Spring 2021 | Number 187

Illinois Rd Branch is Well Under Way

Progress on our newest branch has been moving right along this winter. Our 18th branch and will be located at 9705 Illinois Road near Scott Road. The full-service facility will expand our footprint in the Fort Wayne area and will feature 3 teller windows, 2 drive-up lanes, and a 24/7 ATM. Watch our website for news about the grand opening this summer.

New Managers in Fort WayneMidWest America is happy to announce the addition of two new managers to

our roster. In addition to assisting the membership with day-to-day account needs, they serve as Mortgage Specialists who can help members find the perfect financing solution for their current or future homes.

Tamesha Fikes joined us in October as Branch Manager of the Stellhorn Branch with 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has both a bachelor’s degree in Public Financial Management from IU Bloomington and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan. Tamesha is a board member of the YMCA Youth Services Program, Project Reads, and Ladies with Purpose, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and serves as Board Treasurer of Associated Churches.

Ryan Hawkins recently moved to Fort Wayne and will not only manage the East Dupont Branch, but he will also oversee the operations of several other branch locations as an Area Branch Manager. He comes to us with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in Business - Insurance and Risk Management from Ball State University and holds multiple insurance licenses.

Ryan HawkinsArea Branch Manager

Tamesha FikesStellhorn Branch

Manager

Pay Yourself First: How to Automatically Start Saving More Money

Like going to the gym or eating a healthy diet, saving money is one of those concepts that’s simple to grasp but weirdly challenging to put into practice. We understand its benefits. We agree that it’s essential to our well-being. We know that it’s something we should be doing. But paycheck after paycheck, it’s the same routine: after the bills have been paid and the regular expenses have been looked after, there just isn’t quite enough left over for our savings goals. We blame our lack of financial willpower and promise ourselves we’ll do better next paycheck, but more often than not, the cycle repeats itself. If this scenario seems all too familiar, consider automating your personal finances in order to pay yourself first.

Paying yourself first is an effective savings strategy because it takes willpower right out of the equation. Rather than struggling to increase your self-control, you simply reduce your need to put it into action. When you get paid, a portion of your income is immediately funneled into your savings (the size of that portion is up to you—to figure it out, take your total monthly income and subtract your essential monthly expenses, then decide how much of the remainder you want going toward your savings goals). That portion may be small at first, but it will add up over time and get you in the habit of saving consistently. As your savings grow and as you make progress on your financial goals, you’ll see your monthly cash flow in a new light and prioritize your budget more responsibly. The best part is that you’ll be protected against future moments of budgeting weakness.

Automate your paycheck - Your employer can help you reach your savings goals before your paycheck even hits your account. Take advantage of any retirement savings plans offered through your employer—especially if they include employer match. If you get paid by direct deposit, ask your employer if they accept multiple deposit accounts. If so, have a portion of your paycheck deposited directly into your savings account each payday.

Automate your checking account - If your employer doesn’t have the ability to deposit some of your paycheck into your savings account for you, do the next best thing: set up a repeating automatic transfer from your checking (continued on back)

Holiday ClosingsAll branches of MidWest America will be closed in observance of

Memorial Day on Monday, May 31st. Access to your accounts is available 24 hours a day with

Phone & Digital Banking as well as most ATMs.

A Behind the Scenes Look at MidWest America’s 1st Virtual Annual Meeting

This year’s Virtual Annual Meeting took place in the lobby of our main office. In order to practice social distancing, the senior management, Board of Directors, and Supervisory Committee spread out and watched the meeting from various offices, our Education Center, and Board Room. The Credit Union’s Information Technology and Marketing departments facilitated the meeting along with our on-screen stars (President/CEO, Greg Mohr; Chairman of the Board, Darrell Gerig; and Recording Secretary, Patti Zeedyk). We are so pleased the meeting went smoothly, but look forward to the possibility of going back to an in-person one next year. To view a copy of MidWest America’s annual report, visit our website and click on the “About” tab.

We honored longtime volunteers during the meeting with service awards. Douglas Mills (left) has served on the Supervisory Committee for 15 years and Ken Roehrs (right) has volunteered on the Supervisory Committee for 5 years. Thank you for your service to the Credit Union.

Staff member service awards were awarded after the meeting at each individual branch.

(continued) account to your savings account. Schedule the transfer for shortly after payday—that way, as you budget out your month, your savings will already be safely tucked away out of sight and out of mind.

Automate your savings goals - Admittedly, throwing money into a generic savings account every month isn’t a particularly imaginative experience. It’s not representative of the future happiness you’re creating with your savings goals. Increase your motivation and excitement around saving money by reminding yourself of the specifics of your goals. The Credit Union offers “You Name It” accounts which allow you to set custom titles according to the purpose you have set for them. Watching the numbers grow in “Surfing in Costa Rica” or “Dreamhouse with patio and fire pit” is more compelling than simply “Saving.” Get even more granular by setting up regular automatic transfers into each of your subaccounts.

Look for extra opportunities to save - Once your automatic savings plan is in place, look for little ways to make additional contributions to your savings accounts. Empty the contents of your spare change jar once a year and deposit it into your savings. If you participate in any sort of cashback rewards program, consider putting that “extra” money toward your savings instead of spending it elsewhere. Also, consider putting any future income tax refunds toward your savings. You can get creative in finding additional sources of income to help your savings along.

Mortgage Servicing Inquiries, Error Resolution Requests and/or DisputesIf you believe an error has been made on your mortgage loan or have questions pertaining to the servicing of your account, please send us a written statement addressing your inquiry or the error in question. If you are writing about an error, please include documentation to support why you believe we have made an error on your account. Your letter must be signed and contain your full name, property address, loan number, and your current contact information so we may follow up with you. Please forward letters and supporting documentation to the address below:

MidWest America Federal Credit UnionAttn: Mortgage Servicing Dept1220 Medical Park Drive, Bldg 1

Fort Wayne, IN 46825-5826

Non-dispute inquiries can also be addressed by contacting the Mortgage Servicing Department at

(800) 348-4738 ext. 3345.

Negative Information NoticeWe may report information about your account to credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults of your account may be reflected in your credit report.

On March 10th we had 4 employees participate in the SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) Brown Bag Lunch where they packed CASA pasta and salads. These lunches were picked up and delivered across Fort Wayne and earned the organization close to $35,000. If you’d like to learn more about the organization visit https://www.scanfw.org/