Wintrust: Building relationships, Building Chicago

Wintrust first began as a conversation with friends over a game of cards and cigars. Founder Ed Wehmer wanted to create a community-focused, local bank that could compete with the bigger banks of the time. In 1991, his idea became reality with the opening of Lake Forest Bank & Trust, the first Wintrust Community Bank location.

Today, Wintrust has grown to include 15 charters operating in 175 locations, all built on a simple foundation of “Building relationships, building Chicago.” Over 30+ years, the company has aligned itself with sme of the city’s most iconic brands to be known as Chicago’s bank.

“Our philosophy really hasn’t changed since day one: That personal touch, knowing your customer, knowing the town that you’re serving and working with them to make their lives better,” Wehmer said in a video on the company’s website. “Your bank shouldn’t be a pain to you. Your bank should make your life easier. That’s what we do.” 

From personal banking and wealth management solutions to business banking, lending and specialty services, Wintrust offers the scalability and resources of a large financial institution with the personal attention you’d expect from a smaller, local establishment. Through the years, various specialty business lines have been implemented — including the Construction, Engineering and Architecture (CE&A) division in 2014 — to better serve the unique needs of construction firms across all industries.

Matt Doucet is President of the eight-person CE&A team who specializes in banking for the construction industry, including general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and engineering and architecture firms. His team supports more than 300 contractors across the U.S. with more than $1.25 billion in committed capital. These experts are equipped to partner with mid to large market companies with an eye toward growth.

“The nice thing is they don’t have to explain their business to us,” Doucet continued. “For each client, we really try to learn and understand their nuances so we’re not broad brushing the industry and putting everyone into one category. Not every contractor is the same. As their bank, we work to understand the challenges they face and mold solutions that match their business.”

With an entire construction generation on the verge of retirement, the topic of ownership transition has trended upwards in recent years. While some business owners have a solid succession plan in place, others may still be looking for a sustainable transition option. Doucet recommends the Wintrust ESOP Finance team to start a conversation surrounding an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. An ESOP can provide a strategic solution to transfer business ownership while satisfying an owner’s goal for monetizing their business interests, and at the same time providing future ownership to existing employees.

“We have a unique delivery model and a proactive approach,” he said. “As your banking partner, we take every opportunity to look at what you needed yesterday, what you need today and what you’ll need tomorrow and strategize to provide a tailored solution for your business.”

Strong relationship development and customer service are among the hallmarks of working the with Wintrust team. Built on the values of commitment and service to their communities, they’re also proud to invest back in the many neighborhoods that make up “the quilt of Chicago.”

“Philanthropic participation is a huge part of our culture at the bank, and we have a Community Impact team that’s solely focused on community engagement and making sure our money is spent wisely to maximize community impact,” Doucet said. “We truly believe in the communities we operate in.”