Story ID: 
Wintrust Adds Business Aircraft Finance Division
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Wintrust Asset Finance announced a new division, Wintrust Commercial Finance Aviation Group, that will focus on financing solutions for business aircraft.
Word Count: 184
Wintrust Asset Finance today announced a new division, Wintrust Commercial Finance Aviation Group, that will focus on financing solutions for turbine business aircraft. The group will be led by Michael Cole, an ATP-rated pilot and CFI who previously served as v-p of aviation at Bridgeview Bank Group and managing director of aviation at Bank OZK.

“After serving clients in the aviation industry for years, we decided it was time to form a group to focus specially on this space,” said Kirk Phillips, president and CEO of Wintrust Commercial Finance. “Speed, consistency, and transparency is our commitment to our customers, and I’m confident Michael will help us continue to grow and deliver on this commitment to the aviation community.”

The company said its solutions for the business aircraft industry will be structured to meet the financial requirements of both privately held companies and publicly traded corporations for operation of the aircraft. According to Wintrust, its aviation group will be able to finance new and preowned airplanes, ranging from turboprop singles to ultra-long-range jets, operating under FAR Parts 91 or 135.