FHLBank Chicago

10/14/2026

One year after breaking ground, Trailview Cottages is making a meaningful impact in Hayward, Wisconsin.

Supported by a $2 million Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from FHLBank Chicago, the 40-home community is now fully occupied, providing much-needed affordable housing alongside on-site education and hands-on workforce training through Northwood Technical College.

The development was made possible through collaboration with FHLBank Chicago members Impact Seven, Inc., IFF, and Cinnaire, along with local partners working to address housing and workforce needs in northwest Wisconsin.

Learn more about the project and its impact on the community: https://bit.ly/4yQIkex

10/13/2026

Preserving existing homes is an important part of the housing supply conversation in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In the latest episode of Banking on Connections, Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute discusses newly released research examining the region's owner-occupied housing supply, including the effects of aging housing stock and the need to preserve existing homes.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4hAX3mi

10/09/2026

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make, and having the right guidance along the way can make a meaningful difference.

In a recent episode of Banking on Connections, David Young, Director of Capacity Building at Housing Action Illinois, shares how housing counseling helps prospective homebuyers better understand their financial options and make informed decisions.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about the value of housing counseling and how FHLBank Chicago is supporting this important work through its Community First® Housing Counseling Resource Program: https://bit.ly/4rw04ZF

10/08/2026

We’re expanding pricing options through the Mortgage Partnership Finance® Program (MPF®) to give participating financial institutions greater flexibility in their mortgage lending strategies.

Enhanced low loan balance pricing for MPF Traditional and MPF Xtra® provides additional options to help members navigate changing market conditions while continuing to serve borrowers in their communities.

Learn more about the enhancements here: https://bit.ly/4yeWEMO

10/07/2026

We recently hosted an inaugural Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC) Leadership Summit, bringing together Community Investment Officers from across the FHLBank System, AHAC leadership, and Federal Housing Finance Agency representatives.

The group gathered for a series of strategic discussions on affordable housing priorities, system coordination, and shared policy objectives, creating a meaningful opportunity to share perspectives, strengthen cross-system collaboration, and build greater alignment around our collective efforts to support affordable housing needs across the nation.

10/06/2026

In a recent blog for America's Credit Unions, Ryan Donovan, President and CEO of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, highlighted how Federal Home Loan Bank membership helps credit unions access reliable liquidity and continue serving their members through changing economic conditions. It's a timely reminder that the work we do at FHLBank Chicago helps local financial institutions remain resilient, support lending, and create opportunities in communities across the country.

Read the blog post authored by Ryan Donovan to see how our mission translates into real-world impact. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VtPIO9

Credit unions are neighborhood financial institutions. They are member-owned cooperatives that exist to help people build financial security, buy homes, manage unexpected needs, and invest in their communities. The FHLBanks share an important part of that cooperative DNA.

10/05/2026

September brought several opportunities to connect with partners and community leaders across our district.

At Inclusiv Credit Unions' Wisconsin Regional Convening, Jamie Lutton shared Urban Institute research on Wisconsin’s housing affordability challenges and joined a fireside chat with leaders from Habitat for Humanity of Dane County and America's Credit Unions.

Our team also joined Mercy Housing Lakefront for Moving Forward Together, focused on permanent supportive housing; Allies for Community Business for Toast to Community Business, celebrating Chicago’s local entrepreneurs; and the Chicago Community Loan Fund, celebrating 35 years of investing in communities.

10/02/2026

We’ve had a great experience these past few weeks getting to know the next generation of professionals at campuses across the Midwest. Thank you to the students of University of Wisconsin-Madison, university of Illinois - Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Illinois Institute of Technology, Indiana University, Marquette University, and Northwestern University for attending and speaking with us. We enjoyed sharing insights into the work we do and discussing the early career opportunities we have to offer at FHLBank Chicago.

We are excited for what the future holds for these bright students!

Learn more about our internship or rotational analyst positions: https://bit.ly/4hZhLxx.

10/01/2026

What will it take to expand and preserve the supply of homes for purchase in Illinois and Wisconsin?

In the latest episode of Banking on Connections, Katie Naftzger, Community Investment Officer at FHLBank Chicago, joins Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute to discuss new research on the region's housing supply challenges and opportunities.

The conversation explores aging housing stock, limited new construction, barriers to rehabilitation and what local lenders and housing stakeholders are seeing in their communities.

🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/4hAX3mi

📖 Read the report: https://urbn.is/4AFqAnL

09/30/2026

New research from the Urban Institute examines the supply of owner-occupied housing across Illinois and Wisconsin and the challenges affecting the availability of homes for purchase.

The case study combines housing market analysis with perspectives from housing stakeholders, including survey responses from more than 150 FHLBank Chicago member financial institutions. Findings highlight an aging housing stock, persistently low levels of new construction and limited access to rehabilitation financing, as well as areas for further exploration to expand and preserve housing supply across the region. Read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/4xSmPZu

Hear more about the research from the Urban Institute's Laurie Goodman and FHLBank Chicago's Katie Naftzger in a new episode of our Banking on Connections podcast: https://bit.ly/4hAX3mi