Document:

GORDON McBRIDE

                                 ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

606 WEST CAROLINA AVENUE                                      TELEPHONE
POST OFFICE BOX 2555                                          (843) 339-9001
HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29551                              FAX (843) 339-9006

                                October 26, 2000

Curtis Tyner
Hartsville Community Bank
644 S. Fourth St.
Hartsville, S.C. 29550

Dear Curtis:

         This will confirm our conversations  concerning the fact that the lease
on the  building on Fourth  Street  expires at the end of this  month.  It is my
understanding  you wish to renew  the lease on a month to month  basis.  That is
acceptable  to me  with  the  understanding  the  Bank  will  give  me at  least
forty-five (45) days prior written  notice.  I calculate the increase and note a
five percent increase would raise the monthly rate to $987.00.

         It is  understood  the rent will be $985.00  per month for the  ensuing
term.  If this meets with your  approval,  please  indicate that on the enclosed
copy of this letter and return it to me.

         In the event you have any question or you wish to discuss the matter in
any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

                                                     Warm personal regards,

                                                     s/Gordon McBride
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                      Gordon McBride

GM/sf
Enclosure

I agree to the above terms.

s/Curtis Tyner
--------------------------------------------
Curtis Tyner

<PAGE>

                                 GORDON MCBRIDE

                                 ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

424 WEST CAROLINA AVENUE
POST OFFICE BOX 2555                                             TELEPHONE
HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29551                                 (843) 339-900

                                November 23, 1999

Curtis Tyner
Hartsville Community Bank
644 S. Fourth St.
Hartsville, S.C. 29550

Dear Curtis:

         This will confirm our recent conversations  concerning the lease of the
building at 644 S. Fourth  Street by the  Hartsville  Community  Bank.  You will
recall  the lease  expired  on  October  31 and you  indicated  orally  that you
intended to renew it for at least the coming year.

         In accordance  with the provisions of the lease it is understood that a
maximum increase in rent of five percent would be possible.  However,  you and I
agreed that the rent for the coming year,  commencing on December 1, 1999, would
be Nine Hundred Forty Dollars ($940.00).  If this agrees with your understanding
of the renewal and current situation, please so indicate on the enclosed copy of
this correspondence.

                                                     Warm personal regards,

                                                     s/Gordon McBride
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Gordon McBride

GM/sf

<PAGE>

                                                      P.O. Box 2555
                                                      Hartsville, S.C. 29551
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA    )
                           )                          LEASE
COUNTY OF DARLINGTON       )

         Agreement of lease made as of this 23rd day of October,  1998,  between
C. Gordon McBride  (hereinafter  designated  Landlord) and Hartsville  Community
Investors, LLC (hereinafter designated Tenant).

         Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from Landlord
these  premises  located upon the terms and  conditions  as herein set forth and
described hereinbelow.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  parties  hereto  for  themselves,  their  heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns, hereby covenant as follows:

         PREMISES.  Landlord,  for and in consideration of the rents hereinafter
provided for and the  covenants,  conditions  and  agreements  herein  reserved,
mentioned  and  contained  on the  part  of the  Tenant  to be  paid,  kept  and
performed,  does hereby  lease to the Tenant and Tenant  does hereby  lease from
Landlord,  upon the conditions,  agreements and covenants herein expressed,  the
following property  (hereinafter  called Premises),  to wit: the ground floor of
the building  located on the northwest  corner of the  intersection of S. Fourth
Street and Berkeley Avenue in the City of Hartsville, South Carolina.

         TERM.  The term of this Lease shall  commence on,  November 1, 1998 and
shall extend until, October 31, 1999 unless terminated sooner in accordance with
the provisions hereinafter contained;  provided,  however, Tenant shall have the
right to extend this lease upon ninety (90) days written notice to Landlord.

         RENT.  Tenant  covenants  and agrees to pay to the Landlord as rent for
the premises during the term hereof an annual rent of Ten Thousand Eight Hundred
and No/100  ($10,800.00)  payable in equal monthly  installments of Nine Hundred
and No/100  ($900.00)  Dollars  payable in advance on or before the first day of
each month.  Upon  termination of the term of this lease,  the Tenant shall have
the option to renew this Lease for two  successive  terms of one (1) year if the
Tenant is not in default at the time the option is to be  exercised.  The option
will be  exercised  by written  notice to the Landlord to be given not less than
three (3) months prior to the last day of the expiring  term.  The rent for each
succeeding  renewal  term shall be  negotiated  at the time notice of renewal is
given.

         REPAIRS.  Landlord  reserves  the right to stop the  service of the air
conditioning, sprinkler system, plumbing and electric systems when necessary, by
reason of accident, or of repairs, alterations or improvements,  when reasonably
desirable  or  necessary  to  be  made  until  such  repairs,   alterations   or
improvements  shall have been  completed.  The Tenant  shall pay all utility and
maintenance  costs  on the  interior  of said  Premises  and  Landlord  shall be
responsible for maintenance of the roof and exterior walls.

         QUIET  ENJOYMENT.  Landlord  covenants and agrees with Tenant that upon
Tenant  paying the rent and observing and  performing  the terms,  covenants and
conditions on Tenant's part to be observed and performed  Tenant shall peaceably
and quietly enjoy the Premises hereby  demised,  subject,  nevertheless,  to the
terms and conditions of this Lease.

         IMPROVEMENTS.  Tenant  shall not have the right to display or erect any
lettering,  signs,  advertisements  or awnings or to do any  boring,  cutting or
stringing of wires or make any improvements without the prior written permission
of  Landlord.  All  additions  or  improvements,   except  reasonably  removable
fixtures,  shall  become  the  property  of the  Landlord,  at the option of the
Landlord to require that they be removed by the Tenant at Tenant's expense.

<PAGE>

         CONDUCT OF TENANT.  Tenant shall not do or permit to be done any act or
thing upon said Premises, which will invalidate or be in conflict with insurance
policies  covering any building  which is a part of the Premises,  and shall not
do, or permit  to be done,  any act or thing  upon  said  Premises  which  shall
subject Landlord to any liability or responsibility  for injury to any person or
persons or to property by reason of any business or operation  being  carried on
upon said Premises; nor shall Tenant use the Premises for any purpose whatsoever
which might  create a nuisance or injure the  reputation  of the  Premises;  nor
shall Tenant permit the illegal use of alcohol or drugs in the Premises.

         INSURANCE.  Tenant shall be responsible  for all contents and liability
insurance and Landlord shall be responsible for insurance on the building.

         DAMAGE TO PREMISES. If the Premises or the building of which they are a
part are so damaged  that they are  untenantable  for conduct of the business of
Tenant or the Landlord shall decide to demolish it and/or rebuild it, then or in
any of such events  Landlord or Tenant may,  within  thirty (30) days after such
fire or any other cause, give the other party hereto a notice in writing of such
decision,  thereupon  the term of this Lease shall  expire by lapse of time upon
the third day after such notice is given,  and Tenant  shall vacate the Premises
and surrender the same to the Landlord.  In the event the Premises are partially
damaged, then the rent payable hereunder shall be prorated in the proportion the
useable space after such damage bears to the original space of the Premises.

         SUBLEASE  AND  ASSIGN.  Tenant  shall  not have the  right to assign or
sublease all or any portion of the Premises without the prior written consent of
Landlord which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         INDEMNIFICATION.  Tenant hereby agrees to be solely responsible for, to
defend and indemnify,  and to hold Landlord  harmless from any liability claims,
demands,  causes of action, or damages,  including  reasonable  attorney's fees,
arising out of actions  and/or  business  of the Tenant.  Tenant will obtain and
maintain liability insurance providing  protection for Landlord as named insured
in amounts of coverage specified below, against any claims, demands or causes of
action or damages,  including  reasonable  attorney's  fees,  arising out of any
alleged  acts of  commission  or  omission or any cause  whatsoever  by Tenant's
business.  Such  insurance  policy shall  provide  that  Landlord be named as an
additional insured and that it may not be cancelled without at least thirty (30)
days written  notice to Landlord  which shall be furnished with a certificate of
such  insurance.  Tenant  agrees that such  insurance  policy or policies  shall
provide coverage of One Million and No/100 ($1,000,000.00)  Dollars for personal
injuries  arising out of each occurrence and coverage  thereunder of One Hundred
Thousand and No/l00  ($100,000.00)  Dollars for property  damage  arising out of
each occurrence.

         NO JOINT VENTURE OR  ENDORSEMENT  OF TENANT.  Nothing in this agreement
shall be construed to place the parties in the relationship of partners or joint
ventures or agents,  and  neither  Tenant nor  Landlord  shall have the power to
obligate  or bind each other in any manner  whatsoever,  and  Landlord in no way
represents itself as guarantor of the quality of any product or service provided
by Tenant.  Tenant agrees that it will neither state nor imply,  either directly
or indirectly  that the Tenant,  or his activities  are  supported,  endorsed or
sponsored by Landlord and,  upon the direction of Landlord,  shall issue express
disclaimers to that effect.

         ENTRY.  Landlord or Landlord's agents shall have the right to enter the
Premises at all  reasonable  times during  normal  business  hours or by special
arrangement  with a  representative  of  Tenant;  provided,  there  shall  be no
substantial inconvenience to the business of Tenant.

