Banking on Connections: An FHLBank Chicago Podcast

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.

Banking on Connections Episode 19 List
  • Impact Stories
  • 1 Min Read
Sep 30, 2026
Episode 19: Expanding Homeownership Supply in Illinois and Wisconsin: A Conversation with Urban Institute
Banking on Connections Episode 18 List
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Sep 23, 2026
Episode 18: A Stronger Path to Homeownership: The Impact of Housing Counseling
Banking on Connections Episode 17 List
  • Impact Stories
  • 1 Min Read
Jul 20, 2026
Episode 17: FHLBank Week: 94 Years of Strengthening Communities
Banking on Connections Episode 16 List
  • Operational
  • 1 Min Read
Jul 02, 2026
Episode 16: Finding Value with AI: Where Organizations Should Start
Banking on Connections Episode 15 List
  • Products and Programs
  • Impact Stories
  • 1 Min Read
Jun 18, 2026
Episode 15: National Homeownership Month: Opening Doors to Homeownership with the Downpayment Plus® Programs
Banking on Connections Episode 14 List
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Apr 22, 2026
Episode 14: A New Path to Affordable Housing: The MPF® Habitat for Humanity® Program
DPP Podcast List Page Image
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Jan 21, 2026
Episode 13: Building the Next Generation of Affordable Housing Developers
FHLBank Chicago's in-house Economist James Hotchkiss back in studio
  • Financials
  • 1 Min Read
Sep 22, 2025
Episode 12: The Fed’s September Rate Cut: What It Means for Markets, Jobs, and Housing
Patrick Sullivan, Executive Vice President and Group Head of the Mortgage Partnership Finance® Program in Studio
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Jul 24, 2025
Episode 11: MPF® Program's Evolving Role in Housing: Insights From Patrick Sullivan
FHLBank Chicago's in-house Economist James Hotchkiss in studio small
  • Financials
  • 1 Min Read
Jun 20, 2025
Episode 10: The Economy in Limbo - A Mid-Year Outlook
Chelsi Gallegos, Assistant Director, Organizational Development at FHLBank Chicago in studio small version
  • Operational
  • 1 Min Read
May 21, 2025
Episode 9: Skill Development - A Continuous Journey and Investment
Angie Ashlaw, Senior Community Investment Operations Specialist, and Jamie Lutton, Manager, Community Outreach are in the studio small version
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Apr 16, 2025
Episode 8: Opening Doors: How Downpayment Plus® Programs Support Homebuyers
James Hotchkiss, FHLBank Chicago’s in-house economist, is back in the banking on connections studio
  • 1 Min Read
Mar 21, 2025
Episode 7: A Certainly Uncertain Economic Outlook
James Hotchkiss, FHLBank Chicago’s in-house economist in studio
  • Financials
  • 1 Min Read
Jan 13, 2025
Episode 6: Where Is the Economy Headed in 2025?
Cedric Thurman, Executive Vice President, Group Head, Community Investment 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
  • Operational
  • 1 Min Read
Dec 20, 2024
Episode 5: Why Organizational Culture Matters
Clara Biolo-Thompson, Senior Community Investment Operations Specialist at FHLBank Chicago, and Jen Schaefer, Community Investment Operations Specialist in Studio Feature Size
  • Products and Programs
  • 1 Min Read
Nov 25, 2024
Episode 4: Empowering Small Businesses Through Community First® Accelerate Grants