2026 Homebuyer Grant Program

Union State Bank Offering Up to $15,000 in Homebuyer Assistance Through FHLBank Topeka Partnership

First Published February 2026

Union State Bank (USB) is currently offering qualifying homebuyers mortgage assistance grants for up to $15,000 through its partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (FHLBank Topeka). The grants are part of FHLBank Topeka’s TurnKey suite of products, which includes multiple programs designed to address the challenges of attaining homeownership across the Midwest.

“One of the biggest challenges for borrowers is downpayment funding.  Household budgets are tight, and don’t always leave “extra” to save up for downpayment or closing cost requirements in today’s rising housing cost environment,” explains Brittany Welch, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for Union State Bank. “These programs help boost the homebuyers’ buying power to get them into a home quicker.”

FHLBank Topeka is one of 11 regional banks that make up the nationwide Federal Home Loan Bank System, created to provide financial institutions with resources to support housing and community development. The Topeka bank serves member financial institutions, including Union State Bank, across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. FHLBank Topeka does not work directly with homebuyers, instead it partners with member banks to deliver funding at the local level.

“We have proudly participated in this program for many years, and it is one of the most successful homebuyer assistance programs in the state,” Welch said. “We are able to secure multiple grants per year in our market, which is multiple households entering into secure housing and homeownership.”

Union State Bank offers the full suite of FHLBank’s TurnKey programs, the Homeownership Set-aside Program (HSP), the Homeownership Set-aside Program Plus (HSP+) and the Homeownership Possibilities Expanded (HOPE) program. USB serves as the local conduit for these funds. Their mortgage experts work directly with qualified homebuyers to determine eligibility, assist with required documentation, and submit applications to FHLBank Topeka. If approved, grant funds are provided at the time of loan closing.

“Helping a family secure assistance means I get to witness that moment when the dream becomes real,” said Jessie Nikkel, Mortgage Lender for Union State Bank. “Knowing that I played a small part in helping them build stability and a future they’re proud of reminds me why I do what I do.”

Grant funds may be used for down payment assistance, closing costs, and certain qualifying home repairs. Program requirements include completion of a homebuyer education course by at least one adult household member, verification of household income, and first-time homebuyer status for HSP and HSP+ applicants. All Union State Bank mortgage officers are trained to guide applicants through the process and ensure they understand program qualifications and requirements.

“It’s common for buyers get stressed by the paperwork, income guidelines, and education courses,” said Zack Stoy, Market President and Mortgage Lender for Union State Bank. “I want them to feel comfortable, informed, and taken care of when they work with Union State Bank. The goal is for the buyer to feel supported and confident from start to finish.”

Two of the TurnKey programs, HSP and HSP+, are available only to first-time homebuyers. The HSP grant program is limited to low to moderate income first-time home buyers, providing up to $15,000.00 per grant. HSP provides down payment, closing costs and repair assistance to first-time homebuyers earning at or below 80% of the area median income.

The HSP+ grant is a specialty program exclusively for homes within counties designated as either a “difficult development area” or “high-cost area.” Difficult development areas are defined as non-metropolitan counties with high land, construction and utility costs relative to the area median income. High-cost areas are defined by the program as counties in which 115% of the local median home value exceeds the baseline conforming loan limit as established annually by the Federal Housing and Finance Agency. HSP+ provides down payment, closing costs and repair assistance to first-time homebuyers within these designated areas earning at or below 80% of the area median income. HSP+ eligible counties include Kearny County, Kansas; Bryan, Carter, Craig and Texas Counties in Oklahoma; and twenty-four counties within Colorado. For more information on the HSP+ program contact a Union State Bank mortgage expert.

The HOPE program removes the first-time home buyer requirement. HOPE is designed to provide up to $5,000 to low and moderate-income homebuyers, allowing for a household income limit of at our below 115% of the area median. Similar to the other TurnKey programs, HOPE provides down payment, closing cost and repair assistance to eligible homebuyers. FHLBank has reserved $6.3 million in HOPE grant funds for 2026.

Through its partnership with FHLBank Topeka and the TurnKey programs, Union State Bank continues its commitment to strengthening communities and helping others achieve the dream of homeownership.

“What we love about this partnership with FHLB is the ability to give back to our communities by making housing more affordable,” Welch said. “It’s a joy to help our customers who may not otherwise have a path to homeownership.”

Union State Bank is now accepting applications for all TurnKey grant programs. Individuals interested in learning more about available grant opportunities can visit www.MyUnionState.Bank or stop by their nearest USB branch to speak with a mortgage professional.