Wintrust is pleased to announce the expansion of its Commercial Banking Construction, Engineering, & Architecture (CE&A) Team to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Chris Van Tassel is relocating to serve as the senior vice president and team lead.

The Wintrust CE&A Team was established in 2014 by Chris Van Tassel and Matt Doucet, CE&A president, and is a nationally recognized lending group dedicated to serving the construction industry. Since its inception, the CE&A portfolio has grown to include more than 300 clients across the United States, with $1.5 billion in total commitments. The team supports a diverse range of construction-related businesses, including general contractors, specialty subcontractors, heavy/civil road contractors, utility contractors, engineering firms, and architecture firms.

“The Texas and Southwest markets are pro-business, high-growth regions, home to individuals and companies that appreciate our ability to deliver sophisticated solutions with a relationship focus,” said Doucet. “Our specialized construction, engineering, and architecture lending team — led by SVP Chris Van Tassel — will continue to build strong partnerships and support community development to drive meaningful impact in the region.”

Van Tassel and his team provide tailored financial solutions designed to meet the unique needs of middle-market construction industry businesses. These solutions include working capital lines of credit, term loans for equipment purchases and owner-occupied real estate, M&A and ESOP financing, treasury management services,¹ and international/letter of credit services.

In his expanded role, Van Tassel will lead efforts to grow Wintrust’s CE&A presence throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and across Texas, further strengthening the bank’s commitment to the construction industry.

“Wintrust has always recognized the vital role the construction industry plays in the local economy,” said Van Tassel. “Our continued expansion into the Texas market reinforces our commitment to supporting the industry and its growth opportunities in the region. What sets us apart is our deep industry expertise and unwavering support — especially during challenging times, when many other banks pull back.”