Junior Subordinated Debentures (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010
Percentage ownership interest in subsidiary trusts	100.00%
Common securities proportion to junior subordinated debentures	3.00%
Trust preferred securities proportion to junior subordinated debentures	97.00%
Junior subordinated debentures	$ 249,493,000	$ 249,493,000	$ 249,493,000
Subordinated debentures interest rate	6.84%
Interest rate on junior subordinated debentures	6.99%
Interest rate swaps to hedge variable cash flows	$ 175,000,000
Contractual Interest Rate [Member]
Interest rate on junior subordinated debentures	3.46%

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, the carrying value of junior subordinated long-term debt owed to unconsolidated subsidiary trusts as of the balance sheet date. Such debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets and was initially scheduled to be repaid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges. Notional amount refers to the monetary amount specified in the interest rate derivative contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Notional Amount
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Stated interest rate of the subordinated debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 9
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 08
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Common securities proportion to junior subordinated debentures

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wtfc
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Ownership interest percentage in unconsolidated subsidary trusts

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Trust preferred securities proportion to junior subordinated debentures

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant