<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
unaudited consolidated financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation
for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001015328
<NAME> WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 JUN-30-1997
<CASH> 28,869 34,463
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 33,096 2,018
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 31,235 56,590
<TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 152,313 59,501
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 5,001 5,001
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 4,980 4,925
<LOANS> 852,241 650,085
<ALLOWANCE> 5,856 4,432
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,176,546 856,945
<DEPOSITS> 1,063,590 772,174
<SHORT-TERM> 1,056 0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 14,314 8,554
<LONG-TERM> 26,603 11,253
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 8,149 8,020
<OTHER-SE> 62,834 56,944
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,176,546 856,945
<INTEREST-LOAN> 34,600 24,890
<INTEREST-INVEST> 6,747 3,569
<INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 41,347 28,459
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 23,604 15,954
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,433 16,418
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 16,914 12,041
<LOAN-LOSSES> 2,340 1,554
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 17,399 12,778
<INCOME-PRETAX> 847 229
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,005 1,855
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 2,005 1,855
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.25 0.25
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.24 0.24
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.38 3.49
<LOANS-NON> 5,399 849
<LOANS-PAST> 2,253 969
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 2,456 2,066
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,116 3,636
<CHARGE-OFFS> (1,835) (787)
<RECOVERIES> 235 29
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 5,856 4,432
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 4,553 2,864
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 1,303 1,568