First Mid Bank & Trust Prepares for Annual Paint-A-Thon Event

As the 33rd Annual Painting Project Nears, First Mid Employees Recount the Event’s Lasting Impact Burlington, IA (September 1, 2026) For more than three decades, Paint-A-Thon volunteers, sponsors, and community members have witnessed firsthand what a home can mean to people. As First Mid Bank & Trust (First Mid) prepares to participate in this year’s Paint-A-Thon in Burlington, IA, longtime volunteers within the bank are reflecting on the lasting impact this community effort has had on homeowners and volunteers alike. Paint-A-Thon, which will kick off September 7, is a volunteer-led home improvement project that helps improve the appearance and value of qualifying homes throughout Burlington. First Mid is proud to continue the longstanding support of the event established by Two Rivers Bank & Trust, with local team members carrying forward a tradition many have been part of for years. Since the event started 33 years ago, nearly 600 homes have been painted. Eric Benne, Director of Trust at First Mid, has participated in the event for 15 years, both as a volunteer and through the bank’s involvement. Each year, he said witnessing homeowners’ reactions has left an impression, whether helping an older adult, a veteran with disabilities, or the family of a deployed service member. “When residents come out of their homes to see the work we’ve done and you see what it means to them, it takes the experience to a whole new level,” Benne said. “Their appreciation is incredibly meaningful because it’s about creating something the homeowner can be proud of, and something we can be proud of, too.” That same sense of fulfillment has also been experienced by Austin Schwartz, Trust Administrator at First Mid, who has volunteered with the event for several years. In collaboration with Community Action of Southeast Iowa, Sherwin-Williams, and other area volunteers, participants also complete minor home repairs and improvements, such as vegetation clean-up and trimming. “Everyone is always so grateful, and you can see how much pride they have for their home,” Schwartz said. “At the last house we worked on, we built a wheelchair ramp for a homeowner who hadn’t been able to leave their home in several years. Moments like that really put the impact of this work into perspective. There are often tears when homeowners see the finished product, and you can see the pride and joy on their faces when they see what their home looks like now.” As the bank gets ready for another Paint-A-Thon, Benne and Schwartz are glad to see the collective effort and care going into this year’s event. “Paint-A-Thon has always been a tremendous event and it continues to spread to other towns, which speaks to the value of it,” Benne said. “First Mid continuing this tradition is a true reflection of what it means to be a community bank. It’s a great example of how a local bank can put its values into action and make a meaningful difference right here in Burlington.” To learn more about the event or volunteer opportunities, please visit caofseia.org/events/paint-a-thon/. About First Mid Bancshares, Inc.: First Mid Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A., First Mid Insurance Group, and First Mid Wealth Management Company. First Mid is a $9.2 billion community-focused organization that provides financial services including banking, insurance, wealth management, brokerage, and ag services through a network of locations in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin, and a loan production office in Indiana. Together, our First Mid team takes great pride in providing solutions and services to our customers and communities and has done so since 1865. More information about the Company is available on our website at www.firstmid.com. Our stock is traded in The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol “FMBH”. Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender.