FHLBank Chicago

Read more about our new MPF® Habitat for Humanity® Program in this month’s issue of Banknotes Magazine. Thanks to the Community Bankers Association of Illinois for the @MPFProgram shout out – we look forward to working with our members to deliver affordable, below‑market rate loans to homebuyers working with @HabitatIllinois. bit.ly/4fAy9nm

Last week, members of our Board and leadership team joined FHLBank System colleagues in Washington, D.C., for the annual Director’s Conference—an important opportunity to connect leaders from across the country on issues impacting our members. We also took time to meet with Members of Congress and advocate for the housing, community development, and liquidity needs that make impact in communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.

We enjoyed coming together last week for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge! It was a great evening of fitness and team building, with the proceeds from this year’s race going to the @AssocHouse of Chicago, which has been supporting local communities for over 100 years. We had nearly 50 runners completing the 3.5 mile race, and many more employees joining as spectators. Thanks to everyone for their participation and we look forward to next year! #JPCC

Across Illinois and Wisconsin, rising costs, supply constraints, and financing barriers continue to challenge the delivery of affordable housing. These pressures directly impact Habitat for Humanity affiliates’ ability to build more homes and serve more families across the region. In a recent episode of FHLBank Chicago’s Banking on Connections podcast, Patrick Sullivan, EVP and Group Head of our Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) Program, discussed how the new MPF® Habitat for Humanity Program was designed to help address those challenges through collaboration, flexible underwriting and access to liquidity that can help Habitat affiliates reinvest capital faster and build more homes. Listen to the full episode: bit.ly/41SGsTC

Solving the housing supply crisis takes more than capital – it takes the right conversations. In 2025, FHLBank Chicago partnered with the @UrbanInstitute to convene housing leaders and explore collaborative solutions to supply challenges across our district: bit.ly/4uoZttw

When local lenders have reliable access to liquidity, they can do more. You can see that impact clearly in the projects and communities our members support. Chief Lending Officer Chris Maschhoff of 1NB Bank recently shared how the bank utilized FHLBank Chicago Community Advances totaling more than $1.5 million to support the construction of new single-family homes across southern Illinois, expanding access to housing in smaller communities. It’s a clear example of #LendingThatPowersCommunities—connecting reliable liquidity to real, local impact. Read more in a recent article from our President and CEO Michael Ericson: bit.ly/4eyEeR1

We’re proud to partner with our member, @WaterSoneBank, to provide a $250,000 Community First® Developer Program grant to Northernstar Companies, LLC. Through hands-on fellowships, emerging developers will gain experience in affordable housing preservation, new construction development, and community revitalization efforts that support long-term housing stability for families across Wisconsin.

Developing forward-thinking leaders takes investment. In 2025, FHLBank Chicago sent two employees to the inaugural @Chi_Innovation Fellows Program alongside a cross-industry cohort of leaders. Explore the full story on our website: bit.ly/493yriM

Members of our leadership team and Board of Directors enjoyed their time in Washington D.C. this week for the 2026 FHLBank Directors Conference—bringing the voices of our members and communities to the Hill. From access to liquidity, to community development, to housing supply and affordability solutions, it’s critical to engage with policymakers and FHLBank System peers to advocate for the resources and partnerships that help strengthen Illinois and Wisconsin.

What does it take to build more affordable homes today? In a recent episode of Banking on Connections, Sarah Brachle Wagner, CEO of Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity, discusses the rising costs and growing challenges impacting affordable housing development — and how the MPF® Habitat for Humanity® Program is helping affiliates reinvest capital faster to build more homes and serve more families. Listen here: bit.ly/41SGsTC

Leadership in action means bringing the right voices to the table, creating space for real dialogue. We’re proud to bring voices together—convening policymakers (@TonyWied), lenders (@wisbank @WICULeague), and partners to tackle housing and economic challenges across Wisconsin. Watch the video below and read the full story here: bit.ly/4boZNQz

We’re proud to partner with our member, @IFFcdfi, to provide a $250,000 Community First® Developer Program grant to the FIT Investment Group, supporting the next generation of affordable housing developers. Through fellowships and internships, FIT’s emerging developers will get hands-on experience supporting mixed-use affordable housing projects, including developments in Chicago and Milwaukee that bring together housing, community space, and local partnerships.

We’re proud to partner with our member, @Cinnaire, to provide a $250,000 Community First® Developer Program grant to Community First MKE, supporting the next generation of affordable housing developers. These fellows and interns will be immersed in active projects, including two Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments, one in Milwaukee and one in New Holstein, Wisconsin. Alongside this work, they will learn about funding processes and community outreach efforts supporting new developments across the region.

Our membership is made up overwhelmingly of community lenders – institutions with less than $10 billion in assets, deep local roots, and a firsthand understanding of what their markets need. One such member is Wolf River Community Bank in Hortonville, Wisconsin. Banking Development Associate Austin Godwin recently shared how the bank is helping address local housing needs through projects like a new duplex development in Greenville financed with support from a $520,000 Community Advance. It’s a clear example of #LendingThatPowersCommunities—connecting reliable liquidity to real, local impact. Read more in a recent LinkedIn article from our President and CEO Michael Ericson: bit.ly/4eyEeR1

We’re proud to partner with our member, the Northwest Side CDC, to provide a $250,000 Community First® Developer Program grant to KG Development, supporting the next generation of affordable housing developers. The interns and fellows hired with this grant will work on exciting affordable housing projects across Wisconsin, including a Milwaukee development with units for individuals exiting homelessness and a neighborhood development in Kenosha that will include up to 1,300 affordable housing units.

In partnership with @AssociatedBank, we awarded $375,000 through our Community First® Developer Program to support emerging affordable housing developers across Illinois and Wisconsin. The grants to @HHDEVCORP and Milwaukee Community Land Trust will support paid internships and fellowships that help strengthen the pipeline of professionals advancing affordable housing in our communities. Read the full story: bit.ly/4cYjdy0

Rural communities need housing and jobs – often at the same time. In 2025, FHLBank Chicago member @IFFcdfi helped make both possible with Trailview Cottages: 40 affordable homes in Sawyer County, WI with on-site workforce training built in. Read more in our 2025 Impact Report: bit.ly/48zV5is Our 2026 AHP General Fund is now open for applications — learn more and apply by June 12: bit.ly/3OVSwRg

We are seeking a qualified Systems Integration partner to support our upcoming Core Banking System Modernization initiative. This initial sourcing effort will help identify implementation partners and strategic advisors with experience delivering DDA and customer transaction processing capabilities (including cash activity and integrations) in a highly regulated environment—along with strong security, controls, resiliency, and responsible use of AI and intelligent automation. Interested vendors should complete the form on our website by 5:00 p.m. CT on May 15, 2026. Visit our website to learn more: bit.ly/3QVbCaD

Our 2026 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund is now open for applications. With $51 million available and up to $2 million per project, the program supports the development and preservation of affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin through partnerships with our members. Learn more and apply by June 12: bit.ly/3OVSwRg

We’re proud to partner with our member, @cclfchicago, to provide a $100,000 Community First® Developer Program grant to the Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of Chicago, supporting the next generation of affordable housing developers. The aspiring developer hired under this grant will work side by side with Interfaith’s Director of Real Estate on all active developments around Cook County, providing them the support needed to close more deals, and create more affordable housing for low-income, underserved populations in collaboration with local communities.