Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 47th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference summary

Growth strategy and market positioning

• Maintains a consistent strategy focused on superior service compared to large banks and better capabilities than smaller banks, primarily in Chicago, Southeast Wisconsin, and West Michigan.

• Growth achieved through disciplined organic expansion and selective acquisitions, with a focus on markets they understand well.

• Aims to remain the leading independent player in the Midwest, with no major aspirations to expand into Texas or California.

• Seeks to increase Chicago deposit market share from 8.5-9% to 10-12% over the next five years.

• Targets mid to high single-digit loan growth, supported by strong pipelines and selective hiring of experienced bankers.

Financial performance and risk management

• Demonstrates consistent performance across key indicators such as net income, tangible book value, and loan/deposit growth over the past decade.

• Maintains pristine credit quality, with non-performing assets and loans in a narrow range and charge-offs averaging about 15 basis points.

• About a third of the balance sheet is insurance-related finance, contributing to strong credit quality and predictable performance.

• Decentralized credit approach with thorough portfolio concentration reviews and selective exposure to private equity and sponsor finance.

• Operates with a neutral net interest margin outlook of 3.50%, supported by hedging strategies and balanced asset mix.

M&A and expansion approach

• Pursues disciplined, concentric acquisitions in familiar markets, with recent success in the Macatawa Bank deal in West Michigan.

• Prefers acquisitions in the $2-10 billion range, with larger deals possible if strategic fit and resource allocation justify.

• Smaller acquisitions are less impactful given current scale, but may be considered for market entry or overlap situations.