Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 85,638	$ 75,183	$ 33,676
Additions from loans sold with servicing retained	71,077	44,943	33,071
Additions from acquisitions	0	408	13,806
Estimate of changes in fair value due to:
Early buyout options ("EBO") exercised	(1,291)	0	0
Payoffs and paydowns	(32,579)	(20,118)	(5,039)
Changes in valuation inputs or assumptions	(30,764)	(14,778)	(331)
Fair value at end of year	92,081	85,638	75,183
Unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans serviced for others	$ 10,833,135	$ 8,243,251	$ 6,545,870

This is the sum of principal amount outstanding for both securitized and unsecuritized loans of all types.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121570589&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrincipalAmountOutstandingOnLoansManagedAndSecuritized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The value of new servicing assets, subsequently measured at fair value, acquired or created during the current period through purchases or from transfers of financial assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116651436&loc=d3e122625-111746

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of an asset representing net future revenue from contractually specified servicing fees, late charges, and other ancillary revenues, in excess of future costs related to servicing arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6469459&loc=d3e122501-111745

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6469459&loc=d3e122492-111745

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116651436&loc=d3e122625-111746

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6469459&loc=d3e122501-111745

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueAmountRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in fair value from changes in the inputs, assumptions, or model used to calculate the fair value of the contract to service financial assets under which the benefits of servicing are expected to more than adequately compensate the servicer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(4)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116651436&loc=d3e122625-111746

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueChangesInFairValueResultingFromChangesInValuationInputsOrChangesInAssumptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueChangesInFairValueResultingFromChangesInValuationInputsOrChangesInAssumptionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease in servicing assets subsequently measured at fair value resulting from conveyance of servicing rights to unrelated parties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116651436&loc=d3e122625-111746

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ServicingAssetAtFairValueDisposals
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Decrease For Early Buyout Option Exercised

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wtfc_ServicingAssetAtFairValueDecreaseForEarlyBuyoutOptionExercised
Namespace Prefix:	wtfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Servicing Assets At Fair Value, Additions From Loans Sold With Servicing Retained

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wtfc_ServicingAssetsAtFairValueAdditionsFromLoansSoldWithServicingRetained
Namespace Prefix:	wtfc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration