FHLBank Chicago releases 2025 Impact Report, highlighting expanded support for housing and community development across Illinois and Wisconsin. Published on Apr 28, 2026 The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting another year of meaningful support for member financial institutions and communities across Illinois and Wisconsin. As housing affordability challenges persisted and economic conditions remained dynamic, FHLBank Chicago continued to provide the liquidity, funding, and community investment programs its over 600 members rely on to drive local impact. Through human interest stories and data-driven insights, the report illustrates how FHLBank Chicago is Investing in Opportunities - delivering reliable funding, expanding access to affordable housing, supporting economic development, and strengthening its workforce and partnerships. In 2025, FHLBank Chicago funded $3.3 billion in discounted Community Advances and delivered $106 million in housing and economic development grants - supporting the creation or preservation of more than 14,800 housing units and over 14,700 jobs. "Housing affordability remains a pressing concern across our district, and our members continue to navigate a complex economic environment," said Michael Ericson, President and CEO of FHLBank Chicago. "In 2025, we remained a trusted partner - providing the liquidity, funding, and community investment resources needed to make a meaningful difference. This report reflects the strength of those partnerships and the impact we are achieving together." FHLBank Chicago continued to advance housing and community development through its core programs. In 2025, the Affordable Housing Program General Fund helped finance 37 housing projects, while the Downpayment Plus(R) Programs provided $43 million in assistance in partnership with 233 members to help more than 4,500 individuals and families achieve homeownership. Community First(R) grant programs also addressed housing and community development needs across the district, supporting paid internships and fellowships for affordable housing developers and expanding services for low- and moderate-income aspiring homebuyers at 44 housing counseling agencies. FHLBank Chicago also enhanced its community lending offerings in 2025 by launching a redesigned Community Advance product, streamlining access to discounted funding and expanding eligibility to better support housing and economic development projects. Beyond funding, FHLBank Chicago strengthened its role as a housing leader by convening partners across Illinois and Wisconsin, including a multi-year collaboration with the Urban Institute to address housing supply challenges and identify data-driven solutions. FHLBank Chicago also maintained its focus on operational excellence, investing in employee development and organizational capabilities to ensure continued responsiveness, innovation, and resilience for the benefit of its members. To view the full report and explore the stories behind the numbers, visit fhlbc.com/impact.

Kaba-Baal LLC and partners expand pathways for emerging affordable housing developers. Grantees. Forward Community Investments (FCI) mission of building strong communities starts by investing in the people who will shape them. Across Wisconsin, emerging developers, students, and community leaders are stepping forward with new ideas for affordable housing, and Forward Community Investments Inc is proud to support the pathways that help them succeed. Today, Forward Community Investments Inc is excited to celebrate Kaba Bah of Kaba-Baal LLC, recipient of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's Community First(R) Developer Program grants. Through this program, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago awarded $5.9 million in funding across Illinois and Wisconsin, supporting more than 110 fellowships and internships at 28 organizations. These investments are designed to strengthen the pipeline of emerging real estate developers who are committed to expanding access to affordable housing and advancing community development throughout the region. One of those investments is a $241,000 grant awarded by FHLBank Chicago and delivered through Forward Community Investments to support Kaba-Baal LLC, a Madison-based development firm founded by Kaba Bah. His work centers on creating homeownership opportunities that strengthen neighborhood stability and help families build long-term security. With these funds from the Developer Program, Bah will create fellowships and internship opportunities that give emerging professionals hands-on experience in affordable housing development. Participants will gain practical exposure to project management, planning, and community engagement. By supporting these experiences, the program helps open doors for individuals who may not otherwise have access to careers in real estate development. It also strengthens the long-term capacity of the affordable housing field by cultivating a diverse and skilled generation of future leaders. FCI is proud to have served as the member sponsor for the grant application, partnering with organizations that are deeply committed to building stronger, more inclusive communities across Wisconsin. Partnering with organizations like the FHLBank Chicago and Kaba-Baal LLC, Forward Community Investments Inc is helping create opportunities that will shape the future of affordable housing. Interested in becoming an FCI Borrower?

FHLBank Chicago launches the Mortgage Partnership Finance(R) Habitat for Humanity(R) Program to expand the supply of affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin. New program delivers mortgage rates approximately 250 basis points below market and flexible underwriting to help member institutions support Habitat affiliates and low-to-moderate income homebuyers CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) has launched its Mortgage Partnership Finance(R)(MPF(R) Habitat for Humanity(R) Program, a new community lending offering designed to help member financial institutions partner with Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Illinois and Wisconsin to deliver below-market mortgage financing to low-to-moderate income homebuyers. Through the program, FHLBank Chicago approved members can deliver mortgage loans originated for homebuyers working with Habitat for Humanity affiliates at interest rates approximately 250 basis points below prevailing market rates, with the rate discount funded by FHLBank Chicago, while still receiving premium pricing to help offset the cost of loan origination. The program is backed by $2.5 million in interest rate subsidies, supporting $20-25 million in funded unpaid principal balance in 2026. Program Features and Benefits The MPF Habitat for Humanity Program introduces a standardized, scalable pathway for members to deepen their Habitat partnerships while strengthening their community investment footprint. Key features include expanded underwriting flexibility and seamless integration with existing MPF delivery commitment and funding processes. Accelerating Habitat's Mission Under the traditional Habitat for Humanity model, affiliates return to fundraising after each home delivery, creating delays before the next construction cycle can begin. By selling loans to the MPF Program at below-market rates, members can expand first-mortgage financing capacity, return more capital to Habitat affiliates, and help accelerate the start of the next construction cycle - growing housing supply and enabling more families to achieve homeownership. Why It Matters "Affordable homeownership is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term financial stability for families and communities. Through this program, we're giving our member institutions a meaningful tool to deepen their Habitat partnerships and help more low-to-moderate income families across Illinois and Wisconsin achieve the dream of owning a home," said Patrick Sullivan, Executive Vice President, Group Head, MPF Program. "By delivering mortgage rates approximately 250 basis points below market, we're not just making homeownership more accessible - we're helping Habitat affiliates accelerate their construction cycles and serve more families, faster." "Access to flexible, affordable mortgage financing is essential to helping more families move from paying rent to building equity through homeownership," said Sarah Brachle Wagner, Chief Executive Officer, Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity. "By expanding access to affordable rates and more flexible underwriting, this program strengthens our ability to reach more qualified homebuyers, recycle capital faster, and support more Habitat builds - accelerating stability for families and momentum for the communities we serve," said Peter Lewandowski, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin. The MPF Habitat for Humanity Program complements other existing FHLBank Chicago offerings, including the Downpayment Plus(R)(DPP(R) Program - which provides grants of up to $10,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance - and the Community Advance product, which offers discounted advances of 200 basis points below regular rates for funding affordable housing. Members are encouraged to leverage these offerings together to maximize their community impact. For more information, on the MPF Habitat for Humanity Program, visit fhlbc.com or contact MPF Sales at [email protected]. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago FHLBank Chicago is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with a focus on providing solutions that support the housing and community development needs of members' customers. FHLBank Chicago is a self-capitalizing cooperative, owned by Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. "Mortgage Partnership Finance" and "MPF" are registered trademarks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com.