Father of Five Becomes First-Time Homeowner

Jonathon Gilland has lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, his whole life. He wanted to buy a home there, but it was tough to find one big enough, yet still affordable, for him and his five children. Today, he’s the proud owner of a four-bedroom home.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), through its member New Mexico Bank & Trust (NMB-T) awarded Mr. Gilland an $8,000 Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) subsidy to assist him with down payment and closing costs.

“When I tell people about HELP, they almost don’t believe it. It’s such a good deal,” said Mr. Gilland, a 33-year-old father of five who works at a local fulfillment center. “Without the HELP funds, I would still be looking for a home, or I would’ve had to settle for something smaller.”

Awarded through FHLB Dallas member institutions, HELP assists low-income-qualified, first-time homebuyers with down payment assistance and closing costs.

“It’s a difficult time for first-time homebuyers because of high interest rates and rising home prices,” said Trevor Lewis, senior vice president and commercial team lead at NMB-T. “The HELP program gives homebuyers the extra boost they need to get into a home.”

In 2023, FHLB Dallas set aside $6.5 million for HELP, and all funds have been allocated.

“The HELP program is so important for families looking to get into their first house,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “It’s rewarding to see the program at work.”

Visit fhlb.com/help to view current availability of HELP funds.

About New Mexico Bank & Trust

New Mexico Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., operating under the brand name HTLF, is a community bank with more than $2.6 billion in assets and operates 24 offices located in Central, Northern and Eastern New Mexico as well as Northwest Texas. The bank specializes in business lending and deposit services and provides a wide variety of personal credit and deposit services along with complete electronic banking programs. New Mexico Bank & Trust is a Member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $174 billion as of June 30, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com.

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