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Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, through member banks/credit unions
Welcome Home: up to $20,000 from FHLB Cincinnati
Low- and moderate-income buyers in Ohio, first-time or repeat, can get a grant of up to $20,000 toward down payment and closing costs through a bank or credit union that is a member of FHLB Cincinnati.
Fact box
Welcome Home Program (FHLB Cincinnati)
Money can run out
Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, through member banks/credit unions
For
Low- to moderate-income buyers (first-time and repeat) in OH, KY and TN working with an FHLB Cincinnati member lender
Amount
Up to $20,000 grant for down payment and closing costs (2026 round, per member-bank pages)
Form
Grant, no repayment
Income cap
At or below 80% of the Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) income limit for the county
First-timers only
No
Pairs with Ohio Heroes
unknown - not stated on the pages read
2026 reservations opened 8:00 a.m. ET April 6, 2026, first-come first-served until funds are reserved; this program usually runs out within weeks, and no page read says whether 2026 money is left. Requires $500 of buyer's own funds, homebuyer counseling for first-time buyers before closing, and a 5-year retention agreement. Must apply through a member lender. FHLB's own site (fhlbcin.com) blocked automated access, so the details come from member-bank pages (Peoples Bank, Peoples Exchange Bank).
Status watch. Welcome Home Program (FHLB Cincinnati) has a fixed pot of money that can run dry. Sign up and we will tell you when a new round is funded.
How does Welcome Home work?
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati sets aside a pool of grant money each year and releases it through its member banks and credit unions in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. For the 2026 round, member-bank pages list grants of up to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs. Reservations opened at 8:00 a.m. Eastern on April 6, 2026, and run first-come, first-served until the pool is used. The money usually runs out within weeks, and no source read for this guide says whether any 2026 funds remain. You also sign a five-year retention agreement as a condition of the grant.
Who qualifies?
Household income must be at or below 80% of the Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) income limit for your county. You do not have to be a first-time buyer, but if you are, you must finish homebuyer counseling before closing. Every buyer brings at least $500 of their own money to the deal. No price cap appears on the pages read. Because FHLB’s own site blocked automated access, these terms come from member-bank pages (Peoples Bank and Peoples Exchange Bank), so ask your lender for the current guidelines.
Using it with Ohio Heroes and other help
Nothing on the pages reviewed says whether Welcome Home can be paired with Ohio Heroes or OHFA down payment assistance. A participating lender confirms whether they combine. One practical limit: the grant is reserved through the member institution making your loan, so the bank or credit union you choose has to be an FHLB Cincinnati member and, if you want Ohio Heroes too, also an OHFA-approved lender. Our guide to grants, forgivable and repayable help explains how retention agreements work.
How do you apply?
Buyers cannot apply to FHLB directly. Find a member bank or credit union that offers Welcome Home, get pre-approved, and ask whether it still holds 2026 reservations. If funds are gone, ask the lender when the next round is expected. Have your $500 contribution, income documents and counseling certificate ready so the lender can reserve quickly. Use check your eligibility to see the statewide programs that do not depend on a reservation window, and see your county page, for example Montgomery County, for local options.
Reader questions on Welcome Home Program (FHLB Cincinnati)
Is Welcome Home still available in 2026?
Reservations opened April 6, 2026 and are first-come, first-served. The program usually runs out within weeks, and no page read confirms whether funds remain, so ask a member lender.
How much can I get from Welcome Home?
Up to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs in the 2026 round, according to member-bank pages.
Based on the program's official page as of November 2026. Money and rules shift, so confirm terms with the program or a participating lender. Ohio Down Payment Assistance has no affiliation with this program.
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