MACU FOR YOU NEWSLETTER Summer 2026

By Brad Herzet, President/CEO

Mid American’s footprint in Wichita continues to grow.

With the major remodel still underway at our longstanding South Meridian branch in Wichita, this summer we will break ground on the northwest corner of East 21^st Street North and 143rd East for our fifth freestanding branch in Wichita.

The new branch, which we anticipate will open in late spring 2027, will have MACU’s signature marquee sign and look, multiple drive-thru lanes and a full finished basement to provide office space for up to 26 staff members. We plan to retain the branch at 29^th and Webb.

The major remodel of the branch at 2433 W. 31^st St. S. will transform it into what will look and feel like a brand-new facility. We expect completion around October. The project is moving the drive‑thru lanes away from the building, completely guts the interior to the exterior walls, and rebuilds the space with a traditional teller line, several offices, updated finishes and a safe room for members and staff in case of severe weather.

We have one more finishing touch to make to our remodeled Arkansas City branch. We plan to work with a local artist to create a mural on the north exterior wall that will highlight the Arkansas City community.

While those remodels are improving facilities for our staff and members, we’re also involved in projects that have a community impact. This year, through our Consumer United Program, we are dispersing $26,000 to support financial education programs with area nonprofits, such as The Women’s Network that provides employment and professional development pathways for women who’ve survived domestic abuse. Watch our Facebook page for posts about the organizations who are receiving this financial support.

Imagine spending a lifetime building your savings, only to have someone you trust take advantage of you. For millions of older adults, this is a very real threat.

Elder financial abuse is one of the fastest-growing forms of elder mistreatment, often leaving victims with devastating financial losses and lasting emotional consequences. While an estimated one in 10 older adults experiences reported financial abuse, experts believe many more cases go unreported because victims feel embarrassed, fearful or unsure where to seek help.

What makes financial exploitation especially troubling is that it often comes at the hands of someone the victim knows and trusts—a family member, caregiver, friend or even a trusted advisor. Recognizing the warning signs early can help prevent further harm and protect vulnerable loved ones.

What is elder financial abuse?
Elder financial abuse occurs when someone illegally or improperly uses an older adult's money, property or assets for personal gain. This may include theft, fraud, scams, forgery, coercion, or misuse of authority through a power of attorney.

Warning signs you shouldn't ignore
Being aware of potential red flags can help you spot abuse before significant damage occurs.

Unusual financial activity
• Sudden or unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
• Large transfers to unfamiliar individuals or accounts
• Missing money, valuables or personal belongings
• Unexpected changes to banking arrangements or new joint accounts

Behavioral changes
• Increased anxiety, confusion or fear when discussing finances
• Hesitation to speak openly, especially in the presence of a particular person
• Sudden shifts in spending habits or financial decision-making

Changes to important documents
• Unexpected revisions to wills, trusts or power of attorney documents
• Signatures that appear inconsistent with the older adult's handwriting
• New individuals assuming control over financial decisions

Unpaid bills or unmet needs
• Bills going unpaid despite adequate financial resources
• Utility shutoff notices or overdue payment warnings
• Lack of food, medication or other necessities

Potential exploitation by others
• A new friend, caregiver or relative showing unusual interest in finances
• Someone isolating the older adult from family members or trusted contacts
• An individual speaking on the older adult's behalf or discouraging independent decisions

What you can do
• Start a conversation. Approach the situation with empathy, respect, and concern.
• Document your concerns. Keep records of suspicious transactions or changes in behavior.
• Report it. Contact Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, or a trusted financial institution. Mid American members can contact a member service representative at 316-722-3921, extension 202.
• Encourage safeguards. Consider account alerts, automatic bill payments, trusted contacts, and regular account reviews.

By Debbie Stang, Home Loan Officer

Sometimes the signs that it’s time to sell your home are there, maybe you want to downsize, maybe your growing family needs more space, maybe you’re ready for a new neighborhood. Along with weighing your

 personal circumstances and lifestyle aspirations, you should also consider market conditions and financial goals. After all, your home is a significant financial investment, and it can increase in value over time.

How is my home an investment?

The longer you own a home, the more it can appreciate in value and the more equity you can build. Home appreciation is the difference between what you paid for your home and its current appraised or market value. Equity is the difference between your home’s appraised or market value and what you owe on your mortgage. Several factors — market demands, recent sales of comparable properties, property conditions — affect a home’s appraisal.

Your home’s equity is a financial asset. It can be used to buy your next home, fund improvements and even consolidate higher-interest debt. If you decide to make improvements to your existing home to make it more appealing to potential buyers, focus on updates that bring better returns on investment, such as outdoor improvements, and ones that have broader appeal to buyers.

Who does the market favor?

