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Edward Wehmer

Founder, Senior Advisor & Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation

Search every verified Edward Wehmer interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Edward J. Wehmer, founder and CEO of Wintrust Financial Corporation, has been recognized for his contributions to the Chicago area. In October 2022, he was honored as the 2022 Local Legend by the History Center of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, where he discussed the founding of Wintrust and its community-focused approach. In October 2020, he received the Cyrus McCormick Making History Award for Historic Corporate Achievement from the Chicago History Museum, which highlighted Wintrust's growth to over 180 locations and its distribution of 12,000 PPP loans during the pandemic. In public appearances, Wehmer has spoken about Wintrust's origins, describing how he started the bank in 1991 with a business plan developed over a case of beer and a box of cigars, and has emphasized the importance of a "high touch" community banking model as an alternative to large banks. He has also commented on industry topics, including cryptocurrency, which he has compared to tulips in Holland and described as lacking the backing of a country's full faith and credit. In discussions about banking risks, he has stated that the fundamental risks have not changed since the Medici era and has cited Wintrust's decision to pull back in 2006 as evidence of its adherence to established policies.

Recent appearances

  • 2022 Local Legends Honoring Ed Wehmer

    November 01, 2022 · 📺 History Center Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

    Local Legends presented by Annie and Greg Jones, Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, and Westminster Capital Each year, the History Center presents a new Local Legend, honoring someone who has contributed significantly to our community and the world. This year we are proud to celebrate Edward J. Wehmer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Financial Corporation, as our 2022 award recipient, marking our thirteenth Local Legend. Ed will be interviewed by WGN Morning News Anchor and award-winning journalist, Larry Potash. The setting is an intimate interview that encourages the sharing…

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  • Ed Wehmer, CEO of Wintrust, Chicago CEOs Series

    June 30, 2022 · 📺 Executive House

    The CEO Series is an original content series produced by Salvi. Each episode profiles a business leader and their respective business. The series provides a humanizing look into the CEOs personal story, mindset and their business and industry. Ed Wehmer shares the unconventional founding story of Wintrust, his views on leadership, cryptocurrency, and the importance of staying future-focused. Includes insight into doing business in Chicago and lessons from building a $50B+ bank from scratch. We’ve worked with some great business leaders on The CEO Series: Motorola Solutions, Cameo, Grubhub,…

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  • The Future of the Banking Industry with Ed Wehmer, CEO of Wintrust

    May 02, 2021 · 📺 Junior Economic Club of Chicago

    On April 10, 2021, Ed Wehmer discussed his experiences as CEO (and former president) of Wintrust Bank, giving his insight into management and the secret to success. Wehmer began by describing his successes and failures when he was young, and later recounting the opportunities he seized. After, Wehmer gives some historic context into the Wintrust bank and the aspects of the bank which made it successful, particularly its philanthropic focus. Wehmer declared the success of Wintrust to be due to their unique customer-oriented attitude. For the last half of Wehmer’s presentation, he went over earn…

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  • Distinguished Speaker Series: Ed Wehmer

    November 06, 2020 · 📺 CFA Society Chicago

    On November 4, 2020, Edward J. Wehmer, CEO & founder of Wintrust, joined CFA Society to discuss the banking world and challenges related to COVID-19, including slowing loan growth (comparing residential vs commercial), defaults and subsequent increase of loan loss provisions. Wehmer also discussed growing the bank organically, Wintrust's marketing strategy and his outlook for community banks.

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  • 2020 Making History Awards - Edward J. Wehmer Presentation

    October 11, 2020 · 📺 ChicagoHistoryMuseum

    Wintrust Founder & CEO Edward J. Wehmer receives The Cyrus McCormick Making History Award for Historic Corporate Achievement. Presented by Matthew Walsh. Originally aired October 6, 2020. Every year the Making History Awards celebrates prominent Chicagoans who have made the city a better place to live. This event also provides critical funding support to the Museum for conservation work, educational outreach, exhibitions, and public programs every year. To learn more or support, please visit www.chicagohistory.org/mha.

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  • A Conversation With Tom Ricketts and Ed Wehmer

    August 25, 2020 · 📺 Chicago Innovation

    Tom Ricketts (Chairman of the Chicago Cubs) and Ed Wehmer (CEO of Wintrust) talk baseball in this candid conversation presented by Wintrust and hosted in partnership with Chicago Innovation

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  • Wintrust Financial Corporation WTFC CEO Edward Wehmer on Q4 2019 Results

    January 22, 2020 · 📺 Daily Earnings Calls

    Welcome to win trust financial corporations fourth quarter and near today's 2019 earnings conference call at the sign a participant ...

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  • Exchange 2018 Panel: The Business of Entertainment & Culture

    April 20, 2018 · 📺 ChicagolandChamber

    On April 18, 2018 a panel of industry and business leaders at the Chicagoland Chamber's 2018 Exchange at Wintrust Arena discussed "The Business of Entertainment and Culture" and all it means for the Chicago region's current and future economy. The panelists are: Marilynn Kelly Gardner, Navy Pier President & CEO Mark Kelly, City of Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Alex Pissios, Cinespace Chicago Film Studio CEO Ed Wehmer, Wintrust Financial President & CEO The panel moderator is Ryan Chiaverini of ABC 7's "Windy City Live." Thank you to our 2018 Exchange Panel Spons…

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  • The BAN Interview with Ed Wehmer, CEO of Wintrust

    March 07, 2013 · 📺 JonWinick

    We interviewed Ed Wehmer, CEO of Wintrust Financial Corporation, a $17.5 billion community bank in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Ed is a colorful spokesman for community banking today and his bank has done 18 bank acquisitions since 2003. Our interview covered a number of topics relevant to bankers today.

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The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →