UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 19992000

                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     0-21923
                             Commission File Number

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

                               727 NORTH BANK LANE
                           LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS 60045
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (847) 615-4096
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                           COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUEVALUE*
       9.00% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES (AND RELATED GUARANTEE)
      10.50% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES (AND RELATED GUARANTEE)
           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act

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. Yes X No ---    ---___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best  of  the  registrant's   knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

The  aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant was approximately  $110,190,000$137,316,370 as of March 23, 2000.20, 2001. As of March 23,
2000,20,
2001, the registrant had outstanding 8,752,6438,616,976 shares of Common Stock.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Annual Report to  Shareholders  for the year ended  December 31,
1999,2000,  which is included as Exhibit 13.1 to this Form 10-K, are  incorporated by
reference into Parts I and II hereof and portions of the Proxy Statement for the
Company's  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  to be  held on May  25,  200024,  2001  are
incorporated by reference into Part III.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* including Preferred Share Purchase Rights related thereto


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                     PART I

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ITEM 1.   Business.......................................................Business........................................................    3

ITEM 2.   Properties.....................................................    16Properties......................................................   17

ITEM 3.   Legal Proceedings..............................................    18Proceedings...............................................   19

ITEM 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders............    18Holders.............   19

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
               Stockholder Matters.......................................    18Matters.........................................  19

ITEM 6.   Selected Financial Data........................................    19Data..........................................  20

ITEM 7.   Management's Discussion and  Analysis of Financial Condition
               and Results of Operations.................................    20Operations...................................  21

ITEM 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks....    20Risks......  21

ITEM 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data....................    20Data......................  21

ITEM 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting 9.
               and Financial Disclosure..................................    27Disclosure....................................  29

                                    PART III

ITEM 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.............    27Registrant...............  29

ITEM 11.  Executive Compensation.........................................    27Compensation...........................................  29

ITEM 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.    27Management...  29

ITEM 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.................    27Transactions...................  29

                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.   28

          Signatures......................................................   338-K..  30

          Signatures.......................................................  34


                                     - 2 -

                                     PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Wintrust Financial  Corporation,  an Illinois corporation (the "Company"),  is a
bank  holding  company  based in Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  with total  assets of
approximately  $1.7$2.1  billion at December 31,  1999.2000.  The Company  is  currently
engagedengages in the
business  of  providing  traditional  community  banking  services,   trust  and
investment services, commercial insurance premium financing, short-term accounts
receivable  financing,   and  certain  administrative  services,  such  as  data
processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services.

The  Company  provides  community-oriented,   personal  and  commercial  banking
services to  customers  located  predominantly  in affluent  suburbs of Chicago,
Illinois  through its sixseven  wholly-owned  banking  subsidiaries  (collectively,
"Banks"),  all of which  started as de novo (i.e.,  started  new)  institutions,
including Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company ("Lake Forest Bank"), Hinsdale Bank
and Trust  Company  ("Hinsdale  Bank"),  North  Shore  Community  Bank and Trust
Company ("North Shore Bank"), Libertyville Bank and Trust Company ("Libertyville
Bank"),  Barrington Bank and Trust Company,  N.A.  ("Barrington Bank") and,  Crystal
Lake Bank & Trust Company,  N.A.  ("Crystal Lake Bank"),  and Northbrook  Bank &
Trust Company ("Northbrook  Bank").  Through Hinsdale Bank, the Company operates
its indirect  auto  segment,  which is in the business of providing new and used
automobile loans through a large network of auto dealerships  within the Chicago
metropolitan area.

All  indirect  auto loans
originated  are  currently   being  retained  within  each  of  the  Banks' loan
portfolios.

On September 30, 1998, theThe Company began providingprovides trust and investment  services at each of its Banks through
its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Wintrust Asset Management Company, N.A. ("WAMC").  Previously,  the Company  provided  trust
services  through the trust department of Lake Forest Bank.
The Company provides financing for the payment of commercial  insurance premiums
("premium finance  receivables"),  on a national basis,  through First Insurance
Funding  Corporation  ("FIFC"),  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Crabtree  Capital
Corporation ("Crabtree") which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lake Forest Bank.
On October 26, 1999,
Hinsdale  Bank  acquired  Tricom,  Inc. of Milwaukee  ("Tricom"),  a  providerwholly-owned  subsidiary of Hinsdale
Bank,  provides  short-term  accounts  receivable   financing  ("Tricom  finance
receivables") and value-added out-sourced  administrative services, such as data
processing  of  payrolls,  billing and cash  management  services,  to temporary
staffing service clients located throughout the United States.

As a mid-size  financial  services company,  management  expects to benefit from
greater  access to financial and  managerial  resources  while  maintaining  its
commitment to localizedlocal  decision-making  and to its community  banking  philosophy.
Management  also believes the Company is positioned to compete more  effectively
with other larger and more diversified  banks,  bank holding companies and other
financial  services  companies  as it  continues  its  growth  strategy  through
additional  branch openings and de novo bank formations,  expansion of trust and
investment activities, pursuit of specialized earning asset niches and potential
acquisitions of banks or specialty finance companies.

                                     - 3 -

Additional  information  regarding  the  Company's  business and  strategies  is
included in the 19992000 Annual  Report to  Shareholders,  which is filed as Exhibit
13.1 to this Form 10-K.10-K and Item 8 under  "Supplemental  Statistical  Data". Such
information is  incorporated  herein by reference and constitutes a part of this
report.

BANKING
- -------

The Company  provides  banking and  financial  services  to  individuals,  small
businesses,   local  governmental  units  and  institutional   clients  residing
primarily in the Banks' local service areas. These services include  traditional
demand,  NOW,  money  market,  savings and time deposit  accounts,  as well as a
number of unique deposit  products  targeted to specific  market  segments.  The
Banks offer home equity,  home  mortgage,  consumer,  real estate and commercial
loans,  safe deposit  facilities,  ATMs, and other  innovative  and  traditional
services  specially  tailored  to meet the needs of  customers  in their  market
areas.  The Hinsdale Bank also operates the indirect auto segment which provides
high quality new and used auto loans through a large network of auto dealerships
within the Chicago  metropolitan  area.  All indirect  auto loans are  currently
being purchased by the Banks and retained within their loan portfolios.

Each of the Banks was founded as a de novo banking  organization within the last
nineten years. 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 subjected to consolidation strategies,  the opportunity
increased in affluent  suburbs 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. AIn 1994, Lake BluffForest
Bank opened a branch of this bank wasoffice in Lake Bluff. In early 2000 Lake Forest Bank opened
a branch in 1994.Highwood to serve the Highwood-Fort  Sheridan communities.  In 1993,
Hinsdale Bank was opened to service the  communities of Hinsdale and Burr Ridge.
Hinsdale  Bank  established  branch  facilities  in Clarendon  Hills and Western
Springs in 1996 and 1997, respectively. In 1994, North Shore Bank was started in
order to  service  Wilmette  and  Kenilworth.  North  Shore Bank  opened  branch
facilities in Glencoe  during 1995 and 1998, in Winnetka  during 1996 to service
Winnetka and Northfield,  and in Skokie during 1999. In 1995,  Libertyville Bank
was opened to service  Libertyville,  Vernon Hills and  Mundelein.  Libertyville
Bank opened a branch facility in south Libertyville during 1998 to service south
Libertyville  and Vernon Hills.Hills and in Wauconda  during 2000.  In December  1996,
Barrington Bank was opened to service the greater Barrington/Inverness areas. In
December  1997,  Crystal  Lake Bank was  opened to serve the  Crystal  Lake/Cary
communities.  In 1999,  Crystal  Lake Bank opened two new branch  facilities  in
Crystal  Lake.  In  November  2000,  Northbrook  Bank  opened for  business in a
temporary facility to serve the Northbrook,  Glenview and Deerfield communities.
All Banks are insured by the Federal Deposit  Insurance Company ("FDIC") and are
subject to  regulation,  supervision  and regular  examination  by the  Illinois
Office of Banks and Real Estate,  the Federal  Reserve Bank and/or the Office of
the Comptroller of Currency ("OCC").

PREMIUM FINANCE
- ---------------

FIFC commenced  operations  nine years ago and is  headquartered  in Deerfield,Northbrook,
Illinois.  Based on limited  industry data available in certain state regulatory
filings and FIFC management's experience

                                     - 4 -

in and knowledge of the premium  finance  industry,  management  estimates that,
ranked  by  origination  volumes,  FIFC is one of the top five  premium  finance
companies  operating  in the United  States.  Premium  finance  receivables  are
originated  by FIFC's own sales force,  working with medium and large  insurance
agents and brokers throughout the United States.  These receivables are retained

                                     - 4 -

mainly within the Banks' loan  portfolios  and are also sold to an  unaffiliated
financial institution.  Insurance premiums are financed primarily for commercial
customers' purchase of property, casualty and liability insurance. Substantially
all  premium  finance  receivables  are  made to  commercial  accounts.  FIFC is
licensed or otherwise  qualified to do business as an insurance  premium finance
company in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

TRUST ACTIVITIES
- ----------------

With the formation of WAMC in September  1998, the Company intends to expand the
trust and investment  management  services  previously  provided through a trust
department  of the Lake Forest Bank.  Asbegan operating as a separately chartered non-depository bank subsidiary the  Company  is better  able to offerin
September 1998. WAMC offers trust and investment  management  services to all of
the Banks'  communities,  which  management  believes are some of the best trust
markets in Illinois.  In addition to offering  these  services to existing  bank
customers at each of the Banks,  WAMC intends to targettargets small to mid-size  businesses  and
newly affluent  individuals whose needs command the personalized  attention that
will beare offered by WAMC and its experienced  trust  professionals.  Services offered
typically include traditional trust products and services, as well as investment
management,  financial planning and 401(k) management services.  WAMC is subject
to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the OCC.

TRICOM
- ------

On October 26, 1999  (effective  as of October 1, 1999),Tricom was acquired by Hinsdale  Bank acquired
100%in October  1999 as part of the common stock of Tricom. This acquisition is another significant step
in the  Company's
strategy to pursue specialized earning asset niches. TricomIt is a Milwaukee-based  company thatlocated in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and has been in business for approximatelyover ten years
andyears.  It  specializes in providing   on  a  national  basis,
short-term   accounts   receivable   financing   and   value-added   out-sourced
administrative  services, such as data processing of payrolls,  billing and cash
management  services,  to clients
in the  temporary  staffing industry.  On an  annual  basis,service clients located throughout
the United  States.  Tricom  currently  finances  and  processes  payrolls  with
associated   billings  in  excess  of  $200$250  million.   In  2000,  it  generated
approximately  $8.1 million of net revenues for the Company.  As a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of Hinsdale  Bank,  Tricom has the capital and generates  approximately  $7 million in revenues.  By virtue of the
Company's  funding   resources,   this  acquisition  will  provide  Tricom  with
additional  capital  necessary to
expand its financing services in a national market. In addition to expanding the
Company's earning asset niches,  this
acquisition  will  add  to  the  level  ofTricom provides fee-based income andto augment itsthe
Company's community-based banking revenues.

COMPETITION
- -----------

The Company competes in the commercial banking industry through the Banks in the
communities each serves. 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 directly in Cook, DuPage, Lake and
McHenry  counties  with  other  commercial   banks,   thrifts,   credit  unions,
stockbrokers,  and the finance divisions of automobile companies.  Some of these
competitors are local, while others are statewide or nationwide.  The Banks have
developed  a community  banking and  marketing  strategy.  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

                                     - 5 -
office locations,  hours and other services, and for loan originations primarily
through the interest

                                     - 5 -
 rates and loan fees they charge, the efficiency and quality
of services  they provide to borrowers  and the variety of their loan  products.
Some of the financial  institutions and financial  services  organizations  with
which the Banks  compete  are not subject to the same  degree of  regulation  as
imposed on bank holding  companies,  Illinois banking  corporations and national
banking  associations.  In  addition,  the  larger  banking  organizations  have
significantly  greater  resources than are available to the Banks.  As a result,
such competitors have advantages over the Banks in providing certain non-deposit
services.

FIFC  encounters  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,  banks and other lending institutions.  Some of FIFC's competitors are
larger and have greater  financial and other resources and are better known than
FIFC. FIFC competes with these entities by emphasizing a high level of knowledge
of the insurance industry,  flexibility in structuring  financing  transactions,
and the  timely  purchase  of  qualifying  contracts.  FIFC  believes  that  its
commitment to account service also distinguishes it from its competitors.  It is
FIFC's policy to notify the insurance agent when an insured is in default and to
assist in collection,  if requested by the agent.  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,  the  Company's
operations could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance that FIFC will
be able to continue to compete successfully in its markets.

WAMC's primary  competition is with more  established  trust  companies of other
larger bank  holding  companies.  WAMC is also in  competition  with other trust
companies,  brokerage and other financial  service  companies,  stockbrokers and
financial  advisors.  As a new  company,  it may be  more difficult  to  successfully
attract  new  customers  thanaway  from  the more  established  Chicago  area  trust
companies.  However,  the Company believes it can successfully compete for trust
business by offering  personalized  attention  and customer  service to small to
mid-size  businesses  and newly  affluent  individuals.  The  hiring of  several
experienced  trust  professionals  from the more established  Chicago area trust
companies is also  expected to help in  attracting  new customer  relationships.
There  can  be  no  assurances,   however,  that  WAMC  will  be  successful  in
establishing  this new business as a preferred  alternative  to the larger trust
companies, and as a profitable venture.

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 management believes that
its commitment to service  distinguishes itself from competitors.  To the extent
that other finance  companies,  financial  institutions  and payroll  processing
firms add greater programs and services to their existing  businesses,  Tricom's
operations  could be adversely  affected.  There can be no assurance that Tricom
will be able to continue to compete successfully in its markets.

EMPLOYEES
- ---------

At December 31, 1999,2000, the Company and its  subsidiaries  employed a total of 412520
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.

                                     - 6 -

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
- --------------------------

This document contains forward-looking  statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. 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 projected growth,  anticipated improvements
in earnings,  earnings per share and other financial performance  measures,  and
management's  long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the
anticipated effects on financial results of condition from expected developmentdevelopments
or events, the Company's business and growth strategies,  including  anticipated
internal  growth,  plans to form additional de novo banks and to open new branch
offices, and to pursue additional potential  development or acquisition of banks
or specialty  finance  businesses.  Actual results could differ  materially from
those  addressed  in the  forward-looking  statements  as a result  of  numerous
factors, including the following:

o    The level of reported  net income,  return on average  assets and return on
     average  equity  for the  Company  will in the  near  term  continue  to be
     impacted by start-up costs associated with de novo bank formations,  branch
     openings, and expanded trust and investment  operations.  De novo banks may
     typically require 13 to 24 months of operations before becoming profitable,
     due to the impact of  organizational  and overhead  expenses,  the start-up
     phase  of  generating  deposits  and the  time lag  typically  involved  in
     redeploying  deposits  into  attractively  priced  loans and  other  higher
     yielding earning assets.  Similarly,  the expansion of trust and investment
     services through the Company's newer trust subsidiary, WAMC, is expected to
     be in a start-up phase for the next few years, before becoming profitable.

o    The  Company's  success to date has been and will  continue  to be strongly
     influenced  by  its  ability  to  attract  and  retain  senior   management
     experienced in banking and financial services.

o    Although  management  believes the  allowance  for possible  loan losses is
     adequate to absorb  losses that may develop in the  existing  portfolio  of
     loans and leases,  there can be no assurance  that the allowance will prove
     sufficient to cover actual future loan or lease losses.

o    If market interest rates should move contrary to the Company's gap position
     on interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, the "gap" will
     work  against  the Company and its net  interest  income may be  negatively
     affected.

o    The financial  services business is highly competitive which may affect the
     pricing of the Company's loan and deposit products as well as its services.

o    The Company's  ability to adapt  successfully to  technological  changes to
     compete effectively in the marketplace.

                                     - 7 -

o    The extent of the Company's  preparedness  efforts, and that of its outside
     data processing providers, software vendors, and customers, in implementing
     and testing Year 2000  compliant  hardware,  software and systems,  and the
     effectiveness of appropriate contingency plans that have been developed.

o    Unforeseen future events that may cause slower than anticipated development
     and growth of the Tricom business and/or changes in the temporary  staffing
     industry or difficulties integrating the Tricom acquisition.industry.

o    Changes in the economic  environment,  competition,  or other factors,  may
     influence the anticipated growth rate of loans and deposits, the quality of
     the  loan  portfolio  and loan  and  deposit  pricing.pricing  and may  affect  the
     Company's  ability  to  successfully   pursue   acquisition  and  expansion
     strategies.

o    The Company's  ability to recover on the loss resulting from the fraudulent
     loan scheme perpetrated against the Company's premium finance subsidiary in
     the third quarter of 2000.


SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
- --------------------------

Bank holding  companies and banks are  extensively  regulated  under federal and
state law.  References under this heading to applicable  statutes or regulations
are brief summaries or portions  thereof which do not purport to be complete and
which are  qualified  in their  entirety  by  reference  to those  statutes  and
regulations.  Any change in applicable  laws or regulations  may have a material
adverse effect on the business of commercial  banks and bank holding  companies,
including the Company, the Banks, FIFC, WAMC and Tricom. However,  management is
not aware of any current  recommendations by any regulatory  authority which, if
implemented,  would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material effect
on liquidity,  capital resources, or operations of the Company, the Banks, FIFC,
WAMC or Tricom.  The  supervision,  regulation and examination of banks and bank
holding  companies by bank  regulatory  agencies are intended  primarily for the
protection  of  depositors  rather than  stockholders  of banks and bank holding
companies.

BANK HOLDING COMPANY REGULATION
- -------------------------------

The Company is registered as a "bank holding  company" with the Federal  Reserve
and,  accordingly,  is subject to  supervision  and  regulation  by the  Federal
Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act (the Bank Holding Company Act and the
regulations issued  thereunder,  are collectively the "BHC Act"). The Company is
required to file with the Federal Reserve  periodic  reports and such additional
information  as the Federal  Reserve may  require  pursuant to the BHC Act.  The
Federal  Reserve  examines the Company and may examine the Banks,  FIFC, WAMC or
Tricom.

The BHC Act requires prior Federal Reserve approval for, among other things, the
acquisition by a bank holding company of direct or indirect ownership or control
of more than five percent5% of the  voting  shares or  substantially  all the  assets of any
bank, or bank holding company, or for a merger or  consolidation  of a bank holding  company with another
bank holding  company.  With certain  exceptions,  the BHC Act  prohibits a bank
holding company from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of voting
shares  of any  company  which is not a bank or bank  holding  company  and from
engaging  directly or indirectly in any activity  other than banking or managing
or controlling banks or performing services for its authorized  subsidiaries.  A
bank holding company may, however, engage in or acquire an interest in a company
that  engages  in  activities  which the  Federal  Reserve  has

                                     - 8 -
determined,  by  regulation  or order,  to be so  closely  related to banking or
managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto, such as owning
and operating the

                                     - 8 -
 premium finance business  conducted by FIFC. Under the BHC Act
and Federal Reserve  regulations,  the Company and the Banks are prohibited from
engaging in certain  tie-in  arrangements  in  connection  with an  extension of
credit,  lease,  sale of property,  or furnishing of services.  Any person,  including associates and affiliatesThat means that,
except  with  respect to  traditional  banking  products,  the  Company  may not
condition  a  customer's  purchase  of and groups acting in concert
with such person,  who purchases or  subscribes  for five percent or moreone of its  services  on the  purchase of
another service. The passage of the Company's  Common Stock may be requiredGramm-Leach-Bliley Act, however, allows bank
holding  companies to obtain prior approval ofbecome  financial  holding  companies.  Financial  holding
companies do not face the Illinois
Commissioner and the Federal Reserve.same  prohibitions  on entering into certain  business
transactions that bank holding companies currently face

Under the Illinois  Banking  Act,  any person who thereafter  acquires  stockmore than 10% of the
Company such that its interest exceeds ten
percent of the  Company,Company's stock may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Commissioner
of the Illinois  CommissionerOffice of Banks and Real Estate (the "Illinois  Commissioner").
Similarly,  under the Change in Bank  Control  Act, a person may be  required to
obtain the prior regulatory approval of the FDIC or OCC, in the case
of Barrington Bank,  Crystal Lake Bank, and WAMC, and the Federal Reserve before
acquiringor the power to directly or indirectly direct the management,  operations
or  policiesOffice of the
Company  orComptroller of the Banks orCurrency (the "OCC") before acquiring  control of 25
percent10% or more
of any class of the Company's or Banks'  outstanding voting
stock.  In addition,  any Company,  partnership,  trust or organized  group that
acquires a  controlling  interest in the Company or the Banks may have to obtain
approval of the Federal  Reserve to become a bank holding company and thereafter
be subject to regulation as such.

It is the policy of the Federal Reserve that the Company is expected to act as a
source of financial  strength to the Banks and WAMC, and to commit  resources to
support  the Banks and WAMC.  The Federal  Reserve  takes the  position  that in
implementing  this  policy,  it may require the Company to provide  such support
when the Company otherwise would not consider itself able to do so.

The Federal  Reserve has  risk-based  capital  requirements  for assessing  bank
holding company capital adequacy.  These standards define regulatory capital and
establish  minimum  capital  standardsratios in relation to assets,  both on an aggregate
basis and off-balance sheet
exposures, as adjusted for credit risks.risks and off-balance  sheet  exposures.  Under
the Federal  Reserve's  risk-based  guidelines,  capital is classified  into two
categories.  For bank  holding  companies,  Tier 1 capital,  or "core"  capital,
consists of common  shareholders'stockholders'  equity,  qualifying  noncumulative  perpetual
preferred and truststock (including  related surplus),  qualifying  cumulative  perpetual
preferred stock (including related surplus) (subject to certain limitations) and
minority  interests in the common equity accounts of consolidated  subsidiaries,
and is reduced by goodwill certain otherand specified  intangible  assets and
certain  investments  in other  companies ("Tier 1 Capital").
Tier 2 capital, or "supplementary" capital, consists of the following items, all
of which are subject to certain  conditions and  limitations:  the allowance for
loan and lease losses  (subject  to  certain
conditions and  limitations),losses;  perpetual  preferred stock and trust  preferred  stock,
"hybridrelated  surplus;  hybrid
capital  instruments,"instruments;  unrealized holding gains on equity securities;  perpetual
debt and mandatory  convertible  debt  securities, andsecurities;  term  subordinated  debt and
intermediate-term preferred stock.

