An investigation on behalf of current investors of Wintrust Financial Corporation (Public, NASDAQ: WTFC) over possible shareholder claims concerning breaches of fiduciary duty related to the historical and potential compensation that was awarded certain senior officers was announced.

According to the investigation by a law firm the investigation focuses on possible claims that certain Wintrust Financial Corporations senior officers were unjustly enriched through their receipt of unwarranted, excessive or unearned compensation from 2005-2007. Wintrust Financial Corporation is a financial holding company based in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Company engages in the business of providing traditional community banking services, wealth management services, commercial insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing, and certain administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services.

Certain senior officers at Wintrust Financial Corp., were awarded salaries, bonuses, stock options and other forms of long-term, incentive or retirement compensation that was, so the investigation, excessive or unwarranted based on the Wintrust Financials performance as compared to what senior officers at comparable companies were making and/or results that were fraudulent, misleading or not long-lasting. The investigation by the law firm is also investigating claims that the prior compensation awarded at Wintrust Financial Corporation is now clearly improper based upon its current operating condition. Finally the investigation focuses also on possible claims that would allow Wintrust Financial Corporation (Public, NASDAQ: WTFC) stockholders to influence or control future compensation decisions at Wintrust Financial. Wintrust Financial Corp. is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and had $10.658billion in total assets with an net income of $20.49million in 2008. Shares of Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WTFC) traded recently at $13.10 per share, down from over $37 per share in 2008.