Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Wintrust Financial Corporation of our reports dated March 3, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation, Wintrust Financial Corporation management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Wintrust Financial Corporation, included in the 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders of Wintrust Financial Corporation.
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of our reports dated March 3, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation, Wintrust Financial Corporation management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Wintrust Financial Corporation, incorporated herein by reference:
Registration | ||||
Form | Statement No. | Purpose | ||
S-8 | 333-61678 | Wintrust Financial Corporation Directors Deferred Fee and Stock Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-33459 | Wintrust Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-52650 | Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-96983 | Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-52652 | Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-124433 | First Northwest Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan, 2002 Stock Option Plan | ||
S-3 | 333-56566 | Private Placement | ||
S-3 | 333-84188 | Acquisition of Wayne Hummer Companies | ||
S-3 | 333-103134 | Acquisition of Lake Forest Capital Management Company | ||
S-8 | 333-111277 | Advantage National Bancorp, Inc. Amended 2002 Stock Incentive Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-119979 | Northview Financial Corporation 1993 Incentive Stock Program | ||
S-8 | 333-119976 | Town Bankshares, Ltd. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan | ||
S-8 | 333-117044 | Wintrust Financial Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and Village Bancorp, Inc. 1998 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan | ||
S-3 | 333-115898 | Acquisition of SGB Corporation/Guardian Real Estate Services, Inc. | ||
S-3 | 333-119345 | Shelf Registration Statement for up to $200,000,000 of securities of Wintrust Financial Corporation | ||
S-4 | 333-122178 | Proposed Merger with First Northwest Bancorp, Inc. |
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 29, 2006
Chicago, Illinois
March 29, 2006