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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WjdQIBmCjVViXsuX4AvkZVvQo6EXSO+Mxf6P0+Z6w0AuJyCj6eeQdhQe7AtfCFVc
 INsizXPsOc+qBMsc8ERLPQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000913849-06-000108.txt : 20060130
<SEC-HEADER>0000913849-06-000108.hdr.sgml : 20060130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060130191250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000913849-06-000108
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DYKSTRA DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244276

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21923
		FILM NUMBER:		06563557

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
		STREET 2:		C/O VEDDER PRICE 222 N LASALLE ST
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015328
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				363873352
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		727 N BANK LANE
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8476154096

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		727 N BANK LN
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001015328</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(WTFC)</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244276</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DYKSTRA DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>514 SHOSHONI TRAIL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE VILLA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60046</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior EVP and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38809</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>134337</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares represent Restricted Stock Units granted under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan with vesting provisions as follows:

3,809 shares become fully vested one year from the date of grant and will be converted into unrestricted shares of Common Stock within 40 days subsequent to the vesting date.

35,000 shares represent Restricted Stock Units granted under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan with the shares becoming fully vested four years from the date of grant and the vested shares related thereto will be distributed on the January 15 following the taxable year of the Company in which Mr. Dykstra's employment is terminated or at such other time as a loss of a deduction under IRS Code Section 162(m) is avoided.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David A. Dykstra</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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