Company: WTFCN
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-031671
Chunk: 22

Company: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 22
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 are entitled to compensation for such service. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their service on the Board. During its 2023 review of Director compensation, the Nominating Committee considered a director compensation review prepared by Meridian Compensation Partners LLC (“Meridian”), the consultant to the Compensation Committee, which included compensation data for non-employee directors from the Company’s then-current peer group (which is further described in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section of this Proxy Statement). Based on this review of director compensation data (which was based on the most recent proxy statement filed by each member of the Company’s peer group at the time), the Nominating Committee recommended, and the Board determined, to increase the Annual Board Fee Retainer from $140,000 to $160,000 per non-employee Director, effective January 1, 2024. Additionally, it was determined that the 2024 non-employee Director compensation program would be modified in the following respects: (i) elimination of committee meeting attendance fees (other than a meeting attendance fee of $2,000 per meeting (or $1,500 per telephonic/virtual meeting) payable with respect to committee meetings in excess of five committee meeting per year); and (ii) addition of the Annual Committee Fee Retainer of $10,000 per committee served on by each non-employee Director (other than Executive Committee). Annual Board Fee Retainer. In 2024, the Company paid an Annual Board Fee Retainer to non-employee Directors of $160,000. As explained further below, this amount may be paid in cash or in shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Annual Committee Fee Retainer. In 2024, the Company paid an Annual Committee Fee Retainer to non-employee Directors of $10,000 for each committee with respect to which the non-employee Director was a member (other than the Executive Committee). As explained further below, this amount may be paid in cash or in shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Board Meeting Attendance Fees. The Company generally does not pay an attendance fee for meetings of the Board; however, in the event the Company holds more than six Board meetings in one year, non-employee Directors will receive per meeting fees of $2,000 for in-person attendance, or $1,500 for telephonic/ virtual attendance, for each such additional Board meeting the Director attends. Committee Meeting Attendance Fees. The Company generally does not pay an attendance fee for committee meetings; however, in the