Home, auto, business — loans decided by Chicagoland bankers.
Every Neighbors First loan is reviewed and approved by a local loan officer, not a call-center underwriter. That means faster decisions, honest guidance, and someone you can meet in person.
Home loans
Neighbors First is a full-service mortgage lender — from first-time homebuyer programs to jumbo mortgages and construction loans. Talk to Michael Reynolds, our Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, who rotates through five Chicagoland branches each week (Chicago Loop Mondays, Lincoln Park Tuesdays, Naperville Wednesdays, Schaumburg Thursdays, Orland Park Fridays).
Purchase mortgages
- Conventional — 15, 20, and 30-year fixed; 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1 ARMs
- FHA — 3.5% down, credit scores from 580
- VA — 0% down for qualifying veterans and active-duty service members
- USDA — 0% down in eligible rural areas of Illinois
- First-Time Homebuyer — down payment assistance up to $10,000 for qualifying buyers
- Jumbo — loans above the conforming limit, competitive rates for well-qualified borrowers
Refinance and equity
- Rate-and-term refinance — lower your rate or shorten your term
- Cash-out refinance — use home equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or education
- Home Equity Loan (HELOAN) — fixed rate, fixed payment, up to 85% CLTV
- Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) — variable rate, revolving line, 10-year draw + 20-year repayment
Construction loans
Building a new home or completing a major renovation? Neighbors First construction loans finance the build with interest-only payments during construction, then convert to a permanent mortgage at completion — a single closing, a single set of fees. Talk to Michael Reynolds for details.
Auto and personal loans
Consumer loans at Neighbors First are underwritten by Christopher Hayes, our Consumer Lending Officer at the Orland Park branch. Same or next-day decisions for most applications.
Auto loans
- New and used vehicle financing
- Terms up to 84 months for new, 72 for used
- Pre-approval good for 60 days
- Refinance your existing auto loan to save on rate
- See Rates for current APRs
Personal loans
- Unsecured loans from $2,000 to $50,000
- Fixed rates, fixed payments
- Terms from 12 to 60 months
- No prepayment penalty
- Common uses: debt consolidation, home improvement, medical, weddings
Personal lines of credit
- Revolving credit line of $5,000 – $100,000
- Variable rate, secured or unsecured
- Access via checks, transfers, or online banking
- Only pay interest on what you use
Business and commercial lending
Neighbors First's commercial lending team supports Chicagoland businesses from startups through mid-market companies. Every credit decision is made locally — often within days, not weeks.
Commercial lending
- Commercial real estate — owner-occupied and investor CRE
- C&I loans — working capital, expansion financing
- Commercial lines of credit — revolving lines for seasonal or ongoing cash needs
- Equipment financing — up to 100% financing on new and used equipment
- Owner-occupied real estate — buy the building your business operates from
Contact: Jonathan Price (Waukegan), David Thompson (Evanston), or Eric Hamilton, Regional Relationship Manager (Chicago Loop).
SBA lending
Neighbors First is an SBA Preferred Lender, which means faster approvals on 7(a), 504, and Express loans.
- SBA 7(a) — general purpose, up to $5,000,000
- SBA 504 — real estate and long-term equipment, up to $5,500,000
- SBA Express — up to $500,000, decision in as little as 36 hours
Contact: Ryan Cooper, SBA Lending Specialist (Schaumburg).
Agricultural & equipment lending
Illinois farms and ag-adjacent businesses have a dedicated resource in Andrew Morgan, our Agricultural & Commercial Lending Officer. Andrew rotates through five branches each week (Aurora Mondays, Joliet Tuesdays, Naperville Wednesdays, Waukegan Thursdays, Orland Park Fridays).
- Operating lines of credit for annual planting and inputs
- Farmland and farm improvement financing
- Farm equipment loans and leases
- Livestock financing
- Grain storage and processing facility loans
- Farm real estate refinancing
Ready to talk about your loan?
Get pre-qualified in about 15 minutes with a Neighbors First loan officer — no application fee, no hard credit pull.