Under the Federal  Reserve's  capital  guidelines,  bank holding  companies  are
required  to  maintain  a  minimum   ratio  of   qualifying   total  capital  to
risk-weighted assets of 8.0%, of which at least 4.0% 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 3.0%,  except  that for strong bank holding companies not(those rated in the
highest  categorya
composite "1" under the regulatoryFederal  Reserve's  rating  system are required to maintain a
leveragesystem).  For all other bank
holding companies, the minimum ratio of 1.0% to 2.0% above such  minimum.  The 3.0% Tier 1 Capital to total assets ratio  constitutes the minimum  leverage  standard for bank holding
companies,  and  will  be used in  conjunction  with  the  risk-based  ratio  in
determining the overall capital adequacy of banking organizations.is 4%. In
addition,  the Federal  Reserve  continues to consider the Tier 1 leverage ratio
(Tier 1 capital  to  average  quarterly  assets)  in  evaluating  proposals  for
expansion or new activities.

                                     - 9 -

In its capital  adequacy  guidelines,  the Federal  Reserve  emphasizes that the
foregoing  standards  are  supervisory  minimums and that banking  organizations
generally  are  expected  to  operate  well  above  the  minimum  ratios.  These
guidelines also provide that banking organizations  experiencing internal growth, whether
internally or by making  acquisitions,  will beare expected to maintain  strong capital
positions substantially above the minimum levels.

BANK REGULATION

Under Illinois law, eachAs of Lake Forest Bank,  Hinsdale Bank,  North Shore Bank,
Libertyville  BankDecember 31, 2000,  the Company's  total capital to  risk-weighted  assets
ratio was 8.4%, its Tier I Capital to risk-weighted asset ratio was 6.9% and their  subsidiaries,  are  subject  to  supervision  and
examination byits
leverage ratio was 6.3%.

Dividend  Limitations.  Because the Illinois  Commissioner.  As an affiliateCompany's  consolidated  net income consists
largely of these Banks,  the
Company is also subject to examination by the Illinois Commissioner.  Barrington
Bank,  Crystal Lake Bank and WAMC are subject to supervision  and examination by
the  OCC  pursuant  to  the  National  Bank  Act  and  regulations   promulgated
thereunder.  Eachnet income of the Banks and WAMC are membersits non-bank subsidiaries,  the Company's
ability  to pay  dividends  depends  upon its  receipt of  the Federal  Reserve Bank
and, as such, is also subject to examination by the Federal Reserve.

The  deposits  of the Banks are  insured  by the Bank  Insurance  Fund under the
provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the "FDIA"), and the Banks are,
therefore,  also subject to  supervision  and  examination by the FDIC. The FDIC
requires that the appropriate federal regulatory  authority (the Federal Reserve
Bank and/or the FDIC in the case of Lake Forest Bank, North Shore Bank, Hinsdale
Bank and  Libertyville  Bank,  or the OCC,  in the case of  Barrington  Bank and
Crystal Lake Bank) approve any merger and/or consolidation by or with an insured
bank, as well as the  establishment  or relocation of any bank or branch office.
The FDIC also  supervises  compliance  with the  provisions  of federal  law and
regulations  which place  restrictions on loans by  FDIC-insured  banks to their
directors, executive officers and other controlling persons.

Furthermore,  banks  are  affected  by the  credit  policies  of other  monetary
authorities,  including the Federal Reserve,  which regulate the national supply
of bank  credit.  Such  regulation  influences  overall  growth  of bank  loans,
investments,  and deposits and may also affect  interest  rates charged on loans
and paid on deposits.  The monetary  policies of the Federal  Reserve have had a
significant  effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and
are expected to continue to do so in the future.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION REGULATION GENERALLY

Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Transactions  between  a bank  and its  holding
company or other affiliates are subject to various restrictions imposed by state
and federal  regulatory  agencies.  Such  transactions  include  loans and other
extensions of credit,  purchases of securities and other assets, and payments of
fees or other distributions.  In general,dividends  from these
restrictions limit the amount of
transactions  between an institution  and an affiliate of such  institution,  as
well as the aggregate  amount of transactions  between an institution and all of
its  affiliates,  and  require  transactions  with  affiliates  to be  on  terms
comparable to those for transactions with unaffiliated entities.

                                     - 10 -

Dividend  Limitations.  As a holding company, the Company is primarily dependent
upon  dividend  distributions  from its operating  subsidiaries  for its income.  Federal and state statutes and regulations impose restrictions on the
payment of dividends by the Company, the Banks and WAMC. See Part II, Item 5 for
further discussion of dividend limitations.

Federal  Reserve  policy  provides  that a bank holding  company  should not pay
dividends  unless (i) the bank holding  company's net income over the prior year
is  sufficient  to fully fund the  dividends  and (ii) 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.

Illinois law also places  certain  limitations  on the ability of the Company to
pay  dividends.   For  example,  the  Company  may  not  pay  dividends  to  its
shareholders  if, after giving effect to the dividend,  the Company would not be
able to pay its debts as they become due. Since a major potential  source of the
Company's  fundingrevenue is dividends  the Company  expects to receive from the Banks,
the  Company's  ability to pay dividends is likely to be dependent on the amount
of dividends  paid by the Banks.  No assurance can be given that the Banks will,
in any circumstances, pay dividends to the Company.

BANK REGULATION
- ---------------

Lake  Forest  Bank,  Hinsdale  Bank,  North Shore  Bank,  Libertyville  Bank and
Northbrook  Bank  are  Illinois-chartered  banks  and as  such  they  and  their
subsidiaries  are  subject  to  supervision  and  examination  by  the  Illinois
Commissioner.  As an affiliate  of these  Banks,  the Company is also subject to
examination by the Illinois state-charteredCommissioner. Barrington Bank, Crystal Lake Bank and
WAMC  are   federally-chartered   banks  noneand  are  subject  to  supervision  and
examination  by the OCC  pursuant  to the  National  Bank  Act  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder.  Each of the Banks and WAMC are  members of the Federal
Reserve  Bank and,  as such,  is also  subject  to  examination  by the  Federal
Reserve.

The  deposits  of the Banks are  insured  by the Bank  Insurance  Fund under the
provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the "FDIA"), and the Banks are,
therefore,  also  subject  to  supervision  and  examination  by the FDIC.  FDIA
requires that the appropriate federal regulatory  authority (the Federal Reserve
Bank in the  case  of  Lake  Forest  Bank,  North  Shore  Bank,  Hinsdale  Bank,
nor Libertyville  Bank and  Northbrook  Bank,  or the OCC, in the case of Barrington
Bank and Crystal Lake Bank) approve any merger and/or  consolidation  by or with
an insured  bank,  as well as the  establishment  or  relocation  of any bank or
branch office.  The FDIA also gives the Federal  Reserve,  the OCC and the other
federal bank regulatory  agencies power to issue cease and desist

                                     - 10 -

orders  against  either  banks,   holding   companies  or  persons  regarded  as
"institution  affiliated  parties." A cease and desist order can either prohibit
such entities  from engaging in certain  unsafe and unsound bank activity or can
require  them to take  certain  affirmative  action.  The FDIC  also  supervises
compliance  with the  provisions  of federal  law and  regulations  which  place
restrictions  on loans by  FDIC-insured  banks  to  their  directors,  executive
officers and other controlling persons.

Furthermore,  banks  are  affected  by the  credit  policies  of other  monetary
authorities,  including the Federal Reserve,  which regulate the national supply
of bank  credit.  Such  regulation  influences  overall  growth  of bank  loans,
investments,  and deposits and may also affect  interest  rates charged on loans
and paid on deposits.  The monetary  policies of the Federal  Reserve have had a
significant  effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and
are expected to continue to do so in the future.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION REGULATION GENERALLY
- ------------------------------------------

Transactions  with  Affiliates.  Transactions  between  a bank  and its  holding
company or other affiliates are subject to various restrictions imposed by state
and federal  regulatory  agencies.  Such  transactions  include  loans and other
extensions of credit,  purchases of securities and other assets, and payments of
fees or other distributions.  In general, these restrictions limit the amount of
transactions  between an institution  and an affiliate of such  institution,  as
well as the aggregate  amount of transactions  between an institution and all of
its  affiliates,  and  require  transactions  with  affiliates  to be  on  terms
comparable to those for transactions with unaffiliated entities.

Capital Requirements.  Capital requirements for the Banks generally parallel the
capital  requirements  previously noted for bank holding companies.  Each of the
Banks is subject to applicable capital requirements on a separate company basis.
The federal banking  regulators must take prompt  corrective action with respect
to  FDIC-insured  depository  institutions  that  do not  meet  minimum  capital
requirements.    There    are   five    capital    tiers:    "well-capitalized",
"adequately-capitalized",  "undercapitalized",  "significantly undercapitalized"
and  "critically  undercapitalized".  As of December 31, 2000, Lake Forest Bank,
Hinsdale   Bank,   and  North  Shore  Bank  were   categorized   as  "adequately
capitalized",  while Libertyville Bank,  Barrington Bank, Crystal Lake Bank, and
Northbrook Bank were categorized as "well-capitalized."

Prompt Corrective Action. The Federal Deposit Insurance Company  Improvement Act
of 1991  ("FDICIA")  requires  the federal  banking  regulators,  including  the
Federal  Reserve,  the OCC and the FDIC, to take prompt  corrective  action with
respect to depository institutions that fall below minimum capital standards and
prohibits any depository  institution from making any capital  distribution that
would  cause it to be  undercapitalized.  Institutions  that are not  adequately
capitalized may be subject to a variety of supervisory  actions  including,  but
not  limited  to,  restrictions  on  growth,   investment  activities,   capital
distributions  and  affiliate  transactions  and will be  required  to  submit a
capital  restoration  plan  which,  to be accepted  by the  regulators,  must be
guaranteed in part by any company having control of the institution (such as the
Company). In other respects, FDICIA provides for enhanced supervisory authority,
including greater authority for the appointment of a conservator or receiver for
under-capitalized  institutions.  The  capital-based  prompt  corrective  action
provisions of FDICIA and their  implementing  regulations  apply to FDIC-insured
depository institutions.  However, federal banking agencies have indicated

                                     - 11 -

that, in regulating bank holding  companies,  the agencies may take  appropriate
action  at  the  holding  company  level  based  on  their   assessment  of  the
effectiveness of supervisory  actions imposed upon subsidiary insured depository
institutions pursuant to the prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA.

Dividends.  As Illinois  state-chartered  banks,  Lake Forest Bank,  North Shore
Bank, Hinsdale Bank, Libertyville Bank and Northbrook Bank may not pay dividends
in an amount greater than itstheir current net profits after  deducting  losses and
bad debts out of undivided  profits  provided that its surplus equals or exceeds
its capital.  For the purpose of  determining  the amount of  dividends  that an
Illinois  bank may pay,  bad debts are  defined as debts upon which  interest is
past due and  unpaid for a period of six  months or more  unless  such debts are
well-secured and in the process of collection.  Furthermore, federal regulations
also prohibit any Federal  Reserve member bank,  including each of the Banks and
WAMC, from declaring  dividends in any calendar year in excess of its net profitincome
for the year plus the retained net profitsincome for the preceding two years.years,  less any
required transfers to the surplus account.  Similarly,  as national associations
supervised  by the OCC,  Barrington  Bank,  Crystal  Lake  Bank and WAMC may not
declare  dividends in any year in excess of its net profitincome for the year plus the
retained net profitsincome for the preceding two years.years, less any required  transfers to
the surplus account.  Furthermore, the OCC may, after notice and opportunity for
hearing,  prohibit the payment of a dividend by a national bank if it determines
that such payment would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

In addition to the foregoing,  the ability of the Company, the Banks and WAMC to
pay dividends may be affected by the various  minimum capital  requirements  and
the capital and non-capital standards established under the Federal  Deposit
Insurance Company  Improvements Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"),FDICIA, as described
below.  The  right  of the  Company,  its  shareholders  and  its  creditors  to
participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of its subsidiaries is
further subject to the prior claims of creditors of the respective subsidiaries.

Standards  for  Safety  and  Soundness.  The FDIA,  as amended by FDICIA and the
Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 requires the
Federal Reserve,  together with the other federal bank regulatory  agencies,  to
prescribe  standards of safety and  soundness,  by  regulations  or  guidelines,
relating  generally to operations and management,  asset growth,  asset quality,
earnings,  stock valuation,  and compensation.  The Federal Reserve, the OCC and
the other  federal bank  regulatory  agencies  have adopted  effective August 9, 1995, a set of  guidelines
prescribing safety and soundness  standards pursuant to FDICIA, as amended.  The
guidelines  establish  general  standards  relating  to  internal  controls  and
information  systems,   internal  audit  systems,  loan

                                     - 11 -
  documentation,   credit
underwriting,  interest rate exposure, asset growth, and compensation,  fees and
benefits.  In general, the guidelines require,  among other things,  appropriate
systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and  exposures  specified
in the guidelines.  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.  In addition,
each of the Federal Reserve and the OCC adopted regulations that authorize,  but
do not require,  the Federal Reserve or the OCC, as the case may be, to order an
institution that has been given notice by the Federal Reserve or the OCC, as the
case  may  be,  that  it is not  satisfying  any of such  safety  and  soundness
standards  to  submit  a  compliance  plan.  If,  after  being so  notified,  an
institution  fails  to  submit  an  acceptable  compliance  plan or fails in any
material  respect to implement an accepted  compliance plan, the Federal Reserve
or the OCC, as the case may be,

                                     - 12 -
must issue an order directing  action to correct the deficiency and may issue an
order  directing  other  actions  of the  types  to  which  an  undercapitalized
association  is subject  under the  "prompt  corrective  action"  provisions  of
FDICIA.  If an  institution  fails to comply  with such an  order,  the  Federal
Reserve  or the OCC,  as the case may be,  may  seek to  enforce  such  order in
judicial  proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.  The Federal Reserve,
the OCC and the other federal bank regulatory  agencies also proposedadopted  guidelines
for asset quality and earnings standards.

A range of other  provisions  in  FDICIA  include  requirements  applicable  toto:
closure of branches;  additional disclosures to depositors with respect to terms
and interest  rates  applicable to deposit  accounts;  uniform  regulations  for
extensions of credit secured by real estate;  restrictions  on activities of and
investments by state-chartered  banks;  modification of accounting  standards to
conform to generally accepted accounting  principles  including the reporting of
off-balance  sheet items and  supplemental  disclosure of estimated  fair market
value of assets and liabilities in financial  statements  filed with the banking
regulators;  increased penalties in making or failing to file assessment reports
with the FDIC;  greater  restrictions  on  extensions  of  credit to  directors,
officers and principal  shareholders;  and increased  reporting  requirements on
agricultural loans and loans to small businesses.

In August  1995,addition,  the Federal Reserve,  OCC, FDIC and other federal banking agencies
publishedadopted a final rule modifying  their existingwhich modified the risk-based  capital standards to provide
for consideration of interest rate risk when assessing the capital adequacy of a
bank. Under the finalthis rule, the Federal Reserve, the OCC and the FDIC must explicitly
include a bank's  exposure to declines in the economic  value of its capital due
to  changes  in  interest  rates  as a factor  in  evaluating  a bank's  capital
adequacy.  The Federal  Reserve,  the FDIC,  the OCC and other  federal  banking
agencies also have adopted a joint agency policy statement providing guidance to
banks for managing  interest  rate risk.  The policy  statement  emphasizes  the
importance  of adequate  oversight  by  management  and a sound risk  management
process.  The  assessment  of interest rate risk  management  made by the banks'
examiners will be incorporated  into the banks' overall risk  management  rating
and used to determine the effectiveness of management.

Prompt  Corrective  Action.  FDICIA  requires  the federal  banking  regulators,
including the Federal Reserve,  the OCC and the FDIC, to take prompt  corrective
action with respect to depository  institutions  that fall below certain capital
standards  and  prohibits  any  depository  institution  from making any capital
distribution that would cause it to be  undercapitalized.  Institutions that are
not adequately  capitalized  may be subject to a variety of supervisory  actions
including, but not limited

                                     - 12 -

to, restrictions on growth,  investment  activities,  capital  distributions and
affiliate transactions and will be required to submit a capital restoration plan
which,  to be  accepted by the  regulators,  must be  guaranteed  in part by any
company  having  control  of the  institution  (such as the  Company).  In other
respects, FDICIA provides for enhanced supervisory authority,  including greater
authority for the appointment of a conservator or receiver for under-capitalized
institutions.  The  capital-based  prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA
and   their   implementing   regulations   apply  to   FDIC-insured   depository
institutions.   However,  federal  banking  agencies  have  indicated  that,  in
regulating bank holding  companies,  the agencies may take appropriate action at
the holding  company  level based on their  assessment of the  effectiveness  of
supervisory  actions imposed upon  subsidiary  insured  depository  institutions
pursuant to the prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA.

Insurance of Deposit  Accounts.  Under FDICIA,  as an FDIC-insured  institution,
each of the Banks is  required to pay deposit  insurance  premiums  based on the
risk it poses to the insurance  fund.Bank  Insurance  Fund  ("BIF").  The FDIC has  authority to
raise or  lower  assessment  rates  on  insured  deposits  in  order to  achieve
certain  designatedstatutorily required reserve ratios in the insurance funds and to impose special
additional assessments.  Each depository institution is assigned to one of three
capital    groups:    "well    capitalized,"    "adequately    capitalized"   or
"less than adequately"undercapitalized."  An institution is considered  well  capitalized if it has a
total  risk-based  capital  ratio  of 10% or  greater,  has a Tier 1  risk-based
capital ratio of 6% or greater, has a leverage ratio of 5% or greater and is not
subject  to any order or  written  directive  to meet and  maintain  a  specific
capital level.  An "adequately  capitalized"  institution is defined as one that
has a total risk-based  capital ratio of 8% or greater,  has a Tier 1 risk-based
capital ratio of 4% or greater,  has a leverage  ratio of 4% or greater and does
not meet the definition of a well capitalized bank. An institution is considered
"undercapitalized"  if it does not meet the definition of "well  capitalized" or
"adequately  capitalized." Within each capital group,  institutions are assigned
to  one of  three  supervisory  subgroups:  "healthy,"  "supervisory concern" or "substantial
supervisory concern.""A"  (institutions  with  few  minor
weaknesses),  "B"  (institutions  which  demonstrate  weaknesses  which,  if not
corrected,  could result in significant  deterioration  of the  institution  and
increased  risk  of  loss  to  the  BIF),  and  "C"

                                     - 13 -

(institutions  that  pose a  substantial  probability  of  loss  to  BIF  unless
effective corrective action is taken). Accordingly,  there are nine combinations
of capital groups and supervisory  subgroups to which varying  assessment  rates
would beare applicable. An institution's assessment rate depends on the capital category
and  supervisory  category to which it is assigned.  During 2000, the Banks were
assessed deposit insurance in the aggregate amount of $697,000.

Deposit  insurance  may  be  terminated  by the  FDIC  upon a  finding  that  an
institution  has  engaged  in unsafe or  unsound  practices,  is in an unsafe or
unsound  condition to continue  operations or has violated any  applicable  law,
regulation,  rule, order or condition  imposed by the FDIC. Such termination can
only occur, if contested,  following judicial review through the federal courts.
The management of each of the Banks does not know of any practice,  condition or
violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance.

The Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 enacted on
September  30, 1996 provides that
beginning with semi-annual  periods after December 31, 1996, deposits insured by
the Bank  Insurance  Fund  ("BIF")  will also be assessed to pay interest on the
bonds (the "FICO Bonds")  issued in the late 1980s by the  Financing  Company to
recapitalize  the now defunct  Federal  Savings & Loan  Insurance  Company.  For
purposes of the assessments to pay interest on the FICO Bonds, BIF deposits will bewere
assessed at a rate of 20.0% of the assessment  rate  applicable to SAIF deposits
until December 31, 1999.  After the earlier of
December 31, 1999, or the date on which the last savings  association  ceases to
exist, full pro rata sharing of FICO
assessments will begin. The payment of the
assessment  to pay interest on the FICO Bonds should not  materially  affect the
Banks.began.


Federal  Reserve System.  The Banks are subject to Federal  Reserve  regulations
requiring  depository  institutions  to maintain  non-interest-earning  reserves
against  their  transaction   accounts   (primarily  NOW  and  regular  checking
accounts).  The Federal Reserve  regulations  generally require 3.0% reserves on
the first $46.5$44.3 million of transaction accounts plus 10.0% on the remainder. The
first $4.9$5.0 million of otherwise  reservable  balances (subject to adjustments by
the Federal Reserve) are exempted from the reserve  requirements.  The Banks are
in compliance with the foregoing requirements.

                                     - 13 -


Community  Reinvestment.   Under  the  Community  Reinvestment  Act  ("CRA"),  a
financial  institution has a continuing and affirmative  obligation,  consistent
with the safe and sound operation of such  institution,  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
financial institutions nor does it limit an 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,  institutions are rated
on their performance in meeting the needs of their  communities.  Performance is
judged in three areas: (a) a lending test, to evaluate the institution's  record
of making loans in its assessment areas; (b) an investment test, to evaluate the
institution's record of investing in community development projects,  affordable
housing and programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and business;
and (c) a service  test,  to  evaluate  the  institution's  delivery of services
through its  branches,  ATMs and other  offices.  The CRA requires  each federal
banking agency,  in connection with its examination of a financial  institution,
to assess and assign one of four ratings to the institution's  record of meeting
the credit  needs of its  community  and to take such record into account in its
evaluation of certain  applications by the institution,  including  applications
for  charters,  branches and other  deposit  facilities,  relocations,  mergers,
consolidations,  acquisitions  of  assets or  assumptions  of  liabilities,

                                     - 14 -
and savings and loan holding  company  acquisitions.  The CRA also requires that
all institutions make public disclosure of their CRA ratings.  Each of the Banks
received  "satisfactory" ratings from either the Federal Reserve or OCC on their
most recent CRA performance evaluations.

In April 1995, the Federal  Reserve,  the OCC and other federal banking agencies
adopted  amendments  revising  their CRA  regulations.  Among other things,  the
amended  CRA  regulations  substitute  for the  prior  process-based  assessment
factors a new evaluation  system that rates an  institution  based on its actual
performance in meeting  community  needs.  In particular,  the focus is on three
tests: (i) a lending test, to evaluate the institution's  record of making loans
in its assessment  areas; (ii) an investment test, to evaluate the institution's
record of investing in community development  projects,  affordable housing, and
programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and businesses; and (iii)
a service test, to evaluate the  institution's  delivery of services through its
branches,  ATMs and other offices.  The amended CRA regulations also clarify how
an institution's CRA performance would be considered in the application process.

