Roger Harris Joins St. Charles Bank & Trust Board of Directors

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (April 9, 2010) - St. Charles Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WTFC), is pleased to announce the election of Roger Harris to the Bank's Board of Directors.

Mr. Harris is the owner and President of Producers Chemical Company, which is headquartered in Batavia, IL. Prior to moving to Illinois, he worked for the State of Missouri as Director of Taxation. Mr. Harris is the immediate past Chairman and Board member of the Delnor Community Health System and Delnor Hospital in Geneva, IL. For the past 20 years, he served on the hospital and foundation boards and saw Delnor Hospital grow from two small community hospitals to one award winning, sophisticated health system.

"Roger brings an incredible breadth of knowledge to St. Charles Bank & Trust," said Chairman and CEO Richard Davis. "His acumen, community involvement and leadership will be a great compliment to our Board of Directors as the Bank continues to expand and execute business plans."

Mr. Harris is an active member of the community and currently serves as the Treasurer of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD). He is the past President of the NACD Central Region and the past Chairman of their Government Affairs Committee. He is a current member of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, member and past President of the Geneva Lions Club, member and past Chairman of the Geneva Lions "We Serve" Foundation and former member and past President of the Geneva Golf Club.

"I have followed the progress of the Bank and I am thrilled about the opportunity to join as a Director," said Harris. "The Bank plays an outstanding role in the community and is well poised for continued growth. I look forward to playing a role in its exciting future."

Mr. Harris graduated from the University of Missouri with a business degree and concentration in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant. A resident of Geneva since 1981, he and his wife, Jane, have two children and one grandchild.

About St. Charles Bank & Trust
St. Charles Bank & Trust has two locations at 411 W. Main Street in St. Charles and 2401 Kaneville Rd. in Geneva. Normal business hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 6:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am to12:30 pm. More information can be found online at www.bankstcharles.com. Member FDIC.