MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc

Rating Overview

MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc is Lower Risk.

MidWestOne Financial Group is Lower Risk. The company does not yield to political activism in shaping corporate governance, preventing initiatives that potentially alienate consumers, divide employees, and harm shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. Overall, the company does not embrace corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach protects free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Lower Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	Medium Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MidWestOne has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MidWestOne does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

MidWestOne appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment. From its 2020 Annual Report: “Recruitment and retention of top talent in our industry is a critical component to success in every aspect of our business. As MidWestOne prepares for the workforce of the future, we are mindful of the importance of diversity and inclusion as a core component of these efforts” (1). The company requires its employees to take DEI awareness training (2). The company has a history of divisive corporate policies. However, in January 2024, the company removed DEI language from its 2024 Annual Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (3). MidWestOne does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (4).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

MidWestOne supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2020 Annual Report: “Accordingly, in 2020, we took steps to develop and formalize our diversity and inclusion strategies with the development of the R.I.S.E. (“Retention. Innovation. Support. Empowerment.”) Initiative. R.I.S.E. serves as an umbrella strategy that drives our commitment to achieving our workforce diversity initiatives” (1). The company has a history of divisive corporate policies. However, in January 2024, the company removed DEI language from its 2024 Annual Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed this change, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (2). Otherwise, MidWestOne has not supported ideological causes or policies (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

MidWestOne has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

MidWestOne does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).