Fourth-quarter profits at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., climbed 65% to $54.6 million from a year earlier, helped largely by acquisitions and increases in mortgage banking and other fee income.
The $25 billion-asset Wintrust bought the $172 million-asset First Community Financial in November, after closing on the acquisitions of Generations Bancorp and $554 million of loans from GE Capital Franchise Finance earlier in the year.
CEO Ed Wehmer in a news release cited the fourth-quarter boost provided by the addition of First Community in Elgin, Ill., but he said other positive contributors were "continued deposit growth, strong performance from our mortgage banking activities [and] stable credit quality metrics."
Noninterest income was $85.3 million, up 24%. Mortgage banking income was $35.49 million, up from $23.3 million.
Net interest income increased 14% to $190.8 million. Total loans — excluding loans held for sale and covered loans — rose 15% to $19.7 billion. That growth was spurred by the 27% growth in commercial loans. Home equity loans and other consumer loans were down 8% and 17%, respectively.
The net interest margin fell 5 basis points to 3.21%.
Wintrust set aside 14% more for loan losses, or $124 million.
Noninterest expenses rose 8% to $180.37 million.