Brokered Deposits.  Well-capitalized institutions are not subject to limitations
on brokered  deposits,  while an adequately  capitalized  institution is able to
accept, renew or rollover brokered deposits only with a waiver from the FDIC and
subject  to  certain   restrictions   on  the  yield  paid  on  such   deposits.
Undercapitalized  institutions  are not permitted to accept  brokered  deposits.
Each of the Banks is eligible to accept  brokered  deposits  (as a result of its
capital levels or having received a waiver) and may use this funding source from
time to time  when  management  deems  it  appropriate  from an  asset/liability
management perspective.

Enforcement  Actions.   Federal  and  state  statutes  and  regulations  provide
financial  institution  regulatory  agencies with great flexibility to undertake
enforcement  action against an institution  that fails to comply with regulatory
requirements,  particularly capital  requirements.  Possible enforcement actions
range from the imposition of a capital plan and capital directive to civil money
penalties,  cease  and  desist  orders,  receivership,  conservatorship  or  the
termination of deposit insurance.

- 14 -
Interstate Banking and Branching  Legislation.  On  September  29,  1994,Under the Riegle-Neal Interstate
Banking and Efficiency Act of 1994 (the  "Interstate  Banking Act")  was  enacted.  Under  the  Interstate  Banking  Act,,  adequately
capitalized and adequately managed bank holding companies will beare allowed to acquire
banks across state lines subject to certain limitations.  In addition, under the
Interstate  Banking Act, effective June 1, 1997,  banks are  permitted to merge with one another  across
state lines and  thereby  create a main bank with  branches in separate  states.
After establishing branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction,
a bank canmay  establish  and acquire  additional  branches at any  location in the
state where any bank involved in the interstate merger could have established or
acquired branches under applicable federal and state law.

Recent Legislation.  On November 12, 1999, the  Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLB(the "GLB
Act") was enacted.  The GLB Act amended or repealed  certain  provisions  of the
Glass-Steagall  Act and other  legislation  that  restricted the ability of bank
holding  companies,  securities firms and among other things,insurance  companies to affiliate with
one  another.  The GLB Act  establishes  a  comprehensive  framework  to  permit
affiliations among commercial banks,  insurance  companies and securities firmsfirms.
Further,  the GLB Act  expanded  the range of  activities  in which bank holding
companies may engage by allowing  certain well managed and insurancewell capitalized bank
holding  companies  to  be  designated  as  "financial  holding  companies."  In
addition,  the  GLB Act  contains  provisions  intended  to  safeguard  consumer
financial  information  in the hands of financial  service  providers  primarily by, among
other  things,  requiring  such entities to disclose  their privacy  policies to
their  customers and allowing  customers to "opt out" of having their  financial
servicesservice  providers   disclose  their  confidential   financial   information  to
non-affiliated third parties,  subject to certain exceptions.  The  federal
regulatory  agencies have not asFinal regulations
implementing the new financial privacy regulations become effective during 2001.
Similar to most other  consumer-oriented  laws,  the  regulations  contain  some
specific prohibitions and require timely disclosures of this date issued final regulations under the
GLB Act.certain information. The
Company doeshas devoted  what it believes  are  sufficient  resources to comply with
these  new  requirements.  It is not  believeanticipated  that the GLB Act will  have a
material  adverse  affect uponeffect on the  operations or prospects of the Company and its
operations in the near term.subsidiaries. However, to the extent the GLB Act permits banks, securities firms
and  insurance  companies to  affiliate,  the  financial  services  industry may
experience further

                                     - 15 -
consolidation.  This  consolidation  could result in a growing  number of larger
financial institutions that offer a wider variety of financial services than the
Company  currently offers and that can  aggressively  compete in the markets the
Company currently serves.

MONETARY POLICY AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The  earnings  of banks and bank  holding  companies  are  affected  by  general
economic  conditions  and also by the fiscal and  monetary  policies  of federal
regulatory  agencies,   including  the  Federal  Reserve.  Through  open  market
transactions,  variations in the discount rate and the  establishment of reserve
requirements,  the Federal Reserve exerts  considerable  influence over the cost
and availability of funds obtainable for lending or investing.

The above monetary and fiscal  policies and resulting  changes in interest rates
have affected the operating  results of all commercial banks in the past and are
expected to do so in the future.  The Banks and their respective holding companiescompany
cannot  fully  predict the nature or the extent of any effects  which  fiscal or
monetary policies may have on their business and earnings.


SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICAL DATA

Pages 3, 45 and 46 of the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders  and Item 8 of this
Form 10-K contain supplemental  statistical data as required by The Exchange Act
Industry Guide 3 which is incorporated intopart of Regulation S-K ofas promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange  Acts.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 its 19992000 Annual Report to  Shareholders  filed  herewith as Exhibit
13.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

                                     - 1516 -

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The  Company's  executive  offices are located in the main bank facility of Lake
Forest Bank. Lake Forest Bank has sixseven physical banking locations.  Lake Forest
Bank's main bank facility is located at 727 N. Bank Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois,
and is a three story,  37,000 square foot brick  building that includes a 15,200
square foot  addition that was  completed in May 1999.  The Company's  executive
offices and staff of the holding company,  Lake Forest Bank and WAMC are located
on the second and third  floors of the  addition  with first floor  retail space
leased to unrelated  third  parties.  Lake Forest Bank  constructed  a drive-in,
walk-up  banking  facility  on land  leased  from the City of Lake Forest on the
corner of Bank Lane and Wisconsin Avenue in Lake Forest, approximately one block
north of the main banking facility.  Lake Forest Bank also leases a 1,200 square
foot, a full service banking facility at 103 East Scranton Avenue in Lake Bluff,
Illinois;  a 2,100 square foot, a full service banking facility on the west side
of Lake Forest,  Illinois at 810 South Waukegan Road, and a drive-in and walk-up
banking facility at 911 S. Telegraph Road in the West Lake Forest Train Station.
Lake  Forest  Bank  also  maintains  a small  office  facility  at a  retirement
community known as Lake Forest Place at 1100 Pembridge Drive in Lake Forest.  In
early 2000, a temporary branch facility was opened in the Highwood-Fort Sheridan
area with final  construction of a permanent  building  expected to be completed
later in 2000. Lake Forest Bank maintainsconstructed a new branch facility in Highwood,  Illinois.
The Highwood branch includes a drive-thru facility.  ATMs are located at each of
itsLake Forest Bank's locations  except the 810 South Waukegan Road facility.  Lake
Forest Bank has no offsite ATMs.

Hinsdale Bank currently has four physical  banking  locations,  all of which are
owned.  The main bank facility is a two story brick building  located at 25 East
First Street in downtown  Hinsdale,  Illinois.  The 1,000 square foot  drive-in,
walk-up banking facility at 130 West Chestnut is  approximately  two blocks west
of the main banking  facility.  Hinsdale Bank also has full service  branches in
Clarendon  Hills and Western  Springs.  The  buildings  in  Clarendon  Hills and
Western  Springs are partially used for bank purposes,  with the remainder being
leased to unrelated  parties.  Hinsdale  Bank  maintains one ATM machine at each
location,  with the  exception of Clarendon  Hills,  which has two. In addition,
Hinsdale  has a separate,  stand-alone,  ATM  drive-thru  facility in  Clarendon
Hills.  Other than this stand-alone ATM drive-thru  facility in Clarendon Hills,
Hinsdale Bank has no offsite ATMs.

North Shore Bank currently has seven  physical  banking  locations.  North Shore
Bank owns the main bank facility,  a one storyone-story brick building that is located at
1145 Wilmette Avenue in downtown Wilmette,  Illinois. North Shore Bank also owns
a 9,600  square foot  drive-in,  walk-up  banking  facility at 720 12th  Street,
approximately one block west of the main banking facility. North Shore Bank also
leases a full service banking  facility at 362 Park Avenue in Glencoe,  Illinois
and  a  branch   banking   facility  in  Winnetka,   Illinois  where  it  leases
approximately 4,000 square feet. In 1998, North Shore Bank opened a drive-up and
ATM for the  Glencoe  branch  and a small  facility  at 4th Street and Linden in
Wilmette.  In 1999,  a full  service  leased  facility  was  opened  in  Skokie,
Illinois.  North  Shore Bank  maintains  ATMs at each of its  locations,  except
Winnetka, and has notwo offsite ATMs.ATMs located in Glencoe and Skokie.

                                     - 1617 -

Libertyville  Bank currently has threefive physical banking  locations.  Libertyville
Bank owns the main bank facility,  which is a 13,000 square foot two story brick
building  located  at 507  North  Milwaukee  Avenue  in  downtown  Libertyville,
Illinois.  Libertyville  Bank also owns a 2,500  square foot  drive-in,  walk-up
banking facility at 201 Hurlburt Court,  approximately  five blocks southeast of
the main  banking  facility.  A leased  branch  facility  located  at 1167 South
Milwaukee  Avenue in south  Libertyville  was opened in October  1998.  In 2000,
Libertyville  Bank opened two  facilities  in Wauconda -- a full service  branch
located at 495 Liberty  Street and a drive-thru  facility at 1180 Dato Lane. The
branch at 495 Liberty Street is a temporary  facility;  a permanent  facility on
the same  location is under  construction  and expected to be completed in 2001.
Libertyville  Bank  maintains  ATMs at each of its banking  locations and at one
offsite location.

Barrington Bank currently has one physical  banking  location at 201 South Hough
Street in  Barrington,  Illinois  which is a 12,700 square foot, two story frame
construction building that has an attached  drive-through  facility.  Barrington
Bank has two ATMs, but no offsite ATMs.

In September 1998, Crystal Lake Bank moved into its permanent two story,has three physical banking  locations as of December 31, 2000.
Crystal  Lake Bank's main  banking  office is a  two-story,  12,000  square foot main bank
facility  located at 70 Williams  Street in  downtown  Crystal  Lake,  Illinois.
In March 1999, Crystal Lake Bank openedalso has a drive-up  facility  that is located in the downtown
area,  near the main bank facility. In September 1999,
Crystal Lake Bank openedfacility and a full service owned facility  located at
1000 McHenry Avenue in south Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake Bank maintains an ATM at
each  location.  In early  2001,  Crystal  Lake Bank  opened a branch  office in
McHenry, Illinois.

In November  2000,  Northbrook  Bank opened for  business in a temporary  leased
facility located at 1340 Shermer Road in Northbrook,  Illinois.  Construction of
its permanent facility,  located at the corner of Shermer and Wuakegan Roads, is
expected to be completed by year-end  2001.  Northbrook  Bank has one ATM at its
temporary facility.

FIFC's  offices are  located at 520 Lake  Cook  Road,450 Skokie  Boulevard,  Suite 300,  Deerfield,1000,  Northbrook,
Illinois.  FIFC  leasespurchased  the property in late 1999 and moved into it in 2000.
The building provides approximately 12,00016,000 square feet of office space, under a
contract  that expires in the year 2000.  In mid-2000,  FIFC will  relocate to a
facility in Northbrook that was purchased in late 1999.which is
used solely by FIFC.

WAMC's executive and operations staff are based in office space leased from Lake
Forest Bank. WAMC also leases office space for its trust  professionals  at Lake
Forest Bank, Hinsdale Bank, North Shore Bank and Barrington Bank.

Tricom  leases  approximately  10,700  square feet of office space in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin at 11270 West Park Place, Suite 100.

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 19992000 Annual
Report to Shareholders filed herewith as Exhibit 13.1 and incorporated herein by
reference.

                                     - 1718 -

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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.  Any such  litigation  currently  pending  against  the Company or its
subsidiaries  is incidental to the Company's  business and, based on information
currently  available  to  management,  management  believes  the outcome of such
actions or proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the operations
or financial position of the Company.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No  matters  were  submitted  to a vote of  security  holders  during the fourth
quarter of 1999.2000.



                                    PART II.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The  Company's  common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock  Market(R)  under the
symbol  WTFC.  The  following  table  sets  forth the high and low sales  prices
reported on Nasdaq for the Common Stock during 19992000 and 1998.1999.

2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- HIGH LOW HIGH LOW ---- --- ---- --- Fourth quarter $ 17.00 15.38 18.19 14.69 20.13 16.50 Third quarter 17.81 15.25 19.12 16.19 23.00 17.13 Second quarter 16.25 13.75 26.75 17.50 20.38 17.38 First quarter 16.00 13.38 20.25 15.50 18.50 16.50
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF EQUITY SECURITY HOLDERS - --------------------------------------------- As of February 29, 200028, 2001 there were 1,4731,336 shareholders of record of the Company's common stock. - 1819 - DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK - ------------------------- In January 2000, the Company's Board of Directors approved the first semi-annual cash dividend on its common stock. The dividend in the amount of $0.05 per share was paid on February 24, 2000 to shareholders of record as of February 10, 2000. In July 2000, the second semi-annual dividend for the same amount was declared. The $0.05 per share amount was paid on August 24, 2000 to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2000. In January 2001, the Company's Board of Directors approved a 40% increase in its semi-annual dividend to $0.07 per share. The dividend was paid on February 22, 2001 to shareholders of record as of February 8, 2001. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and depends upon earnings, capital requirements, regulatory limitations, tax considerations, the operating and financial condition of the Company and other factors. Additionally, the payment of dividends may be restricted under certain terms of the Company's Trust Preferred Securities offering.offerings and under certain financial covenants in the Company's revolving line of credit. Because the Company's consolidated net income consists largely of net income of the Banks, FIFC and Tricom, the Company's ability to pay dividends depends upon its receipt of dividends from these entities. The Banks' ability to pay dividends is regulated by banking statutes. See "Financial Institution Regulation Generally - Dividend Limitations"Dividends" on page 1012 of this Form 10-K. During 2000, the Banks paid $16 million in dividends to the Company. During 1999 no dividends were paid by the Banks and during 1998, Lake Forest Bank paid $8.25 million of dividends to the Company. There were noDe novo banks are prohibited from paying dividends paid by the Banks to the Company during either 1999 or 1997. In addition, Crystal Lake Bank is subject to additional restrictions prohibiting the payment of dividends by a de novo bank in itstheir first three years of operations. TheAs of January 1, 2001, Northbrook Bank, which began operations in November 2000, is the only bank currently subject to this additional dividend restriction. Its de novo period will end in December 2000 for Crystal Lake Bank. In addition, the payment of dividends may be restricted under certain financial covenants in the Company's revolving line of credit.November 2003. Reference is made to Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders, attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1, which is incorporated herein by reference, for a description of the restrictions on the ability of certain subsidiaries to transfer funds to the Company in the form of dividends. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES - --------------------------------------- In Hinsdale Bank's acquisitionThe Company had no sales of 100% of the stock of Tricom, completed effective as of October 1, 1999, the Company issued 227,635 shares of Common Stock as part of the purchase price to the two individual selling shareholders. Such shares were issued and sold without registration in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. On November 17, 1999, the Company sold 352,942 shares of Common Stock for $6 million in cash directly to two institutional investors in a private placement transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2).unregistered securities during 2000. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Certain information required in response to this item is contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Selected Financial Highlights" and is incorporated herein by reference. The Company had no cash dividends declared during any period during the last five years. The Company had no Preferred Stock outstanding at December 31, 1999, 1998, 1997 or 1996. Predecessors of the Company did have $503,000 of Preferred Stock outstanding at December 31, 1995. - 1920 - ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The information required in response to this item is contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS Certain information required in response to this item is contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Asset-Liability Management" and in Notes 15 and 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are incorporated herein by reference. This information should be read in conjunction with the complete Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The information required in response to this item is contained in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Consolidated Financial Statements," and is incorporated herein by reference. Also, refer to Item 14 of this Report for the Index to Financial Statements. SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICAL DATA - ----------------------------- SECURITIES PORTFOLIO The following table presents the carrying value of the Company's investment portfolio, by investment category, as of December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998:
2000 1999 1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Held-to-maturity: U.S. Treasury obligations $ -- -- 5,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Available-for-sale: U.S. Treasury obligations $ 29,987 39,171 5,664 Federal agency obligations 61,871 70,184 54,690 Municipal securities 5,142 4,038 504 Corporate notes and other 29,197 39,025 142,102 Mortgage-backed securities 54,274 46,124 - Federal Agency Bank stock 12,634 7,253 6,159 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total available-for-sale securities 193,105 205,795 209,119 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total securities $ 193,105 205,795 214,119 =================================================================================
- 21 - Tables presenting the carrying amounts and gross unrealized gains and losses for securities held-to-maturity and available-for-sale at December 31, 19992000 and 19981999 are included by reference to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, there were no held-to-maturity securities. Maturities of securities as of December 31, 19992000 by maturity distribution are as follows (in thousands):
Mortgage-Mortgage Federal Within From 1 From 5 to After backed Agency 1 Year to 5 years 10 years 10 years securities Bank stock Total -------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Treasury obligations $ 1,242 37,929 - - - - 39,171-- 29,987 -- -- -- -- 29,987 Federal agency obligations 40,711 24,597 4,876 - - - 70,18451,465 9,910 496 -- -- -- 61,871 Municipal securities 498 1,545 - 1,995 - - 4,038830 1,137 3,175 -- -- -- 5,142 Corporate notes and other 23,390 4,015 1,028 10,592 - - 39,025(1) 6,097 10,082 1,036 11,982 -- -- 29,197 Mortgage-backed securities (1) - - - - 46,124 - 46,124(2) -- -- -- -- 54,274 -- 54,274 Federal Agency Bank stock (2) - - - - - 7,253 7,253 -------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------(3) -- -- -- -- -- 12,634 12,634 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $ 65,841 68,086 5,904 12,587 46,124 7,253 205,795 ======== ========== ======== ======== ========== ========== ========58,392 51,116 4,707 11,982 54,274 12,634 193,105 =====================================================================================
- 20 - The weighted average yield for each range of maturities of securities, on a tax equivalent basis, is shown below as of December 31, 1999:2000:
Mortgage-Mortgage Federal Within From 1 From 5 to After backed Agency 1 Year to 5 years 10 years 10 years securities Bank stock Total -------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Treasury obligations 5.13% 5.28% - - - - 5.28%-- 5.20% -- -- -- -- 5.20% Federal agency obligations 5.45% 6.06% 5.59% - - - 5.67%6.70% 5.90% 6.29% -- -- -- 6.57% Municipal securities 5.80% 6.54% - 8.25% - - 7.29%6.77% 6.56% 7.74% -- -- -- 7.31% Corporate notes and other 5.16% 7.03%(1) 2.95% 6.81% 6.61% 7.21% - - 5.98%7.66% -- -- 6.38% Mortgage-backed securities (1) - - - - 7.38% - 7.38%(2) -- -- -- -- 7.16% -- 7.16% Federal Agency Bank stock (2) - - - - - 6.85% 6.85% -------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- --------(3) -- -- -- -- -- 6.54% 6.54% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 5.34%6.31% 5.69% 5.77% 7.37% 7.38% 6.85% 6.11% ======== ========== ======== ======== ========== ========== ========7.33% 7.66% 7.16% 6.54% 6.51% ===================================================================================== (1) Equity securities are reflected in the above tables as having maturities within one year and no yield. (2) Mortgage-backed security maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the underlying mortgages may be called or prepaid without any penalties. Therefore, these securities are not included within the maturity categories above. (2)(3) Includes stock of the Federal Reserve Bank and of the Federal Home Loan Bank.
- 22 - LOAN PORTFOLIO The following table shows the Company's loan portfolio by category for the five previous fiscal years (in thousands):
At December 31 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 - ----------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commercial/Commercial and commercial real estate $ 647,947 485,776 366,229 235,483 182,403 101,271 Home equity 179,168 139,194 111,537 116,147 87,303 54,592 Residential real estate 141,919 111,026 91,525 61,611 51,673 37,074 Premium finance receivables 321,711 225,239 183,165 131,952 59,240 15,703 Indirect auto 203,572 255,434 210,137 139,296 91,211 37,323 Tricom finance receivables 20,354 17,577 - - - --- -- -- Installment and other 51,995 49,925 34,650 32,153 23,717 14,032 ---------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans 1,566,666 1,284,171 997,243 716,642 495,547 259,995 Less: Unearned income 8,646 5,922 5,181 4,011 2,999 1,764 ---------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total loans, net of unearned income $1,278,249$1,558,020 1,278,249 992,062 712,631 492,548 258,231 ================ ============ =========== ============ =============================================================================================
Commercial and commercial real estate loans. The commercial loan component is comprised primarily of commercial real estate loans, lines of credit for working capital purposes, and term loans for the acquisition of equipment. This category also includes certain commercial equipment leases. Commercial real estate is predominantly owner occupied and secured by a first mortgage lien and assignment of rents on the property. Equipment loans and leases are generally fully amortized over 24 to 60 months and secured by titles and/or U.C.C. filings. Working capital lines are generally renewable annually and supported by business assets, personal guarantees and, - 21 - oftentimes, additional collateral. Commercial business lending is generally considered to involve a higher degree of risk than traditional consumer bank lending. The vast majority of commercial loans are made within the Banks' immediate market areas. The increase in this loan category can be attributed to additional banking facilities, an emphasis on business development calling programs and superior servicing of existing commercial loan customers which has increased referrals. In addition to the home mortgages originated by the Banks, the Company participates in mortgage warehouse lending by providing interim funding to unaffiliated mortgage brokers to finance residential mortgages originated by such brokers for sale into the secondary market. The Company's loans to the mortgage brokers are secured by the business assets of the mortgage companies as well as the underlying mortgages, the majority of which are funded by the Company on a loan-by-loan basis after they have been pre-approved for purchase by third party end lenders who forward payment directly to the Company upon their acceptance of final loan documentation. In addition, the Company may also provide interim financing for packages of mortgage loans on a bulk basis in circumstances where the mortgage brokers desire to competitively bid a number of mortgages for sale as a package in the secondary market. Typically, the Company will serve as sole funding source for its mortgage warehouse lending customers under short-term revolving credit agreements. Amounts advanced with respect to any particular mortgages are usually - 23 - required to be repaid within 15 days. The Company has developed strong relationships with a number of mortgage brokers and is seeking to expand its customer base for this specialty business. The following table classifies the commercial loan portfolio category at December 31, 19992000 by date at which the loans mature:
FROM ONE ONE YEAR TO FIVE AFTER OR LESS YEARS FIVE YEARS TOTAL ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ (IN THOUSANDS)From one One year to five After or less years five years Total ------- ----- ---------- ----- (in thousands) Commercial loans and commercial real estate loans........................... $ 208,062 225,074 52,640 485,776307,170 281,149 59,628 647,947 Premium finance receivables, net of unearned income........................ 219,341 - - 219,341313,065 -- -- 313,065 Tricom finance receivables............... 17,577 - - 17,57720,354 -- -- 20,354