According to Zillow, the markets in Kansas’ largest cities favor the sellers. In a seller’s market, where demand for homes outweighs what’s on the market, homes may receive multiple offers and get a higher-than-asking price. Also, the spring and summer seasons seem to bring out more buyers, according to the real estate industry.

While a seller’s market is generally in your favor when you sell, it also means the market is competitive when it comes to finding your next home. So, not only are you deciding to sell, but you’re also deciding to buy. That requires a strategic approach, including getting pre-approved for your next mortgage and doing your homework to move into your next investment.

Here to help

Whether you make the decision to sell and move on to your next home, or whether you decide you want to access your home’s equity to make improvements in your current home, Mid American Credit Union can help. We offer competitive rates for mortgages and home equity loan products.

For more information about Mid American’s mortgage products, click here, or please call 316-722-3921 and ask for either me or LeeAnn Marker in mortgages, or email debbies@midamerican.coop or leeannm@midamerican.coop.

For the second consecutive year, Bethanie Brooks, mortgage loan processor, received the Best of Quality Award from Member Mortgage Services (MMS). Owned by a cooperative of credit unions, MMS connects members to competitive home loan products.

Rick Dixon appreciates the credit union philosophy of people helping people and making sure accessing financial services are easy rather than formidable.

It’s why he turned to a credit union as a newlywed when he and his wife needed a car loan. And it’s why — when he was leading a third-generation Wichita-based company that was transitioning to direct deposit paychecks — Dixon partnered with Mid American to provide a safe, supportive space for his employees with Hoidale Co. to manage their finances.

Hoidale Co., led by Dixon’s son Steve since 2015, is a supplier of petroleum equipment with offices in Wichita, Oklahoma City, Garden City and Kansas City. It started 80 years ago by Dixon’s grandfather, Peter Hoidale, just 10 years after Mid American was founded.

In 1991, Dixon began volunteering for MACU, first serving on the credit committee until 2009 and now serving as a director on the board. His term ends in March 2027. He says he appreciates that the credit union sees itself as a community partner, something that Hoidale Co. continues to embrace.

“I firmly believe that the community is a big part of why we're here, and I firmly believe that we need to share our resources and time,” Dixon says.

We’re turning up the heat for our 90th anniversary celebration with our Ultimate Cookout Promotion. 

Between Aug. 1–31, 2026, members and nonmembers can enter for a chance to win an incredible cookout package featuring a Yoder Smoker YS640s Pellet Grill on a Competition Cart, grilling essentials, a $500 Creekstone Farms gift certificate, 52-quart wheeled RTIC cooler and more. Check our website, social media and inside MACU lobbies for details and official rules.

By Jessica Brokaw, CFP®

When it comes to your workplace retirement plan, what’s not to love? It provides you with an automatic savings plan, tax advantages, an employer match, a diverse menu of well-researched investment options and comprehensive online retirement planning tools. However, there’s one ingredient that makes your plan so powerful that it almost feels like cheating — compound interest. It’s the secret sauce that has the potential to turn even modest savings into something much bigger over time.

What’s in the secret sauce?

Compound interest means your money earns interest not only on what you save, but also on the interest it already earned. It’s like a snowball rolling downhill — small at first, but gaining speed and size as it goes. Here’s a simple example: If you invest $100 a month into a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k), and it earns an average 7% return annually, in 30 years you could have over $113,000. Even better? Your investment growth isn’t taxed each year. That means more of your money stays invested and keeps working for you, year after year. That’s called tax-deferred compounding, and it’s what gives your savings real power over time.

Traditional or Roth? The sauce still shines

Whether you’re saving in a traditional (pretax) account or a Roth (after tax) account — or a mix of both — compound interest works the same. The key difference is when you pay taxes: either now (Roth) or later (traditional). But the growth engine behind the scenes? That’s the sauce.

Start early, let it simmer

The real magic happens over time. The earlier you start saving, the more time compound interest has to work. Even small contributions can potentially grow into something significant. And don’t forget: matching contributions from your employer also benefit from the secret sauce. So keep stirring the pot and commit to increasing your savings rate each year (even if it’s just 1%). Your future self will be very glad you did.

Informational Sources: Fidelity: “What is Compound Interest?” (December 16, 2024); TurboTax: “The Tax Benefits of Your 401(k) Plan” (June 24, 2025).

LPL Financial and its advisors are only offering educational services and cannot offer participants investment advice specific to their particular needs. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advisory services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

©2025 Kmotion, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is a publication of Kmotion, Inc., whose role is solely that of publisher. The articles and opinions in this newsletter are those of Kmotion. The articles and opinions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Nothing in this publication shall be construed as providing investment counseling or directing employees to participate in any investment program in any way. Please consult your financial advisor or other appropriate professional for further assistance with regard to your individual situation.

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