Solutions

Banking and the financial industry are complex. At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, we’re here to help bridge gaps and drive inclusive conversations that showcase how banking connects all of us. On Banking on Connections, you’ll meet FHLBank Chicago employees and other financial and housing industry thought leaders, discover products and programs that help create thriving communities, gain the latest market insights, and feel more connected to a vital part of the U.S. financial system.

You can listen to Banking on Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Episode List

Episode Five: Why Organizational Culture Matters

Cedric Thurman, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, Group Head, Community Investment and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at FHLBank Chicago, sits down with two of his colleagues—Toi Fields, Sr. Managing Director, Head of IT Business Management, and Sam Reindl, Director, Bank Operations—to talk about the importance of organizational culture and leveraging employee engagement. How do you build stronger connections on your team with different working styles? What can you do to prepare your team for change? Why is transparency so important to success? Hear their insights on our new episode!

Episode Four: Empowering Small Businesses Through Community First^® Accelerate Grants

We’re celebrating Small Business Saturday! In this episode, we highlight our 2024 Community First® Accelerate Grants for Small Business program with Clara Biolo-Thompson, Senior Community Investment Operations Specialist at FHLBank Chicago, and Jen Schaefer, Community Investment Operations Specialist at FHLBank Chicago. They share how the program and partnerships helped small businesses across Illinois and Wisconsin. We'll also hear from small business grantees and their FHLBank Chicago member partners on how the funds empowered their businesses and strengthened their communities.

Episode Three: Post-Election Analysis and Impact on the Banking Sector With Randy Hultgren

Randy Hultgren, President and CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association, joins Dave Feldhaus, SVP, Director of External Affairs at FHLBank Chicago, to share his insights into how the results of the U.S. elections are unfolding and what that could mean for the banking and financial sectors. Don’t miss their analysis of the fast-moving news cycle!

Episode Two: Demystifying the Council of FHLBanks With CEO Ryan Donovan

Ryan Donovan, President and CEO of the Council of FHLBanks, joins Dave Feldhaus, Director of External Affairs at FHLBank Chicago, to talk about the role of the Council, the importance of its advocacy work, and potential impacts of the upcoming election on the FHLBank system.

Episode One: Housing Market, Homebuyers, and the Role of the MPF^® Program

On our first episode, we look into a topic that’s top of many people’s minds across the country—the housing market. Even if you aren’t selling a home or on the prowl to purchase one, you’ve likely heard stories from somebody you know attempting to navigate the strenuous process. And that can be compounded by what we hear on the news regarding home availability and affordability. The housing market is tough and sometimes even more challenging to understand. We’re using this episode to take a peek under the hood to gain some perspective on how this all comes together and today’s market.

We sat down with John Stocchetti, Executive Vice President and Group Head of Mortgage Partnership Finance^® (MPF) Program at FHLBank Chicago, who has been a leader in the housing space for nearly two decades. John discusses what he’s seeing in the mortgage market, how local lenders are adapting to help their customers, and how the MPF Program benefits member financial institutions and everyday homebuyers.