Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

Thank you to all who joined us for our 2025 Member Meetings! These events were a fantastic opportunity to connect in person, share key updates for the year ahead, and have meaningful conversations about how we can best support our members through our products, solutions, and services. Take a look at some highlights from across Illinois and Wisconsin in the photo recap below.

The Council of Federal Home Loan Banks issued a press release today responding to the publication of the FHLBanks’ 2024 Combined Financial Report. The press release notes the strong financial performance of the System in 2024 and a record-setting year for #AffordableHousing and #CommunityDevelopment funding. Fueled entirely by private capital, the #FHLBanks empower local lenders to open doors to homeownership, support businesses, and facilitate community development. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eq3TYcKC

The FHLBank System is committed to providing reliable liquidity to every corner of the country, with each of the 11 #FHLBanks playing a vital role in meeting the unique needs of their regions. In this month’s FHLBank Brief, we highlight how the FHLBank System ensures stability amid a dynamic policy and economic landscape. As the new administration shapes national policy, we remain engaged in meaningful discussions that strengthen our mission. From participating in the National Housing Conference symposium to welcoming Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, we continue to advocate for our 6,500 members and the diverse communities they serve. Read more and subscribe to receive our monthly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dKPvEGqx

On our newest episode of Banking on Connections, James Hotchkiss, our in-house economist, is back to share his insights into the twists and turns of the U.S. economy. We break down the potential impacts of tariffs, job market news, consumer spending trends, and direction of interest rates. What does all this mean for consumers? What should FHLBank Chicago members and the financial sector pay attention to? Tune-in to hear his expert analysis. Listen now: https://bit.ly/4eZVlrJ

We had a fantastic start to our 2025 Member Meetings today in Green Bay. These gatherings provide our members with valuable insights, meaningful connections, and opportunities to strengthen partnerships that drive success. We look forward to seeing more of our members across Illinois and Wisconsin in the days ahead. Thanks to our Events team for coordinating these engaging sessions with our members!

We’re proud to celebrate Carolyn Jaw, our EVP and Group Head of Sales, Strategy & Solutions, as she joins the Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. Her expertise in financial solutions and commitment to increasing housing supply and affordability will be a tremendous asset in advancing Habitat’s mission.

We were proud to attend and sponsor the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Annual Awards Gala, celebrating 50 years of impact. It was an inspiring evening recognizing leaders dedicated to expanding homeownership and strengthening communities.

Congratulations to Bill Pulte on his confirmation by the Senate today as the next Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency! We look forward to working with Mr. Pulte to advance the FHLBank System’s mission to promote financial stability by providing reliable liquidity and grant funds to member institutions and to broadly support housing and community development.

This week at the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Mid-Winter Housing Finance Conference, our President and CEO, Michael Ericson, participated in a fireside chat alongside Kevin Kauffman of Freddie Mac and Terry Theologides of Fannie Mae, moderated by Laura Escobar, President of Lennar Mortgage and 2025 MBA Chair. The panel shared insights on the latest programs and priorities for the housing GSEs. Michael noted that the FHLBank Acquired Mortgage Asset programs, such as Mortgage Partnership Finance Program, MPP and MAP, are the primary source of secondary market liquidity for approximately 1,000 mortgage originators each year. While the cumulative volume is small relative to the overall market, these programs provide an essential role in the origination market. Many participating community bank and credit union lenders rely on them to offer the 30-year fixed-rate mortgages their customers prefer. The discussion underscored the importance of these programs as stable, reliable sources of housing finance.

Join this upcoming Mortgage Partnership Finance Program webinar on March 19 to learn how to calculate loan payoffs for MPF Traditional and MPF Xtra product loans. The session will cover key methods and unique scenarios, including recent principal curtailments. Register here: https://bit.ly/435fc6d