UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                 CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 4, 2003


                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                         Commission File Number 0-21923




         Illinois                                       36-3873352
----------------------------                ------------------------------------
(State or other Jurisdiction                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   of Incorporation)


                               727 North Bank Lane
                           Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
             -------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (847) 615-4096
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)






ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On  February 4, 2003,  (effective  as of January 31,  2003)  Wintrust  Financial
Corporation  ("Wintrust") completed the previously announced acquisition of Lake
Forest Capital Management Company ("LFCM"). LFCM is a 21-year old well-respected
asset  manager for both high net worth  individuals  and  institutional  clients
located  primarily in the Chicago  metropolitan  area. LFCM will retain its name
and has been merged into and will operate as a separate division of Wayne Hummer
Asset Management Company, Wintrust's existing asset management subsidiary.

The full  terms of the  transaction  are not  being  disclosed  by the  parties;
however,  the initial  consideration  paid by Wintrust included a combination of
Wintrust's  common stock,  warrants to acquire  Wintrust  common stock and cash.
Wintrust  could pay  additional  contingent  consideration,  consisting  of cash
and/or common stock,  upon the attainment of certain  performance  measures over
the next four  years.  The  common  stock was  issued  at fair  market  value as
determined in  accordance  with the merger  agreement.  The shares issued in the
transaction  will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and will be
restricted until a resale registration  statement is filed, which is expected to
be  completed  in the first  quarter  of 2003,  and  declared  effective  by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibit

February  4, 2003  Press  Release -  Wintrust  Financial  Corporation  Completes
Acquisition of Lake Forest Capital Management Company.


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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)




Date:  February 4, 2003                             /s/ David L. Stoehr
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------


Exhibit
-------

99.1            Press release dated February 4, 2003.


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