SHREVEPORT, LA, July 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sammie Holmes, 71, always wanted a home to call her own. She was living with her nephew while working part-time for Volunteers of America when she decided the time was right to make a move.

During her home search, Ms. Holmes attended a class for first-time homebuyers, where she learned about the Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP) program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas).

Ms. Holmes accessed the HELP program through Red River Bank, a member of FHLB Dallas. HELP grants assist income-qualified, first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs on newly constructed or existing homes.

"HELP grants create opportunities for hard-working individuals to become homeowners," said Judy Madison, assistant vice president at Red River Bank. "The difference these grants make is significant — to the families and to their communities. We are thrilled to partner with FHLB Dallas in offering this worthwhile program to our community."

Ms. Holmes was awarded a $7,000 HELP grant that was applied toward her down payment. She is grateful for her new, three-bedroom, two-bath home in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she lives with her daughter and grandson. Ms. Holmes said she is excited to do things she could not do as a renter. "I can fix up the yard and make the inside feel like home," she said. 

In 2015, FHLB Dallas made $1 million available for the HELP program on a first-come, first-served basis. To date this year, Red River Bank has awarded $56,000 in HELP grants to assist eight qualified homebuyers.

"HELP is another vehicle through which we can assist our members in providing affordable housing opportunities in their communities," said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "These opportunities make a tremendous difference in the lives of deserving individuals and families."

About Red River Bank

Red River Bank is a full service community bank headquartered in Alexandria, Louisiana. Red River Bank was chartered in 1998 in Rapides Parish and began operating its first banking center in Alexandria in 1999. Red River Bank offers consumer and commercial banking services and products, mortgage lending services, and investment services. For more information, logon to www.redriverbank.net.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $36.9 billion as of March 31, 2015, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 865 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

Contact:

Corporate Communications
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
www.fhlb.com
(214) 441-8445

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SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

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