         HEIRS,  EXECUTORS,  ETC.  The  covenants,   conditions  and  agreements
contained  in this Lease  shall bind and inure to the  benefit of  Landlord  and
Tenant and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and assigns.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Landlord and Tenant have  respectively  signed
and sealed this Lease on the day and in the year first above written.

                              [Signatures Omitted]

<PAGE>

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA    )
                           )
COUNTY OF DARLINGTON       )

                                ADDENDUM TO LEASE

         WHEREAS,  an Agreement of Lease was executed October 23, 1998,  between
C. Gordon McBride (designated Landlord), and Hartsville Community Investors, LLC
(designated Tenant);

         AND  WHEREAS,  it has come to the  attention  of the parties that it is
necessary  for  certain   provisions  in  the  Lease  to  meet  Federal  Banking
Regulations;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the said Lease is amendended as follows:

         RENT:    Add at the end of the paragraph the following:
         "Provided,  however,  the Tenant shall have the right to terminate  the
Lease during any renewed term upon three months written notice to Landlord.  The
rent for any renewal  term shall not exceed an increase or decrease of more than
five percent."

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Landlord and Tenant have  respectfully  signed
and sealed this Addendum to Lease on the 3rd day of February, 1999.

                              [Signatures Omitted]FIFTH AMENDMENT TO
                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS FIFTH  AMENDMENT  TO LOAN  AGREEMENT  dated as of August 30,  2000
(this  "Amendment"),  is between  WINTRUST  FINANCIAL  CORPORATION,  an Illinois
corporation (the "Borrower"),  and LASALLE BANK NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  formerly
known as, LASALLE NATIONAL BANK, a national banking association (the "Bank").

                                    RECITALS

         A.       the Borrower and the Bank entered into a Loan Agreement  dated
as of August 30, 1996,  as amended by a First  Amendment  thereto dated March 1,
1997, a Second Amendment  thereto dated August 30, 1997, a Third Amendment dated
August 30, 1998 and a Third Amendment dated August 30, 1999  (collectively,  the
"Agreement"); and

         B.       the  Borrower  and the Bank desire to amend the  Agreement  as
more fully described herein.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and other good and
valuable   consideration,   the  receipt  and   adequacy  of  which  are  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.       DEFINITIONS.   All  capitalized   terms  used  herein  without
definition shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.

         2.       AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT.

                  2.1 AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3(A) OF THE  AGREEMENT.  Section 3(a)
                      -------------------------------------------   ------------
of the  Agreement is amended by deleting the first  paragraph of Section 3(a) in
its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

                  "(a) Interest accruing at the Prime Rate (hereinafter defined)
         on amounts  outstanding under the Note shall be payable  quarterly,  in
         arrears, commencing on December 1, 2000 and continuing on the first day
         of each March, June, September and December thereafter. A final payment
         of all  outstanding  amounts  due  under  the Note  including,  but not
         limited to principal,  interest and any amounts owing under  Subsection
         10(m)  of this  Agreement,  if not  payable  earlier,  shall be due and
         payable on August 29, 2001 (the  "Maturity  Date").  Accrued and unpaid
         interest on the unpaid  principal  balance of all advances  outstanding
         from time to time which are LIBOR (hereinafter  defined) advances shall
         be  payable  on  the  last  business  day  of  each   Interest   Period
         (hereinafter defined), commencing on the first such date to occur after
         the date  hereof,  on the date of any  principal  repayment  of a LIBOR
         advance and on the Maturity  Date.  The amounts  outstanding  under the
         Note from time to time shall  bear  interest  calculated  on the actual
         number of days elapsed on the basis of a 360 day year, at a rate equal,
         at the Borrower's

<PAGE>
         option, to either (a) the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus
         125 basis points, or (b) the Prime Rate (whichever rate is so selected,
         the "Interest Rate")."

                  2.2      AMENDMENT   TO  SECTION  7(E)  Section  7(e)  of  the
                           -----------------------------
Agreement is amended by deleting it in its entirety and  inserting the following
in lieu thereof:

                  "(e) Cause the Borrower,  on a consolidated basis, to maintain
         tangible equity capital of no less than  $80,000,000.  For the purposes
         of this Section 7(e),  "tangible  equity capital" shall mean the sum of
         the  common  stock,  surplus  and  retained  earning  accounts  of  the
         Borrower, reduced by the amount of any goodwill".

         3.       WARRANTIES.  To induce the Bank to enter into this  Amendment,
the Borrower warrants that:

                  3.1 AUTHORIZATION.  The Borrower is duly authorized to execute
                      -------------
and deliver this  Amendment  and is and will  continue to be duly  authorized to
borrow  monies  under the  Agreement,  as amended  hereby,  and to  perform  its
obligations under the Agreement, as amended hereby.

