About Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company

 

Protecting What Matters. For Generations.

For more than 135 years, Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company (MFM) has been built on a simple promise: to protect the people, families, and businesses who trust us. What began as a mutual insurer serving Minnesota farmers has grown into a multi-state carrier offering personal and commercial insurance solutions—while staying true to our independent roots and relationship-driven approach.

We believe insurance works best when it’s personal, dependable, and designed for the long haul. Our history tells the story of how we’ve adapted, expanded, and innovated to meet the changing needs of the people we serve.

Built by Farmers, Guided by Community (1891–1930’s)

MFM was organized in 1891 as Minnesota Farmers Mutual Insurance, created to provide crop and hail insurance for Minnesota farmers. At a time when communities relied on one another for protection and stability, mutual insurance was a natural fit.

As the needs of rural families grew, so did we:

• 1906: Added farm windstorm insurance
• 1929: Expanded into general fire and inland marine coverage
• 1930: Introduced automobile and dwelling coverages

From the beginning, our purpose was clear—protect livelihoods and help communities recover when the unexpected happens.

Expanding Protection for Families (1970’s–2000’s)

As lifestyles evolved beyond the farm, MFM evolved too. In the late 1970s, we expanded our offerings to include homeowners and personal automobile insurance, reflecting a broader customer base and changing needs.

To better represent who we had become, our Board of Directors changed our name in 1983 to Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company—a name that reflects our commitment to families, not just farms.

A defining milestone came in 2006 with the introduction of our Personal Lines Portfolio Policy.

2006: The Policy That Changed Everything

Designed for our top-tier personal lines clients, the Portfolio Policy:

• Bundled homeowners, auto, boatowners, and umbrella coverage into one policy
• Simplified billing
• Offered a combined deductible
• Delivered competitive, streamlined coverage

Today, this policy remains the predominant way we serve our personal lines customers.

Partnering With Independent Agents (1990’s–Today)

Our growth has always been closely tied to our independent agent partners. In 1991, we introduced our first commercial lines insurance products, giving agents more tools to serve their clients and strengthening long-term relationships.

By listening to our agents—and the businesses they serve—we’ve continued to refine and expand our commercial offerings, ensuring flexibility, responsiveness, and regional expertise.

Growing Our Footprint: Thoughtful Geographic Expansion

Geographic expansion has been a cornerstone of MFM’s growth strategy. Rather than expanding rapidly, we’ve focused on intentional growth—entering new states where our products, service philosophy, and agent partnerships align.

Key Expansion Milestones

• 1997: Expanded into Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
• 2004: Entered Illinois with personal and commercial lines
• 2012–2016: Expanded commercial lines into Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, and Ohio
• 2017–2018: Continued expansion of our First Class Portfolio program across multiple states, including Oregon
• 2020–2021: Added Washington, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania for commercial lines
• 2024: Expanded personal lines into Idaho (January) and Montana (April)

Where We Serve Today

Midwest Family Mutual proudly partners with independent agents to serve policyholders across multiple states. Our geographic footprint continues to expand as we thoughtfully grow into new markets, ensuring we maintain the strong relationships, responsive service, and local expertise our agents and policyholders expect.

Milestones That Define Us

1891 – Founded as Minnesota Farmers Mutual Insurance
1983 – Renamed Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company
1991 – Introduced commercial lines insurance
2006 – Launched Personal Lines Portfolio Policy
2017 – Introduced First Class Portfolio program
2024 – Continued personal lines expansion into Idaho and Montana

Our Core Values: “FITTED To Who We Are”

Our core values define how we work, how we grow, and how we care for one another, our agents, and our policyholders. Together, they spell FITTED—a reflection of our commitment to doing the right things, the right way.

F: Focus on Agents & Customers

Independent agents are the foundation of Midwest Family Mutual. They are our exclusive means of distributing personal and commercial insurance products, guided by our mission: We serve our agents first to serve policyholders best.  We strive to provide competitively priced products with appropriate coverage and limits, paired with fair, prompt, and equitable claims service in times of need.

I: Innovate

Innovation has been a cornerstone of our long-term success. As markets evolve and technology advances, we believe continuous improvement is essential to remaining strong and relevant.

Every employee plays a role in innovation by sharing ideas that improve productivity, enhance product offerings, manage costs responsibly, and elevate the experience for agents, policyholders, and colleagues.

T: Think Like an Owner

We encourage an owner’s mindset in everything we do. That means making thoughtful decisions, prioritizing time wisely, and acting in ways that support the long-term health of the company and its employees.

From underwriting and pricing to claims handling and regulatory compliance, we focus on sound judgment, fairness, and responsible growth.

T: Treat Each Other Like Family

Family is in our name—and in how we treat one another. Though we operate in a remote work environment, we make the effort to build meaningful relationships across teams.

We may not always agree, but we commit to being respectful and agreeable. Our leadership values employees as our greatest asset, and we expect the same care and respect among colleagues.

E: Enjoy What You Do

Work is a significant part of life, and we believe it should be meaningful and fulfilling. Whether helping policyholders through difficult moments, supporting the growth of our agents, or tackling new challenges, we strive to find purpose and satisfaction in our work.  If something isn’t enjoyable or meaningful, we believe it’s worth asking why—and seeking ways to improve it.

D: Do Things the Right Way

Integrity guides every decision we make. Doing things the right way means acting ethically, efficiently, and transparently—without shortcuts.

We aim to document and follow best practices, comply with regulations, and make ethical choices even when no one is watching. At Midwest Family Mutual, doing the right thing is simply how we do business.

Midwest Family - Still Growing. Still Independent.

More than a century after our founding, MFM remains proudly mutual and fiercely independent. Our longevity isn’t just about how long we’ve been here—it’s about how we’ve grown: by listening, adapting, and staying focused on long-term partnerships rather than short-term trends. 

As we look ahead, we remain committed to protecting what matters most—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.