<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the annual
audited financial statements of Wintrust Financial Corporation for the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001015328
<NAME> WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997
<CASH> 33,924 32,158
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 7,863 85,100
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 18,539 60,836
<TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 209,119 101,934
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 5,000 5,001
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 5,001 4,964
<LOANS> 992,062 712,631
<ALLOWANCE> 7,034 5,116
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,348,048 1,053,400
<DEPOSITS> 1,229,154 917,701
<SHORT-TERM> 0 55,895
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 12,639 11,014
<LONG-TERM> 31,050 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 8,150 8,118
<OTHER-SE> 67,055 60,672
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,348,048 1,053,400
<INTEREST-LOAN> 75,369 56,066
<INTEREST-INVEST> 12,610 9,045
<INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 87,979 65,111
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 49,069 37,375
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 51,215 38,339
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 36,764 26,772
<LOAN-LOSSES> 4,297 3,404
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 111
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 35,833 27,254
<INCOME-PRETAX> 4,709 1,058
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 6,245 4,846
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 6,245 4,846
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.77 0.62
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.74 0.60
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.43 3.41
<LOANS-NON> 3,137 2,440
<LOANS-PAST> 2,288 1,766
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,143 7,200
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,116 3,636
<CHARGE-OFFS> (2,737) (2,115)
<RECOVERIES> 358 191
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 7,034 5,116
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,225 3,712
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 809 1,404