Wintrust Financial Corporation announced that its subsidiary Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company has completed its previously announced acquisition of select loans and related relationships from GE Capital Franchise Finance. The loans totaled $554 million at close, down from the previously announced $581 million due to amortization and additional principal payments related to normal course of business activity. The loans are to franchise operators (primarily quick service restaurant concepts) in the Midwest and in the Western portion of the United States.

Wintrust Franchise Finance exclusively serves the needs of franchise operators and franchisors. It has been in existence for 15 years and currently serves more than 100 clients nationwide.

Edward J. Wehmer, President and CEO of Wintrust said, “We are pleased to close this transaction to add not only the loans, but to add a large number of meaningful relationships to our existing franchise finance business. This is a business we know well and we look forward to growing these relationships.”

Wintrust operates fifteen community bank subsidiaries with over 150 banking locations located in the greater Chicago and southern Wisconsin market areas. Additionally, the Company operates various non-bank business units including one of the largest commercial insurance premium finance companies operating in the United States and Canada, a company providing short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, a business unit engaging primarily in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market throughout the United States, and companies providing wealth management services.