Wintrust Financial announced it has expanded its lease and equipment finance operation capability with the addition of Wintrust Commercial Finance (WCF), an equipment-focused financing group located in Texas. The group will provide loan and lease products to commercial companies in a variety of industries throughout the U.S. and Canada.

WCF is led by an executive management team with, on average, 25 years’ experience. Kirk S. Phillips, who heads up the team as president and chief executive officer, has had senior roles at AIG Commercial Equipment Finance and Transamerica Equipment Finance Services.

Paul Hallauer and Jeff Darlington, CPA, also joined the team as executive vice president and chief credit officer and executive vice president and chief financial officer, respectively. Hallauer has also had management roles at AIG Investments and AIG Commercial Equipment Finance and GE Capital.

Click here to view job opportunities posted by Wintrust Commercial Finance on monitordaily classified ad pages.

“We’ve had great success with our current leasing operations,” said Wintrust president and CEO Edward J. Wehmer. “We feel there is room to expand, and broaden our national offering. The new team offers extensive knowledge and experience and we know the new addition will make our leasing offerings even more robust.”

The Wintrust Commercial Finance group will specialize in financing fixed assets consisting of property, plant and equipment, including transportation (trucks, trailers, rail, marine, buses), construction, manufacturing equipment, technology, oil and gas, restaurant equipment, medical and healthcare.