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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 8, 2003

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Commission File Number 0-21923

727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

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(847) 615-4096

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	Item 5. Other Events.
SIGNATURES

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Item 5. Other Events.

     On December 8, 2003, Wintrust Financial Corporation (the “Company”) issued $20 million of floating rate trust preferred securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) in a private placement offering. The Trust Preferred Securities were issued by a newly established subsidiary of the Company, Wintrust Statutory Trust IV. The Trust Preferred Securities have a maturity of 30 years and are redeemable (callable) by the Company in whole or in part at par after five years. Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities are paid quarterly at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 280 basis points. The proceeds of the offering will be primarily used to support the continued growth of the Company.

     The Trust Preferred Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Act or an applicable exemption therefrom.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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
(Registrant)

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