,949
Income tax benefit	40,776			34,186			47,139
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	$	19,032		$	10,439		$	61,088
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	336,665			332,727			196,594
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682

166

Statements of Cash Flows

	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Operating Activities:
Net income	$	355,697		$	343,166		$	257,682
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Provision for credit losses	(18		)	56			—
Depreciation and amortization	15,675			11,943			10,783
Deferred income tax expense	8,342			502			2,809
Stock-based compensation expense	5,611			6,025			5,185
(Increase) decrease in other assets	3,040			3,685			1,956
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	(13,181		)	650			9,967
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries	(336,665		)	(332,727		)	(196,594		)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	$	38,501		$	33,300		$	91,788
Investing Activities:
Capital (contributions to) distributions from subsidiaries, net	$	(22,500	)	$	4,632		$	(42,736	)
Net cash paid for acquisitions, net	(124,338		)	(87,081		)	—
Other investing activity, net	(51,495		)	(57,143		)	(28,132		)
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities	$	(198,333	)	$	(139,592	)	$	(70,868	)
Financing Activities:
Increase in subordinated notes, other borrowings and junior subordinated debentures, net	$	273,886		$	101,910		$	20,008
Issuance of common shares resulting from exercise of stock options, employee stock purchase plan and conversion of common stock warrants	10,667			15,903			28,229
Dividends paid	(65,110		)	(50,987		)	(40,543		)
Common stock repurchases for tax withholdings related to stock-based compensation	(1,297		)	(648		)	(397		)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	$	218,146		$	66,178		$	7,297
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	58,314		$	(40,114	)	$	28,217
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	37,931			78,045			49,828
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$	96,245		$	37,931		$	78,045

167

(26) Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for 2019, 2018 and 2017:

(In thousands, except per share data)		2019		2018		2017
Net income		$	355,697	$	343,166	$	257,682
Less: Preferred stock dividends		8,200		8,200		9,778
Net income applicable to common shares—Basic	(A)	$	347,497	$	334,966	$	247,904
Add: Dividends on convertible preferred stock, if dilutive		—		—		1,578
Net income applicable to common shares—Diluted	(B)	$	347,497	$	334,966	$	249,482
Weighted average common shares outstanding	(C)	56,857		56,300		54,703
Effect of dilutive potential common shares:
Common stock equivalents		762		908		998
Convertible preferred stock, if dilutive		—		—		985
Total dilutive potential common shares		762		908		1,983
Weighted average common shares and effect of dilutive potential common shares	(D)	57,619		57,208		56,686
Net income per common share:
Basic	(A/C)	$	6.11	$	5.95	$	4.53
Diluted	(B/D)	6.03		5.86		4.40

Potentially dilutive common shares can result from stock options, restricted stock unit awards, stock warrants, the Company’s convertible preferred stock and shares to be issued under the ESPP and the DDFS Plan, being treated as if they had been either exercised or issued, computed by application of the treasury stock method. While potentially dilutive common shares are typically included in the computation of diluted earnings per share, potentially dilutive common shares are excluded from this computation in periods in which the effect would reduce the loss per share or increase the income per share. For diluted earnings per share, net income applicable to common shares can be affected by the conversion of any convertible preferred stock. Where the effect of this conversion would reduce the loss per share or increase the income per share, net income applicable to common shares is not adjusted by the associated preferred dividends.

(27) Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	2019 Quarters								2018 Quarters
(In thousands, except per share data)	First		Second		Third		Fourth		First			Second		Third		Fourth
Interest income	$	333,970	$	346,814	$	354,627	$	349,731	$	261,205		$	284,047	$	304,962	$	320,596
Interest expense	71,984		80,612		89,775		87,852		36,123			45,877		57,399		66,508
Net interest income	261,986		266,202		264,852		261,879		225,082			238,170		247,563		254,088
Provision for credit losses	10,624		24,580		10,834		7,826		8,346			5,043		11,042		10,401
Net interest income after provision for credit losses	251,362		241,622		254,018		254,053		216,736			233,127		236,521		243,687
Non-interest income, excluding net securities gains (losses)	80,293		97,294		114,427		111,633		86,030			95,221		99,840		77,957
Gains (losses) on investment securities, net	1,364		864		710		587		(351		)	12		90		(2,649		)
Non-interest expense	214,374		229,607		234,554		249,591		194,349			206,769		213,637		211,333
Income before taxes	118,645		110,173		134,601		116,682		108,066			121,591		122,814		107,662
Income tax expense	29,499		28,707		35,480		30,718		26,085			32,011		30,866		28,005
Net income	$	89,146	$	81,466	$	99,121	$	85,964	$	81,981		$	89,580	$	91,948	$	79,657
Preferred stock dividends	2,050		2,050		2,050		2,050		2,050			2,050		2,050		2,050
Net income applicable to common shares	$	87,096	$	79,416	$	97,071	$	83,914	$	79,931		$	87,530	$	89,898	$	77,607
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	1.54	$	1.40	$	1.71	$	1.46	$	1.42		$	1.55	$	1.59	$	1.38
Diluted	1.52		1.38		1.69		1.44		1.40			1.53		1.57		1.35
Cash dividends declared per common share	0.25		0.25		0.25		0.25		0.19			0.19		0.19		0.19

168

(28) Subsequent Events

On October 24, 2019, the Company authorized the repurchase of up to $125 million of outstanding shares of its common stock. In January and February 2020, the Company repurchased 576,469 shares of the Company's common stock in the open market at a cost of approximately $37.1 million.

