CHICAGO, July 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wintrust Financial
Corporation ("Wintrust") (Nasdaq:WTFC) announced today that its
wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company ("Hinsdale
Bank"), has assumed the deposits and banking operations of Second
Federal Savings and Loan Association of Chicago ("Second Federal") in
an FDIC-assisted transaction. Second Federal currently operates three
locations in Illinois; two in Chicago (Brighton Park and Little Village
neighborhoods) and one in Cicero, and had $175.9 million in total
deposits as of March 31, 2012. Hinsdale Bank assumed substantially all
of Second Federal's non-brokered deposits at a slight premium of
$100,000.

"This FDIC-assisted transaction provides a wonderful opportunity to
expand our presence to the vibrant Brighton Park and Little Village
neighborhoods of Chicago, as well as Cicero," said Edward J. Wehmer,
President and CEO of Wintrust. "With our recent announcement of a
Chicago Loop location opening and this transaction, we continue on our
path to become Chicago's Bank."

Second Federal locations will reopen on Saturday, July 21, 2012 and
operate as branches of Hinsdale Bank. Depositors of Second Federal
should continue to bank as usual and will maintain full access to their
deposits, including ATM or debit cards, and checks.

About Wintrust Financial Corporation

Wintrust Financial Corporation is a financial holding company with
assets of $16.6 billion whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market (Nasdaq:WTFC). Built on the "HAVE IT ALL" model,
Wintrust offers sophisticated technology and resources of a large bank
while focusing on providing service-based community banking to each and
every customer. Wintrust operates fifteen community bank subsidiaries,
with approximately 100 banking offices located in the greater Chicago
and Milwaukee market areas. Wintrust also provides wealth management
services, commercial insurance premium financing, mortgage origination,
short-term accounts receivable financing, and certain administrative
services, such as data processing of payrolls, and billing and treasury
management services to its customers.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that
such statements are predictions and that actual events or results may
differ materially. Wintrust's expected financial results or other plans
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of
such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see
"Risk Factors" and the forward-looking statement disclosure contained
in Wintrust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended
fiscal year and in Wintrust's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and
Wintrust undertakes no duty to update the information.


CONTACT: Edward J. Wehmer, President & Chief Executive Officer
         David A. Dykstra, Senior Executive Vice President &
         Chief Operating Officer
         (847) 615-4096
         Website address: www.wintrust.com