Wintrust Asset Finance (WAF) achieved the $1 billion milestone in total assets and booked more than $500 million in new loans and lease assets during 2017. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, WAF is an equipment-focused financing group that offers sophisticated loan and lease products to commercial companies throughout the United States. Its focus industries include transportation, construction, manufacturing, energy services, aviation, and turnkey property, plant, and equipment, among others. WAF is a business unit of Wintrust Financial Corporation.

WAF is comprised of the following three business divisions:

• Wintrust Commercial Finance (WCF) is headquartered in Frisco, Texas and focuses on middle and large ticket transactions on both a direct and indirect basis. It generated more than $375 million of new business during the year.
• Wintrust Equipment Finance (WEF) is headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana and focuses on debt discounting and capital markets. It generated in excess of $110 million of new business in 2017.
• Wintrust Capital (WC) is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois and provides equipment financing solutions to bank customers and prospects with an emphasis on affinity programs and technology. It generated approximately $50 million of new business during the year.

“2017 was a tremendous year for the entire WAF team and the achievement of these milestones positions us for continued growth and profitability,” said WAF President Mike Knowles. “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the quality, experienced people we have across the organization and look forward to a strong 2018. We want to thank all of our customers and partners for entrusting their business to us.”

“This year was another solid time of growth and performance for the entire team,” said Kirk Phillips, president and CEO of WCF. “We are pleased with the direction of the business and look forward to achieving future milestones as we build out a best-in-class bank-owned equipment finance and leasing company.”