SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 11-K


                                  ANNUAL REPORT
                          PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


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                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
                        Commission File Number 000-21923



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                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                             RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)


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                         WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               727 NORTH BANK LANE
                              LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
           (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan
               and the address of its principal executive office)
          -------------------------------------------------------------









                              REQUIRED INFORMATION


ITEMS 1-3.  Omitted in accordance with Item 4.

ITEM 4.     The Wintrust Financial Corporation  Retirement Savings Plan ("Plan")
            is subject to the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974,
            as amended  ("ERISA").  In accordance with Item 4 and in lieu of the
            requirements  of Items 1-3, the following Plan financial  statements
            and schedules  prepared in accordance  with the financial  reporting
            requirements of ERISA are included herein:

            |X|         Report of Independent Auditors

            |X|         Statements  of Net Assets  Available  for Benefits as of
                        December 31, 2001 and 2000

            |X|         Statements  of  Changes  in  Net  Assets  Available  for
                        Benefits for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000

            |X|         Notes to Financial Statements

            |X|         Supplemental Schedule

            Statements  of Net Assets  Available for Benefits as of December 31,
            2001 and 2000, and Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for
            Benefits  for the years ended  December 31, 2001 and 2000 are hereby
            incorporated by reference to the Registration  Statement on Form S-8
            filed by Wintrust Financial Corporation (Registration No. 333-52652)
            with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2000.



EXHIBITS
--------

  23.1      Consent of Independent Auditors

                                     - 2 -


                                   SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the trustees (or other persons who  administer  the employee  benefit plan) have
duly  caused this  annual  report to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.




Date:  October 21, 2002                 WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                        RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN




                                        /s/ DAVID A. DYKSTRA
                                        --------------------
                                        David A. Dykstra, Trustee

                                     - 3 -


Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

Years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000
with Report of Independent Auditors

Employer Identification #36-3954651
Plan #001





             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                              Financial Statements
                            and Supplemental Schedule

                     Years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000




                                    CONTENTS

Report of Independent Auditors.................................................1

Financial Statements

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits................................2
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.....................3
Notes to Financial Statements..................................................4


Supplemental Schedule

Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held
   at End of Year).............................................................8





                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Plan Administrator
Wintrust Financial Corporation
   Retirement Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of Wintrust  Financial  Corporation  Retirement  Savings Plan as of December 31,
2001 and 2000, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for
benefits  for  the  years  then  ended.  These  financial   statements  are  the
responsibility  of the Plan's  management.  Our  responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable  assurance about whether the financial  statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial  statements.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by  management,  as well as  evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement
presentation.  We believe  that our audits  provide a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all  material  respects,  the net assets  available  for benefits of the Plan at
December  31,  2001 and 2000,  and the changes in its net assets  available  for
benefits for the years then ended,  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles
generally accepted in the United States.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial
statements taken as a whole. The  accompanying  supplemental  schedule of assets
(held at end of year) as of December  31,  2001,  is  presented  for purposes of
additional  analysis and is not a required part of the financial  statements but
is  supplementary  information  required by the  Department of Labor's Rules and
Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974. This  supplemental  schedule is the  responsibility of the
Plan's management.  The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing
procedures  applied  in our  audits  of the  financial  statements  and,  in our
opinion,  is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial
statements taken as a whole.

                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


August 19, 2002


                                     - 1 -



                                                                                                                      EIN 36-3954651
                                                                                                                           Plan #001

             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits


                                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                             2001              2000
                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                                   
ASSETS
Cash                                                                       $     68,359  $           459
Investments, at fair value                                                    7,295,848        4,944,256
Participant contributions receivable                                              8,939           42,191
Employer matching contributions receivable                                      283,295          123,830
                                                                       ------------------------------------
Total assets                                                                  7,656,441        5,110,736

LIABILITY
Outstanding trades payable                                                       27,417                -
                                                                       ------------------------------------
Net assets available for benefits                                            $7,629,024       $5,110,736
                                                                       ====================================



See notes to financial statements.


