FHLBank Chicago Releases 2025 Impact Report, Highlighting Expanded Support for Housing and Community Development Across Illinois and Wisconsin

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428542186/en/

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 ® Programs provided $43 million in assistance in partnership with 233 members to help more than 4,500 individuals and families achieve homeownership. Community First ® 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.

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 its Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com.

“Downpayment Plus” and “Community First” are registered trademarks of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.

FHLBank Chicago releases 2025 Impact Report.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An appeals court has raised to four years the sentence for the wife of South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol for corruption, about two months after her husband was sentenced to life in prison for rebellion.

In January, ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to 20 months in prison in a district court for receiving gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church in return for promises of political favors. However, she was acquitted of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme before she became first lady.

Both parties appealed, and on Tuesday, the Seoul High Court raised her jail term to four years by convicting her of receiving another Chanel bag from the church and the price rigging charge.

The presidential couple suffered a dramatic fall from grace after Yoon’s martial law imposition in December 2024 led to his impeachment and eventually removal from office. Yoon faces a slew of criminal trials related to his martial law debacle and other scandals. Investigators say Kim was not involved in Yoon’s martial law enforcement.

The Seoul High Court said that a first lady, being closest to a president, represents the country together with her husband and has a big influence on him. It said Kim failed to meet public expectations for her integrity and rather exploited her high-profile status to get the gifts from the Unification Church.

Both Kim and an independent counsel have one week to appeal to the Supreme Court, the country’s top court. Independent counsel Min Joong-ki’s team earlier requested a 15-year term; Kim's defense team has argued Min’s investigation was politically driven.

Kim has been in jail since last August when the Seoul district court approved a warrant to arrest her, citing the chance she might destroy evidence. When Yoon was in office, Kim was embroiled in a series of scandals that hurt her husband’s approval rating and provided relentless political ammunition to his rivals.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Yoon, a conservative, abruptly declared martial law and sent troops and police officers to the National Assembly, saying he aimed to eliminate “anti-state forces” and “shameless North Korea sympathizers.” He has defended his action, calling it a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the liberal opposition Democratic Party which obstructed his agenda.

In February, the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of rebellion for mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the Assembly, arrest political opponents and establish unchecked power for an indefinite period.

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol watch a live TV broadcast that shows his wife Kim Keon Hee attending a hearing during a rally outside of the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol holds up a banner showing an image of his wife Kim Keon Hee during a rally outside of the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The letters read "Stay strong, Madam! and We love you" (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

An image of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee is seen during a rally by supporters outside of the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The letters read "Not Guilty." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)