Invest in Illinois Overview

Invest in Illinois is a suite of programs offered by the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, designed to expand access to affordable financing and strengthen communities across the state. The initiative includes two core types of support:

• Linked Deposit Programs — Ag Invest, Business Invest, and Community Invest — which provide below-market, impact-investment deposits to Illinois financial institutions so they can offer low-interest loans to qualified borrowers.
• Loan Guarantee Programs — Business Loan Guarantee and Finally Home — which help banks reduce risk and extend credit to small businesses, first-time homebuyers, and borrowers who may not otherwise qualify for traditional financing.

Together, these deposit and guarantee programs empower Illinois lenders to offer affordable, accessible loans that drive local economic growth, support small business expansion, strengthen agriculture, and foster resilient communities. By supplying state investment capital at reduced interest rates—or backing loans with state guarantees—Invest in Illinois enables banks and credit unions to serve borrowers who are often underserved or face high borrowing costs.

Win-Win for Illinois

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is uniquely positioned to both generate investment earnings and stimulate economic opportunity. Through strategic investments in underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities, the office aims to strengthen local economies, create and sustain jobs, encourage business development, and promote long-term prosperity across Illinois.

Linked Deposit Programs

The linked deposit components of Invest in Illinois — including Ag Invest, Business Invest (CUP and SCALE UP), and Community Invest Opportunity Illinois — place below-market deposits with participating financial institutions. In turn, these institutions provide low-interest loans to eligible borrowers under the direction of the Treasurer’s Office.

Through community development linked deposits, everyone benefits:

• The Treasurer’s Office earns a return on invested state funds.
• Participating financial institutions earn interest on the loans they make.
• Qualified borrowers gain access to reduced-cost loans for personal needs, business expansion, or agricultural improvement.

Together, these programs broaden access to capital and support local economic development throughout Illinois.

Ag Invest

For over four decades, the Treasurer’s Office has strengthened Illinois’ agricultural community through the Ag Invest program. In partnership with approved financial institutions, AG Invest provides below-market-rate loans to qualified farmers, agribusinesses, and agriculture professionals to help them start, expand, or add value to their farm operations.

Loan funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including purchasing farm equipment, land, covering construction-related expenses, financing operating costs, or investing in sustainable and conventional farming practices.

The Ag Invest program is the nation’s largest agriculture impact investment deposit program. Since its inception in 1983, Ag Invest has loaned more than $5 billion in annual and long-term loans, fostering growth and stability across the state’s farming communities.

Business Invest

Many small businesses in underserved Illinois communities have a hard time getting the financing they need. When affordable funding is available, businesses can grow, make upgrades, and hire more employees, thereby strengthening local economies.

Business Invest is an Illinois State Treasurer’s Office program that helps close this gap. The Treasurer’s Office partners with approved financial institutions to support low-cost business loans in underserved communities. This approach helps expand access to capital for Illinois businesses while earning a competitive return for the State.

Business Invest programs include:

• Community Uplift Program: CUP works with community banks, credit unions, and savings and loan institutions to support below-market-rate loans for Illinois businesses. By reducing the cost of lending for financial institutions, CUP helps more businesses access affordable financing to grow and create jobs.
• Sub-Contractor Accelerator Loan Engine Program: SCALE UP helps small, diverse construction businesses access capital. Through approved financial institutions, SCALE UP supports MWVD firms (minority-, women-, veteran-, and disability-owned businesses) that have contracts with government agencies or major real estate developers in Illinois.

Community Invest

Community Invest helps strengthen financial futures and support local economic growth across Illinois by expanding access to low-cost loans. By lowering borrowing costs, the program helps create opportunities for individuals and families in underserved communities.

Community Invest is a consumer-focused impact investment loan program. The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office partners with approved financial institutions to provide affordable loans that support community development, while also earning a competitive return for the State.

Through Community Invest—Opportunity Illinois, the Treasurer’s Office works with community banks, credit unions, and savings and loan institutions to provide below-market-rate loans. These include:

• Home mortgages
• Auto loans
• Student loans
• Personal loans

Business Loan Guarantee

The Invest in Illinois – Business Loan Guarantee Program helps small businesses access the capital they need to start, grow, and create jobs, with a focus on low-income communities where the poverty rate is 20% or higher.

Through partnerships with Participating Financial Institutions, the program offers loan guarantees of up to 25% to help support financing for businesses that may not qualify through traditional lending. Participating lenders may be eligible for up to $1,000,000 in guarantees.

Become an approved Participating Financial Institution and help more Illinois small businesses thrive.

Finally Home

The Finally Home Program helps Illinois residents buy a home, refinance an existing mortgage, and reduce the risk of foreclosure. It’s designed for homebuyers and homeowners who may have trouble qualifying for a conventional mortgage due to factors like credit challenges or a high debt-to-income ratio.

Since 2002, Finally Home from the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office has guaranteed more than $80 million in loans, helping 600+ Illinois families achieve and keep homeownership.

Contact Us

Have questions? We’re here to help.