                                     - 2 -



                                                                                                                      EIN 36-3954651
                                                                                                                           Plan #001

             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

           Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits


                                                                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                             2001              2000
                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                                       
ADDITIONS
Investment income (loss):
   Net realized and unrealized appreciation
     (depreciation) in fair value of investments                            $   585,701      $  (207,960)
   Interest and dividends                                                        86,098           66,736
                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                                671,799         (141,224)
Participant contributions - salary deferral                                   1,183,662          860,240
Participant contributions - rollover                                            147,190           76,966
Employer matching contributions                                                 282,924          123,830
Transfers from Tricom Funding, Inc.
     401(k) Retirement Savings Plan                                             442,635                -
                                                                       ------------------------------------
Total additions                                                               2,728,210          919,812

DEDUCTIONS
Benefits paid to participants                                                   202,506          605,708
Refund of excess contributions                                                    7,416                -
                                                                       ------------------------------------
Total deductions                                                                209,922          605,708
                                                                       ------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets available for benefits                             2,518,288          314,104
Net assets available for benefits:
   Beginning of year                                                          5,110,736        4,796,632
                                                                       ------------------------------------
   End of year                                                               $7,629,024       $5,110,736
                                                                       ====================================


See notes to financial statements.


                                     - 3 -

                                                                  EIN 36-3954651
                                                                       Plan #001

             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                     Years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000


1.  DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

The following brief description of the Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement
Savings Plan (Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer
to  the  Plan  Agreement  for a more  comprehensive  description  of the  Plan's
provisions.

The  Plan is a  participant-directed,  defined-contribution  plan  covering  all
eligible  employees,  as defined in the Plan, of Wintrust Financial  Corporation
and  its  eligible  subsidiaries  (the  Company).  The  Plan is  subject  to the
provisions of the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA),  as
amended.

All full-time  employees who have  completed at least three months of employment
and are at least 18 years of age are eligible to participate in the Plan.

On January 1, 2001, the Tricom Funding,  Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan was
merged into the Plan.

CONTRIBUTIONS

The Plan  allows for  contributions  by  participants  of up to 10% of  eligible
compensation.  Contributions  are tax-deferred  under the provisions of Internal
Revenue Code (Code) Section 401(k), subject to certain limitations.  Participant
contributions and earnings thereon are fully vested.

The Company may elect to make  matching  contributions  to the Plan on behalf of
all participants.  The Company's  matching  contributions for 2001 and 2000 were
$282,924 and $123,830, respectively.  Participants are immediately vested in the
Company's  matching  contribution and earnings thereon.  For 2001, the Company's
matching  contributions were allocated to participant  accounts at a rate of 30%
of employee  contributions up to a maximum of $2,000 per participant.  For 2000,
the Company's matching contributions were allocated to participant accounts at a
rate of 20% of employee contributions up to a maximum of $1,000 per participant.

                                     - 4 -


             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


1.  DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (CONTINUED)

INVESTMENT OF PLAN ASSETS

A trust fund was  established  for the  purposes of holding and  investing  Plan
assets in accordance with the terms of the Trust  Agreement  between the Company
and the Trustee, Wayne Hummer Trust Company, N. A. (Trustee),  formerly Wintrust
Asset  Management  Company,  N.A.,  a  subsidiary  of the Company and a party in
interest.

PARTICIPANT LOANS

Participants  may borrow from their fund  account up to the lesser of $50,000 or
50%  of  their  account  balance.   Loan  terms  are  established  by  the  plan
administrator  in accordance with the Plan  Agreement.  The loans are secured by
the  balance  in  the  participant's   account  and  bear  interest  at  a  rate
commensurate   with  local   prevailing   rates,   as  determined  by  the  plan
administrator.

PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

Each participant's account is credited with the participant's  contributions and
allocations  of:  (a)  the  Company's  contributions,   if  any,  and  (b)  Plan
earnings/losses.  Allocations  are  based on  participant  earnings  or  account
balances,  as  defined.  The benefit to which a  participant  is entitled is the
benefit that can be provided from the participant's account.

PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant
may  elect  to  receive  either a  lump-sum  amount  equal  to the  value of the
participant's account or annual installments.  For termination of service due to
other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the participant's  account
as a lump-sum distribution.

PLAN TERMINATION

Although  it has not  expressed  any intent to do so, the  Company has the right
under the Plan to  discontinue  its  contributions,  if any,  at any time and to
terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.

                                     - 5 -


             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The  accompanying  financial  statements are prepared under the accrual basis of
accounting.

INVESTMENT VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION

Investments are reported at fair value,  which equals the quoted market price on
the last business day of the Plan year. The shares of mutual funds are valued at
quoted market prices, which represent the net asset values of shares held by the
Plan at  year-end.  Loans to  participants  are  reported  at their  outstanding
balances, which approximate fair value.

Purchases  and sales of  securities  are recorded on a trade-date  basis and are
accounted  for using the  specific  identification  method.  Interest  income is
recorded on the accrual basis.  Dividend  income is recorded on the  ex-dividend
date.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Administrative  expenses  of the Plan are paid from the trust fund to the extent
they are not paid by the Company.  All administrative  expenses were paid by the
Company for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally  accepted in the United States  requires  management to make estimates
and  assumptions  that affect amounts  reported in the financial  statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

                                     - 6 -


             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


3.  INVESTMENTS

The fair value of individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's
net assets available for benefits is as follows:

                                                            DECEMBER 31
                                                       2001             2000
                                               ---------------------------------

Wintrust Financial Corporation Common Stock*       $2,872,816       $1,258,560
Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund                 1,301,797        1,480,324
Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund                       820,753          698,188
Fidelity Spartan Money Market Fund                    674,183          363,573
William Blair Growth Fund                             496,080          447,505
Janus Enterprise Fund                                 489,577          260,064
Fidelity Intermediate Government Fund                 483,344          301,751

     *Indicates party in interest to the Plan.

The Plan's  investments  (including  gains and losses on investments  bought and
sold,  as well as held during the year)  appreciated  (depreciated)  in value as
determined by quoted market prices as follows:

                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                       2001             2000
                                               ---------------------------------

Common stock                                      $ 1,271,669      $    53,260
Mutual funds                                         (685,968)        (261,220)
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                  $   585,701      $  (207,960)
                                               =================================

4.  INCOME TAXES

The Plan has not  received a  determination  letter  from the  Internal  Revenue
Service  stating that the Plan is qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the Code.
However,  the  plan  administrator  believes  that the  Plan is  qualified  and,
therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation.


                                     - 7 -





                              Supplemental Schedule








                                                                                           EIN 36-3954651
                                                                                                Plan #001

             Wintrust Financial Corporation Retirement Savings Plan

                    Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets
                              (Held at End of Year)

                                December 31, 2001

                                                                                             CURRENT
                    DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT                            UNITS/SHARES         VALUE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                     
Short-term investments:
   Fidelity Cash Reserves Fund                                                  4,573      $       4,573
   Fidelity Spartan Money Market Fund                                         674,183            674,183

Common stock:
   Wintrust Financial Corporation*                                             93,975          2,872,816

Mutual funds:
   Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Fund                                         25,896          1,301,797
   Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund                                             10,404            820,753
   William Blair Growth Fund                                                   45,637            496,080
   Janus Enterprise Fund                                                       15,299            489,577
   Fidelity Intermediate Government Fund                                       49,271            483,344

Participant loans (5.0%-9.5%)                                                                    152,725
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                           $   7,295,848
                                                                                        ===================


*Indicates party in interest to the Plan.



                                     - 8 -