                  3.2 NO CONFLICTS. The execution and delivery of this Amendment
                      ------------
and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations  under the Agreement,  as
amended hereby, do not and will not conflict with any provision of law or of the
charter  or  by-laws  of the  Borrower  or of any  agreement  binding  upon  the
Borrower.

                  3.3 VALIDITY AND BINDING  EFFECT.  The  Agreement,  as amended
                      ----------------------------
hereby, is a legal,  valid and binding  obligation of the Borrower,  enforceable
against the Borrower in accordance with its terms,  except as enforceability may
be  limited  by  bankruptcy,   insolvency  or  other  similar  laws  of  general
application  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  or by  general
principles of equity limiting the availability of equitable remedies.

                  3.4 NO  DEFAULT.  As of the date  hereof,  no Event of Default
                      ------------
under  Section 9 of the  Agreement,  as amended by this  Amendment,  or event or
condition  which,  with the  giving  of  notice or the  passage  of time,  shall
constitute an Event of Default, has occurred or is continuing.

                  3.5 WARRANTIES. As of the date hereof, the representations and
                      ----------
warranties  in Section 5 of the Agreement are true and correct as though made on
such date,  except  for such  changes as are  specifically  permitted  under the
Agreement.

         4.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. This Amendment shall become effective as
of the date above  first  written  after  receipt  by the Bank of the  following
documents:

                  (a)      This Amendment duly executed by the Borrower;

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
                  (b)      A  Replacement  Revolving  Note in the form  attached
                           hereto as Exhibit A-5, duly executed by the Borrower;
                  (c)      A Second Amendment to Pledge and Security Agreement;
                  (d)      An  Amended  and  Restated   Collateral   Safekeeping
                           Agreement; and
                  (e)      Such  other  documents  and  instruments  as the Bank
                           reasonably requests.

         5.       GENERAL.

                  5.1      LAW. This Amendment  shall be construed in accordance
                           ---
with and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

                  5.2      SUCCESSORS.  This Amendment shall be binding upon the
                           ----------
Borrower and the Bank and their  respective  successors  and assigns,  and shall
inure  to the  benefit  of the  Borrower  and  the  Bank  and  their  respective
successors and assigns.

                  5.3      CONFIRMATION  OF THE  AGREEMENT.  Except  as  amended
                           -------------------------------ss
hereby,  the  Agreement  shall  remain in full  force and  effect  and is hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                 WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By:                                            By: /s/ David A. Dykstra
    --------------------------------------         -----------------------------

Its:                                           Its:Excutive Vice President & CFO
    --------------------------------------         -----------------------------

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>

              EXHIBIT A-5 TO THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT
              ----------------------------------------------------

                           REPLACEMENT REVOLVING NOTE

$40,000,000                                               Dated: August 30, 2000

         FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,   WINTRUST  FINANCIAL  CORPORATION,  an  Illinois
corporation (the "Maker")  promises to pay to the order of LASALLE BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,  a national  banking  association  (the  "Bank") the lesser of: the
principal sum of FORTY MILLION DOLLARS  ($40,000,000),  or the aggregate  unpaid
principal amount  outstanding under the Loan Agreement dated August 30, 1996 (as
amended from time to time, the "Loan Agreement")  between the Bank and the Maker
at the  maturity  or  maturities  and in the  amount or amounts as stated on the
records of the Bank together  with interest  (computed on actual days elapsed on
the  basis  of a 360 day  year)  on any and all  principal  amounts  outstanding
hereunder from time to time from the date hereof until maturity.  Interest shall
be  payable  at the  rates  of  interest  and the  times  set  forth in the Loan
Agreement.  In no event shall any  principal  amount have a maturity  later than
August 30, 2001.

         This Note shall be available for direct advances.

         Principal  and interest  shall be paid to the Bank at its office at 135
South LaSalle  Street,  Chicago,  Illinois  60603, or at such other place as the
holder of this Note may  designate  in writing  to the  Maker.  This Note may be
prepaid in whole or in part as provided for in the Loan Agreement.

         This Note evidences indebtedness incurred under the Loan Agreement,  to
which reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions under
which the due date of the Note or any payment  thereon may be  accelerated.  The
holder of this Note is entitled to all of the benefits  provided for in the Loan
Agreement.

         The Maker agrees that in action or proceeding  instituted to collect or
enforce  collection  of this Note,  the amount on the  Bank's  records  shall be
conclusive  and  binding  evidence,  absent  demonstrable  error,  of the unpaid
principal balance of this Note.

         This Note is in replacement and substitution of, but not repayment for,
a Revolving Note of the Borrower  dated August 30, 1999 in the principal  amount
of $40,000,000 and is in no way intended to constitute a novation therefor.

                              WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                              By:
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                              Its:
                                  ----------------------------------------------

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>

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