Of those loans maturing after one year, approximately $228.5$269.3 million have fixed rates. Home equity loans. The Company's home equity loan products are generally structured as lines of credit secured by first or second position mortgage liens on the underlying property with loan-to-value ratios not exceeding 80%, including prior liens, if any. The Banks' home equity loans feature competitive rate structures and fee arrangements. In addition, the Banks periodically offer promotional home equity loan products as part of their marketing strategy often featuring lower introductory rates. - 22 - Indirect auto loans. As part of its strategy to pursue specialized earning asset niches to augment loan generation within the Banks' target markets, the Company finances fixed rate automobile loans funded indirectly through unaffiliated automobile dealers. As of December 31, 1999,2000, indirect auto loans comprised approximately 84%80% of the Company's consumer loan portfolio. Indirect automobile loans are secured by new and used automobiles and are generated by a large network of automobile dealers located in the Chicago area with which the Company has established relationships. These credits generally have an average initial balance of approximately $15,000 and have an original maturity of 36 to 60 months with the average actual maturity, as a result of prepayments, estimated to be approximately 35-40 months. The Company does not currently originate any significant level of sub-prime loans, which are made to individuals with impaired credit histories at generally higher interest rates, and accordingly, with higher levels of credit risk. The risk associated with this portfolio is diversified among many individual borrowers. Management continually monitors the dealer relationships and the Banks are not dependent on any one dealer as a source of such loans. Like other consumer loans, the indirect auto loans are subject to the Banks' stringent credit standards. Residential real estate mortgages. The residential real estate category predominantly includes one-to-four family adjustable rate mortgages that have repricing terms generally from one to three years, construction loans to individuals, bridge financing loans for qualifying customers and mortgage loans held for sale into the secondary market. The adjustable rate mortgages are often non-agency conforming, may have terms based on differing indexes, and relate to properties located principally in the Chicago metropolitan area or vacation homes owned by local residents. Adjustable-rate mortgage loans decrease, but do not eliminate, the risks associated with changes in interest rates. - 24 - Because periodic and lifetime caps limit the interest rate adjustments, the value of adjustable-rate mortgage loans fluctuates inversely with changes in interest rates. In addition, as interest rates increase, the required payments by the borrower increases, thus increasing the potential for default. The Company does not generally originate loans for its own portfolio with long-term fixed rates due to interest rate risk considerations, however, the Banks do accommodate customer requests for fixed rate loans by originating and selling these loans into the secondary market, in connection with which the Company receives fee income, or by selectively including certain of these loans within the Banks' own portfolios. A portion of the loans sold by the Banks into the secondary market is to the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") whereby the servicing of those loans is retained. The amount of loans serviced for FNMA as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and 1998 was $87.1$97.2 million and $82.1$87.1 million, respectively. All other mortgage loans held for sale are sold into the secondary market without the retention of servicing rights. Premium finance receivables. The Company originates premium finance receivables through FIFC. Most of the receivables originated by FIFC which, in turn, are mostly sold to the Banks and retained within their loan portfolios. In 1999,However, due to FIFC's loan origination volume exceeding the Companycapacity within the Banks' loan portfolios, FIFC began selling a portionloans to an unrelated third party in 1999. During 2000, FIFC originated approximately $1.1 billion of premium finance receivable originationsloans and sold approximately $225 million of those loans originated in 2000 to an unrelated financial institution, which resulted ininstitution. FIFC recognized gains of $3.8 million on the recognitionsale of gains from the sales of these receivables. FIFC sold approximately $69 million of receivables to this third party in 1999 and recognized approximately $1.0 million in gains.those loans. As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, the balance of these receivables that are being serviced by FIFC services for others totaled approximately $93.4 million and $46.2 million.million, respectively. All premium finance receivables are subject to the Company's stringent credit standards, and substantially all such loans are made to commercial customers. The Company rarely finances consumer insurance premiums. - 23 - FIFC generally offers financing of approximately 80% of an insurance premium primarily to commercial purchasers of property and casualty and liability insurance who desire to pay insurance premiums on an installment basis. FIFC markets its financial services primarily by establishing and maintaining relationships with medium and large insurance agents and brokers and by offering a high degree of service and innovative products. Senior management is significantly involved in FIFC's marketing efforts, currently focused almost exclusively on commercial accounts. Loans are originated by FIFC's own sales force by working with insurance agents and brokers throughout the United States. As of December 31, 1999,2000, FIFC had the necessary licensing and other regulatory approvals to do business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In financing insurance premiums, the Company does not assume the risk of loss normally borne by insurance carriers. Typically, the insured buys an insurance policy from an independent insurance agent or broker who offers financing through FIFC. The insured typically makes a down payment of approximately 15% to 25% of the total premium and signs a premium finance agreement for the balance due, which amount FIFC disburses directly to the insurance carrier or its agents to satisfy the unpaid premium amount. The average initial balance of premium finance loans is approximately $13,000 and the average term of the agreements is approximately 10 months. As the insurer earns the premium ratably over the life of the policy, the unearned portion of the premium secures payment of the balance due to FIFC by the insured. Under the terms of the Company's standard form of financing contract, the Company has the power to cancel the insurance policy if there is a default in the payment on the finance contract and to collect the unearned portion of the premium from the insurance carrier. In the event of cancellation of a policy, the cash returned in payment of the - 25 - unearned premium by the insurer should be sufficient to cover the loan balance and generally the interest and other charges due as well. The major risks inherent in this type of lending are (1) the risk of fraud on the part of an insurance agent whereby the agent fraudulently fails to forward funds to the insurance carrier or to FIFC, as the case may be; (2) the risk that the insurance carrier becomes insolvent and is unable to return unearned premiums related to loans in default; (3) for policies that are subject to an audit by the insurance carrier (i.e. workers compensation policies where the insurance carrier can audit the insured actual payroll records), the risk that the initial underwriting of the policy was such that the premium paid by the insured are not sufficient to cover the a entire return premium in the event of default; and (4) that the borrower is unable to ultimately satisfy the debt in the event the returned unearned premium is insufficient to retire the loan. FIFC has established underwriting procedures to reduce the potential of loss associated with the aforementioned risks and has systems in place to continually monitor conditions that would indicate an increase in risk factors and to act on situations where the Company's collateral position is in jeopardy. Tricom finance receivables. The October 1999 acquisition of Tricom added this category, which consists offinance receivables represent high-yielding short-term accounts receivable financing to clients in the temporary staffing industry located throughout the United States. The clients' working capital needs arise primarily from the timing differences between weekly payroll funding and monthly collections from customers. The primary security for Tricom's finance receivables are the accounts receivable of its clients and personal guarantees. Tricom generally advances 80-95% based on various factors including the client's financial condition, the length of client relationship and the nature of the client's customer business lines. Typically, Tricom will also provide value-added out-sourced administrative services to many of these clients, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, which generates additional fee income. - 24 - Installment and Other. Included in the installment and other loan category is a wide variety of personal and consumer loans to individuals. The Banks have been originating consumer loans in recent years 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. The Company had no loans to businesses or governments of foreign countries at any time during the reporting periods. RISK ELEMENTS IN THE LOAN PORTFOLIO For analysis and review of the allowance for possible loan losses; non-accrual, past due and restructured loans; other real estate owned; potential problem loans; and loan concentrations, reference is made to the "Credit Risk and Asset Quality" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders filed herewith as Exhibit 13.1, and incorporated herein by reference. An- 26 - The following table sets forth the allocation of the allowance for possible loan losses by major loan type is presented belowand the percentage of loans in each category to total loans (dollars in thousands):
December 31,2000 1999 December 31, 1998 December 31, 1997 ------------------------------- ----------------------------- --------------------------------- % of loans % of loans % of loans in each in each in each category to category to category to1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- AMOUNT PERCENT Amount total loansPercent Amount total loansPercent Amount total loans ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------Percent Amount Percent --------------- --------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- Commercial and commercial real estate..........estate $ 4,019 42% $ 3,435 38% $ 2,480 37% $1,490 33% $ 996 37% Home equity.......................equity 992 12 1,146 11 1,046 11 580 16 402 18 Residential real estate...........estate 141 9 126 9 81 9 43 9 34 10 Premium finance...................finance 1,209 20 721 17 919 18 702 18 288 12 Indirect auto.....................auto 1,552 13 1,947 20 1,205 21 679 19 432 18 Tricom finance receivables.receivables 120 1 - - - -120 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- Installment and other.............other 473 3 469 4 494 4 218 5 Unallocated.......................128 5 Unallocated 1,927 -- 819 --- 809 --- 1,404 - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Total..............................-- 1,356 -- --------------- --------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------- Totals $10,433 100 $ 8,783 100%100 $ 7,034 100% $5,116 100% ============ ============ ============ ============ ============ ============100 $ 5,116 100 $ 3,636 100 =============== =============== ================ =============== ================
The above allocation is made for analytical purposes. Itinternal analysis of the allowance and is not an indication of expected or anticipated that charge-offs during the year ending December 31, 2000 will exceed the amount allocated to any individual category of loan.losses. For further review of the loan loss provision and the allowance for possible loan losses reference is made to the "Credit Risk and Asset Quality" section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders filed herewith as Exhibit 13.1, and incorporated herein by reference. - 25 - DEPOSITSDeposits The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more at December 31, 19992000 (in thousands): Maturing within 3 months ...............................months................... $ 113,393138,260 After 3 but within 6 months ............................ 84,991months................ 122,520 After 6 but within 12 months ........................... 161,706months............... 234,156 After 12 months ........................................ 72,892 --------------- Total ................................................months............................ 69,811 ----------- Total................................... $ 432,982 =============== Return on Equity564,747 =========== At December 31, 2000, the scheduled maturities of all time deposits are as follows (in thousands): 2001....................................... $ 912,542 2002....................................... 120,095 2003....................................... 22,021 2004....................................... 13,195 2005 and Assetsthereafter........................ 9,275 ----------- Total...................................... $1,077,128 =========== - 27 - RETURN ON EQUITY AND ASSETS The following table presents certain ratios relating to the Company's equity and assets:
Year Ended December 31 2000 1999 1998 1997 - ---------------------- ---- ---- ---- Return on average total assets .................................assets.................................. 0.60% 0.63% 0.53% 0.56% Return on average common shareholders' equity ..................equity... ............... 11.51% 11.58% 8.68% 7.88% Dividend payout ratio .......................................... 0.00%ratio........................................... 8.00% 0.00% 0.00% Average equity to average total assets .........................assets.......................... 5.2% 5.4% 6.1% 7.2% Ending total risk based capital ratio ..........................ratio........................... 8.4% 8.4% 9.7% 9.4% Leverage ratio .................................................ratio.................................................. 6.3% 7.1% 7.5% 6.6%
SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS The information required in connection with Short-Term Borrowings is contained in the "Analysis of Financial Condition - Short-Term Borrowings and Notes Payable" sections of the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders filed herewith as Exhibit 13.1, and is incorporated herein by reference. During 1999,2000, the Company entered into sales ofparticipated in overnight and term security repurchase agreements. The overnight agreements represent sweep accounts in connection with a master repurchase agreement. In this case, securities under the Company's control are pledged for and interest is paid on the available balance of the customers' accounts. For term repurchase agreements, securities are transferred to repurchase ("reverse repurchase agreements"). Fixed-coupon reversethe applicable counterparty. Securities underlying the overnight and term repurchase agreements are treated a financings, and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as short-term borrowings in the Company's 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Consolidated Statements of Condition". The dollar amounts of securities underlying the agreements remainincluded in the available-for-sale securities section ofportfolio as reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. During 1999,2000, the maximum month-end balance and weighted average interest rate of reversetotal repurchase agreements was $82.4 million.$72.3 million and 5.54%, respectively. At December 31, 1999,2000, securities sold under agreements to repurchase consisted of U.S. government agency mortgage-backed securities. These securities underlying the agreements were delivered to the dealer who arranged the transactions. The agreements require the Company to repurchase the same securities. - 2628 - ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE At its regular board meeting on April 29, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors voted to approve the Audit Committee's recommendation to engage the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP as independent accountants for the year ended December 31, 1999. The work of KPMG LLP was terminated on April 29, 1999, subsequent to the Form 10-K report for December 31, 1998, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1999. During the audits of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 1998 and the subsequent interim period through April 29, 1999, there were no disagreements with KPMG LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, nor have there been any reportable events. The information required in response to this item is contained in the April 29, 1999 Form 8-K that was filed with the Commission on May 6, 1999, and is incorporated herein by reference. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 25, 200024, 2001 under the caption "Management"captions "Nominees to Serve as Class II Directors Until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Year 2004", "Class I - Continuing Directors Serving Until the Year 2003", "Class III - - Continuing Directors Serving Until the Year 2002", and "Executive Officers of the Company" and is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Company's Proxy Statement under the caption "Executive Compensation" and is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference to the section "Principal Shareholders""Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" that will be included in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 25, 2000.24, 2001. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The information required in response to this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption "Certain Transactions,"sub-caption "Transactions with Management and Others" and is incorporated herein by reference. - 2729 - PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Documents filed as part of this Report: 1., 2. Financial Statements and Schedules ---------------------------------- The following financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation, incorporated herein by reference to the 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.1, are filed as part of this document pursuant to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: - Consolidated Statements of Condition as of December 31, 19992000 and 1998 -1999 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 1998 and 1997 -1998 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 1998 and 1997 -1998 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 1998 and 1997 -1998 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Independent Auditors' Reports No schedules are required to be filed with this report. 3. Exhibits (Exhibits marked with a "*" denote management contracts or -------- compensatory plans or arrangements) 2.1 Stock Purchase Agreement Among Wintrust Financial Corporation and John Leopold and Mark Kahn dated September 16, 1999 in relation to the acquisition of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company's October 26, 1999 Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 1999). 2.2 Post-Closing Indemnification and Escrow Agreement in relation to the acquisition of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of the Company's October 26, 1999 Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 1999). 3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Wintrust Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1996). 3.2 Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Junior Serial Preferred Stock A of Wintrust Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). - 28 - 3.3 Amended By-laws of Wintrust Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) of the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998). 4.1 Rights Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and Illinois Stock Transfer Company, as Rights Agent, dated July 28, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement (No. 000-21923) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 1998). - 30 - 4.2 Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement by and between Wintrust FinancialCertain instruments defining the rights of the holders of long-term debt of the Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company dated September 29, 1998, relatingcertain of its subsidiaries, none of which authorize a total amount of indebtedness in excess of 10% of the total assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidted basis, have not been filed as Exhibits. The Corporation hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any of these agreements to the 9.00% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities of Wintrust Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 4.3 Indenture by and between Wintrust Financial Corporation and Wilmington Trust Company dated September 29, 1998, relating to the 9.00% Subordinated Debentures issued to Wintrust Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 4.4 Amended and Restated Trust Agreement by and among Wintrust Financial Corporation, Wilmington Trust Company and the Administrative Trustees named therein dated September 29, 1998, relating to the 9.00% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities of Wintrust Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 4.5 Form of Preferred Security Certificate of Wintrust Capital Trust I (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.4). 4.6 Form of Subordinated Debenture (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.3).Commission upon request. 10.1 $25 Million Revolving Loan Agreement between LaSalle National Bank and Wintrust Financial Corporation, dated September 1, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1996). 10.2 First Amendment to Loan Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and LaSalle National Bank, dated March 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 1997). 10.3 Second Amendment to Loan Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and LaSalle National Bank, dated March 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998). - 29 - 10.4 Third Amendment to Loan Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and LaSalle National Bank, dated September 1, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 1998). 10.5 Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and LaSalle Bank National Association, dated September 1, 1999.1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999). 10.6 Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement between Wintrust Financial Corporation and LaSalle Bank National Association, dated August 30, 2000. 10.7 Form of Wintrust Financial Corporation Warrant Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996).* 10.710.8 Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company Lease for drive-up facility located at the corner of Bank Lane & Wisconsin Avenue, Lake Forest, Illinois, dated December 11, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). 10.8- 31 - 10.9 Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company Lease for banking facility located at 810 South Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, Illinois (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). 10.910.10 Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company Lease for banking facility located at 666 North Western Avenue, Lake Forest, Illinois, dated July 19, 1991 and Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). 10.1010.11 Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company Lease for banking facility located at 103 East Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff, Illinois, dated November 1, 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). 10.1110.12 North Shore Bank & Trust Company Lease for banking facility located at 362 Park Avenue, Glencoe, Illinois, dated July 27, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). - 30 - 10.1210.13 North Shore Bank & Trust Company Lease for banking facility located at 794 Oak Street, Winnetka, Illinois, dated June 16, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Form S-4 Registration Statement (No. 333-4645) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 1996). 10.1310.14 Barrington Bank and Trust Company Lease for property located at 202A South Cook Street, Barrington, Illinois, dated December 29, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1996). 10.1410.15 Real Estate Contract by and between Wolfhoya Investments, Inc. and Amoco Oil Company, dated March 25, 1996, and amended as of __________, 1996, relating to the purchase of property located at 201 South Hough, Barrington, Illinois (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1996). 10.15 Form of Employment Agreement entered into between the Company and Howard D. Adams, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1996). * 10.16 Form of Employment Agreement (entered into between the Company and Edward J. Wehmer, President and Chief Executive Officer). The Company entered into Employment Agreements with David A. Dykstra, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Robert F. Key, Executive Vice President-Marketing, Lloyd M. Bowden, Executive Vice President-Technology and Randolph M. Hibben, Executive Vice President-Investments during 1998 in substantially identical form to this exhibit (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). * 10.17 First Premium Services, Inc. Lease, as amended, for corporate offices located at Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Amendment No. 1 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997). 10.18 Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company Lease for drive-up and walk-up facility located at 911 South Telegraph Road, Lake Forest, Illinois, dated November 7, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Amendment No. 1 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement (No. 333-18699) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997). - 32 - 10.17 Form of Employment Agreement (entered into between the Company and Edward J. Wehmer, President and Chief Executive Officer). The Company entered into Employment Agreements with David A. Dykstra, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Robert F. Key, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Lloyd M. Bowden, Executive Vice President-Technology during 1998 in substantially identical form to this exhibit (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998).* 10.17a Form of First Amendment to Employment Agreement (entered into between the Company and Edward J. Wehmer, President and Chief Executive Officer). The Company amended the Employment Agreements with David A. Dykstra, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Robert F. Key, Executive Vice President-Marketing and Lloyd M. Bowden, Executive Vice President-Technology during 1999 in substantially identical form to this exhibit.* 10.18 Term Note ($1.2 million) and related Stock Pledge Agreement dated January 31, 2000, between Edward J. Wehmer and Dorothy M. Wehmer (as borrowers) and Wintrust Financial Corporation (as lender).* 10.19 Second Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Wintrust Financial Corporation and Edward J. Wehmer, dated January 31, 2000.* 10.20 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).* - 31 - 10.2010.21 First Amendment to Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000.)* 10.22 Wintrust Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Proxy Statement relating ---------- to the May 22, 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company).* 12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. 13.1 19992000 Annual Report to Shareholders. 21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant. 23.1 ConsentConsents of Independent Auditors. 27.1 Financial Data Schedule. (b) Reports on Form 8-K There were threeno reports on Form 8-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during the fourth quarter of 1999 as follows: October 19, 19992000. - Form 8-K filed on October 28, 1999 to announce the Company's third quarter 1999 earnings. October 26, 1999 - Form 8-K filed on November 1, 1999 to announce the completion of the acquisition of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee. December 23, 1999 - Form 8-K/A filed on December 23, 1999 to include the required financial statements and pro forma financial information in relation to the acquisition of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee. - 3233 - 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 EdwardWINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION EDWARD J. WehmerWEHMER EDWARD J. WEHMER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ President and Chief Executive Officer DavidDAVID A. DykstraDYKSTRA DAVID A. DYKSTRA March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) ToddBARBARA A. Gustafson TODDKILIAN BARBARA A. GUSTAFSONKILIAN March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Senior Vice President - Finance (Principal Accounting 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. JohnJOHN S. LillardLILLARD JOHN S. LILLARD March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Chairman of the Board of Directors EdwardEDWARD J. WehmerWEHMER EDWARD J. WEHMER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ President and CEO and Director Joseph AlaimoJOSEPH ALAIMO JOSEPH ALAIMO March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director Peter Crist PETER D. CRIST PETER D. CRIST March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director BruceBRUCE K. CrowtherCROWTHER BRUCE K. CROWTHER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director Maurice F. Dunne, Jr. MAURICE F. DUNNE, JR. MAURICE F. DUNNE, JR March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director WilliamWILLIAM C. GraftGRAFT WILLIAM C. GRAFT March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director KathleenKATHLEEN R. HorneHORNE KATHLEEN R. HORNE March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director - 3334 - John Leopold JOHN W. LEOPOLD JOHN W. LEOPOLD March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director James E. Mahoney JAMES E. MAHONEY March 28, 2000 -------------------------- Director James B. McCarthyMCCARTHY JAMES B. MCCARTHY March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director Marquerite Savard McKennaMARQUERITE SAVARD MCKENNA MARQUERITE SAVARD MCKENNA March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director AlbinALBIN F. MoschnerMOSCHNER ALBIN F. MOSCHNER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director ThomasDOROTHY M. MUELLER DOROTHY M. MUELLER March 29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director THOMAS J. NeisNEIS THOMAS J. NEIS March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director HollisHOLLIS W. RademacherRADEMACHER HOLLIS W. RADEMACHER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director J. Christopher ReyesCHRISTOPHER REYES J. CHRISTOPHER REYES March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director Peter Rusin PETER P. RUSIN PETER P. RUSIN March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director JohnJOHN N. SchaperSCHAPER JOHN N. SCHAPER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director JohnJOHN J. SchornackSCHORNACK JOHN J. SCHORNACK March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director IngridINGRID S. StaffordSTAFFORD INGRID S. STAFFORD March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director JaneJANE R. SteinSTEIN JANE R. STEIN March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director KatharineKATHARINE V. SylvesterSYLVESTER KATHARINE V. SYLVESTER March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director Lemuel H. Tate, Jr. LEMUEL H. TATE, JR. March 28, 2000 -------------------------- Director Larry Wright LARRY V. WRIGHT LARRY V. WRIGHT March 28, 2000 --------------------------29, 2001 ------------------------------------ Director - 3435 -