169

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

The Company made no changes in and had no disagreements with its independent accountants during the two most recent fiscal years or any subsequent interim period.

170

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in ensuring the information relating to the Company (and its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

171

Report on Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Wintrust Financial Corporation is responsible for the preparation, integrity, and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and necessarily include some amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments.

We, as management of Wintrust Financial Corporation, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting that is designed to produce reliable financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The system of internal control over financial reporting as it relates to the financial statements is evaluated for effectiveness by management and tested for reliability through a program of internal audits. Actions are taken to correct potential deficiencies as they are identified. Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.

Management assessed the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, in relation to criteria for the effective internal control over financial reporting as described in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (COSO Criteria). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company's system of internal control over financial reporting is effective and meets the criteria of the COSO Criteria. Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company's financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. Their report expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

/s/ Edward J. Wehmer	/s/ David L. Stoehr
Edward J. Wehmer	David L. Stoehr
Founder and	Executive Vice President &
Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer

Rosemont, Illinois

February 28, 2020

172

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Wintrust Financial Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Wintrust Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of condition of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and our report dated February 28, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report on Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitation of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 28, 2020

173

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 28, 2020 (the “Proxy Statement”) under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers of the Company,” “Board of Directors’ Committees and Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has adopted a Corporate Code of Ethics which complies with the rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The code applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees and is posted on the Company’s website (www.wintrust.com), under the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Relations” tab. The Company will post on its website any amendments to, or waivers from, its Corporate Code of Ethics as the code applies to its directors or executive officers.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” "CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure" and “Compensation Committee Report” and is incorporated herein by reference. The information included under the heading “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement shall not be deemed “soliciting” materials or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference to the materials under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management” that will be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

The following table summarizes information as of December 31, 2019, relating to the Company’s equity compensation plans pursuant to which common stock is authorized for issuance:

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)	Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b)		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
WTFC 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended	85,000	—		—
WTFC 2007 Stock Incentive Plan	389,799	$	41.64	—
WTFC 2015 Stock Incentive Plan	1,010,327	$	11.97	3,032,594
WTFC Employee Stock Purchase Plan	—	—		183,200
WTFC Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan	—	—		337,539
	1,485,126	$	19.07	3,553,333
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1)
N/A	—	—		—
Total	1,485,126	$	19.07	3,553,333

(1) Excludes 95,892 shares of the Company's common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the plan of STC Bancshares Corporation. The weighted average exercise price of these options is $38.88. No additional awards will be made under this plan.

174

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Related Party Transactions” and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit and Non-Audit Fees Paid” and is incorporated herein by reference.

175

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

1 Financial Statements

The following financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation, incorporated herein by reference to Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:

• Consolidated Statements of Condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

• Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

• Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

• Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

• Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

• Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

2 Financial Statement Schedules

Financial statement schedules have been omitted as they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

3	Exhibits (Exhibits marked with a “*” denote management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements)
Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2011 and Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012).
3.2	Certificate of Designations of the Company filed on June 24, 2015 with the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois designating the preferences, limitations, voting powers and relative rights of the Series D Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2015).
3.3	Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2017).

4.1

Description of the Company’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

4.2

Certain instruments defining the rights of the holders of long-term debt of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, none of which authorize a total amount of indebtedness in excess of 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, have not been filed as Exhibits. The Company hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any of these agreements to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

4.3 Subordinated Indenture, dated June 13, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2014).

4.4	First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 13, 2014 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2014).
4.5	Form of 5.000% Subordinated Note due 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A in Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2014).
4.6	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated June 6, 2019 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2019).

176

4.7	Form of 4.850% Subordinated Notes due 2029 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A in Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2019).
10.1	Credit Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2018, among the Company, the lenders named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and sole lead arranger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2018).
10.2	First Amendment, dated as of September 17, 2019, to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 18, 2018, as amended, among Wintrust Financial Corporation, the lenders named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2019).
10.3	Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2014, by and among First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2014).
10.4	First Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 2015, by and among First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016).
10.5	Second Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated September 9, 2016, by and among First Insurance Funding of Canada, Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2018).
10.6	Third Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 2017, by and among First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2017).
10.7	Fourth Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated June 29, 2018, by and among First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2018).
10.8	Fifth Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2019 by and between First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust, in its capacity as trustee of Plaza Trust, by its Financial Service Agent, Royal Bank of Canada (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2019).
10.9	Sixth Amending Agreement to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2019 by and between First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust, in its capacity as trustee of Plaza Trust, by its Financial Service Agent, Royal Bank of Canada (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2019).
10.10	Performance Guarantee, made as of December 16, 2014, by the Company in favor of CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2014).
10.11	Performance Guarantee Confirmation, made as of December 15, 2017, by the Company in favor of CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2017).
10.12	Performance Guarantee Confirmation, made as of June 28, 2018, by the Company in favor of CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2018).
10.13	Performance Guarantee Confirmation, made as of February 15, 2019, by the Company in favor of CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2019).

