Company: WTFCN
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001015328-25-000093
Chunk: 207

Company: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 207
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 the market price of our common stock to decline. Additionally, events or circumstances in the capital markets generally may increase our capital costs and impair our ability to raise capital at any given time.

Changes in the United States’ monetary policy may restrict our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner. 

Our ability to profitably operate is dependent, in part, upon federal fiscal policies that cannot be predicted. We are particularly affected by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve, which influence money supply in the United States. Any change in the United States’ monetary policy, or worsening federal budgetary pressures, could affect our access to capital. Additionally, any trend toward inflation, economic decline, destabilizing of financial markets, or other factors beyond our control may significantly affect consumer demand for our products and consumers’ ability to repay loans, reducing our results of operations. 

The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates towards the end of 2024, while maintaining its balance sheet reduction throughout the entire year.  Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's two percent target rate and while the Federal Reserve may seek to 

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further lower interest rates in 2025, the range of potential rate paths will ultimately be driven by inflation data, labor market performance, and economic growth.  It is anticipated the Federal Funds Rate will remain restrictive in the near term.  Sustained higher interest rates and continued Federal Reserve asset reductions may adversely affect market stability, market liquidity, and our financial performance and condition. We cannot predict the nature or timing of future changes in monetary policies, or the precise effects that future changes in monetary policies may have on our activities and financial results.

Legislative and regulatory actions taken now or in the future regarding the financial services industry may significantly increase our costs or limit our ability to conduct our business in a profitable manner.

We are subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. The cost of compliance with such laws and regulations can be substantial and adversely affect our ability to operate profitably. While we are unable to predict the scope or impact of any potential legislation or regulatory action until it becomes final, it is possible that changes in applicable laws, regulations or interpretations thereof could significantly increase our regulatory compliance costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, negatively impact the recoverability of certain of our recorded assets, require us to increase our regulatory capital, interfere with our executive compensation plans, or limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner including our plan for de novo growth and growth through acquisitions.

We are subject to complex and evolving laws,