At Wintrust Funds Group, We’re Here For It

In the world of fund management, precision, consistency, and speed aren’t luxuries—they’re expectations. For more than 14 years, Wintrust Funds Group has built its reputation on all three.

“We’ve taken a long-term, consistent approach for over a decade,” said Joe Christian, Managing Director of Wintrust Funds Group. “It’s not glamorous, but it’s dependable, and that’s what our clients value.”

Built on stability. Defined by service.

Fund managers operate in high-stakes environments. They don’t have time for onboarding delays, policy surprises, or call centers that don’t answer. What they need is a banking partner that understands their structure and moves at their speed.

“We’re financial services professionals playing a banking role,” Christian said. “We know how our clients think, and we build our service around their world—not ours.”

Wintrust’s clients often remark on the speed to market, fast turnaround times, and year-over-year consistency the team delivers—the kind of performance that turns first-time fund clients into long-term partners.

Focused on the Needs of Fund Managers

The Wintrust Funds Group serves one audience: alternative investment managers and the CFOs and operations teams who support them. That focus enables the group to deliver tailored solutions across private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, international funds, and crypto funds.

“Our goal is to provide great service for the fund manager,” Christian said. “We don’t force other products or lines of business. We focus on what they need most.”

Other banks may require clients to open additional accounts or products to qualify for fund banking. Wintrust doesn’t. We have the capabilities to handle any financial need, but our sole purpose is to serve the fund and its fund manager, not to cross-sell.

“Barring a background check, we’re taking that client on,” Christian said. “We partner with funds that want a bank that understands their business and helps them move faster.”
 

Specialized Fund Banking Solutions

SPV Banking

The team has opened and managed more than 2,500 accounts across a wide range of fund structures. Whether it’s a single-purpose entity or a complex investment vehicle, Wintrust delivers quick, accurate setup and execution, especially for existing clients.

“If you’re closing on a deal Tuesday, we’ll make sure that account is open,” Christian said. “Our established relationships allow for quick implementation times that other banks can’t match.”

International USD Banking

Wintrust is one of the few U.S. banks that readily supports foreign fund managers with USD accounts. The team has deep experience with common offshore domiciles, including the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, and is a trusted referral source within the global fund community.

“We’re laser-focused on private fund banking,” Christian said. “Many banks won’t open an international account unless they see other business potential. For us, the fund is the business.”

Crypto Fund Support

Wintrust was one of the original banks to support digital asset managers, having banked crypto-focused funds since 2016, and served as a longtime sponsor of CoinAlts, the largest digital asset management conference in the world.

“We’re not trying to be a crypto bank,” Christian said. “We’re a stable, steady banking partner that happens to serve funds in the digital asset space with the same standards, speed, and service as any other client.”

A Dedicated Team that Picks up the Phone

Every client at Wintrust Funds Group is supported by a dedicated relationship manager and backup, along with a U.S.-based onboarding team that focuses solely on fund clients. No call centers. No generic inboxes. Just real people who know your business.

“What I love about working here is that I have a Midwestern client service team with a New York sense of urgency,” said David Madden, business development officer of Wintrust Funds Group. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

That responsiveness and personal attention are what set the group apart. Many team members have been with Wintrust for 7, 10, and even 11 years—a rarity in an industry known for high turnover. They’re well known across the private fund ecosystem and deeply connected to the service provider community.

Reliable. Responsive. Relationship-Driven.

Fund managers don’t want to think about their bank; they just want it to work, and that’s exactly what the Wintrust Funds Group delivers: seamless onboarding, fast turnaround, and a team that’s been doing this for years.

“Our clients compare us to offensive linemen; you only notice us when something goes wrong,” Christian said with a laugh. “Our job is to make sure that never happens.”

At the end of the day, fund managers choose Wintrust because we’ve proven time and again that we understand their business. We don’t need to learn it—we’re already fluent. See why over 2,000 funds bank with Wintrust, and start experiencing a different approach to fund banking.

Different Approach, Better Results®

Banking products provided by Wintrust Community Banks.