Company: WTFCN
Filing Date: 2025-05-09
Form Type: 424B5
Source: 0001104659-25-046769
Chunk: 18

Company: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-05-09
Form: 424B5
Chunk 18
---
 which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations. See also the discussion under the heading “Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.” This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. If any of these risks actually occurs, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of the depositary shares could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to the Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares

You are making an investment decision with regard to the depositary shares as well as the Preferred Stock.

As described in this prospectus supplement, we are issuing fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock in the form of depositary shares. Accordingly, the depositary will rely on the payments it receives on the Preferred Stock to fund all payments on the depositary shares. You should carefully review the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus regarding both of these securities.

The Preferred Stock and the depositary shares representing the Preferred Stock will be rated below investment grade; any reduction in our credit rating could increase the cost of our funding from the capital markets or negatively impact the trading price of the depositary shares.

A major credit rating agency evaluates Wintrust Financial Corporation and its banks, and its ratings are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength and conditions affecting the financial services industry generally. The Preferred Stock and the depositary shares representing the Preferred Stock will not be investment-grade rated, and there can be no assurance that such securities will be rated investment grade in the future or otherwise be upgraded. Further, the Preferred Stock will be subject to a higher risk of price volatility than similar, higher-rated securities. Increases in leverage or deteriorating outlooks for an issuer or volatile markets could lead to significant deterioration in market prices of below-investment grade rated securities, such as the Preferred Stock.

A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any particular security, including the Preferred Stock and the depositary shares representing the Preferred Stock. Ratings do not reflect market prices or suitability of a security for a particular investor and may not reflect all risks related to us, our business or the structure or market value of the Preferred Stock and the depositary shares representing the Preferred Stock. Ratings only reflect the views of the issuing rating agency or agencies, and