Hemlock Federal, originally named Karluvtyn Building and Loan Homestead Association, was established in 1904 at 51^st and Robey in Chicago, Illinois. As with most savings and loans formed early on, it's role was to provide the local ethnic community with a safe place to get money to purchase a home and put their savings. In 1937, the office moved to 51^st and Ashland Avenue in the Back of the Yards Area of Chicago.

After World War I, the local banking community began to change their ethnic names to "American" ones. The popular form was to take the name of the telephone exchange. Our telephone number was HE (Hemlock) 4-0600. So at this time, we became Hemlock Building Loan and Savings Association.

In the 1950s, we moved a short distance from the corner of 51^st and Ashland to 5140 So. Ashland. In 1975, a new main office was built in Oak Forest, Illinois. This building remains our main office today. Our third office opened in Oak Lawn, Illinois in 1977. In 1990 we donated the Ashland office to a Franciscan Religious Order and moved the facility to 47^th and Damen. 1998 saw the opening of our Lemont, Illinois facility and in 2000 we acquired 2 branches from another bank. These locations in Bolingbrook and the Little Village Area of Chicago bring our office facilities to 6.

Hemlock Federal Bank embraces the old-fashioned customer service and community values that get lost with takeovers and mergers. When you enter our lobbies, chances are you'll find a fresh pot of coffee and treats waiting for you, as well as an employee with a smile. Your savings and lending needs can be handled by one of our friendly and professional personal bankers. We also have a kid's corner play area to occupy the little ones while mom and dad take care of their banking.

In these days of mega-mergers, Hemlock Federal remains an independent community bank. We are one of the strongest and safest banks in the country. The quality service we offer is a reflection of our roots. Personal, friendly attention is what you'll get from our employees.

What makes us unique is our community commitment. In 1997, the Hemlock Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support the programs and people of our neighborhoods. As a community bank, our concern for the towns that we serve runs deep. We are one of a few banks in the country to establish a charitable foundation to provide financial support to local organizations. Our customers and employees are our neighbors, friends and family. Giving back to the community provides us all with a better today and a brighter future.

• Savings Plans to meet all financial needs.
• Quick-Switch checking kit® makes opening a checking account simple and painless.
• Kids Club for Savings to teach children the importance of saving money
• Time of Your Life Club® with special benefits for those age 50 and better.
• ATM/Check card gives you the flexibility to get cash or make purchases at thousands of Chicagoland locations.
• Penny®, our 24-hour bank-by-phone teller, gives you banking options anywhere you have a touch-tone phone.
• Loan products with easy and affordable rates and terms.
• Quality, friendly service from our employees.
• Commitment to our neighborhoods and communities through Hemlock Federal Charitable Foundation.

At Hemlock Federal Bank, we believe we have a responsibility to help make the communities in which we serve a better place to live. We have a strong history of supporting local charitable organizations that serve the citizens of our community.

This commitment first took shape in 1990, when we donated what had been our main office to a Franciscan priest who now uses it as a day care center for the working poor on the South Side of Chicago.

Our commitment was formalized in 1997, when we became one of the first thrifts in the country to form a charitable foundation in conjunction with going public. Since that time, the Hemlock Federal Charitable Foundation has contributed over $300,000 to more than fifty different community organizations. A partial list of recipients of grants includes:

These organizations and others we support provide homeless prevention, computer and skills training for the handicapped, after-school programs for children of working parents, transportation and medical assistance for seniors, and family shelters for victims of abuse.

Our goal is to enhance the quality of life in the communities in which we serve, and we believe that our efforts to do so are what makes us a true community bank.