Wintrust Financial Corporation

Wintrust, a financial holding company offering community and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage services, has served Chicago's communities since 1991. As a locally-based and local-run company - and a family of true community banks - Wintrust believes in investing in, and giving back to the areas it serves.

Wintrust Leadership

Edward J. Wehmer, Founder & Senior Advisor

Ed Wehmer, along with a few friends, started Wintrust over a card table with some beers and cigars. The idea was to open a bank that would be the alternative to the big banks, and it became a reality in 1991 with the first Wintrust Community Bank location, Lake Forest Bank & Trust. Ed has served as Wintrust’s president and chief operating officer since the company’s official formation in 1996 and as president of Lake Forest Bank & Trust before that. Today, although he’s passed those titles on, he remains involved with the company’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives.

Ed is personally involved with many aspects of the company’s operation, serving as advisory director of Wintrust’s main operating subsidiaries. As a board member and leader, he provides valuable insight into management, operations, and historical context, adding a few “Wehmerisms” along the way.

Outside of Wintrust, Ed serves on the board of directors of Stepan Company (NYSE), a chemical manufacturing and distribution company; director of the Catholic Extension Society; chair of Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation; on the audit committee of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Foundation; as a trustee for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Foundation; and vice chairman of the finance board of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

At his core, Ed is a family man. Along with providing customers with an alternative to the big banks, the impetus for starting a hometown bank was to spend time with his six children. Now grown adults who all live in the Chicagoland area, Ed relishes spending time with his many grandchildren. You can find him hosting family vacations with his wife of over 40 years, Dorothy, musky fishing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, attending Cubs and Brewers games, cheering on the Chicago Bears, golfing with friends and family, and supporting the many different causes close to his heart.

Timothy S. Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tim Crane is President and Chief Executive Officer of Wintrust, a regional banking organization with over $63 billion in assets. His 40-year banking career has touched all facets of retail, commercial, and wealth banking.

Tim joined Wintrust in 2008. During his nearly 16-year career at Wintrust, he has been responsible for a banking business that has grown by over $50 billion in assets. Wintrust’s distinct community bank structure has led to customer satisfaction scores being among the highest in the industry and recognition that includes several J.D. Power (Consumer) and Greenwich (Commercial) banking awards.

Prior to Wintrust, Tim spent 24 years at Bank of Montreal/Harris Bank, culminating in the position of President of Harris Bancorp (BMO’s U.S. operations).

He has his MBA in finance from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana: finance and pre-med). Additionally, he has completed executive leadership programs at the Ivey School in Toronto, Canada, and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Tim is active in the community and banking industry. He currently serves on the boards of Metropolitan Family Services, DePaul University, the Millenium Park Foundation, and ProSight. He is also an active member of The Bankers Club of Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago, and Civic Committee – Commercial Club of Chicago.

David A. Dykstra, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer

Dave Dykstra joined Wintrust in 1995 and assumed the position of vice chairman and chief operating officer in 2020. In this role, Dave provides leadership and mentorship to core critical operational functions, capital planning, acquisitions, investor relations, and other strategic initiatives.

He previously held the title of senior executive vice president and chief operating officer for 18 years and, before that, served as chief financial officer.

Before joining Wintrust, Dave worked for River Forest Bancorp, Inc. for five years, most recently as senior vice president and CFO, and for KPMG LLP for seven years in the banking practice.

Dave earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in accounting, from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

He is active in the community and currently serving as chair of the board of directors for the Community Investment Corporation. This nonprofit organization is a leading source of financing for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing in Chicago neighborhoods and suburban communities. Dave also previously served multiple terms as a trustee of the village he resides in and as a trustee of the village’s police pension fund.

Dave enjoys spending time with his family, attempting to play golf, and being a fan of Chicago sports teams. He resides in the northern suburbs of Chicago with his wife and has one adult child.

Richard B. Murphy, Vice Chairman & Chief Lending Officer

Rich Murphy is a vice chairman of Wintrust and its chief lending officer. He is responsible for all the company’s lending functions and oversees Wintrust Mortgage, FIRST Insurance Funding, and Wintrust Life Finance. Previously, Rich served as Wintrust’s chief credit officer and president of Hinsdale Bank & Trust.

He currently serves on the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s finance committee, is a director of the Big Shoulders Fund, and is involved with After School Matters and the American Writers Museum.

Rich graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and from the University of Loyola Chicago with an MBA..

His hobbies are attending Chicago sporting events and live music concerts, fly fishing, golfing, enjoying his growing family, and spending time at their lake house in Michigan where he hosts numerous family and friends.

Address: 9700 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont, IL 60018, USA

Phone: +1 847 939 9000