The August Community First Newsletter is now available. Learn how a $625,000 AHP grant helped bring 25 new affordable homes to life at Zion Woods Apartments in Deerfield, Illinois—and hear directly from a resident. This edition also includes key details on the Community First®

Witte’s Vegetable Market has been part of the West Bend, WI community since 1992. In 2024, with support from our member Glacier Hills Credit Union, they received a $15K Community First® Accelerate Grant to invest in more efficient harvesting equipment. Read the story in our 2024

We’re still accepting applications for the 2025 Community First® Developer Program through this Friday, August 8 at 5 p.m. CT. Hear how Ariam Kesete and Brandon Rule are using this support to expand their work—tackling real estate and infrastructure needs, building

Zion Woods in Deerfield, IL offers more than housing—it’s a safe, peaceful community surrounded by nature. Thanks to a $625K Affordable Housing Program grant via Village Bank & Trust, and partnerships with Housing Opportunity Development Corporation and Brinshore Development,

In 2024, we launched our Community Impact Advance Pilot Program—$50M in interest rate subsidies to boost members’ investments in affordable housing, economic development, and community partnerships. Royal Neighbors of America used the program to help fund $5M of an IHDA bond,

Today in Effingham, IL, Mike Bost joined @FHLBankChicago to discuss rural housing with leaders from @MidlandStatesBank and C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation. A $360K AHP grant we provided helped repair homes for 24 low-income families across 7 counties. 🏡

In 2001, Michael Cabrera founded Cabrera Capital with just three employees and a bold vision. With support from FHLBank Chicago, the firm gained access to the capital markets and began to grow. We’re proud to partner with firms like Cabrera Capital to fuel lending, mortgage

We were pleased to host an economic roundtable with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and many of our members and trade association partners in suburban Chicago yesterday. Thank you for joining us, Community Bankers Association of Illinois, Illinois CU League, Illinois Bankers, Home Builders and

At FHLBank Chicago, we support career growth through benefits like tuition reimbursement. Jingyi Xu used the program to earn her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, gaining skills she now uses to lead teams and drive impact. See more in our 2024 Impact Report:

On the latest episode of Banking on Connections, Patrick Sullivan, EVP & Group Head of the MPFProgram, discusses how tackling the housing affordability crisis requires broadening access to credit and more accessible housing options to increase supply. He shares how exploring new

If you are planning to attend the 2025 Wisconsin Bankers Strategic Management Summit on September 10 and 11, stop by booth #36 to chat with members of our team! We are proud to sponsor this event and look forward to connecting with attendees throughout the conference.

In 2024, we launched CHAMP – a mentorship program connecting new and seasoned managers to spark collaboration, accelerate leadership growth, and build stronger teams. Learn more in our 2024 Impact Report: fhlbc.com/impact

Back-to-school season brings a housing lesson in Muskego, WI: a vacant grade school transformed into affordable homes. With a $510K AHP grant from FHLBank Chicago via Associated Bank, Muskego School Apartments now serve seniors, families and individuals with disabilities. Watch

This summer, employees from across FHLBank Chicago came together to support Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity, building stronger communities and contributing to the affordable housing supply our neighborhoods need. We’re proud of their dedication and thankful for the spirit of teamwork and service

We’re excited to join community bankers from across Illinois at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Annual Convention & Expo on September 18 – 20. Visit booth #3 to connect with members of our team and explore opportunities to leverage our products, programs, and

We are currently seeking vendors for two new sourcing opportunities: Finastra Summit batch processing and penetration testing. Learn more about requirements and how to apply at fhlbc.com/vendors.

The Fed’s September rate cut is making waves across the economy. What does it mean for financial institutions, the job market, and housing? In our latest Banking on Connections episode, James Hotchkiss unpacks the Fed’s decision, the shift toward prioritizing employment, and the

This back-to-school season, we partnered with Avanade and Compudopt to place refurbished laptops in students’ hands through Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and CHA. Watch the video to see the impact and read the full story here: bit.ly/46RWFeX

We had a great time at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Annual Convention in Kansas City. Our own Kennedy McNamara & Travis Schroll led a breakout on “Maximizing Your Membership." Grateful to connect with members and community bankers as we work together to

We were honored to serve as a sponsor of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Annual Gala, continuing more than a decade of support for their mission to advance financial literacy and provide scholarships for future leaders in banking and finance.