Not a place to grow - Anonymous employee FHLBank Chicago Employee Review

1.0
Nov 3, 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Interesting work. Most people here were great but favoritism is definitely a thing. PTO policy is generous but don’t expect to be able to use all of it.

Cons

Honest advice if you decide to accept a role here: 1. Don’t expect growth. Be very comfortable with the title you are given when you’re hired and be prepared to keep it until you decide to go someplace else. They reel in newcomers by giving them more attractive titles. Once you are in it seems unclear on how to get a title bump or promotion even after working hard and dedicating years. There’s been a huge amount of turnover lately because people are burnt out. Burnt out employees who feel under-appreciated get disengaged and leave. They seem to blame their workforce for a lack of engagement rather than looking in the mirror. 2. If you have a problem with a bad leader who is a risk to the business it’s not worth it to speak up to HR. They won’t do anything about it and voicing concerns will be held against you in the long run. Even if you are actually trying to help and improve things. 3. If you prefer to work 100% remote that won’t be an option in future. Not sure when but there will eventually be a hybrid work setup and coming in a couple times a week will be mandatory. I have not been to new office but it looks nice from pictures I saw. Overall I’m glad I was able to move on and find career growth somewhere else.

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FHLBank Chicago Response
4y
We appreciate you sharing your comments and feedback. We believe maintaining a work/life balance plays an important role in the employee experience. If an employee is feeling overwhelmed, we encourage them to speak up and be honest with their managers. We’ve seen examples of teams reallocating work or working together to find more efficient paths forward. We’ve had many employees grow their careers at the Bank, whether it’s through promotions they have earned or taking a new career path while staying at the Bank. There are ways employees can provide feedback about any issues they are seeing and are encouraged to do so to help us continue to grow. HR Business Partners are always available to have open discussions and provide support wherever it is needed. We also have several working groups dedicated to identifying areas of opportunity based on employee feedback and their own experiences. These groups create solutions that continuously improve our culture and the way we work together. We are proud of our recently renovated workspace that allows us to collaborate for critical in-person interactions in supporting our members while allowing for flexibility throughout the week with remote work. We have adapted the way we work with each other and are excited for the journey ahead.

Explore other reviews about FHLBank Chicago

5.0
Feb 20, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I enjoy my job, work with wonderful people, and feel valued at work. The office is nice. Happy with the benefits and events at work.

Cons

My experience has differed from many recent negative reviews - the company is pretty siloed, and culture seems to vary significantly across departments. I agree with the previous reviews about HR being hostile.

2
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FHLBank Chicago Response
4mo
We are proud to provide a collaborative and supportive workplace for employees. Our competitive benefits, ample learning opportunities, and inclusive culture ensure employees feel valued in their roles. We recognize that consistency across departments is important and continue to focus on strengthening collaboration and alignment across the organization. We always encourage employees to share their perspectives through our internal channels for any concerns they have so we can continue to evolve our ways of working with each other and in support of our mission.
3.0
May 15, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice office space at the OPO

Cons

Miss the 2 days at home option.

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