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A member letter from President and CEO, Michael Ericson
Thank you for your continued partnership with FHLBank Chicago and for sharing your feedback through our 2026 Annual Member Survey and ongoing conversations throughout the year. As a member-owned cooperative, your perspective plays an important role in shaping our priorities, investments and how we serve our members.
This year's survey saw participation from approximately half of our membership, providing valuable insight into what's working well and where we can continue to improve. We were pleased to see that member loyalty remains exceptionally strong, with a Net Promoter Score of 76—well above industry benchmarks and a reflection of the trust members place in FHLBank Chicago.
What We Heard
Many of the themes members shared this year reinforced what we've heard in previous surveys. Members value reliable access to liquidity, knowledgeable and responsive staff, strong products and services, and a trusted partnership that supports their institutions and communities. At the same time, you told us that simplifying processes, improving digital experiences and making it easier to do business with us remain important priorities.
What We're Delivering
Your feedback continues to influence the work underway across FHLBank Chicago.
Over the past year, we have expanded Community Advance funding, introduced the Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) Habitat for Humanity® program to support affordable homeownership opportunities and increased funding available through our Downpayment Plus® programs. These enhancements reflect our commitment to helping members meet housing and community development needs across our district.
We're also focused on strengthening the MPF Program and FHLBank Chicago's long-term ability to deliver value to participating institutions. As we look ahead, we are evaluating opportunities to create additional balance sheet capacity while preserving the cooperative, mission-aligned structure of the MPF Program. These efforts are intended to strengthen our ability to remain a reliable source of liquidity, broaden housing finance solutions, and support our members over the long term.
We also expanded opportunities for member education and preparedness. Earlier this year, our Collateral Workshops drew strong participation from members seeking to strengthen collateral practices that support liquidity, lending capacity and strategic balance sheet management. These sessions were designed to equip participants with the knowledge needed to confidently navigate a Collateral Verification Review (CVR) while helping protect collateral value and maximize borrowing capacity. Building on that momentum, we'll continue to provide resources that help members make the most of FHLBank Chicago programs, including our recent Community Advance Enhancements and Use Cases webinar, which explores recent program improvements, practical applications and strategies for maximizing available funding.
In addition, we are making strategic investments in technology and operations to improve the member experience. This includes ongoing work to modernize digital capabilities, enhance data delivery options, streamline key interactions and improve the technology and tools that help you do business with FHLBank Chicago and your customers. One example, we recently launched the MPF Navigator, an AI-powered search tool that helps members more efficiently access program guide information and answers when they need them. These efforts are designed to make it easier to access information, conduct business and engage with FHLBank Chicago in the ways that work best for you.
How Your Feedback is Shaping Our Future
We're encouraged that members reported strong satisfaction with recent initiatives, including our redesigned website, Integrated Wires System and Community Advance enhancements. Your feedback confirms that these investments are making a difference while also helping us identify where to focus next.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening liquidity solutions, expanding housing and community investment programs, and continuing to improve the member experience. These priorities are guided by the feedback we receive from members, and our shared commitment to supporting communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
The survey results reinforce something I see every day: our success is built on listening to our members and responding to their evolving needs. Thank you for your partnership, your feedback and the trust you place in FHLBank Chicago.
Sincerely,
Michael Ericson
President and CEO
FHLBank Chicago