177

10.14	Performance Guarantee Confirmation, made as of May 27, 2019, by the Company in favor of CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2019).
10.15	Fee Letter, dated May 27, 2019, between First Insurance Funding of Canada Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee of PLAZA Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2019).
10.16	Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of August 2, 2005, between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2005).
10.17	Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2005, among the Company, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as property trustee and Delaware trustee, and the Administrative Trustees listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2005).
10.18	Guarantee Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2005, between the Company, as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2005).
10.19	Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2006, between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2006).
10.20	Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of September 1, 2006, among the Company, as depositor, LaSalle Bank National Association, as institutional trustee, Christiana Bank & Trust Company, as Delaware trustee, and the Administrators listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2006).
10.21	Guarantee Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2006, between the Company, as Guarantor, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2006).
10.22	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2008, between the Company and Edward J. Wehmer, President and Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2008).*
10.23	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2008, between the Company and David A. Dykstra, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2008).*
10.24	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2008, between the Company and Richard B. Murphy, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2008).*

10.25	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2008, between the Company and David L. Stoehr, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2008).*
10.26	Employment Agreement, dated August 11, 2008, between the Company and Timothy Crane (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016).*

10.27	First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated November 30, 2010, between the Company and Timothy Crane (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016).*
10.28	Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Proxy Statement relating to the May 22, 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company).*
10.29	First Amendment to Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000).*

178

10.30	Second Amendment to Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan adopted by the Board of Directors on January 24, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2004).*
10.31	Third Amendment to Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan adopted by the Board of Directors on May 27, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2004).*
10.32	Wintrust Financial Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2011).*
10.33	Wintrust Financial Corporation 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2015).*
10.34	Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006).*
10.35	Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarter Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).*
10.36	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006).*
10.37	Form of Performance Share Unit Award - Stock Settled under the Company's 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013).*
10.38	Form of Performance Award Agreement - Share Settled under the Company's 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).*
10.39	Form of Performance Share Unit Award - Cash Settled under the Company's 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013).*

10.40	Form of Performance Share Unit Award - Cash Settled under the Company's 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).*
10.41	Form of Performance Award Agreement - Cash Settled under the Company's 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).*
10.42	Form of Performance Cash Award under the Company's 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013).*
10.43	Form of Performance Share Unit Award - Shares Settled - Deferral Option under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016).*
10.44	Form of Performance Award Agreement - Cash Settled/Share Settled under the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2018).*

10.45 Form of Performance Share Unit Award - Cash Settled - Deferral Option under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016).*

179

10.46	Wintrust Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Company's definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2012).*
10.47	Amended and Restated Wintrust Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2018).*
10.48	Wintrust Financial Corporation Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Proxy Statement relating to the May 24, 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company).*
10.49	Wintrust Financial Corporation 2005 Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2014).*
10.50	Form of Cash Incentive and Retention Award Agreement under the Company’s 2008 Long-Term Cash and Incentive Retention Plan with no Minimum Payout (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008).*

10.51	Form of Director Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).
10.52	Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).
21.1	Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document (1)
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

(1) Includes the following financial information included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

180

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

181

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Registrant)
February 28, 2020		By:	/s/ EDWARD J. WEHMER
			Edward J. Wehmer, Founder and
			Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ H. PATRICK HACKETT, JR. H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.	Chairman of the Board of Directors	February 28, 2020
/s/ EDWARD J. WEHMER Edward J. Wehmer	Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	February 28, 2020
/s/ DAVID L. STOEHR David L. Stoehr	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	February 28, 2020
/s/ PETER D. CRIST Peter D. Crist	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ BRUCE K. CROWTHER Bruce K. Crowther	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ WILLIAM J. DOYLE William J. Doyle	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ MARLA F. GLABE Marla F. Glabe	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ SCOTT K. HEITMANN Scott K. Heitmann	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ DEBORAH L. HALL LEFEVRE Deborah L. Hall Lefevre	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ CHRISTOPHER J. PERRY Christopher J. Perry	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ INGRID S. STAFFORD Ingrid S. Stafford	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ GARY D. “JOE” SWEENEY Gary D. “Joe” Sweeney	Director	February 28, 2020
/s/ KARIN GUSTAFSON TEGLIA Karin Gustafson Teglia	Director	February 28, 2020

182