Increases in salaries and employee benefits were primarily due to annual merit increases that were offset by lower ORO expenses, travel and entertainment, and various other small expense decreases.

Apr 21, 2026 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, other | earnings call 2026-04-21 | transcript 4c26aee4-5c26-4973-b4ab-ec0e1df3ad99 | chars 6794-6991 | segment 7

Increases in employees' health insurance claims, OREO expenses, travel and entertainment, and various other small expense increases were offset somewhat by seasonally lower marketing costs.

Jan 21, 2026 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, other | earnings call 2026-01-21 | transcript b6c853c5-4fce-4ae4-95fb-24659232f2e1 | chars 6720-6909 | segment 6

Relative to the prior quarter, the company experienced a seasonal decline in travel and entertainment expenses, as well as lower levels of professional fees due to a reduced level of project-related consulting fees and slightly lower marketing costs.

Apr 22, 2025 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, CFO | earnings call 2025-04-22 | transcript 859f9bc0-f78c-4051-832a-6edaf4f8625a | chars 7482-7732 | segment 7

A seasonal decline in advertising and marketing expenses and travel and entertainment expenses were offset by higher levels of other real estate-owned expenses and a variety of other relatively small increases from the prior quarter.

Apr 18, 2024 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, other | earnings call 2024-04-18 | transcript 9fc8962b-a855-43e3-9466-688cd62d2290 | chars 11119-11352 | segment 11

The seasonal decline in advertising and marketing expenses and travel and entertainment expenses were offset by higher levels of other real estate-owned expenses and a variety of other relatively small increases from the prior quarter.

Apr 18, 2024 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, CFO | earnings call 2024-04-18 | transcript 9fc8962b-a855-43e3-9466-688cd62d2290 | chars 60106-60341 | segment 61

And travel and entertainment expenses increased by $1.2 million over the prior quarter as the work environment continues to revert back to pre-pandemic business customs and relationship managers are able to engage more routinely with clients and potential clients. We consider the travel and entertainment activity is important to maintaining the strong loan growth that we've been achieving in the recent quarters.

Jul 21, 2022 / receipt, needs a key / Dave Dykstra, other | earnings call 2022-07-21 | transcript 84b1b68d-8755-443b-bae5-e119f9f05e25 | chars 17176-17591 | segment 17

YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO INTO THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS, OUR MARKETING EXPENSES TEND TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE BASEBALL SEASON SPONSORSHIPS AND JUST THE COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIPS WE DO IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND T&E TENDS TO GO UP. AND WE GAVE RAISES THAT GO INTO EFFECT IN FEBRUARY. SO THERE ARE SOME INCREASES IN EXPENSES THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

Apr 20, 2022 / receipt, needs a key / Dave, other | earnings call 2022-04-20 | transcript 12e78d2f-adcc-4b01-9a91-6405ce9c0646 | chars 22773-23153 | segment 23

The increase in the travel and entertainment expense category was due to increased costs associated with in-person client relationship meetings and conferences, as well as some additional expense associated with an all-employee event to celebrate Wintrust's 30th anniversary and to thank our employees for performing so well during the pandemic. Although this expense category is higher in recent quarters, they're still lower than the general run rate we had in prior periods before the pandemic began, and we're encouraged to see our team returning to more normal in-person events to build and maintain solid customer relationships. This activity is important in maintaining the strong loan growth we've been achieving in recent quarters.

Oct 20, 2021 / receipt, needs a key / David Dykstra, other | earnings call 2021-10-20 | transcript 16604d5f-c4bf-4f94-ac3e-addf828a264b | chars 17288-18028 | segment 17