Company: WTFCN
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-031671
Chunk: 1

Company: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 1
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 at, the Annual Meeting was the close of business on March 24, 2025. We encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, prompt voting will be appreciated. Scott K. Heitmann is not standing for re-election this year due to the Company’s policy that a director retire at the Annual Meeting following his or her 76th birthday. Edward J. Wehmer, Founder and Senior Advisor of the Company, also is not standing for re-election this year, but he will continue to serve as Founder and Senior Advisor. Messrs. Heitmann and Wehmer have been valued members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) since 2008 and since inception in 1996, respectively, and we ask that you join the Board in thanking Messrs. Heitmann and Wehmer for their time and service as members of the Board. By order of the Board of Directors, Kathleen M. Boege
Corporate Secretary April 3, 2025 WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE BY ONE OF THE METHODS NOTED IN THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT. Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on May 22, 2025: This Notice of the Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and the 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K are Available at: https://materials.proxyvote.com/97650W.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| ​ | About the Meeting                                                                                                                               | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |   1 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Board of Directors, Committees and Governance                                                                                                   | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |   4 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Director Compensation                                                                                                                           | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |  16 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management                                                                       | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |  20 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports                                                                                                                | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |  21 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Related Person Transactions                                                                                                                     | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |  22 | ​ | ​ |
| ​ | Corporate Social Responsibility                                                                                                                 | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ |  23 | ​ |