UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                 CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 16, 2003


                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                         Commission File Number 0-21923



         Illinois                                        36-3873352
----------------------------------          ------------------------------------
(State or other Jurisdiction                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    of Incorporation)


                               727 North Bank Lane
                           Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
             -------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (847) 615-4096
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)







ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

On January 16, 2003,  Wintrust Financial  Corporation (the "Company")  announced
earnings for the fourth  quarter of 2002.  Attached as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of
the  press  release  relating  to  the  Company's  earnings  results,  which  is
incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibit

Exhibit 99.1 - 4th Quarter 2002 Earnings Release dated January 16, 2003.








                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)


Date:  January 16, 2003                        /s/ David A. Dykstra
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Senior Executive Vice President &
                                               Chief Operating Officer







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit

  99.1          Press release dated January 16, 2003.