00009074712020FYFalseP3Yus-gaap:OtherAssetsus-gaap:AccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent00009074712019-10-012020-09-30iso4217:USD00009074712020-03-31xbrli:shares00009074712020-11-2300009074712020-09-3000009074712019-09-30iso4217:USDxbrli:shares0000907471us-gaap:NonvotingCommonStockMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonvotingCommonStockMember2019-09-3000009074712018-10-012019-09-3000009074712017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancialServiceOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancialServiceOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancialServiceOtherMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:TaxAdvanceProductFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TaxAdvanceProductFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:TaxAdvanceProductFeesMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:PaymentCardAndDepositFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:PaymentCardAndDepositFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:PaymentCardAndDepositFeesMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:RentalIncomeMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:RentalIncomeMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RentalIncomeMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2017-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2017-09-3000009074712017-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2018-09-3000009074712018-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member2018-09-300000907471srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Memberus-gaap:ParentMember2018-09-300000907471srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Membersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Memberus-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:ParentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2020-09-30xbrli:pure0000907471cash:FirstMidwestFinancialCapitalTrustIMember2020-09-30cash:joint_venture0000907471us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember2020-09-30cash:segment0000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankCertificatesAndObligationsFHLBMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalReserveBankAdvancesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherAssetsMember2020-09-300000907471srt:MinimumMember2020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherAssetsMemberus-gaap:FairValueMeasuredAtNetAssetValuePerShareMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherAssetsMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member2020-09-300000907471srt:MinimumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:BuildingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LeaseholdsAndLeaseholdImprovementsMembersrt:MinimumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LeaseholdsAndLeaseholdImprovementsMembersrt:MaximumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member2018-10-010000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member2019-10-010000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Memberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMembersrt:ScenarioForecastMembersrt:MinimumMember2020-10-010000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Memberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMembersrt:ScenarioForecastMembersrt:MaximumMember2020-10-010000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Memberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMembersrt:ScenarioForecastMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMembersrt:MinimumMember2020-10-010000907471us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Memberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMembersrt:ScenarioForecastMembersrt:MaximumMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2020-10-010000907471cash:Covid19PandemicMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:COVID19RelatedPaymentDeferralsMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCOVID19RelatedModificationsMember2020-09-3000009074712020-07-012020-09-3000009074712019-07-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMemberus-gaap:SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember2020-02-290000907471cash:CommunityBankMemberus-gaap:SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember2020-02-292020-02-290000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2020-08-040000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2020-09-170000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMemberus-gaap:SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMembercash:CommunityBankMember2020-07-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMemberus-gaap:SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMembercash:CommunityBankMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:SmallBusinessAdministrationSecuritiesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NonBankQualifiedObligationUSStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:AssetBackedSecuritiesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:SmallBusinessAdministrationSecuritiesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NonBankQualifiedObligationUSStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:AssetBackedSecuritiesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:MortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:FederalHomeLoanBankMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:FederalHomeLoanBankMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:FederalHomeLoanBankMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:AssetPledgedAsCollateralMember2020-09-300000907471cash:FederalReserveBankMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgricultureLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgricultureLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-30cash:loan0000907471cash:Covid19PandemicMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CrestmarkBancorpInc.Member2020-09-300000907471cash:CrestmarkBancorpInc.Member2018-08-010000907471cash:CommunityBankingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:Covid19PandemicMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:AgricultureLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2018-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2018-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2018-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2018-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:AgricultureLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:AgricultureLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankingMember2018-09-300000907471cash:Covid19PandemicMembersrt:MinimumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:Covid19PandemicMembersrt:MaximumMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMembercash:WatchAndSpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:FactoringMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:FactoringMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:PassMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:FactoringMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:FactoringMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:FactoringMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:PremiumFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:NationalLendingExcludingConsumerFinanceAndTaxServicesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PassMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:SpecialMentionMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubstandardMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:PassMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CriticizedMembercash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:SpecialMentionMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMemberus-gaap:SubstandardMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:DoubtfulMembercash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TotalLoansEvaluatedForCreditRiskMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforSaleMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TermLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:TermLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AssetBasedLendingMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:FactoringMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:LeaseFinancingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:PremiumFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:PremiumFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:SBAUSDAMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:OtherCommercialFinanceMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerCreditProductsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:ConsumerCreditProductsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:OtherConsumerFinanceMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:ConsumerLoanMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:TaxServicesMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:TaxServicesMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:NationalLendingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:OneToFourFamilyResidentialMortgageLoansMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMembercash:LoansHeldforInvestmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables30To59DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivables60To89DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMemberus-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:PerformingFinancingReceivableMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMemberus-gaap:FinancingReceivablesEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDueMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NonperformingFinancingReceivableMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:LandMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LandMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:BuildingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:BuildingMember2019-09-300000907471cash:FurnitureFixturesAndEquipmentMember2020-09-300000907471cash:FurnitureFixturesAndEquipmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:ComputerEquipmentMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:ComputerEquipmentMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:VehiclesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:VehiclesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:SolarPanelsandPeripheralEquipmentMember2020-09-300000907471cash:SolarPanelsandPeripheralEquipmentMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2018-09-300000907471cash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMember2019-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:AgricultureRealEstateCustomerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:AgricultureRealEstateCustomerMember2020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:AgriculturalOperatingLoansMembercash:CommunityBankMembercash:ForeclosedPropertyMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:MetaPaymentSystemsMember2019-09-300000907471cash:RetailBankingMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2019-09-300000907471cash:MetaPaymentSystemsMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:RetailBankingMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:MetaPaymentSystemsMember2020-09-300000907471cash:RetailBankingMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2020-09-300000907471cash:MetaPaymentSystemsMember2018-09-300000907471cash:RetailBankingMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2018-09-300000907471cash:MetaPaymentSystemsMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RetailBankingMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-3000009074712020-06-300000907471us-gaap:TrademarksMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:TrademarksMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TrademarksMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember2020-09-300000907471srt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMemberus-gaap:TrademarksMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMemberus-gaap:TrademarksMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TrademarksMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember2018-09-300000907471us-gaap:TrademarksMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMemberus-gaap:TrademarksMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMemberus-gaap:TrademarksMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:NoncompeteAgreementsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMembersrt:MinimumMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:OtherIntangibleAssetsMembercash:RefundAdvantageFinancialServicesIncMember2018-10-012019-09-30cash:Lease0000907471cash:DCSolarMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CrestmarkBancorpInc.Member2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:WholesaleDepositsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalFundsPurchasedMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalFundsPurchasedMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankCertificatesAndObligationsFHLBMemberus-gaap:FederalFundsPurchasedMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankCertificatesAndObligationsFHLBMemberus-gaap:FederalFundsPurchasedMember2019-09-300000907471cash:OtherFinancialInstitutionsMemberus-gaap:FederalFundsPurchasedMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMember2020-07-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FederalHomeLoanBankAdvancesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TrustPreferredSecuritiesSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2020-09-300000907471cash:LongtermDebtOtherMember2020-09-300000907471srt:SubsidiariesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMembersrt:SubsidiariesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMembersrt:SubsidiariesMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMembersrt:SubsidiariesMember2019-09-300000907471srt:WeightedAverageMemberus-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMembersrt:SubsidiariesMember2020-09-30cash:Period0000907471srt:SubsidiariesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CrestmarkBancorpInc.Memberus-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMembercash:A5Point75PercentFixedtoFloatingRateSubordinatedDebtDueAugust152026Member2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMembercash:A5Point75PercentFixedtoFloatingRateSubordinatedDebtDueAugust152026Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-11-200000907471us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:TreasuryStockCommonMember2019-06-252019-06-25cash:hours0000907471us-gaap:SubsequentEventMember2020-10-012020-10-010000907471srt:DirectorMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:DirectorMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:DirectorMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471srt:SubsidiariesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CardLimitedLLCv.MetaBankdbaMetaPaymentSystemsMember2016-10-140000907471cash:AFSIBEXADivisionofMetaBankV.AegisManagingAgencyLimitedMember2018-02-092018-02-090000907471cash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:TaxAdvanceProductFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:TaxAdvanceProductFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:PaymentCardAndDepositFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:PaymentCardAndDepositFeesMembercash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:OtherBankandDepositFeesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RentalIncomeMembercash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:RentalIncomeMembercash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:RentalIncomeMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:RentalIncomeMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:RentalIncomeMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:RentalIncomeMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:LossonSaleofSecuritiesAvailableforSaleMemberus-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossonSaleofSecuritiesAvailableforSaleMemberus-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:LossonSaleofSecuritiesAvailableforSaleMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossonSaleofSecuritiesAvailableforSaleMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:GainOnDivestitureMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:GainOnDivestitureMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMembercash:ConsumerMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMembercash:ConsumerMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMemberus-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMemberus-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:LossGainOnSaleOfOtherMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMembercash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471cash:OtherRevenuesforFinancialAssetsandLiabilitiesMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMember2019-09-300000907471cash:RefundTransferFeesMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMember2020-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2020-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMember2019-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2019-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:CorporateAndOtherMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471cash:ConsumerMember2018-09-300000907471cash:CommercialMember2018-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2020-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2019-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2019-10-012020-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2018-10-012019-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2017-10-012018-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2018-09-300000907471srt:ParentCompanyMember2017-09-3000009074712019-10-012019-12-3100009074712020-01-012020-03-3100009074712020-04-012020-06-3000009074712018-10-012018-12-3100009074712019-01-012019-03-3100009074712019-04-012019-06-3000009074712017-10-012017-12-3100009074712018-01-012018-03-3100009074712018-04-012018-06-3000009074712018-07-012018-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommercialAndMultifamilyRealEstateLoansMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:CommunityBankingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:ImpairedLoansMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:CommercialLoanMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:NationalLendingMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:ImpairedLoansMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Membercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Membercash:ForeclosedAssetsMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputAppraisedValueMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Membersrt:MinimumMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembersrt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputAppraisedValueMembercash:ImpairedLoansMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputAppraisedValueMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Membersrt:MinimumMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:MarketApproachValuationTechniqueMembercash:ForeclosedAssetsMembersrt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputAppraisedValueMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2020-09-300000907471us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2019-09-300000907471us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member2019-09-300000907471cash:CommunityBankMemberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMember2020-11-18


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-K
 
☒  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020
OR
☐  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to           .

Commission File Number:  0-22140
 
CASH-20200930_G1.JPG
META FINANCIAL GROUP INC.®
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 42-1406262
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

(605) 782-1767
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value CASH The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None.
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes ☒ No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ☐ No ☒1.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒ No ☐


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ☒ No ☐.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company See the definitions of "large accelerated filer." "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large Accelerated Filer Accelerated
filer
Non-accelerated
filer
Smaller reporting
company
Emerging growth
company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
 
As of March 31, 2020, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the average of the closing bid and asked prices of such stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as of such date, was $693.1 million.
 
As of November 23, 2020, there were 33,446,654 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
PART III of Form 10-K -- Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held February 23, 2021 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.





META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K

Table of Contents
 
   
  PART I Page
No.
   
Item 1.
3
Item 1A.
45
Item 1B.
59
Item 2.
60
Item 3.
60
Item 4.
60
     
  PART II  
     
Item 5.
61
Item 6.
63
Item 7.
65
Item 7A.
80
Item 8.
83
Item 9.
159
Item 9A.
159
Item 9B.
161
     
  PART III  
     
Item 10.
165
Item 11.
165
Item 12.
165
Item 13.
166
Item 14.
166
     
  PART IV  
     
Item 15.
166
Item 16.
168

i

Table of Contents
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Meta Financial Group, Inc.® ("Meta" or "the Company" or "us") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MetaBank®, National Association ("MetaBank" or "the Bank") may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements,” including statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Company’s reports to stockholders, and other communications by the Company and MetaBank, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future,” or the negative of those terms, or other words of similar meaning or similar expressions. You should carefully read statements that contain these words because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and assumptions about future events, and include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, expectations, estimates, and intentions, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Such statements address, among others, the following subjects: future operating results; expectations in connection with the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental actions on the Company and MetaBank; customer retention; loan and other product demand; expectations concerning acquisitions and divestitures; new products and services, including those offered by the Meta Payment Systems, Refund Advantage, EPS Financial and Specialty Consumer Services divisions; credit quality; the level of net charge-offs on loans and leases and the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses; technology; and the Company's employees. The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance and results of operations to differ materially from the expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: maintaining our executive management team; expected growth opportunities may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the potential adverse effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any governmental or societal responses thereto, or other unusual and infrequently occurring events; actual changes in interest rates and the Fed Funds rate; additional changes in tax laws; the strength of the United States' economy, in general, and the strength of the local economies in which the Company operates; changes in, trade, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”); inflation, market, and monetary fluctuations; the timely and efficient development of, and acceptance of, new products and services offered by the Company or its strategic partners, as well as risks (including reputational and litigation) attendant thereto, and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users; the Bank's ability to maintain its Durbin Amendment exemption; the risks of dealing with or utilizing third parties, including, in connection with the Company’s refund advance business, the risk of reduced volume of refund advance loans as a result of reduced customer demand for or usage of Meta’s strategic partners’ refund advance products; our relationship with, and any actions which may be initiated by our regulators; the impact of changes in financial services laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, laws and regulations relating to the tax refund industry and the insurance premium finance industry and recent and potential changes in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") and the rules and regulations that may be promulgated thereunder; technological changes, including, but not limited to, the protection of our electronic systems and information; the impact of acquisitions and divestitures; litigation risk; the growth of the Company’s business, as well as expenses related thereto; continued maintenance by MetaBank of its status as a well-capitalized institution, particularly in light of our growing deposit base, a portion of which has been characterized as “brokered”; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; losses from fraudulent or illegal activity; technological risks and developments, and cyber threats, attacks or events; and the success of the Company at maintaining its high quality asset level and managing and collecting assets of borrowers in default should problem assets increase.

The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update, revise, or clarify these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Additional discussions of factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects are contained herein, including under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances, or future events or for any other reason.
2

Table of Contents
PART I

Item 1.     Business

GENERAL
 
Meta, a registered bank holding company, was incorporated in Delaware on June 14, 1993. Meta's principal assets are all the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank, a national bank, the accounts of which are insured up to applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") as administrator of the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”). Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the Company include Meta and the Bank, and all subsidiaries of Meta, direct or indirect, on a consolidated basis.

The Bank, a wholly-owned full-service banking subsidiary of Meta, operates through three reportable segments (Consumer, Commercial, and Corporate Services/Other). The diagram below reflects the Company's divisions and how they fall within the Company's segment structure. The Company works with high-value niche industries, strategic-growth companies and technology adopters to grow their businesses and build more profitable customer relationships. The Company tailors solutions for bank and non-bank businesses, and provides a focused collaborative approach.

CASH-20200930_G2.JPG

The business of the Bank primarily consists of attracting deposits and investing those funds in its loan and lease portfolios, along with providing prepaid cards and other financial products and solutions to business and consumer customers. In addition to originating loans and leases, the Bank also occasionally contracts to sell loans, such as tax refund advance loans, consumer credit product loans, and government guaranteed loans, to third party buyers. The Bank also sells and purchases loan participations from time to time to and from other financial institutions, as well as mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") and other investments permissible under applicable regulations.

On February 29, 2020 (the "Closing Date"), the Company sold the Bank's Community Bank division, a component of the Company's Corporate Services/Other segment, to Central Bank, a state-chartered bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. The sale included all of the Community Bank's deposits, branch locations, fixed assets and employees and a portion of the Community Bank’s loan portfolio. The Company entered a servicing agreement with Central Bank for the retained Community Bank loan portfolio that became effective on the Closing Date. The retained Community Bank loan portfolio is included in the Corporate Services/Other segment.

In addition to its lending and deposit gathering activities, the Bank issues prepaid cards, offers innovative consumer credit products, sponsors automated teller machines (“ATMs”) in various debit networks, and offers tax refund-transfer services and other payment industry products and services. Through its activities, the Meta Payment Systems (“MPS”) division generates both fee income and low-cost deposits for the Bank.


3

Table of Contents
SUBSIDIARIES

In April 2017, the Company formed a new entity, Meta Capital, LLC ("Meta Capital"), that is a wholly-owned service corporation subsidiary of MetaBank. Meta Capital was formed for the purpose of making minority equity investments. Meta Capital focuses on investing in companies in the financial services industry.

First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I, also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meta, was established in July 2001 and Crestmark Capital Trust I, acquired by the Company in August 2018, was established in June 2005 for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities.
 
MARKET AREAS
 
The Consumer segment, which provides payments products and services and lending solutions nationwide, primarily operates out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with additional offices in Louisville, Kentucky and Easton, Pennsylvania. Within the Company's Commercial segment, the AFS/IBEX division operates out of its headquarters in Dallas, Texas with other offices throughout the country. The Crestmark division, which was created when the Company completed its acquisition of Crestmark Bancorp, Inc. and its Michigan state-chartered bank subsidiary, Crestmark Bank (the "Crestmark Acquisition"), operates out of its headquarters in Troy, Michigan, with other offices throughout the country.
 
The principal executive office of the Company is located at 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108. Its telephone number at that address is (605) 782-1767.

The Company is subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision. See “Regulation and Supervision” herein.
4

Table of Contents
LENDING ACTIVITIES
 
General

The diagram below shows the composition of the Company's lending portfolio by loan type. The Company emphasizes credit quality and seeks to avoid undue concentrations of loans and leases to a single industry or based on a single class of collateral. The Company has established lending policies that include a number of underwriting factors that it considers in making a loan, including loan-to-value ratio, cash flow, interest rate and credit history of the borrower.

CASH-20200930_G3.JPG

The Company focuses its lending activities on the origination of commercial finance loans, consumer finance loans and taxpayer advance loans. Effective on the Closing Date of the Community Bank division sale to Central Bank, the Company substantially ceased originating loans within its Community Banking loan portfolio. At September 30, 2020, the Company’s loans and leases receivable, net of allowance for loan and lease losses, totaled $3.27 billion, or 54% of the Company’s total assets, as compared to $3.63 billion, or 59%, at September 30, 2019.

Loan and lease applications are initially considered and approved at various levels of authority, depending on the type and amount of the loan or lease as directed by the Bank's lending policies. The Company has a loan committee structure in place for oversight of its lending activities. Loans and leases in excess of certain amounts require approval by either an Executive Credit Committee or a Board Credit Committee. The Company may discontinue, adjust, or create new lending programs to respond to competitive factors.
 
5

Table of Contents
At September 30, 2020, the Company’s largest lending relationship to a single borrower or group of related borrowers totaled $80.0 million. The Company had 24 other lending relationships in excess of $14.0 million as of September 30, 2020.
 
Loan and Lease Portfolio Composition

The following table provides information about the composition of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio in dollar amounts and in percentages as of the dates indicated. In general, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the aggregate principal amounts in all categories of loans and leases discussed below, except agricultural loans, increased over levels from the prior fiscal year.

Loan and lease tables have been conformed to be consistent with the Company's updated categorization of its lending portfolio between National Lending and Community Banking.

6

Table of Contents

  At September 30,
  2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
(Dollars in Thousands) Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
Real estate loans:
National Lending
Commercial finance $ 52,207  1.6  % $ 42,266  1.2  % $ 14,971  0.5  % $ —  —  % $ —  —  %
Total National Lending 52,207  1.6  % 42,266  1.2  % 14,971  0.5  % —  —  % —  —  %
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 440,369  13.3  % 849,171  23.3  % 748,579  25.4  % 585,510  44.1  % 422,932  45.7  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 15,170  0.5  % 235,365  6.4  % 223,482  7.7  % 196,706  14.8  % 162,298  17.5  %
Agricultural real estate and operating 9,122  0.3  % 37,029  1.0  % 36,780  1.2  % 61,800  4.7  % 63,612  6.9  %
Total Community Banking 464,661  14.1  % 1,121,565  30.7  % 1,008,841  34.3  % 844,016  63.6  % 648,842  70.1  %
Total real estate loans 516,868  15.7  % 1,163,831  31.9  % 1,023,812  34.8  % 844,016  63.6  % 648,842  70.1  %
Other loans and leases:
National Lending
Commercial finance 2,255,777  68.1  % 1,873,964  51.3  % 1,494,878  50.8  % 255,308  19.2  % 174,034  18.8  %
Consumer finance 224,151  6.8  % 268,198  7.3  % 270,361  9.2  % 140,229  10.6  % 14,300  1.5  %
Tax services 3,066  0.1  % 2,240  0.1  % 1,073  —  % 192  —  % 190  —  %
Warehouse finance 293,375  8.8  % 262,924  7.2  % 65,000  2.2  % —  —  % —  —  %
Total National Lending 2,776,369  83.8  % 2,407,326  65.9  % 1,831,312  62.2  % 395,729  29.8  % 188,524  20.4  %
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 17,002  0.4  % 34,761  0.9  % 42,311  1.4  % 30,718  2.3  % 28,651  3.1  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 1,316  —  % 24,060  0.7  % 23,836  0.8  % 22,775  1.7  % 22,794  2.5  %
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,585  0.1  % 21,435  0.6  % 23,718  0.8  % 33,594  2.5  % 37,083  4.0  %
Total Community Banking 20,903  0.5  % 80,256  2.2  % 89,865  3.0  % 87,087  6.6  % 88,528  9.6  %
Total other loans and leases 2,797,272  84.3  % 2,487,582  68.1  % 1,921,177  65.2  % 482,816  36.4  % 277,052  29.9  %
Total loans and leases $ 3,314,140  100.0  % $ 3,651,413  100.0  % $ 2,944,989  100.0  % $ 1,326,832  100.0  % $ 925,894  100.0  %






7

Table of Contents
The following table shows the composition of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio by fixed- and adjustable-rate at the dates indicated.
  At September 30,
  2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
(Dollars in Thousands) Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
Fixed-rate loans and leases:
National Lending
Commercial finance $ 1,687,130  50.9  % $ 1,113,071  30.5  % $ 956,920  32.5  % $ 250,459  18.9  % $ 171,604  18.5  %
Consumer finance 108,706  3.3  % 22,965  0.6  % 21,093  0.7  % 16,489  1.2  % 14,300  1.5  %
Tax services (1)
3,066  0.1  % 2,240  0.1  % 1,073  —  % —  —  % —  —  %
Warehouse finance 124,012  3.7  % —  —  % —  —  % —  —  % —  —  %
Total National Lending 1,922,914  58.0  % 1,138,276  31.2  % 979,086  33.2  % 266,948  20.1  % 185,904  20.0  %
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 408,585  12.3  % 828,603  22.7  % 749,258  25.5  % 580,092  43.8  % 417,281  45.1  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 15,312  0.5  % 226,375  6.2  % 220,163  7.5  % 193,765  14.6  % 160,956  17.4  %
Agricultural real estate and operating 9,561  0.3  % 41,772  1.1  % 46,940  1.6  % 80,419  6.1  % 86,651  9.4  %
Total Community Banking 433,458  13.1  % 1,096,750  30.0  % 1,016,361  34.6  % 854,274  64.5  % 664,888  71.9  %
Total fixed-rate loans and leases 2,356,372  71.1  % 2,235,026  61.2  % 1,995,447  67.8  % 1,121,222  84.5  % 850,792  91.9  %
Adjustable-rate loans and leases:
National Lending
Commercial finance 620,854  18.7  % 803,159  22.0  % 552,929  18.8  % 4,849  0.4  % 2,430  0.3  %
Consumer finance 115,445  3.5  % 245,233  6.7  % 249,268  8.4  % 123,742  9.3  % —  —  %
Tax services (1)
—  —  % —  —  % —  —  % 192  —  % 190  —  %
Warehouse finance 169,363  5.1  % 262,924  7.2  % 65,000  2.2  % —  —  % —  —  %
Total National Lending 905,662  27.3  % 1,311,316  35.9  % 867,197  29.4  % 128,783  9.7  % 2,620  0.3  %
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 48,786  1.5  % 55,329  1.5  % 41,632  1.4  % 36,136  2.8  % 34,302  3.7  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 1,174  —  % 33,050  0.9  % 27,155  0.9  % 25,716  1.9  % 24,136  2.6  %
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,146  0.1  % 16,692  0.5  % 13,558  0.5  % 14,975  1.1  % 14,044  1.5  %
Total Community Banking 52,106  1.6  % 105,071  2.9  % 82,345  2.8  % 76,827  5.8  % 72,482  7.8  %
Total adjustable-rate loans and leases 957,768  28.9  % 1,416,387  38.8  % 949,542  32.2  % 205,610  15.5  % 75,102  8.1  %
Total loans and leases 3,314,140  100.0  % 3,651,413  100.0  % 2,944,989  100.0  % 1,326,832  100.0  % 925,894  100.0  %
Deferred fees and discounts 8,625  7,434  (250) (1,461) (789)
Allowance for loan and lease losses (56,188) (29,149) (13,040) (7,534) (5,635)
Total loans and leases receivable, net $ 3,266,577  $ 3,629,698  $ 2,931,699  $ 1,317,837  $ 919,470 
(1) Certain tax services loans do not bear interest.
8

Table of Contents

The following table illustrates the maturity analysis of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio at September 30, 2020. The table reflects management’s estimate of the effects of loan and lease prepayments or curtailments based on data from the Company’s historical experiences and other third-party sources.
  Due in one year or less Due after one year through five years Due after five years Total
(Dollars in Thousands) Amount Weighted
Average
Rate
Amount Weighted
Average
Rate
Amount Weighted
Average
Rate
Amount
National Lending
Commercial finance $ 1,568,919  7.88  % $ 653,712  7.02  % $ 85,353  5.72  % $ 2,307,984 
Consumer finance 96,829  7.46  % 109,558  6.39  % 17,764  5.99  % 224,151 
Tax services 3,066  —  % —  —  % —  —  % 3,066 
Warehouse finance 56,621  6.01  % 236,754  5.92  % —  —  % 293,375 
Total National Lending 1,725,435  7.79  % 1,000,024  6.69  % 103,117  5.76  % 2,828,576 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 50,017  4.60  % 197,376  4.58  % 209,978  4.49  % 457,371 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 4,936  3.74  % 9,568  3.78  % 1,982  3.87  % 16,486 
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,151  4.58  % 5,892  4.33  % 3,664  3.32  % 11,707 
Total Community Banking 57,104  4.52  % 212,836  4.53  % 215,624  4.46  % 485,564 
Total loans and leases $ 1,782,539  7.68  % $ 1,212,860  6.31  % $ 318,741  4.88  % $ 3,314,140 

9

Table of Contents
National Lending

Commercial Finance
The Company's commercial finance product lines include term lending, asset based lending, factoring, leasing, insurance premium finance, government guaranteed lending and other commercial finance products offered on a nationwide basis.

Term Lending. Through its Crestmark division, the Bank originates a variety of collateralized conventional term loans and notes receivable. While terms range from three years to 25 years, the weighted average life of these loans is approximately 53 months. These term loans may be secured by equipment, recurring revenue streams, or real estate. Credit risk is managed through setting loan amounts appropriate for the collateral based on information including equipment cost, appraisals, valuations, and lending history. The Bank follows standardized loan policies and established and authorized credit limits and applies attentive portfolio management, which includes monitoring past dues, financial performance, financial covenants, and industry trends. As of September 30, 2020, 26% of the term lending portfolio exposure is concentrated in solar/alternative energy, most of which are construction projects that will convert to longer term government guaranteed facilities upon completion of the construction phase. Equipment Finance Agreements and Installment Purchase Agreements make up $349.9 million, or 43%, of the term lending total as of September 30, 2020. The remaining 31% are a variety of investment advisory loans and other more traditional term equipment and general purpose commercial loans.

Asset Based Lending. Through its Crestmark division, the Bank provides asset based loans secured by short-term assets such as inventory, accounts receivable, and work-in-process. Asset based loans may also be secured by real estate and equipment. The primary sources of repayment are the operating income of the borrower, the collection of the receivables securing the loan, and/or the sale of the inventory securing the loan. Loans are typically revolving lines of credit with terms of one year to three years, whereby the Bank withholds a contingency reserve representing the difference between the amount advanced and the fair value of the invoice amount or other collateral value. Credit risk is managed through advance rates appropriate for the collateral (generally, advance rates on accounts receivable is 85% and inventory advance rates range from 40% to 50%), standardized loan policies, established and authorized credit limits, attentive portfolio management and the use of lock box agreements and similar arrangements which result in the Company receiving and controlling the debtors' cash receipts. As of September 30, 2020, approximately 70% of these loans were backed by accounts receivable.

Factoring. Through its Crestmark division, the Bank provides factoring lending where clients provide detailed inventory, accounts receivable, and work-in-process reports for lending arrangements. The factoring clients are diversified as to industry and geography. With these loans, the Crestmark division withholds a contingency reserve, which is the difference between the fair value of the invoice amount or other collateral value and the amount advanced (generally, advance rates are 85% on accounts receivable). This reserve is withheld for nonpayment of factored receivables, service fees and other adjustments. Credit risk is managed through standardized advance policies, established and authorized credit limits, verification of receivables, attentive portfolio management and the use of lock box agreements and similar arrangements which result in the Company receiving and controlling the client's cash receipts. In addition, clients generally guarantee the payment of purchased accounts receivable. As of September 30, 2020, approximately 95% of these loans were backed by accounts receivable.

Lease Financing. Through its Crestmark division, the Bank provides creative, flexible lease solutions for technology, capital equipment and select transportation assets like tractors and trailers. Direct financing leases and sales-type leases substantially transfer the benefits and risks of equipment ownership to the lessee. The lease may contain provisions that transfer ownership to the lessee at the end of the initial term, contain a bargain purchase option or allow for purchase of the equipment at fair market value. Residual values are estimated at the inception of the lease. Lease maturities are generally no greater than 84 months. The focus in this lease financing category is to support middle market companies by providing a variety of financing products to help them meet their business objectives.


10

Table of Contents
Insurance Premium Finance. Through its AFS/IBEX division the Bank provides, on a national basis, short-term, primarily collateralized financing to facilitate the commercial customers’ purchase of insurance for various forms of risk, otherwise known as insurance premium financing. This includes, but is not limited to, policies for commercial property, casualty and liability risk. Premiums are advanced either directly to the insurance carrier or through an intermediary/broker and repaid by the policyholder with interest during the policy term. The policyholder generally makes a 20% to 25% down payment to the insurance broker and finances the remainder over nine months to 10 months on average. The down payment is set such that if the policy is canceled, the unearned premium is typically sufficient to cover the loan balance and accrued interest and is returned by the insurer to the Bank on a pro rata basis. Over 90% of the portfolio finances policies provided by investment grade-rated insurance company partners.

Small Business Administration ("SBA") and United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"). The Bank originates loans through programs partially guaranteed by the SBA or USDA. These loans are made to small businesses and professionals with what the Bank believes are lower risk characteristics. Certain guaranteed portions of these loans are generally sold to the secondary market. See "Originations, Sales and Servicing of Loans and Leases" below for further details. As part of the CARES Act, the SBA will pay six months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020. As of September 30, 2020, there were 51 loans with a retained outstanding balance of $29.7 million receiving six months principal and interest from the SBA. The Company is also participating in the PPP, which is being administered by the SBA. The Company expects that some portion of these loans will ultimately be forgiven by the SBA in accordance with the terms of the program. Loans funded through the Paycheck Protection Program (the "PPP") are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government. As of September 30, 2020, the Company authorized 689 applications, totaling $219.0 million in PPP loan requests as part of the program.

Other Commercial Finance. Included in this category of loans are the Company's healthcare receivables loan portfolio primarily comprised of loans to individuals for medical services received. The majority of these loans are guaranteed by the hospital providing the service to the debtor and this guarantee serves to reduce credit risk as the guarantors agree to repurchase severely delinquent loans. Credit risk is minimized on these loans based on the guarantor’s repurchase agreement. This loan category also includes commercial real estate loans to customers of the Crestmark division.

Consumer Finance
Consumer Credit Products. The Bank designs its credit program relationships with certain desired outcomes. Three high priority outcomes are liquidity, credit protection, and risk retention. The Bank believes the benefits of these outcomes not only support its goals but the goals of the credit program partner as well. The Bank designs its program credit protections in a manner so that the Bank earns a reasonable risk adjusted return, but is protected by certain layers of credit support, similar to what you would find in structured finance. The Bank will hold a sizable portion of the originated asset on its own balance sheet, but retains the flexibility to sell a portion of the originated asset to other interested parties, thereby supporting program liquidity.

As of September 30, 2020, the Bank has two consumer credit programs. The loan products offered under these programs are generally closed-end installment loans with terms between 12 months and 84 months and revolving lines of credit with durations between six months and 60 months.

Other Consumer Finance. The Bank's purchased student loan portfolios are seasoned, floating rate, private portfolios that are serviced by a third-party servicer. The portfolio purchased during the fiscal 2018 first quarter is indexed to one-month of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), while the portfolio purchased in the fiscal 2017 first quarter is indexed to three-month LIBOR plus various margins. The Company received written notification on June 18, 2018 from ReliaMax Surety Company ("ReliaMax"), the company that provided insurance coverage for the student loan portfolios, which informed policy holders that the South Dakota Division of Insurance filed a petition to have ReliaMax declared insolvent and to adopt a plan of liquidation. An Order of Liquidation was entered on June 27, 2018 by the Sixth Circuit Court in Hughes County, South Dakota, declaring ReliaMax insolvent and appointing the South Dakota Division of Insurance as liquidator to adopt a plan of liquidation. The Company expects to ultimately recover a portion of the unearned premiums, though the Company can provide no assurance as to the timing and amount of any such recovery.


11

Table of Contents
Tax Services
The Bank's tax services division provides short-term taxpayer advance loans. Taxpayers are underwritten to determine eligibility for these unsecured loans. Due to the nature of taxpayer advance loans, it typically takes no more than three e-file cycles (the period of time between scheduled IRS payments) from when the return is accepted by the IRS to collect from the borrower. In the event of default, the Bank has no recourse against the tax consumer. The Bank will charge off the balance of a taxpayer advance loan if there is a balance at the end of the calendar year, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

Through its tax services division, the Bank provides short-term electronic return originator ("ERO") advance loans on a nationwide basis. These loans are typically utilized by tax preparers to purchase tax preparation software and to prepare tax office operations for the upcoming tax season. EROs go through an underwriting process to determine eligibility for the unsecured advances. ERO loans are not collateralized. Collection on ERO advances begins once the ERO begins to process refund transfers. Generally, the Bank will charge off the balance of an ERO advance loan if there is a balance at the end of June, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

On August 5, 2020, the Bank entered into a three-year program management agreement with Emerald Financial Services, LLC, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of H&R Block, Inc. (“H&R Block”), to serve as a facilitator for H&R Block's suite of financial services products which include: Emerald Prepaid MasterCard®, Refund Transfers, Refund Advances, Emerald Advance® lines of credit, and other products through H&R Block’s distribution channels. Under the Refund Transfer program, the Bank opens a temporary bank account for each H&R Block customer who is receiving an income tax refund and elects to defer payment of his or her tax preparation fees. After the Internal Revenue Service and any state income tax authorities transfer the refund into the customer’s account, the net funds are transferred to the customer and the temporary deposit account is closed. We earn a fixed fee paid by H&R Block for each of the H&R Block customers electing a refund transfer.

Warehouse Finance
The Bank participates in several asset-backed warehouse lines of credit whereby the Bank is in a senior, secured position as the first out participant. These facilities are primarily collateralized by consumer receivables, with the Bank holding a senior collateral position enhanced by a subordinate party structure.

Community Banking

Effective on the Closing Date of the Community Bank division sale to Central Bank, the Company substantially ceased originating loans within its Community Banking loan portfolio. The Company entered into a servicing agreement with Central Bank for the retained Community Bank loan portfolio that became effective on the Closing Date. See Note 3. Divestitures for further information related to the Community Banking lending portfolio.

Commercial Real Estate and Operating
The Company's commercial and multi-family real estate loans are secured primarily by apartment buildings, office buildings, and hotels. Commercial and multi-family real estate loans generally are underwritten with terms not exceeding 20 years, have loan-to-value ratios of up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan, and are typically secured by guarantees of the borrowers. As of September 30, 2020, multi-family real estate loan balances totaled $51.6 million, over 88% of which were located within the Community Bank division's footprint of South Dakota and Iowa. The average loan-to-value ratio on multi-family real estate loans at the time of the Company's most recently completed annual stress test analysis was approximately 69%.

As of September 30, 2020, hospitality loan balances totaled $179.3 million, of which approximately 26% were located in the Community Bank division's footprint of South Dakota and Iowa, while the majority of the remaining balances were through developers headquartered in the Community Bank division footprint with properties located in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and California. Over 99% of the outstanding loan balances are flagged hotel relationships and a large majority of the loans have guarantees by individuals with a high combined net worth. Based on the latest appraisals the Company has on file, the average loan-to-value ratio on hospitality loans was approximately 60%.


12

Table of Contents
Most of the Company's commercial operating loans were extended to finance local and regional businesses and include short-term loans to finance machinery and equipment purchases, inventory and accounts receivable. Commercial loans also may involve the extension of revolving credit for a combination of equipment acquisitions and working capital in expanding companies. The maximum term for loans extended on machinery and equipment is based on the projected useful life of such machinery and equipment. Generally, the maximum term on non-mortgage lines of credit is one year. 

Consumer One-to-Four Family Real Estate and Other
The Company's one-to-four family residential mortgage loans have terms up to a maximum of 30 years and with loan-to-value ratios up to 100% of the lesser of the appraised value of the property securing the loan or the contract price. However, the vast majority of these loans are originated with loan-to-value ratios below 80%. The Company also has five year and ten year ARM loans. As of September 30, 2020, over 99% of the one-to-four family real estate loans were located within the Community Bank division's footprint of South Dakota and Iowa.

The Company also has a variety of secured consumer loans, including home equity and home improvement loans. Substantially all of the Company’s home equity loans and lines of credit are secured by second mortgages on principal residences. The Bank lent amounts which, together with all prior liens, may be up to 90% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan. Home equity loans and lines of credit generally have maximum terms of five years. As of September 30, 2020, the outstanding balance in these secured consumer loans was $1.3 million and all of those were located within the Community Bank division's footprint of South Dakota and Iowa.

Agricultural Real Estate and Operating
The Company's agricultural loans finance the purchase of farmland, livestock, farm machinery and equipment, seed, fertilizer, and other farm-related products. Agricultural operating loans are at either an adjustable- or fixed-rate of interest for up to a one-year term or, in the case of livestock, are due upon sale. Agricultural real estate loans are frequently originated with adjustable rates of interest. Generally, such loans provide for a fixed rate of interest for the first five years to 10 years, after which the loan will balloon or the interest rate will adjust annually. These loans generally amortize over a period of 20 years to 25 years. Fixed-rate agricultural real estate loans typically have terms up to 10 years. Agricultural real estate loans are generally limited to 75% of the value of the property securing the loan. As of September 30, 2020, 78% of the agricultural loans were real estate loans while the remaining 22% were agricultural operating loans and approximately 82% of the total agricultural loans were located within the Community Bank division's footprint of South Dakota and Iowa.

ORIGINATIONS, SALES AND SERVICING OF LOANS AND LEASES

The Company, from time to time, sells loans and leases, and in some cases, loan participations, generally without recourse. At September 30, 2020, there were no outstanding loans sold by the Company with recourse. When loans or leases are sold, the Company may retain the responsibility for collecting and remitting loan payments, making certain that real estate tax payments are made on behalf of borrowers, and otherwise servicing the loans. The servicing fee is recognized as income over the life of the loans. As of September 30, 2020, the Company serviced loans that it originated and sold totaling $232.3 million, all of which were SBA/USDA guaranteed loan balances sold to the secondary market.
 
The Company generally sells the guaranteed portion of its SBA 7(a) loans and USDA program loans in the secondary market. These sales have resulted in premium income for the Company at the time of sale and created a stream of future servicing income. When the Company sells the guaranteed portion of its loans, it incurs credit risk on the non-guaranteed portion of the loans, and, if a customer defaults on the loan, the Company shares any loss and recovery related to the loan pro-rata with the SBA or USDA, as applicable. If the SBA or USDA establishes that a loss on a guaranteed loan is attributable to significant technical deficiencies in the manner in which the loan was originated, funded or serviced by the Company, the SBA or USDA may seek recovery of the principal loss related to the deficiency from the Company, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

On August 4, 2020 and September 17, 2020, the Company sold an additional $58.6 million and $76.4 million, respectively, of the retained Community Bank portfolio to Central Bank. The sales did not result in any material gain to the Company. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $130.1 million of community bank loans classified as held for sale and expects to sell those loans during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

13

Table of Contents
In periods of economic uncertainty, the Company’s ability to originate large dollar volumes of loans and leases may be substantially reduced or restricted, with a resultant decrease in related loan origination fees, other fee income and operating earnings. In addition, the Company’s ability to sell loans may substantially decrease if potential buyers (principally government agencies) reduce their purchasing activities.

The following table shows the loan and lease originations (including draws, loan and lease renewals, and undisbursed portions of loans and leases in process), purchases, and sales and repayment activities of the Company for the periods indicated.
  Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2020 2019 2018
Originations: (Dollars in Thousands)
Commercial finance $ 7,715,696  $ 8,232,928  $ 2,034,719 
Consumer finance 470,052  688,714  429,194 
Tax services 1,395,348  1,513,509  1,286,293 
Total National Lending 9,581,096  10,435,151  3,750,206 
Commercial real estate and operating 155,085  409,280  472,035 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 52,675  85,809  96,863 
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,507  40,567  66,906 
Total Community Banking 210,267  535,656  635,804 
Total loans and leases originated 9,791,363  10,970,807  4,386,010 
Acquired:
Commercial finance —  —  1,063,504 
Total National Lending —  —  1,063,504 
Total loans and leases acquired —  —  1,063,504 
Purchases:
Commercial finance 2,400  25,069  — 
Consumer finance —  —  72,751 
Warehouse finance 130,130  226,292  65,000 
Total National Lending 132,530  251,361  137,751 
Commercial real estate and operating 18,905  26,444  27,919 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  260  — 
Total Community Banking 18,905  26,704  27,919 
Total loans and leases purchased 151,435  278,065  165,670 
Sales and repayments:
Sales:
Commercial finance 63,119  68,623  17,621 
Consumer finance 120,389  57,503  — 
Total National Lending 183,508  126,126  17,621 
Commercial real estate and operating 265,154  13,069  22,571 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 125,104  —  — 
Agricultural real estate and operating 27,029  —  40 
Total Community Banking 417,287  13,069  22,611 
Total loan sales 600,795  139,195  40,232 
Repayments:
Loan and lease principal repayments 9,644,476  10,270,082  3,949,780 
Total principal repayments 9,644,476  10,270,082  3,949,780 
Total reductions 10,245,271  10,409,277  3,990,012 
(Decrease) increase in other items, net (25,849) (8,425) 4,295 
Net increase $ (328,321) $ 831,170  $ 1,629,468 
(1) Certain tax services loans do not bear interest.
14

Table of Contents
NON-PERFORMING ASSETS, OTHER LOANS AND LEASES OF CONCERN AND CLASSIFIED ASSETS
 
The following table sets forth the Company’s loan and lease delinquencies by type, by amount and by percentage of type at September 30, 2020.
  Loans and Leases Delinquent For:
  30-59 Days 60-89 Days 90 Days and Over
Number Amount Percent
of
Category
Number Amount Percent
of
Category
Number Amount Percent
of
Category
(Dollars in Thousands)
Loans held for sale —  $ —  —  % —  $ —  —  % —  $ —  —  %
National Lending
Commercial finance 348  $ 13,338  87.7  % 294  $ 14,345  93.5  % 1,317  $ 16,663  76.7  %
Consumer finance 102  977  6.4  % 84  894  5.8  % 469  872  4.0  %
Tax services (1)
—  —  —  % —  —  —  % —  1,743  8.0  %
Total National Lending 450  14,315  94.1  % 378  15,239  99.3  % 1,786  19,278  88.7  %
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating —  —  —  —  —  —  % 630  2.9  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 905  5.9  % 114  0.7  % 50  0.2  %
Agricultural real estate and operating —  —  —  % —  —  —  % 1,769  8.2  %
Total Community Banking 905  5.9  % 114  0.7  % 2,449  11.3  %
Total loans and leases held for investment 451  $ 15,220  100.0  % 379  $ 15,353  100.0  % 1,795  $ 21,727  100.0  %
Total loans and leases 451  $ 15,220  100.0  % 379  $ 15,353  100.0  % 1,795  $ 21,727  100.0  %
(1) The tax services loans past due represented the aggregate remaining balance of the tax services loan portfolio.

Delinquencies 90 days and over constituted 0.62% of total loans and leases and 0.36% of total assets.

Generally, when a loan or lease becomes delinquent 90 days or more or when the collection of principal or interest becomes doubtful, the Company will place the loan or lease on a non-accrual status and, as a result, previously accrued interest income on the loan or lease is reversed against current income. The loan or lease will generally remain on a non-accrual status until six months of good payment history has been established or management believes the financial status of the borrower has been significantly restored. Certain relationships in the table above are over 90 days past due and still accruing. The Company considers these relationships as being in the process of collection. Insurance premium finance loans, consumer finance and tax services loans are generally not placed on non-accrual status, but are instead written off when the collection of principal and interest become doubtful.

15

Table of Contents
The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of the Company’s non-performing assets.
  At September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Non-performing loans and leases
Non-accruing loans and leases:
Commercial finance $ 21,553  $ 14,378  $ 2,864  $ —  $ — 
Total National Lending 21,553  14,378  2,864  —  — 
Commercial real estate and operating 580  —  —  685  — 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 50  44  —  —  83 
Agricultural real estate and operating 1,769  —  —  —  — 
Total Community Banking 2,399  44  —  685  83 
Total 23,952  14,422  2,864  685  83 
Accruing loans and leases delinquent 90 days or more:          
Held for sale loans —  964  —  —  — 
Commercial finance 7,401  7,578  3,801  1,205  965 
Consumer finance 872  1,317  2,384  1,387  — 
Tax services(1)
1,743  2,240  1,073  —  — 
Total National Lending 10,016  11,135  7,258  2,592  965 
Commercial real estate and operating 50  —  —  —  — 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  —  79  19  53 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  —  —  34,295  — 
Total Community Banking 50  —  79  34,314  53 
Total 10,066  12,099  7,337  36,906  1,018 
Total non-performing loans and leases 34,018  26,521  10,201  37,591  1,101 
Other assets          
Non-performing operating leases 4,045  457  —  —  — 
Foreclosed and repossessed assets:          
Commercial finance 9,957  1,372  1,626  —  — 
Commercial real estate and operating —  —  —  62  76 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  —  90  230  — 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  28,122  29,992  —  — 
Total 9,957  29,494  31,638  292  76 
Total other assets 14,002  29,951  31,638  292  76 
Total non-performing assets $ 48,020  $ 56,472  $ 41,839  $ 37,883  $ 1,177 
Total as a percentage of total assets 0.79  % 0.91  % 0.72  % 0.72  % 0.03  %
(1) Certain tax services loans do not bear interest.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, gross interest income which would have been recorded had the non-accruing loans and leases been current in accordance with their original terms was insignificant, none of which was included in interest income.
 
Non-accruing Loans and Leases
At September 30, 2020, the Company had $24.0 million in non-accruing loans and leases, which constituted less than 0.7% of the Company's gross loan and lease portfolio and total assets. At September 30, 2019, the Company had $14.4 million in non-accruing loans which also constituted 0.4% of its gross loans portfolio and total assets.

The fiscal 2020 increase in non-accruing loans and leases was primarily related to increases in the commercial finance and community bank portfolios.
16

Table of Contents
Accruing Loans and Leases Delinquent 90 Days or More
At September 30, 2020, the Company had $10.1 million in accruing loans and leases delinquent 90 days or more, compared to $12.1 million at September 30, 2019. This balance of accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due was mainly comprised of commercial finance, tax services, and consumer finance loans and leases.

Classified Assets
Federal regulations provide for the classification of certain loans, leases, and other assets such as debt and equity securities considered by the Bank's primary regulator, the OCC, to be of lesser quality as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss,” with each such classification dependent on the facts and circumstances surrounding the assets in question. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the Bank will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such minimal value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted.
 
General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent risk associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When assets are classified as “loss,” the Bank is required either to establish a specific allowance for losses equal to 100% of that portion of the asset so classified or to charge off such amount. The Bank’s determinations as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances are subject to review by its regulatory authorities, which may order the establishment of additional general or specific loss allowances.
 
On the basis of management’s review of its classified assets, at September 30, 2020, the Company had classified loans and leases of $61.6 million as substandard, $6.3 million as doubtful and none as loss. Further, at September 30, 2020, the Company owned real estate or other assets as a result of foreclosure of loans with a value of $10.0 million.
 
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The allowance for loan and lease losses is established through a provision for loan and lease losses based on management’s evaluation of the risk inherent in its loan and lease portfolio and changes in the nature and volume of its loan and lease activity, including those loans and leases that are being specifically monitored by management. Such evaluation, which includes a review of loans and leases for which full collectability may not be reasonably assured, includes consideration of, among other matters, the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, economic conditions, historical loan and lease loss experience and other factors that warrant recognition in providing for an appropriate loan and lease loss allowance. Each loan and lease segment is evaluated using both historical loss factors as well as other qualitative factors, in order to determine the amount of risk the Company believes exists within that segment. The Bank’s average loss rates over the past three years were low relative to industry averages for such years. The Bank does not believe it is likely that these low loss conditions will continue indefinitely.
 
Management closely monitors economic developments both regionally and nationwide, and considers these factors when assessing the appropriateness of its allowance for loan and lease losses. The Company's allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases increased to 1.70% at September 30, 2020 from 0.80% at September 30, 2019. This increase was primarily due to the commercial finance coverage ratio increasing as a result of the Company's continued assessment of the risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the total Company coverage ratio also increased due to an increase to the coverage ratio within the retained community bank portfolio due to identified risks impacting its movie theater relationships stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Company expects to continue to diligently monitor the allowance for loan and lease losses and adjust as necessary in future periods to maintain an appropriate and supportable level.


17

Table of Contents
Management believes that, based on a detailed review of the loan and lease portfolio, historic loan and lease losses, current economic conditions, the size of the loan and lease portfolio and other factors, the level of the allowance for loan and lease losses at September 30, 2020 reflected an appropriate allowance against probable incurred losses from the lending portfolio. Although the Company maintains its allowance for loan and lease losses at a level it considers to be appropriate, investors and others are cautioned that there can be no assurance that future losses will not exceed estimated amounts, or that additional provisions for loan and lease losses will not be required in future periods. In addition, the Company’s determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses is subject to review by the OCC, which can require the establishment of additional general or specific allowances.

Real estate properties acquired through foreclosure are recorded at fair value. If fair value at the date of foreclosure is lower than the balance of the related loan, the difference will be charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses at the time of transfer. Valuations are periodically updated by management and, if the value declines, a specific provision for losses on such property is established by a charge to operations.
 

18

Table of Contents
The following table sets forth an analysis of the Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses.
  September 30,
2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
(Dollars in Thousands)
Balance at beginning of period $ 29,149  $ 13,040  $ 7,534  $ 5,635  $ 6,255 
Charge-offs:        
Commercial finance (16,278) (11,373) (2,643) (626) (726)
Consumer finance (2,649) (6,346) (1,443) —  (728)
Tax services (22,834) (25,095) (21,802) (7,841) (249)
Total National Lending charge-offs (41,761) (42,814) (25,888) (8,467) (1,703)
Commercial real estate and operating —  —  —  (528) (385)
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  (40) (76) (2) (32)
Agricultural real estate and operating —  —  —  —  (3,252)
Total Community Banking charge-offs —  (40) (76) (530) (3,669)
Total charge-offs (41,761) (42,854) (25,964) (8,997) (5,372)
Recoveries:
Commercial finance 2,304  2,760  1,169  61  107 
Consumer finance 890  81  —  —  11 
Tax services 830  222  453  229  — 
Total National Lending recoveries 4,024  3,063  1,622  290  118 
Commercial real estate and operating —  —  —  27 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  —  —  — 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  250  411  12 
Total Community Banking recoveries —  250  414  17  29 
Total recoveries 4,024  3,313  2,037  307  147 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries (37,737) (39,541) (23,927) (8,690) (5,225)
Provision charged to expense 64,776  55,650  29,433  10,589  4,605 
Balance at end of period $ 56,188  $ 29,149  $ 13,040  $ 7,534  $ 5,635 
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to
average loans and leases outstanding during the period
1.00  % 1.12  % 1.31  % 0.73  % 0.64  %
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to
average loans and leases outstanding during the period - Excluding tax services loans and tax service net charge-offs
0.43  % 0.43  % 0.15  % 0.09  % 0.62  %
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to
non-performing assets at fiscal year end
78.59  % 70.02  % 57.19  % 22.94  % 443.84  %
Allowance to total loans and leases 1.70  % 0.80  % 0.44  % 0.57  % 0.61  %
For more information on the Provision for Loan and Lease Losses, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which is included in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

19

Table of Contents
The distribution of the Company’s allowance for losses on loans and leases at the dates indicated is summarized as follows: 
  At September 30,
  2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Amount Percent of
Loans and Leases in
Each
Category
of Total
Loans and Leases
Amount Percent of
Loans and Leases in
Each
Category
of Total
Loans and Leases
Amount Percent of
Loans in
Each
Category
of Total
Loans
Amount Percent of
Loans in
Each
Category
of Total
Loans
Amount Percent of
Loans in
Each
Category
of Total
Loans
(Dollars in Thousands)
Commercial finance $ 29,918  69.6  % $ 14,596  52.5  % $ 1,302  51.3  % $ 800  19.2  % $ 588  18.8  %
Consumer finance 3,666  6.8  % 6,162  7.3  % 3,605  11.2  % —  10.6  % —  1.5  %
Tax services 0.1  % —  0.1  % —  —  % —  % —  %
Warehouse finance 294  8.8  % 263  7.2  % 65  0.2  % —  —  % —  —  %
Total National Lending 33,880  85.3  % 21,021  67.1  % 4,972  62.7  % 805  29.8  % 593  20.4  %
Commercial real estate and operating 21,867  13.8  % 6,208  24.2  % 6,220  26.8  % 2,820  46.4  % 2,310  48.8  %
Consumer one-to-four family real estate 298  0.5  % 1,053  7.1  % 632  8.5  % 809  16.5  % 705  20.0  %
Agricultural real estate and operating 143  0.4  % 867  1.6  % 1,216  2.0  % 2,574  7.2  % 1,474  10.9  %
Total Community Lending 22,308  14.7  % 8,128  32.9  % 8,068  37.3  % 6,203  70.2  % 4,489  79.6  %
Unallocated —  % —  —  % —  —  % 527  —  % 553  —  %
Total $ 56,188  100.0  % $ 29,149  100.0  % $ 13,040  100.0  % $ 7,534  100.0  % $ 5,635  100.0  %

As of September 30, 2020, $170.0 million of the loans and leases that were granted deferral payments by the Company were still in their deferment period. In addition, the Company has made other COVID-19 related modifications, of which $23.3 million were still active as of September 30, 2020. The majority of the other modifications were related to adjusting the type or amount of the customer's payments. For additional information regarding the Company’s COVID-19 related deferments and modifications, see Note 2 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Investment Activities

General
The investment policy of the Company generally is to invest funds among various categories of investments and maturities based upon the Company’s need for liquidity, to achieve the proper balance between its desire to minimize risk and maximize yield, to provide collateral for borrowings and to fulfill the Company’s asset/liability management policies. The Company’s investment and MBS portfolios are managed in accordance with a written investment policy adopted by the Board of Directors, which is implemented by members of the Company’s Asset/Liability Committee. The Company closely monitors balances in these accounts and maintains a portfolio of highly liquid assets to fund potential deposit outflows or other liquidity needs. To date, the Company has not experienced any significant outflows related to the MPS division deposits, though no assurance can be given that this will continue to be the case.
 
As of September 30, 2020, investment securities and MBS with fair values of approximately $673.8 million and $359.7 million were pledged as collateral for the Bank’s Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (“FHLB”) advances and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) advances, respectively. For additional information regarding the Company’s collateralization of borrowings, see Note 13 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


20

Table of Contents
Investment Securities
It is the Company’s general policy to purchase investment securities which are U.S. Government-related securities, U.S. Government-related agency and instrumentality securities, U.S. Government-related agency or instrumentality collateralized securities, state and local government obligations and overnight federal funds.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had total investment securities, excluding MBS, with an amortized cost of $891.7 million compared to $1.01 billion as of September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2020, $767.2 million, or 85%, of the Company’s investment securities were pledged to secure various obligations of the Company. Many of the Company’s municipal holdings are able to be pledged at both the FRB and the FHLB.
 
The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s investment securities portfolio, excluding MBS, at the dates indicated.
  At September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Investment Securities Available for Sale ("AFS")
   Asset backed securities $ 324,925  $ 302,534  $ 313,028 
   Small business administration securities 164,955  185,982  44,337 
   Obligations of states and political subdivisions 841  874  16,910 
   Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 323,774  400,557  1,109,885 
Subtotal investment debt securities AFS 814,495  889,947  1,484,160 
Common equities and mutual funds(1)
2,969  2,606  3,800 
Investment Securities Held to Maturity ("HTM")
   Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions(2)
87,183  127,582  164,304 
Subtotal investment debt securities HTM 87,183  127,582  164,304 
FHLB and FRB Stock 27,138  30,916  23,400 
Total Investment Securities and FHLB and FRB Stock $ 928,816  $ 1,051,051  $ 1,675,664 
Other Interest-Earning Assets:
Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and federal funds sold(3)
$ 362,011  $ 11,261  $ 4,248 
(1) Equity securities at fair value are included within other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
(2) Includes no taxable obligations of states and political subdivisions.
(3) From time to time, the Company maintains balances in excess of insured limits at various financial institutions, including the FHLB, the FRB, and other private institutions. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $9.5 million and $381.7 million in interest bearing deposits held at the FHLB and FRB, respectively. At September 30, 2019, the Company had $30.9 million and $11.2 million in interest bearing deposits held at the FHLB and FRB, respectively.
    
The composition and maturities of the Company’s available for sale ("AFS") and held to maturity ("HTM") investment debt securities portfolios at September 30, 2020, excluding equity securities and mutual funds, FHLB stock and MBS, are indicated in the following table. The actual maturity of certain municipal housing related securities is typically less than its stated contractual maturity due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of the underlying mortgages.
 
21

Table of Contents
  September 30, 2020
  1 Year or Less After 1 Year Through 5 Years After 5 Years Through 10 Years After 10 Years Total Investment Securities
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Amortized Cost Fair Value
Available for Sale
Asset backed securities $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 324,925  $ 329,139  $ 324,925 
Small business administration securities —  17,081  32,397  115,477  159,722  164,955 
Obligations of states and political subdivisions 249  251  341  —  825  841 
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 1,148  4,437  1,288  316,901  314,819  323,774 
Total Investment Securities AFS $ 1,397  $ 21,769  $ 34,026  $ 757,303  $ 804,505  $ 814,495 
Weighted Average Yield (1)
0.74  % 1.05  % 1.36  % 1.87  % 2.02  % 1.83  %
 
September 30, 2020
1 Year or Less After 1 Year Through 5 Years After 5 Years Through 10 Years After 10 Years Total Investment Securities
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Amortized Cost Fair Value
Held to Maturity
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions —  —  —  87,183  87,183  88,194 
Total Investment Securities HTM $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 87,183  $ 87,183  $ 88,194 
Weighted Average Yield (1)
—  % —  % —  % 2.88  % 2.88  % 2.78  %
 (1) Yields on tax-exempt obligations have not been computed on a tax-equivalent basis.

Mortgage-Backed Securities
The Company’s mortgage-backed and related securities portfolio as of September 30, 2020 consisted entirely of securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, including those of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Farmer Mac. The Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Farmer Mac certificates are modified pass‑through MBS representing undivided interests in underlying pools of fixed‑rate, or certain types of adjustable-rate, predominantly single-family mortgages issued by these U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities. At September 30, 2020, the Company had a diverse portfolio of MBS with an amortized cost of $445.3 million. The fair market value of the MBS at September 30, 2020 was $459.2 million.

MBS generally increase the quality of the Company’s assets by virtue of the insurance or guarantees that back them, are more liquid than individual mortgage loans, and may be used to collateralize borrowings or other obligations of the Company. At September 30, 2020, $231.6 million, or 50.4%, of the Company’s MBS were pledged to secure various obligations of the Company.
 
While MBS carry a reduced credit risk as compared to whole loans, such securities remain subject to the risk that a fluctuating interest rate environment, along with other factors such as the geographic distribution and other underwriting risks inherent in the underlying mortgage loans, may alter the prepayment rate of such mortgage loans and so affect both the prepayment speed, and value, of such securities. The prepayment risk associated with MBS is continually monitored, and prepayment rate assumptions are adjusted as appropriate to update the Company’s MBS accounting and asset/liability reports.

22

Table of Contents
The following table sets forth the carrying value of the Company’s MBS at the dates indicated.
  At September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Available for Sale
Farmer Mac $ 79,935  $ 63,515  $ 52,849 
Freddie Mac 61,232  53,185  69,575 
Freddie Mac CML 15,142  15,712  — 
Fannie Mae 200,979  221,535  241,641 
Ginnie Mae 96,319  28,599  — 
Total AFS $ 453,607  $ 382,546  $ 364,065 

  At September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Held to Maturity
Ginnie Mae 5,427  7,182  7,850 
Total HTM $ 5,427  $ 7,182  $ 7,850 
 
The following table sets forth the contractual maturities of the Company’s MBS at September 30, 2020. Excluded from the table below is the effect of prepayments, periodic principal repayments and the adjustable-rate nature of these instruments, all of which typically lower the average life of these securities.
  September 30, 2020
  1 Year or Less After 1 Year Through 5 Years After 5 Years Through 10 Years After 10 Years Total Investment Securities
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Amortized Cost Fair Value
Available for Sale
Farmer Mac $ —  $ —  $ 45,174  $ 34,761  $ 79,231  $ 79,935 
Freddie Mac —  —  —  61,232  59,563  61,232 
Freddie Mac CML —  —  —  15,142  14,447  15,142 
Fannie Mae —  —  —  200,979  190,450  200,979 
Ginnie Mae —  —  —  96,319  96,188  96,319 
Total Investment Securities $ —  $ —  $ 45,174  $ 408,433  $ 439,879  $ 453,607 
Weighted Average Yield —  % —  % 0.69  % 1.25  % 2.07  % 1.19  %

  September 30, 2020
  1 Year or Less After 1 Year Through 5 Years After 5 Years Through 10 Years After 10 Years Total Investment Securities
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Carrying Value Amortized Cost Fair Value
Held to Maturity
Ginnie Mae $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 5,427  $ 5,427  $ 5,551 
Total Investment Securities —  —  —  5,427  5,427  5,551 
Weighted Average Yield —  % —  % —  % 2.04  % 2.04  % 1.35  %

23

Table of Contents
At September 30, 2020, the contractual maturity of approximately 90.2% of the Company’s mortgage backed-securities were in excess of ten years. The actual maturity of an MBS is typically less than its stated contractual maturity due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of the underlying mortgages. Prepayments that are different than anticipated will affect the yield to maturity. The yield is based upon the interest income and the amortization of any premium or discount related to the MBS. In accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), premiums and discounts are amortized over the estimated lives of the loans, which decrease and increase interest income, respectively. The prepayment assumptions used to determine the amortization period for premiums and discounts can significantly affect the yield of MBS, and these assumptions are reviewed periodically to reflect actual prepayments. Although prepayments of underlying mortgages depend on many factors, including the type of mortgages, the coupon rate, borrower credit scores, loan to premises value, the age of mortgages, the geographical location of the underlying real estate collateralizing the mortgages and general levels of market interest rates, the difference between the interest rates on the underlying mortgages and the prevailing mortgage interest rates generally is the most significant determinant of the rate of prepayments. During periods of falling mortgage interest rates, if the coupon rate of the underlying mortgages exceeds the prevailing market interest rates offered for mortgage loans, refinancing generally increases and accelerates the prepayment of the underlying mortgages and the related security. Under such circumstances, the Company may be subject to reinvestment risk because, to the extent that the Company’s MBS amortize or prepay faster than anticipated, the Company may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of such repayments and prepayments at a comparable rate. During periods of rising interest rates, these prepayments tend to decelerate as the prevailing market interest rates for mortgage rates increase and prepayment incentives dissipate.

Management has implemented a process to identify securities with potential credit impairment that are other-than-temporary. This process involves evaluation of the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis, review of available information regarding the financial position of the issuer, monitoring the rating, watch, and outlook of the security, monitoring changes in value, cash flow projections, and the Company’s intent to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost which, in some cases, may extend to maturity. To the extent we determine that a security is deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, an impairment loss is recognized.
 
For all securities considered temporarily impaired, the Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, which may occur at maturity. The Company believes it will collect all principal and interest due on all investments with amortized cost in excess of fair value and considered only temporarily impaired.
 
In fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were no other-than-temporary impairments recorded. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are both in conservatorship, generally provide the certificate holder a guarantee of timely payments of interest, whether or not collected. Ginnie Mae’s guarantee to the holder is timely payments of principal and interest, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

The Company holds marketable equity securities, which have readily determinable fair values, and include common equity and mutual funds. These securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, due to changes in fair value, reflected in earnings. Interest and dividend income from these securities is recognized in interest income. See Note 4. Securities for additional information on marketable equity securities.
 
Funding Activities
 
General
The Company’s sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, amortization and repayment of loan and lease principal, interest earned on or maturation of investment securities and funds provided from operations.
 
Borrowings, including FHLB advances, overnight federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, other short-term borrowings, and funds available through the FRB Discount Window, may be used at times to compensate for seasonal reductions in deposits or deposit inflows at less than projected levels, may be used on a longer-term basis to support expanded lending activities, and may also be used to match the funding of a corresponding asset.
 



24

Table of Contents
Deposits
The Company offers a variety of deposit accounts having a wide range of interest rates and terms. The Company’s deposits primarily consists of demand deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market savings accounts, and certificate accounts currently ranging in terms from three months to five years, many of which are related to prepaid cards. In addition, the Company may periodically utilize brokered deposits to target strategic maturities related to its seasonal tax refund advance lending. The tax refund advance lending season typically lasts six weeks or less and it is generally more efficient to fund these short-term loans by using brokered deposits rather than by selling investment securities. Other sources of brokered deposits may also be utilized periodically to take advantage of balance sheet funding opportunities.

Effective on the Closing Date of the Community Bank division sale to Central Bank, the Company sold $290.5 million of deposits. See Note 3. Divestitures for further information.

The flow of deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in prevailing interest rates, and competition.
 
The variety of deposit accounts offered by the Company has allowed it to be competitive in obtaining funds and to respond with flexibility to changes in consumer demand. The Company endeavors to manage the pricing of its deposits in keeping with its asset/liability management and profitability objectives. Based on its experience, the Company believes that deposits related to prepaid cards are relatively stable sources of deposits. However, the ability of the Company to attract and maintain certificates of deposit and the rates paid on these deposits has been and will continue to be significantly affected by market conditions.

On April 29, 2020, the Bank entered into an amendment of its existing agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (“Fiscal Service”) to provide debit card services to support the distribution of a segment of the Economic Impact Payments ("EIPs") payable by the Internal Revenue Service under the CARES Act.

Under the EIP program, 3.6 million cards were delivered with a total load balance of $6.42 billion. As a result of the program, the Company saw a quick influx of deposits to its balance sheet in mid-May 2020 with limited visibility into the duration of those deposits. The total balances remaining on the EIP cards were $942.2 million as of September 30, 2020.
 
At September 30, 2020, $4.56 billion of the Company’s $4.98 billion deposit portfolio was attributable to the Consumer segment. The majority of these deposits represent funds available to spend on prepaid debit cards and other stored value products, of which $4.35 billion are included with noninterest-bearing checking accounts and $205.2 million are included with interest-bearing checking and savings deposits on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Generally, these deposits do not pay interest. The Consumer segment originates debit card programs through outside sales agents and other financial institutions. As such, these deposits carry a somewhat higher degree of concentration risk than traditional consumer products. If a major client or card program were to leave the Bank, deposit outflows could be more significant than if the Bank were to lose a more traditional customer, although it is considered unlikely that all deposits related to a program would leave the Bank without significant advance notification. As such, and as historical results indicate, the Company believes that its deposit portfolio attributable to the Consumer segment is stable. The increase in deposits arising from the payments division has allowed the Bank to reduce its reliance on wholesale deposits, certificates of deposit and public funds, which typically have relatively higher costs. 


25

Table of Contents
The Company may hold negative balances associated with cardholder programs in the payments division that are included within noninterest-bearing deposits on the Company's consolidated statement of financial condition. Negative balances can relate to any of the following payments functions:

Prefundings: The Company deploys funds to cards prior to receiving cash (typically 2-3 days) where the prefunding balance is netted at a pooled partner level utilizing ASC 210-20.
Discount fundings: The Company funds cards in an amount that is estimated to be less than final breakage values on card programs. Consumers may spend more than is estimated. These discounts are netted at a pooled partner level using ASC 210-20. The majority of these discount fundings relate to one partner.
Demand Deposit Account ("DDA") overdrafts: Certain programs offered allow cardholders traditional DDA overdraft protection services whereby cardholders can spend a limited amount in excess of their available card balance. When overdrawn, these accounts are re-classed as loans on the balance sheet within the Consumer Finance category.

The Company meets the Right of Set off criteria in ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet - Offsetting, for all payments negative deposit balances with the exception of DDA overdrafts. The following table summarizes the Company's negative deposit balances within the payments division:

(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 4,960,276  $ 2,827,808 
Prefunding (528,131) (379,035)
Discount funding (62,443) (79,694)
DDA overdrafts (13,072) (11,069)
Noninterest-bearing checking, net $ 4,356,630  $ 2,358,010 

The following table sets forth the deposit flows at the Company during the periods indicated.
  September 30,
2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Opening balance $ 4,337,005  $ 4,430,987  $ 3,223,424 
Acquired —  —  1,120,666 
Deposits 598,897,734  494,050,148  418,034,951 
Withdrawals (597,965,028) (494,173,233) (417,955,022)
Sold (290,511) —  — 
Interest credited —  29,103  6,968 
Ending Balance $ 4,979,200  $ 4,337,005  $ 4,430,987 
Net increase (decrease) $ 642,195  $ (93,982) $ 1,207,563 
Percent increase (decrease) 14.81  % (2.12) % 37.46  %

26

Table of Contents
The following table sets forth the dollar amount of deposits in the various types of deposit programs offered by the Company for the periods indicated.
September 30,
2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands) Amount Percent of
Total
Amount Percent of
Total
Amount Percent of
 Total
Transactions and Savings Deposits:
Non-interest bearing checking $ 4,356,630  87.5  % $ 2,358,010  54.4  % $ 2,405,274  54.3  %
Interest bearing checking(1)
157,571  3.2  % 185,768  4.3  % 111,587  2.5  %
Savings deposits 47,866  1.0  % 49,773  1.1  % 54,765  1.2  %
Money market deposits 48,494  1.0  % 76,911  1.8  % 51,995  1.2  %
Wholesale deposits 94,467  1.8  % 250,053  5.7  % 94,384  2.1  %
Total transactions and savings deposits 4,705,028  94.5  % 2,920,515  67.3  % 2,718,005  61.3  %
Time Certificates of Deposit:            
Variable —  —  % 81  —  % 109  —  %
0.00 - 0.99% 96,760  2.0  % 7,655  0.2  % 85,895  2.0  %
1.00 - 1.99% 165,894  3.3  % 181,077  4.2  % 718,447  16.2  %
2.00 - 2.99% 11,518  0.2  % 1,223,084  28.2  % 907,989  20.5  %
3.00 - 3.99% —  —  % 4,593  0.1  % 542  —  %
Total time certificates of deposit(2)
274,172  5.5  % 1,416,490  32.7  % 1,712,982  38.7  %
Total deposits $ 4,979,200  100.0  % $ 4,337,005  100.0  % $ 4,430,987  100.0  %
(1) Of the total balance as of September 30, 2020, $157.6 million are interest-bearing deposits where interest expense is paid by a third party and not by the Company.
(2) As of September 30, 2020, total time certificates of deposit included $253.9 million of wholesale certificates of deposit.

The following table shows rate and maturity information for the Company’s certificates of deposit as of September 30, 2020. 
(Dollars in Thousands) 0.00- 0.99% 1.00 - 1.99% 2.00 - 2.99% Total Percent of
Total
Certificate accounts maturing in quarter ending:    
December 31, 2020 $ 37,012  $ 69,506  $ 5,756  $ 112,274  41.0  %
March 31, 2021 37,864  87,107  510  125,481  45.8  %
June 30, 2021 2,441  3,488  250  6,179  2.2  %
September 30, 2021 102  2,490  1,445  4,037  1.5  %
December 31, 2021 —  —  —  —  —  %
March 31, 2022 19,246  887  1,617  21,750  7.9  %
June 30, 2022 —  1,377  891  2,268  0.8  %
September 30, 2022 —  695  950  1,645  0.6  %
December 31, 2022 —  344  99  443  0.2  %
September 30, 2023 95  —  —  95  —  %
Total $ 96,760  $ 165,894  $ 11,518  $ 274,172  100.0  %
Percent of total 35.3  % 60.5  % 4.2  % 100.0  %  

27

Table of Contents
The following table indicates the amount of the Company’s certificates of deposit and other deposits by time remaining until maturity as of September 30, 2020.
  Maturity
3 Months or
Less
After 3 to 6
Months
After 6 to 12
Months
After 12 Months Total
(Dollars in Thousands)
Certificates of deposit less than $250,000 $ 27,892  $ 1,495  $ 7,323  $ 6,413  $ 43,123 
Certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more 84,382  123,986  2,893  19,788  231,049 
Total certificates of deposit $ 112,274  $ 125,481  $ 10,216  $ 26,201  $ 274,172 
 
At September 30, 2020, there were $0.2 million in deposits from governmental and other public entities included in certificates of deposit.
 
Borrowings
Although deposits are the Company’s primary source of funds, the Company’s practice has been to utilize borrowings when they are a less costly source of funds, can be invested at a positive interest rate spread, or when the Company desires additional capacity to fund loan demand. Borrowings from various sources mature based on stated payment schedules.
     
The Company’s borrowings have historically consisted primarily of advances from the FHLB upon the security of a blanket collateral agreement of a percentage of unencumbered loans and the pledge of specific investment securities. Such advances can be made pursuant to several different credit programs, each of which has its own interest rate and range of maturities. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had no overnight borrowings or term advances, but did have the ability to borrow up to an approximate additional $1.01 billion from the FHLB.

The Company completed the public offering of $75.0 million of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures during fiscal year 2016. These notes are due August 15, 2026. The subordinated debentures were sold at par, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $73.9 million. At September 30, 2020, $73.8 million in aggregate principal amount in subordinated debentures, net of issuance costs of $1.2 million, were outstanding.

On July 16, 2001, the Company issued all of the 10,310 authorized shares of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I (preferred securities of subsidiary trust) holding solely trust preferred securities. Distributions are paid semi‑annually. Cumulative cash distributions are calculated at a variable rate LIBOR plus 3.75%, not to exceed 12.5%. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the capital securities for up to 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, but not beyond July 25, 2031. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid distributions must be paid. The capital securities are required to be redeemed on July 25, 2031; however, the Company has a semi‑annual option to shorten the maturity date. The option has not been exercised as of the date of this filing. The redemption price is $1,000 per capital security plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption. Holders of the capital securities have no voting rights, are unsecured, and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common stock. The trust preferred securities have been includable in the Company’s capital since they were issued. The preferential capital treatment of the Company’s trust preferred securities was grandfathered under the Dodd-Frank Act and is consistent with federal community bank capital rules. The outstanding balance of the trust preferred securities at September 30, 2020 was $13.6 million.

Through the Crestmark Acquisition, the Company acquired $3.4 million in floating rate capital securities due to Crestmark Capital Trust I, a 100%-owned nonconsolidated subsidiary of the Company. The subordinated debentures bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.00%, have a stated maturity of 30 years from the date of issuance and are redeemable by the Company at par, with regulatory approval. The interest rate is reset quarterly at distribution dates in February, May, August, and November. The subsidiary has the option to defer interest payments on the subordinated debentures from time to time for a period not to exceed five consecutive years.

The Bank has a line of credit with another financial institution for $25.0 million as of September 30, 2020. This line of credit has no fee, and, as of September 30, 2020, the Company has not drawn on it.


28

Table of Contents
The Company previously offered retail repurchase agreements to its customers. These agreements typically ranged from 14 days to five years in term, and typically were offered in minimum amounts of $100,000. The proceeds of these transactions were used to meet cash flow needs of the Company. At September 30, 2020, the Company had no retail repurchase agreements outstanding.

The following table sets forth the maximum month-end balance and average balance of FHLB advances, retail and reverse repurchase agreements, trust preferred securities, subordinated debentures, and overnight fed funds purchased for the periods indicated.
  Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Maximum Balance:
FHLB advances $ 110,000  $ 110,000  $ 620,000 
Repurchase agreements 2,550  4,306  3,740 
Trust preferred securities 13,661  13,661  13,919 
Subordinated debentures 73,807  73,644  73,491 
Overnight fed funds purchased 717,000  1,085,000  1,178,000 
Other borrowings 17,181  24,400  1,932 
Average Balance:      
FHLB advances $ 106,093  $ 42,712  $ 68,356 
Repurchase agreements 328  3,542  2,557 
Trust preferred securities 13,661  13,661  10,906 
Subordinated debentures 73,718  73,562  73,412 
Overnight fed funds purchased 183,438  305,490  339,430 
Other Borrowings 14,422  21,606  1,907 

The following table sets forth certain information as to the Company’s FHLB advances, retail and reverse repurchase agreements, trust preferred securities, subordinated debentures, and overnight fed funds purchased at the dates indicated.
  September 30,
  2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
FHLB advances $ —  $ 110,000  $ — 
Repurchase agreements —  4,019  3,694 
Trust preferred securities 13,661  13,661  13,661 
Subordinated debentures 73,807  73,644  73,491 
Overnight fed funds purchased —  642,000  422,000 
Other borrowings 10,756  18,533  1,876 
Total borrowings $ 98,224  $ 861,857  $ 514,722 
Weighted average interest rate of FHLB advances —  % 2.41  % —  %
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements —  % 2.83  % 2.05  %
Weighted average interest rate of trust preferred securities 2.53  % 5.63  % 6.35  %
Weighted average interest rate of subordinated debentures 5.75  % 5.75  % 5.75  %
Weighted average interest rate of overnight fed funds purchased —  % 2.05  % 2.39  %



29

Table of Contents
Payments Activities

The Company, through its MPS division, is focused on innovation in the finserv and fintech industries by providing solid banking infrastructure, proven tech resource partners, and high-energy collaboration that enables its partners to deliver banking programs that meet their customers' demands. MPS offers a complement of payments related products and services that are marketed to consumers nationwide through financial institutions and other commercial entities. Other solutions, such as merchant acquiring and transactional payments facilitate the movement of funds between an entity and the audience they serve, typically a consumer. Overall, the products and services offered by MPS are generally designed to facilitate the processing and settlement of authorized electronic transactions involving the movement of funds.
    
While the Company has adopted policies and procedures to manage and monitor the risks attendant to this line of business, and the executives who manage the Company’s program have years of experience in this area of the Company's business, no guarantee can be made that the Company will not experience losses in the MPS division. MPS has signed agreements with terms extending through the next few years with several of its largest sales agents/program managers, which the Company expects will help mitigate this risk. 

Each line of MPS' business is discussed generally below with examples to illustrate use cases. The Company cross-utilizes personnel and resources across these lines of business (for example, MPS may develop products for both prepaid and consumer banking solutions needs pursuant to a client's request).
     
Prepaid Solutions
Prepaid cards are similar to traditional debit cards in that they are embedded with a magnetic stripe, which encodes relevant card data (which may or may not include information about the user and/or purchaser of such card), or an EMV chip, which is equipped with a microprocessor chip and the technology used to authenticate chip card transactions. When the holder of such a card attempts a permitted transaction, necessary information, including the authorization for such transaction, is shared between the “point of use” or “point of sale” and authorization systems maintaining the account of record. Most recently, “virtual” prepaid cards have become popular in the industry. Virtual prepaid cards are used in both the consumer space, for example as a gift card, and in the commercial arena to facilitate accounts payable and vendor payments.

The funds associated with such cards are typically held in pooled accounts at the Bank representing the aggregate value of all cards issued in connection with particular products or programs. Although the funds are held in pooled accounts, the account of record indicates the funds held by each individual card. The cards may work in a closed loop (e.g., the card will only work at one particular merchant and will not work anywhere else), a "Restricted Access Network" (e.g., the card will only work at a specific set of merchants such as a shopping mall), or in an open loop by way of a Visa or MasterCard branded debit card that will work wherever such cards are accepted for payment. Most of MPS' prepaid cards are open loop. Meta is among the top 3 prepaid card issuers in the United States.

The MPS prepaid card business can generally be divided into two program categories: Consumer Use and Business or Commercial Use products. These programs are typically offered through a third-party relationship.
     
Consumer Use 
Examples of consumer use prepaid card programs include payroll, general purpose reloadable ("GPR"), reward, gift and benefit/HSA cards. Payroll cards are a product whereby an employee’s payroll is loaded to the card by their employer via direct deposit. GPR cards are usually distributed by retailers and can be reloaded an indefinite number of times at participating retail load networks. Other examples of reloadable cards are travel cards, which are used in place of traveler’s checks and can be reloaded a predetermined number of times, as well as tax-related cards where a taxpayer’s refund is placed on the card. Reloadable cards are generally open- loop cards that consumers can use to obtain cash at ATMs or purchase goods and services wherever such cards are accepted for payment.

Business or Commercial Use
Prepaid cards are also frequently used by businesses for travel and entertainment, accounts payable and B2B settlement products. For example, virtual prepaid cards are used to facilitate one-time payments between a company and its vendors for monthly settlement. Travel and entertainment cards, alternatively, are reloadable by the company for use by its employees to travel for business.


30

Table of Contents
Consumer Banking Solutions
Partners looking to offer financial services in a mobile-first ecosystem typically employ a demand deposit account (DDA), Savings Account or debit card, or combination thereof. Meta facilitates their ability to establish a direct deposit relationship with consumers, complete with online acceptance and digital funds transfer, as well as options such as overdraft protection in times of income shortfalls and the overall benefit of improved money management.

Faster Payments
In today’s market, consumers want to move their money fast, with more visibility and control of their own financial transactions. Meta provides the financing back-end for Mastercard Send™ and Visa Direct which enable the faster, almost instantaneous movement of funds from sender to receiver.

Transactional Payments
Technology has accelerated the growth and speed of transactional payments for corporate and financial organizations. Prompt movement of money creates efficiency, speed and a robust marketplace for consumers, B2B and B2C companies. Managing cash flow, risk, security, and compliance are essential Services offered by Meta include ACH, wire, receiving and originating.

Meta is a Nacha Top 50 bank for receiving and originating payments. As of November 2020, Meta typically processes $1 billion per day in ACH and wire services, which supports that Meta has earned the confidence of its partners by providing safe and efficient movement of money, unprecedented service, and operational success.

ATM Sponsorship
MPS sponsors ATM independent sales organizations (“ISOs”) into various networks and provides associated sponsorships of encryption support organizations and third-party processors in support of the financial institutions and the ATM ISO sponsorships. Sponsorship consists of the review and oversight of entities participating in debit and credit networks. In certain instances, MPS also has certain leasehold interests in certain ATMs which require bank ownership and registration for compliance with applicable state law.

Meta currently provides financial processing services for 70% of freestanding ATMs nationwide providing consumers with access to funds at ATMs frequently founds in malls, retail chains, convenience stores, events, fairs and other small business locations across the U.S.

Regulation and Supervision

General

Both the Company and the Bank are subject to extensive regulation in connection with their respective activities and operations, including those of their subsidiaries. On April 1, 2020, the Bank converted from a federal thrift charter to a national bank charter and the Company converted from a savings and loan holding company to a bank holding company (“BHC”) that has elected to be a financial holding company (a “FHC”).

As a national bank, the Bank is supervised and examined by the OCC, as its primary federal regulator, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the federal agency that administers the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”). As a BHC, the Company is supervised and examined by the FRB. Federal banking policy is designed to protect customers of and depositors in insured depository institutions, the DIF, and the U.S. banking system.

The framework by which both the Bank and the Company are supervised and examined is complex. This framework includes acts of Congress, regulations, policy statements and guidance, and other interpretive materials that define the obligations and requirements for entities participating in the U.S. banking system.

Moreover, regulation of banks and their holding companies is subject to continual revision, both through statutory changes and corresponding regulatory revisions as well as through evolving supervisory objectives of banking agency examiners and supervisory staff. It is not possible to predict the content or timing of changes to the laws and regulations that may impact the business of the Bank and the Company. Any changes to the regulatory framework applicable to the Company or the Bank, however, could have a material adverse impact on the condition or operations of each entity.

31

Table of Contents
In addition to regulation and supervision by the FRB, the Company is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is required to file reports with the SEC and otherwise comply with federal securities laws.

As described broadly below, the banking industry is subject to significant regulation. The following discussion is not intended to be a complete list of all the activities regulated by the U.S. banking laws or of the impact of such laws and regulations on the Company or the Bank. Rather, it is intended to briefly summarize the legal and regulatory framework in which the Bank and the Company operate and describe legal requirements that impact their businesses and operations. The information set forth below is subject to change and is qualified in its entirety by the actual laws and regulations referenced.
 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act”)

Enacted in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act significantly changed the financial regulatory regime in the United States. Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, U.S. banks and financial services firms, such as the Company and the Bank, have been subject to enhanced regulation and oversight. As of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, several provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act remain subject to further rulemaking and interpretation by the federal banking agencies; moreover, certain provisions of the act that were implemented by federal agencies have been revised or rescinded pursuant to legislative changes adopted by the U.S. Congress.

Certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that directly impact the operation of the Company or the Bank are highlighted below:

    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank is subject to regulations promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “Bureau”). The Bureau has consolidated authority related to federal laws and regulations impacting the provision of consumer financial products and services. The Bureau also has substantial power to define the rights of consumers and responsibilities of lending institutions, such as the Bank. The Bureau does not, however, examine or supervise the Bank for compliance with such laws and regulations; rather, based on the Bank’s size (less than $10 billion in assets), enforcement authority remains with the OCC, although the Bank may be required to submit reports or other materials to the Bureau upon request. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides state attorneys general with the right to enforce federal consumer protection laws. The Bureau is also authorized to prescribe rules applicable to any covered person or service provider identifying and prohibiting acts or practices that are unfair, deceptive or abusive in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or service, or the offering of a consumer financial product or service ("UDAAP authority"). To date, the Bureau has engaged in rulemaking and taken enforcement actions that directly impact the business operations of financial institutions offering consumer financial products or services including the Bank and its divisions.

    Interchange Fees. The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions that restrict interchange fees to those which are “reasonable and proportionate” for certain debit card issuers and limits the ability of networks and issuers to restrict debit card transaction routing (known as the “Durbin Amendment”). The Federal Reserve issued final rules implementing the Durbin Amendment on June 29, 2011. Although, as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the interchange fee restrictions in the Durbin Amendment do not apply to the Bank because debit card issuers with total worldwide assets of less than $10 billion are exempt, such restrictions may negatively impact the pricing all debit card processors in the market, including the Bank, may charge.

    Incentive Compensation. The Dodd-Frank Act requires that the federal banking agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the OCC, issue a rule related to incentive-based compensation. No final rule implementing this provision of the Dodd-Frank Act has, as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, been adopted, but a proposed rule was published in 2016 that expanded upon a prior proposed rule published in 2011. The proposed rule is intended to (i) prohibit incentive-based payment arrangements that the banking agencies determine could encourage certain financial institutions to take inappropriate risks by providing excessive compensation or that could lead to material financial loss, (ii) require the board of directors of those financial institutions to take certain oversight actions related to incentive-based compensation, and (iii) require those financial institutions to disclose information concerning incentive-based compensation arrangements to the appropriate federal regulator. Although a final rule has not been issued, the Company and the Bank have undertaken efforts to ensure that their incentive compensation plans do not encourage inappropriate risks, consistent with the principles identified above.

32

Table of Contents
The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (“Regulatory Relief Act”)

Enacted in 2018, the Regulatory Relief Act includes several provisions that positively affect smaller banking institutions (e.g., those with less than $10 billion in assets) like the Bank. Specific provisions of the Regulatory Relief Act that benefit smaller banks include modifications to the “qualified mortgage” criteria under the “ability to repay” rules for certain mortgages that are held and maintained on the Bank’s retained portfolio as well as relief from certain capital requirements required by an international banking capital framework with the creation of a “community bank leverage ratio.” See “Recent Developments Related to Capital Rules,” “Consumer Mortgage Lending,” and “Brokered Deposits.”

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 to provide national emergency economic relief measures. Many of the CARES Act’s programs are dependent upon the direct involvement of U.S. financial institutions, such as the Company and the Bank, and have been implemented through rules and guidance adopted by federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Federal Reserve and other federal banking agencies, including those with direct supervisory jurisdiction over the Company and the Bank. Furthermore, as the on-going COVID-19 pandemic evolves, federal regulatory authorities continue to issue additional guidance with respect to the implementation, lifecycle, and eligibility requirements for the various CARES Act programs as well as industry-specific recovery procedures for COVID-19. In addition, it is possible that Congress will enact supplementary COVID-19 response legislation, including amendments to the CARES Act or new bills comparable in scope to the CARES Act. The Company continues to assess the impact of the CARES Act and other statues, regulations and supervisory guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paycheck Protection Program. The CARES Act amended the SBA’s loan program, in which the Bank participates, to create a guaranteed, unsecured loan program, the PPP, to fund operational costs of eligible businesses, organizations and self-employed persons during COVID-19. In June 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was enacted, which among other things, gave borrowers additional time and flexibility to use PPP loan proceeds. Shortly thereafter, and due to the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional legislation was enacted authorizing the SBA to resume accepting PPP applications on July 6, 2020 and extending the PPP application deadline to August 8, 2020. It is anticipated that additional revisions to the SBA’s interim final rules on forgiveness and loan review procedures will be forthcoming to address these and related changes. As a participating lender in the PPP, the Bank continues to monitor legislative, regulatory, and supervisory developments related thereto.

Troubled Debt Restructuring and Loan Modifications for Affected Borrowers. The CARES Act permits banks to suspend requirements under GAAP for loan modifications to borrowers affected by COVID-19 that would otherwise be characterized as TDRs and suspend any determination related thereto if (i) the loan modification is made between March 1, 2020 and the earlier of December 31, 2020 or 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration and (ii) the applicable loan was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019. The federal banking agencies also issued guidance to encourage banks to make loan modifications for borrowers affected by COVID-19 and to assure banks that they will not be criticized by examiners for doing so. The Company is applying this guidance to qualifying loan modifications. See Note 5 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information about the COVID-19-related loan modifications completed by the company.

Temporary Community Bank Leverage Ratio Relief. Pursuant to the CARES Act, the federal banking agencies authorities adopted an interim rule, effective until the earlier of the termination of the coronavirus emergency declaration and December 31, 2020, to (i) reduce the minimum Community Bank Leverage Ratio from 9% to 8% percent and (ii) give community banks two-quarter grace period to satisfy such ratio if such ratio falls out of compliance by no more than 1%.


33

Table of Contents
Federal Reserve Programs and Other Recent Initiatives Related to COVID-19

Main Street Lending Program. The CARES Act encouraged the Federal Reserve, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, to establish or implement various programs to help midsize businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities. On April 9, 2020, the Federal Reserve proposed the creation of the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”) to implement certain of these recommendations. On June 15, 2020, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston opened the MSLP for lender registration. The MSLP supports lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MSLP operates through five facilities: the Main Street New Loan Facility, the Main Street Priority Loan Facility, the Main Street Expanded Loan Facility, the Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility, and the Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston maintains the necessary legal forms and agreements for eligible borrowers and eligible lenders to participate in the MSLP, and is working to refine the MSLP’s operational infrastructure and facilities. The Bank continues to monitor developments related thereto.

Temporary Regulatory Capital Relief related to Impact of CECL. Concurrent with enactment of the CARES Act, federal banking agencies issued an interim final rule that delays the estimated impact on regulatory capital resulting from the adoption of CECL. The interim final rule provides banking organizations that implement CECL before the end of 2020 the option to delay for two years the estimated impact of CECL on regulatory capital relative to regulatory capital determined under the prior incurred loss methodology, followed by a three-year transition period to phase out the aggregate amount of capital benefit provided during the initial two-year delay. The federal banking agencies have since issued a final rule that makes certain technical changes to the interim final rule. The changes in the final rule apply only to those banking organizations that elect the CECL transition relief provided under the rule. The Company will elect this option.

Bank Regulation and Supervision

The Bank is a national bank that is subject to broad federal regulation and oversight extending to all of its operations by its primary federal regulator, the OCC, and by its deposit insurer, the FDIC. Such regulation covers all aspects of the banking business, including lending practices, safeguarding deposits, capital structure, transactions with affiliates, and conduct and qualifications of personnel. The Bank pays assessment fees both to the OCC and the FDIC, and the level of such assessments reflects the condition of the Bank. If the condition of the Bank were to deteriorate, the level of such assessments could increase significantly, having a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Regulatory authorities have been granted extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities which are intended to strengthen the financial condition of the banking industry, including, but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the operation of an institution, the classification of assets by the institution, and the adequacy of an institution’s allowance for loan and lease losses. Typically, these actions are undertaken due to violations of laws or regulations or conduct of operations in an unsafe or unsound manner.

The Bank derives its lending and investment powers from the National Bank Act (“NBA”) and the OCC’s implementing regulations promulgated thereunder. Under these laws and regulations, the Bank may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and commercial real estate, commercial and consumer loans, certain types of debt securities and certain other assets. The Bank may also invest in operating subsidiaries, bank service companies (but not service corporations generally), financial subsidiaries, and may make non-controlling investments in other entities, in each case subject to the statutory provisions of the NBA and the OCC’s regulatory requirements and limitations.

In general, the Bank’s legal lending limit totals 15 percent of its capital and surplus plus an additional 10 percent of capital and surplus if the amount that exceeds the 15 percent general limit is fully secured by readily marketable collateral (together, referred to as the “combined general limit”). At September 30, 2020, the Bank was in compliance with the combined general limit.


34

Table of Contents
The OCC announced on October 1, 2020 that its supervisory strategies for 2021 will focus on the following: (a) credit risk management, commercial and residential real estate concentration risk management, allowances for loan and lease losses, and allowances for credit losses; (b) cybersecurity and operational resiliency; (c) Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) compliance management; (d) compliance risk management associated with 2020 pandemic-related bank activities; (e) Community Reinvestment Act performance; (f) fair lending examinations and risk assessments; (g) the impact of a low-rate environment and preparation for the phase-out of the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”); (h) proper oversight of significant third-party relationships; (i) change management over significant operational changes; and (j) payment systems products and services.

Insurance of Deposit Accounts and Regulation by the FDIC
The Bank is a member of the DIF, which is administered by the FDIC. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, a permanent increase in deposit insurance to $250,000 was authorized. The coverage limit is per depositor, per insured depository institution for each account ownership category. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

While not the Bank's primary federal regulator, the FDIC, as insurer of the Bank's deposits, imposes deposit insurance premiums and is authorized to conduct examinations of and to require reporting by FDIC-insured institutions. It also may prohibit any FDIC-insured institution from engaging in any activity the FDIC determines by regulation or order poses a serious risk to the DIF. The FDIC also has authority to initiate enforcement actions against any FDIC-insured institution after giving its primary federal regulator the opportunity to take such action, and may seek to terminate the deposit insurance if it determines that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or is in an unsafe or unsound condition. Finally, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order, or condition imposed by the FDIC or the OCC.

The FDIC imposes an assessment against all depository institutions for deposit insurance quarterly. FDIC assessment rates range from 3 to 30 basis points annually and take into account an institution’s composite CAMELS rating and other factors. Notably, the FDIC has the authority to increase an institution’s deposit insurance premium if it determines that an insured depository institution significantly relies upon brokered deposits. As of September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Bank’s deposit insurance assessment rate was 14 basis points, 14 basis points, and 9 basis points, respectively. The Bank’s deposit insurance premium expense totaled $8.4 million for 2020, $6.8 million for 2019, and $3.8 million for 2018. A significant increase in DIF insurance premiums would have an adverse effect on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Bank.

The designated reserve ratio (“DRR”) of the DIF reached 1.36% as of September 30, 2018, exceeding the statutorily required 1.35% two years ahead of the deadline imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act. On June 30, 2019, the DRR reached 1.40% and the FDIC applied small bank credits to banks with less than $10 billion in assets, such as the Bank, beginning September 30, 2019. The FDIC will continue to apply small bank credits so long as the DRR is at least 1.35%. After applying small bank credits for four quarters, the FDIC will remit to banks the value of any remaining small bank credits in the next assessment period in which the DRR is at least 1.35%.

Brokered Deposits
The FDIC limits the ability to accept brokered deposits to those insured depository institutions that are well capitalized. Institutions that are less than well capitalized cannot accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposit unless they have applied for and been granted a waiver by the FDIC. The FDIC has defined the “national rate” for all interest-bearing deposits held by less-than-well-capitalized institutions as “a simple average of rates paid by all insured depository institutions and branches for which data are available” and has stated that its presumption is that this national rate is the prevailing rate in any market. As such, institutions that are less than well capitalized that are permitted to accept, renew or rollover brokered deposits via FDIC waiver generally may not pay an interest rate in excess of the national rate plus 75 basis points on such brokered deposits. As of September 30, 2020, the Bank categorized $2.13 billion, or 43% of its deposit liabilities, as brokered deposits.


35

Table of Contents
The FDIC has previously published industry guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions with respect to the categorization of deposit liabilities as brokered deposits. The FDIC published a proposed rule to modify the “national rate” definition that would apply to insured depository institutions that are less than well-capitalized in August 2019. In addition, in December 2019 and in connection with the Regulatory Relief Act, the FDIC published proposed revisions to its regulations relating to the brokered deposits restrictions. Specifically, the FDIC proposed to (i) revise the definition of the "facilitation" prong of the "deposit broker" definition; (ii) provide that a wholly-owned operating subsidiary be eligible for the insured depository institution exception to the deposit broker definition under certain circumstances; and (iii) amend the "primary purpose" exception. As of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, no final rules on either the August 2019 proposal nor the December 2019 proposals have been issued. ]Consequently, it is not possible to determine whether a final rule regarding a revised regulatory treatment of brokered deposits will be adopted or, if adopted, whether such final related regulation will have a material adverse effect on the Bank.

Branching by National Banks
Subject to certain limitations, federal statutes and OCC regulations permit national banks to establish branches in any state of the United States. With OCC approval, a national bank may open an interstate de novo branch in any state that permits the establishment of a branch by a bank chartered by such state, subject to applicable state law limitations. On February 29, 2020, the Company sold the Bank's Community Bank division to Central Bank, a state-chartered bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. The sale included, among other things, all of the Community Bank division's branch locations. Consequently, the Bank's only banking office open to the public is its home office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where it accepts deposits.

No Qualified Thrift Lender Test
As a national bank, the Bank is no longer required to be a qualified thrift lender (a “QTL”) or satisfy any element of the QTL test applicable to federal savings associations. 

Consumer Mortgage Lending
The Bureau’s ability to repay (“ATR”) rule applies to residential mortgage loan applications securing one-to-four unit dwellings and includes purchases, refinances and home equity loans for principal and second homes. Under the ATR rules, a lender may not make a residential mortgage loan unless the lender makes a reasonable and good faith determination that is based on verified, documented information at or before consummation that the borrower has a reasonable ability to repay. To determine a consumer’s reasonable ability to pay, a lender must review eight underwriting factors prescribed in the rule. Liability for violations of the ATR rule include actual damages, statutory damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Additionally, the Bureau regulates “qualified mortgages” (“QMs”), which are mortgages for which there is a presumption that the lender has satisfied the ATR rules. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, QMs must have certain product-feature prerequisites and affordability underwriting requirements. Generally, to meet the QM test, the lender must calculate the monthly payments under the loan based on the highest payment that will apply in the first five years and the consumer must have a total debt-to-income ratio that is less than or equal to 43%. The QM rule provides a safe harbor for lenders that make loans that satisfy the definition of a QM and are not higher priced. With respect to higher-priced mortgage loans, there is a rebuttable presumption of compliance available to the lender with respect to compliance with the ATR rule.

With respect to QMs, the Regulatory Relief Act allows insured depository institutions with less than $10 billion in assets, like the Bank, to designate certain consumer mortgage loans it originates and holds in portfolio as QMs even though such mortgage loans do not meet the ATR requirements described above.

Prepaid Accounts under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ("Regulation E") and the Truth In Lending Act ("Regulation Z")
The Bureau’s “Prepaid Accounts Rule,” adopted in October 2016, enhanced the regulations applicable to prepaid products and brought them fully within Regulation E, which implements the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act. In addition, prepaid products that have a credit component, like some of those offered in connection with an existing program manager agreement, are now regulated by Regulation Z, which implements the federal Truth in Lending Act. The rule also extended Regulation Z’s credit card rules and disclosure requirements to prepaid accounts that provide overdraft services and other credit features. These rules became effective on April 1, 2019.


36

Table of Contents
Short-Term, Small-Dollar Installment Lending
In October 2017, the OCC rescinded its guidance on deposit advance products in light of the Bureau’s pending small dollar loan rule related to payday, vehicle title and certain high cost installment loans that was issued in November 2017 (“Small Dollar Rule”). The Small Dollar Rule, however, has been the subject of further regulatory review and a court order staying compliance in connection with a legal challenge.

The Bureau issued its final Small Dollar Rule on July 22, 2020, which became fully effective on October 20, 2020. Specifically, the Bureau revoked provisions that: (i) provide that it is an unfair and abusive practice for a lender to make a covered short-term or longer-term balloon-payment loan, including payday and vehicle title loans, without reasonably determining that consumers have the ability to repay those loans according to their terms; (ii) prescribe mandatory underwriting requirements for making the ability-to-repay determination; (iii) exempt certain loans from the mandatory underwriting requirements; and (iv) establish related definitions, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. However, no lenders are required to comply until either November 19, 2020 or until the court in litigation challenging the Small Dollar Rule lifts its stay of the compliance date.

Separately, in May 2018, the OCC published guidance that encourages national banks and federal savings associations to offer responsible short-term, small-dollar installment loans with terms between two and twelve months and equal amortizing payments. Pursuant to the OCC’s guidance on this issue, banks are encouraged to offer these products in a manner that is consistent with sound risk management principles and clear, documented underwriting guidelines. Further, the federal banking agencies issued interagency guidance on May 20, 2020 to encourage banks, savings associations, and credit unions to offer responsible small-dollar loans to customers for consumer and small business purposes. As of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Bank has not determined to offer such products, although this position may change as the Bank further refines its business plan in the future.

Interest Rate Risk Management
The OCC requires national banks, like the Bank, to have an effective and sound interest rate risk management program, including appropriate measurement and reporting, robust and meaningful stress testing, assumption development reflecting the institution’s experience, and comprehensive model valuations. According to OCC guidance, interest rate risk exposure is supposed to be managed using processes and systems commensurate with their earnings and capital levels; complexity; business model; risk profile; and scope of operations. 

Standards for Safety and Soundness
The federal banking agencies have adopted the Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness. The guidelines establish certain safety and soundness standards for all depository institutions. The operational and managerial standards in the guidelines generally relate to the following: (1) internal controls and information systems; (2) internal audit systems; (3) loan documentation; (4) credit underwriting; (5) interest rate exposure; (6) asset growth; (7) compensation, fees and benefits; (8) asset quality; and (9) earnings. Failure to meet the standards in the guidelines could result in a request by the OCC to the Bank to provide a written compliance plan to demonstrate its efforts to come into compliance with such guidelines.

Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Laws and Regulations
AML and financial transparency laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act and the U.S. Patriot Act of 2001, impose strict standards for gathering and verifying customer information in order to ensure funds or other assets are not being placed in U.S. financial institutions to facilitate terrorist financing and laundering of funds. Applicable laws require financial institutions to have AML programs in place and require the federal banking agencies to consider a holding company’s effectiveness in combating money laundering when ruling on certain merger or acquisition applications. In addition, failure to comply with these requirements could lead to significant fines and penalties or the imposition of corrective orders.

Customer Identification Programs for Holders of Prepaid Cards
The federal banking agencies, including the OCC and the FRB, issued guidance in 2016 that extends the requirements of the Customer Identification Program required by Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act to prepaid accounts where the cardholder has either the (i) ability to reload funds, or (ii) access to credit or overdraft features. If either of these features is present, the issuer must verify the identity of the named account holder.


37

Table of Contents
Privacy
The Bank is required by federal statutes and regulations to disclose its privacy policies to its customers. The Bank is also required to appropriately safeguard its customers’ personal information. In addition, certain state laws could potentially impact the Bank’s operations, including those related to applicable notification requirements when unauthorized access to customers’ nonpublic personal information has occurred.

Examination Guidance for Third-Party Lending
On July 29, 2016, the FDIC issued revised examination guidance related to third-party lending relationships (e.g., lending arrangements that rely on a third party to perform a significant aspect of the lending process). Similar to guidance published by the OCC in 2013, this guidance generally requires that financial institutions, including the Bank, ensure that risks related to such third-party lending relationships are evaluated, including the type of lending activity, the complexity of the lending program, the projected and realized volume created by the relationship, and the number of third-party lending relationships the institution has in place.

Unclaimed Property Laws
Unclaimed property (escheatment) laws vary by state but generally require holders of customer property (including money) to turn over such property to the applicable state after holding the property for the statutorily prescribed period of time. These laws are not uniform and impose varying requirements on entities, like the Bank, which may hold funds that are required to be escheated to the applicable states.

Assessments
The Dodd-Frank Act provides that, in establishing the amount of an assessment, the Comptroller of the Currency may consider the nature and scope of the activities of the entity, the amount and type of assets it holds, the financial and managerial condition of the entity and any other factor that is appropriate. The assessments are paid to the OCC on a semi-annual basis. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the Bank paid assessments (standard assessments) of $868,852 to the OCC.

Regulatory Capital Requirements
The regulatory capital rules applicable to the Company and the Bank (the “Capital Rules”) identify three components of regulatory capital: (i) common equity tier 1 capital (“CET1 Capital”), (ii) additional tier 1 capital, and (iii) tier 2 capital. Tier 1 capital is the sum of CET1 Capital and additional tier 1 capital instruments meeting certain requirements. Total capital is the sum of tier 1 capital and tier 2 capital. CET1 Capital, tier 1 capital, and total capital serve as the numerators for three prescribed regulatory capital ratios. Risk-weighted assets, calculated using the standardized approach in the Capital Rules for the Company and the Bank, provide the denominator for such ratios. There is also a leverage ratio that compares tier 1 capital to average total assets.

Failure by the Company or the Bank to meet minimum capital requirements set by the Capital Rules could result in certain mandatory and/or discretionary disciplinary actions by their regulators that could have a material adverse effect on their business and their consolidated financial position. Under the capital requirements and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action (discussed below), the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company's and the Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

The Company and the Bank are required to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% above the minimum risk-based capital requirements in order to avoid certain limitations on capital distributions, stock repurchases and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital conservation buffer is exclusively composed of CET1 Capital and applies to each of the three risk-based capital ratios (but not the leverage ratio).

The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1 Capital. These include, for example, the requirement that deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences that could not be realized through net operating loss carrybacks and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 Capital to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 Capital or all such items, in the aggregate, exceed 15% of CET1 Capital.

The Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings for a large and risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. government and agency securities to 600% for certain equity exposures, and resulting in high-risk weights for a variety of asset classes.
38

Table of Contents
As of September 30, 2020, the Bank exceeded all of its regulatory capital requirements and was designated as “well capitalized” under federal guidelines.

Recent Developments Related to Capital Rules
There have been several developments which are intended to reduce the regulatory capital burden on smaller, less complex banking organizations like the Company and the Bank. The effect that these developments will have on the Company and the Bank is currently uncertain.

In July 2019, the federal banking agencies finalized a rule intended to simplify and clarify a number of the more complex aspects of existing regulatory capital rules. Specifically, the rule simplifies the capital treatment for mortgage servicing assets, certain deferred tax assets, investments in the capital instruments of unconsolidated financial institutions, and minority interest. The final rule also allows bank holding companies to redeem common stock without prior approval unless otherwise required. The final rule became effective April 1, 2020 for the amendments to simplify capital rules, and October 1, 2019 for revisions to the pre-approval requirements for the redemption of common stock and other technical amendments. The Bank did not elect to implement the relief provided under the simplification rule.

On November 21, 2018, the FDIC, the OCC, and the FRB jointly issued a proposed rule required by the Regulatory Relief Act that would permit qualifying banks that have less than $10 billion in consolidated assets to elect to be subject to a 9% leverage ratio that would be applied using less complex leverage calculations (referred to as the “community bank leverage ratio” or “CBLR”). Under the proposed rule, banks that opt into the CBLR framework and maintain a CBLR of greater than 9% would not be subject to other risk-based and leverage capital requirements and would be deemed to have met the well capitalized ratio requirements. The rule was adopted in September 2019. The Bank continues to assess the potential impact of opting in to this election as part of its ongoing capital management and planning processes.

Prompt Corrective Action ("PCA")
Federal banking agencies are authorized and, under certain circumstances, required to take certain actions against banks that fail to meet their minimum capital requirements expressed in terms of a total risk-based capital ratio, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, a CET1 ratio, and a leverage ratio (as identified in the tables above).

Well capitalized banks may not make a capital distribution or pay management fees if the bank would be undercapitalized after making such distributions or paying such fees. Adequately capitalized banks, in general, cannot pay dividends or make any capital contributions that would leave them undercapitalized; they cannot pay a management fee to a controlling person if, after paying the fee, they would be undercapitalized; and they cannot accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposit unless they have applied for and been granted a waiver by the FDIC.

The activities of an “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized” bank are further restricted. Any such bank must submit a capital restoration plan that is guaranteed by each company that controls the Bank, and such company must provide appropriate assurances of performance. Until such plan is approved, the bank may not increase its assets, acquire another institution, establish a branch or engage in any new activities, and generally may not make capital distributions. The federal banking agencies are authorized to impose additional restrictions, discussed below, that are applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions.

The imposition of any action taken by the OCC against the Bank in connection with the agency’s PCA authority would likely have a substantial adverse effect on it and on the Company’s operations and profitability. This is especially true if the Bank were to no longer be deemed to be well capitalized and, therefore, subject to limitations on its ability to accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits absent a waiver from the FDIC. The Company's stockholders are not entitled to preemptive rights and, therefore, if the Company is directed by its regulators to issue additional shares of common stock, such issuance may result in dilution to the Company's existing stockholders.

Institutions in Troubled Condition
Certain events, including entering into a formal written agreement with a bank’s regulator that requires action to improve the bank’s financial condition, or being informed by the regulator that the bank is in troubled condition, will automatically result in limitations on so-called “golden parachute” agreements pursuant to Section 18(K) of the FDIA. In addition, organizations that are not in compliance with minimum capital requirements, or are otherwise in a troubled condition, must give 90 days’ written notice to the OCC before appointing a Director or Senior Executive Officer, pursuant to the OCC’s regulations.

39

Table of Contents
Civil Money Penalties
The OCC has the authority to assess civil money penalties (“CMPs”) against any national bank, federal savings bank or any of their institution-affiliated parties (“IAPs”). In addition, the OCC has the authority to assess CMPs against bank service companies and service providers. CMPs may encourage an affected party to correct violations, unsafe or unsound practices or breaches of fiduciary duty. CMPs are also intended to serve as a deterrent to future violations of law, regulations, orders and other conditions.

Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions
The NBA and related federal regulations govern the permissibility of dividends and capital distributions by a national bank. As a national bank, the Bank’s board of directors may not declare, and the Bank may not pay, any dividend in an amount greater than the sum of current period net income and retained earnings. A distribution in excess of that amount is a reduction in permanent capital, and the Bank would need to follow the applicable procedures set forth in OCC regulations and guidance. Further, the Bank’s board of directors may not declare a dividend if paying the dividend would result in the Bank being undercapitalized under the OCC’s PCA rule.

The Bank also must obtain prior approval from the OCC to pay a cash dividend if the dividend would exceed the sum of current period net income and retained earnings from the past two years, after deducting the following transactions during that period: (i) any dividends previously declared, (ii) extraordinary transfers required by the OCC, and (iii) payments made for the retirement of preferred stock. This calculation is performed on a rolling basis as described in the OCC’s earnings limitation regulations.

The Bank paid cash dividends in the amount of $118.0 million to the Company during fiscal 2020, to be used to fund share repurchases under the common stock share repurchase program that was authorized by the Company's Board of Directors during the fiscal 2020 first quarter. The program authorized the Company to repurchase up to 7,500,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock through December 31, 2022. Effective in March 2020, the Company suspended its share repurchase activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic uncertainty. The Company resumed its share repurchase activity in September 2020. As part of its capital planning, the Company will continue to regularly assess its needs for dividends from the Bank in order to fund future share repurchases and dividends to the Company's stockholders as needed.

Transactions with Affiliates
The Bank must comply with Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act relative to transactions with “affiliates,” generally defined to mean any company that controls or is under common control with the institution (as such, The Company is an affiliate of the Bank for these purposes). Transactions between an institution or its subsidiaries and its affiliates are required to be on terms as favorable to the Bank as terms prevailing at the time for transactions with non-affiliates. Certain transactions, such as loans to an affiliate, are restricted to a percentage of the institutions’ capital (e.g., the aggregate amount of covered transactions with any individual affiliate is limited to 10% of the capital and surplus of the institution; the aggregate amount of covered transactions with all affiliates is limited to 20% of the institution’s capital and surplus).

Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”)
Under the CRA, the Bank is evaluated periodically by its primary federal banking regulator to determine if it is meeting its continuing and affirmative obligations consistent with its safe and sound operation, to help meet the credit needs of its assessment areas, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. CRA ratings can also impact an insured depository institution’s ability to engage in certain activities as CRA performance is considered in connection with certain applications by depository institutions and their holding companies, including merger applications, charter applications, and applications to acquire assets or assume liabilities. The Bank received an “Outstanding” rating during its most recent Performance Evaluation dated February 3, 2020.

Federal Home Loan Bank System
The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) system through the FHLB of Des Moines, one of 11 regional FHLBs that administer the home financing credit function that is subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. All advances from the FHLB are required to be fully secured by sufficient collateral as determined by the FHLB. In addition, all long-term advances must be used for residential home financing.

As a member of the FHLB system, the Bank is required to purchase and maintain activity-based capital stock in the FHLB in the amount specified by the applicable FHLB's capital plan. At September 30, 2020, the Bank had in the aggregate $7.5 million in FHLB stock, which was in compliance with the FHLB of Des Moines' requirement. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, dividends paid by the FHLB to the Bank totaled $0.8 million.
40

Table of Contents
Other Regulation
The Bank is also subject to a variety of other regulations with respect to its business operations including, but not limited to, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Consumer Leasing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Military Lending Act, the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

It is possible that additional rulemaking could require significant revisions to the regulations under which the Bank operates and is supervised. Any change in such laws and regulations or interpretations thereof negatively impacting the Bank's or the Company's current operations, whether by the OCC, the FDIC, the Bureau, the FRB or through legislation, could have a material adverse impact on the Bank and its operations and on the Company and its stockholders.

Holding Company Regulation and Supervision
The Company is subject to examination, supervision, and certain reporting requirements by the Federal Reserve, which has responsibility for the primary regulation and supervision of all BHCs, including the Company, under the Bank Holding Company Act (“BHCA”). The Federal Reserve also has supervisory authority over any nonbank subsidiary of a BHC that is not functionally regulated by another federal or state regulator, such as a leasing subsidiary. Through the supervisory process, the Federal Reserve ensures that BHCs, like the Company, comply with law and regulation and are operated in a manner that is consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The Federal Reserve supervises BHCs pursuant to Regulation Y (12 C.F.R. Part 225) and a supervisory program that seeks to ensure that BHCs comply with rules and regulations and that they operate in a safe and sound manner.

As a BHC that has elected to become a FHC, the Company may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in any activity, that is either (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity (as determined by the Federal Reserve in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury) or (ii) complementary to a financial activity, and that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system (as solely determined by the Federal Reserve). Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting, and making merchant banking investments.

Acquisitions
Federal law prohibits a BHC, including the Company, directly or indirectly, from: (a) acquiring control (as defined under Regulation Y) of another bank (or a holding company parent) without prior Federal Reserve approval; or (b) through merger, consolidation or purchase of assets, acquiring another bank or a holding company thereof, or acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of such institution (or a holding company), without prior Federal Reserve approval. In evaluating applications by BHCs to acquire other holding companies and banks, the Federal Reserve must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the DIF, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors.

Change in Bank Control
Federal law and regulation set forth the types of transactions that require prior notice under the Change in Bank Control Act (“CIBCA”). Pursuant to CIBCA and Regulation Y, any person (acting directly or indirectly) that seeks to acquire control of a bank or its holding company must provide prior notice to the Federal Reserve. A “person” includes an individual, bank, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, or any other form of entity. A person acquires "control" of a banking organization whenever the person acquires ownership, control, or the power to vote 25 percent or more of any class of voting securities of the institution. The applicable regulations also provide for certain other "rebuttable" presumptions of control.

In April 2020, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule to revise its regulations related to determinations of whether a company has the ability to exercise a controlling influence over another company for purposes of the BHCA. The final rule expands and codifies the presumptions for use in such determinations. By codifying the presumptions, the final rule provides greater transparency on the types of relationships that the Federal Reserve generally views as supporting a facts-and-circumstances determination that one company controls another company. The Federal Reserve’s final rule applies to questions of control under the BHCA, but does not extend to CIBCA.
 

41

Table of Contents
Source of Strength and Capital Requirements
The Dodd-Frank Act requires all companies, including BHCs, that directly or indirectly control an insured depository institution to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and to maintain adequate resources to support such institutions; to date, however, specific regulations implementing this requirement have not been published. As an BHC, the Company is also subject to the same regulatory capital requirements as the Bank.

Examination
In 2019, the Federal Reserve published finalized guidance with respect to inspection frequency and scope for BHCs with less than $10 billion in assets. According to the Federal Reserve, with respect to institutions with less than $10 billion in assets (such as the Company), the determination of whether a holding company is "complex" versus "noncomplex" is made at least annually on a case-by-case basis taking into account and weighing a number of considerations, such as: the size and structure of the holding company; the extent of intercompany transactions between insured depository institution subsidiaries and the holding company or uninsured subsidiaries of the holding company; the nature and scale of any non-bank activities; and the degree of leverage of the holding company, including the extent of its debt outstanding to the public.

In addition, on June 23, 2020, the federal banking agencies released guidance to promote consistency in the supervision and examination of financial institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve and OCC will continue to assess institutions in accordance with existing policies and procedures. However, in conducting their supervisory assessment, federal banking examiners will consider whether institution management has managed risk appropriately, including taking appropriate actions in response to stress caused by COVID-19-related impacts. The interagency guidance instructs examiners to consider the unique, evolving, and potential long-term nature of the issues confronting institutions and to exercise appropriate flexibility in their supervisory response.

Dividends
In 2009, the Federal Reserve released a supervisory letter entitled Applying Supervisory Guidance and Regulations on the Payment of Dividends, Stock Redemptions and Stock Repurchases at Bank Holding Companies. This letter generally sets forth principles describing when a BHC must consult, provide notice, or seek approval from the FRB prior to a capital distribution including the payment of dividends, stock redemptions, or stock repurchases. According to FRB staff, the FRBs are likely to require holding companies to eliminate, defer or reduce dividends if these payments are not fully covered by the net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, earnings retention is not consistent with capital needs or the holding company will not meet or is in danger of not meeting minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.

In addition, on June 25, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced several capital assessment and related actions following its stress tests and sensitivity analyses to ensure large banks remain resilient despite the economic uncertainty related to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in the third quarter of 2020, the Federal Reserve is requiring large banks to preserve capital by suspending share repurchases, capping dividend payments, and limiting dividends based on recent income. The Federal Reserve is also requiring banks to re-evaluate their longer-term capital plans. Although these measures do not apply to the Company, the Company is monitoring the Federal Reserve’s evolving supervisory and regulatory responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the event that similar supervisory expectations are imposed on banks with less than $10 billion in assets.

Management
In August 2017, the Federal Reserve published proposed guidance related to supervisory expectations for boards of directors of BHCs. The proposal seeks to clarify supervisory expectations of boards and distinguish the roles held by senior management to allow boards to focus on fulfilling their core responsibilities. As of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, no final guidance has yet been published.

Additional Regulatory Matters
The Company is subject to oversight by the SEC, NASDAQ and various state securities regulators. In the normal course of business, the Company has received requests for information from these regulators. Such requests have been considered routine and incidental to the Company’s operations.


42

Table of Contents
Federal and State Taxation

Meta and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return and various consolidated state income tax returns. Additionally, Meta or its subsidiaries file separate company income tax returns in states where required. All returns are filed on a fiscal year basis using the accrual method of accounting. The Company monitors relevant tax authorities and changes its estimate of accrued income tax due to changes in income or franchise tax laws and their interpretation by the courts and regulatory authorities.

Competition

The Company operates in competitive markets for each of the different financial sectors in which it engages in business: payments, commercial finance, tax services and consumer lending. Competitors include a wide range of regional and national banks and financial services companies located both in the Company's market areas and across the nation.

The Company’s payments division serves customers nationally and also faces strong competition from large commercial banks and specialty providers of electronic payments processing and servicing, including prepaid, debit and credit card issuers, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) processors and ATM network sponsors. Many of these national players are aggressive competitors, leveraging relationships and economies of scale.

As part of its national lending operations, the Company also faces strong competition from non-bank commercial finance companies, leasing companies, factoring companies, insurance premium finance companies, consumer finance and others on a nationwide basis. In addition, the Company’s tax return processing services division competes nationwide with financial institutions that offer similar processing technologies and capabilities.

Human Capital Resources

In order to continue to deliver on our mission of financial inclusion for all, it is crucial that we attract and retain talent who desire to enable financial equality through delivery of capable solutions, thoughtful innovation and equitable consumer options in the markets that we serve. To facilitate talent attraction and retention, we strive to make MetaBank an inclusive, safe and healthy workplace, with opportunities for our employees to grow and develop in their careers, supported by strong compensation, benefits, health and welfare programs.

Employee Profile
As of September 30, 2020, we had approximately 1,015 full time equivalent employees in locations across the United States. This represents a decrease of 171 employees or 14.42% from September 30, 2019 due primarily to the sale of the Community Bank division in February of 2020 in which employees aligned with our community bank operations and support transitioned to the acquirer of the Community Bank division, Central Bank.

As of September 30, 2020, approximately 56.6% of our current workforce is female, 43.4% male, and our average tenure is 6.07 years, an increase of 5.93% from an average tenure of 5.73 years as of September 30, 2019.

Total Rewards
As part of our compensation philosophy, we believe that we must offer and maintain market competitive total rewards programs for our employees in order to attract and retain superior talent. In addition to healthy base wages, additional programs include annual bonus opportunities, a Company augmented Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Company matched 401(k) Plan, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, family care resources, flexible work schedules, adoption assistance, and employee assistance programs.


43

Table of Contents
Health and Safety
The success of our business is fundamentally connected to the well-being of our people. Accordingly, we are committed to the health, safety and wellness of our employees. We provide our employees and their families with access to a variety of flexible and convenient health and welfare programs, including benefits that support their physical and mental health by providing tools and resources to help them improve or maintain their health status; and that offer choice where possible so they can customize their benefits to meet their needs and the needs of their families. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented significant operating environment changes that we determined were in the best interest of our employees, as well as the communities in which we operate, and which comply with government regulations. This includes having the vast majority of our employees work from home, while implementing additional safety measures for employees continuing critical on-site work.

Talent
A core tenet of our talent system is to both develop talent from within and supplement with external hires. This approach has yielded loyalty and commitment in our employee base which in turn grows our business, our products, and our customers, while adding new employees and external ideas supports a continuous improvement mindset and our goals of a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that our average tenure — 6.07 years as of the end of the fiscal year 2020 — reflects the engagement of our employees in this core talent system tenet.

Our talent acquisition team uses internal and external resources to recruit highly skilled and talented workers across the US, and we encourage employee referrals for open positions.

Our Performance Management framework includes monthly business and functional reviews and one on one, quarterly, forward looking, goal and employee development discussions, followed by annual opportunities for pay differentiation via overall performance distinction.

We strive to promote inclusion through our stated Company values and behaviors. With the support of our Board of Directors, we continue to explore additional diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts via our three pillars of inclusion: candidates, employees, and marketplace. Our ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives support our goal that everyone throughout the Company is engaged in creating an inclusive workplace, and we are focused on sourcing and hiring with fairness and equitable approaches, creating an environment where all of our employees can develop and thrive, and engaging and influencing suppliers, partners and associations in our marketplace.

Available Information

The Company’s website address is www.metafinancialgroup.com. The Company makes available, through a link with the SEC’s EDGAR database, free of charge, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and statements of ownership on Forms 3, 4, and 5. Investors are encouraged to access these reports and other information about our business on our website. The information found on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this or any other report the Company files or furnishes to the SEC. The Company also will provide copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, free of charge, upon written request to Brittany Kelley Elsasser, Director of Investor Relations, at the Company’s address. Also posted on the Company's website, among other things, are the charters of committees of the Board of Directors, as well as the Company's and the Bank's Codes of Ethics.
44

Table of Contents

Item 1A. Risk Factors

We are subject to various risks, including those described below that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected or historical results. Our business could be harmed, perhaps materially, by any of these risks, as well as other risks that we have not identified, whether due to such risks not presently being known to us, because we do not currently believe such risks to be material, or otherwise. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and actual results and events may differ substantially from those discussed or highlighted in these forward-looking statements. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the Company’s financial statements and related notes. Before making an investment decision with respect to any of our securities, you should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to Our Industry and Business
 
Our framework for managing risk, including our underwriting practices, may not prevent future losses.

We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report, and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including liquidity risk, credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, operational risk, legal and compliance risk, and reputational risk, among others. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies, as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. For example, if our underwriting practices or criteria fail to adequately identify, price, and mitigate credit risks, such as risks related to continued economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk in our tax refund advance loan portfolio that the IRS or the relevant state revenue department does not pay our customer's tax refund in full or the risk that any of our EROs will facilitate or engage in malfeasance or offer the Bank's products and services in a manner that does not comply with applicable law or contractual representations, warranties and covenants, it is possible that losses in our loan portfolio will exceed the amounts the Bank has set aside for loss reserves and result in reduced interest income and increased provision for loan losses, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any resulting deterioration in our loan portfolio could also cause a decrease in our capital, which would make it more difficult to maintain regulatory capital compliance. Further, risk mitigation techniques and the judgments that accompany their application cannot anticipate every economic and financial outcome or the specific circumstances and timing of such outcomes, which may result in the Bank or any of its divisions incurring unexpected losses.

We are subject to credit risk in connection with our lending and leasing activities, and our financial condition and results of operations may be negatively impacted by factors that adversely affect our borrowers.

We, through the Bank and its divisions, originate various types of loans and leases, and our financial condition and results of operations are affected by the ability of borrowers to repay their loans or leases in a timely manner. Borrowers may be unable to repay their loans due to various factors, some of which are outside of their control. For example, the ability of borrowers to repay their agricultural loans with the Bank depends upon the successful operation of the borrower's business, which is greatly dependent upon factors such as the weather, commodity prices, and interest rates, among others. Similarly, borrowers under our commercial loans and related financing products (typically, small- to medium-sized businesses) may be may be more susceptible to even mild or moderate economic declines than larger commercial borrowers, which may subject the Bank and, ultimately, us, to a higher risk of loan loss. Many borrowers have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic consequences, and may continue to be similarly or more severely affected in the future. The risk of non-payment by borrowers is assessed through our underwriting processes and other risk management practices, which may not be able to fully identify, price and mitigate such risk. See "Our framework for managing risk, including our underwriting practices, may not prevent future losses." Despite those efforts, we do and will experience loan and lease losses, and our financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected by those loan and lease losses.


45

Table of Contents
If our actual loan and lease losses exceed our allowance for loan and lease losses, our net income will decrease.

We make various assumptions and subjective judgments about the collectability of our loan and lease portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans and leases, which are subject to change. Despite our underwriting and monitoring practices, our loan and lease customers may not repay their loans and leases according to their terms, and the collateral securing the payment of these loans and leases may be insufficient to pay any remaining loan and lease balance. We may experience significant loan and lease losses due to nonpayment by our borrowers, which could have a material adverse effect on our overall financial condition and results of operation, as well as the value of our common stock. Because we must use assumptions to establish our allowance for loan and lease losses, the current allowance for loan and lease losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan and lease losses, and increases in the allowance, which may be significant, may be necessary. In addition, federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for loan and lease losses and may require us to increase our provision for loan and lease losses or recognize loan charge-offs. Our allowance for loan and lease losses has been negatively impacted by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and a worsening or prolonged continuation of such unfavorable economic conditions could further impact our allowance. Material additions to our allowance would materially decrease our net income. We cannot provide any assurance that our monitoring procedures and policies will reduce certain lending risks or that our allowance for loan and lease losses will be adequate to cover actual losses. Further, a new method of determining loan and lease loss allowances, which was effective for the Company on October 1, 2020, could impact future profitability. See Note 1 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further details on this accounting pronouncement.

Our investments in certain tax-advantaged projects may not generate returns as anticipated and may have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
We invest in certain tax-advantaged investments that support renewable energy resources. Our investments in these projects are designed to generate a return in part through the realization of federal and state income tax credits, and other tax benefits, over specified time periods. We are subject to the risk that previously recorded tax credits, which remain subject to recapture by taxing authorities based on compliance features required to be met at the project level, may fail to meet certain government compliance requirements and may not be able to be realized.

The risk of not being able to realize, or of subsequently incurring a recapture of, the tax credits and other tax benefits depends on various factors, some of which are outside of our control, including changes in the applicable tax code, as well as the continued economic viability of the project and project operator. Further, while we engage in due diligence review both prior to the initial investment and on an ongoing basis, our due diligence review may not identify relevant issues or risks that may adversely impact our ability to realize these tax credits or other tax benefits. The possible inability to realize these tax credits and other tax benefits may have a negative impact on our financial results.

Through our Crestmark division, we engage in equipment leasing activities; the residual value of leased equipment at the time of its disposition may be less than forecasted at the time we entered into the lease.

The market value of any given piece of leased equipment could be less than its depreciated value at the time it is sold due to various factors, including factors beyond our control. The market value of used leased equipment depends on several factors, including:
the market price for new equipment that is similar;
the age and condition of the leased equipment at the time it is sold;
the supply of and demand for similar used equipment on the market;
technological advances relating to the leased equipment or similar equipment; and
economic conditions in the specific business or industry in which the equipment is used, as well as broader regional or national economic conditions.

We include in income from operations the difference between the sales price and the depreciated value of an item of leased equipment sold. Changes in our assumptions regarding depreciation could change our depreciation expense, as well as the gain or loss realized upon disposal of leased equipment. If we sell our used leased equipment at prices significantly below our projections or in lesser quantities than we anticipated at the time we entered into the lease, our results of operations and cash flows may be negatively impacted.
46

Table of Contents
Changes in interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our earnings depend substantially on our interest rate spread, which is the difference between (i) the rates we earn on loans, securities, and other earning assets, and (ii) the interest rates we pay on deposits and other borrowings. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities. As market interest rates rise, we experience competitive pressures to increase the rates we pay on deposits, which may decrease our net interest income. Conversely, if interest rates fall, yields on loans and investments may fall. The Bank monitors its interest rate risk exposure; however, the Bank can provide no assurance that its efforts will appropriately protect the Bank in the future from interest rate risk exposure. For additional information, see Part II, Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk."
We operate in an extremely competitive market, and our business will suffer if we are unable to compete effectively.

We encounter significant competition in all of our market areas and national business lines from other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market mutual funds and other financial intermediaries. Some of our and the Bank's competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits, may be subject to less regulation than we are, and may offer services that we do not or cannot provide. Our profitability depends upon both our ability to compete successfully in our market areas and the Bank's and the divisions' ability to compete in their various business markets.

For example, the Crestmark division competes for loans, leases, and other financial services with numerous national and regional banks, thrifts, credit unions, and other financial institutions, as well as other entities that provide financial services, including specialty lenders, securities firms, and mutual funds. Certain larger commercial financing companies do not currently focus their marketing efforts on smaller commercial companies; however, any shift in focus by such larger financing companies may further fragment existing market share in this commercial finance industry. Moreover, some of the financial institutions and financial service organizations with which the Crestmark division competes are not subject to the same degree of regulation as the Crestmark division and the Bank. Many of the Crestmark division's competitors have been in business for many years, have established customer bases, are larger and may offer other services that neither the Crestmark division nor the Bank do.

Several banking institutions have adopted business strategies similar to ours, particularly with respect to the MPS division. This competition, and competition in any of the Bank's other divisions, may increase our costs, reduce our revenues or revenue growth, or make it difficult for us to compete effectively in obtaining additional customer relationships.

Our business could suffer if there is a decline in the use of prepaid cards or there are adverse developments with respect to the prepaid financial services industry in general.

As the prepaid financial services industry evolves, consumers may find prepaid financial services to be less attractive than other financial services. Consumers might not use prepaid financial services for any number of reasons. For example, negative publicity surrounding us or other prepaid financial service providers could impact MPS's business and prospects for growth to the extent it adversely impacts the perception of prepaid financial services. If consumers do not continue or increase their usage of prepaid cards, MPS's operating revenues may remain at current levels or decline. Growth of prepaid financial services as an electronic payment mechanism may not occur or may occur more slowly than estimated. If there is a shift in the mix of payment forms used by consumers (i.e., cash, credit cards, traditional debit cards and prepaid cards) away from products and services offered by MPS, such a shift could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.


47

Table of Contents
We are dependent upon relationships with various third parties with respect to our operations, and our ability to maintain such relationships and the ability of such third parties to perform in accordance with the applicable agreements, could adversely affect our business.
The Bank has entered into numerous arrangements with third parties with respect to the operations of its business, as described in Part I, Item 1 "Business." Upon the expiration of the then-current term, any such agreements may not be renewed by the third party or may be renewed on terms less favorable to the Bank. In some cases, such agreements may permit the third party to unilaterally prescribe certain business practices and procedures with respect to the Bank and its divisions (as is the case under agreements between MPS and Discover, MasterCard, Visa and other card networks) or terminate the agreement early under certain circumstances (as is the case under our program management agreement with EFS with respect to certain H&R Block financial services if the Bank should lose its exemption from the “Durbin Amendment”). To the extent any agreement with a service provider is terminated, we may not be able to secure alternate service providers, and, even if we do, the terms with alternate providers may not be as favorable as those currently in place. In addition, were we to lose any of our significant third-party providers, including in our tax refund-related business in which we have a limited number of partners, it could cause a material disruption in our ability to service our customers, which also could have an adverse material impact on the Bank, its divisions and, ultimately, us. Moreover, significant disruptions in our ability to provide services could negatively affect the perception of our business, which could result in a loss of confidence and other adverse effects on our business.

In addition, if any of our counterparties is unable to or otherwise does not fulfill (or does not timely fulfill) its obligations to us for any reason (including, but not limited to, bankruptcy, computer or other technological interruptions or failures, personnel loss, negative regulatory actions, or acts of God) or engages in fraud or other misconduct during the course of such relationship, we may need to seek alternative third party service providers, or discontinue certain products or programs in their entirety. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, situations where we have been held directly or indirectly responsible, or were otherwise subject to liability, for the inability of our third party service providers to perform services for our customers on a timely basis or at all or for actions of third parties undertaken on behalf of the Bank or otherwise in connection with the Bank's arrangement with such third parties. Any such responsibility or liability in the future may have a material adverse effect on our business, including the operations of the Bank and its divisions, and financial results.

In any event, our agreements with third-parties could come under scrutiny by our regulators, and our regulators could raise an issue with, or object to, any term or provision in such an agreement or any action taken by such third party vis-à-vis the Bank's operations or customers, resulting in a material adverse effect to us including, but not limited to, the imposition of fines and/or penalties and the material restructuring or termination of such agreement. Moreover, if our regulators examine our third-party service providers and find questionable or illegal acts or practices, our regulators could require us to restructure or terminate our agreements with such providers.

Additionally, although our network of tax preparation partners is expansive, it is possible that our EROs may choose to offer tax-related products of other companies that provide products and services similar to the Bank's if such other companies offer superior pricing or for other competitive reasons.

We derive a significant percentage of our deposits, total assets and income from deposit accounts that we generate through MPS' customer relationships, of which five program manager relationships are particularly significant to our operations.

We derive a significant percentage of our deposits, total assets and income from deposit accounts we generate through program manager relationships between third parties and MPS. Deposits related to our top five program managers (each, a significant program manager) totaled $3.03 billion at September 30, 2020. If one of these significant program manager relationships were to be terminated or there is a significant decrease in revenues or deposits associated with any of these business relationships, it could materially reduce our deposits, assets and income. Similarly, if a significant program manager was not replaced, we may be required to seek higher-rate funding sources as compared to the existing program manager, and interest expense might increase.


48

Table of Contents
We are exposed to fraud losses from customer accounts.

Fraudulent activity involving our products may lead to customer disputed transactions, for which we may be liable under banking regulations and payment network rules. Our fraud detection and risk control mechanisms may not prevent all fraudulent or illegal activity. To the extent we incur losses from disputed transactions, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

We are exposed to settlement and other losses from payments customers.

Our cardholders can incur charges in excess of the funds available in their accounts, and we may become liable for these overdrafts. While we decline authorization attempts for amounts that exceed the available balance in a cardholder's account, the application of card association rules, the timing of the settlement of transactions and the assessment of the card's monthly maintenance fee, among other things, can result in overdrawn accounts.

In addition, we face settlement risks from our distributors and banking partners, which may increase during an economic downturn, such as the one as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on contract terms, we may prefund partner accounts. If a partner becomes insolvent, files for bankruptcy, commits fraud or otherwise fails to remit proceeds to our card issuing bank from the sales of our products and services, we are liable for any amounts owed to our customers. At September 30, 2020, we had assets subject to settlement risk of $603.6 million.

For one of our programs, the Company pays servicing fees which are primarily offset by estimated card breakage. For cards issued prior to January of 2020, if consumers spend more than projected over the life of the card programs, the Company could experience a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. See “Funding Activities – Deposits” for further breakdown of balances as of September 30, 2020. We are not insured against these settlement or partner risks.

Our business strategy includes plans for organic growth, and our financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected if we fail to grow or fail to manage our growth effectively.

As part of our general growth strategy, we expect to continue to pursue organic growth, while also continuing to evaluate potential acquisitions and expansion opportunities that we believe provide a strategic or geographic fit with our business. Although we have experienced significant growth in our assets and revenues, we may not be able to sustain our historical growth rate or be able to grow at all. We believe that our future organic growth will depend on competitive factors and on the ability of our senior management to continue to maintain a robust system of internal controls and procedures and manage a growing number of customer relationships. See "We operate in an extremely competitive market, and our business will suffer if we are unable to compete effectively." We may not be able to implement changes or improvements to these internal controls and procedures in an efficient or timely manner and may discover deficiencies in existing systems and controls. Consequently, continued organic growth, if achieved, may place a strain on our operational infrastructure, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks.

From time to time, we may implement new lines of business or offer new financial products or services within existing lines of business. Substantial risks and uncertainties are associated with developing and marketing new lines of business or new products or services, particularly in instances where markets are not fully developed, and we may be required to invest significant time and management and capital resources in connection with such new lines of business or new products or services. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business or new products or services may not be achieved. In addition, price and profitability targets for new lines of business or new products or services may not prove feasible, as we, the Bank or any of the Bank's divisions may need to price products and services on less advantageous terms than anticipated to retain or attract clients. External factors, such as regulatory reception, compliance with regulations and guidance, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of business or new product or service may be expensive to implement and could also have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could reduce our revenues and potentially generate losses.


49

Table of Contents
An impairment charge of goodwill or other intangibles could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Because we have recently experienced significant growth, in part through acquisitions, goodwill and intangible assets are included within our consolidated assets. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, we are required to test the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets at least annually or sooner if events occur that indicate impairment could exist. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal and regulatory factors, competition, a decrease in our stock price and market capitalization over a sustained period of time, a sustained decline in a reporting unit's fair value or other operating performance indicators. GAAP requires us to assign and then test goodwill at the reporting unit level. If the fair value of our reporting unit is less than its net book value, we may be required to record goodwill impairment charges in the future. In addition, if the revenue and cash flows generated from any of our other intangible assets is not sufficient to support its net book value, we may be required to record an impairment charge. The amount of any impairment charge could be significant and could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations for the period in which the charge is taken.

We may incur losses due to fraudulent and negligent acts, as well as errors, by third parties or our employees.

We may incur losses due to fraudulent or negligent acts, misconduct or errors on the part of third parties with which we do business, our employees and individuals and entities unaffiliated with us, including unauthorized wire and automated clearinghouse transactions, the theft of customer data, customer fraud concerning the value of any relevant collateral, identity theft, errors in a customer's tax return, tax return fraud, the counterfeiting of cards and "skimming" (whereby a skimmer reads a debit card's encoded mag stripe and a camera records the PIN that is entered by a customer), malicious social engineering schemes (where people are asked to provide a prepaid card or reload product in order to obtain a loan or purchase goods or services) and collusion between participants in the card system to act illegally. Additionally, our employees could hide unauthorized activities from us, engage in improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers, or improperly use confidential information. There can be no assurances that the Bank's program to monitor fraud and other activities will be able to detect all instances of such conduct or that, even if such conduct is detected, we, the Bank, our customers or the third parties with which we do business, including the ATM networks and card payment industry in which the Bank participates, will not be the victims of such activities. Even a single significant instance of fraud, misconduct or other error could result in reputational damage to us, which could reduce the use and acceptance of our cards and other products and services, cause retail distributors or their customers to cease doing business with us or them, or could lead to greater regulation that would increase our compliance costs. Such activities could also result in the imposition of regulatory sanctions, including significant monetary fines, and civil claims which could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Security breaches involving us, the Bank or any of the third parties with which we do business could expose us to liability and protracted and costly litigation, and could adversely affect our reputation and operating revenues.

In connection with our business, we collect and retain significant volumes of sensitive business and personally identifiable information, including social security numbers of our customers and other personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, on our data systems. We and the third parties with which we conduct business may experience security breaches, due in part to the failure of our data encryption technologies or otherwise, involving the receipt, transmission, and storage of confidential customer and other personally identifiable information, including account takeovers, unavailability of service, computer viruses, or other malicious code, cyberattacks, or other events, any of which may arise from human error, fraud or malice on the part of employees or third parties or from accidental technological failure. If one or more of these events occurs, it could result in the disclosure of confidential customer information, impairment of our ability to provide products and services to our customers, damage to our reputation with our customers and the market, additional costs (such as costs for repairing systems or adding new personnel or protection technologies), regulatory penalties, and financial losses for us, our clients and other third parties. Such events could also cause interruptions or malfunctions in the operations of our clients, customers, or other third parties with which we engage in business. Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity attacks have increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related increased reliance on remote working, and are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats and the expanding use of technology-based products and services by us and our customers. We can provide no assurances that the safeguards we have in place or may implement in the future will prevent all unauthorized infiltrations or breaches and that we will not suffer losses related to a security breach in the future, which losses may be material.
50

Table of Contents
In addition, if the Bank or its divisions fail to comply with data security regulations, the Bank could be subject to various regulatory sanctions, including financial penalties. For example, the largest credit card associations in the world created the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (the "PCI DSS"), a multifaceted standard that includes data security management, policies and procedures as well as other protective measures to protect the nonpublic personal information of cardholders. Compliance with the PCI DSS is costly and changes to the standards could have an equal, or greater, effect on the profitability of one or more of our business divisions.

Our reputation and financial condition may be harmed by system failures, computer viruses and other technological interruptions to our operations.

We rely heavily upon information systems and other operating technologies to efficiently operate and manage our business, including to process transactions through the Internet, including, in particular, in our MPS division. Were there to be a failure or a significant impairment in the operation of any of such systems, we may need to develop alternative processes, including to comply with customer safeguard protocols, during which time revenues and profitability may be lower, and there can be no assurance that we could develop or find such an alternative on terms acceptable to us or at all. Any such disruption in the information systems and other operating technologies utilized by the Bank or its divisions, including due to infiltration by hackers or other intruders, could also result in negative publicity and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Agency, technological, or human error could lead to tax refund processing delays, which could adversely affect our reputation and operating revenues.

We and our tax preparation partners rely on the IRS, technology, and employees when processing and preparing tax refunds and tax-related products and services. Any delays during the processing or preparation period could result in reputational damage to us or to our tax preparation partners, which could reduce the use and acceptance of our cards and tax-related products and services, either of which could have a significant adverse impact on our operating revenues and future growth prospects.

The earnings of financial services companies, like us, are significantly affected by general business, political and economic conditions.

Our operations and profitability, including the value of the portfolio of investment securities we hold and the value of collateral securing certain of our loans, are impacted by general business, political and economic conditions in the United States and abroad. These conditions include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, commodity pricing, money supply and monetary policy, political issues, legislative and regulatory changes, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, broad trends in industry and finance, the strength of the United States economy, and uncertainty in financial markets globally, all of which are beyond our control. A deterioration in business, political or economic conditions, including those arising from pandemics such as COVID-19, government shutdowns or defaults, or increases in unemployment, could result in an increase in loan delinquencies and nonperforming assets, decreases in loan collateral values, and a decrease in demand for our products and services, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. See also “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting adverse economic conditions have adversely impacted, and could continue to adversely impact, our business and results.”

The process we use to estimate losses inherent in our credit exposure requires difficult, subjective and complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions, and determinations as to whether economic conditions might impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans and leases. The level of uncertainty concerning economic conditions may adversely affect the accuracy of our estimates which may, in turn, impact the reliability of our underwriting processes. See also "If our actual loan and lease losses exceed our allowance for loan and lease losses, our net income will decrease."

The electronic payments industry, including the prepaid financial services segment within that industry in which the MPS division operates, depends heavily upon the overall level of consumer spending, which may decrease if economic or political conditions in the United States further deteriorate and result in a reduction of the number of our prepaid accounts that are purchased or reloaded, the number of transactions involving our cards and the use of our reloadable card products and related services. A sustained reduction in the use of our products and related services, either as a result of a general reduction in consumer spending or as a result of a disproportionate reduction in the use of card-based payment systems, would materially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
51

Table of Contents
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting adverse economic conditions have adversely impacted, and could continue to adversely impact, our business and results.

Our business is dependent on the willingness and ability of our customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions. The ongoing COVID-19 global and national health emergency has caused significant disruption in the United States and international economies and financial markets. The spread of COVID-19 in the United States has caused illness, quarantines, cancellation of events and travel, business and school shutdowns, reduction in commercial activity and financial transactions, supply chain interruptions, increased unemployment, and overall economic and financial market instability.

Although the Bank continued operating during the initial shutdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to our business and could cause material disruptions in the future. Impacts to our business have included costs due to additional health and safety precautions implemented at our offices and the transition of a portion of our workforce to home locations, increases in customers' inability to make scheduled loan payments, increases in requests for forbearance and loan modifications, and an adverse effect on accounting estimates that we use to determine our provision and allowance for credit losses. A worsening or prolonged continuation of the current unfavorable economic conditions could further impact our provision and allowance for credit losses, and could impact the value of certain assets that we carry on our balance sheet such as goodwill.

While we have taken and are continuing to take precautions to protect the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and partners, including as local economies re-open, no assurance can be given that the steps being taken will be adequate or appropriate. The continued or renewed spread of COVID-19 could negatively impact the availability of key personnel necessary to conduct our business, the business and operations of our third-party service providers who perform critical services for our business, or the businesses of many of our customers and borrowers.

Among the factors outside our control that are likely to affect the impact the COVID-19 pandemic will ultimately have on our business are:

the pandemic's course, duration and severity;
the direct and indirect results of the pandemic, such as recessionary economic trends, including with respect to employment, wages and benefits, commercial activity, consumer spending and real estate market values;
declines in collateral values;
political, legal and regulatory actions and policies in response to the pandemic, including the effects on restrictions on commerce and banking, such as moratoria and other suspensions of collections, foreclosures, and related obligations;
the timing, magnitude and effect of public spending, directly or through subsidies, its direct and indirect effects on commercial activity and incentives of employers and individuals to resume or increase employment, wages and benefits and commercial activity;
the timing and availability of direct and indirect governmental support for various financial assets;
potential longer-term effects of increased government spending on the interest rate environment and borrowing costs for non-governmental parties; and
the ability of our employees and our third-party vendors to work effectively during the course of the pandemic; and
any increase in cyber and payment fraud related to COVID-19, as cybercriminals attempt to profit from disruption, given increased online banking, e-commerce and other online activity.

We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and related risks, although the rapid development and fluidity of the situation precludes any specific prediction as to its ultimate impact on us. However, if the pandemic continues to spread or otherwise result in a continuation or worsening of the current economic environment, our business, financial condition, results of operations could be materially adversely affected.


52

Table of Contents
The Crestmark division generates government-backed loans funded by the Bank, any of which could be negatively impacted by a variety of factors.

The Crestmark division originates loans backed by numerous state and federal government agencies. Risks inherent in the Bank's participation in such programs, through its Crestmark division, include: (i) some of these programs guarantee only a portion of the commercial loan made by the Bank; as such, if the borrower defaults and losses exceed those guaranteed by the government agency, the Bank could realize significant losses; (ii) certain programs, including some guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture, limit the geographic scope of such loans; as such, if the Crestmark division is not able to market these loans to potential borrowers, the Bank's share in this market may be negatively impacted; (iii) the intended beneficiaries of such loan programs may experience a contraction in their credit quality due to local, national, or global economic events or because of factors specific to their business, including, for example, businesses dependent upon the farming and agriculture industry; as such, any negative impact to certain commercial business lines designed to benefit from such government-sponsored loan programs could constrict the Bank's business in these areas; and (iv) nearly all of these guaranteed loan programs are subject to an appropriations process, either at the legislative or regulatory level; this means that funds that may be currently available to guarantee loans or portions of loans could be limited or eliminated in their entirety with little or no advance warning.

Agreements that the Bank has entered into with third parties to market and service consumer loans originated by the Bank may subject the Bank to credit risk, fraud and other risks, as well as claims from regulatory agencies and third parties that, if successful, could negatively impact the Bank's current and future business.

The Bank has entered into various agreements with unaffiliated third parties ("Marketers"), whereby the Marketers will market and service unsecured consumer loans underwritten and originated by the Bank. These agreements present potential increased credit, operational, and reputational risks. Because the loans originated under such programs are unsecured, in the event a borrower does not repay the loan in accordance with its terms or otherwise defaults on the loan, the Bank may not be able to recover from the borrower an amount sufficient to pay any remaining balance on the loan. See "If our actual loan and lease losses exceed our allowance for loan and lease losses, our net income will decrease." We may also become subject to claims by regulatory agencies, customers, or other third parties due to the conduct of the third parties with which the Bank operates such lending programs if such conduct is deemed to not comply with applicable laws in connection with the marketing and servicing of loans originated pursuant to these programs.

Certain types of these arrangements have been challenged both in the courts and in regulatory actions. In these actions, plaintiffs have generally argued that the "true lender" is the marketer and that the intent of such lending program is to evade state usury and loan licensing laws. Other cases have also included other claims, including racketeering and other state law claims, in their challenge of such programs. The OCC recently issued final rules designed to clarify when a national bank such as the Bank will be considered the “true lender” in such a relationship. There can be no assurance that lawsuits or regulatory actions in connection with any such lending programs the Bank has entered, or will enter, into will not be brought in the future. If a regulatory agency, consumer advocate group, or other third party were to bring an action against the Bank or any of the third parties with which the Bank operates such lending programs, and such actions were successful, such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

The OCC's new "fintech" charter could present a market risk to us generally and the MPS division specifically.

The OCC announced on July 31, 2018 that it would begin to accept and evaluate charters for entities that wanted to conduct certain components of a banking business pursuant to a federal charter, known as a "special purpose national bank" ("SPNB") charter. Intended to promote economic opportunity and spur financial innovation, SPNBs may engage in any of the following activities: paying checks, lending money or taking deposits. In October, 2019, a U.S. District Court in New York set aside the OCC regulation that would have permitted entities that did not intend to accept deposits to receive an SPNB charter. The OCC has appealed the ruling, but as of the date of this filing, no final decision has been issued. Further, the Acting Comptroller recently discussed publicly plans for the OCC to introduce an SPNB charter specifically for payments companies, although the OCC has not taken any action with respect to such plans.

As of the date of this filing, the OCC has not announced approval of any applications for an SPNB charter, if any SPNB applications are granted, recipients of an SPNB charter may enter the U.S. payments market in which the Bank operates, which could have a material adverse effect on the Bank and the payments division.
53

Table of Contents
The loss of key members of our senior management team or key employees in the Bank's divisions, or our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, could adversely affect our business.

We believe that our success depends largely on the efforts and abilities of our senior executive management team. Their experience and industry contacts significantly benefit us. Our future success also depends in large part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate key management and operating personnel. Management transition may create uncertainty and involve a diversion of resources and management attention, be disruptive to our daily operations or impact public or market perception, any of which could negatively impact our ability to operate effectively or execute our strategies and result in a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Additionally, as we continue to develop and expand our operations, we may require personnel with different skills and experiences, with a sound understanding of our business and the industries in which we operate. The competition for qualified personnel in the financial services industry is intense, and the loss of any of our key personnel or an inability to continue to attract, retain, and motivate key personnel could adversely affect our business.

We and our divisions regularly assess our investments in technology, and changes in technology could be costly.

The fintech industry is undergoing technological innovation at a fast pace. To keep up with our competition, we regularly evaluate technology to determine whether it may help us compete on a cost-effective basis. This is especially true with respect to our payments division, which requires significant expenditures to exploit technology and to develop new products and services to meet customers' needs. The cost of investing in, implementing and maintaining such technology is high, and there can be no assurance, given the fast pace of change and innovation, that our technology, either purchased or developed internally, will meet our needs, in a timely, cost-effective manner or at all. During the course of implementing new technology into our or the Bank's operations, we may experience system interruptions and failures. In addition, there can be no assurances that we will recognize, in a timely manner or at all, the benefits that we may expect as a result of our implementing new technology into our operations. In connection with our implementation of new lines of business, offering of new financial products or acquisitions, we may experience significant, one-time or recurring technology-related costs.

Our ability to receive dividends from the Bank could affect our liquidity and ability to pay dividends on our common stock and interest on our trust preferred securities.

We are a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Our primary source of cash, other than securities offerings, is dividends from the Bank. These dividends are a principal source of funds to pay dividends on our common stock, interest on our trust preferred securities and interest and principal on our debt. Various laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay us, as further described in Part I, Item 1 "Business - Regulation and Supervision - Bank Regulation and Supervision - Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such limitations could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and on our ability to pay dividends on common stock. Additionally, if the Bank's earnings are not sufficient to make dividend payments to us while maintaining adequate capital levels, we may not be able to make dividend payments to our common shareholders or make payments on our trust preferred securities.

Unclaimed funds represented by unused value on the cards presents compliance and other risks.

The concept of escheatment involves the reporting and delivery of property to states that is abandoned when its rightful owner cannot be readily located and/or identified. In the context of prepaid cards, the customer funds represented by such cards can sometimes be "abandoned" or unused for the relevant period of time set forth in each applicable state's abandoned property laws. MPS utilizes automated programs designed to comply with applicable escheatment laws and regulations. There appears, however, to be a movement among some state regulators to more broadly interpret definitions in escheatment statutes and regulations than in the past. State regulators may choose to initiate collection or other litigation action against prepaid card issuers, like MPS, for unreported abandoned property, and such actions may seek to assess fines and penalties.


54

Table of Contents
Risks Related to Regulation of the Company and the Bank

We operate in a highly regulated environment, and our failure to comply with laws and regulations, or changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, may adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We and the Bank operate in a highly regulated environment, and we are subject to extensive regulation (including, among others, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Basel III Capital Rules, the Bank Secrecy Act and other AML rules), supervision, and examination, including by our primary banking regulators –the OCC and the Federal Reserve. In addition, the Bank is subject to regulation by the FDIC and, to a lesser degree, the Bureau. Prepaid card issuers like the Bank are also subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny based on AML and Bank Secrecy Act concerns, which scrutiny could result in higher compliance costs. See Part I, Item 1 "Business - Regulation and Supervision" herein. Banking regulatory authorities have broad discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including, but not limited, to the imposition of restrictions on the operation of an institution, the classification of assets by the institution, and the adequacy of an institution's allowance for loan and lease losses. If any of our banking regulators takes informal or formal supervisory action or pursues an enforcement action, any required corrective steps could result in us being subject to additional regulatory requirements, operational restrictions, a consent order, enhanced supervision and/or civil money penalties. Any new requirements or rules, changes in such requirements or rules, changes to or new interpretations of existing requirements or rules, failure to follow requirements or rules, or future lawsuits or rulings could increase our compliance and other costs of doing business, require significant systems redevelopment, render our products or services less profitable or obsolete or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition. For example, any changes in the U.S. tax laws as a result of pending tax legislation in the U.S. Congress or otherwise may adversely impact our tax refund processing and settlement business, which could reduce customer demand for our strategic partner's refund advance products, thereby reducing the volume of refund advance loans that we may offer.

The Bureau has reshaped certain consumer financial laws through rulemaking and enforcement of prohibitions against unfair, deceptive or abusive practices, and such actions have directly impacted, and may continue to impact, the Bank's consumer financial products and service offerings.

The Bureau has broad rulemaking authority to administer and carry out the purposes and objectives of "federal consumer financial laws, and to prevent evasions thereof" with respect to all financial institutions that offer financial products and services to consumers. We cannot predict the impact the Bureau's future actions, including any exercise of its UDAAP authority, will have on the banking industry broadly or us and the Bank specifically. Notwithstanding that insured depository institutions with assets of $10 billion or less (such as the Bank) will continue to be supervised and examined by their primary federal regulators, the full reach and impact of the Bureau's broad rulemaking powers and UDAAP authority on the operations of financial institutions offering consumer financial products or services are currently unknown. The Bureau has initiated enforcement actions against a variety of bank and non-bank market participants with respect to a number of consumer financial products and services that has resulted in those participants expending significant time, money and resources to adjust to the initiatives being pursued by the Bureau. Such enforcement actions may serve as precedent for how the CFPB interprets and enforces consumer protection laws, which may result in the imposition of higher standards of compliance with such laws and, as a result, limit or restrict the Bank with respect to its consumer product offerings. See "Business - Regulation and Supervision - Bank Regulation and Supervision" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


55

Table of Contents
The Bank relies on brokered deposits to assist in funding its loan and other financing products; accordingly, any change in the Bank's ability to gather brokered deposits may adversely impact the Bank.

A substantial portion of our deposit liabilities are classified as brokered deposits, and failure to maintain the Bank's status as a "well capitalized" institution could have an adverse effect on us, and our ability to fund our operations. Should the Bank ever fail to be well capitalized in the future as a result of not meeting the well capitalized requirements or the imposition of an individual minimum capital requirement or similar formal requirement, then, the Bank would be prohibited, absent waiver from the FDIC, from utilizing brokered deposits (i.e., no insured depository institution that is deemed to be less than "well capitalized" may accept, renew or rollover brokered deposits absent a waiver from the FDIC). In such event, such a result could produce material adverse consequences for the Bank with respect to liquidity and could also have material adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations. Further, and in general, depending on the Bank's condition in the future and its reliance on these deposits as a source of funding, the FDIC could increase the surcharge on our brokered deposits. If we are ever required to pay higher surcharge assessments with respect to these deposits, such payments could be material and therefore could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As a bank holding company, we are required to serve as a "source of strength" for the Bank.

Federal banking law codifies a requirement that a bank holding company (like us) act as a financial "source of strength" for its FDIC-insured depository institution subsidiaries (like the Bank) and permits the OCC, as the Bank's primary federal regulator, to request reports from us to assess our ability to serve as a source of strength for the Bank and to enforce compliance with these statutory requirements. See Part I, Item 1 "Business - Regulation and Supervision - Holding Company Regulation and Supervision." Given the power provided to the federal banking agencies, we, as a source of strength for the Bank, may be required to contribute capital to the Bank when we might not otherwise voluntarily choose to do so. Specifically, the imposition of such financial requirements might require us to raise additional capital to support the Bank at a time when it is not otherwise prudent for us to do so, including on terms that are not typical or favorable to us. Further, any capital provided by us to the Bank would be subordinate to others with an interest in the Bank, including the Bank's depositors. In addition, in the event of our bankruptcy at a time when we had a commitment to one of the Bank's regulators to maintain the capital of the Bank, the regulators' claims against us may be entitled to priority status over other obligations.

We are required to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, and, if we fail to maintain sufficient capital, whether due to growth opportunities, losses or an inability to raise additional capital or otherwise, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, as well as our compliance with regulatory requirements, would be adversely affected.

Both we and the Bank are required to meet regulatory capital requirements and otherwise need to maintain sufficient liquidity to support recent and future growth. We have continued to experience considerable growth recently, having increased our assets from $2.53 billion at September 30, 2015 to $6.09 billion at September 30, 2020, primarily due to strategic transactions, such as the Crestmark Acquisition, and through organic growth. Asset growth, diversification of our lending business, expansion of our financial product offerings and other changes in our asset mix continue to require higher levels of capital, which management believes may not be met through earnings retention alone. Our ability to raise additional capital, when and if needed in the future, to meet such regulatory capital requirements and liquidity needs will depend on conditions in the capital markets, general economic conditions, the performance and prospects of our business and a number of other factors, many of which are outside of our control. We cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional capital if needed or raise additional capital on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to meet these capital and other regulatory requirements, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Although we comply with all current applicable capital requirements, we may be subject to more stringent regulatory capital requirements in the future, and we may need additional capital in order to meet those requirements. If we or the Bank fail to meet applicable minimum capital requirements or cease to be well capitalized, such failure would cause us and the Bank to be subject to regulatory restrictions and could adversely affect customer confidence, our ability to grow, our costs of funds and FDIC insurance costs, our ability to pay dividends on common stock and/or repurchase shares, our ability to make distributions on our trust preferred securities, our ability to make acquisitions, and our business, results of operations and financial condition, generally.


56

Table of Contents
General Risk Factors

The price of our common stock may be volatile, which may result in losses for investors.

The market price for shares of our common stock has been volatile in the past, and several factors, including factors outside of our control and unrelated to our performance, could cause the price to fluctuate substantially in the future. These factors include:

announcements of developments related to our business;
the initiation, pendency or outcome of litigation, regulatory reviews, inquiries and investigations, and any related adverse publicity;
fluctuations in our results of operations;
sales of substantial amounts of our securities into the marketplace;
general conditions in the banking industry or the worldwide economy;
a shortfall in revenues or earnings compared to securities analysts' expectations;
lack of an active trading market for the common stock;
changes in analysts' recommendations or projections; and
announcement of new acquisitions, dispositions or other projects.

General market price declines or market volatility in the future could adversely affect the price of our common stock, and the current market price may not be indicative of future market prices.

Additionally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in severe volatility in the financial markets and meaningfully lower stock prices for many companies, including our common stock. Depending on the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of our common stock may continue to experience volatility and declines.

An investment in our common stock is not an insured deposit.

Our common stock is not a bank deposit and, therefore, is not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other deposit insurance fund, or by any other public or private entity. Investment in our common stock is inherently subject to risks, including those described in this "Risk Factors" section, and is subject to forces that affect the financial markets in general. As a result, if you hold or acquire our common stock, it is possible that you may lose all or a portion of your investment.

Future sales or additional issuances of our capital stock may depress prices of shares of our common stock or otherwise dilute the book value of shares then outstanding.

Sales of a substantial amount of our capital stock in the public market or the issuance of a significant number of shares could adversely affect the market price for shares of our common stock. As of September 30, 2020, we were authorized to issue up to 90,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 34,360,890 shares were outstanding, and 118,274 shares were held as treasury stock. We were also authorized to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock and 3,000,000 shares of non-voting common stock, none of which were outstanding or reserved for issuance. Future sales or additional issuances of stock may affect the market price for shares of our common stock.

Changes in accounting policies or accounting standards, or changes in how accounting standards are interpreted or applied, could materially affect how we report our financial results and condition.

Our accounting policies are fundamental to determining and understanding our financial results and condition. From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. In addition, those that set accounting standards and those that interpret the accounting standards (such as the FASB, the SEC, banking regulators, and our outside auditors) may change or even reverse their previous interpretations or positions on how these standards should be applied. Changes in financial accounting and reporting standards and changes in current interpretations may be beyond our control, can be difficult to predict, and could materially affect how we report our financial results and condition. We may be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively or apply an existing standard differently and retroactively, which may result in us being required to restate prior period financial statements, which restatements may reflect material changes.
57

Table of Contents
We incur significant costs and demands upon management and accounting and finance resources as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies; if we fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls, our ability to produce accurate and timely financial statements could be impaired, which could harm our operating results, our ability to operate our business and our reputation.

As an SEC reporting company, we are required to, among other things, maintain a system of effective internal control over financial reporting, which requires annual management and independent registered public accounting firm assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls. Ensuring that we have adequate internal financial and accounting controls and procedures in place so that we can produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis is a costly and time-consuming effort that needs to be re-evaluated frequently. We have historically dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to implement our internal financial and accounting controls and procedures. Substantial work may continue to be required to further implement, document, assess, test, and, if necessary, remediate our system of internal controls. We may also need to retain additional finance and accounting personnel in the future.

Control failures, including failures in our controls over financial reporting, could result from human error, fraud, breakdowns in information and computer systems, lapses in operating processes, or natural or man-made disasters. If a significant control failure or business interruption were to occur, it could materially damage our financial condition and results of operations. We may not be able to foresee, prevent, mitigate, reverse, or repair the negative effects of such failures or interruptions.

As previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company identified a material weakness in the control environment of the Crestmark division. The material weakness resulted from the aggregation of control deficiencies at the Crestmark division relating to Information Technology ("IT") system access, program change controls and review procedures related to new loan accounts and client record maintenance changes. The aggregation of these deficiencies did not result in a material misstatement to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company's remediation plan was fully implemented during the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020 to address the material weakness described above with respect to the internal controls environment of the Crestmark division. The remediation plan included re-evaluating IT governance and controls, updating procedures related to access management, and training IT personnel. See also Part II, Item 9A "Controls and Procedures" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Federal regulations and our organizational documents may inhibit a takeover or prevent a transaction you may favor or limit our growth opportunities, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

Certain provisions of our charter documents and federal regulations could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of us. In addition, we may need to obtain approval from regulatory authorities before we can acquire control of any other company. Such approvals could involve significant expenses related to diligence, legal compliance, and the submission of required applications and could be conditioned on acts or practices that limit or otherwise constrain our operations.

We may not be able to pay dividends in the future in accordance with past practice.

We have historically paid a quarterly dividend to stockholders. The payment of dividends is subject to legal and regulatory restrictions. Any payment of dividends in the future will depend, in large part, on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, regulatory review, and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors.


58

Table of Contents
Catastrophic events could occur and impact our operations or the operations third parties with which we do business.

Catastrophic events (including natural disasters, severe weather conditions, pandemics, terrorism and other geopolitical events), which are beyond our control, could have an adverse impact on the Bank's ability and the ability of our vendors and other third parties with which we do business, to provide necessary services to support the operation of the Bank and provide products and services to the Bank's customers. Although insurance coverage may provide some protection in light of such events, there can be no assurance that any insurance proceeds would adequately compensate the Bank for the losses it incurred as a result of such events. See also "Existing insurance policies may not adequately protect us and our subsidiaries." Moreover, the damage caused by such events may not be directly compensable from insurance proceeds or otherwise, such as damage to our reputation as a result of such events.

Legal challenges to and regulatory investigations of our, or the Bank's, operations could have a significant material adverse effect on us.

From time to time, we, the Bank or our other subsidiaries are subject to regulatory supervision and investigation, legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. An adverse resolution in litigation or a regulatory action, including litigation or other actions brought by our shareholders, customers or another third party, such as a state attorney general or one of our regulators, could result in substantial damages or otherwise negatively impact our business, reputation and financial condition. See Part I, Item 1 "Business - Regulation and Supervision" and Item 3, "Legal Proceedings."

Our reputation and business could be damaged by negative publicity.

Reputational risk, including as a result of negative publicity, is inherent in our business. Negative publicity can result from actual or alleged conduct in a number of areas, including legal and regulatory compliance, lending practices, corporate governance, litigation, inadequate protection of customer data, illegal or unauthorized acts taken by third parties that supply products or services to us or the Bank, and ethical behavior of our employees. Damage to our reputation could adversely impact our ability to attract new, and maintain existing, loan and deposit customers, employees and business relationships, and, particularly with respect to our payments division, could result in the imposition of new regulatory requirements, operational restrictions, enhanced supervision and/or civil money penalties. Such damage could also adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital, and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Existing insurance policies may not adequately protect us and our subsidiaries.

Fidelity, business interruption, cybersecurity, and property insurance policies are in place with respect to our operations. Should any event triggering such policies occur, however, it is possible that our policies would not fully reimburse us for the losses we could sustain due to deductible limits, policy limits, coverage limits, or other factors. We generally renew our insurance policies on an annual basis. If the cost of coverage becomes too high, we may need to reduce our policy limits, increase the deductibles or agree to certain exclusions from our coverage in order to reduce the premiums to an acceptable amount.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
 
Not applicable.

59

Table of Contents

Item 2.    Properties

The Company's home office is located at 5501 South Broadband Lane in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Company has 14 non-branch offices from which its divisions of payments, commercial finance, tax services, and consumer lending operate. The payments division operates out of the Company's home office along with one additional office in Sioux Falls. The commercial finance division operates out of offices in Troy, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Newport Beach, California; Boynton Beach, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Franklin, Tennessee; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The tax services division has offices located in Louisville, Kentucky, and Easton, Pennsylvania. The Company has corporate and shared services offices located in Scottsdale, AZ and Washington, D.C. The Company also has an office located in Hurst, Texas.

Of the Company's 14 properties, the Company leases 13 of them, all on market terms. See Note 7 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On February 29, 2020, the Company sold the Bank's Community Bank division, a component of the Company's Corporate Services/Other segment, to Central Bank. The sale included all of the Community Bank division's nine branch locations. Of the nine community bank branches sold, four were owned by the Company. See "Part I, Item 1. Business - General" and see Note 3 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Though the Company has experienced rapid growth in each of its segments, management believes current facilities are adequate to meet its present needs.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

See Note 19 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.
 
60

Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® under the symbol “CASH.” Quarterly dividends for all quarters of fiscal year 2020 and 2019 were $0.05 per share.

Dividend payment decisions are made with consideration of a variety of factors including earnings, financial condition, market considerations and regulatory restrictions.
 
As of November 23, 2020, the Company had (i) 33,446,654 shares of common stock outstanding, which were held by approximately 177 stockholders of record, (ii) no shares of nonvoting common stock outstanding, and (iii) 197,375 shares of common stock held in treasury.
 
The transfer agent for the Company’s common stock is Computershare Investor Services, 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202.
 
Meta's Board of Directors announced a 2,000,000 share repurchase program on March 26, 2019. The program became effective on May 1, 2019 and was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2021. However, during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company exhausted the remaining shares available for repurchase under the March 26, 2019 repurchase program. In addition, Meta's Board of Directors authorized a 7,500,000 share repurchase program on November 20, 2019 that is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2022. The share repurchase program became effective on November 21, 2019. The Company suspended its share repurchase activity in March 2020 and resumed repurchase activity during September 2020. The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases of our common stock during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020.
Period
Total Number of Shares Repurchased(1)
Average Price Paid per Share(1)(2)
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number of Shares that may yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 to 31 607  $ 18.18  —  4,410,447 
August 1 to 31 9,261  18.66  —  4,410,447 
September 1 to 30 265,165  18.97  260,816  4,149,631 
  Total 275,033  260,816 
(1) Of the shares reflected in these columns, 14,217 shares were acquired in satisfaction of the tax withholding obligations of holders of restricted stock unit awards, which vested during the quarter, and the remainder were purchased pursuant to a publicly announced share repurchase program.
(2) The average price paid per share is calculated on a trade date basis for all open market transactions and excludes commissions and other transaction expenses.


61

Table of Contents
Total Stock Return Performance Graph

The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on Meta common stock over the last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index (assuming the investment of $100 in each index on October 1, 2015 and reinvestment of all dividends). The stock price performance reflected below is based on historical results and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

The information contained in this section, including the following line graph, shall not be deemed to be "soliciting material" or "filed" or incorporated by reference in future filings of Meta with the SEC, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

CASH-20200930_G4.JPG

Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
Index 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Meta Financial Group, Inc. $ 100.00  $ 146.65  $ 190.92  $ 202.36  $ 241.53  $ 143.57 
NASDAQ Composite Index 100.00  116.42  144.00  180.24  181.19  255.39 
NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index 100.00  110.45  143.60  148.41  136.63  94.35 

62

Table of Contents
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA
(Dollars in Thousands)
Total assets $ 6,092,074  $ 6,182,890  $ 5,835,067  $ 5,228,332  $ 4,006,419 
Loans and leases receivable, net 3,266,577  3,629,698  2,931,699  1,317,837  919,470 
Securities available for sale 1,268,102  1,272,493  1,848,225  1,691,987  1,468,124 
Securities held to maturity 92,610  134,764  171,743  563,220  619,542 
Goodwill and intangible assets 351,197  362,315  373,989  150,901  65,849 
Deposits 4,979,200  4,337,005  4,430,987  3,223,424  2,430,082 
Total borrowings 98,224  861,857  514,722  1,490,067  1,187,578 
Stockholders' equity 847,308  843,958  747,726  434,496  334,975 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
SELECTED OPERATIONS DATA          
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)          
Total interest income $ 292,841  $ 325,729  $ 158,534  $ 108,103  $ 81,396 
Total interest expense 33,803  61,522  27,985  14,873  4,091 
Net interest income 259,038  264,207  130,549  93,230  77,305 
Provision for loan and lease losses 64,776  55,650  29,432  10,589  4,605 
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses 194,262  208,557  101,117  82,641  72,700 
Total noninterest income 239,794  222,545  184,525  172,172  100,770 
Total noninterest expense 319,051  333,160  228,232  199,663  134,648 
Income before income tax expense 115,005  97,942  57,410  55,150  38,822 
Income tax expense 5,661  (3,374) 5,117  10,233  5,602 
Net income before noncontrolling interest 109,344  101,316  52,293  44,917  33,220 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 4,624  4,312  673  —  — 
Net income attributable to parent $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620  $ 44,917  $ 33,220 
Earnings per common share:          
Basic $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.68  $ 1.62  $ 1.31 
Diluted $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.67  $ 1.61  $ 1.30 


63

Table of Contents
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets 1.45  % 1.55  % 1.12  % 1.13  % 1.10  %
Return on average equity 12.53  % 12.10  % 10.44  % 11.20  % 10.80  %
Net interest margin, tax equivalent 4.12  % 5.02  % 3.41  % 3.05  % 3.19  %
QUALITY RATIOS          
Non-performing assets to total assets 0.79  % 0.91  % 0.72  % 0.72  % 0.03  %
Allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases 1.70  % 0.80  % 0.44  % 0.57  % 0.61  %
Allowance for loan and lease losses to held for investment non-performing loans and leases 165  % 114  % 128  % 20  % 479  %
CAPITAL RATIOS          
Stockholders' equity to total assets 13.91  % 13.65  % 12.81  % 8.31  % 8.36  %
Average stockholders' equity to average assets 11.59  % 12.82  % 10.72  % 10.07  % 10.19  %
OTHER DATA          
Book value per common share outstanding at end of year $ 24.66  $ 22.32  $ 19.09  $ 15.05  $ 13.10 
Tangible book value per common share outstanding at end of year 14.44  12.74  9.54  9.82  10.52 
Dividends declared per share at end of year 0.20  0.20  0.18  0.17  0.17 
Number of full-service branch offices at end of year —  10  10  10  10 
Common shares outstanding 34,360,890  37,807,064  39,167,280  28,867,785  25,570,923 

64

Table of Contents

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
This section should be read in conjunction with the following parts of this Form 10-K: Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” and Part I, Item 1 “Business.”
 
General
The Company, a registered bank holding company, is a Delaware corporation, the principal assets of which are all the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank, a national bank. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the Company include Meta and the Bank, and all direct or indirect subsidiaries of Meta on a consolidated basis.
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19 Business Update
The Company continues to focus on the well-being of its employees, partners and customers. Preventative health measures remain in place to protect employees and customers including offering remote work options, implementing social distancing measures where possible, restricting non-essential business travel and enhancing preventative cleaning services at all office locations. The Company's COVID-19 Crisis Command Center consisting of leadership and business continuity planning resources throughout the organization continues to effectively monitor possible interruptions related to the pandemic and to ensure business continuity.

The Company is participating in the PPP under the CARES Act, which is being administered by the SBA. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 689 loans outstanding with a total of $219.0 million in loan balances that were originated as part of the program.

From a credit perspective, the Company continues to monitor each of its lending portfolios. The Company has placed significant focus on its hospitality and movie theater loans and its small ticket equipment finance relationships. The credit management team has remained in regular contact with these borrowers.

The Company's community bank hospitality loan balances increased to $179.3 million as of September 30, 2020 from $169.0 million as of June 30, 2020 and the average loan-to-value ratio on those loans was 60% at both September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020. 67% of these hospitality relationships received PPP loans and, as of September 30, 2020, 44% of the hospitality loan balances received some form of payment deferral modification and were still in their active deferment period. Community Bank loans to borrowers operating in the movie theater industry totaled $17.9 million as of both September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2020, all movie theater loan balances were still in their active deferment period.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $287.2 million in small ticket equipment finance balances, of which $255.1 million were categorized within term lending and $32.1 million were categorized within lease financing. Borrowers with respect to 8% of the balances on these small ticket equipment finance relationships that received some form of payment deferral modification were still in their active deferment period.

As of September 30, 2020, $170.0 million of the loans and leases that were granted deferral payments by the Company were still in their deferment period. As of June 30, 2020, loans and leases totaling $292.2 million were within their deferment period. In addition, the Company has made other COVID-19 related modifications, of which $23.3 million were still active as of September 30, 2020 compared to $34.6 million at June 30, 2020. The majority of the other modifications were related to adjusting the type or amount of the customer's payments.

When excluding its seasonal tax services lending portfolio, the Company increased its allowance for loan and lease losses by $1.9 million at September 30, 2020, as compared to June 30, 2020. This was primarily due to the effects of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the continued economic uncertainty that it has caused. The Company will continue to diligently monitor the allowance for loan and lease losses and adjust as necessary in future periods to maintain an appropriate and supportable level.


65

Table of Contents
The Company's capital position remained strong as of September 30, 2020, even while absorbing the temporary impact from the EIP program, as described further below. As of September 30, 2020, the Bank's capital leverage ratio based on average assets was 7.56%. The Bank's capital leverage ratio based on September 30, 2020 period-end assets was 9.66%, which management believes better reflects the Company's anticipated balance sheet going forward. In addition, the Company has options available that can be used to effectively manage capital levels through these turbulent times, including a strong and flexible balance sheet.

For additional related information, see "Regulation and Supervision" and "Risk Factors."

EIP Program Update
On April 29, 2020, the Bank entered into an amendment of its existing agreement with the Fiscal Service to provide debit card services to support the distribution of a segment of the Economic Impact Payments payable by the Internal Revenue Service under the CARES Act.

Under the EIP program, 3.6 million cards were delivered with total loads of $6.42 billion. As a result of the program, the Company saw a quick influx of deposits to its balance sheet in mid-May 2020 with limited visibility into the duration of those deposits. While this program's impact to earnings was negligible, it did have a significant impact on cash and deposit balances, leading to a net drag on the net interest margin along with pressuring the Company's leverage capital ratios.

The total balances remaining on the EIP cards were $942.2 million as of September 30, 2020 and $728.7 million as of November 20, 2020. The funds on these cards increased the Company's quarterly average noninterest deposit balances by $1.62 billion, leading to an overall improvement in cost of deposits. This short-term influx of deposits also led to excess cash balances held at the Federal Reserve during the current period, which yielded approximately 10 basis points in interest income, and increased the quarterly average of interest-earning assets compared to previous periods. This increase of lower yielding cash balances resulted in a drag to the overall yield on total interest-earning assets during the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The net impact to NIM was approximately 110 basis points.

Conversions of the Bank and the Company
Following receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (the "FRB"), on April 1, 2020, the Bank converted from a federal thrift charter to a national bank charter and the Company converted from a savings and loan holding company to a bank holding company that has elected treatment as a financial holding company. The Bank now operates under the name "MetaBank, National Association." The Company and the Bank effected these conversions in order to more closely align the Bank's regulatory charter to its current and planned focus on national business that provides innovative financial solutions to consumers and businesses in niche markets often overlooked by traditional banks. See "Regulation and Supervision" and "Risk Factors" for additional related information.

Business Developments
The Company resumed its share repurchase program (the "Program"), which it had suspended during March 2020 as a result of the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company repurchased 260,816 shares, at an average price of $19.13, under its Program, which is authorized through December 31, 2022. Through November 20, 2020, the Company has repurchased a total of 1,364,416 of its shares, at a weighted average price of $24.66, since the Company resumed repurchasing shares under the Program in September 2020.

On August 5, 2020, the Bank entered into a three-year program management agreement with Emerald Financial Services, LLC, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of H&R Block., pursuant to which the Bank will serve as a facilitator for H&R Block’s suite of financial services products, which include: Emerald Prepaid MasterCard®, Refund Transfers, Refund Advances, Emerald Advance® lines of credit, and other products through H&R Block’s distribution channels.

The Company continued its support of various COVID-19 relief efforts including the EIP program and the PPP.


66

Table of Contents
Financial Highlights
Total gross loans and leases at September 30, 2020 decreased $337.3 million, or 9%, to $3.31 billion, compared to September 30, 2019 and decreased $182.6 million, or 5% when compared to June 30, 2020.

Average deposits from the payments divisions for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter increased nearly 121% to $5.82 billion when compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2019. A significant portion of the year-over-year increase reflected the Company's participation in the EIP program. Excluding the balances on the EIP cards, average payments deposits for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter were approximately $4.20 billion, representing an increase of 60% compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2019.

Total revenue for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter was $105.3 million, compared to $101.6 million for the same quarter in fiscal 2019. Total revenue for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 was $498.8 million, an increase of 2% from the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

Net interest income for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter was $64.5 million, compared to $65.6 million in the comparable quarter in fiscal 2019. Total fiscal year 2020 net interest income was $259.0 million versus $264.2 million in the prior fiscal year.

NIM decreased to 3.77% for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter from 4.95% over the same period of the prior fiscal year, while the tax-equivalent net interest margin ("NIM, TE") decreased to 3.79% from 5.00% for that same period in fiscal 2019. NIM for fiscal year 2020 was 4.09% compared to 4.91% during fiscal year 2019 while NIM, TE, decreased to 4.12% for fiscal year 2020 from 5.02% for fiscal year 2019. The decrease in NIM during the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter and fiscal year 2020 was primarily driven by excess cash associated with the Company's participation in the EIP program.

Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated and identified subsequent events that occurred after September 30, 2020. See Note. 26 Subsequent Events for details on these events.

FINANCIAL CONDITION
At September 30, 2020, the Company’s total assets decreased by $90.8 million, or 1%, to $6.09 billion, compared to $6.18 billion at September 30, 2019. The reduction in assets was primarily due to a decrease in loans and leases and decrease in the investment portfolio, partially offset by an increase in cash and cash equivalents.
 
Total cash and cash equivalents were $427.4 million at September 30, 2020, an increase of $300.8 million from $126.5 million at September 30, 2019. The increase stemmed from the large influx of EIP deposits in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, as discussed further above under "EIP Program Update." The Company maintains its cash investments primarily in interest-bearing overnight deposits with the FHLB of Des Moines and the FRB. At September 30, 2020, the Company did not have any federal funds sold.

The total investment portfolio decreased by $46.5 million, or 3%, to $1.36 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to September 30, 2019, as maturities, sales and principal pay downs exceeded purchases. The Company’s portfolio of securities customarily consists primarily of MBS, which have expected lives much shorter than the stated final maturity, non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions (“NBQ”) that mature in approximately 15 years or less, and other tax exempt municipal mortgage related pass through securities which have average lives much shorter than their stated final maturities. All MBS held by the Company at September 30, 2020 were issued by a U.S. Government agency or instrumentality. Of the total MBS, which had a fair value of $459.0 million at September 30, 2020, $453.6 million were classified as AFS, and $5.4 million were classified as HTM. Of the total investment securities, which had a fair value of $901.7 million at September 30, 2020, $814.5 million were classified as AFS and $87.2 million were classified as HTM. During fiscal 2020, the Company purchased $229.3 million of investment securities available for sale and did not purchase any investment securities held to maturity or MBS securities.

Loans held for sale at September 30, 2020 totaled $183.6 million, increasing from $148.8 million at September 30, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by the classification of community bank loans expected to sell during the first quarter of fiscal 2021.


67

Table of Contents
The Company’s portfolio of loans and leases receivable decreased by $336.1 million, or 9%, to $3.32 billion at September 30, 2020, from $3.66 billion at September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by the sale of community banking loans, partially offset by an increase in national lending loans and leases. See Note 5 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

National lending loans and leases increased $379.0 million, or 15%, to $2.83 billion at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019. Within the national lending portfolio, commercial finance loans and leases increased $391.8 million and warehouse finance loans increased $30.5 million, while the consumer finance portfolio decreased by $44.0 million at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019.

Community banking loans decreased $716.3 million, or 60%, at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019, due to reduction in commercial real estate and operating loans of $426.6 million and consumer one-to-four family real estate and other loans of $242.9 million. See Note 3 and Note 5 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Through the Bank, the Company owns stock in the FHLB due to the Bank’s membership and participation in the banking system as well as stock in the Federal Reserve Bank. The FHLB requires a level of stock investment based on a pre-determined formula. The Company’s investment in these stocks decreased by $3.8 million, or 12%, to $27.1 million at September 30, 2020, from $30.9 million at September 30, 2019. The decrease in stock was driven by a decrease in FHLB stock, which directly correlates with lower overnight borrowings balances from the FHLB at September 30, 2020 compared to the prior year.
 
Total end-of-period deposits increased by $642.2 million, or 15%, to $4.98 billion at September 30, 2020, as compared to September 30, 2019, primarily reflecting the Company's participation in the EIP program. Lower levels of consumer spending and various stimulus payments loaded on partner cards also contributed to the overall increase in total deposits. The increase in end-of-period deposits was partially offset by a decrease in wholesale deposits of $1.2 billion and a decrease in time certificate of deposits of $89.1 million. The decrease in wholesale deposits was primarily due to a shift in the Company's deposit balances from wholesale deposits to noninterest bearing deposits stemming from the balances on the EIP cards. The decrease in certificate of deposits and money market deposits was related to the sale of $290.5 million of total deposits included in the sale of the Community Bank division.

The Company’s total borrowings decreased $763.6 million, or 89%, from $861.9 million at September 30, 2019, to $98.2 million at September 30, 2020, primarily due to decreases in overnight borrowings and long term FHLB advances as the Company used the increase in total deposits to fund loans and lease and investment balances. The Company’s short-term borrowings fluctuate on a daily basis due to the nature of a portion of its noninterest-bearing deposit base, primarily related to payroll processing timing with a higher volume of short-term borrowings on Monday and Tuesday, which are typically paid down throughout the week. This predictable fluctuation may be augmented near a month-end by a prefunding of certain programs. The Bank also has an available no fee line of credit with JP Morgan of $25.0 million with no funds advanced at September 30, 2020.

See Note 13 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which are included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

At September 30, 2020, the Company’s stockholders’ equity totaled $847.3 million, an increase of $3.4 million from $844.0 million at September 30, 2019. Stockholders’ equity increased primarily as a result of an increase in additional paid in capital, accumulated other comprehensive income, and an increase in retained earnings. At September 30, 2020, the Bank continued to meet regulatory requirements for classification as a well-capitalized institution. See Note 18 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


68

Table of Contents
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Company’s results of operations are dependent on net interest income, provision for loan and lease losses, noninterest income, noninterest expense and income tax expense. Net interest income is the difference, or spread, between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The interest rate spread is affected by regulatory, economic and competitive factors that influence interest rates, loan and lease demand and deposit flows. Notwithstanding that a significant amount of the Company’s deposits, primarily those attributable to the payments division, pay relatively low rates of interest or none at all, the Company, like other financial institutions, is subject to interest rate risk to the extent that its interest-earning assets mature or reprice at different times, or on a different basis, than its interest-bearing liabilities. The provision for loan and lease losses is the adjustment to the allowance for loan and lease losses balance for the applicable period. The allowance for loan and lease losses is management’s estimate of probable loan and lease losses in the lending portfolio based upon loan and lease losses that have been incurred as of the balance sheet date.

The Company’s noninterest income is derived primarily from tax product fees, prepaid cards, credit products, deposit and ATM fees attributable to the payments division and fees charged on bank loans, leases and transaction accounts. Noninterest income is also derived from rental income, net gains on the sale of securities, net gains on the sale of loans and leases, as well as the Company’s holdings of bank-owned life insurance. This income is offset by noninterest expenses, such as compensation and occupancy expenses associated with additional personnel and office locations, as well as card processing expenses and tax product expenses attributable to the payments division. Noninterest expense is also impacted by acquisition-related expenses, operating lease equipment depreciation expense, occupancy and equipment expenses, regulatory expenses, and legal and consulting expenses.


69

Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields
The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates. Tax-equivalent adjustments have been made in yields on interest-bearing assets and NIM. Non-accruing loans and leases have been included in the table as loans or leases carrying a zero yield.
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands) Average
Outstanding
Balance
Interest
Earned /
Paid
Yield /
Rate (1)
Average
Outstanding
Balance
Interest
Earned /
Paid
Yield /
Rate (1)
Average
Outstanding
Balance
Interest
Earned /
Paid
Yield /
Rate (1)
Interest-earning assets:
Cash & fed funds sold $ 1,236,027  $ 2,824  0.23  % $ 128,507  $ 3,494  2.72  % $ 87,536  $ 2,249  2.57  %
Mortgage-backed securities 367,869  9,028  2.45  % 393,322  11,390  2.90  % 618,985  15,479  2.50  %
Tax exempt investment securities 434,262  7,477  2.18  % 852,381  20,742  3.08  % 1,381,838  34,402  3.30  %
Asset-backed securities 319,258  7,636  2.39  % 299,777  10,705  3.57  % 167,477  5,773  3.45  %
Other investment securities 198,924  4,748  2.39  % 164,451  4,870  2.96  % 74,491  2,156  2.89  %
Total investments 1,320,313  28,889  2.34  % 1,709,931  47,707  3.11  % 2,242,791  57,810  3.08  %
Total commercial finance 2,100,464  169,189  8.05  % 1,717,869  169,941  9.89  % 474,766  36,726  7.74  %
Total consumer finance 254,293  19,808  7.79  % 341,176  29,965  8.78  % 216,128  15,086  6.98  %
Total tax services 148,650  6,390  4.30  % 110,503  8,193  7.41  % 112,583  819  0.73  %
Total warehouse finance 292,952  17,919  6.12  % 188,483  11,826  6.27  % 14,425  879  6.09  %
National Lending loans and leases 2,796,359  213,306  7.63  % 2,358,031  219,925  9.33  % 817,902  53,510  6.54  %
Community Banking loans 975,618  47,822  4.90  % 1,180,594  54,603  4.63  % 1,009,255  44,965  4.46  %
Total loans and leases 3,771,977  261,128  6.92  % 3,538,625  274,528  7.76  % 1,827,157  98,475  5.39  %
Total interest-earning assets 6,328,317  $ 292,841  4.66  % 5,377,063  $ 325,729  6.16  % 4,157,484  $ 158,534  4.08  %
Non-interest-earning assets 881,314  875,124  454,688 
Total assets $ 7,209,631  $ 6,252,187  $ 4,612,172 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing checking $ 189,704  $ 259  0.14  % $ 136,069  $ 356  0.26  % $ 90,199  $ 211  0.23  %
Savings 50,888  18  0.03  % 53,434  38  0.07  % 56,834  37  0.07  %
Money markets 57,573  422  0.73  % 60,719  419  0.69  % 48,320  123  0.25  %
Time deposits 61,837  1,226  1.98  % 149,220  2,830  1.90  % 130,944  1,803  1.38  %
Wholesale deposits 1,081,935  20,691  1.91  % 1,772,092  43,005  2.43  % 738,796  12,989  1.76  %
Total interest-bearing deposits 1,441,937  22,616  1.57  % 2,171,534  46,648  2.15  % 1,065,093  15,163  1.42  %
Overnight fed funds purchased 183,438  2,804  1.53  % 300,203  7,484  2.49  % 326,786  6,294  1.93  %
FHLB advances 106,093  2,638  2.49  % 42,712  1,037  2.43  % 68,356  947  1.39  %
Subordinated debentures 73,718  4,618  6.26  % 73,561  4,647  6.32  % 73,413  4,488  6.11  %
Other borrowings 28,696  1,127  3.93  % 44,097  1,706  3.87  % 28,014  1,093  3.90  %
Total borrowings 391,945  11,187  2.85  % 460,573  14,874  3.23  % 496,569  12,822  2.58  %
Total interest-bearing liabilities 1,833,882  33,803  1.84  % 2,632,107  61,522  2.34  % 1,561,662  27,985  1.79  %
Non-interest bearing deposits 4,396,132  —  —  % 2,685,502  —  0.00  % 2,455,360  —  —  %
Total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities 6,230,014  $ 33,803  0.54  % 5,317,609  $ 61,522  1.16  % 4,017,022  $ 27,985  0.70  %
Other non-interest bearing liabilities 143,772  132,901  100,880 
Total liabilities 6,373,786  5,450,510  4,117,902 
Shareholders' equity 835,845  801,677  494,270 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 7,209,631  $ 6,252,187  $ 4,612,172 
Net interest income and net interest rate spread including non-interest bearing deposits $ 259,038  4.12  % $ 264,207  5.00  % $ 130,549  3.38  %
Net interest margin 4.09  % 4.91  % 3.14  %
Tax equivalent effect 0.03  % 0.11  % 0.27  %
Net interest margin, tax equivalent (2)
4.12  % 5.02  % 3.41  %
(1) The tax rates used to arrive at the TEY for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 were 21%, 21%, and 24.53%, respectively.
(2) Net interest margin expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis ("net interest margin, tax equivalent") is a non-GAAP financial measure. The tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income recognizes the estimated income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets and adjusting for federal and state exemption of interest income. Management of the Company believes that it is a standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest margin expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis, and accordingly believe the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure may be useful for peer comparison purposes.


70

Rate / Volume Analysis
The following table presents, for the periods presented, the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The table distinguishes between the change related to higher outstanding balances and the change due to the levels and volatility of interest rates. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in volume (i.e., changes in volume multiplied by old rate) and (ii) changes in rate (i.e., changes in rate multiplied by old volume). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume that cannot be segregated have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019 2019 vs. 2018
(Dollars in Thousands) Increase /
(Decrease)
Due to Volume
Increase /
(Decrease)
Due to Rate
Total
Increase /
(Decrease)
Increase /
(Decrease)
Due to Volume
Increase /
(Decrease)
Due to Rate
Total
Increase /
(Decrease)
Interest-earning assets
Cash & fed funds sold $ 5,181  $ (5,851) $ (670) $ 1,107  $ 138  $ 1,245 
Mortgage-backed securities (704) (1,658) (2,362) (6,265) 2,176  (4,089)
Tax exempt investment securities (8,310) (4,955) (13,265) (11,647) (2,014) (13,661)
Asset-backed securities 659  (3,726) (3,069) 4,717  215  4,932 
Other investment securities 919  (1,041) (122) 2,663  51  2,714 
Total investments (8,999) (9,819) (18,818) (11,176) 1,073  (10,103)
Total commercial finance 34,015  (34,767) (752) 120,394  12,822  133,216 
Total consumer finance (7,033) (3,124) (10,157) 10,287  4,591  14,878 
Total tax services 2,292  (4,095) (1,803) (15) 7,389  7,374 
Total warehouse finance 6,396  (303) 6,093  10,923  24  10,947 
National Lending loans and leases 37,120  (43,739) (6,619) 135,737  30,678  166,415 
Community Banking Loans (9,902) 3,121  (6,781) 7,871  1,767  9,638 
Total loans and leases 17,364  (30,764) (13,400) 119,831  56,222  176,053 
Total interest-earning assets $ 13,546  $ (46,434) $ 32,888  $ 109,762  $ 57,433  $ 167,195 
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing checking $ 110  $ (207) $ (97) $ 118  $ 28  $ 146 
Savings (2) (18) (20) (2)
Money markets (22) 25  39  258  297 
Time deposits (1,727) 123  (1,604) 277  749  1,026 
Wholesale deposits (14,450) (7,864) (22,314) 23,599  6,417  30,016 
Total Interest-bearing deposits (13,327) (10,705) (24,032) 21,132  10,352  31,484 
Overnight fed funds purchased (2,346) (2,334) (4,680) (545) 1,735  1,190 
FHLB advances 1,575  26  1,601  (444) 534  90 
Subordinated debentures 10  (39) (29) 151  160 
Other borrowings (604) 25  (579) 622  (9) 613 
Total borrowings (2,072) (1,615) (3,687) (982) 3,034  2,052 
Total interest-bearing liabilities $ (15,399) $ (12,320) $ (27,719) $ 20,150  $ 13,386  $ 33,536 
Net effect on net interest income $ 28,945  $ (34,114) $ 5,169  $ 89,612  $ 44,047  $ 133,659 


71

Comparison of Operating Results for the Fiscal Years Ended
September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019
 
General
The Company recorded net income of $104.7 million, or $2.94 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, compared to $97.0 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $7.7 million. Total revenue for fiscal 2020 was $498.8 million, compared to $486.8 million for fiscal 2019, an increase of 2%. The increase in net income and revenue was primarily due to an increase in noninterest income and a decrease in noninterest expense, partially offset by a slight decrease in net interest income.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income for fiscal 2020 decreased by $5.2 million, or 2%, to $259.0 million from $264.2 million for the same period of the prior year. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to a decrease in interest income of 10% to $292.8 million for fiscal 2020, from $325.7 million for the same period of the prior year. The decrease in interest income was primarily driven by lower overall loan balances and yields realized on the loan and lease portfolios along with a decrease in investment security balances, partially offset by a reduction in total interest expense. The average balance of loans and leases as a percentage of interest-earning assets for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 decreased to 60%, from 66% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, while the average balance of total investments as a percentage of interest-earnings assets decreased to 21%, from 32% over that same period.

NIM was 4.09% for fiscal 2020, a decrease of 82 basis points from 4.91% in fiscal 2019. NIM,TE was 4.12% in fiscal 2019, an decrease of 90 basis points from 5.02% in fiscal 2019. The decreases in NIM and NIM, TE in fiscal 2020, compared to the same period of the prior year were primarily attributable to the increase in deposit balances related to the EIP program. This short term influx of deposits also led to excess cash balances held at the Federal Reserve during the current period, which yielded approximately 10 basis points in interest income, and increased the quarterly average of interest-earning assets compared to previous periods. This increase of lower-yielding cash balances resulted in a drag to the overall yield on total interest-earning assets during the current period.

The overall reported tax equivalent yield ("TEY") on average interest-earning assets decreased by 150 basis points to 4.66% when comparing fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2019. The reduction was driven primarily by excess low-yielding cash held at the Federal Reserve, along with a lower interest rate environment. The yield on the national lending portfolio decreased by 170 basis points while the yield on the community banking loan portfolio increased by 27 basis points. The fiscal 2020 TEY on the securities portfolio decreased by 77 basis points to 2.34% as compared to the same period of the prior year.

The Company's average interest earning assets for fiscal 2020 increased $951.3 million, or 18%, to $6.33 billion, from $5.38 billion during 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in average cash balances of $1.11 billion, average loan and lease balances of $233.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in total average investment securities of $389.6 million. The increase in average cash balances was due to the effects of the EIP program. The increase in the Company's average loan and lease balances was driven by an increase in national lending loans of $438.3 million, partially offset by a reduction $205.0 million in community banking loans. The decrease average investments was driven by the Company continuing to utilize sales of securities and cash flow from its amortizing securities portfolio to fund loan growth.

The Company’s average balance of total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities increased $912.4 million, or 17%, to $6.23 billion during fiscal 2020, from $5.32 billion during 2019. This increase was primarily due to increases in average noninterest-bearing deposits of $1.71 billion, partially offset by a decrease in average wholesale deposits of $690.2 million and a decrease in the average balance of total borrowings of $68.6 million.

Overall, the Company’s cost of funds for all deposits and borrowings averaged 0.54% during fiscal 2020, compared to 1.16% during fiscal 2019. The cost of deposits was 0.39% during fiscal 2020, compared to 0.96% during fiscal 2019. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in overnight borrowings rates as well as an increase in the average balance of the Company's noninterest-bearing deposits, mainly due to the EIP program noted above. The Company believes that its growing, lower-cost deposit base gives it a distinct and significant competitive advantage, and even more so if interest rates rise, because the Company anticipates that its cost of funds will likely remain relatively low, increasing less than at many other banks.



72

Provision for Loan and Lease Losses
In fiscal 2020, the Company recorded $64.8 million in provision for loan and lease losses, compared to $55.7 million in fiscal 2019. The increase in provision was primarily within the retained community bank, commercial finance, and tax services portfolios, partially offset by a decrease in the consumer finance portfolio. Provision increases in the community bank and commercial finance portfolios were primarily attributable to movie theater, hospitality, and small ticket equipment finance relationships that have experienced ongoing stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Company's ongoing assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company recognized an additional provision for loan and lease losses of $26.4 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company will continue to assess the impact to their customers and businesses as a result of COVID-19 and refine their estimate as more information becomes available. Additional provisions were also applied to loans and leases that received short-term payment deferrals. Also see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Noninterest Income
Noninterest income increased by $17.2 million, or 8%, to $239.8 million for fiscal 2020 from $222.5 million for fiscal 2019. This increase was largely due to the gain on sale of divestiture of $19.3 million related to the sale of the Community Bank division, as well as increases in other income of $4.7 million and rental income of $3.8 million. The increase in noninterest income was partially offset by a decrease in total tax product fee income of $6.0 million, a reduction in gain on sale of other of $3.4 million, a reduction in gain on sale of investments of $0.7 million, and a decrease in card fee income of $0.6 million.
 
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense decreased by $14.1 million, or 4%, to $319.1 million for fiscal 2020 from $333.2 million for fiscal 2019. This decrease in noninterest expense was largely driven by a decrease in compensation expense of $19.6 million, a decrease in impairment expense of $7.7 million, a decrease in intangible amortization expense of $6.7 million, and a decrease in occupancy and equipment expense of $1.1 million. The decrease in noninterest expense was partially offset by increases of $8.7 million in other expense, $6.7 million in operating depreciation expense, $3.5 million in legal and consulting expense, and $2.3 million in card processing expense.

Income Tax Expense
The Company recorded an income tax expense of $5.7 million for fiscal 2020, resulting in an effective tax rate of 4.9%, compared to an income tax benefit of $3.4 million and an effective tax rate of (3.4)%, in fiscal 2019. The recorded income tax expense during the period was primarily due to a reduction in investment tax credits from originated solar leases in fiscal year 2020 as compared to the fiscal year 2019. The Company originated $77.8 million in solar leases for the 2020 fiscal year, compared to $104.4 million during the 2019 fiscal year. Investment tax credits related to solar leases are recognized ratably based on income throughout each fiscal year. The timing and impact of future solar tax credits are expected to vary from period to period, and Meta intends to undertake only those tax credit opportunities that meet the Company's underwriting and return criteria.
 
Comparison of Operating Results for the Fiscal Years Ended
September 30, 2019, and September 30, 2018
 
General
The Company recorded net income of $97.0 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, compared to $51.6 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, an increase of $45.4 million. Total revenue for fiscal 2019 was $486.8 million, compared to $315.1 million for fiscal 2018, an increase of 54%. The increase in net income and revenue was primarily due to the improvement in net interest income, attributable to the loans and leases acquired through the Crestmark Acquisition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, along with an enhanced interest-earning asset mix.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income for fiscal 2019 increased by $133.7 million, or 102%, to $264.2 million from $130.5 million for the prior year. NIM increased to 4.91% in fiscal 2019 as compared to 3.14% in fiscal 2018. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in interest income of 105% to $325.7 million from $158.5 million for the prior year. The increase in interest income was primarily due to an increase in the Company’s average earning assets of 29% to $5.38 billion during fiscal 2019 from $4.16 billion during 2018.


73

The increase in average earnings assets was primarily attributable to growth in the Company's average loan and lease portfolio of $1.71 billion, of which $1.54 billion was related to an increase in National Lending loans and leases and $171.3 million was related to Community Banking loans. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in total investment securities of $532.9 million, which decreased as the Company continued to utilize sales of securities and cash flow from its amortizing securities portfolio to fund loan growth.

The Company’s average balance of total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.3 billion, or 32%, to $5.32 billion during fiscal 2019 from $4.02 billion during 2018. This increase was primarily due to increases in average wholesale deposits of $1.03 billion and average noninterest-bearing deposits of $230.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of total borrowings of $36.0 million.

Overall, the Company’s cost of funds for all deposits and borrowings averaged 1.16% during fiscal 2019, compared to 0.70% during fiscal 2018. This increase was primarily due to the interest-bearing time deposits acquired by the Company in connection with the Crestmark Acquisition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The Company's overall cost of deposits was 0.96% during fiscal 2019, compared to 0.43% during fiscal 2018.

Provision for Loan Losses
In fiscal 2019, the Company recorded $55.7 million in provision for loan losses, compared to $29.4 million in fiscal 2018. The increase in provision expense was primarily driven by loan and lease growth and increased net charge-offs within the commercial finance portfolio. During fiscal year 2019, the Company had net charge-offs of $24.9 million within its tax services portfolio, all of which were fully reserved for.

Non-Interest Income
Noninterest income increased by $38.0 million, or 21%, to $222.5 million for fiscal 2019 from $184.5 million for fiscal 2018, primarily attributable to a full year of business conducted by the Crestmark division following the Crestmark Acquisition in August 2018. This increase was largely due to increases in rental income of $33.7 million, gain on sale of investments of $8.9 million, gain on sale of loans and leases of $4.9 million, deposits fees of $4.6 million, and other income of $4.5 million. The increase in noninterest income was partially offset by decreases in card fee income of $14.5 million and total tax product fee income of $3.7 million. The increase in rental income, gain on sale of loans, and other income was largely attributable to the Crestmark Acquisition. The increase in deposit fee income was primarily related to the growth and transition of certain product fee income from card fees to deposit fees, attributable to the Company's payments division.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense increased by $104.9 million, or 46%, to $333.2 million for fiscal 2019 from $228.2 million for fiscal 2018, primarily due to a full year of expenses attributable to the Crestmark division. This increase in noninterest expense was largely driven by an increase in compensation expense of $46.8 million and operating depreciation expense of $20.8 million when compared to the prior year. Also contributing to the increase when comparing fiscal 2019 to 2018, were increases in other expense of $14.4 million, impairment expense of $9.6 million, occupancy and equipment expense of $8.3 million and intangible amortization expense of $8.1 million. The increase in compensation and benefits was primarily due to the addition of Crestmark division employees and new hires in the second half of fiscal 2018 in support of Meta's National Lending and other business initiatives. The increase in operating depreciation expense was attributable to the Crestmark division. The impairment expense included $9.5 million related to the DC Solar relationship.

Income Tax Expense
The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $3.4 million for fiscal 2019, resulting in an effective tax rate of (3.4)%, compared to an income tax expense of $5.1 million and an effective tax rate of 9.0%, in fiscal 2018. Despite the increase in earnings, the Company recorded less income tax expense than the prior year due to multiple factors. Fiscal year 2018 included a $4.6 million income tax benefit recognized by the Company as a result of amending a historical tax return of Crestmark Bancorp, Inc. The Company also recognized an investment tax credit in fiscal 2019, which reduced the Company's income tax expense by $27.1 million compared to $4.0 million in fiscal 2018, reflecting the generation of investment tax credits under the Company's initiatives in the renewable energy sector. Another factor that contributed to the reduction in both the income tax expense and effective tax rate were the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act"), which lowered Meta's statutory rate from 24.53% in fiscal 2018 to 21% in fiscal 2019.


74

Asset Quality

At September 30, 2020, non-performing assets, consisting of non-accruing loans and leases, accruing loans and leases delinquent 90 days or more, foreclosed real estate, repossessed property, and non-performing operating leases, totaled $48.0 million, or 0.79% of total assets, compared to $56.5 million, or 0.91% of total assets, at September 30, 2019. The decrease in NPAs was primarily attributable to a reduction of foreclosed real estate, partially offset by an increase in the commercial finance portfolio. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had non-accruing loans and leases totaling $24.0 million and foreclosed and repossessed assets of approximately $10.0 million, or 0.2% of total assets.

During the fiscal 2020 first quarter, the Company disposed of assets related to a previously disclosed Community Bank agricultural relationship that were held in other real estate owned (“OREO”), which represented 46 basis points of nonperforming assets as of September 30, 2019.
 
The Company maintains an allowance for loan and lease losses because it is probable that some loans and leases may not be repaid in full. At September 30, 2020, the Company had an allowance for loan and lease losses of $56.2 million as compared to $29.1 million at September 30, 2019. The increase was driven by a $15.3 million increase in the commercial finance portfolio and a $14.2 million increase in the retained community bank portfolio, partially offset by a $2.5 million decrease in the consumer finance portfolio.

The following table presents the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of its total loans and leases.
As of the Period Ended
September 30, 2020 June 30, 2020 March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 September 30, 2019
Commercial finance 1.30  % 1.36  % 1.28  % 0.80  % 0.76  %
Consumer finance 1.64  % 1.75  % 1.74  % 2.22  % 2.30  %
Tax services 0.06  % 59.67  % 22.22  % 1.62  % —  %
Warehouse finance 0.10  % 0.10  % 0.10  % 0.10  % 0.10  %
National Lending 1.20  % 1.68  % 1.92  % 0.90  % 0.86  %
Community Banking 4.59  % 2.55  % 1.49  % 0.68  % 0.68  %
Total loans and leases 1.70  % 1.88  % 1.81  % 0.84  % 0.80  %

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of the total loan and lease portfolio was 1.70% at September 30, 2020, compared to 0.80% at September 30, 2019. This increase was primarily due to the Company's continued assessment of the risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the total Company coverage ratio was due to increases to the coverage ratio within the retained community bank portfolio and the commercial finance portfolio due to identified risks impacting its movie theater, hospitality, and small ticket equipment finance relationships stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's loan and lease portfolio is difficult to predict due to the unprecedented uncertainty. Due to this uncertainty, management has performed an evaluation of the loan and lease portfolio in order to assess the impact on repayment sources and underlying collateral that could result in additional losses. The framework for the analysis was based on the Company's then-current allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") methodology with additional considerations. From this impact assessment, additional reserve levels were estimated by increasing qualitative factors. The additional reserves were estimated for loans that were granted short-term payment deferrals related to financial stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic along with other loans within certain high risk industries. Loans within these high risk industries include the Community Bank's, movie theater and hospitality loans as well as the Company's small ticket equipment finance relationships within its commercial finance portfolio.

Based on the Company's ongoing assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company recognized an additional provision for loan and lease losses of $26.4 million during the year ended September 30, 2020. The Company will continue to assess the impact to their customers and businesses as a result of COVID-19 and refine their estimate as more information becomes available.


75

When adding the $2.8 million balance of the credit mark to the allowance for loan and lease losses, the commercial finance coverage ratio increases to 1.41% and the total loans and leases coverage ratio increases to 1.77%, as of September 30, 2020. Within commercial finance, the coverage ratio on Crestmark division loans and leases was 1.42% at September 30, 2020, as compared to 0.88% at September 30, 2019, and the coverage ratio on the insurance premium finance portfolio over those same periods were 0.63% and 0.28%, respectively.

During fiscal year 2020, the Company had net charge-offs of $37.7 million, of which $22.0 million were related to the tax services portfolio. The charge-offs within the tax services portfolio were fully reserved for.

Management closely monitors economic developments both regionally and nationwide, and considers these factors when assessing the appropriateness of its allowance for loan and lease losses. The Company continued to assess each of its loan and lease portfolios during the fiscal fourth quarter and increased its allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of total loans and leases in the community bank and commercial finance portfolios primarily as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as noted above. Tax services coverage rates were driven only by typical seasonal activity and are not expected to be materially impacted by COVID-19 as the tax lending season is now complete. The Company expects to continue to diligently monitor the allowance for loan and lease losses and adjust as necessary in future periods to maintain an appropriate and supportable level.

Management believes that, based on a detailed review of the loan and lease portfolio, historic loan and lease losses, current economic conditions, the size of the loan and lease portfolio and other factors, the level of the allowance for loan and lease losses at September 30, 2020 reflected an appropriate allowance against probable incurred losses from the lending portfolio. Although the Company maintains its allowance for loan and lease losses at a level it considers to be appropriate, investors and others are cautioned that there can be no assurance that future losses will not exceed estimated amounts, or that additional provisions for loan and lease losses will not be required in future periods. In addition, the Company’s determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses is subject to review by the OCC, which can require the establishment of additional general or specific allowances.

Management’s periodic review of the allowance for loan and lease losses is based on various subjective and objective factors, including the Company’s past loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral and current economic conditions. While management may allocate portions of the allowance for specifically identified problem loan and lease situations, the majority of the allowance is based on both subjective and objective factors related to the overall loan and lease portfolio and is available for any loan and lease charge-offs that may occur. As stated previously, there can be no assurance future losses will not exceed estimated amounts, or that additional provisions for loan and lease losses will not be required in future periods. In addition, the Bank is subject to review by the OCC, which has the authority to require management to make changes to the allowance for loan and lease losses, and the Company is subject to similar review by the Federal Reserve. In determining the allowance for loan and lease losses, the Company specifically identifies loans and leases it considers as having potential collectability problems. Based on criteria established by ASC 310, Receivables, some of these loans and leases are considered to be “impaired” while others are not considered to be impaired, but possess weaknesses that the Company believes merit additional analysis in establishing the allowance for loan and lease losses. All other loans and leases are evaluated by applying estimated loss ratios to various pools of loans and leases. The Company then analyzes other applicable qualitative factors (such as economic conditions) in determining the aggregate amount of the allowance needed.

At September 30, 2020, $5.1 million of the allowance for loan and lease losses was allocated to impaired loans and leases. See Note 5 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. $3.8 million of the total allowance was allocated to other identified problem loans and loan relationships, representing 1.2% of the related loan and lease balances, and $47.3 million of the total allowance, representing 1.6% of the related loan and lease balances, was allocated to the remaining overall loan and lease portfolio based on historical loss experience and qualitative factors. At September 30, 2019, $1.9 million of the allowance for loan and lease losses was allocated to impaired loans and leases. $2.6 million of the total allowance was allocated to other identified problem loan and lease situations or 1.8% of related loan and lease balances, and $24.6 million of the total allowance, representing 0.7%, was allocated against losses from the overall loan and leases portfolio based on historical loss experience and qualitative factors.

The Company maintains an internal loan and lease review and classification process which involves multiple officers of the Company and is designed to assess the general quality of credit underwriting and to promote early identification of potential problem loans and leases. All loan officers are charged with the responsibility of risk rating all loans and leases in their portfolios and updating the ratings, positively or negatively, on an ongoing basis as conditions warrant.
76

The level of potential problem loans and leases is another predominant factor in determining the relative level of risk in the loan and lease portfolio and in determining the appropriate level of the allowance for loan and lease losses. Potential problem loans and leases are generally defined by management to include loans and leases rated as substandard by management that are not considered impaired (i.e., non-accrual loans and leases and accruing troubled debt restructurings), but there are circumstances that create doubt as to the ability of the borrower to comply with repayment terms. The decision of management to include performing loans and leases in potential problem loans and leases does not necessarily mean that the Company expects losses to occur, but that management recognizes a higher degree of risk associated with these loans and leases. The loans and leases that have been reported as potential problem loans and leases are predominantly commercial loans and leases covering a diverse range of businesses and real estate property types. At September 30, 2020, potential problem loans and leases totaled $67.9 million compared to $41.2 million at September 30, 2019. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The Company’s primary sources of funds are deposits, derived principally through its payments division, principal and interest payments on loans and leases and MBS, and maturing investment securities. In addition, the Company utilizes wholesale deposit sources to provide temporary funding when necessary or when favorable terms are available. While scheduled loan repayments and maturing investments are relatively predictable, deposit flows and early loan repayments are influenced by the level of interest rates, general economic conditions and competition. The Company uses its capital resources principally to meet ongoing commitments to fund maturing certificates of deposit and loan commitments, to maintain liquidity, and to meet operating expenses.

The low-cost checking deposits generated through the Company's payments division may carry a greater degree of concentration risk than traditional consumer checking deposits but, based on experience, the Company believes that Payments‑generated deposits are a stable source of funding. To date, the Company has not experienced any material net outflows related to Payments-generated deposits, though no assurance can be given that this will continue to be the case.

The Bank is required by regulation to maintain sufficient liquidity to assure its safe and sound operation. In the opinion of management, the Bank is in compliance with this requirement.
 
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of the Company’s management strategy. The Company adjusts its investments in liquid assets based upon management’s assessment of (i) expected loan demand, (ii) the projected availability of purchased loan products, (iii) expected deposit flows, (iv) yields available on interest-bearing deposits and (v) the objectives of its asset/liability management program. Excess liquidity is generally invested in interest-earning overnight deposits and other short-term government agency or instrumentality obligations. If the Company requires funds beyond its ability to generate them internally, it has additional borrowing capacity with the FHLB and other wholesale funding sources. The Company is not aware of any facts that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s liquidity or its ability to borrow additional funds.

The primary investing activities of the Company are the origination of loans and leases, the acquisitions of companies and the purchase of securities. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company originated loans and leases totaling $9.79 billion, $10.97 billion and $4.39 billion, respectively. Purchases of loans and leases totaled $151.4 million, $278.1 million, and $165.7 million during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2017. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company purchased MBS and other securities in the amount of $297.8 million, $653.2 million and $849.5 million, respectively. Of these purchases, there were no securities designated as held to maturity in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 and $0.9 million designated as held to maturity in fiscal 2018.

At September 30, 2020, the Company had unfunded loan and lease commitments of $1.22 billion. See Note 19 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in one year or less at September 30, 2020 totaled $248.0 million, of which $230.6 million were wholesale time deposits and $17.4 million were non-wholesale time deposits. Management believes that loan repayment and other sources of funds will be adequate to meet the Company’s foreseeable short- and long-term liquidity needs.
 
77

The following table summarizes the Company’s significant contractual obligations at September 30, 2020.
Contractual Obligations Total Less than 1 year 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years More than 5 years
(Dollars in Thousands)
Time deposits $ 20,223  $ 17,409  $ 2,814  $ —  $ — 
Wholesale time deposits 253,949  230,562  23,387  —  — 
Long-term borrowings 98,224  5,441  4,589  726  87,468 
Operating leases 31,348  3,742  6,278  5,563  15,765 
Total $ 403,744  $ 257,154  $ 37,068  $ 6,289  $ 103,233 

During July 2001, the Company’s unconsolidated trust subsidiary, First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I, sold $10.3 million in floating-rate cumulative preferred securities. Proceeds from the sale were used to purchase trust preferred securities of the Company, which mature in 2031, and are redeemable at any time after five years. The capital securities are required to be redeemed on July 25, 2031; however, the Company has the option to redeem them earlier.

In 2016, the Company completed a public offering of $75.0 million of its 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures due August 15, 2026. The debentures can be redeemed in whole or in part at par by the Company on any interest payment date on or after August 15, 2021, with regulatory approval.

Through the Crestmark Acquisition, consummated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company acquired $3.4 million in floating rate capital securities due to Crestmark Capital Trust I, a 100%-owned nonconsolidated subsidiary of the company. The subordinated debentures bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.00%, have a stated maturity of 30 years and are redeemable by the Company at par, with regulatory approval. See Note 10 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company and the Bank met regulatory requirements for classification as well-capitalized institutions at September 30, 2020. Based on current and expected continued profitability and subject to continued access to capital markets, management believes that the Company and the Bank will continue to meet the capital conservation buffer of 2.5% in addition to required minimum capital ratios. See Note 18 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
The payment of dividends and repurchase of shares have the effect of reducing stockholders’ equity. Prior to authorizing such transactions, the Board of Directors considers the effect the dividend or repurchase of shares would have on liquidity and regulatory capital ratios.
 
The Board of Directors approved a minimum management target, reflected in its capital plan, for the Bank to stay at or above an 8% Tier 1 capital to adjusted total assets ratio during fiscal 2018.
 
Management and the Board of Directors are also mindful of new capital rules that will increase bank and holding company capital requirements and liquidity requirements. No assurance can be given that our regulators will consider our liquidity level, or our capital level, though substantially in excess of current rules pursuant to which the Company and the Bank are considered “well-capitalized,” to be sufficiently high in the future.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
 
For discussion of the Company’s off-balance sheet financing arrangements, see Note 19 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Depending on the extent to which the commitments or contingencies described in Note 19 occur, the effect on the Company’s capital and net income could be significant.
 

78

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the change in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The primary impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of the Company’s operations. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all the assets and liabilities of the Company are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates generally have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction, or to the same extent, as the prices of goods and services. There have not been any material effects on Meta's business due to inflation during any of the last three fiscal years.
 
Impact of New Accounting Standards
 
See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements. 

Critical Accounting Policies
 
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The financial information contained within these financial statements is, to a significant extent, based on approximate measures of the financial effects of transactions and events that have already occurred. Management has identified the policies described below as Critical Accounting Policies. These policies involve complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Some of these estimates may be uncertain at the time they are made, could change from period to period, and could have a material impact on the financial statements.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses methodology incorporates a variety of risk considerations, both quantitative and qualitative, in establishing an allowance for loan and lease losses that management believes is appropriate at each reporting date. Quantitative factors include the Company’s historical loss experience, delinquency and charge-off trends, collateral values, changes in non-performing loans and leases and other factors. Quantitative factors also incorporate known information about individual loans and leases, including borrowers’ sensitivity to interest rate movements. Qualitative factors include the general economic environment in the Company’s markets, including economic conditions throughout the Midwest and, in particular, the state of certain industries. Size and complexity of individual credits in relation to loan and lease structure, existing loan and lease policies and pace of portfolio growth are other qualitative factors that are considered in the methodology. Although management believes the levels of the allowance as of both September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 were adequate to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio, a decline in local economic conditions or other factors could result in increasing losses.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. Under the acquisition method, the Company records assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired business at their fair values as of the acquisition date. Any acquisition-related transaction costs are expensed in the period incurred. Results of operations of the acquired entity are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations from the date of acquisition. Any measurement-period adjustments are recorded in the period the adjustment is identified.

The excess of consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Determining the fair value of assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest often requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions. This may involve estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques such as estimates of attrition, inflation, asset growth rates, discount rates, multiples of earnings or other relevant factors. In addition, the determination of the useful lives over which an intangible asset will be amortized is subjective. See Note 10. Goodwill and Intangibles to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

79

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
As stated above, the Company derives a portion of its income from the excess of interest collected over interest paid. The rates of interest the Company earns on assets and pays on liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Market interest rates change over time. Accordingly, the Company’s results of operations, like those of most financial institutions, are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of its assets and liabilities. The risk associated with changes in interest rates and the Company’s ability to adapt to these changes is known as interest rate risk and is the Company’s only significant “market” risk.

The Company monitors and measures its exposure to changes in interest rates in order to comply with applicable government regulations and risk policies established by the Board of Directors, and in order to preserve stockholder value. In monitoring interest rate risk, the Company analyzes assets and liabilities based on characteristics including size, coupon rate, repricing frequency, maturity date and likelihood of prepayment.

The Company’s primary objective for its investment portfolio is to provide a source of liquidity for the Company. In addition, the investment portfolio may be used in the management of the Company’s interest rate risk profile. The investment policy generally calls for funds to be invested among various categories of security types and maturities based upon the Company’s need for liquidity, desire to achieve a proper balance between minimizing risk while maximizing yield, the need to provide collateral for borrowings and to fulfill the Company’s asset/liability management goals.

The Company’s cost of funds responds to changes in interest rates due to the relatively short-term nature of its wholesale deposit portfolio, and due to the relatively short-term nature of its borrowed funds. The Company believes that its growing portfolio of longer duration, low-cost deposits generated from its payments division provides a stable and profitable funding vehicle, but also subjects the Company to greater risk in a falling interest rate environment than it would otherwise have without this portfolio. This risk is due to the fact that, while asset yields may decrease in a falling interest rate environment, the Company cannot significantly reduce interest costs associated with these deposits, which thereby compresses the Company’s NIM.
 
The Board of Directors and relevant government regulations establish limits on the level of acceptable interest rate risk at the Company, to which management adheres. There can be no assurance, however, that, in the event of an adverse change in interest rates, the Company’s efforts to limit interest rate risk will be successful.

Interest Rate Risk (“IRR”)
 
Overview
The Company actively manages interest rate risk, as changes in market interest rates can have a significant impact on reported earnings. The Company's interest rate risk analysis is designed to compare income and economic valuation simulations in market scenarios designed to alter the direction, magnitude and speed of interest rate changes, as well as the slope of the yield curve. The Company does not currently engage in trading activities to control interest rate risk although it may do so in the future, if deemed necessary, to help manage interest rate risk.

Earnings at risk and economic value analysis
As a continuing part of its financial strategy, the Bank considers methods of managing an asset/liability mismatch consistent with maintaining acceptable levels of net interest income. In order to monitor interest rate risk, the Board of Directors has created an Asset/Liability Committee whose principal responsibilities are to assess the Bank’s asset/liability mix and implement strategies that will enhance income while managing the Bank’s vulnerability to changes in interest rates.


80

Table of Contents
The Company uses two approaches to model interest rate risk: Earnings at Risk (“EAR analysis”) and Economic Value of Equity (“EVE analysis”). Under EAR analysis, net interest income is calculated for each interest rate scenario to the net interest income forecast in the base case. EAR analysis measures the sensitivity of interest-sensitive earnings over a one-year minimum time horizon. The results are affected by projected rates, prepayments, caps and floors. Management exercises its best judgment in making assumptions regarding events that management can influence, such as non-contractual deposit re-pricing, as well as events outside of management's control, such as customer behavior on loan and deposit activity and the effect that competition has on both lending and deposit pricing. These assumptions are subjective and, as a result, net interest income simulation results will differ from actual results due to the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes, changes in market conditions, customer behavior and management strategies, among other factors. The Company performs various sensitivity analyses on assumptions of deposit attrition and deposit re-pricing, as well as market-implied forward rates and various likely and extreme interest rate scenarios, including rapid and gradual interest rate ramps, rate shocks and yield curve twists.
 
The EAR analysis used in the following table reflects the required analysis used no less than quarterly by management. It models -200, -100, +100, +200, +300 and +400 basis point parallel shifts in market interest rates over the next one-year period. Due to the current low level of interest rates, only a ‑100 basis point parallel shift is represented.

The Company was within Board approved policy limits for all interest rate scenarios using the snapshot as of September 30, 2020. The tables below show the results of the scenarios as of September 30, 2020 and 2019:
 
Net Sensitive Earnings at Risk
Balances as of September 30, 2020 Change in Interest Income/Expense
for a given change in interest rates
Over / (Under) Base Case Parallel Shift
(Dollars in Thousands) Book Value
-200(1)
-100 Base 100 200 300 400
Total Interest-Sensitive Income 5,273,791  —  246,070  251,977  275,320  298,406  322,340  346,057 
Total Interest-Sensitive Expense 633,326  —  1,868  2,337  5,433  8,542  11,666  14,802 
Net Interest-Sensitive Income —  244,202  249,640  269,887  289,864  310,674  331,255 
Percentage Change from Base —  % -2.2  % —  % 8.1  % 16.1  % 24.4  % 32.7  %
Board Policy Limits —  % -8.0  % —  % -8.0  % -10.0  % -15.0  % -20.0  %
(1) A -200 basis point parallel shift was not analyzed by the Company at September 30, 2020.

Net Sensitive Earnings at Risk
Balances as of September 30, 2019 Change in Interest Income/Expense
for a given change in interest rates
Over / (Under) Base Case Parallel Shift
(Dollars in Thousands) Book Value -200 -100 Base 100 200 300 400
Total Interest-Sensitive Income 5,110,297  255,078  273,295  295,093  317,174  338,529  359,365  380,099 
Total Interest-Sensitive Expense 2,753,548  17,614  33,696  50,985  67,906  84,636  101,369  118,102 
Net Interest-Sensitive Income 237,464  239,599  244,108  249,268  253,893  257,996  261,997 
Percentage Change from Base -2.7  % -1.8  % —  % 2.1  % 4.0  % 5.7  % 7.3  %
Board Policy Limits -12.0  % -8.0  % —  % -8.0  % -10.0  % -15.0  % -20.0  %

The EAR analysis reported at September 30, 2020 shows that Total Interest Sensitive Income will change more rapidly than Total Interest Sensitive Expense over the next year.


81

Table of Contents
IRR is a snapshot in time. The Company’s business and deposits are predictably cyclical on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. The Company’s static IRR results could vary depending on which day of the week and timing in relation to certain payrolls, as well as time of the month in regard to early funding of certain programs, when this snapshot is taken. The Company’s overnight federal funds purchased fluctuates on a predictable daily and monthly basis due to fluctuations in a portion of its noninterest-bearing deposit base, primarily related to payroll processing and timing of when certain programs are prefunded and when the funds are received.

The Company believes that its growing portfolio of noninterest-bearing deposits provides a stable and profitable funding vehicle and a significant competitive advantage in a rising interest rate environment as the Company’s cost of funds will likely remain relatively low, with less of an increase in the cost of funds expected relative to many other banks.
 
Under EVE analysis, the economic value of financial assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments is derived under each rate scenario. The economic value of equity is calculated as the difference between the estimated market value of assets and liabilities, net of the impact of off-balance sheet instruments.
 
The EVE analysis used in the following table reflects the required analysis used no less than quarterly by management. It models immediate -200, -100, +100, +200, 300 and +400 basis point parallel shifts in market interest rates. Due to the current low level of interest rates, only a -100 basis point parallel shift is represented.

The Company was within Board policy limits for all scenarios. The tables below show the results of the scenario as of September 30, 2020 and 2019:

Economic Value Sensitivity
Balances as of September 30, 2020 Standard (Parallel Shift)
Economic Value of Equity at Risk%
 
-200(1)
-100 100 200 300 400
Percentage Change from Base —  % -9.4  % 9.2  % 15.7  % 20.6  % 24.8  %
Board Policy Limits —  % -10.0  % -10.0  % -20.0  % -25.0  % -35.0  %
(1) A -200 basis point parallel shift was not analyzed by the Company at September 30, 2020.
Balances as of September 30, 2019 Standard (Parallel Shift)
Economic Value of Equity at Risk%
  -200 -100 100 200 300 400
Percentage Change from Base -9.2  % -4.0  % 1.9  % 2.1  % 1.6  % 0.9  %
Board Policy Limits -20.0  % -10.0  % -10.0  % -20.0  % -25.0  % -35.0  %

The EVE at risk reported at September 30, 2020 shows that the economic value of equity position will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than the prior period due to the large amount of non-interest bearing funding compared with the prior period.
82

Table of Contents
Item 8.        Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 
Table of Contents

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
Statements of Financial Condition
Statements of Operations
Statements of Comprehensive Income
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

83

Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Meta Financial Group, Inc.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial condition of Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated November 30, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Allowance for Loan Losses - General Reserve Qualitative Adjustment

As described in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s allowance for loan losses is a valuation account that reflects the Company’s estimate of incurred losses in its loan portfolio to the extent they
84

are both probable and reasonable to estimate. The allowance for loan losses was $56.2 million at September 30, 2020, which consists of two components: the valuation allowance for loans individually evaluated for impairment (“specific reserves”), representing $5.1 million, and the valuation allowance for loans collectively evaluated for impairment (“general reserves”), representing $51.1 million. The general reserve component is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The calculation of the allowance for loan losses involves significant and subjective assumptions which require a high degree of judgment relating to: 1) the general economic environment in the Company’s markets, including economic conditions throughout the Midwest, 2) the size and complexity of individual credits in relation to loan and lease structure, 3) existing loan and lease policies and the pace of portfolio growth, and 4) the expected impact of the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s loan customers and the related impact on credit risk. General reserves at September 30, 2020 include qualitative adjustments of $26.4 million attributed to the estimated impact of the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s loan customers. Changes in these assumptions could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.

The qualitative adjustment for the general reserve includes consideration of: changes in lending and leasing policies and procedures, changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, including the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the nature and volume of the loan and lease portfolio, changes in lending and leasing management and staff, trends in past due, classified, nonaccrual, and other loan and lease categories, changes in the Company’s loan and lease review system and oversight, changes in collateral and residual values, credit concentration risk, and the regulatory and legal requirements and environment.

The qualitative adjustments contribute significantly to the general reserve component of the allowance for loan losses. Management’s identification and analysis of these considerations and related adjustments requires significant judgment. We identified the estimate of the qualitative adjustment of the general reserve for the commercial real estate segment in the community banking portfolio and the commercial finance segment in the national lending portfolio (“identified segments”) as a critical audit matter as they represent a significant portion of the total qualitative adjustment and because management’s estimate relies on a qualitative analysis to determine a quantitative adjustment which required especially subjective auditor judgment.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

Testing the effectiveness of controls over the evaluation of the general reserve qualitative adjustments for the identified segments, including controls addressing:
Management's review of the accuracy of data inputs used as the basis for the allowance allocations resulting from the qualitative adjustments.
Management's review of the reasonableness of the judgments and assumptions used to develop the qualitative adjustments for the general reserve.
Management's review of the mathematical accuracy of the allowance calculation.
Substantively testing management’s process, including evaluating their judgments and assumptions, for developing the general reserve qualitative adjustments for the identified segments which included:
Evaluation of the completeness and accuracy of data inputs used as a basis for the adjustments relating to qualitative general reserve factors.
Evaluation of the reasonableness of management’s judgements related to the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the data used in the determination of the general reserve qualitative adjustments and the resulting allocation to the allowance. Among other procedures, our evaluation considered, evidence from internal and external sources, loan portfolio performance and whether such assumptions were applied consistently period to period.
Analytically evaluating the qualitative adjustment year over year for directional consistency and testing for reasonableness, including the qualitative adjustment attributed to the estimated impact of the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s loan customers.
Testing the mathematical accuracy of the allowance calculation, including the application of the qualitative adjustments.

  /s/ Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan  
November 30, 2020  
85


KPMG LLP
2500 Ruan Center
666 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Meta Financial Group, Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Meta Financial Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) for the year ended September 30, 2018, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations of the Company and its cash flows for the year ended September 30, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
  /s/ KPMG LLP
We served as the Company’s auditor from 2008 to 2018.
 
Des Moines, Iowa  
November 29, 2018  

86


META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
ASSETS September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents $ 427,367  $ 126,545 
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value 814,495  889,947 
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale, at fair value 453,607  382,546 
Investment securities held to maturity, at cost 87,183  127,582 
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity, at cost 5,427  7,182 
Loans held for sale 183,577  148,777 
Loans and leases 3,322,765  3,658,847 
Allowance for loan and lease losses (56,188) (29,149)
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stocks, at cost 27,138  30,916 
Accrued interest receivable 16,628  20,400 
Premises, furniture, and equipment, net 41,608  45,932 
Rental equipment, net 205,964  208,537 
Bank-owned life insurance 92,315  89,827 
Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets, net 9,957  29,494 
Goodwill 309,505  309,505 
Intangible assets 41,692  52,810 
Prepaid assets 8,328  9,476 
Deferred taxes, net 17,723  18,884 
Other assets 82,983  54,832 
Total assets $ 6,092,074  $ 6,182,890 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
LIABILITIES    
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing checking $ 4,356,630  $ 2,358,010 
Interest-bearing checking 157,571  185,768 
Savings deposits 47,866  49,773 
Money market deposits 48,494  76,911 
Time certificates of deposit 20,223  109,275 
Wholesale deposits 348,416  1,557,268 
Total deposits 4,979,200  4,337,005 
Short-term borrowings —  646,019 
Long-term borrowings 98,224  215,838 
Accrued interest payable 1,923  9,414 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 165,419  130,656 
Total liabilities 5,244,766  5,338,932 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Preferred stock, 3,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued, none outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively
—  — 
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 90,000,000 shares authorized, 34,479,164 and 37,821,508 shares issued, 34,360,890 and 37,807,064 shares outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively
344  378 
Common stock, Nonvoting, $0.01 par value; 3,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued, none outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively
—  — 
Additional paid-in capital 594,569  580,826 
Retained earnings 234,927  252,813 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 17,542  6,339 
Treasury stock, at cost, 118,274 and 14,444 common shares at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively
(3,677) (445)
Total equity attributable to parent 843,705  839,911 
Noncontrolling interest 3,603  4,047 
Total stockholders' equity 847,308  843,958 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 6,092,074  $ 6,182,890 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

87

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
  For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data) 2020 2019 2018
Interest and dividend income:
Loans and leases, including fees $ 261,128  $ 274,528  $ 98,475 
Mortgage-backed securities 9,028  11,390  15,479 
Other investments 22,685  39,811  44,580 
  292,841  325,729  158,534 
Interest expense:  
Deposits 22,616  46,648  15,163 
FHLB advances and other borrowings 11,187  14,874  12,822 
  33,803  61,522  27,985 
Net interest income 259,038  264,207  130,549 
Provision for loan and lease losses 64,776  55,650  29,432 
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses 194,262  208,557  101,117 
Noninterest income:  
Refund transfer product fees 36,061  39,198  41,879 
Tax advance product fees 31,826  34,687  35,703 
Payment card and deposit fees 87,379  87,130  97,920 
Other bank and deposit fees 1,310  1,942  977 
Rental income 44,826  41,053  7,333 
Gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale, net (Includes $51, $729, and $(8,177) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for net gain (loss) on securities available for sale for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively)
51  729  (8,177)
Gain on divestitures 19,275  —  — 
Gain on sale of other 4,425  7,831  561 
Other income 14,641  9,975  8,329 
Total noninterest income 239,794  222,545  184,525 
Noninterest expense:      
Compensation and benefits 136,247  155,811  109,044 
Refund transfer product expense 7,644  7,526  11,750 
Tax advance product expense 2,723  3,102  1,817 
Card processing 25,956  23,677  26,283 
Occupancy and equipment expense 26,995  28,071  19,740 
Operating lease equipment depreciation 32,831  26,181  5,386 
Legal and consulting 20,858  17,310  15,064 
Intangible amortization 10,997  17,711  9,641 
Impairment expense 1,982  9,660  18 
Other expense 52,818  44,111  29,489 
Total noninterest expense 319,051  333,160  228,232 
Income before income tax expense 115,005  97,942  57,410 
Income tax expense (benefit) (Includes $13, $184, and $(2,330) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively)
5,661  (3,374) 5,117 
Net income before noncontrolling interest 109,344  101,316  52,293 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 4,624  4,312  673 
Net income attributable to parent $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620 
Earnings per common share:      
Basic $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.68 
Diluted $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.67 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

88

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
  For Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 (Dollars in Thousands)
2020 2019 2018
Net income before noncontrolling interest $ 109,344  $ 101,316  $ 52,293 
Other comprehensive income (loss):      
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on debt securities 15,164  53,739  (66,053)
(Gain) loss realized in net income (51) (729) 8,177 
  15,113  53,010  (57,876)
Unrealized gain (loss) on currency translation (101) (122)
Deferred income tax effect 3,809  12,963  (15,596)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) 11,203  39,925  (42,277)
Total comprehensive income 120,547  141,241  10,016 
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 4,624  4,312  673 
Comprehensive income attributable to parent $ 115,923  $ 136,929  $ 9,343 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

89


META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2018, 2019 and 2020

Meta Financial Group Stockholder's Equity
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)  
 
 
Common
Stock
 
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
 
 
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss),
Net of Tax
 
 
 
Treasury
Stock
 Total Meta
Stockholders’
Equity
Non-controlling Interest Total Equity
Balance, September 30, 2017 $ 288  $ 258,144  $ 167,164  $ 9,166  $ (266) $ 434,496  $ —  $ 434,496 
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.18 per share)
—  —  (5,736) —  —  (5,736) —  (5,736)
Issuance of common shares due to exercise of stock options 147  —  —  —  148  —  148 
Issuance of common shares due to restricted stock —  —  —  —  — 
Issuance of common shares due to ESOP 1,605  —  —  —  1,606  —  1,606 
Issuance of common shares due to acquisition 99  295,667  —  —  —  295,766  —  295,766 
Shares repurchased —  (875) —  —  (1,723) (2,598) —  (2,598)
Stock compensation —  11,123  —  —  —  11,123  —  11,123 
Net change in unrealized losses on securities, net of income taxes —  —  —  (42,277) —  (42,277) —  (42,277)
Net income —  —  51,620  —  —  51,620  673  52,293 
Noncontrolling interests due to acquisition —  —  —  —  —  —  3,167  3,167 
Net investment by (distribution to) noncontrolling interests —  —  —  —  —  —  (266) (266)
Balance, September 30, 2018 $ 393  $ 565,811  $ 213,048  $ (33,111) $ (1,989) $ 744,152  $ 3,574  $ 747,726 
Balance, September 30, 2018 $ 393  $ 565,811  $ 213,048  $ (33,111) $ (1,989) $ 744,152  $ 3,574  $ 747,726 
Adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, net of income taxes —  —  1,502  —  —  1,502  —  1,502 
Adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-01, net of income taxes —  —  475  (475) —  —  —  — 
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.20 per share)
—  —  (7,760) —  —  (7,760) —  (7,760)
Issuance of common shares due to exercise of stock options —  44  —  —  —  44  —  44 
Issuance of common shares due to restricted stock —  —  —  —  — 
Issuance of common shares due to ESOP —  2,011  —  —  —  2,011  —  2,011 
Shares repurchased (18) 18  (46,500) —  (3,412) (49,912) —  (49,912)
Retirement of treasury stock —  —  (4,956) —  4,956  —  —  — 
Stock compensation —  12,942  —  —  —  12,942  —  12,942 
Total other comprehensive income —  —  —  39,925  —  39,925  —  39,925 
Net income —  —  97,004  —  —  97,004  4,312  101,316 
Net investment by (distribution to) noncontrolling interests —  —  —  —  —  —  (3,839) (3,839)
Balance, September 30, 2019 $ 378  $ 580,826  $ 252,813  $ 6,339  $ (445) $ 839,911  $ 4,047  $ 843,958 
Balance, September 30, 2019 $ 378  $ 580,826  $ 252,813  $ 6,339  $ (445) $ 839,911  $ 4,047  $ 843,958 
Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.20 per share)
—  —  (7,100) —  —  (7,100) —  (7,100)
Issuance of common shares due to exercise of stock options 265  —  —  —  266  —  266 
Issuance of common shares due to restricted stock —  —  —  —  — 
Issuance of common shares due to ESOP 3,219  —  —  —  3,220  —  3,220 
Shares repurchased (38) 38  (115,506) —  (3,232) (118,738) —  (118,738)
Stock compensation —  10,221  —  —  —  10,221  —  10,221 
Total other comprehensive income —  —  —  11,203  —  11,203  —  11,203 
Net income —  —  104,720  —  —  104,720  4,624  109,344 
Net investment by (distribution to) noncontrolling interests —  —  —  —  —  —  (5,068) (5,068)
Balance, September 30, 2020 $ 344  $ 594,569  $ 234,927  $ 17,542  $ (3,677) $ 843,705  $ 3,603  $ 847,308 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
90


META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
  For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income before noncontrolling interest $ 109,344  $ 101,316  $ 52,293 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net 60,745  55,149  37,722 
Stock compensation 10,221  12,942  11,123 
Provision (recovery):
Loan and lease losses 64,776  55,650  29,432 
Deferred taxes (2,347) (14,301) 6,530 
Loans held for sale:
Originations (98,798) (171,260) (1,691)
Purchases —  (15,443) — 
Proceeds from sales 319,123  125,357  17,621 
Net change 22,855  31,819  952 
Fair value adjustment of foreclosed real estate 568  139  29 
Net realized (gain) loss:
Other assets 361  (89) 127 
Divestitures (19,275) —  — 
Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets 4,960  278  19 
Securities available for sale, net (51) (729) 8,177 
Loans held for sale (5,389) (5,089) (181)
Lease receivable and equipment (4,335) (2,930) (526)
Net change:
Other assets 1,524  (5,427) 2,633 
Deposits held for sale 1,535  —  — 
Accrued interest payable (7,491) 1,620  1,933 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 8,643  16,623  (28,610)
Accrued interest receivable 2,050  1,616  2,745 
Change in bank-owned life insurance value (2,488) (2,534) (2,591)
Impairment on assets held for sale 242  —  — 
Impairment on rental equipment 447  6,194  — 
Impairment of intangibles —  111  18 
Net cash provided by operating activities 467,220  191,012  137,755 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Securities available for sale:
    Purchases (229,326) (299,269) (626,575)
    Proceeds from sales 4,904  755,616  596,758 
    Proceeds from maturities and principal repayments 237,254  164,044  162,118 
Securities held to maturity:
    Proceeds from maturities and principal repayments 40,017  35,025  40,525 
Loans and leases:
    Purchases (151,435) (262,622) (165,670)
    Proceeds from sales 9,991  13,838  22,611 
    Net change (100,508) (591,785) (493,381)
Proceeds from sales of foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets 23,992  1,905  244 
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stock:
    Purchases (472,000) (878,316) (961,124)
    Redemption 475,778  870,800  998,880 
Rental equipment:
    Purchases (53,637) (144,432) (1,848)
    Proceeds from sales 14,692  8,301  2,362 
    Net change 2,623  1,567  (15,000)
Premises, furniture, and equipment:
    Purchases (12,266) (13,971) (8,542)
    Proceeds from sales 107  101  — 
Proceeds from divestitures 3,498  —  — 
Cash paid for acquisitions —  —  (6)
Cash received upon acquisitions —  —  58,858 
Net cash (used in) investing activities (206,316) (339,198) (389,790)
91

Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change:
    Checking, savings, and money market deposits 2,229,075  48,897 
    Time certificates of deposit (89,062) (167,044) (143,096)
    Wholesale deposits (1,208,885) 26,014  229,982 
    FHLB and other borrowings (275,000) 275,000  (415,000)
    Federal funds (477,000) 55,000  (565,000)
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (4,019) 325  1,222 
    Short-term borrowings —  —  (11,642)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests (5,068) (3,839) (266)
Proceeds from other liabilities 1,633  7,916  — 
Principal payments:
Other liabilities (7,568) (11,691) (4,888)
Capital lease obligations (1,737) (88) (62)
Cash dividends paid (7,100) (7,760) (5,736)
Issuance of common stock due to ESOP 3,220  2,011  1,606 
Issuance of common stock due to restricted stock
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock 266  44  148 
Shares repurchased (118,738) (49,912) (2,598)
Redemption of long-term borrowings —  —  (258)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 40,019  174,876  (915,577)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (101) (122)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 300,822  26,568  (1,167,609)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year 126,545  99,977  1,267,586 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year $ 427,367  $ 126,545  $ 99,977 

92

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Cont'd.)
  For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 (Dollars in Thousands)
2020 2019 2018
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid (received) during the fiscal year for:
Interest $ 41,294  $ 59,902  $ 33,499 
Income taxes 6,223  (2,821) 8,946 
Franchise taxes 281  223  160 
Other taxes 535  557  206 
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:      
    Transfers
Securities from held to maturity to available for sale —  —  346,771 
Loans and leases to foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets 9,983  —  30,451 
Loans and leases to rental equipment 2,134  — 
Rental equipment to loans and leases 8,924  210  993 
Loans and leases to held for sale 542,101  99,992  15,068 
Other assets to held for sale 7,858  —  — 
Deposits to held for sale 288,975  —  — 
Recognition of operating lease ROU assets, net of remeasurements 28,666  —  — 
Stock issued for acquisitions —  —  295,767 
Purchases/sales of securities accrued, not settled
    Purchases - available for sale —  —  1,430 
Short- and long-term borrowings transferred from other liabilities —  20,026  — 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

93

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”), a registered bank holding company located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company's subsidiaries include MetaBank (the “Bank”), a national bank whose primary federal regulator is the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), and Meta Capital, LLC, a wholly-owned service corporation subsidiary of MetaBank which invests in companies in the financial services industry. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company also owns 100% of First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I (the “Trust”), which was formed in July 2001 for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities, and Crestmark Capital Trust I, which was acquired from the Crestmark Acquisition in August 2018. The Trust and Crestmark Capital Trust I are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. In addition, the Company evaluates its relationships with other entities to identify whether they are variable interest entities ("VIEs") and to assess whether it is the primary beneficiary of such entities. If the determination is made that the Company is the primary beneficiary, then that entity is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Variable Interest Entities
VIEs are defined by contractual ownership or other interests that change with fluctuations in the VIE's net asset value. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. To determine whether or not a variable interest the Company holds could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of the Company's involvement with the VIE. Further, the Company assesses whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis.

Crestmark Capital Trust I qualifies as a VIE for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Consequently, the accounts of that entity are not consolidated in the Company’s Financial Statements.

As a result of the Crestmark Acquisition, the Company acquired existing membership interests of five joint venture limited liability companies (the "LLCs"). The Company holds 80% of the membership interests in each of the five LLC entities, which offer commercial lending and other financing arrangements. In connection with these LLCs, the Company exclusively provides funding for each entity's activities. The Company determined it is the primary beneficiary of all five LLCs as it has the managing power under the terms of each of the LLC operating agreements. Results of the five LLCs are reflected in the Company's September 30, 2020 Consolidated Financial Statements and are summarized below. The assets recognized as a result of consolidating the LLCs are the property of the LLCs and are not available for any other purpose.

(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,480 
Loans and leases 124,869 
Allowance for loan and lease losses (557)
Accrued interest receivable 724 
Rental equipment, net — 
Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets 952 
Other assets 4,006 
Total assets 131,474 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 2,132 
Noncontrolling interest 3,603 
Net assets less noncontrolling interest $ 125,739 


94

Amounts for noncontrolling interests reflect the proportionate share of membership interest (equity) and net income attributable to the holders of minority membership interest in the following entities:

Capital Equipment Solutions, LLC (“CES”) - CES engages in the business of providing equipment financing term loans.

CM Help, LLC - CM Help provides flexible patient loan programs to hospitals and patient clients of hospitals as a financing alternative for the self-pay and co-pay portions of patients’ hospital expenses.

CM Southgate II, LLC - CM Southgate II engages in the business of acquiring fleet leases and semi-trailer/tractor loans and leases.

CM Sterling, LLC - CM Sterling engages in asset-based lending and factoring.

CM TFS, LLC - CM TFS engages in the business of acquiring equipment financing term loans and leases.

NATURE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION
One of the Company's primary sources of revenue relates to payment processing services for prepaid debit cards, ATM sponsorship, tax refund transfer and other money transfer systems and services. Additionally, a significant source of revenue for the Company is interest from the purchase or origination of commercial finance loans, consumer finance loans, warehouse finance loans and community banking loans. The Company accepts deposits from customers in the normal course of business on a national basis through its MPS and tax services divisions, and through wholesale funding. The Company operates in the banking industry, which accounts for the majority of its revenues and assets. The Company uses the “management approach” for reporting information about segments in annual and interim financial statements. The management approach is based on the way the chief operating decision-maker organizes segments within a company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management structure and any other manner in which management disaggregates a company. Based on the management approach model, the Company has determined that its business is comprised of three reporting segments. See Note 22. Segment Reporting for additional information on the Company's segment reporting.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES IN PREPARING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain significant estimates include the valuation of residual values within lease receivables, allowance for loan and lease losses, the valuation of foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets and the fair values of securities and other financial instruments. These estimates are reviewed by management regularly; however, they are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the future.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND FEDERAL FUNDS SOLD
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents is defined to include the Company’s cash on hand and due from financial institutions and short-term interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions. The Company reports cash flows net for customer loan transactions, securities purchased under agreement to resell, federal funds purchased, deposit transactions, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances with terms less than 90 days. The Bank is required to maintain reserve balances in cash or on deposit with the FRB, based on a percentage of deposits. The total of those reserve balances was zero at September 30, 2020, and $33.9 million at September 30, 2019. The Company at times maintains balances in excess of insured limits at various financial institutions including the FHLB, the FRB and other private institutions. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $2.0 million interest-bearing deposits held at the FHLB and $362.0 million in interest-bearing deposits held at the FRB. At September 30, 2020, the Company had no federal funds sold. The Company does not believe these instruments carry a significant risk of loss, but cannot provide assurances that no losses could occur if these institutions were to become insolvent.


95

SECURITIES
GAAP requires that, at acquisition, an enterprise classify debt securities into one of three categories: Available for Sale (“AFS”), Held to Maturity (“HTM”) or trading. AFS securities are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, and unrealized holding gains and losses are excluded from earnings and recognized as a separate component of equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). See Note 25. Fair Values of Financial Instruments for additional information on fair value of AFS securities. HTM debt securities are measured at amortized cost. The Company classifies the majority of its securities as AFS, which are those the Company may decide to sell if needed for liquidity, asset/liability management, or other reasons. Both AFS and HTM are subject to review for other-than-temporary impairment. Meta did not hold trading securities at September 30, 2020 or 2019.
 
Gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined using the specific identification method based on amortized cost and are reflected in results of operations at the time of sale. Interest and dividend income, adjusted by amortization of purchase premium or discount using the level yield method, is included in income as earned. For callable debt securities, any purchase premium is amortized to the first call date while any discount is accreted over the contractual life of the security.

Securities Impairment
Management continually monitors the investment securities portfolio for impairment on a security-by-security basis and has a process in place to identify securities that could potentially have a credit impairment that is other-than-temporary. This process involves the consideration of the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis, review of available information regarding the financial position of the issuer, monitoring the rating of the security, monitoring changes in value, cash flow projections, and the Company’s intent to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost, which, in some cases, may extend to maturity. To the extent the Company determines that a security is deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, an impairment loss is recognized. If the Company intends to sell a security or it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the Company recognizes an other-than-temporary impairment for the difference between amortized cost and fair value. If the Company does not expect to recover the amortized cost basis, does not plan to sell the security and if it is not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated. For those securities, the Company separates the total impairment into a credit loss component recognized in net income, and the amount of the loss related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.
 
The amount of the credit loss component of a debt security impairment is estimated as the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the expected cash flows of the security. The present value is determined using the best estimate of cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security. In fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, there was no other-than-temporary impairment recorded.

Equity Investments
The Company holds marketable equity securities, which have readily determinable fair value, and include common equity and mutual funds. These securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, due to changes in fair value, reflected in earnings. Interest and dividend income from these securities is recognized in interest income. See Note 4. Securities for additional information on marketable equity securities.

The Company also holds non-marketable equity investments that are included in Other Assets in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company generally accounts for these investments under the equity method or the provisions of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"), beginning October 1, 2018. Investments where the Company has significant influence, but not control, over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. Investments where the Company cannot exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under ASU 2016-01, which requires such investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings, unless those investments have no readily determinable fair value. Investments without readily determinable fair value are measured under the measurement alternative, which reflects cost less impairment, with adjustments in value resulting from observable price changes arising from orderly transactions of the same or a similar security from the same issuer ("measurement alternative investments").
96

The Company reviews for impairment for equity method, fair value and measurement alternative investments and includes an analysis of the facts and circumstances for each investment, expectations of cash flows, capital needs, and viability of its business model. For equity method and fair value investments, the asset carrying value is reduced when the decline in fair value is considered to be other than temporary. For measurement alternative investments, the asset carrying value is reduced when the fair value is less than the carrying value, without the consideration of recovery. There was a $1.3 million impairment recognized on equity method, fair value or measurement alternative investments during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

The Company held the following non-marketable equity investments:

Equity Method - The Company held equity method investments of $11.0 million within other assets as of September 30, 2020. The Company’s ownership of such investments typically ranges from 5% - 25% of the investee. The Company recognized net earnings from these investments in the amount of $2.6 million within noninterest income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company elected to classify distributions received from equity method investments using the cumulative earnings approach on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Fair Value Method - The Company held equity investments measured at net asset value (NAV) per share (or its equivalent) of $2.8 million as of September 30, 2020 where NAV is considered the fair value practical expedient. These investments are recorded within other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Fluctuations in fair value are recognized in earnings within noninterest Income.

Measurement Alternative - The Company held equity investments measured using the measurement alternative under ASU 2016-01 of $12.0 million as of September 30, 2020 within other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company recognized an impairment loss of $1.3 million on such investments during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.
 
LOANS HELD FOR SALE ("LHFS")
LHFS include loans retained in the community bank portfolio and commercial loans originated under the guidelines of the SBA or USDA. LHFS are held at the lower of cost or fair value. Generally, LHFS are valued on an aggregate portfolio basis. Any amount by which the cost exceeds fair value is initially recorded as a valuation allowance and subsequently reflected in the gain or loss on sale when sold. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, there was no valuation allowance recorded for LHFS. Gains and losses on LHFS are recorded in noninterest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Loan costs and fees are deferred at origination and are recognized in income at the time of sale. Interest income is calculated based on the note rate of the loan and is recorded as interest income. For loans transferred to LHFS due to change in intent of holding the loans to maturity or for the foreseeable future, such loans are transferred at lower of cost or fair value.


97

LOANS AND LEASES

LOANS RECEIVABLE
Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balances net of any unearned income, cumulative charge-offs, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans, and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans.

Interest income on loans is accrued over the term of the loans based upon the amount of principal outstanding except when serious doubt exists as to the collectability of a loan, in which case the accrual of interest is discontinued. Unearned income, deferred loan fees and costs, and discounts and premiums are amortized to interest income over the contractual life of the loan using the interest method. The Company generally places Community Banking loans on nonaccrual status when: the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain; they are 90 days past due for interest or principal, unless they are both well-secured and in the process of collection; or part of the principal balance has been charged off. The majority of the Company's National Lending loans follow the same nonaccrual policy as Community Banking loans with certain commercial finance, consumer finance and tax service loans not generally being placed on non-accrual status, but instead are charged off when the collection of principal and interest become doubtful. When placed on nonaccrual status, the accrued unpaid interest receivable is reversed against interest income and any remaining amortizing of net deferred fees is suspended. Cash collected on these loans is applied to first reduce the carrying value of the loan with any remainder being recognized as interest income. Generally, a loan can return to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal become current under the terms of the loan agreement and collectability of the remaining principal and interest is no longer doubtful. Loans are considered past due when contractually required principal or interest payments have not been made on the due dates.

For commercial loans, the Company generally fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value (fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell) for loans secured by collateral when: management judges the loans to be uncollectible; repayment is deemed to be protracted beyond reasonable time frames; the loan has been classified as a loss by either the Company's internal loan review process or its banking regulatory agencies; the customer has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to lack of assets; or the loan meets a defined number of days past due unless the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection. For consumer loans, the Company fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value when deemed uncollectible due to bankruptcy or other factors, or meets a defined number of days past due.

The Company generally considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it determines that it will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the loan contract, including scheduled interest payments. This evaluation is generally based on delinquency information, an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any. The Company's impaired loans predominantly include loans on nonaccrual status in the Commercial segment and loans modified in a troubled-debt-restructuring, whether on accrual or nonaccrual status. The Company measures the amount of impairment, if any, based on the difference between the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount) and the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loans effective interest rate. When collateral is the sole source of repayment for the impaired loan, the Company charges down to net realizable value.


98

As part of the Company’s ongoing risk management practices, management generally attempts to work with borrowers when necessary to extend or modify loan terms to better align with their current ability to repay. Extensions and modifications to loans are made in accordance with internal policies and guidelines which conform to regulatory guidance. Modified loan terms may include interest rate reductions, principal forgiveness, term extensions, payment forbearance or other actions intended to minimize the Company’s economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. Each occurrence is unique to the borrower and is evaluated separately. In a situation where an economic concession has been granted to a borrower that is experiencing financial difficulty, the Company identifies and reports that loan as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). Management considers regulatory guidelines when restructuring loans to ensure that prudent lending practices are followed. As such, qualification criteria and payment terms consider the borrower’s current and prospective ability to comply with the modified terms of the loan. Additionally, the Company structures loan modifications with the intent of strengthening repayment prospects. Loans that are reported as TDRs apply the identical criteria in the determination of whether the loan should be accruing or not accruing. The event of classifying the loan as a TDR due to a modification of terms may be independent from the determination of accruing interest on a loan.

LEASES RECEIVABLE
The Company provides various types of commercial lease financing that are classified for accounting purposes as direct financing, sales-type or operating leases. Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the lessee are classified as direct financing or sales-type leases and are included in loans and leases receivable on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Direct financing and sales-type leases are carried at the combined present value of future minimum lease payments and lease residual values. The determination of lease classification requires various judgments and estimates by management, including the fair value of equipment at lease inception, useful life of the equipment under lease, lease residual value, and collectability of minimum lease payments.

Sales-type leases generate dealer profit, which is recognized at lease inception by recording lease revenue net of lease cost. Lease revenue consists of the present value of the future minimum lease payments. Lease cost consists of the lease equipment’s book value, less the present value of its residual. Interest income on direct financing and sales-type leases is recognized using methods that approximate a level yield over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the lease. Recognition of interest income is generally discontinued at the time the lease becomes 90 days delinquent, unless the lease is well-secured and in process of collection. Delinquency and past due status is based on the contractual terms of the lease. The Company receives pro rata rent payments for the interim period until the lease contract commences and the fixed, non-cancelable lease term begins. Interim payments are recognized in the month they are earned and are recorded in interest income. Management has policies and procedures in place for the determination of lease classification and review of the related judgments and estimates for all lease financings.

The Company generally fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value (fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell) for leases when management judges the lease to be uncollectible; repayment is deemed to be protracted beyond reasonable time frames; the lease has been classified as a loss by either the Company's internal review process or its banking regulatory agencies; the customer has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to lack of assets; or the lease meets a defined number of days past due unless the lease is both well-secured and in the process of collection.

Some lease financings include a residual value component, which represents the estimated fair value of the leased equipment at the expiration of the initial term of the transaction. The estimation of the residual value involves judgments regarding product and technology changes, customer behavior, shifts in supply and demand, and other economic assumptions. The Company reviews residual assumptions at least annually and records impairment, if necessary, which is charged to non-interest expense in the period it becomes known. The Company may purchase and sell minimum lease payments, primarily as a credit risk reduction tool, to third-party financial institutions at fixed rates on a non-recourse basis with its underlying equipment as collateral. For those transactions that achieve sale treatment, the related lease cash flow stream and the non-recourse financing are derecognized. For those transactions that do not achieve sale treatment, the underlying lease remains on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and non-recourse debt is recorded in the amount of the proceeds received. The Company retains servicing of these leases and bills, collects, and remits funds to the third-party financial institution. Upon default by the lessee, the third-party financial institutions may take control of the underlying collateral which the Company would otherwise retain as residual value.

99

Leases that do not transfer substantially all benefits and risks of ownership to the lessee are classified as operating leases. Such leased equipment are included in rental equipment on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease to its estimated residual value. Depreciation expense is recorded as operating lease equipment depreciation expense within noninterest expense. Operating lease rental income is recognized when it becomes due and is reflected as a component of noninterest income. An allowance for lease losses is not provided on operating leases.

LOAN SERVICING AND TRANSFERS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS
The Company, from time to time, sells loan participations, generally without recourse. The Company also sells commercial SBA and USDA loans to third parties, generally without recourse. Sold loans are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Bank generally retains the right to service the sold loans for a fee and records a servicing asset, which is included within other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Bank was servicing loans for others with aggregate unpaid principal balances of $232.3 million and $175.5 million, respectively. The service fees and ancillary income related to these loans were immaterial.

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been legally isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES
The allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") represents management’s estimate of probable loan and lease losses that have been incurred as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The ALLL is increased by a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense and decreased by charge-offs (net of recoveries). Estimating the risk of loss and the amount of loss on any loan or lease is necessarily subjective. Management’s periodic evaluation of the appropriateness of the ALLL is based on the Company’s and peer group’s past loan and lease loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, and current economic conditions. While management may periodically allocate portions of the ALLL for specific problem loan or lease situations, the entire ALLL is available for any loan or lease charge-offs that occur. The ALLL consists of specific and general components.

The specific component of the ALLL relates to impaired loans and leases. Loans are generally considered impaired if full principal or interest payments are not probable in accordance with the contractual loan terms. Leases are generally considered impaired if collectability of the remaining minimum lease payments becomes uncertain. Often this is associated with a delay or shortfall in payments of 90 days or more for community banking loans and leases. Non-accrual loans and leases and all TDRs are considered impaired. Impaired loans and leases, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible. Impaired loans are carried at the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. For such loans, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan.


100

The general reserve covers certain Community Bank and Commercial Finance loans and leases not considered impaired and is determined based upon both quantitative and qualitative analysis. A separate general reserve analysis is performed for individual classified non-impaired loans and leases and for non-classified smaller-balance homogeneous loans. The three main assumptions for the quantitative components for 2020 and 2019 are historical loss rates, the look back period (“LBP”) and the loss emergence period (“LEP”).

The historical loss experience is determined by portfolio segment and is based on the actual loss history of the Company over a specified period of time. The period of time varies by portfolio and ranges from three to seven years. For the individual classified loans, historic charge-off rates for the Company’s classified loan population are utilized.

A three to seven-year LBP is appropriate as it captures the Company’s ability to workout troubled loans or relationships while continuing to factor in the loss experience resulting from varying economic cycles and other factors.

The weighted average LEP is an estimate of the average amount of time from the point the Company identifies a credit event of the borrower to the point the loss is confirmed by the Company weighted by the dollar value of the write off. The LEP is only applied to the non-classified loan general reserve in the Company's Community Bank portfolio.
 
Qualitative adjustment considerations for the general reserve include considerations of changes in lending and leasing policies and procedures, changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, changes in the nature and volume of the loan and lease portfolio, changes in lending and leasing management and staff, trending in past due, classified, nonaccrual, and other loan and lease categories, changes in the Company’s loan and lease review system and oversight, changes in collateral and residual values, credit concentration risk, and the regulatory and legal requirements and environment. Beginning in the fiscal 2020 second quarter, additional reserve levels were estimated by increasing qualitative factors due to the unprecedented uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional reserves were primarily estimated for loans and leases that were granted short-term payment deferrals related to financial stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic along with other loans and leases within certain industries that were considered higher risk for credit loss.

National Lending portfolios, outside of certain loans and leases in the Commercial Finance portfolio, primarily utilize a general reserve process that mostly uses historical factors related to the specific loan and lease portfolio, although other qualitative factors may be considered in the final loss rate used to calculate the reserve on these portfolios. Loans in these portfolios are generally not placed on non-accrual status or impaired. The balances are generally written off after a loan becomes past due greater than 210 days for insurance premium finance loans, 180 days for tax and other specialty lending loans, 120 days for consumer credit products and 90 days for other loans. See Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net for further information on the ALLL.

The following are risk characteristics of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio:
Commercial Finance
The Company's commercial finance product lines include term lending, asset based lending, factoring, leasing, insurance premium finance, government guaranteed lending and other commercial finance products offered on a nationwide basis that are subject to adverse market conditions which may impact the borrower’s ability to make repayment on the loan or lease or could cause a decline in the value of the collateral that secures the loan or lease. The loans or leases are primarily made based on the operating cash flows of the borrower and on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. The cash flows of borrowers may be volatile and the value of the collateral securing these loans and leases may be difficult to measure. Most commercial finance loans and leases are secured by the assets being financed or other business assets such as accounts receivable or inventory. Although the loans and leases are often collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, insurance premiums or other business assets, the liquidation of collateral in the event of a borrower default may be an insufficient source of repayment, because accounts receivable may be uncollectible and inventories and equipment may be obsolete or of limited use. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by adhering to its underwriting policies in evaluating the management of the business and the credit-worthiness of borrowers and guarantors.


101

Consumer Finance
The Bank designs its credit program relationships with certain desired outcomes. Three high priority outcomes are liquidity, credit protection, and risk retention. The Bank believes the benefits of these outcomes not only support its goals but the goals of the credit program partner as well. The Bank designs its program credit protections in a manner so that the Bank earns a reasonable risk adjusted return, but is protected by certain layers of credit support, similar to what you would find in structured finance. The Bank will hold a sizable portion of the originated asset on its own balance sheet, but retains the flexibility to sell a portion of the originated asset to other interested parties, thereby supporting program liquidity. 

Tax Services
The Bank's tax services division provides short-term taxpayer advance loans. Taxpayers are underwritten to determine eligibility for these unsecured loans. Due to the nature of taxpayer advance loans, it typically takes no more than three e-file cycles (the period of time between scheduled IRS payments) from when the return is accepted by the IRS to collect from the borrower. In the event of default, the Bank has no recourse against the tax consumer. The Bank will charge off the balance of a taxpayer advance loan if there is a balance at the end of the calendar year, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

Through its tax services division, the Bank provides short-term electronic return originator ("ERO") advance loans on a nationwide basis. These loans are typically utilized by tax preparers to purchase tax preparation software and to prepare tax office operations for the upcoming tax season. EROs go through an underwriting process to determine eligibility for the unsecured advances. ERO loans are not collateralized. Collection on ERO advances begins once the ERO begins to process refund transfers. Generally, the Bank will charge off the balance of an ERO advance loan if there is a balance at the end of June, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

Warehouse Finance
The Bank participates in several asset-backed warehouse lines of credit whereby the Bank is in a senior, secured position as the first out participant. These facilities are primarily collateralized by consumer receivables, with the Bank holding a senior collateral position enhanced by a subordinate party structure.

Community Banking
Effective on February 29, 2020 (the "Closing Date") of the Community Bank division sale to Central Bank, the Company substantially ceased originating loans within its Community Banking loan portfolio. The Company entered a servicing agreement with Central Bank for the retained Community Bank loan portfolio that became effective on the Closing Date. See Note 3. Divestitures for further information related to the Community Banking lending portfolio.

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (“EPS”)
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders after the allocation of dividends and undistributed earnings to the participating securities by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, and is computed after giving consideration to the weighted average dilutive effect of the Company’s stock options and after the allocation of earnings to the participating securities. See Note 6. Earnings per Common Share for further information.

PREMISES, FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
Land is carried at cost. Buildings, furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Capital leases, where the Company is the lessee, are included in premises and equipment at the capitalized amount less accumulated amortization. The Company primarily uses the straight-line method of depreciation over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is 39 years for buildings, and range from two years to 15 years for leasehold improvements, and for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. See Note 7. Premises, Furniture and Equipment, Net for further information.

BANK-OWNED LIFE INSURANCE
Bank-owned life insurance represents the cash surrender value of investments in life insurance contracts. Earnings on the contracts are based on the earnings on the cash surrender value, less mortality costs.
 

102

FORECLOSED REAL ESTATE AND REPOSSESSED ASSETS
Real estate properties and repossessed assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less selling costs at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. The fair value of the real estate owned is based on independent appraisals, real estate brokers’ price opinions, or automated valuation methods, less costs to sell. The fair value of repossessed assets is based on available pricing guides, auction results or price opinions, less costs to sell. Any reduction to fair value from the carrying value of the related loan at the time of acquisition is accounted for as a loan loss and charged against the allowance for loan and lease losses. Subsequent valuations are periodically performed by management. If the subsequent fair value, less costs to sell, declines to less than the carrying amount of the asset, the shortfall is recognized in the period it becomes known as an impairment in noninterest expense and a valuation allowance is recorded for the asset. Operating expenses of properties are also recorded in noninterest expense. Rental income of properties is recorded in noninterest income.

GOODWILL
Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business acquisitions. Goodwill is evaluated annually for impairment at a reporting unit level. The Company has determined that its reporting units are one level below the operating segments and distinguish these reporting units based on how the segments and reporting units are managed, taking into consideration the economic characteristics, nature of the products, and customers of the segments and reporting units. The Company performs its impairment evaluation as of September 30 of each fiscal year unless a triggering event occurs that would require an interim impairment evaluation. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit with goodwill exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and is written down by the excess carrying value of the reporting unit. Subsequent increases in goodwill are not recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements. No goodwill impairment was recognized during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 or 2018. See Note 10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets other than goodwill are amortized over their respective estimated lives. All intangible assets are subject to an impairment test at least annually or more often if conditions indicate a possible impairment. See Note 10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information.

SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE
The Company enters into sales of securities under agreements to repurchase with primary dealers only, which provide for the repurchase of the same security. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase identical securities are collateralized by assets which are held in safekeeping in the name of the Bank or by the dealers who arranged the transaction. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are treated as financings, and the obligations to repurchase such securities are reflected as a liability. The securities underlying the agreements remain in the asset accounts of the Company. See Note 13. Short-Term and Long-Term Borrowings for further information.

EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (“ESOP”)
The cost of shares issued to the ESOP, but not yet allocated to participants, are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. Compensation expense is recorded based on the market price of the shares as they are committed to be released for allocation to participant accounts. The difference between the market price and the cost of shares committed to be released is recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Dividends on allocated ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction of retained earnings. Dividends on unallocated shares are used to reduce the accrued interest and principal amount of the ESOP’s loan payable to the Company. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, all shares in the ESOP were allocated. See Note 15. Employee Stock Ownership and Profit Sharing Plans for further information.

STOCK COMPENSATION
Compensation expense for share-based awards is recorded over the vesting period at the fair value of the award at the time of grant. The exercise price of options or fair value of non-vested (restricted) shares granted under the Company’s incentive plans is equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock at the grant date. The Company has elected, with the adoption of ASU 2016-09, to record forfeitures as they occur. See Note 16. Stock Compensation for further information.

103

INCOME TAXES
The Company records income tax expense based on the amount of taxes due on its tax return plus deferred taxes computed based on the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, the Company recognizes a tax position as a benefit only if it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon examination. For tax positions not meeting the more likely than not test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in noninterest income or noninterest expense. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recorded in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period in which the enactment date occurs. If current period income tax rates change, the impact on the annual effective income tax rate is applied year to date in the period of enactment. See Note 17. Income Taxes for further information.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK
The Company, in the normal course of business, makes commitments to make loans which are not reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The reserve for these unfunded commitments is included within Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

REVENUE RECOGNITION
Interest revenue from loans, leases, and investments is recognized on the accrual basis of accounting as the interest is earned according to the terms of the particular loan, lease, or investment. Income from service and other customer charges is recognized as earned. Revenue within the Consumer segment is recognized as services are performed and service charges are earned in accordance with the terms of the various programs. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and related amendments on October 1, 2018 under the cumulative-effect method. ASU 2014-09 modifies the guidance used to recognize revenue from contracts with customers for transfers of goods or services and transfers of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other guidance. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $1.5 million to retained earnings, net of tax, due to changes in timing of revenue recognition from breakage of unregistered, unused prepaid cards in the Company’s MPS division. Results for prior periods have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policies. Refer to Note 21. Revenue from Contracts with Customers for additional information.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss includes the change in net unrealized gains and losses on securities AFS, net of reclassification adjustments and tax effects. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is recognized as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
 
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company has disclosed information on its equity investments and relationships with variable interest entities in Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had zero and $5.1 million, respectively, of loans outstanding with individuals deemed under Regulation O to be directors, executive officers and/or employees of the Company.

RECLASSIFICATION AND REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD BALANCES
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial statement presentation. These changes and reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income or comprehensive income.


104

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATES ("ASU")
The following ASUs were adopted by the Company during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020:

ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequent related updates (collectively ASU 2016-02) on October 1, 2019, which requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The ASU requires both quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding key information about lease arrangements from both lessees and lessors. The Company elected the effective date transition method utilizing the adoption date as the first date of application of the revised guidance. As a result, prior period amounts have not been restated. Upon adoption, the Company elected certain transitional practical expedients offered through the guidance, including the 'package of practical expedients' whereby it did not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, (ii) the lease classification of any expired or existing leases, and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases, which resulted in the Company not recognizing a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. Management evaluated Meta’s leasing contracts and activities and developed methodologies and processes to estimate and account for the right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities for building leases based on the present value of future lease payments. On October 1, 2019, the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities totaling $27.4 million and $28.6 million, respectively. The impact to capital ratios as a result of increased risk-weighted assets was immaterial. The adoption of this guidance did not result in a material change to lessee expense recognition. The changes to lessor accounting, as well as change in customer behavior driven by the adoption of these ASUs, impact the results of Meta’s lease financing businesses, including earlier recognition of expense due to a narrower definition of initial direct costs.

As a lessee, the Company enters into contracts to lease real estate, information technology equipment and other various types of equipment. Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the Company are classified as finance leases, while all others are classified as operating leases. At lease commencement for buildings, a lease liability and ROU asset are calculated and recognized on both types of leases. The lease liability is equal to the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The ROU asset is equal to the lease liability, plus any initial direct costs and prepaid lease payments, less any lessor incentives received. Operating lease ROU assets are included in other assets and finance lease ROU assets are included in premises and equipment, net. The Company uses the appropriate term Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") rate to determine the discount rate for the present value calculation of future minimum lease payments when an implicit rate is not known for a given lease. The lease term used in the calculation includes any options to extend that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has elected to not recognize assets or liabilities on its balance sheet related to short-term leases.

Subsequent to lease commencement, lease liabilities recorded for finance leases are measured using the effective interest rate method and the related ROU assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Interest expense and amortization expense are recorded separately on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in interest expense on borrowings and occupancy and equipment noninterest expense, respectively. At September 30, 2020, the Company had no finance lease ROU assets or lease liabilities. For operating leases, total lease cost is comprised of lease expense, short-term lease cost, variable lease cost and sublease income. Lease expense includes future minimum lease payments, which are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, as well as common area maintenance charges, real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses, where applicable, which are expensed as incurred. Total lease cost for operating leases is recorded in occupancy and equipment noninterest expense. See Note 11. Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets and Liabilities for further information.

The Company also adopted the following ASUs effective October 1, 2019, none of which had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements:

ASU 2018-02, Income Statement -- Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The Company elected to not reclassify tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income.
ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements.
ASU 2020-01, Investments-Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying Interactions between Topics 321, 323 and 815.
ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments.


105

ASUs TO BE ADOPTED

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU, along with subsequent ASUs published as clarifications to Topic 326, requires entities to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology with a current expected loss (CECL) methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses for loans, net investments in leases, debt securities held at amortized cost, and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. CECL requires loss estimates for the remaining estimated life of the asset to be measuring using historical loss data as well as adjustments for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions. The adoption of CECL will be reflected using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment to Retained Earnings recorded as of October 1, 2020 in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter-ending December 31, 2020.
The Company has established a governance structure to implement CECL and has developed methodologies to be used upon adoption. At September 30, 2020, loan and lease portfolios totaled $3.32 billion with a corresponding allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) of $56.2 million under current GAAP. Based on parallel runs of the CECL process that were performed in conjunction with the current ALLL process, the Company estimates that the adoption of CECL will result in an allowance for credit losses (ACL) that is larger than the current ALLL amount by $12.0 million to $13.0 million in total for all portfolios. A portion of this increase is a result of new requirements to record ACL related to acquired loans and leases, regardless of any credit mark recorded. Under current GAAP, credit marks are included in the determination of the fair value adjustments reflected as a discount to the carrying value of the loans, and an ALLL is not recorded on acquired loans and leases until there is evidence of credit deterioration post acquisition. However, upon adoption of CECL, an ACL is recorded for all acquired loans and leases based on the lifetime loss concept. The remaining credit and interest mark from acquisition accounting as of September 30, 2020 will continue to accrete over the life of the loan or lease but will no longer be considered when estimating the ACL for remaining acquired loans and leases upon CECL adoption.

The adoption of CECL will also result in an increase in the liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures between $0.8 million and $0.9 million. For other assets within the scope of the standard such as debt securities held-to-maturity and other receivables, management expects the impact from CECL to be inconsequential.

The Company estimates a cumulative tax effected adjustment to record ACL and to increase the off-balance sheet credit exposure liability results in a reduction to retained earnings of $10.0 million to $11.0 million. Management is finalizing its review of certain asset-specific risk characteristics. Management is also evaluating financial statement and disclosure impacts as well as determining whether to elect to utilize the three-year phase-in period for regulatory impact of CECL. As the Corporation finalizes the implementation of the standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, final decisions by management will result in the specific October 1, 2020 ACL impact being established.

The initial increase to the Company’s ALLL and liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures will be recorded as an adjustment to beginning of the year retained earnings. Post adoption, as loans and leases are added to the portfolio, the Company expects higher levels of ACL determined by CECL assumptions, resulting in accelerated recognition of provision for credit losses, as compared to historical results.

ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, including the removal, modification to, and addition of certain disclosure requirements. This ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The majority of the disclosure changes are to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company will adopt this ASU effective October 1, 2020. Although this ASU impacts the Company’s fair value disclosures, no additional impact to the Consolidated Financial Statements is expected.

ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities. The relevant amendments in this ASU provide updated guidance when determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and requires reporting entities to consider indirect interest held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest in its entirety. The result of these amendments is likely more decision makers not having a variable interest through their decision-making arrangements. These amendments will also create alignment between determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and determining whether a reporting entity within a related party group is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company does not expect a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.


106

ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this ASU are intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general rules found in Topic 740-Income Taxes. The majority of the amendments are to be applied on a prospective basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in this ASU provide optional expedients and exceptions to applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions impacted by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments include a one-time sale or transfer election of held-to-maturity debt securities impacted by reference rate reform. The amendments in this ASU are effective upon issuance through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2.  SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the U.S. and global economies in the first calendar quarter of 2020. In March 2020, the U.S. declared a national emergency and imposed travel restrictions, limitations of business operations in certain industries, and other efforts in order to impede the spread of COVID-19. Since the onset of this pandemic, macroeconomic conditions and markets have significantly deteriorated. While the process of phased re-openings of the economies of many states began in May and June, COVID-19 continues to have a significant effect on individuals, businesses and the economy. In response to the impacts of COVID-19, the U.S. federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") on March 27, 2020. The goal of the CARES Act is to prevent a severe economic downturn through various measures, including direct financial aid to American families and economic stimulus to significantly impacted industry sectors.

Accommodations to Borrowers

The Company is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), which is being administered by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). It is the Company's understanding that loans funded through the PPP program are fully guaranteed by the U.S. government and that a portion of these loans will ultimately be forgiven by the SBA in accordance with the terms of the program. See Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net for further information related to this program.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on customers, the Company is engaging in more frequent communication with borrowers to better understand their situation and challenges and has been offering credit-worthy borrowers experiencing temporary hardship certain loan and lease modifications ("COVID modifications"), such as payment deferrals, as a result of interagency guidance issued on March 22, 2020 encouraging companies to work with customers impacted by COVID-19. The Company elected to treat COVID modifications on leases as part of the enforceable rights and obligations of the parties under the existing lease contract, resulting in these payment deferrals being treated as variable lease payments under the existing lease versus lease modifications. Additionally, for COVID modifications on loans, the Company adjusted its effective interest rate to reflect the payment deferral modification and continued accruing interest during this period. Short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 borrowers whose payments were current prior to any relief, are not to be considered troubled debt restructurings, and will not be considered delinquent so long as they meet their revised obligations in the modification agreement.

As of September 30, 2020, $170.0 million of the loans and leases that were granted deferral payments by the Company were still in their deferment period. In addition, the Company has made other COVID-19 related modifications, of which $23.3 million are still active as of September 30, 2020. The majority of the other modifications were related to adjusting the type or amount of the customer's payments.

107

The table below presents the outstanding balance of active COVID-19 related modifications by type and category.
September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands) COVID-19 Related Payment Deferrals Other COVID-19 Related Modifications
National Lending
Term lending $ 26,559  $ — 
Asset based lending 3,078  4,846 
Factoring —  18,434 
Lease financing 5,896  — 
Insurance premium finance 230  — 
SBA/USDA 7,724  — 
Other commercial finance 69  — 
Commercial finance 43,556  23,280 
Consumer credit products 1,574  — 
Other consumer finance 4,223  — 
Consumer finance 5,797  — 
Total National Lending 49,353  23,280 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 120,695  — 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  — 
Total Community Banking 120,695  — 
Total loans and leases 170,048  23,280 
Rental equipment —  — 
Total COVID-19 related modifications $ 170,048  $ 23,280 

Financial Impact

The Company recorded $9.0 million in provision expense during the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $4.1 million for the comparable period in the prior year. The increase in provision was primarily within the retained community bank, tax services, and commercial finance portfolios, partially offset by a decrease in the consumer finance portfolio. Provision increases in the community bank and commercial finance portfolios were primarily attributable to movie theater, hospitality, and small ticket equipment finance relationships that have experienced ongoing stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional provisions were also applied to loans and leases that received short-term payment deferrals. The Company’s approach to estimating the COVID-19 impact on credit quality is presented in Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net.

The Company's interest and fee income could be reduced as a result of COVID-19. While interest and fees will continue to accrue in accordance with GAAP, a decrease in loan demand could lead to slower loan growth or even a contraction in loan balances in the near term. In addition, should eventual credit losses emerge, interest income and fees accrued may need to be reversed in future periods. At this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of such an impact. No additional significant financial impacts directly related to COVID-19 were identified for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.


108

NOTE 3. DIVESTITURES

On the Closing Date, the Company sold the Bank's Community Bank division, a component of the Company's Corporate segment, to Central Bank, a state-chartered bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. The sale included all of the Community Bank division's deposits, branch locations, fixed assets and employees and a portion of the Community Bank division’s loan portfolio. The Company has summarized the results of the transaction below.

(Dollars in Thousands) Fair Value at
February 29, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,504 
Loans 268,584 
Premises, furniture and equipment 4,945 
Other assets 1,250 
Total assets $ 277,283 
Deposits $ 290,493 
Other liabilities 1,720 
Total liabilities $ 292,213 
Net assets $ (14,930)
Purchase price 4,345 
Gain on sale $ 19,275 

The $19.3 million gain on sale (before tax) was recognized within noninterest income on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. In addition to what's reflected above, the Company also recognized $0.6 million, $0.2 million, $0.8 million, and $0.3 million in legal, IT, consulting, and nonrecurring compensation expenses related to the sale of the Community Bank division, respectively.

The Company entered a servicing agreement with Central Bank for the retained Community Bank loan portfolio that became effective on the Closing Date. The Company recognized $3.5 million in servicing fee expense during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

On August 4, 2020 and September 17, 2020, the Company sold an additional $58.6 million and $76.4 million, respectively, of the retained Community Bank portfolio to Central Bank. The sales did not result in any material gain to the Company. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $130.1 million of community bank loans classified as held for sale and expects to sell those loans during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. See Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net, and Note 26. Subsequent Events, for additional information.

109

The Company has summarized the Community Bank division results for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 below.

(Dollars in Thousands)
Community Bank Sold(1)
Community Bank Retained(2)
Total Community Bank
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Net interest income $ —  $ 9,045  $ 9,045 
(Reversal) Provision for loan and lease losses (2,470) 4,370  1,900 
Noninterest income — 
Noninterest expense 327  2,646  2,973 
Net income (loss) before income tax expense $ 2,143  $ 2,034  $ 4,177 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
Net interest income $ 2,512  $ 34,393  $ 36,905 
(Reversal) Provision for loan and lease losses (4,711) 18,891  14,180 
Noninterest income 19,694  (3,468) 16,226 
Noninterest expense 5,282  7,759  13,041 
Net income (loss) before income tax expense $ 21,635  $ 4,275  $ 25,910 
(1) Reflects the activity of the assets and liabilities included in the disposal of the Community Bank division through September 30, 2020.
(2) Reflects the activity of the retained Community Bank loan portfolio as of September 30, 2020.

NOTE 4.  SECURITIES
 
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair values of available for sale ("AFS") and held to maturity ("HTM") debt securities are presented below. 
(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value
At September 30, 2020
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 159,722  $ 5,391  $ (158) $ 164,955 
Obligation of states and political subdivisions 825  16  —  841 
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 314,819  8,978  (23) 323,774 
Asset-backed securities 329,139  2,015  (6,229) 324,925 
Mortgage-backed securities 439,879  14,567  (839) 453,607 
Total debt securities AFS $ 1,244,384  $ 30,967  $ (7,249) $ 1,268,102 


(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value
At September 30, 2019
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 182,327  $ 3,655  $ —  $ 185,982 
Obligation of states and political subdivisions 858  16  —  874 
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 396,430  5,030  (903) 400,557 
Asset-backed securities 305,603  262  (3,331) 302,534 
Mortgage-backed securities 378,670  5,731  (1,855) 382,546 
Total debt securities AFS 1,263,888  14,694  (6,089) 1,272,493 

110

(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value
At September 30, 2020
Debt securities HTM
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 87,183  $ 1,040  $ (29) $ 88,194 
Mortgage-backed securities 5,427  124  —  5,551 
Total HTM securities $ 92,610  $ 1,164  $ (29) $ 93,745 

(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value
At September 30, 2019
Debt securities HTM
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 127,582  $ 108  $ (1,403) $ 126,287 
Mortgage-backed securities 7,182  14  (13) 7,183 
Total HTM securities $ 134,764  $ 122  $ (1,416) $ 133,470 

Management has implemented processes to identify securities that could potentially have a credit impairment that is other-than-temporary. This process can include, but is not limited to, evaluating the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis, reviewing available information regarding the financial position of the issuer, interest or dividend payment status, monitoring the rating of the security, monitoring changes in value, and projecting cash flows. Management also determines whether the Company intends to sell a security or whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis which, in some cases, may extend to maturity. To the extent the Company determines that a security is deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, an impairment loss is recognized.
 
For all securities considered temporarily impaired, the Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, which may occur at maturity. The Company believes collection will occur for all principal and interest due on all investments with amortized cost in excess of fair value and considered only temporarily impaired.

GAAP requires that, at acquisition, an enterprise classify debt securities into one of three categories: AFS, HTM or trading. AFS securities are carried at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial condition, and unrealized holding gains and losses are excluded from earnings and recognized as a separate component of equity in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"). HTM debt securities are measured at amortized cost. Both AFS and HTM are subject to review for other-than-temporary impairment. The Company had no trading securities at September 30, 2020 or 2019.

Gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in continuous unrealized loss position, were as follows: 
LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OVER 12 MONTHS TOTAL
(Dollars in Thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
At September 30, 2020
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 32,257  $ (102) $ 9,875  $ (56) $ 42,132  $ (158)
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 6,265  (6) 3,103  (17) 9,368  (23)
Asset-backed securities 106,474  (1,089) 178,686  (5,140) 285,160  (6,229)
Mortgage-backed securities 138,338  (839) —  —  138,338  (839)
Total debt securities AFS $ 283,334  $ (2,036) $ 191,664  $ (5,213) $ 474,998  $ (7,249)

111


LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OVER 12 MONTHS TOTAL
(Dollars in Thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
At September 30, 2019
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 10,262  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 10,262  $ — 
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 66,326  (177) 55,428  (726) 121,754  (903)
Asset-backed securities 158,176  (1,823) 93,259  (1,508) 251,435  (3,331)
Mortgage-backed securities 1,713  (1) 89,634  (1,854) 91,347  (1,855)
Total debt securities AFS $ 236,477  $ (2,001) $ 238,321  $ (4,088) $ 474,798  $ (6,089)

LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OVER 12 MONTHS TOTAL
(Dollars in Thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
At September 30, 2020
Debt securities HTM
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 7,397  $ (9) $ 3,637  $ (20) $ 11,034  $ (29)
Total debt securities HTM $ 7,397  $ (9) $ 3,637  $ (20) $ 11,034  $ (29)

LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OVER 12 MONTHS TOTAL
(Dollars in Thousands) Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
Fair
Value
Unrealized
(Losses)
At September 30, 2019
Debt securities HTM
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions $ 5,967  $ (6) $ 109,368  $ (1,397) $ 115,335  $ (1,403)
Mortgage-backed securities 1,471  —  1,803  (13) 3,274  (13)
Total debt securities HTM $ 7,438  $ (6) $ 111,171  $ (1,410) $ 118,609  $ (1,416)

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company's investment portfolio included securities with current unrealized losses that have existed for longer than one year. All of these securities are considered to be acceptable credit risks. Because (i) the declines in fair value were due to changes in market interest rates, not in estimated cash flows, (ii) the Company does not intend or has not made a decision to sell these securities and (iii) it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may occur at maturity, no other-than-temporary impairment was recorded at September 30, 2020 or 2019.

The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity are shown below. Certain securities have call features which allow the issuer to call the security prior to maturity. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities in MBS because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Therefore, MBS are not included in the maturity categories in the following maturity summary. The expected maturities of certain SBA securities may differ from contractual maturities because the borrowers may have the right to prepay the obligation. However, certain prepayment penalties may apply.

112

Securities AFS at Fair Value
(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value
At September 30, 2020
Due in one year or less $ 1,385  $ 1,398 
Due after one year through five years 20,805  21,769 
Due after five years through ten years 32,441  34,025 
Due after ten years 749,874  757,303 
  804,505  814,495 
Mortgage-backed securities 439,879  453,607 
Total securities AFS, at fair value $ 1,244,384  $ 1,268,102 

(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value
At September 30, 2019
Due in one year or less $ —  $ — 
Due after one year through five years 16,749  17,143 
Due after five years through ten years 50,263  51,840 
Due after ten years 818,206  820,964 
  885,218  889,947 
Mortgage-backed securities 378,670  382,546 
Total securities AFS, at fair value $ 1,263,888  $ 1,272,493 

Securities HTM at Fair Value
(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value
At September 30, 2020
Due after ten years $ 87,183  $ 88,194 
  87,183  88,194 
Mortgage-backed securities 5,427  5,551 
Total securities HTM, at cost $ 92,610  $ 93,745 

(Dollars in Thousands) Amortized Cost Fair Value
At September 30, 2019
Due after ten years $ 127,582  $ 126,287 
  127,582  126,287 
Mortgage-backed securities 7,182  7,183 
Total securities HTM, at cost $ 134,764  $ 133,470 

Activity related to the sale of securities available for sale is summarized below. 
Fiscal Year ended 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Available For Sale
   Proceeds from sales $ 4,904  $ 755,616  $ 596,758 
   Gross gains on sales 51  6,006  2,551 
   Gross losses on sales —  5,277  10,728 
 Net gain (loss) on securities AFS $ 51  $ 729  $ (8,177)

113

There was no activity related to the sale of securities held to maturity during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Securities with fair values of zero and approximately $21.9 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were pledged as collateral for public funds on deposit. Securities with fair values of zero and approximately $4.8 million at September 30, 2020, and 2019, respectively, were pledged as collateral for individual, trust and estate deposits.

Other investments, at cost, include equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, which are included in other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition, and shares of stock in the Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") of Minneapolis and the FHLB of Des Moines.

Equity Securities
Equity securities without a readily determinable fair value totaled $11.0 million at September 30, 2020 and $6.5 million at September 30, 2019.

FHLB Stock
The Company’s borrowings from the FHLB are secured by a blanket collateral agreement with respect to a percentage of unencumbered loans and the pledge of specific investment securities. Such advances can be made pursuant to several different credit programs, each of which has its own interest rate and range of maturities.

The investments in the FHLB stock are required investments related to the Company’s membership in and current borrowings from the FHLB of Des Moines. The investments in the FHLB of Des Moines could be adversely impacted by the financial operations of the FHLB and actions of their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The FHLB stock is carried at cost since it is generally redeemable at par value. The carrying value of the stock held at the FHLB was $7.5 million and $30.9 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At fiscal year end 2020 and 2019, the Company pledged securities with fair values of approximately $673.8 million to be used against FHLB advances as needed and $812.2 million against specific FHLB advances, respectively. In addition, a combination of qualifying residential and other real estate loans of approximately $333.8 million and $928.8 million were pledged as collateral at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Included in Interest and Dividend Income from other investments is $0.8 million, $1.0 million and $1.1 million related to dividend income on FHLB stock for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

FRB Stock
Upon conversion to a national bank on April 1, 2020, the Bank is required by federal law to subscribe to capital stock (divided into shares of $100 each) as a member of the FRB of Minneapolis with an amount equal to six per centum of the paid-up capital stock and surplus. One-half of the subscription is paid at time of application, and one-half is subject to call of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. FRB of Minneapolis stock held by the Bank at September 30, 2020 totaled $19.7 million. These equity securities are 'restricted' in that they can only be owned by member banks. At fiscal year end 2020, the Company pledged securities with fair values of approximately $359.7 million against FRB advances.

Included in Interest and Dividend Income from other investments is $0.3 million related to dividend income on FRB stock for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

These equity securities are ‘restricted’ in that they can only be sold back to the respective institution from which they were acquired or another member institution at par. Therefore, FRB and FHLB stocks are less liquid than other marketable equity securities, and the fair value approximates cost. The Company evaluates impairment for investments held at cost on at least an annual basis based on the ultimate recoverability of the par value. No impairment was recognized for such investments for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 or 2018.


114

NOTE 5.  LOANS AND LEASES, NET

Loans and Leases

Loans and leases consist of the following:
(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
National Lending
Term lending(1)
$ 805,323  $ 641,742 
Asset based lending(1)
182,419  250,465 
Factoring 281,173  296,507 
Lease financing(1)
281,084  177,915 
Insurance premium finance 337,940  361,105 
SBA/USDA(2)
318,387  88,831 
Other commercial finance 101,658  99,665 
Commercial finance 2,307,984  1,916,230 
Consumer credit products 89,809  106,794 
Other consumer finance 134,342  161,404 
Consumer finance 224,151  268,198 
Tax services 3,066  2,240 
Warehouse finance 293,375  262,924 
Total National Lending 2,828,576  2,449,592 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 457,371  883,932 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 16,486  259,425 
Agricultural real estate and operating 11,707  58,464 
Total Community Banking 485,564  1,201,821 
Total loans and leases 3,314,140  3,651,413 
Net deferred loan origination fees 8,625  7,434 
Total gross loans and leases 3,322,765  3,658,847 
Allowance for loan and lease losses (56,188) (29,149)
Total loans and leases, net(3)
$ 3,266,577  $ 3,629,698 
(1) The Company has updated the presentation of its loan and lease table beginning in the fiscal 2020 first quarter. The new presentation includes a new category called term lending. Certain balances previously included in the asset based lending and lease financing categories have been reclassified into the new term lending category during the fiscal 2020 first quarter. Prior period balances have been conformed to the new presentation.
(2) The Company is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program which is being administered by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 689 loans outstanding with a total of $219.0 million in loan balances that were originated as part of the program.
(3) As of September 30, 2020, the remaining balance of acquired loans and leases from the acquisition of Crestmark Bancorp, Inc. ("Crestmark") and its bank subsidiary, Crestmark Bank (the "Crestmark Acquisition") was $149.1 million and the remaining balances of the credit and interest rate mark discounts related to the acquired loans and leases held for investment were $2.8 million and $2.3 million, respectively. On August 1, 2018, the Company acquired loans and leases from the Crestmark Acquisition totaling $1.06 billion and recorded related credit and interest rate mark discounts of $12.3 million and $6.0 million, respectively.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the Company transferred $542.1 million of Community Banking loans to held for sale. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company transferred $100.0 million of consumer credit product loans to held for sale

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company originated $98.8 million and $171.3 million, respectively, of SBA/USDA and consumer credit product loans as held for sale.

115

The Company sold held for sale loans resulting in proceeds of $590.8 million and gains on sale of $7.7 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company sold held for sale loans resulting in proceeds of $125.4 million and gains on sale of $5.1 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

Loans purchased and sold by portfolio segment, including participation interests, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
Loans Purchased
Loans held for sale:
Total National Lending $ —  $ 15,443 
Loans held for investment:
Total National Lending 132,530  235,918 
Total Community Banking 18,905  26,704 
Total purchases 151,435  278,065 
Loans Sold
Loans held for sale:
Total National Lending 183,508  121,071 
Total Community Banking 407,296  — 
Loans held for investment:
Total Community Banking 9,991  13,069 
Total sales $ 600,795  $ 134,140 

Leasing Portfolio
Effective October 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and related ASUs on a modified retrospective basis, electing the practical expedients and optional transition method. As such, the following leasing disclosures include information at, or for the year ended September 30, 2020.

The net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases was comprised of the following:
  September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
Carrying Amount $ 299,487  $ 191,733 
Unguaranteed residual assets 17,203  13,353 
Unamortized initial direct costs 2,078  1,790 
Unearned income (35,606) (27,171)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type leases $ 283,162  $ 179,705 

The carrying amount of direct financing and sales-type leases subject to residual value guarantees was $8.7 million at September 30, 2020.

116

The components of total lease income were as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020
Interest income - loans and leases
Interest income on net investments in direct financing and sales-type leases $ 18,300 
Leasing and equipment finance noninterest income
Lease income from operating lease payments 44,319 
Profit (loss) recorded on commencement date on sales-type leases 2,152 
Other(1)
4,357 
Total leasing and equipment finance noninterest income 50,828 
Total lease income $ 69,128 
(1) Other leasing and equipment finance noninterest income consists of gains (losses) on sales of leased equipment, fees and service charges on leases and gains (losses) on sales of leases.

Undiscounted future minimum lease payments receivable for direct financing and sales-type leases and a reconciliation to the carrying amount recorded were as follows:
(Dollars in Thousands) As of September 30, 2020
2021 $ 107,558 
2022 87,775 
2023 58,906 
2024 33,059 
2025 10,097 
Thereafter 2,092 
Equipment under leases not yet commenced — 
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments receivable for direct financing and sales-type leases 299,487 
Third-party residual value guarantees — 
Total carrying amount of direct financing and sales-type leases $ 299,487 

The Company did not record any contingent rental income from sales-type and direct financing leases in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

During the Company's fiscal 2020 second quarter, the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting global and US markets and macroeconomic conditions, and continues to have an impact. Although the ultimate impact of the pandemic on the Company's loan and lease portfolio is difficult to predict, management performed an evaluation of the loan and lease portfolio in order to assess the impact on repayment sources and underlying collateral that could result in additional losses. The framework for the analysis was based on the Company's then-current ALLL methodology with additional considerations. From this impact assessment, additional reserve levels were estimated by increasing qualitative factors. The additional reserves were estimated for loans that were granted short-term payment deferrals related to financial stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic along with other loans within certain industries that were considered higher risk for credit loss (e.g. transportation, hospitality, travel, entertainment and retail). Based on the Company's ongoing assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company recognized an additional provision for loan and lease losses of $26.4 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company will continue to assess the impact to their customers and businesses as a result of COVID-19 and refine their estimate as more information becomes available.
117

Annual activity in the allowance for loan and lease losses was as follows: 
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Beginning balance $ 29,149  $ 13,040  $ 7,534 
Provision for loan and lease losses 64,776  55,650  29,433 
Recoveries 4,024  3,313  2,037 
Charge-offs (41,761) (42,854) (25,964)
Ending balance $ 56,188  $ 29,149  $ 13,040 

Activity in the allowance for loan and lease losses and balances of loans and leases by portfolio segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
Allowance for loan and lease losses: Beginning balance Provision (recovery) for loan and lease losses Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 5,533  $ 19,796  $ (10,458) $ 340  $ 15,211 
Asset based lending 2,437  (1,036) (42) 47  1,406 
Factoring 3,261  (245) (915) 926  3,027 
Lease financing 1,275  6,105  (728) 371  7,023 
Insurance premium finance 1,024  2,489  (2,004) 620  2,129 
SBA/USDA 383  2,688  (2,131) —  940 
Other commercial finance 683  (501) —  —  182 
Commercial finance 14,596  29,296  (16,278) 2,304  29,918 
Consumer credit products 1,044  (199) —  —  845 
Other consumer finance 5,118  (538) (2,649) 890  2,821 
Consumer finance 6,162  (737) (2,649) 890  3,666 
Tax services —  22,006  (22,834) 830 
Warehouse finance 263  31  —  —  294 
Total National Lending 21,021  50,596  (41,761) 4,024  33,880 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 6,208  15,659  —  —  21,867 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 1,053  (755) —  —  298 
Agricultural real estate and operating 867  (724) —  —  143 
Total Community Banking 8,128  14,180  —  —  22,308 
Total $ 29,149  $ 64,776  $ (41,761) $ 4,024  $ 56,188 

118

Allowance for loan and lease losses: Beginning balance Provision (recovery) for loan and lease losses Charge-offs Recoveries Ending balance
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 89  $ 8,460  $ (4,581) $ 1,565  $ 5,533 
Asset based lending 47  2,388  (37) 39  2,437 
Factoring 64  5,849  (2,725) 73  3,261 
Lease financing 31  1,824  (1,342) 762  1,275 
Insurance premium finance 1,031  2,361  (2,689) 321  1,024 
SBA/USDA 13  370  —  —  383 
Other commercial finance 28  655  —  —  683 
Commercial finance 1,302  21,907  (11,373) 2,760  14,596 
Consumer credit products 785  259  —  —  1,044 
Other consumer finance 2,820  8,563  (6,346) 81  5,118 
Consumer finance 3,605  8,822  (6,346) 81  6,162 
Tax services —  24,873  (25,095) 222  — 
Warehouse finance 65  198  —  —  263 
Total National Lending 4,972  55,800  (42,814) 3,063  21,021 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 6,220  (12) —  —  6,208 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 632  461  (40) —  1,053 
Agricultural real estate and operating 1,216  (599) —  250  867 
Total Community Banking 8,068  (150) (40) 250  8,128 
Total $ 13,040  $ 55,650  $ (42,854) $ 3,313  $ 29,149 




























119

The following tables provide details regarding the allowance for loan and lease losses and balances by type of allowance as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Allowance Loans and Leases
Recorded Investment Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment Total Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 3,155  $ 12,056  $ 15,211  $ 26,085  $ 779,238  $ 805,323 
Asset based lending 355  1,051  1,406  5,317  177,102  182,419 
Factoring 274  2,753  3,027  5,071  276,102  281,173 
Lease financing 1,194  5,829  7,023  4,697  276,387  281,084 
Insurance premium finance —  2,129  2,129  —  337,940  337,940 
SBA/USDA(1)
—  940  940  1,436  316,951  318,387 
Other commercial finance —  182  182  —  101,658  101,658 
Commercial finance 4,978  24,940  29,918  42,606  2,265,378  2,307,984 
Consumer credit products —  845  845  —  89,809  89,809 
Other consumer finance —  2,821  2,821  1,987  132,355  134,342 
Consumer finance —  3,666  3,666  1,987  222,164  224,151 
Tax services —  —  3,066  3,066 
Warehouse finance —  294  294  —  293,375  293,375 
Total National Lending 4,978  28,902  33,880  44,593  2,783,983  2,828,576 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 141  21,726  21,867  160  457,211  457,371 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  298  298  104  16,382  16,486 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  143  143  6,421  5,286  11,707 
Total Community Banking 141  22,167  22,308  6,685  478,879  485,564 
Total $ 5,119  $ 51,069  $ 56,188  $ 51,278  $ 3,262,862  $ 3,314,140 
(1) The ending balance collectively evaluated for impairment includes $219.0 million of loan balances that were originated as part of the Company's participation in the PPP. No reserve was applied to these loan balances as of September 30, 2020 as the PPP is administered by the SBA and are fully guaranteed.
120

Allowance Loans and Leases
Recorded Investment Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment Total Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 450  $ 5,083  $ 5,533  $ 19,568  $ 622,174  $ 641,742 
Asset based lending —  2,437  2,437  378  250,087  250,465 
Factoring 1,262  1,999  3,261  3,824  292,683  296,507 
Lease financing 112  1,163  1,275  1,213  176,702  177,915 
Insurance premium finance —  1,024  1,024  —  361,105  361,105 
SBA/USDA 51  332  383  3,841  84,990  88,831 
Other commercial finance —  683  683  —  99,665  99,665 
Commercial finance 1,875  12,721  14,596  28,824  1,887,406  1,916,230 
Consumer credit products —  1,044  1,044  —  106,794  106,794 
Other consumer finance —  5,118  5,118  1,472  159,932  161,404 
Consumer finance —  6,162  6,162  1,472  266,726  268,198 
Tax services —  —  —  —  2,240  2,240 
Warehouse finance —  263  263  —  262,924  262,924 
Total National Lending 1,875  19,146  21,021  30,296  2,419,296  2,449,592 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating —  6,208  6,208  258  883,674  883,932 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other —  1,053  1,053  100  259,325  259,425 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  867  867  2,985  55,479  58,464 
Total Community Banking —  8,128  8,128  3,343  1,198,478  1,201,821 
Total $ 1,875  $ 27,274  $ 29,149  $ 33,639  $ 3,617,774  $ 3,651,413 

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company allowed modifications, such as payment deferrals and temporary forbearance, to credit-worthy borrowers who are experiencing temporary hardship due to the effects of COVID-19. Accordingly, if all payments were less than 30 days past due prior to the onset of the pandemic effects, the loan or lease will not be reported as past due during the deferral or forbearance period. As of September 30, 2020, $170.0 million of loan and lease that were granted deferral payments by the Company were still in their deferment period. These modifications consisted solely of payment deferrals ranging from 30 days to six months. These modifications are in line with applicable regulatory guidelines and, therefore, they are not reported as troubled-debt restructurings. In addition, the Company has made other COVID-19 related modifications, of which $23.3 million were still active as of September 30, 2020. The majority of the other modifications were related to adjusting the type or amount of the customer's payments. The Company elected to accrue and recognize interest income on these modifications during the payment deferral period.

Federal regulations provide for the classification of loans and other assets such as debt and equity securities considered by the Bank's regulator, the OCC, to be of lesser quality as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss.” The loan classification and risk rating definitions are as follows:
 
Pass- A pass asset is of sufficient quality in terms of repayment, collateral and management to preclude a special mention or an adverse rating.
 
Watch- A watch asset is generally a credit performing well under current terms and conditions but with identifiable weakness meriting additional scrutiny and corrective measures. Watch is not a regulatory classification but can be used to designate assets that are exhibiting one or more weaknesses that deserve management’s attention. These assets are of better quality than special mention assets.
 

121

Special Mention- Special mention assets are a credit with potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention and, if left uncorrected, may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Special mention is a temporary status with aggressive credit management required to garner adequate progress and move to watch or higher.
 
The adverse classifications are as follows:
 
Substandard- A substandard asset is inadequately protected by the net worth and/or repayment ability or by a weak collateral position. Assets so classified will have well-defined weaknesses creating a distinct possibility the Bank will sustain some loss if the weaknesses are not corrected. Loss potential does not have to exist for an asset to be classified as substandard.

Doubtful- A doubtful asset has weaknesses similar to those classified substandard, with the degree of weakness causing the likely loss of some principal in any reasonable collection effort. Due to pending factors, the asset’s classification as loss is not yet appropriate.
 
Loss- A loss asset is considered uncollectible and of such little value that the asset’s continuance on the Bank’s balance sheet is no longer warranted. This classification does not necessarily mean an asset has no recovery or salvage value leaving room for future collection efforts.
 
Loans and leases, or portions thereof, are charged off when collection of principal becomes doubtful. Generally, this is associated with a delay or shortfall in payments of 210 days or more for commercial insurance premium finance, 180 days or more for the purchased student loan portfolios, 120 days or more for consumer credit products and leases, and 90 days or more for community banking loans and commercial finance loans. Action is taken to charge off ERO loans if such loans have not been collected by the end of June and taxpayer advance loans if such loans have not been collected by the end of the calendar year. Non-accrual loans and troubled debt restructurings are generally considered impaired.

The Company recognizes that concentrations of credit may naturally occur and may take the form of a large volume of related loans and leases to an individual, a specific industry, or a geographic location. Credit concentration is a direct, indirect, or contingent obligation that has a common bond where the aggregate exposure equals or exceeds a certain percentage of the Company’s Tier 1 Capital plus the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses.

Beginning in the fiscal 2020 first quarter the Company implemented changes to the risk rating approach on certain commercial finance portfolios as part of a streamlining process to provide a more consistent risk rating approach across all of its lending portfolios. Based upon a study of the Company's special mention commercial finance loans and leases, the Company determined that approximately $117.0 million of those loans and leases should be rated as watch under the new approach. Prior to the fiscal 2020 first quarter, none of the Company's commercial finance loans and leases were rated as watch. Based on Meta's allowance methodology, these changes in risk ratings did not have a direct impact on the allowance for loan and lease losses. The aggregate balance of watch and special mention loans and leases within the commercial finance portfolio increased to $209.6 million at September 30, 2020, compared to $145.0 million at September 30, 2019.

The Company has various portfolios of consumer finance and tax services loans that present unique risks. Due to the unique risks associated with these portfolios, the Company monitors other credit quality indicators in their evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses on these portfolios, and as such, these loans are not included in the asset classification table below, beginning in the fiscal 2020 first quarter. The September 30, 2019 asset classification table has been conformed to the current presentation. The outstanding balances of consumer finance loans and tax services loans were $224.2 million and $3.1 million at September 30, 2020, respectively, and $268.2 million and $2.2 million at September 30, 2019, respectively.








122

The asset classification of loans and leases were as follows:
Asset Classification Pass Watch Special Mention Substandard Doubtful Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 725,101  $ 29,637  $ 24,501  $ 21,249  $ 4,835  $ 805,323 
Asset based lending 102,013  62,512  12,577  5,317  —  182,419 
Factoring 217,245  45,200  13,657  5,071  —  281,173 
Lease financing 264,700  8,879  2,808  4,148  549  281,084 
Insurance premium finance 336,364  284  222  701  369  337,940 
SBA/USDA 308,549  8,328  74  1,436  —  318,387 
Other commercial finance 100,727  931  —  —  —  101,658 
Commercial finance 2,054,699  155,771  53,839  37,922  5,753  2,307,984 
Warehouse finance 293,375  —  —  —  —  293,375 
Total National Lending 2,348,074  155,771  53,839  37,922  5,753  2,601,359 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 336,236  98,295  4,049  18,211  580  457,371 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 15,648  41  609  188  —  16,486 
Agricultural real estate and operating 1,526  —  4,930  5,251  —  11,707 
Total Community Banking 353,410  98,336  9,588  23,650  580  485,564 
Total loans and leases $ 2,701,484  $ 254,107  $ 63,427  $ 61,572  $ 6,333  $ 3,086,923 

Asset Classification Pass Watch Special Mention Substandard Doubtful Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 585,382  $ —  $ 36,792  $ 19,024  $ 544  $ 641,742 
Asset based lending 192,427  —  57,660  378  —  250,465 
Factoring 256,048  —  36,635  3,824  —  296,507 
Lease financing 171,785  —  4,917  1,213  —  177,915 
Insurance premium finance 361,105  —  —  —  —  361,105 
SBA/USDA 76,609  —  8,381  3,841  —  88,831 
Other commercial finance 99,057  —  608  —  —  99,665 
Commercial finance 1,742,413  —  144,993  28,280  544  1,916,230 
Warehouse finance 262,924  —  —  —  —  262,924 
Total National Lending 2,005,337  —  144,993  28,280  544  2,179,154 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 875,933  1,494  2,884  3,621  —  883,932 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 257,575  946  708  196  —  259,425 
Agricultural real estate and operating 39,409  4,631  5,876  8,548  —  58,464 
Total Community Banking 1,172,917  7,071  9,468  12,365  —  1,201,821 
Total loans and leases $ 3,178,254  $ 7,071  $ 154,461  $ 40,645  $ 544  $ 3,380,975 

123

Past due loans and leases were as follows:
Accruing and Non-accruing Loans and Leases Non-performing Loans and Leases
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 30-59 Days
Past Due
60-89 Days
Past Due
>
89 Days Past Due
Total Past
Due
Current Total Loans and Leases
Receivable
> 89 Days Past Due and Accruing Non-accrual balance Total
(Dollars in Thousands)
Loans held for sale $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 183,577  $ 183,577  $ —  $ —  $ — 
National Lending
Term lending $ 11,900  $ 3,851  $ 6,390  $ 22,141  $ 783,182  $ 805,323  $ 266  $ 16,274  $ 16,540 
Asset based lending 17  —  —  17  182,402  182,419  —  —  — 
Factoring —  —  —  —  281,173  281,173  —  1,096  1,096 
Lease financing 194  9,746  6,882  16,822  264,262  281,084  4,344  3,583  7,927 
Insurance premium finance 1,227  748  2,364  4,339  333,601  337,940  2,364  —  2,364 
SBA/USDA —  —  1,027  1,027  317,360  318,387  427  600  1,027 
Other commercial finance —  —  —  —  101,658  101,658  —  —  — 
Commercial finance 13,338  14,345  16,663  44,346  2,263,638  2,307,984  7,401  21,553  28,954 
Consumer credit products 377  358  499  1,233  88,576  89,809  499  —  499 
Other consumer finance 600  536  373  1,509  132,833  134,342  373  —  373 
Consumer finance 977  894  872  2,743  221,408  224,151  872  —  872 
Tax services —  —  1,743  1,743  1,323  3,066  1,743  —  1,743 
Warehouse finance —  —  —  —  293,375  293,375  —  —  — 
Total National Lending 14,315  15,239  19,278  48,832  2,779,744  2,828,576  10,016  21,553  31,569 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating —  —  630  630  456,741  457,371  50  580  630 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 905  114  50  1,069  15,417  16,486  —  50  50 
Agricultural real estate and operating —  —  1,769  1,769  9,938  11,707  —  1,769  1,769 
Total Community Banking 905  114  2,449  3,468  482,096  485,564  50  2,399  2,449 
Total loans and leases held for investment 15,220  15,353  21,727  52,300  3,261,840  3,314,140  10,066  23,952  34,018 
Total loans and leases $ 15,220  $ 15,353  $ 21,727  $ 52,300  $ 3,445,417  $ 3,497,717  $ 10,066  $ 23,952  $ 34,018 

124

Accruing and Non-accruing Loans and Leases Non-performing Loans and Leases
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019 30-59 Days
Past Due
60-89 Days
Past Due
>
89 Days Past Due
Total Past
Due
Current Total Loans and Leases
Receivable
> 89 Days Past Due and Accruing Non-accrual balance Total
(Dollars in Thousands)
Loans held for sale $ 1,122  $ 755  $ 964  $ 2,841  $ 145,936  $ 148,777  $ 964  $ —  $ 964 
National Lending
Term lending 2,162  910  14,098  17,170  624,572  641,742  2,241  12,146  14,387 
Asset based lending —  —  —  —  250,465  250,465  —  —  — 
Factoring —  —  —  —  296,507  296,507  —  1,669  1,669 
Lease financing 1,160  1,134  1,736  4,030  173,885  177,915  1,530  308  1,838 
Insurance premium finance 1,999  2,881  3,807  8,687  352,418  361,105  3,807  —  3,807 
SBA/USDA 83  —  255  338  88,493  88,831  —  255  255 
Other commercial finance —  —  —  —  99,665  99,665  —  —  — 
Commercial finance 5,404  4,925  19,896  30,225  1,886,005  1,916,230  7,578  14,378  21,956 
Consumer credit products 627  557  239  1,423  105,371  106,794  239  —  239 
Other consumer finance 932  1,005  1,078  3,015  158,389  161,404  1,078  —  1,078 
Consumer finance 1,559  1,562  1,317  4,438  263,760  268,198  1,317  —  1,317 
Tax services —  —  2,240  2,240  —  2,240  2,240  —  2,240 
Warehouse finance —  —  —  —  262,924  262,924  —  —  — 
Total National Lending 6,963  6,487  23,453  36,903  2,412,689  2,449,592  11,135  14,378  25,513 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 565  —  —  565  883,367  883,932  —  —  — 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 458  —  467  258,958  259,425  —  44  44 
Agricultural real estate and operating 49  —  —  49  58,415  58,464  —  —  — 
Total Community Banking 1,072  —  1,081  1,200,740  1,201,821  —  44  44 
Total loans and leases held for investment $ 8,035  $ 6,487  $ 23,462  $ 37,984  $ 3,613,429  $ 3,651,413  $ 11,135  $ 14,422  $ 25,557 
Total loans and leases $ 9,157  $ 7,242  $ 24,426  $ 40,825  $ 3,759,365  $ 3,800,190  $ 12,099  $ 14,422  $ 26,521 

Non-accruing loans and leases were $24.0 million and $14.4 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. There were $10.1 million and $12.1 million in accruing loans and leases delinquent 90 days or more at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, gross interest income, which would have been recorded had the non-accruing loans and leases been current in accordance with their original terms, was insignificant, none of which was included in interest income.

Certain loans and leases 89 days or more past due as to interest or principal continue to accrue because they are (1) well-secured and in the process of collection or (2) one-to-four family real estate loans or consumer loans exempt under regulatory rules from being classified as non-accrual until later delinquency, usually 120 days past due.

When analysis of borrower operating results and financial condition indicates that underlying cash flows of the borrower’s business are not adequate to meet its debt service requirements, the loan is evaluated for impairment. Often, this is associated with a delay or shortfall in scheduled payments, as described above.

125

Impaired loans and leases at September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
September 30, 2020 Recorded
Balance
Unpaid Principal
Balance
Specific
Allowance
Loans and leases without a specific valuation allowance
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 17,349  $ 18,823  $ — 
Asset based lending 3,914  3,914  — 
Factoring 3,892  4,967  — 
Lease financing 1,797  1,805  — 
SBA/USDA 1,436  2,263  — 
Commercial finance 28,388  31,772  — 
Other consumer finance 1,987  2,104  — 
Consumer finance 1,987  2,104  — 
Total National Lending 30,375  33,876  — 
Community Banking
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 104  104  — 
Agricultural real estate and operating 6,421  6,421  — 
Total Community Banking 6,525  6,525  — 
Total $ 36,900  $ 40,401  $ — 
Loans and leases with a specific valuation allowance
National Lending
Term lending $ 8,736  $ 8,736  $ 3,155 
Asset based lending 1,403  1,403  355 
Factoring 1,179  1,191  274 
Lease financing 2,900  2,900  1,194 
Commercial finance 14,218  14,230  4,978 
Total National Lending 14,218  14,230  4,978 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 160  160  141 
Total Community Banking 160  160  141 
Total $ 14,378  $ 14,390  $ 5,119 

126

September 30, 2019 Recorded
Balance
Unpaid Principal
Balance
Specific
Allowance
Loans and leases without a specific valuation allowance
National Lending (Dollars in Thousands)
Term lending $ 12,644  $ 13,944  $ — 
Asset based lending 378  378  — 
Factoring 1,563  2,638  — 
Lease financing 1,062  1,062  — 
SBA/USDA 2,595  2,595  — 
Commercial finance 18,242  20,617  — 
Other consumer finance 1,472  1,539  — 
Consumer finance 1,472  1,539  — 
Total National Lending 19,714  22,156  — 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 258  258  — 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 100  100  — 
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,985  2,985  — 
Total Community Banking 3,343  3,343  — 
Total $ 23,057  $ 25,499  $ — 
Loans and leases with a specific valuation allowance
National Lending
Term lending $ 6,924  $ 6,951  $ 450 
Factoring 2,261  3,601  1,262 
Lease financing 151  151  112 
SBA/USDA 1,246  1,246  51 
Commercial finance 10,582  11,949  1,875 
Total National Lending 10,582  11,949  1,875 
Total $ 10,582  $ 11,949  $ 1,875 



127

The following table provides the average recorded investment in impaired loans and leases for the fiscal years ended:
Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
2020 2019
(Dollars in Thousands) Average
Recorded
Investment
Recognized Interest Income Average
Recorded
Investment
Recognized Interest Income
National Lending
Term lending $ 26,126  $ 386  $ 6,119  $ 344 
Asset based lending 1,339  —  1,347  — 
Factoring 4,075  13  4,751 
Lease financing 3,370  16  3,313  17 
SBA/USDA 3,164  —  639  — 
Commercial finance 38,074  415  16,169  $ 366 
Other consumer finance 1,860  143  1,207  67 
Consumer finance 1,860  143  1,207  67 
Total National Lending 39,934  558  17,376  433 
Community Banking
Commercial real estate and operating 466  27  269  14 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other 114  10  172 
Agricultural real estate and operating 2,949  (74) 1,483  107 
Total Community Banking 3,529  (37) 1,924  127 
Total loans and leases $ 43,463  $ 521  $ 19,300  $ 560 

The Company’s troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") typically involve forgiving a portion of interest or principal on existing loans, making loans at a rate materially less than current market rates, or extending the term of the loan. There were $9.5 million of National Lending loans and leases and $5.2 million of Community Banking loans that were modified in a TDR during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, all of which were modified to extend the term of the loan. There were $2.9 million of National Lending loans and leases and $2.5 million of Community Banking loans that were modified in a TDR during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the Company had $3.9 million of National Lending loans and $3.3 million of Community Banking loans that were modified in a TDR within the previous 12 months and for which there was a payment default. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company had $0.9 million of Community Banking loans and $0.2 million of National Lending loans or leases that were modified in a TDR within the previous 12 months and for which there was a payment default. TDR net charge-offs and the impact of TDRs on the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses were insignificant during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.

NOTE 6.  EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
Earnings per common share is computed after deducting any preferred dividends, if applicable. The Company has granted restricted share awards with dividend rights that are considered to be participating securities. Accordingly, a portion of the Company’s earnings is allocated to those participating securities in the earnings per share calculation. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders after the allocation of dividends and undistributed earnings to the participating securities by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, and is computed after giving consideration to the weighted average dilutive effect of the Company’s stock options and after the allocation of earnings to the participating securities. Antidilutive options are disregarded in earnings per share calculations.
 
128

A reconciliation of net income and common stock share amounts used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is presented below.
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data) 2020 2019 2018
Basic income per common share:
Net income attributable to Meta Financial Group, Inc. $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620 
Weighted average common shares outstanding 35,651,709  38,880,919  30,737,499 
Basic income per common share $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.68 
Diluted income per common share:
Net income attributable to Meta Financial Group, Inc. $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620 
Weighted average common shares outstanding 35,651,709  38,880,919  30,737,499 
Outstanding options - based upon the two-class method —  40,718  115,551 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 35,651,709  38,921,637  30,853,050 
Diluted income per common share $ 2.94  $ 2.49  $ 1.67 

NOTE 7.  PREMISES, FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT, NET
 
Fiscal year-end premises and equipment were as follows:
(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
Land $ 1,354  $ 2,932 
Buildings 20,170  30,906 
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 67,302  61,216 
  88,826  95,054 
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization (47,218) (49,122)
Net book value $ 41,608  $ 45,932 

Depreciation expense of premises, furniture and equipment included in occupancy and equipment expense was approximately $9.2 million, $8.6 million and $5.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

NOTE 8.  RENTAL EQUIPMENT, NET

Rental equipment consists of the following:
September 30, 2020 September 30, 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
Computers and IT networking equipment $ 15,926  $ 37,352 
Motor vehicles and other 52,913  23,884 
Other furniture and equipment 74,197  77,140 
Solar panels and equipment 118,808  116,505 
Total 261,844  254,881 
Accumulated depreciation (57,601) (46,344)
Unamortized initial direct costs 1,721  — 
Net book value $ 205,964  $ 208,537 

During fiscal year 2019, an impairment was recorded related to solar panels and equipment. See Note 10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information.
129

Undiscounted future minimum lease payments expected to be received for operating leases were as follows:
(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020
2021 $ 30,509 
2022 26,461 
2023 22,737 
2024 16,609 
2025 11,834 
Thereafter 17,797 
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments receivable for operating leases $ 125,947 

NOTE 9.  FORECLOSED REAL ESTATE AND REPOSSESSED ASSETS

The following table provides an analysis of changes in foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets:
Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019
Balance, beginning of period $ 29,494  $ 31,638 
Additions 9,983  190 
Reductions:
Write-downs 568  432 
Net proceeds from sale 23,992  1,917 
Gain (loss) on sale (4,960) 15 
   Total reductions 29,520  2,334 
Balance, ending of period $ 9,957  $ 29,494 

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had established a valuation allowance of $0.5 million and $0.1 million for repossessed assets, respectively. As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no loans or leases in the process of foreclosure.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the Company sold $28.1 million of other real estate owned ("OREO"), which consisted of assets related to a Community Bank agriculture real estate customer. The sale occurred via public auction and consisted of 30-plus parcels of land. The sale of 30-plus parcels closed in the fiscal 2020 first quarter. The Company applied Subtopic ASC 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets to record the sale. The following table is a summary of the sale transaction, as reflected in the Company's financial statements:
September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands)
Purchase price $ 23,083 
Carrying value of OREO 28,122 
Loss on sale (5,039)
Deferred income recognized 1,096 
  Net impact $ (3,943)

The Company recognized a $5.0 million loss from the sale of foreclosed property during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, which is included in the "Gain (loss) on sale of other" line on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company also recognized $1.1 million in deferred rental income and $0.2 million in OREO expenses related to these foreclosed properties during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.


130

NOTE 10.  GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
The Company held a total of $309.5 million of goodwill at September 30, 2020. The recorded goodwill is a result of multiple business combinations that have been consummated since fiscal year 2015, with the most recent pursuant to the Crestmark Acquisition that closed on August 1, 2018. Goodwill is assessed for impairment at least annually or more often if conditions indicate a possible impairment. The assessment is done at a reporting unit level, which is one level below the operating segments. The Company has changed its basis of presentation for segments. See Note 22. Segment Reporting for additional information on the Company's segment reporting.

The changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows: 
(Dollars in Thousands) Payments Banking Corporate Services/Other Total
Goodwill
September 30, 2019 $ 87,145  $ 222,360  $ —  $ 309,505 
Acquisitions —  —  —  — 
Impairment —  —  —  — 
September 30, 2020 $ 87,145  $ 222,360  $ —  $ 309,505 
September 30, 2018 $ 87,145  $ 216,125  $ —  $ 303,270 
Acquisitions —  —  —  — 
Measurement Period Adjustments(1)
—  6,235  —  6,235 
Impairment —  —  —  — 
September 30, 2019 $ 87,145  $ 222,360  $ —  $ 309,505 
(1) The Company recognized measurement period adjustments on provisional goodwill during fiscal year 2019 related to the Crestmark Acquisition.

Due to the ongoing economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company conducted a quantitative interim goodwill impairment assessment as of June 30, 2020. The impairment assessment compared the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount (including goodwill). If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. The Company’s interim assessment estimated fair value for each reporting unit using an income approach that incorporated a discounted cash flow model that involves many management assumptions based upon future growth projections which include estimates of COVID-19 impacts on our various business lines. Assumptions included estimates of future after-tax cash flows, growth rates, and discount rates based upon industry and competitor analyses. Results of the interim assessment indicated no goodwill impairment for any of the reporting units as of June 30, 2020. The Company completed a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment as of September 30, 2020. Based on the results, it was identified that it was more likely than not the fair value of goodwill recorded exceeded the current carrying value and concluded no impairment existed as of September 30, 2020.
131


(Dollars in Thousands)
Trademark (1)
Non-Compete (2)
Customer Relationships (3)
All Others (4)
Total
Intangibles
Balance as of September 30, 2019 $ 11,959  $ 827  $ 33,207  $ 6,817  $ 52,810 
Acquisitions during the period —  —  —  35  35 
Amortization during the period (1,058) (405) (8,874) (660) (10,997)
Write-offs during the period —  —  —  (156) (156)
Balance as of September 30, 2020 $ 10,901  $ 422  $ 24,333  $ 6,036  $ 41,692 
Gross carrying amount $ 14,624  $ 2,480  $ 82,088  $ 10,113  $ 109,305 
Accumulated amortization (3,723) (2,058) (47,507) (3,887) (57,175)
Accumulated impairment —  —  (10,248) (190) (10,438)
Balance as of September 30, 2020 $ 10,901  $ 422  $ 24,333  $ 6,036  $ 41,692 
(1) Book amortization period of 5-15 years. Amortized using the straight line and accelerated methods.
(2) Book amortization period of 3-5 years. Amortized using the straight line method.
(3) Book amortization period of 10-30 years. Amortized using the accelerated method.
(4) Book amortization period of 3-20 years. Amortized using the straight line method.

(Dollars in Thousands)
Trademark (1)
Non-Compete (2)
Customer Relationships (3)
All Others (4)
Total
Intangibles
Balance as of September 30, 2018 $ 12,987  $ 1,297  $ 48,455  $ 7,980  $ 70,719 
Acquisitions during the period —  —  —  115  115 
Amortization during the period (1,028) (470) (15,248) (965) (17,711)
Write-offs during the period —  —  —  (313) (313)
Balance as of September 30, 2019 $ 11,959  $ 827  $ 33,207  $ 6,817  $ 52,810 
Gross carrying amount $ 14,624  $ 2,480  $ 82,088  $ 10,703  $ 109,895 
Accumulated amortization (2,665) (1,653) (38,633) (3,227) (46,178)
Accumulated impairment —  —  (10,248) (659) (10,907)
Balance as of September 30, 2019 $ 11,959  $ 827  $ 33,207  $ 6,817  $ 52,810 
(1) Book amortization period of 5-15 years. Amortized using the straight line and accelerated methods.
(2) Book amortization period of 3-5 years. Amortized using the straight line method.
(3) Book amortization period of 10-30 years. Amortized using the accelerated method.
(4) Book amortization period of 3-20 years. Amortized using the straight line method.

The Company tests intangible assets for impairment at least annually or more often if conditions indicate a possible impairment. There were no impairments to intangible assets for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. There was $0.1 million in impairments to intangible assets for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. Intangible impairment expense is recorded within the impairment expense line of the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

132

The estimated amortization expense of intangible assets assumes no activities, such as acquisitions, which would result in additional amortizable intangible assets. Estimated amortization expense of intangible assets in the subsequent fiscal years at September 30, 2020 was as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended Anticipated Amortization
(Dollars in Thousands)
2021 $ 8,548 
2022 6,422 
2023 5,104 
2024 4,387 
2025 3,830 
Thereafter 13,401 
Total anticipated intangible amortization $ 41,692 

Measurement Period Adjustments and Impairment - DC Solar
The Company previously purchased a portfolio of mobile solar generators ("MSGs") from DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and certain of its affiliates, a relationship in the Company's solar leasing business, and, in turn, leased the MSGs to DC Solar Distribution, Inc., an affiliate of DC Solar Solutions. During 2019, the Company became aware that the DC Solar entities and their affiliates filed for bankruptcy and the entities, including their principals, are subjects of ongoing federal investigations involving allegations of fraudulent misconduct. The Company had three separate operating leases with DC Solar - two of which were included in the acquired Crestmark balances on August 1, 2018. The third transaction was originated in August 2018, after the closing of the Crestmark Acquisition. The Company considered the bankruptcy filing and fraud allegations as new facts and circumstances and concluded the alleged fraud existed at the acquisition date for the acquired DC Solar transactions. As a result, the identified impairment for the acquired DC Solar transactions and other related adjustments were recorded as measurement period adjustments to the acquired assets and liability amounts recognized and were offset through provisional goodwill. The impairment and related adjustments for the DC Solar transaction originated post-acquisition have been reflected in fiscal year 2019 earnings. No additional impairment or net financial impact has been recognized since fiscal year 2019. As of September 30, 2020, the underlying assets are ready to be re-leased and are now part of normal business activities.

Measurement Period Adjustments - Other
The Company recorded additional measurement period adjustments in 2019 for provisional tax, compensation liabilities and other liabilities assumed through the Crestmark Acquisition. The Company obtained additional information about facts and circumstances existing at the Crestmark Acquisition date that resulted in a net increase to liabilities and goodwill recognized of $3.8 million.


133

NOTE 11. OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Operating lease ROU assets, included in other assets, were $25.8 million at September 30, 2020.

Operating lease liabilities, included in accrued expenses and other liabilities, were $27.1 million at September 30, 2020.

Undiscounted future minimum operating lease payments and a reconciliation to the amount recorded as operating lease liabilities were as follows:
(Dollars in Thousands)
2021 $ 3,742 
2022 3,479 
2023 2,799 
2024 2,808 
2025 2,755 
Thereafter 15,765 
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments 31,348 
Discount (4,275)
Total operating lease liabilities $ 27,073 

The weighted-average discount rate and remaining lease term for operating leases were as follows:

September 30, 2020
Weighted-average discount rate 2.35  %
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) 11.39

The components of total lease costs for operating leases, included in occupancy and equipment noninterest expense, were as follows:
(Dollars in Thousands) Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
Lease expense $ 3,454 
Short-term and variable lease cost 496 
Sublease income (733)
Total lease cost for operating leases $ 3,217 




NOTE 12.  TIME CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
 
Time certificates of deposit in denominations of $250,000 or more were approximately $231.0 million and $51.4 million at September 30, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
 
At September 30, 2020, the scheduled maturities of time certificates of deposit were as follows for the fiscal years ending: 
(Dollars in Thousands)
2021 $ 247,971 
2022 25,663 
2023 538 
2024 — 
2025 — 
Total (1)
$ 274,172 
(1) As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $253.9 million of certificates of deposit which were recorded in wholesale deposits on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, IRA and non-IRA deposit accounts are permanently insured up to $250,000 by the DIF under management of the FDIC.

NOTE 13.  SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BORROWINGS

Short-Term Borrowings
September 30, 2020 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
Overnight federal funds purchased $ —  $ 642,000 
Repurchase agreements —  4,019 
     Total $ —  $ 646,019 

The Company had no overnight federal funds purchased from the FHLB or from other financial institutions at September 30, 2020, as compared to $477.0 million of overnight federal funds purchased from the FHLB and $165.0 million from other financial institutions at September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no short-term advances from the FHLB.
 
The Bank has executed blanket pledge agreements whereby the Bank assigns, transfers, and pledges to the FHLB and grants to the FHLB a security interest in real estate and securities collateral. The Bank has the right to use, commingle, and dispose of the collateral it has assigned to the FHLB. Under the agreement, the Bank must maintain “eligible collateral” that has a “lending value” at least equal to the “required collateral amount,” all as defined by the agreement.
 
At fiscal year-end 2020 and 2019, the Bank pledged securities with fair values of approximately $673.8 million and $812.2 million, respectively, to be used against FHLB advances as needed. In addition, qualifying real estate loans of approximately $333.8 million, and $928.8 million were pledged as collateral at September 30, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

The company had no securities sold under agreements to repurchase at September 30, 2020 and $4.0 million at September 30, 2019.

135

An analysis of securities sold under agreements to repurchase at September 30, 2020 and 2019 follows:
September 30, 2020 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
Highest month-end balance $ 2,550  $ 4,306 
Average balance 328  3,542 
Weighted average interest rate for the fiscal year 2.00  % 2.67  %
Weighted average interest rate at fiscal year end —  % 2.41  %

As of September 30, 2020, the Company did not have any securities pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreements to repurchase. There were $4.9 million of securities pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreements to repurchase at September 30, 2019.

The Bank has a line of credit with another financial institution for $25.0 million as of September 30, 2020. This line of credit has no fee, and, as of September 30, 2020, the Bank had not drawn on it.

Long-Term Borrowings
September 30, 2020 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
Long-term FHLB advances $ —  $ 110,000 
Trust preferred securities 13,661  13,661 
Subordinated debentures (net of issuance costs) 73,807  73,644 
Other long-term borrowings (1)
10,756  18,533 
     Total $ 98,224  $ 215,838 
(1) Includes $10.6 million of discounted leases and $0.1 million of capital lease obligations at September 30, 2020.

Management extinguished its remaining long-term FHLB advances in the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter. Prior to doing so, the advances had an outstanding balance of $110.0 million at a weighted average cost of 2.41%. The early extinguishment resulted in a pre-tax charge of $1.7 million to other expense in the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter.

At September 30, 2020, the scheduled maturities of the Company's long-term borrowings were as follows for the fiscal years ending:
September 30, Long-term FHLB advances Trust preferred securities Subordinated debentures Other long-term borrowings Total
(Dollars in Thousands)
2021 $ —  $ —  $ —  $ 5,442  $ 5,442 
2022 —  —  —  2,735  2,735 
2023 —  —  —  1,853  1,853 
2024 —  —  —  726  726 
2025 —  —  —  —  — 
Thereafter —  13,661  73,807  —  87,468 
Total long-term borrowings $ —  $ 13,661  $ 73,807  $ 10,756  $ 98,224 

Certain trust preferred securities are due to First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I, a 100%-owned nonconsolidated subsidiary of the Company. The securities were issued in 2001 in conjunction with the Trust’s issuance of 10,000 shares of Trust Preferred Securities. The securities bear the same interest rate and terms as the trust preferred securities. The securities are included on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as liabilities. 

136

The Company issued all of the 10,310 authorized shares of trust preferred securities of First Midwest Financial Capital Trust I holding solely securities. Distributions are paid semi-annually. Cumulative cash distributions are calculated at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% (4.01% at September 30, 2020, and 5.81% at September 30, 2019), not to exceed 12.5%. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the capital securities for up to 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, but not beyond July 25, 2031. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid distributions are required to be paid. The capital securities are required to be redeemed on July 25, 2031; however, the Company has a semi-annual option to shorten the maturity date. The redemption price is $1,000 per capital security plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption.
 
Holders of the capital securities have no voting rights, are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common stock.
 
Although the securities issued by the Trust are not included as a component of stockholders’ equity, the securities are treated as capital for regulatory purposes, subject to certain limitations.

Through the Crestmark Acquisition, the Company acquired $3.4 million in floating rate capital securities due to Crestmark Capital Trust I, a 100%-owned nonconsolidated subsidiary of the Company. The subordinated debentures bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.00%, have a stated maturity of 30 years and are redeemable by the Company at par, with regulatory approval. The interest rate is reset quarterly at distribution dates in February, May, August, and November. The interest rate as of September 30, 2020 was 3.23%. The Company has the option to defer interest payments on the subordinated debentures from time to time for a period not to exceed five consecutive years.

The Company completed the public offering of $75.0 million of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures during fiscal year 2016. These notes are due August 15, 2026. The subordinated debentures were sold at par, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $73.9 million. At September 30, 2020, the Company had $73.8 million in aggregate principal amount in subordinated debentures, net of issuance costs of $1.2 million.

NOTE 14.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Repurchase of Common Stock
During fiscal year 2020, the Company repurchased 3,669,597 shares of its common stock, at an average price of $33.04 per share, which exhausted the remaining shares available for repurchase by the Company under the March 26, 2019 share repurchase program. The Company's Board of Directors authorized the November 20, 2019 share repurchase program to repurchase up to an additional 7,500,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. This authorization is effective from November 21, 2019 through December 31, 2022. The Company suspended its share repurchase activity in March 2020 and resumed repurchase activity during September 2020.
Under the repurchase program, repurchased shares were retired and designated as authorized but unissued shares. The Company accounts for repurchased shares using the par value method under which the repurchase price is charged to paid-in capital up to the amount of the original proceeds of those shares. When the repurchase price is greater than the original issue proceeds, the excess is charged to retained earnings. As of September 30, 2020, the remaining number of shares available for repurchase under this program was 4,149,631 shares of common stock.
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, the Company also repurchased 103,830 and 104,219 shares, or $3.2 million and $3.4 million, of common stock, respectively, in settlement of employee tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock.

Repurchase of Treasury Stock
On June 25, 2019, Meta retired $5.0 million, or 114,558 shares, of common stock held in treasury. The Company accounts for the retirement of repurchased shares, including treasury stock, using the par value method under which the repurchase price is charged to paid-in capital up to the amount of the original proceeds of those shares. When the repurchase price is greater than the original issue proceeds, the excess is charged to retained earnings. No shares of common stock held in treasury were retired during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.


137

NOTE 15.  EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS
 
The Company maintains an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) for eligible employees who have 1,000 hours of employment with the Bank, have worked at least one year at the Bank and who have attained age 21. ESOP expense of $3.0 million, $2.9 million and $2.1 million was recorded for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
 
Contributions to the ESOP and shares released from suspense are allocated among ESOP participants on the basis of compensation in the year of allocation. Benefits generally become 100% vested after seven years of credited service. Prior to the completion of seven years of credited service, a participant who terminates employment for reasons other than death or disability receives a reduced benefit based on the ESOP’s vesting schedule. Forfeitures are reallocated among remaining participating employees in the same proportion as contributions. Benefits are payable in the form of stock upon termination of employment. The Company’s contributions to the ESOP are not fixed, so benefits payable under the ESOP cannot be estimated.
 
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, 157,909 shares, 98,753 shares and 72,996 shares, from the suspense account, with a fair value of $19.22, $32.61 and $27.55 per share, respectively, were released. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, allocated shares and total ESOP shares reflect 59,865 shares, 79,926 shares and 6,687 shares, respectively, withdrawn from the ESOP by participants who were no longer with the Company or by participants diversifying their holdings. At September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were 5,662, 5,336 and 3,987 shares purchased, respectively, for dividend reinvestment.

Fiscal year-end ESOP shares are as follows: 
At September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Allocated shares 809,116  778,088  812,346 
Unearned shares —  —  — 
Total ESOP shares 809,116  778,088  812,346 
Fair value of unearned shares $ —  $ —  $ — 

The Company also has a profit sharing plan covering substantially all full-time employees. Profit sharing expense included in compensation and benefits, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $3.1 million, $3.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively. As of October 1, 2020, the Company modified its profit sharing plan to incorporate a Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA) safe harbor provision, whereby employee contributions are matched at 100% of the first 4% of eligible compensation contributed.
 
NOTE 16.  STOCK COMPENSATION
 
The Company maintains the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the "2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan"), which, among other things, provides for the awarding of stock options and nonvested (restricted) shares to certain officers and directors of the Company. Awards are granted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors based on the performance of the award recipients or other relevant factors.

The following table shows the effect to income, net of tax benefits, of share-based expense recorded:

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Total employee stock-based compensation expense recognized in income, net of tax effects of $2,567, $3,230, and $3,139, respectively
$ 7,656  $ 9,716  $ 7,878 

As of September 30, 2020, stock-based compensation expense not yet recognized in income totaled $7.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of 2.52 years.
 
138

At grant date, the fair value of options awarded to recipients is estimated using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The exercise price of stock options equals the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant. Options are issued for a period of 10 years with 100% vesting generally occurring either at grant date or over a period of four years. No options were granted during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 or 2018. The intrinsic value of options exercised during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $1.0 million, $1.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively.
 
Shares have previously been granted each year to executives and senior leadership members under the applicable Company incentive plan. These shares vest at various times ranging from immediately to four years based on circumstances at time of grant. The fair value is determined based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. Director shares are issued to the Company’s directors, and these shares vest immediately. The total fair value of director’s shares granted during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $0.8 million, $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
 
In addition to the Company’s 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Company also maintains the 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. No new options were, or could have been, awarded under the 1995 plan during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 or 2018.

In addition, during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2017, shares were granted to certain executive officers of the Company in connection with their signing of employment agreements with the Company. These stock awards vest in equal installments over eight years.

The following tables show the activity of options and share awards (including shares of restricted stock subject to vesting and fully-vested restricted stock) granted, exercised or forfeited under all of the Company’s option and incentive plans during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
  Number
of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Yrs)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Options outstanding, September 30, 2019 59,835  $ 8.06  1.54 $ 1,469 
Granted —  —  —  — 
Exercised (59,835) 8.06  1.00 1,011 
Forfeited or expired —  —  —  — 
Options outstanding, September 30, 2020 —  $ —  0 $ — 
Options exercisable end of fiscal year —  $ —  0 $ — 

  Number
of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Yrs)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Options outstanding, September 30, 2018 155,961  $ 8.48  1.78 $ 2,974 
Granted —  —  —  — 
Exercised (93,099) 8.68  —  1,842 
Forfeited or expired (3,027) 10.60  —  33 
Options outstanding, September 30, 2019 59,835  $ 8.06  1.54 $ 1,469 
Options exercisable end of fiscal year 59,835  $ 8.06  1.54 $ 1,469 

139

  Number of
Shares
Weighted Average
Fair Value At Grant
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Nonvested shares outstanding, September 30, 2019 926,122  $ 29.54 
Granted 191,372  32.32 
Vested (316,283) 29.92 
Forfeited or expired (11,128) 31.35 
Nonvested shares outstanding, September 30, 2020 790,083  $ 30.03 

  Number of
Shares
Weighted Average
Fair Value At Grant
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Nonvested shares outstanding, September 30, 2018 1,005,813  $ 29.89 
Granted 315,802  25.18 
Vested (391,061) 26.97 
Forfeited or expired (4,432) 25.98 
Nonvested shares outstanding, September 30, 2019 926,122  $ 29.54 

NOTE 17.  INCOME TAXES

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return on a fiscal year basis. The provision for income taxes for the years presented below consisted of the following: 
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Federal:
Current $ 3,148  $ 5,278  $ (4,023)
Deferred (4,505) (14,831) 5,895 
  (1,357) (9,553) 1,872 
State:      
Current 4,860  5,649  2,611 
Deferred 2,158  530  634 
  7,018  6,179  3,245 
Income tax (benefit) expense $ 5,661  $ (3,374) $ 5,117 

140

The tax effects of the Company's temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of its deferred tax assets and liabilities were:
September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019
Deferred tax assets:
Bad debts $ 13,968  $ 6,805 
Deferred compensation 1,288  1,626 
Stock based compensation 4,073  4,296 
Valuation adjustments 5,343  6,596 
General business credits(1)
37,888  27,935 
Accrued expenses 2,155  3,767 
Lease liability 6,798  — 
Other assets 3,215  3,144 
  74,728  54,169 
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Premises and equipment (2,852) (3,084)
Intangibles (2,114) (1,812)
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale (5,964) (2,146)
Deferred income —  (179)
Leased assets (35,279) (24,996)
Right-of-use assets (6,550) — 
Other liabilities (4,246) (3,068)
  (57,005) (35,285)
Net deferred tax assets $ 17,723  $ 18,884 
(1) The general business credits are investment tax credits generated from qualified solar energy property placed in service during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. These credits expire on September 30, 2040.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had a gross deferred tax asset of $2.4 million for separate company state cumulative net operating loss carryforwards, for which $2.4 million was reserved. At September 30, 2019, the Company had a gross deferred tax asset of $2.0 million for separate company state cumulative net operating loss carryforwards, for which $2.0 million was reserved. These state operating loss carryforwards will expire in various subsequent periods.

In general, management believes that the realization of its deferred tax assets is more likely than not based on the expectations as to future taxable income; therefore, there was no deferred tax valuation allowance at September 30, 2020, or 2019 with the exception of the state cumulative net operating loss carryforwards discussed above.

141

The table below reconciles the statutory federal income tax expense and rate to the effective income tax expense and rate for the fiscal years presented. The Company's effective tax rate is calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income tax expense.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands) Amount Rate Amount Rate Amount Rate
Statutory federal income tax expense and rate $ 24,151  21.0  % $ 20,568  21.0  % $ 14,082  24.5  %
Change in tax rate resulting from:
State income taxes net of federal benefits 5,444  4.7  % 5,000  5.1  % 2,461  4.3  %
162(m) disallowance 1,129  1.0  % 2,777  2.8  % —  —  %
Tax exempt income (1,212) (1.0) % (2,714) (2.8) % (6,968) (12.1) %
Nondeductible acquisition costs —  —  % —  —  % 1,295  2.3  %
General business credits (22,284) (19.4) % (27,126) (27.7) % (3,948) (6.9) %
Tax reform —  —  % —  —  % 3,849  6.7  %
Amended Crestmark Bancorp historical tax return —  —  % —  —  % (4,644) (8.1) %
Other, net (1,567) (1.4) % (1,879) (1.8) % (1,010) (1.7) %
Income tax expense (benefit) $ 5,661  4.9  % $ (3,374) (3.4) % $ 5,117  9.0  %

The provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, address the determination of how tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Under ASC 740, the Company recognizes the tax benefits from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur, including the resolution of any related appeals or litigation. The tax benefits recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements from such a position are measured as the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.

The Company uses the flow through method of accounting for investment tax credits under which the credits are recognized as a reduction to income tax expense in the period in which the credit arises. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, $20.5 million, $27.1 million, and $4.0 million in investment tax credits were recognized as a reduction to income tax expense, respectively.

The Company’s tax reserves reflect management’s judgment as to the resolution of the issues involved if subject to judicial review. While the Company believes that its reserves are adequate to cover reasonably expected tax risks, there can be no assurance that, in all instances, an issue raised by a tax authority will be resolved at a financial cost that does not exceed its related reserve. With respect to these reserves, the Company’s income tax expense would include (i) any changes in tax reserves arising from material changes during the period in the facts and circumstances surrounding a tax issue, and (ii) any difference from the Company’s tax position as recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the final resolution of a tax issue during the period.

The tax years ended September 30, 2017 and later remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. For state purposes, the tax years ended September 30, 2017 and later remain open for examination, with few exceptions.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for liabilities associated with unrecognized tax benefits follows: 
September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) 2020 2019
Balance at beginning of fiscal year $ 368  $ 434 
Additions (reductions) for tax positions related to prior years 723  (66)
Balance at end of fiscal year $ 1,091  $ 368 
 

142

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective rate was $981,000 as of September 30, 2020. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The amount of accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits was $115,000 as of September 30, 2020. The Company does not anticipate any significant change in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The Company does not expect significant income tax impacts due to the CARES Act, which was signed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company adopted ASU 2018-02 as of October 1, 2020. The amendments in this ASU allow for a reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings for stranded tax effects from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). For the Company, these amendments are limited to any unrealized gains and losses held in Other Comprehensive Income for available-for-sale debt securities held at the time of the TCJA enactment. The Company determined there were no stranded tax effects from the TCJA enactment and has not made any reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings upon adoption of this ASU.

NOTE 18.  CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON RETAINED EARNINGS
 
As U.S. banking organizations, the Company and the Bank are required to comply with the regulatory capital rules adopted by the Federal Reserve and the OCC (the "Capital Rules") that became effective on January 1, 2015, subject to phase-in periods for certain requirements and other provisions of the Capital Rules. Under the Capital Rules and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and Bank’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

The Capital Rules require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum ratios (set forth in the table below) of total risk-based capital and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and a leverage ratio consisting of Tier 1 capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined). At September 30, 2020, both the Bank and the Company exceeded federal regulatory minimum capital requirements to be classified as well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action requirements. The Company and the Bank took the accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) opt-out election; under the rule, non-advanced approach banking organizations were given a one-time option to exclude certain AOCI components. 

The table below includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that are used by investors, analysts and bank regulatory agencies to assess the capital position of financial services companies. Management reviews these measures along with other measures of capital as part of its financial analyses and has included this non-GAAP financial information, and the corresponding reconciliation to total equity.
  Company Bank Minimum to be Adequately Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Minimum to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
September 30, 2020
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio 6.58  % 7.56  % 4.00  % 5.00  %
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio 11.78  13.96  4.50  6.50 
Tier 1 capital ratio 12.18  14.00  6.00  8.00 
Total capital ratio 15.30  15.26  8.00  10.00 
September 30, 2019        
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio 8.33  % 9.65  % 4.00  % 5.00  %
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio 10.35  12.31  4.50  6.50 
Tier 1 capital ratio 10.71  12.37  6.00  8.00 
Total capital ratio 13.01  13.02  8.00  10.00 

143

The following table provides a reconciliation of the amounts included in the table above for the Company.
 
Standardized Approach(1)
September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands)
Total stockholders' equity $ 847,308 
Adjustments:
LESS: Goodwill, net of associated deferred tax liabilities 302,396 
LESS: Certain other intangible assets 40,964 
LESS: Net deferred tax assets from operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards 18,361 
LESS: Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities 17,762 
LESS: Noncontrolling interest 3,603 
Common Equity Tier 1 (1)
464,222 
Long-term borrowings and other instruments qualifying as Tier 1 13,661 
Tier 1 minority interest not included in common equity tier 1 capital 1,894 
Total Tier 1 capital 479,777 
Allowance for loan and lease losses 49,343 
Subordinated debentures (net of issuance costs) 73,807 
Total capital $ 602,927 
(1) Capital ratios were determined using the Capital Rules that became effective on January 1, 2015. The Capital Rules revised the definition of capital, increased minimum capital ratios, and introduced a minimum common equity tier 1 capital ratio; those changes are being fully phased in through the end of 2021.

The following table provides a reconciliation of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI, each of which is used in calculating tangible book value data, to Total Stockholders' Equity. Each of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI is a non-GAAP financial measure that is commonly used within the banking industry.

(Dollars in Thousands) September 30, 2020
Total stockholders' equity $ 847,308 
LESS: Goodwill 309,505 
LESS: Intangible assets 41,692 
Tangible common equity 496,111 
LESS: AOCI 17,542 
Tangible common equity excluding AOCI $ 478,569 

Since January 1, 2016, the Company and the Bank have been required to maintain a capital conservation buffer above the minimum risk-based capital requirements in order to avoid certain limitations on capital distributions, stock repurchases and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital conservation buffer is exclusively composed of Common Equity Tier 1 capital, and it applies to each of the three risk-based capital ratios but not the leverage ratio. The required Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios with the buffer are currently 7.0%, 8.5% and 10.5%, respectively.

NOTE 19.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
In the normal course of business, the Bank makes various commitments to extend credit which are not reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements as described below.
 
At September 30, 2020 and 2019, unfunded loan commitments approximated $1.22 billion and $978.1 million, respectively, excluding undisbursed portions of loans in process. Commitments, which are disbursed subject to certain limitations, extend over various periods of time. Generally, unused commitments are canceled upon expiration of the commitment term as outlined in each individual contract.
 
144

The Company had no commitments to purchase securities at September 30, 2020 or September 30, 2019. The Company had no commitments to sell securities at September 30, 2020 or September 30, 2019.
 
The exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by other parties to financial instruments for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The same credit policies and collateral requirements are used in making commitments and conditional obligations as are used for on-balance-sheet instruments. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company had an allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures of $0.1 million. This amount is maintained as a separate liability account within other liabilities.
 
Since certain commitments to make loans and to fund lines of credit expire without being used, the amount does not necessarily represent future cash commitments. In addition, commitments used to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
The Bank was served, on October 14, 2016, with a lawsuit captioned Card Limited, LLC v. MetaBank dba Meta Payment Systems, Civil No. 2:16-cv-00980 in the United States District Court for the District of Utah. This action was initiated by a former prepaid program manager of the Bank, which was terminated by the Bank in fiscal year 2016. Card Limited alleges that, after all of the programs were wound down, there were two accounts with positive balances to which Card Limited is entitled. The Bank’s position is that Card Limited is not entitled to the funds contained in said accounts. The total amount to which Card Limited claims it is entitled is $4.0 million. The Court ruled in favor of MetaBank on cross motions for summary judgment and vacated the trial. Card Limited has the right to appeal. The Bank intends to continue to vigorously defend this claim, if appealed. An estimate of a range of reasonably possible loss cannot be made at this stage of the litigation.

On February 9, 2018, the Bank’s AFS/IBEX division filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York captioned AFS/IBEX, a division of MetaBank v. Aegis Managing Agency Limited ("AMA"), Aegis Syndicate 1225 (together with AMA, the "Aegis defendants"), CRC Insurance Services, Inc. ("CRC"), and Transportation Underwriters, Inc. The suit was filed against commercial insurance underwriters and brokers that facilitated the issuance of commercial insurance policies to Red Hook Construction Group-II, LLC (“Red Hook”). The Bank’s position is that both CRC and Transportation Underwriters represented to the Bank that, upon cancellation of the insurance policies prior to their stated terms, any unearned premiums would be refunded. The Bank then provided insurance premium financing to Red Hook, and Red Hook executed a written premium finance agreement pursuant to which Red Hook assigned its rights to any unearned premiums to the Bank. After the policies were cancelled, the Aegis defendants failed to return the unearned insurance premiums totaling just over $1.6 million owed to the Bank under the insurance policies and the premium finance agreement. The Bank is seeking recovery of all amounts to which it is entitled at law or equity and intends to vigorously pursue its claims against the defendants.

From time to time, the Company or its subsidiaries are subject to certain legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. Accruals have been recorded when the outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated. While management currently believes that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations, legal proceedings are inherently uncertain and unfavorable resolution of some or all of these matters could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses, financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 20.  LEASE COMMITMENTS
 
The Company has leased property under various non-cancelable operating lease agreements which expire at various times through 2036, and require annual rentals ranging from $2,000 to $867,000 plus the payment of property taxes, normal maintenance, and insurance on certain properties. The Company is also a party to capital lease agreements for building and equipment that expire at various times through fiscal year 2035. Interest expense for these capital lease obligations was $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, and is included in interest expense. Depreciation expense for the capital lease assets was $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and is included in noninterest expense. The Company adopted ASC 842, Leasing, effective October 1, 2019. Refer to Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional information on adoption impact and Note 11. Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets and Liabilities for additional information on current period lease commitments.
145

The following table shows the total minimum rental commitment for the Company's operating and capital leases for each of the fiscal years presented below as of September 30 and thereafter.
  Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(Dollars in Thousands) Operating
Leases
Capital
Leases
2020 $ 3,709  $ 216 
2021 3,429  216 
2022 2,955  216 
2023 2,561  216 
2024 2,457  194 
Thereafter 18,971  1,876 
Total leases commitments $ 34,082  $ 2,934 
Amounts representing interest   $ 986 
Present value of net minimum lease payments   1,948 

NOTE 21. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

Topic 606 applies to all contracts with customers unless such revenue is specifically addressed under existing guidance. The table below presents the Company’s revenue by operating segment. For additional descriptions of the Company’s operating segments, including additional financial information and the underlying management accounting process, see Note 22. Segment Reporting to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(Dollars in Thousands) Consumer Commercial Corporate Services/Other Consolidated Company
Year Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
Net interest income(1)
$ 108,085  $ 79,010  $ 150,766  $ 152,565  $ 187  $ 32,632  $ 259,038  $ 264,207 
Noninterest income:
Refund transfer product fees 36,061  39,198  —  —  —  —  36,061  39,198 
Tax advance product fees(1)
31,826  34,687  —  —  —  —  31,826  34,687 
Payment card and deposit fees 87,379  87,130  —  —  —  —  87,379  87,130 
Other bank and deposit fees —  —  984  1,163  326  779  1,310  1,942 
Rental income(1)
19  12  43,493  40,533  1,314  508  44,826  41,053 
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale, net(1)
—  —  —  —  51  729  51  729 
Gain on divestitures(1)
—  —  —  —  19,275  —  19,275  — 
(Loss) gain on sale of other(1)
(19) 241  9,587  7,511  (5,143) 79  4,425  7,831 
Other income(1)
3,045  944  6,087  5,017  5,509  4,014  14,641  9,975 
Total noninterest income 158,311  162,212  60,151  54,224  21,332  6,109  239,794  222,545 
Revenue $ 266,396  $ 241,222  $ 210,917  $ 206,789  $ 21,519  $ 38,741  $ 498,832  $ 486,752 
(1) These revenues are not within the scope of Topic 606. Additional details are included in other footnotes to the accompanying financial statements. The scope of Topic 606 explicitly excludes net interest income as well as many other revenues for financial assets and liabilities, including loans, leases, and securities.


146

Following is a discussion of key revenues within the scope of Topic 606. The Company provides services to customers that have related performance obligations that must be completed to recognize revenue. Revenues are generally recognized immediately upon the completion of the service or over time as services are performed. Any services performed over time generally require that the Company renders services each period; therefore, the Company measures progress in completing these services based upon the passage of time. Revenue from contracts with customers did not generate significant contract assets and liabilities.

Refund Transfer Product Fees
Refund transfer fees are specific to the tax products offered by Refund Advantage and EPS. These fees are for products, services such as payment processing, and product referral commissions. Software partner fees paid and/or incurred are recorded on a net basis. The Company’s obligation for product fees and commissions is satisfied at the time of the product delivery and obligation for payment processing is satisfied at the time of processing. The transaction price for such activity is based upon stand-alone fees within the terms and conditions. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, there were no receivables related to refund transfer fees, which reflect earned revenue with unconditional rights to payment for product fee income. All refund transfer fees are recorded within the Consumer reporting segment.

Card Fees
Card fees relate to MPS, Community Bank, Refund Advantage and EPS products. These fees are for products and services such as card activation, product support, processing, and servicing. The Company earns these fees based upon the underlying terms and conditions with each cardholder over the contract term. Agreements with the Company’s cardholders are considered daily service contracts as they are not fixed in duration. The Company’s obligation for card activation and product support fees is satisfied at the time of product delivery, while the obligation for processing and servicing is satisfied over the course of each month. The transaction price for such activity is based upon the stand-alone fees within the terms and conditions of the cardholder agreements. Card fee revenue also includes income from sponsorships, associations and networks, and interchange income. Sponsorship income relates to fees charged to the Company’s ATM sponsorship partners, where the obligation is satisfied over the course of each month. Association and network income reflect incentives, performance bonuses and rebates with MasterCard and Visa. The obligation for such income is satisfied at the time when certain thresholds of transaction volume have been met. Interchange income is generated by cardholder activity, and therefore the Company’s obligations are satisfied as activity occurs. The transaction price for such activity is based on underlying rates and activity thresholds within the terms and conditions of the applicable agreements. Card fee revenue also includes breakage revenue. Breakage represents the estimated amount that will not be redeemed by the holder of unregistered, unused prepaid cards for goods or services. Breakage revenue is recognized ratably over the expected customer usage period and is an estimate based on cardholder behavior and breakage rates. Breakage is also impacted by escheatment laws. Card fees are recorded within both the Consumer and Commercial reporting segments, the substantial majority of which is derived from the Company's payments division and reported in payments card and deposit fees. Card fees related to the Community Bank are reported within other bank and deposit fees.

Bank and Deposit Fees
Fees are earned on depository accounts for consumer and commercial customers and include fees for account services, overdraft services, safety deposit box rentals, and event-driven services (i.e. returned checks, ATM surcharge, card replacement, wire transfers, and stop pays). The Company’s obligation for event-driven services is satisfied at the time of the event when the service is delivered, while its obligation for account services is satisfied over the course of each month. The Company’s obligation for overdraft services is satisfied at the time of overdraft. The transaction price for such activity is based upon stand-alone fees within the terms and conditions of the deposit agreements. Bank and deposit fees are recorded within both the Consumer and Commercial reporting segments, the majority of which are derived from the Company's payments division. Bank and deposit fees related to the Community Bank are reported within other bank and deposit fees.


147

Principal vs Agent
The Consumer reporting segment includes principal/agent relationships. Within this segment, MPS relationships are recorded on a gross basis within the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as Meta is the principal in the contract, with the exception of association/network contracts and partner/processor contracts for prepaid cards, which are recorded on a net basis within the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Meta is the agent in these contracts. Also within this segment, Tax Service relationships are recorded on a gross basis within the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as Meta is the principal in the contract, with the exception of contracts with software providers and merchants, which are recorded on a net basis within the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Meta is the agent in these contracts.

NOTE 22.  SEGMENT REPORTING
 
An operating segment is generally defined as a component of a business for which discrete financial information is available and whose results are reviewed by the chief operating decision-maker. Operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments if certain criteria are met.

In the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company reported its results of operations through three business segments: Payments, Banking, and Corporate Services/Other. Beginning October 1, 2019, segments are now aligned with the new management operating structure implemented by the Company for fiscal year 2020. The Company accordingly has changed its basis of presentation for segments, and following such change, reports its results of operations through the following three business segments: Consumer, Commercial, and Corporate Services/Other. The Meta Payment Systems and Tax Services divisions, formerly reported in the Payments segment, are now included in the Consumer segment. The Warehouse Finance, Consumer Credit Products and ClearBalance business lines, previously reported in the Banking segment, are now included in the Consumer segment. The Crestmark and AFS divisions, formerly reported in the Banking segment, are now included in the Commercial segment. The Community Bank division and Student Loan lending portfolio, previously reported in the Banking segment, are now included in the Corporate Services/Other segment. The Corporate Services/Other segment also includes certain shared services as well as treasury related functions such as the investment portfolio, wholesale deposits and borrowings. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The Company does not report indirect general and administrative expenses in the Consumer and Commercial segments.

The following tables present segment data for the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
  Consumer Commercial Corporate Services/Other Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
Net interest income $ 108,085  $ 150,766  $ 187  $ 259,038 
Provision for loan and lease losses 21,838  29,296  13,642  64,776 
Noninterest income 158,311  60,151  21,332  239,794 
Noninterest expense 76,651  107,802  134,598  319,051 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 167,907  73,819  (126,721) 115,005 
Total assets 588,216  2,836,149  2,667,709  6,092,074 
Total goodwill 87,145  222,360  —  309,505 
Total deposits 4,555,999  6,226  416,975  4,979,200 

148

  Consumer Commercial Corporate Services/Other Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019
Net interest income $ 79,010  $ 152,565  $ 32,632  $ 264,207 
Provision for loan and lease losses 25,336  21,901  8,413  55,650 
Noninterest income 162,212  54,224  6,109  222,545 
Noninterest expense 77,153  127,033  128,974  333,160 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 138,733  57,855  (98,646) 97,942 
Total assets 700,365  2,432,381  3,050,144  6,182,890 
Total goodwill 87,145  222,360  —  309,505 
Total deposits 2,444,452  5,588  1,886,965  4,337,005 

Consumer Commercial Corporate Services/Other Total
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2018
Net interest income $ 26,111  $ 34,294  $ 70,144  $ 130,549 
Provision for loan losses 22,202  1,968  5,262  29,432 
Noninterest income (expense) 176,257  11,955  (3,687) 184,525 
Noninterest expense 97,288  36,422  94,522  228,232 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 82,878  7,859  (33,327) 57,410 
Total assets 344,919  1,942,283  3,547,865  5,835,067 
Total goodwill 87,145  216,125  —  303,270 
Total deposits 2,419,773  4,939  2,006,275  4,430,987 



149

NOTE 23.  PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Presented below are condensed financial statements for the parent company, Meta, at the dates and for the fiscal years presented below.
 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
September 30, 2020 2019
(Dollars in Thousands)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,783  $ 8,111 
Investment securities held to maturity, at cost 1,208  411 
Investment in subsidiaries 933,431  933,196 
Other assets 3,308  159 
Total assets $ 942,730  $ 941,877 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
LIABILITIES    
Long-term borrowings $ 87,468  $ 87,305 
Other liabilities 7,954  10,614 
Total liabilities $ 95,422  $ 97,919 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Common stock $ 344  $ 378 
Additional paid-in capital 594,569  580,826 
Retained earnings 234,927  252,813 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 17,542  6,339 
Treasury stock, at cost (3,677) (445)
Total equity attributable to parent 843,705  839,911 
Noncontrolling interest 3,603  4,047 
Total stockholders' equity 847,308  843,958 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 942,730  $ 941,877 
150

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
Interest expense $ 5,168  $ 5,296  $ 5,061 
Other expense 1,256  1,044  663 
Total expense 6,424  6,340  5,724 
Loss before income taxes and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries (6,424) (6,340) (5,724)
Income tax (benefit) (3,638) (1,374) (1,504)
Loss before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries (2,786) (4,966) (4,220)
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries 107,476  101,970  55,840 
Other income 30  —  — 
Total Income 107,506  101,970  55,840 
Net income attributable to parent $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620 
 
151

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2020 2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income attributable to parent $ 104,720  $ 97,004  $ 51,620 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net 163  153  143 
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries (107,476) (101,970) (55,840)
Stock compensation 10,221  12,942  11,123 
Net change:
Other assets (3,149) (35) 232 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (2,660) (6,468) (860)
Cash dividend received 118,000  33,980  45,315 
Net cash provided by operating activities 119,819  35,606  51,733 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Held to maturity:
Proceeds from maturities and principal repayments —  — 
Capital contributions to subsidiaries —  —  (20,322)
Alternative Investments (797) —  — 
Net cash (used in) investing activities (797) —  (20,314)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash dividends paid (7,100) (7,760) (5,736)
Payment:
Short-term borrowings —  —  (11,642)
Long-term borrowings —  —  (258)
Purchase of shares by ESOP 3,220  2,011  1,606 
Proceeds/(payment):
Exercise of stock options & issuance of common stock 266  44  148 
Issuance of restricted stock
Issuance of commons shares due to acquisitions —  —  295,767 
Cash acquired due to acquisitions —  —  697 
Net increase in investment in subsidiaries —  (90) (295,767)
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on stock compensation (118,738) (49,912) (2,598)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (122,350) (55,704) (17,779)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents $ (3,328) $ (20,098) $ 13,640 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS    
Beginning of fiscal year 8,111  28,209  14,569 
End of fiscal year $ 4,783  $ 8,111  $ 28,209 

The extent to which the Company may pay cash dividends to stockholders will depend on the cash currently available at the Company, as well as the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company. For further discussion, see Note 18 herein.

152

NOTE 24.  SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

  QUARTER ENDED
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data) December 31 March 31 June 30 September 30
Fiscal Year 2020
Interest and dividend income $ 77,625  $ 79,403  $ 67,406  $ 68,407 
Interest expense 12,974  11,666  5,269  3,894 
Net interest income 64,651  67,737  62,137  64,513 
Provision for loan and lease losses 3,407  37,296  15,093  8,980 
Noninterest income 37,483  120,513  41,048  40,750 
Net income attributable to parent 21,068  52,304  18,190  13,158 
Earnings per common share        
Basic $ 0.56  $ 1.45  $ 0.53  $ 0.38 
Diluted 0.56  1.45  0.53  0.38 
Dividend declared per share 0.05  0.05  0.05  0.05 
Fiscal Year 2019        
Interest and dividend income $ 74,976  $ 88,294  $ 81,632  $ 80,828 
Interest expense 14,704  16,944  14,664  15,211 
Net interest income 60,272  71,350  66,968  65,617 
Provision for loan and lease losses 9,099  33,318  9,112  4,121 
Noninterest income 37,751  105,025  43,790  35,980 
Net income attributable to parent 15,398  32,120  29,291  20,195 
Earnings per common share        
Basic $ 0.39  $ 0.81  $ 0.75  $ 0.53 
Diluted 0.39  0.81  0.75  0.53 
Dividend declared per share 0.05  0.05  0.05  0.05 
Fiscal Year 2018        
Interest and dividend income $ 30,857  $ 33,371  $ 34,104  $ 60,202 
Interest expense 4,661  5,966  5,693  11,665 
Net interest income 26,196  27,405  28,411  48,537 
Provision (recovery) for loan losses 1,068  18,343  5,315  4,706 
Noninterest income 29,268  97,419  33,225  24,613 
Net income attributable to parent 4,670  31,436  6,792  8,722 
Earnings per common share        
Basic $ 0.15  $ 1.07  $ 0.22  $ 0.24 
Diluted 0.15  1.06  0.22  0.24 
Dividend declared per share 0.04  0.04  0.04  0.05 


153

NOTE 25.  FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities using a hierarchy system and requires disclosures about fair value measurement. It clarifies that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts.
 
The fair value hierarchy is as follows:
 
Level 1 Inputs - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets that the Company has the ability to access at measurement date.

Level 2 Inputs - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions are observable in the market.
 
Level 3 Inputs - Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market and are used only to the extent that observable inputs are not available. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
 
There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 or 2019.
 
Debt Securities Available for Sale and Held to Maturity. Debt securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and debt securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost.
 
The fair values of available for sale debt securities are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs), or valuation based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model‑based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions are observable in the market (Level 2 inputs). The Company considers these valuations supplied by a third-party provider which utilizes several sources for valuing fixed-income securities. These sources include Interactive Data Corporation, Reuters, Standard and Poor’s, Bloomberg Financial Markets, Street Software Technology and the third‑party provider’s own matrix and desk pricing. The Company, no less than annually, reviews the third-party provider's methods and source’s methodology for reasonableness and to ensure an understanding of inputs utilized in determining fair value. Sources utilized by the third-party provider include but are not limited to pricing models that vary based on asset class and include available trade, bid, and other market information. This methodology includes but is not limited to broker quotes, proprietary models, descriptive terms and conditions databases, as well as extensive quality control programs. Monthly, the Company receives and compares prices provided by multiple securities dealers and pricing providers to validate the accuracy and reasonableness of prices received from the third-party provider; and our Investment Committee reviews mark-to-market changes in the securities portfolio for reasonableness.

Equity Securities. Marketable equity securities and certain non-marketable equity securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values of marketable equity securities are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs).

154

The following table summarizes the fair values of debt securities available for sale and equity securities as they are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
  Fair Value At September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands) Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 164,955  $   $ 164,955  $  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions 841    841   
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 323,774    323,774   
Asset-backed securities 324,925    324,925   
Mortgage-backed securities 453,607    453,607   
Total debt securities AFS $ 1,268,102  $ —  $ 1,268,102  $ — 
Common equities and mutual funds(1)
$ 2,969  $ 2,969  $ —  $  
Non-marketable equity securities(2)
$ 2,784  $ —  $ —  $ — 
(1) Equity securities at fair value are included within other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
(2) Consists of certain non-marketable equity securities that are measured at fair value using net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

  Fair Value At September 30, 2019
(Dollars in Thousands) Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Debt securities AFS
SBA securities $ 185,982  $   $ 185,982  $  
Obligations of states and political subdivisions 874    874   
Non-bank qualified obligations of states and political subdivisions 400,557  —  400,557  — 
Asset-backed securities 302,534  —  302,534  — 
Mortgage-backed securities 382,546    382,546   
Total debt securities AFS $ 1,272,493  $ —  $ 1,272,493  $ — 
Common equities and mutual funds(1)
$ 2,606  $ 2,606  $ —  $  
Non-marketable equity securities(2)
$ 1,669  $ —  $ —  $ — 
(1) Equity securities at fair value are included within other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
(2) Consists of certain non-marketable equity securities that are measured at fair value using net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

Foreclosed Real Estate and Repossessed Assets. Real estate properties and repossessed assets are initially recorded at the fair value less selling costs at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. The carrying amount represents the lower of the new cost basis or the fair value less selling costs of foreclosed assets that were measured at fair value subsequent to their initial classification as foreclosed assets.
 
Loans and Leases. The Company does not record loans and leases at fair value on a recurring basis. However, if a loan or lease is considered impaired, an allowance for loan and lease losses is established. Once a loan or lease is identified as individually impaired, management measures impairment in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables. See Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net for further information.
 
155

The following table summarizes the assets of the Company that are measured at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition on a non-recurring basis: 
  Fair Value At September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands) Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Impaired loans and leases, net
Commercial finance $ 9,240  $ —  $ —  $ 9,240 
Total National Lending 9,240  —  —  9,240 
Commercial real estate and operating 20  —  —  20 
Total Community Banking 20  —  —  20 
Total impaired loans and leases, net 9,260  —  —  9,260 
Foreclosed assets, net 9,957  —  —  9,957 
Total $ 19,217  $ —  $ —  $ 19,217 

  Fair Value At September 30, 2019
(Dollars in Thousands) Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Impaired loans and leases, net
Commercial finance $ 8,707  $ —  $ —  $ 8,707 
Total National Lending 8,707  —  —  8,707 
Total impaired loans and leases, net 8,707  —  —  8,707 
Foreclosed assets, net 29,494  —  —  29,494 
Total $ 38,201  $ —  $ —  $ 38,201 

Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
(Dollars in Thousands) Fair Value at
September 30, 2020
Fair Value at
September 30, 2019
Valuation
Technique
Unobservable Input Range of Inputs
Impaired loans and leases, net $ 9,260  8,707  Market approach
Appraised values(1)
4% - 10%
Foreclosed assets, net $ 9,957  29,494  Market approach
Appraised values(1)
4% - 30%
(1) The Company generally relies on external appraisers to develop this information. Management reduced the appraised value by estimated selling costs and other inputs in a range of 4% to 30%.

The following tables disclose the Company’s estimated fair value amounts of its financial instruments at the dates set forth below. It is management’s belief that the fair values presented below are reasonable based on the valuation techniques and data available to the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, as more fully described below. The operations of the Company are managed from a going concern basis and not a liquidation basis. As a result, the ultimate value realized for the financial instruments presented could be substantially different when actually recognized over time through the normal course of operations. Additionally, a substantial portion of the Company’s inherent value is the Bank’s capitalization and franchise value. Neither of these components have been given consideration in the presentation of fair values below.

156

The following presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the financial instruments held by the Company:
  September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 427,367  $ 427,367  $ 427,367  $ —  $ — 
Debt securities available for sale 1,268,102  1,268,102  —  1,268,102  — 
Debt securities held to maturity 92,610  93,745  —  93,745  — 
Common equities and mutual funds(1)
2,969  2,969  2,969  —  — 
Non-marketable equity securities(1)(2)
14,784  14,784  —  12,000  — 
Loans held for sale 183,577  183,577  —  183,577  — 
Loans and leases receivable 3,314,140  3,307,037  —  —  3,307,037 
Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank stocks 27,138  27,138  —  27,138  — 
Accrued interest receivable 16,628  16,628  16,628  —  — 
Financial liabilities
Deposits 4,979,200  4,980,073  4,705,028  275,045  — 
Overnight federal funds purchased —  —  —  —  — 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances —  —  —  —  — 
Other short- and long-term borrowings 98,224  100,185  —  100,185  — 
Accrued interest payable 1,923  1,923  1,923  —  — 
(1) Equity securities at fair value are included within other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
(2) Includes certain non-marketable equity securities that are measured at fair value using NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.

  September 30, 2019
(Dollars in Thousands) Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 126,545  $ 126,545  $ 126,545  $ —  $ — 
Debt securities available for sale 1,272,493  1,272,493  —  1,272,493  — 
Debt securities held to maturity 134,764  133,470  —  133,470  — 
Common equities and mutual funds(1)
2,606  2,606  2,606  —  — 
Non-marketable equity securities(1)(2)
8,169  8,169  —  6,500  — 
Loans held for sale 148,777  148,777  —  148,777  — 
Loans and leases receivable 3,651,413  3,622,597  —  —  3,622,597 
Federal Home Loan Bank stock 30,916  30,916  —  30,916  — 
Accrued interest receivable 20,400  20,400  20,400  —  — 
Financial liabilities
Deposits 4,337,005  4,338,510  2,920,516  1,417,994  — 
Overnight federal funds purchased 642,000  642,000  642,000  —  — 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 110,000  110,691  —  110,691  — 
Other short- and long-term borrowings 109,857  113,876  —  113,876  — 
Accrued interest payable 9,414  9,414  9,414  —  — 
(1) Equity securities at fair value are included within other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
(2) Includes certain non-marketable equity securities that are measured at fair value using NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are excluded from the fair value hierarchy.
157

The following sets forth the methods and assumptions used in determining the fair value estimates for the Company’s financial instruments at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The carrying amount of cash and short-term investments is assumed to approximate the fair value.
 
DEBT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND EQUITY SECURITIES
Debt securities available for sale and equity securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair values for these investment securities are based on obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges, or matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. Non-marketable equity securities are measured at fair value using NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient.

LOANS HELD FOR SALE
The carrying amount of loans held for sale is assumed to approximate the fair value.

LOANS AND LEASES, NET
The fair values of loans and leases were estimated using an exit price methodology. The exit price estimation of fair value is based on the present value of expected cash flows, which are based on the contractual terms of the loans, adjusted for prepayments and a discount rate based on the relative risk of the cash flows. Other considerations include the loan type, remaining life of the loan and credit risk.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK AND FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK STOCKS
The fair value of FRB and FHLB stock is assumed to approximate book value since the Company is only able to redeem this stock at par value.
 
ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE
The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable is assumed to approximate the fair value.
 
DEPOSITS
The carrying values of noninterest-bearing checking deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings, money markets, and wholesale non-maturing deposits are assumed to approximate fair value since deposits are immediately withdrawable without penalty. The fair value of time certificate deposits and wholesale certificate of deposits are estimated using a discounted cash flows calculation that applies the FHLB Des Moines curve to aggregated expected maturities of time deposits. In accordance with Subtopic 825-10, Financial Instruments, no value has been assigned to the Company’s long-term relationships with its deposit customers (core value of deposits intangible) as such intangibles are not financial instruments as defined under Subtopic 825-10.
 
OVERNIGHT FEDERAL FUNDS PURCHASED
The carrying amount of federal funds purchased is assumed to approximate the fair value.

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ADVANCES
The fair value of such advances was estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows using current interest rates for advances with similar terms and remaining maturities.
 
SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE, SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND OTHER BORROWINGS
The fair value of these instruments was estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows using derived interest rates approximating market over the contractual maturity of such borrowings.
 
ACCRUED INTEREST PAYABLE
The carrying amount of accrued interest payable is assumed to approximate the fair value.
 
158

LIMITATIONS
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time and are based on relevant market information about the financial instrument. Additionally, fair value estimates are based on existing on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business, customer relationships and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument for sale at one time. Furthermore, since no market exists for certain of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates may be based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with a high level of precision. Changes in assumptions as well as tax considerations could significantly affect the estimates. Accordingly, based on the limitations described above, the aggregate fair value estimates are not intended to represent the underlying value of the Company, on either a going concern or a liquidation basis.

NOTE 26.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated subsequent events that occurred after September 30, 2020. During this period, up to the filing date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management identified the following subsequent event:

On November 24, 2020, W. David Tull, a member of the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank, notified the Company and the Bank of his resignation from the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank effective November 24, 2020.

On November 18, 2020, the Company sold an additional $129.8 million of the retained Community Bank loan portfolio to Central Bank. The sale did not result in any material gain to the Company. The loans included in the sale were classified as held for sale at September 30, 2020.

On November 13, 2020, Michael K. Goik, Executive Vice President and Group Head of the Commercial Finance division of the Bank, notified the Bank of his decision to resign from the Bank effective on or before December 13, 2020. Mr. Goik’s resignation was not due to a dispute or disagreement with the Bank or the Company. Upon the effectiveness of his resignation, Mr. Goik’s duties will be assumed by Brett L. Pharr, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None.
 
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

(a)Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Management, under the direction of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
In connection with the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, management evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The evaluation was performed under the direction of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to determine the effectiveness, as of September 30, 2020, of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, at September 30, 2020, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings.


159

Table of Contents
As previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company identified a material weakness in the control environment of the Crestmark division. The material weakness resulted from the aggregation of control deficiencies at the Crestmark division relating to Information Technology ("IT") system access, program change controls and review procedures related to new loan accounts and client record maintenance changes. The aggregation of these deficiencies did not result in a material misstatement to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.


(b)Remediation for Reported Material Weakness.

The Company worked through its remediation plan throughout fiscal year 2020 and was able to fully implement it during the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020 to address the material weakness described above with respect to the internal controls environment of the Crestmark division. The remediation plan included re-evaluating IT governance and controls, updating procedures related to access management, and training IT personnel.

(c)Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 
 
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in “Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013).” Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2020.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, has been audited by Crowe LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that also has audited the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Crowe LLP’s attestation report on the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting appears below.

(d)    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Except as disclosed above, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

(e)    Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.

Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable (not absolute) assurance that its objectives will be met. Furthermore, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
 
160

Table of Contents
Item 9B. Other Information

On November 30, 2020, the Company and the Bank entered into employment agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with Bradley C. Hanson, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of and the Bank, and Glen W. Herrick, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank (each, an “Executive Officer” and collectively, the “Executive Officers”). The Employment Agreements are effective as of October 1, 2020.

The Employment Agreements supersede and replace the prior employment agreements between the Executive Officers and the Bank each dated as of October 1, 2016 (collectively, the “Prior Employment Agreements”).

The terms of the Employment Agreements commenced on October 1, 2020 and continue until the applicable Executive Officer’s employment is terminated as provided in the applicable Employment Agreement. Mr. Hanson’s Employment Agreement entitles him to the payment of an annual base salary of $841,500, and Mr. Herrick’s Employment Agreement entitles him to the payment of an annual base salary of $474,300, in each case subject to increase at any time and subject to decrease after September 30, 2021 if and in a manner proportionate to any decrease in base salary the Company in its discretion implements for other executive officers of the Company. As of November 2, 2020, Mr. Hanson’s annual base salary has been so increased to $866,745, and Mr. Herrick’s annual base salary has been so increased to $488,520. The Employment Agreements also provide for performance-based annual incentive compensation opportunities under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) having target payouts of 100% of base salary in the case of Mr. Hanson and 75% of base salary in the case of Mr. Herrick, in each case payable in cash unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Employment Agreements also provide for long-term incentive award opportunities under the Company’s 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) based on the achievement of performance goals and/or service vesting requirements specified in the applicable award agreements and having target opportunities of 200% of base salary in the case of Mr. Hanson and 125% of base salary in the case of Mr. Herrick, in each case with performance or vesting periods spanning three years. Such long-term incentive award opportunities will be payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof as provided in the applicable award agreement.

Under the Employment Agreements, the Executive Officers are eligible to participate in all Company-sponsored employee benefit plans and programs available to executive level employees at the Bank during the term of the Employment Agreements, subject to all eligibility requirements and rules applicable to such plans and programs. Each Executive Officer is also entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable, out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in the performance of such Executive Officer’s duties on behalf of the Company.

In the event an Executive Officer’s employment is terminated due to his death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreements), such Executive Officer (or his beneficiaries, as the case may be) will be entitled to receive (i) his base salary through the termination date, (ii) any business expenses due and payable, (iii) any accrued but unpaid compensation under the AIP due to such Executive Officer for any completed fiscal year and (iv) any vested benefits in such Executive Officer’s account through the Bank’s 401(k) retirement plan (the “Accrued Amounts”). In addition, such Executive Officer will be entitled to continued vesting of his Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards (as defined in the Prior Employment Agreements) and prorated compensation under the AIP and prorated awards under the LTIP as determined by the Compensation Committee based upon the number of months of employment during the applicable performance period completed by such Executive Officer prior to termination.

In the event an Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Bank for Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreements) or by such Executive Officer without Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreements), such Executive Officer will be entitled to the Accrued Amounts but will not be entitled to any other payments or benefits following the termination date.


161

Table of Contents
Subject to the execution of a release of claims the Executive Officer may have against the Company and continued compliance with the surviving provisions of the Employment Agreements, in the event an Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Bank without Cause or such Executive Officer resigns for Good Reason, such Executive Officer will be entitled to the Accrued Amounts and eligible for the following severance package (the “Severance Package”): (i) a severance payment equal to the sum of two times such Executive Officer’s base salary (as in effect as of the termination date), (ii) an amount equal to two times the compensation under the AIP such Executive Officer would have earned for the measurement period in which the termination date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement period (the “AIP Bonus Payment”), payable in cash, stock or a combination thereof, notwithstanding any service requirement, (iii) except with respect to the AIP Bonus Payment, vesting of all unvested stock options and stock appreciation rights granted by the Company to such Executive Officer, including such Executive Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award, (iv) except with respect to the AIP Bonus Payment, (a) accelerated vesting of any outstanding pre-October 1, 2020 LTIP awards, and (b) pro-rata vesting of post-September 30, 2020 LTIP awards with performance periods that have at least 6 months of completion prior to the termination date, in each case other than stock options and stock appreciation rights that were granted by the Company to such Executive Officer, and (v) a lump sum cash payment of an amount equal to 24 times the monthly premium required to be paid by such Executive Officer to continue such Executive Officer’s group health care coverage under the Company’s group health plan following such Executive Officer’s termination date under the applicable provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), based upon the Company’s monthly COBRA premium in effect as of the termination date, less applicable withholdings.

Subject to the execution of a release of claims the Executive Officer may have against the Company and continued compliance with the surviving provisions of the Employment Agreements, in the event an Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by such Executive Officer for Good Reason within 90 days prior to or within 24 months following the consummation of a Change of Control, such Executive Officer will be eligible to receive the Severance Package, and any and all then unvested AIP and LTIP awards granted to such Executive Officer by the Company will immediately vest and be paid at the greater of target level of performance or actual level of performance (if actual level of performance is then determinable) on the termination date.

If an Executive Officer has a termination of employment under the Employment Agreement for any reason other than for Cause after satisfying the requirements for Retirement (as defined below), and such Executive Officer is not otherwise eligible for the Severance Package, if the termination date occurs on or after 6 months following commencement of the Company’s fiscal year, such Executive Officer is entitled to receive, except as otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, the AIP and the LTIP awards, if any, that such Executive Officer would have earned for the measurement/performance periods in which the termination date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement/performance periods as determined at the end of the respective measurement/performance period, payable in cash, stock or a combination thereof, notwithstanding any service requirement. Such Executive Officer will also receive continued vesting of such Executive Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award. For purposes of the Employment Agreements, “Retirement” means retirement from employment with the Company or an entity within the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director thereof, where either (i) such Executive Officer has reached the age of 65 or (ii) the sum of such Executive Officer’s age and length of service (as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director) is greater than or equal to 70.

The Employment Agreements provide for suspension or termination of the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreements in connection with certain regulatory actions and provide for clawback of compensation paid to the Executive Officers under certain circumstances.

In addition, the Employment Agreements provide for a 24-month non-solicitation period (covering both employees and business relationships) and a 24-month non-compete requirement in addition to other restrictive covenants.

162

Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm



Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Meta Financial Group, Inc.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated statements of financial condition of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements") and our report dated November 30, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying 2020 Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

163

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

  /s/ Crowe LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan  
November 30, 2020  

164

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Directors
 
Information concerning directors of the Company required by this item will be included under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Communicating with Our Directors,” "Meetings and Committees" and “Stockholder Proposals For The Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Meeting” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on February 23, 2021 (the “2020 Proxy Statement”), a copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after September 30, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Executive Officers
 
Information concerning the executive officers of the Company required by this item will be included under the captions “Executive Officers” and “Election of Directors” in the 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Compliance with Section 16(a)
 
Information, if applicable, required by this item regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act will be included under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Audit Committee Financial Expert
 
Information regarding the audit committee of the Company’s Board of Directors will be included under the captions “Meetings and Committees” and “Election of Directors” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Code of Ethics
 
Information regarding the Company’s Code of Ethics will be included under the caption “Corporate Governance” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 11. Executive Compensation
 
Information concerning executive and director compensation will be included under the captions “Compensation of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
(a)           Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
 
The information required by this item will be included under the caption “Stock Ownership” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)           Changes in Control
 
Management of the Company knows of no arrangements, including any pledge by any persons of securities of the Company, the operation of which may, at a subsequent date, result in a change in control of the Registrant.
 


165

Table of Contents
(c)           Equity Compensation Plan Information
 
The Company maintains the 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan for purposes of issuing stock-based compensation to employees and directors. The plan was amended and restated effective November 24, 2014 and currently authorizes 4,800,000 shares to be issued under the plan. The Company also has unexercised options outstanding under a previous stock option plan. The following table provides information about the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the Company’s omnibus incentive plans.
Plan Category Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plan
excluding securities
reflected in (a)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders —  $ —  1,499,732 
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders —  —  — 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
The information required by this item will be included under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Meetings and Committees” and “Related Person Transactions” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The information required by this item will be included under the caption “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s 2020 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
The following is a list of documents filed as Part of this report:
 
(a)           Financial Statements:
 
The following financial statements are included under Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

1.Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

2.Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.

3.Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

4.Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Fiscal Years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

5.Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

6.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

7.Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
166

Table of Contents

(b)           Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
3.1
Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, filed on August 8, 2018 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference.
3.2
Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated By-laws, filed on June 24, 2020 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
4.1
Description of the Securities of the Registrant filed on November 26, 2019 as an exhibit to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, is incorporated herein by reference.
4.2
Registrant’s Specimen Stock Certificate, filed on June 27, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Commission File No. 333-212269), is incorporated herein by reference.
4.3
Indenture, dated as of August 15, 2016, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, filed on August 15, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
4.4
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 15, 2016, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, filed on August 15, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
4.5
Form of Global Note of the Registrant representing the 5.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due August 15, 2026, filed on August 15, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.1
Registrant’s 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.2
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Agreement between Meta and Bradley C. Hanson, dated as of November 16, 2016, filed on November 18, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.3
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Agreement between Meta and Glen W. Herrick, dated as of December 2, 2016, filed on December 6, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.4
Registrant’s Supplemental Employees’ Investment Plan, originally filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1994.  First amendment to such agreement, filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.5
Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, filed on January 24, 2018 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, is incorporated herein by reference.
Investor Rights Agreement by and among Meta Financial Group, Inc., BEP IV LLC and BEP Investors, LLC, dated as of December 17, 2015, filed on December 17, 2015 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8‑K, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.7
Form of Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Agreement, filed on August 2, 2016 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.8
Employment Agreement between MetaBank and Michael Goik, dated as of January 9, 2018, filed on April 20, 2018 as an exhibit to the Registrant's registration statement on Form S-4 (Commission File No. 333-223769), is incorporated herein by reference.
*10.9
Employment Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2020, among MetaBank, Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Bradley C. Hanson is filed herewith.
Employment Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2020, among MetaBank, Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Glen W. Herrick is filed herewith.
Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is filed herewith.
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement is filed herewith.
21
Subsidiaries of the Registrant is filed herewith.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Crowe LLP is filed herewith.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of KPMG LLP is filed herewith.
167

Table of Contents
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002 is filed herewith.
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002 is filed herewith.
Certification of the CEO pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is filed herewith.
Certification of the CFO pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is filed herewith.
101
Interactive data files formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language - pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).


* Management Contract or Compensatory Plan or Agreement

(c)           Financial Statement Schedules:
 
All financial statement schedules have been omitted as the information is not required under the related
instructions or is inapplicable.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.
168

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
  META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
     
Date:  November 30, 2020 By: /s/ Bradley C. Hanson
    Bradley C. Hanson,
    President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

169

Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By: /s/ Bradley C. Hanson   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Bradley C. Hanson, President, Chief Executive Officer, and    
Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
By: /s/ Douglas J. Hajek   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Douglas J. Hajek, Director    
       
By: /s/ Elizabeth G. Hoople   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Elizabeth G. Hoople, Director    
       
By: /s/ Michael R. Kramer   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Michael R. Kramer, Director    
By: /s/ Frederick V. Moore   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Frederick V. Moore, Director    
       
By: /s/ Becky S. Shulman   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Becky S. Shulman, Director    
By: /s/ Kendall E. Stork   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Kendall E. Stork, Director    
By: /s/ Glen W. Herrick   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Glen W. Herrick, Executive Vice President    
  and Chief Financial Officer    
(Principal Financial Officer)
       
By: /s/ Sonja A. Theisen   Date:  November 30, 2020
  Sonja A. Theisen, Senior Vice President    
  and Chief Accounting Officer    
  (Principal Accounting Officer)    

170
Exhibit 10.9
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), effective as of October 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among MetaBank, a federally chartered savings bank (the “Bank”), Meta Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Meta Financial”), and Bradley C. Hanson (“Officer”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Officer has been employed as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Bank and served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Meta Financial pursuant to the terms of a prior Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016, by and between Officer and the Bank;
WHEREAS, Officer, the Bank and Meta Financial (each, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) desire to retain Officer’s services in such capacities, and to implement a new employment agreement containing revised terms;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, the Bank, Meta Financial (the Bank and Meta Financial hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”) and Officer agree to supersede and replace the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016 unless otherwise noted herein, with this Agreement containing the following provisions:
1.Term of Employment. The Officer’s employment under this Agreement shall continue until terminated as provided in Section 4 below (the “Term”).
2.Position and Duties. Officer shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and shall report to the Board of Directors of Meta Financial (the “Board”). All employees of the Company shall report directly or indirectly to Officer except to the extent the Company’s Chief Audit Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer report to the Chairs of the Board’s Audit and Compensation Committees, respectively. Officer shall perform such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Officer’s position and as may be reasonably assigned to Officer by the Board from time to time, including, without limitation, serving in an officer or director role of subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company (the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates being the “Company Group”). Officer shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and energy to the business and affairs of the Company Group, and shall use his reasonable best efforts to perform such responsibilities in a diligent, loyal, and businesslike manner so as to advance the best interests of the Company Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer shall be permitted to devote a reasonable amount of time and effort to civic and charitable organizations and managing personal and family investments but only to the extent that such activities, individually or as a whole, do not require Officer’s active involvement in the management of any other corporation, partnership or other entity, materially interfere with the execution of Officer’s duties hereunder or otherwise violate any provision of this Agreement.



3.Compensation.
(a)Base Salary. Officer shall receive an annual salary of $841,500 (the “Base Salary”), less applicable withholdings, payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Bank. The Board may, in its discretion, increase the Base Salary at any time, and, after September 30, 2021, decrease the Base Salary if and in a manner proportionate to any decrease in base salary the Company in its discretion implements for other executive officers of the Company.
(b)Annual Incentive Plan Bonus. Officer will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) as established and amended by the Compensation Committee of the Board (“Committee”) from time to time by and based on the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee and communicated to the Officer in writing. For the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020 (and for future fiscal years unless adjusted by the Committee), the AIP bonus for Officer will have a target payout of one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary. The AIP bonuses (if any) will be payable in cash unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion. Officer’s achievement of the performance goals and the actual amount of the AIP bonus (which may be higher or lower than the target) will be determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion. Any such AIP bonus will be payable to Officer at the time annual incentives are paid to executive officers in accordance with the Bank’s policies and practices; provided, that, to the extent that the AIP bonus does not provide for an Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 409A (“Section 409A”) compliant time and form of payment, any such payment shall be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year the AIP bonus was earned.
(c)Long Term Incentive Awards. Officer will be eligible to participate in and receive long-term incentive awards under the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective as of November 24, 2014), as subsequently amended or replaced (“LTIP”) pursuant to award agreements as established and amended by the Committee from time to time and based on the achievement of performance goals and/or service vesting requirements specified in such award agreements. For the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, the LTIP award will be stock unit awards with a target opportunity equal to two hundred percent (200%) of Base Salary and performance/vesting periods spanning three years. LTIP awards, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, may be comprised of several award types that may have varying performance/vesting periods, as specified in the award agreement for the particular grant, will be payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof as provided in the applicable award agreement. Officer’s achievement of the performance goals and the actual amount of any LTIP award (which may be higher or lower than the target) will be determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion. Any LTIP award will be payable to Officer at the time such LTIP awards are paid to executive officers; provided, that, to the extent that the LTIP award agreement does not provide for a Section 409A compliant time and form of payment, any LTIP award shall be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year in which the performance/vesting period ends and for which the LTIP award was earned.
- 2 -



(d)Executive Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in all Company-sponsored employee benefit plans and programs as may then be available to executive level employees at the Bank during the Term, subject to all eligibility requirements and rules applicable to such plans and programs, and further subject to the Company’s right to amend, alter, terminate or eliminate any such plans and programs from time to time.
(e)Reimbursement of Expenses. Officer shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable, out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in the performance of Officer’s duties on behalf of the Company. To obtain reimbursement, Officer must submit the expenses promptly (and in any event, not later than one hundred eighty (180) days—or such shorter period as required under the Bank’s or Meta Financial’s applicable policy—following the date the expense was incurred) with appropriate supporting documentation. The Bank or Meta Financial, as applicable, will provide reimbursement in accordance with the Bank’s or Meta Financial’s policies, but no later than thirty (30) days after Officer complies with such policies and proof of payment is submitted by Officer. Any reimbursement Officer is entitled to receive shall (i) not be affected by any other expenses that are eligible for reimbursement in any tax year, and (ii) not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
4.Termination of Employment. Officer’s employment may be terminated as set forth in this Section 4. The final date of Officer’s employment with the Company shall be the termination date (the “Termination Date”). As of the Termination Date, Officer shall resign from any and all offices and positions with the Company Group, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by the Board (and hereby provides Officer’s written proxy to another officer of the Company to act as Officer’s attorney in fact with respect to Officer’s resignation).
(a)Termination Due to Death or Disability. This Agreement and Officer’s employment with the Company shall immediately terminate (i) upon Officer’s death or (ii) if Officer is unable to perform his duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to illness, accident or physical or mental incapacity or disability for a consecutive period of one hundred eighty (180) days or for an aggregate of two hundred seventy (270) days in any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period (“Disability”). In the event of a termination for death or Disability, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as defined in Section 4(f) below), continued vesting of Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards (as defined in the Employment Agreement Dated October 1, 2016), and prorated AIP bonus and LTIP awards as determined by the Committee based upon the number of months of employment during the applicable performance period completed by Officer prior to such termination, which prorated amounts shall be paid as provided in the applicable award agreement but in no event later than the payment date of such awards to actively-employed executives after the end of the applicable performance period.
(b)Termination by Bank for Cause. The Bank may terminate Officer’s employment for Cause by giving written notice to Officer designating an immediate or future Termination Date. In the event of a termination for Cause, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as
- 3 -



defined in Section 4(f) below). For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a termination for Cause, Officer will immediately forfeit any unvested AIP bonus, LTIP awards, equity or unvested equity-like interest that Officer then holds in the Bank (whether held directly or indirectly), regardless of whether such forfeiture is required by the provisions of the agreements and other documents governing any such equity or equity-like interest.
Cause” shall mean that Officer has, in the reasonable determination of the Board: (i) committed an act constituting a felony or a crime of moral turpitude; or (ii) engaged in conduct that constitutes, by act or omission, gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with his duties hereunder; or (iii) materially breached any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a breach of the last sentence of Section 2 hereof) or any material Company policy; or (iv) refused to comply with, or repeatedly failed to undertake good faith efforts to comply with, a lawful directive from the Board; or (v) engaged in any theft, fraud, misappropriation, or embezzlement with respect to the Company Group or any customer or client thereof or engages in any other misconduct that results (or could reasonably have been expected to result) in personal gain to Officer or material injury (whether monetarily or reputationally) to any member of the Company Group; or (vi) used alcohol or drugs (other than consistent with a lawful prescription) in a manner that that materially impaired Officer’s performance of Officer’s duties to the Company Group; or (vii) failed to cooperate in good faith with any governmental or internal investigation regarding the Company Group; or (viii) engaged in or displayed personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated material duties, or willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or a final cease-and-desist order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to subparts (iii) and (iv), if the circumstances can be cured, Cause shall exist only if the Board has provided Officer with written notice of the circumstances and its intent to terminate for Cause, and Officer’s breach or failure to perform remains uncured fifteen (15) business days after Officer’s receipt of such written notice.
(c)Termination By Bank Without Cause. The Company may terminate Officer’s employment without Cause at any time by providing written notice to Officer designating an immediate or future termination date. In the event of a termination without Cause, Officer shall be entitled to the Accrued Amounts and eligible for the Severance Package (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
(d)Resignation By Officer for Good Reason. Officer may resign Officer’s employment for Good Reason by providing written notice to the Bank within sixty (60) days following any circumstance giving rise to Good Reason, describing the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason and stating Officer’s intention to resign on that basis. To the extent such circumstance(s) remains uncured by the Company after a thirty (30) day remedial period following the Bank’s receipt of Officer’s written notice, Officer has thirty (30) business days to submit a resignation notice for Good Reason. In the event of a resignation for Good Reason, Officer shall be entitled to the Accrued Amounts and eligible for the Severance Package (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
- 4 -



Good Reason” shall mean the Bank has: (i) materially breached any material provision of this Agreement; (ii) materially diminished Officer’s position and/or duties such that Officer no longer reports to the Board or has been assigned duties inconsistent with a senior executive position; or (iii) relocated Officer’s principal place of work to a location more than thirty (30) miles from the Company’s headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or any residence of Officer, without Officer’s prior written approval.
(e)Resignation by Officer Without Good Reason. Officer may resign Officer’s employment without Good Reason by providing the Bank with at least sixty (60) days prior written notice of such resignation, provided that, after receipt of such notice, the Bank may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the effective date of Officer’s resignation to any date following the date of delivery of such notice. In the event of a resignation without Good Reason, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
(f)Payments to Officer Upon Separation; Release Agreement. Upon the termination of Officer’s employment hereunder for any reason, Officer shall be entitled to the Base Salary through the Termination Date, any expenses due and payable pursuant to Section 3(e) above, any accrued but unpaid AIP bonus due to Officer for any completed fiscal year, any vested benefits in Officer’s account through the Bank’s 401(k) retirement plan, and any amounts otherwise required by applicable law (the “Accrued Amounts”). Additionally, in the event the Bank terminates Officer’s employment without Cause under Section 4(c) or Officer resigns with Good Reason under Section 4(e), Officer shall be eligible for the following severance package (the “Severance Package”):
(i)a severance payment equal to the sum of two times (2x) the Base Salary (as then in effect), less applicable withholdings, paid in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date;
(ii)an amount equal to two times (2x) the AIP bonus, if any, that Officer would have earned for measurement period in which the Termination Date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement period (the “AIP Bonus Payment”). The AIP Bonus Payment shall be paid in cash, stock or a combination (as specified in the original grant terms), notwithstanding any service requirement, following the last day of the applicable measurement period, not later than the date such annual AIP bonuses are paid to similarly situated executives and in no event later than March 15th of the calendar year immediately following the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs;
(iii)except with respect to the AIP Bonus Payment as provided in Section 4(f)(ii), vesting of all unvested stock options and stock appreciation rights granted by the Company to Officer, to include Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award (as defined in the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016);
- 5 -



(iv)except with respect to compensation that are covered by Section 4(f)(ii), (A) accelerated vesting of any outstanding pre-October 1, 2020 LTIP awards, and (B) pro-rata vesting of post-September 30, 2020 LTIP awards with performance periods that have at least six (6) months of completion prior to the Termination Date, in each case other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, that were granted by the Company to Officer; and
(v) a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date of an amount equal to twenty-four (24) times the monthly premium required to be paid by Officer to continue Officer’s group health care coverage under the Company’s group health plan following Officer’s Termination Date under the applicable provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), based upon the Company’s monthly COBRA premium in effect as of the Termination Date, less applicable withholdings, provided that if Bank determines, in its sole discretion, that such lump sum cash payment would result in a violation of the nondiscrimination rules under Code Section 105(h) or of any statute or regulation of similar effect or other adverse tax or legal consequences to the Bank, then the parties agree to take such reasonable best efforts to reform this Section 4(f)(v) in such manner as is necessary as to not violate the nondiscrimination rules under Code Section 105(h) or of any statute or regulation of similar effect or cause such adverse consequences.
Officer will receive the Severance Package only if Officer: (A) has not engaged in activities constituting Cause under this Agreement; (B) complies with all surviving provisions of this Agreement; and (C) timely executes, submits, abides by, and does not revoke any part of, a separation and release agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Release”) containing a release all claims that Officer may have against the Company Group and related parties and other standard separation provisions. Except as provided in Section 4(f)(v), the Severance Package shall not be reduced or offset by compensation Officer earns through alternate employment, and Officer shall have no obligation to seek alternate employment.
(g)Payments to Officer Upon Termination in Connection With a Change of Control. If Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Officer for Good Reason, in any such case within ninety (90) days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control or within twenty-four (24) months following the consummation of a Change of Control (the “CIC Window”), Officer shall be eligible to receive upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4(f), the Severance Package, provided, however, that any and all then unvested AIP and LTIP awards granted to Officer by Company shall immediately vest and be paid at the greater of target level of performance or actual level of performance (if actual level of performance is then determinable) on the Termination Date.
- 6 -



During the CIC Window, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 4(g) shall survive and remain in effect during the entire CIC Window, including any payments that would otherwise be payable under this Section 4(g).
Change of Control” shall mean one of the following occurrences: (1) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of the Company under an employee benefit plan of the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the outstanding equity shares or units of the Company or (B) the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities; or (2) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction having similar effect is consummated); or (3) the Company is party to a merger or consolidation that results in the holders of voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto failing to continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (4) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the following transactions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition of Company securities by the Company Group; (ii) any acquisition of Company securities by any employee benefit plan of the Company Group; or (iii) any restructuring of the Company or the Company Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent amounts of “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A become due to Officer in connection with a Change of Control, then for purposes of such amount, the events otherwise constituting a Change of Control will only constitute a Change of Control if they also constitute a “change in control event” (as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i)) with respect to the Company.
5.Effect of Regulatory Action; Default.
(a)Regulatory Suspension. If Officer is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Company’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e) or (g) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”), 12 USC 1818(e), (g) (or any successor thereto), the Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Company may in its discretion (i) pay Officer all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations under this Agreement were suspended, and (ii) reinstate in whole or in part any of the obligations which were suspended.
(b)Regulatory Removal or Prohibition. If Officer is removed from office and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Company’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e) or (g) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1818(e), (g) (or any successor thereto), all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the Parties shall not be affected.
- 7 -



(c)Company Declared in Default. If the Bank becomes in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1813(x)(1) (or any successor thereto)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this provision shall not affect any vested rights of the Parties.
(d)Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of this Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Company: (i) by the Comptroller of the Office of the Currency (“OCC”) or his or her designee at the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Company under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1823(c) (or any successor thereto); or (ii) by the Comptroller of the OCC or his or her designee at the time the Comptroller of the OCC or his or her designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operation of the Company or when the Company is determined by the Comptroller of the OCC to be in unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
6.Application of Code Sections 409A and 280G.
(a)Timing of Payments under 409A. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, no amount payable pursuant to this Agreement which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section 409A (the “Section 409A Regulations”) shall be paid in connection with Officer’s termination of employment (or terms of similar effect under Section 409A) with the Company unless and until Officer has incurred a “separation from service” (within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations) with the Company. Furthermore, to the extent that Officer is a “specified employee” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations as of the date of Officer’s separation from service, no amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation which is payable on account of Officer’s separation from service shall be paid to Officer before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) which is first day of the seventh month after the date of Officer’s separation from service or, if earlier, the date of Officer’s death following such separation from service. All such amounts that would, but for this section, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date will be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as “separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service” or as a “short-term deferral” (each as described in Section 409A) shall be excluded from Section 409A to the greatest extent possible. The Bank intends that, to the greatest extent possible, income provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A. However, the Company does not guarantee any particular tax effect for income provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement. In any event, except for the Bank’s responsibility to withhold applicable income and employment taxes from compensation paid or provided to Officer, the Company Group shall not be responsible for
- 8 -



the payment of any applicable taxes on compensation paid or provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement.
(b)Release Effective Date. To the extent the amounts described in Sections 4(f) and 4(g) of this Agreement constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” that is subject to Section 409A, (i) to the extent Officer’s termination of employment with the Company occurs on or after November 2 of any calendar year, no amounts shall be paid pursuant to Sections 4(f) and 4(g) of this Agreement until the calendar year following the year in which the Termination Date occurs, (ii) to the extent any payments are delayed pursuant to this Section 6(b), such delayed amounts shall be paid in a lump-sum promptly following the later of the date that the release can no longer be revoked and January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurred, and (iii) all payments due after the payment made pursuant to clause (iv) of this sentence shall be made at the time prescribed in Sections 4(f) and (g) of this Agreement.
(c)Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payments or benefits received or to be received by Officer under this Section 6(c), this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement (all such payments referred to herein as “Parachute Payments”) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G and would, but for this Section, be subject to the excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then prior to making the Parachute Payments, a calculation shall be made comparing (x) the Net Benefit (defined below) to Officer of the Parachute Payments after payment of the Excise Tax to (y) the Net Benefit to Officer if the Parachute Payments are limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. Only if the amount calculated under (x) above is less than the amount under (y) above will the Parachute Payments be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of the Parachute Payments is subject to the Excise Tax. “Net Benefit” shall mean the present value of the Parachute Payments net of all federal, state, local, foreign income, employment, and excise taxes. Any reduction made pursuant to this Section 6(c) shall be made in a manner determined solely by the Bank that is consistent with the requirements under Section 409A. All calculations and determinations under this Section shall be made by an independent accounting firm or independent tax counsel appointed by Bank (“Tax Counsel”) whose determinations shall be conclusive and binding on Company and Officer for these purposes. For purposes of making the calculations and determinations required by this Section 6(c), Tax Counsel may rely on reasonable, good faith assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. Bank and Officer shall furnish to Tax Counsel with such information and documents as Tax Counsel may reasonably request in order to make its determinations under this Section. Bank shall bear all costs the Tax Counsel may reasonably incur in connection with its services.
(d)Other Regulatory Restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any payments made to Officer pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments (or successor thereto). To the extent applicable, and without limiting any other rights
- 9 -



of the Bank under this Agreement, incentive-based or other compensation due or payable to Officer is subject to the restrictions under Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, all similar laws, applicable regulations and other published guidance thereto (collectively referred to as the “Act”), and the Bank may, at any time and from time to time, unilaterally modify any such compensation due and any compensation arrangement hereunder in good faith and to the extent reasonably necessary (including implementing any deferral, clawback or other modification to prevent inappropriate risk taking that is the subject of the Act) so as to comply with the Act. The undersigned agree to work in good faith to comply at all times with the Act, to the extent the same may be applicable.
7.Indemnification. Subject to the limitations set forth herein, the Company shall indemnify and hold Officer harmless to the extent permitted under law and consistent with the Company’s bylaws (and other governing documents) if, by reason of Officer’s service to the Company Group, any claim, action, suit, or proceeding (“Claim”) is initiated against, threatened, or reasonably anticipated against Officer. Such indemnification shall extend to any and all costs, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ and other professional fees), judgments, interest, expenses of investigation, penalties, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) (the “Costs”) incurred or suffered by Officer in connection therewith. Any Costs subject to indemnification under this provision shall be provided in the form of reimbursement to Officer, to be made within sixty (60) days after Officer gives written notice, supported by reasonable documentation, verifying the Cost and his payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer’s right to indemnification is subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) the Claim must not relate to or arise from any conduct (whether by act or omission) by Officer that may constitute fraud, gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; (ii) the Claim must be brought against Officer by any member of the Company Group; (iii) Officer uses attorney(s) approved by the Company and fully cooperates with those attorneys and the Company with regard to the representation or any other legal matter; and (iv) any and all indemnification payments are subject to and limited by the provisions set forth in 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and its implementing regulations (or any successor thereto). Officer shall promptly repay to the Company any reimbursement amount provided by the Company if Officer is determined not to be entitled to indemnification with respect to such Cost. Nothing in this Section shall operate to limit or extinguish any right to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or contribution that Officer would otherwise have (including by agreement or under applicable law).
8.Restrictive Covenants; Officer Obligations.
(a)Confidential Information. Officer acknowledges that Officer will be entrusted with confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of the Company Group (“Confidential Information”), defined as any non-public information not generally known in the industry, in whatever form or medium, including but not limited to: strategic and long-range plans, advertising and marketing plans, sales volume and methods, business plans, and any information related to any of the foregoing; investor, strategic partner, and customer information (including names, phone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, and other identifying facts and circumstances specific to the customer or program manager and relevant to the services provided to customer or program manager), and records, and the terms of such business relationships;
- 10 -



personnel records, employee compensation and performance data; financial statements, budgets and projections; and software and other technology owned or developed (or being developed) for use in or relating to the conduct of the business. At all times, Officer shall: (i) hold the Confidential Information in strictest confidence, take all reasonable precautions to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of the Confidential Information to any unauthorized person, and follow all the Company’s policies protecting the Confidential Information; (ii) not use, copy, divulge or otherwise disseminate or disclose any Confidential Information, or any portion thereof, to any unauthorized person; (iii) not make, or permit or cause to be made, copies of the Confidential Information, except as necessary to carry out Officer’s authorized duties as an officer of the Company; (iv) promptly and fully advise the Company of all facts known to Officer concerning any actual or threatened unauthorized use or disclosure of which Officer becomes aware; and (v) promptly provide written notice to the Board if Officer receives any subpoena or becomes subject to any legal obligation that might require Officer to disclose Confidential Information, enclosing a copy of the subpoena and any other documents describing the legal obligation. Officer’s obligations under this provision shall be subject to Section 8(j) below, and continue with respect to any Confidential Information unless and to the extent that such Confidential Information becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Officer’s acts or omissions.
(b)Ownership of Intellectual Property. Officer agrees to make prompt and full disclosure to the Bank of all ideas, discoveries, trade secrets, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods of doing business, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, data, software, firmware, logos and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice) that relate to the Company Group’s actual or anticipated business, research and development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, acquired, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by Officer (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Company or during the ninety (90) days thereafter (collectively, “Work Product”). Any copyrightable work falling within the definition of Work Product shall be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws of the United States, and ownership of all rights therein shall vest in the Company Group. To the extent that any Work Product is not deemed to be a “work made for hire”, Officer hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company Group all right, title and interest, including without limitation, the intellectual property rights that Officer may have in and to such Work Product. Officer shall promptly perform all actions reasonably requested by the Bank (whether during or after the Term) to establish and confirm the Company Group’s ownership (including, without limitation, providing testimony and executing assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments). Officer understands, however, that there is no obligation being imposed on Officer to assign to the Company Group any invention falling within the definition of Work Product for which no Company Group equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information was used and that was developed entirely on Officer’s own time, unless: (i) such Work Product relates to the Business or to their actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the Work Product results from any work performed by Officer for them under this Agreement. Officer represents to the Bank that Officer does not now nor has Officer ever owned, nor has Officer made, any such Work Product.
- 11 -



(c)Non-Interference with Employee Relationships. During the Term and for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the Termination Date (the “Restricted Period”), Officer shall not, directly or indirectly (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), on Officer’s own behalf or for any other person or entity: (i) solicit for employment, hire or engage, or attempt to solicit for employment, hire or engage, any person who is or was employed by the Company within the six (6) month period prior to the solicitation or hire, or (ii) otherwise interfere with the relationship between any such person and the Company.
(d)Non-Interference with Customers, Third Party Relationships. During the Restricted Period, Officer shall not, directly or indirectly (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), on Officer’s own behalf or for any other person or entity: (i) interfere with, impair, disrupt or damage the Company Group’s business relationships, including by soliciting, encouraging or recruiting any of the Company Group’s customers, program managers, service providers, or strategic partners, to discontinue or reduce their dealings with the Company Group; (ii) solicit, for a purpose related to the business of the Company, any customer, program manager, service provider, or strategic partner of the Company that was doing business with the Company during the six (6) month period prior to the solicitation; or (iii) usurp any business opportunity presented to the Company Group or Officer during the Term unless the Company Group formally determined not to pursue such business opportunity.
(e)Non-Competition. During the Restricted Period, or such lesser period as may be designated by the Bank in writing at any time, Officer will not engage in, or prepare to engage in, any “Competitive Activity,” defined as: (i) rendering services to a Competitive Enterprise (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise); holding the position of partner or principal (or similar role) in a Competitive Enterprise; (ii) founding or independently conducting a Competitive Enterprise; (iii) acquiring a greater than one percent (1%) equity, voting, revenue, income, profit, loss or other economic interest in a Competitive Enterprise the equity of which is publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange; or (iv) acquiring any equity, voting, revenue, income, profit, loss or other economic interest in a Competitive Enterprise the equity of which is not publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange.
Competitive Enterprise” means an enterprise in North America (or such other location where the Company Group does or has active plans to do business) materially engaged in issuing prepaid debit cards, insurance premium finance, asset-based lending and factoring, equipment leasing, SBA lending, tax lending, or payments processing, or any other business in which the Company Group materially engaged as of the Termination Date or was actively contemplating engagement at any time during the six (6) month period prior to the Termination Date.
(f)Third Party Confidential Information. Officer understands that the Company Group will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on the Company Group to maintain the confidentiality of
- 12 -



such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the Term and thereafter, Officer will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone or use (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), Third Party Information unless expressly authorized in writing by the Bank. Additionally, Officer will not improperly use or disclose on behalf of the Company Group any confidential information or trade secrets of any former employer or any other person to whom Officer has an obligation of confidentiality, and Officer will not bring onto the Company’s premises any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or of any other person to whom Officer has an obligation of confidentiality.
(g)Non-Disparagement. Other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of the Company Group or as provided in Section 8(j) below, Officer will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, or statements concerning the Company Group or its businesses, or any of its employees, customers, officers, program managers, or investors.
(h)Return of Company Property. Upon the Company’s request but in no event later than three (3) business days following the Termination Date, Officer shall return to the Company all company property that is then in Officer’s possession, custody or control, including, without limitation, all keys, access cards, credit cards, computer hardware and software, documents, records, policies, marketing information, data base information and lists, and any other property or information that Officer has or had relating to the Company (whether those materials are in paper or computer-stored form), and including but not limited to any documents containing, summarizing, or describing any Confidential Information.
(i)Officer Assistance. For a period of twelve (12) months after the Termination Date, Officer shall, upon reasonable notice, assist in the transition of his job duties by furnishing the Company with such information related to the Company Group as may be in Officer’s possession or control, and cooperate with the Company in any reasonable manner that the Company may request, including without limitation conferring with the Company with regard to any litigation, claim, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party. The Company shall schedule any such cooperation with due regard to Officer’s professional and personal obligations, and shall reimburse Officer for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Officer in fulfilling Officer’s obligations under this provision.
(j)Protected Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit Officer’s ability to: testify pursuant to a lawful subpoena, court order, or written request from a government authority; report allegations of unlawful conduct to government officials for investigation; cooperate in any government investigation or inquiry; or comply with any other legal obligation. Officer will not need the prior authorization of the Bank to make any such reports or disclosures and Officer will not be required to notify the Bank that Officer has made such reports or disclosures, provided, that nothing shall waive any attorney-client or similar privilege of the Company Group. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b), an Officer may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of an employer’s trade secrets (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1839), so long as such disclosure is made solely: (a) in
- 13 -



confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; and/or (b) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Additionally, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1831 et seq., an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
(k)Enforcement. Officer acknowledges that the provisions of this Section are essential to the Company Group; the Bank would not enter into this Agreement if it did not include this Section; and damages sustained by the Company Group as a result of a breach of this Section cannot be adequately remedied by monetary damages. Furthermore, Officer agrees that the Bank, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and in addition to any other remedy it may have under this Agreement, or at law, will be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent or curtail any breach of this Section without being required to post a bond. If any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator shall deem any provision in this Section too restrictive, the other provisions shall stand, and the tribunal shall modify the unduly restrictive provision to the point of greatest restriction permissible by law. Should Officer breach any covenants in this Section then among other remedies, the duration of the covenant shall be extended by the period of any such breach.
9.Retirement. If Officer has a termination of employment hereunder for any reason other than for Cause after satisfying the requirements for Retirement (as defined below), and Officer is not otherwise eligible for the Severance Package, if the Termination Date occurs on or after six (6) months following commencement of the Company’s fiscal year, the Officer shall, except as otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, receive the AIP and the LTIP, if any, that Officer would have earned for measurement/performance periods in which the Termination Date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement/performance periods as determined at the end of the respective measurement/performance period. Any payments to which Officer is entitled under this Section shall be paid in cash, stock or a combination (as specified in the original grant terms), notwithstanding any service requirement, following the last day of the applicable measurement/performance period, not later than the date such AIP and LTIP awards are paid to similarly situated executives. Officer shall also receive continued vesting of Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award (as defined in the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016). For purposes of this Section 9, “Retirement” shall mean retirement from employment with the Company or an entity within the Company Group as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director thereof, where either (i) Officer has reached the age of 65 or (ii) the sum of Officer’s age and length of service (as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director) is greater than or equal to 70.
10.Arbitration. Any dispute or claim relating to or arising out of the employment relationship between Officer and the Company or the termination of that relationship shall be resolved by confidential, binding arbitration; provided, however, that this agreement to arbitrate
- 14 -



shall not apply to or cover any claim for expedited injunctive or equitable relief, including without limitation claims involving intellectual property, unfair competition, or trade secrets. Any arbitration shall be conducted before a single neutral arbitrator in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pursuant to the rules for arbitration of employment disputes by the American Arbitration Association (available at www.adr.org). The arbitrator shall permit adequate discovery, and is empowered to award all remedies otherwise available in a court of competent jurisdiction. Any judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. By executing this Agreement, Officer and the Bank are both waiving the right to a jury trial with respect to any such disputes. This Section does not include claims that, by law, may not be subject to mandatory arbitration. Each Party shall bear its own expenses in any arbitration convened pursuant to this Section and shall split evenly the costs of the arbitration; provided, however, that the Bank will pay the costs of such arbitration to the extent necessary as a condition precedent to enforce this arbitration obligation.
11.Notices. Any notice, consent, demand, request, or other communication pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given to such Party (x) on the date when delivered personally to such Party or by email (with delivery and read receipt turned on) or (y) two (2) days after being sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, to the address (if any) specified below for such Party (or to such other address as such Party shall have specified by ten days’ advance notice given in accordance with this Section) provided that a written acknowledgment of receipt is obtained.
If to the Company:    5501 S. Broadband Lane
    Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Attn: Chairman of the Board of Directors

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice hereunder):

Anthony Sharett
EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Meta Financial Group, Inc.
5501 S. Broadband Lane
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
asharett@metabank.com
If to Officer:         The address of Officer’s principal residence as it appears in the Company records, with a copy to Officer (during the Term) at Officer’s principal office at the Company.
12.Miscellaneous.
(a)Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties concerning the specific subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety, as of the Effective Date, any prior employment agreement between Officer and the Bank.
- 15 -



(b)Amendment or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, or waived except by a written instrument, signed by Officer and the Bank, expressly referring to the provision of this Agreement being amended, modified, supplemented, or waived. Any such written waiver shall be effective only with respect to the event or circumstance described therein and not with respect to any other event or circumstance, unless such waiver expressly provides to the contrary.
(c)Assignability; Binding Nature. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, heirs (in the case of Officer) and permitted assigns. No rights or obligations of Officer under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Officer other than Officer’s rights to compensation and benefits, which may be transferred to Officer’s beneficiaries by will or trust. No rights or obligations of the Bank under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Bank, except that such rights and obligations may be assigned or transferred pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other combination in which the Company is not the continuing entity, or a sale or liquidation of all or substantially all of the business and assets of the Company; provided that the assignee or transferee is the successor to all or substantially all of the business and assets of the Company and such assignee or transferee expressly assumes the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement. In the event of any merger, consolidation, other combination, sale of business and assets, or liquidation as described in the immediately preceding sentence, the Bank shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause such assignee or transferee to promptly and expressly assume the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company hereunder.
(d)Interpretation. The headings of the sections and sub-sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation.” In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Agreement and any provision of any other Company Arrangement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control, to the extent it would not violate Section 409A.
(e)Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation, paid to Officer pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with Company Group that is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required pursuant to such law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).
(f)Severability; Survivability. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. The terms of Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 shall survive and continue in full force notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or Officer’s employment for any reason.
- 16 -



This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original instrument, but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.
(g)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, performed and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the state of South Dakota, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. For the purposes of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or with respect to Officer’s employment hereunder that is not otherwise subject to arbitration under Section 10, the Parties: (i) agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal or state courts located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, (ii) waive any objection to personal jurisdiction or venue in such jurisdiction, and agree not to plead or claim forum non conveniens; and (iii) waive their respective rights to a jury trial of any claims and causes of action, and agree to have any matter heard and decided solely by the court.
(h)D&O Insurance. During the Term and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the Company shall maintain at its own expense directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing reasonable coverage to Officer no less favorable than the coverage provided to other directors and similarly-situated executives of the Company.
(The balance of this page is intentionally blank)
- 17 -



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Officer has executed this Agreement, and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized board member, all as of the Effective Date.
META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

By:    / s / Becky S. Shulman    
    Name: Becky S. Shulman
    Title: Chair of the Compensation
Committee of Meta Financial Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors

Dated: November 30, 2020     
METABANK

By:    / s / Kathi Winter     
    Name: Kathi Winter
    Title: EVP, Chief People Officer

Dated: November 30, 2020

OFFICER

 / s / Brad Hanson    
 Bradley C. Hanson

Dated: November 30, 2020     




[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

- 18 -

Exhibit 10.10
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), effective as of October 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among MetaBank, a federally chartered savings bank (the “Bank”), Meta Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Meta Financial”), and Glen W. Herrick (“Officer”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Officer has been employed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Meta Financial pursuant to the terms of a prior Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016, by and between Officer and the Bank;
WHEREAS, Officer, the Bank and Meta Financial (each, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) desire to retain Officer’s services in such capacities, and to implement a new employment agreement containing revised terms;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, the Bank, Meta Financial (the Bank and Meta Financial hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”) and Officer agree to supersede and replace the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016 unless otherwise noted herein, with this Agreement containing the following provisions:
1.Term of Employment. The Officer’s employment under this Agreement shall continue until terminated as provided in Section 4 below (the “Term”).
2.Position and Duties. Officer shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Company, and shall report to the President and the Board of Directors of Meta Financial (the “Board”). Officer shall perform such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Officer’s position and as may be reasonably assigned to Officer by the President and the Board from time to time, including, without limitation, serving in an officer or director role of subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company (the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates being the “Company Group”). Officer shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and energy to the business and affairs of the Company Group, and shall use his reasonable best efforts to perform such responsibilities in a diligent, loyal, and businesslike manner so as to advance the best interests of the Company Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer shall be permitted to devote a reasonable amount of time and effort to civic and charitable organizations and managing personal and family investments but only to the extent that such activities, individually or as a whole, do not require Officer’s active involvement in the management of any other corporation, partnership or other entity, materially interfere with the execution of Officer’s duties hereunder or otherwise violate any provision of this Agreement.



3.Compensation.
(a)Base Salary. Officer shall receive an annual salary of $474,300 (the “Base Salary”), less applicable withholdings, payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Bank. The Board may, in its discretion, increase the Base Salary at any time, and, after September 30, 2021, decrease the Base Salary if and in a manner proportionate to any decrease in base salary the Company in its discretion implements for other executive officers of the Company.
(b)Annual Incentive Plan Bonus. Officer will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) as established and amended by the Compensation Committee of the Board (“Committee”) from time to time by and based on the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee and communicated to the Officer in writing. For the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020 (and for future fiscal years unless adjusted by the Committee), the AIP bonus for Officer will have a target payout of seventy five percent (75%) of Base Salary. The AIP bonuses (if any) will be payable in cash unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion. Officer’s achievement of the performance goals and the actual amount of the AIP bonus (which may be higher or lower than the target) will be determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion. Any such AIP bonus will be payable to Officer at the time annual incentives are paid to executive officers in accordance with the Bank’s policies and practices; provided, that, to the extent that the AIP bonus does not provide for an Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 409A (“Section 409A”) compliant time and form of payment, any such payment shall be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year the AIP bonus was earned.
(c)Long Term Incentive Awards. Officer will be eligible to participate in and receive long-term incentive awards under the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective as of November 24, 2014), as subsequently amended or replaced (“LTIP”) pursuant to award agreements as established and amended by the Committee from time to time and based on the achievement of performance goals and/or service vesting requirements specified in such award agreements. For the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, the LTIP award will be stock unit awards with a target opportunity equal to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Base Salary and performance/vesting periods spanning three years. LTIP awards, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, may be comprised of several award types that may have varying performance/vesting periods, as specified in the award agreement for the particular grant, will be payable in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof as provided in the applicable award agreement. Officer’s achievement of the performance goals and the actual amount of any LTIP award (which may be higher or lower than the target) will be determined by the Committee in its reasonable discretion. Any LTIP award will be payable to Officer at the time such LTIP awards are paid to executive officers; provided, that, to the extent that the LTIP award agreement does not provide for a Section 409A compliant time and form of payment, any LTIP award shall be paid no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the year in which the performance/vesting period ends and for which the LTIP award was earned.
- 2 -



(d)Executive Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in all Company-sponsored employee benefit plans and programs as may then be available to executive level employees at the Bank during the Term, subject to all eligibility requirements and rules applicable to such plans and programs, and further subject to the Company’s right to amend, alter, terminate or eliminate any such plans and programs from time to time.
(e)Reimbursement of Expenses. Officer shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable, out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in the performance of Officer’s duties on behalf of the Company. To obtain reimbursement, Officer must submit the expenses promptly (and in any event, not later than one hundred eighty (180) days—or such shorter period as required under the Bank’s or Meta Financial’s applicable policy—following the date the expense was incurred) with appropriate supporting documentation. The Bank or Meta Financial, as applicable, will provide reimbursement in accordance with the Bank’s or Meta Financial’s policies, but no later than thirty (30) days after Officer complies with such policies and proof of payment is submitted by Officer. Any reimbursement Officer is entitled to receive shall (i) not be affected by any other expenses that are eligible for reimbursement in any tax year, and (ii) not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
4.Termination of Employment. Officer’s employment may be terminated as set forth in this Section 4. The final date of Officer’s employment with the Company shall be the termination date (the “Termination Date”). As of the Termination Date, Officer shall resign from any and all offices and positions with the Company Group, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by the Board (and hereby provides Officer’s written proxy to another officer of the Company to act as Officer’s attorney in fact with respect to Officer’s resignation).
(a)Termination Due to Death or Disability. This Agreement and Officer’s employment with the Company shall immediately terminate (i) upon Officer’s death or (ii) if Officer is unable to perform his duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to illness, accident or physical or mental incapacity or disability for a consecutive period of one hundred eighty (180) days or for an aggregate of two hundred seventy (270) days in any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period (“Disability”). In the event of a termination for death or Disability, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as defined in Section 4(f) below), continued vesting of Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards (as defined in the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016) and prorated AIP bonus and LTIP awards as determined by the Committee based upon the number of months of employment during the applicable performance period completed by Officer prior to such termination, which prorated amounts shall be paid as provided in the applicable award agreement but in no event later than the payment date of such awards to actively-employed executives after the end of the applicable performance period.
(b)Termination by Bank for Cause. The Bank may terminate Officer’s employment for Cause by giving written notice to Officer designating an immediate or future Termination Date. In the event of a termination for Cause, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as
- 3 -



defined in Section 4(f) below). For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a termination for Cause, Officer will immediately forfeit any unvested AIP bonus, LTIP awards, equity or unvested equity-like interest that Officer then holds in the Bank (whether held directly or indirectly), regardless of whether such forfeiture is required by the provisions of the agreements and other documents governing any such equity or equity-like interest.
Cause” shall mean that Officer has, in the reasonable determination of the Board: (i) committed an act constituting a felony or a crime of moral turpitude; or (ii) engaged in conduct that constitutes, by act or omission, gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with his duties hereunder; or (iii) materially breached any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a breach of the last sentence of Section 2 hereof) or any material Company policy; or (iv) refused to comply with, or repeatedly failed to undertake good faith efforts to comply with, a lawful directive from the Board; or (v) engaged in any theft, fraud, misappropriation, or embezzlement with respect to the Company Group or any customer or client thereof or engages in any other misconduct that results (or could reasonably have been expected to result) in personal gain to Officer or material injury (whether monetarily or reputationally) to any member of the Company Group; or (vi) used alcohol or drugs (other than consistent with a lawful prescription) in a manner that that materially impaired Officer’s performance of Officer’s duties to the Company Group; or (vii) failed to cooperate in good faith with any governmental or internal investigation regarding the Company Group; or (viii) engaged in or displayed personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated material duties, or willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or a final cease-and-desist order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to subparts (iii) and (iv), if the circumstances can be cured, Cause shall exist only if the Board has provided Officer with written notice of the circumstances and its intent to terminate for Cause, and Officer’s breach or failure to perform remains uncured fifteen (15) business days after Officer’s receipt of such written notice.
(c)Termination By Bank Without Cause. The Company may terminate Officer’s employment without Cause at any time by providing written notice to Officer designating an immediate or future termination date. In the event of a termination without Cause, Officer shall be entitled to the Accrued Amounts and eligible for the Severance Package (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
(d)Resignation By Officer for Good Reason. Officer may resign Officer’s employment for Good Reason by providing written notice to the Bank within sixty (60) days following any circumstance giving rise to Good Reason, describing the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason and stating Officer’s intention to resign on that basis. To the extent such circumstance(s) remains uncured by the Company after a thirty (30) day remedial period following the Bank’s receipt of Officer’s written notice, Officer has thirty (30) business days to submit a resignation notice for Good Reason. In the event of a resignation for Good Reason, Officer shall be entitled to the Accrued Amounts and eligible for the Severance Package (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
- 4 -



Good Reason” shall mean the Bank has: (i) materially breached any material provision of this Agreement; (ii) materially diminished Officer’s position and/or duties such that Officer no longer reports to the Board or has been assigned duties inconsistent with a senior executive position; or (iii) relocated Officer’s principal place of work to a location more than thirty (30) miles from the Company’s headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or any residence of Officer, without Officer’s prior written approval.
(e)Resignation by Officer Without Good Reason. Officer may resign Officer’s employment without Good Reason by providing the Bank with at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of such resignation, provided that, after receipt of such notice, the Bank may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the effective date of Officer’s resignation to any date following the date of delivery of such notice. In the event of a resignation without Good Reason, Officer shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits following the Termination Date other than the Accrued Amounts (as defined in Section 4(f) below).
(f)Payments to Officer Upon Separation; Release Agreement. Upon the termination of Officer’s employment hereunder for any reason, Officer shall be entitled to the Base Salary through the Termination Date, any expenses due and payable pursuant to Section 3(e) above, any accrued but unpaid AIP bonus due to Officer for any completed fiscal year, any vested benefits in Officer’s account through the Bank’s 401(k) retirement plan, and any amounts otherwise required by applicable law (the “Accrued Amounts”). Additionally, in the event the Bank terminates Officer’s employment without Cause under Section 4(c) or Officer resigns with Good Reason under Section 4(e), Officer shall be eligible for the following severance package (the “Severance Package”):
(i)a severance payment equal to the sum of two times (2x) the Base Salary (as then in effect), less applicable withholdings, paid in a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date;
(ii)an amount equal to two times (2x) the AIP bonus, if any, that Officer would have earned for measurement period in which the Termination Date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement period (the “AIP Bonus Payment”). The AIP Bonus Payment shall be paid in cash, stock or a combination (as specified in the original grant terms), notwithstanding any service requirement, following the last day of the applicable measurement period, not later than the date such annual AIP bonuses are paid to similarly situated executives and in no event later than March 15th of the calendar year immediately following the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs;
(iii)except with respect to the AIP Bonus Payment as provided in Section 4(f)(ii), vesting of all unvested stock options and stock appreciation rights granted by the Company to Officer, to include Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award (as defined in the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016);
- 5 -



(iv)except with respect to compensation that are covered by Section 4(f)(ii), (A) accelerated vesting of any outstanding pre-October 1, 2020 LTIP awards, and (B) pro-rata vesting of post-September 30, 2020 LTIP awards with performance periods that have at least six (6) months of completion prior to the Termination Date, in each case other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, that were granted by the Company to Officer; and
(v) a lump sum cash payment within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date of an amount equal to twenty-four (24) times the monthly premium required to be paid by Officer to continue Officer’s group health care coverage under the Company’s group health plan following Officer’s Termination Date under the applicable provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), based upon the Company’s monthly COBRA premium in effect as of the Termination Date, less applicable withholdings, provided that if Bank determines, in its sole discretion, that such lump sum cash payment would result in a violation of the nondiscrimination rules under Code Section 105(h) or of any statute or regulation of similar effect or other adverse tax or legal consequences to the Bank, then the parties agree to take such reasonable best efforts to reform this Section 4(f)(v) in such manner as is necessary as to not violate the nondiscrimination rules under Code Section 105(h) or of any statute or regulation of similar effect or cause such adverse consequences.
Officer will receive the Severance Package only if Officer: (A) has not engaged in activities constituting Cause under this Agreement; (B) complies with all surviving provisions of this Agreement; and (C) timely executes, submits, abides by, and does not revoke any part of, a separation and release agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Release”) containing a release all claims that Officer may have against the Company Group and related parties and other standard separation provisions. Except as provided in Section 4(f)(v), the Severance Package shall not be reduced or offset by compensation Officer earns through alternate employment, and Officer shall have no obligation to seek alternate employment.
(g)Payments to Officer Upon Termination in Connection With a Change of Control. If Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Officer for Good Reason, in any such case within ninety (90) days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control or within twenty-four (24) months following the consummation of a Change of Control (the “CIC Window”), Officer shall be eligible to receive upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4(f), the Severance Package, provided, however, that any and all then unvested AIP and LTIP awards granted to Officer by Company shall immediately vest and be paid at the greater of target level of performance or actual level of performance (if actual level of performance is then determinable) on the Termination Date.
- 6 -



During the CIC Window, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 4(g) shall survive and remain in effect during the entire CIC Window, including any payments that would otherwise be payable under this Section 4(g).
Change of Control” shall mean one of the following occurrences: (1) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities of the Company under an employee benefit plan of the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the outstanding equity shares or units of the Company or (B) the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities; or (2) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction having similar effect is consummated); or (3) the Company is party to a merger or consolidation that results in the holders of voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto failing to continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (4) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the following transactions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition of Company securities by the Company Group; (ii) any acquisition of Company securities by any employee benefit plan of the Company Group; or (iii) any restructuring of the Company or the Company Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent amounts of “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A become due to Officer in connection with a Change of Control, then for purposes of such amount, the events otherwise constituting a Change of Control will only constitute a Change of Control if they also constitute a “change in control event” (as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i)) with respect to the Company.
5.Effect of Regulatory Action; Default.
(a)Regulatory Suspension. If Officer is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Company’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e) or (g) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”), 12 USC 1818(e), (g) (or any successor thereto), the Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Company may in its discretion (i) pay Officer all or part of the compensation withheld while its obligations under this Agreement were suspended, and (ii) reinstate in whole or in part any of the obligations which were suspended.
(b)Regulatory Removal or Prohibition. If Officer is removed from office and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Company’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e) or (g) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1818(e), (g) (or any successor thereto), all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the Parties shall not be affected.
- 7 -



(c)Company Declared in Default. If the Bank becomes in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1813(x)(1) (or any successor thereto)), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this provision shall not affect any vested rights of the Parties.
(d)Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of this Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Company: (i) by the Comptroller of the Office of the Currency (“OCC”) or his or her designee at the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Company under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C. § 1823(c) (or any successor thereto); or (ii) by the Comptroller of the OCC or his or her designee at the time the Comptroller of the OCC or his or her designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operation of the Company or when the Company is determined by the Comptroller of the OCC to be in unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.
6.Application of Code Sections 409A and 280G.
(a)Timing of Payments under 409A. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, no amount payable pursuant to this Agreement which constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section 409A (the “Section 409A Regulations”) shall be paid in connection with Officer’s termination of employment (or terms of similar effect under Section 409A) with the Company unless and until Officer has incurred a “separation from service” (within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations) with the Company. Furthermore, to the extent that Officer is a “specified employee” within the meaning of the Section 409A Regulations as of the date of Officer’s separation from service, no amount that constitutes a deferral of compensation which is payable on account of Officer’s separation from service shall be paid to Officer before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) which is first day of the seventh month after the date of Officer’s separation from service or, if earlier, the date of Officer’s death following such separation from service. All such amounts that would, but for this section, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date will be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as “separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service” or as a “short-term deferral” (each as described in Section 409A) shall be excluded from Section 409A to the greatest extent possible. The Bank intends that, to the greatest extent possible, income provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement will not be subject to taxation under Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and construed in favor of satisfying any applicable requirements of Section 409A. However, the Company does not guarantee any particular tax effect for income provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement. In any event, except for the Bank’s responsibility to withhold applicable income and employment taxes from compensation paid or provided to Officer, the Company Group shall not be responsible for
- 8 -



the payment of any applicable taxes on compensation paid or provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement.
(b)Release Effective Date. To the extent the amounts described in Sections 4(f) and 4(g) of this Agreement constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” that is subject to Section 409A, (i) to the extent Officer’s termination of employment with the Company occurs on or after November 2 of any calendar year, no amounts shall be paid pursuant to Sections 4(f) and 4(g) of this Agreement until the calendar year following the year in which the Termination Date occurs, (ii) to the extent any payments are delayed pursuant to this Section 6(b), such delayed amounts shall be paid in a lump-sum promptly following the later of the date that the release can no longer be revoked and January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurred, and (iii) all payments due after the payment made pursuant to clause (iv) of this sentence shall be made at the time prescribed in Sections 4(f) and (g) of this Agreement.
(c)Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payments or benefits received or to be received by Officer under this Section 6(c), this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement (all such payments referred to herein as “Parachute Payments”) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G and would, but for this Section, be subject to the excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then prior to making the Parachute Payments, a calculation shall be made comparing (x) the Net Benefit (defined below) to Officer of the Parachute Payments after payment of the Excise Tax to (y) the Net Benefit to Officer if the Parachute Payments are limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax. Only if the amount calculated under (x) above is less than the amount under (y) above will the Parachute Payments be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion of the Parachute Payments is subject to the Excise Tax. “Net Benefit” shall mean the present value of the Parachute Payments net of all federal, state, local, foreign income, employment, and excise taxes. Any reduction made pursuant to this Section 6(c) shall be made in a manner determined solely by the Bank that is consistent with the requirements under Section 409A. All calculations and determinations under this Section shall be made by an independent accounting firm or independent tax counsel appointed by Bank (“Tax Counsel”) whose determinations shall be conclusive and binding on Company and Officer for these purposes. For purposes of making the calculations and determinations required by this Section 6(c), Tax Counsel may rely on reasonable, good faith assumptions and approximations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. Bank and Officer shall furnish to Tax Counsel with such information and documents as Tax Counsel may reasonably request in order to make its determinations under this Section. Bank shall bear all costs the Tax Counsel may reasonably incur in connection with its services.
(d)Other Regulatory Restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any payments made to Officer pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments (or successor thereto). To the extent applicable, and without limiting any other rights
- 9 -



of the Bank under this Agreement, incentive-based or other compensation due or payable to Officer is subject to the restrictions under Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, all similar laws, applicable regulations and other published guidance thereto (collectively referred to as the “Act”), and the Bank may, at any time and from time to time, unilaterally modify any such compensation due and any compensation arrangement hereunder in good faith and to the extent reasonably necessary (including implementing any deferral, clawback or other modification to prevent inappropriate risk taking that is the subject of the Act) so as to comply with the Act. The undersigned agree to work in good faith to comply at all times with the Act, to the extent the same may be applicable.
7.Indemnification. Subject to the limitations set forth herein, the Company shall indemnify and hold Officer harmless to the extent permitted under law and consistent with the Company’s bylaws (and other governing documents) if, by reason of Officer’s service to the Company Group, any claim, action, suit, or proceeding (“Claim”) is initiated against, threatened, or reasonably anticipated against Officer. Such indemnification shall extend to any and all costs, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ and other professional fees), judgments, interest, expenses of investigation, penalties, fines, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) (the “Costs”) incurred or suffered by Officer in connection therewith. Any Costs subject to indemnification under this provision shall be provided in the form of reimbursement to Officer, to be made within sixty (60) days after Officer gives written notice, supported by reasonable documentation, verifying the Cost and his payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Officer’s right to indemnification is subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) the Claim must not relate to or arise from any conduct (whether by act or omission) by Officer that may constitute fraud, gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; (ii) the Claim must be brought against Officer by any member of the Company Group; (iii) Officer uses attorney(s) approved by the Company and fully cooperates with those attorneys and the Company with regard to the representation or any other legal matter; and (iv) any and all indemnification payments are subject to and limited by the provisions set forth in 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and its implementing regulations (or any successor thereto). Officer shall promptly repay to the Company any reimbursement amount provided by the Company if Officer is determined not to be entitled to indemnification with respect to such Cost. Nothing in this Section shall operate to limit or extinguish any right to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or contribution that Officer would otherwise have (including by agreement or under applicable law).
8.Restrictive Covenants; Officer Obligations.
(a)Confidential Information. Officer acknowledges that Officer will be entrusted with confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of the Company Group (“Confidential Information”), defined as any non-public information not generally known in the industry, in whatever form or medium, including but not limited to: strategic and long-range plans, advertising and marketing plans, sales volume and methods, business plans, and any information related to any of the foregoing; investor, strategic partner, and customer information (including names, phone numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, and other identifying facts and circumstances specific to the customer or program manager and relevant to the services provided to customer or program manager), and records, and the terms of such business relationships;
- 10 -



personnel records, employee compensation and performance data; financial statements, budgets and projections; and software and other technology owned or developed (or being developed) for use in or relating to the conduct of the business. At all times, Officer shall: (i) hold the Confidential Information in strictest confidence, take all reasonable precautions to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of the Confidential Information to any unauthorized person, and follow all the Company’s policies protecting the Confidential Information; (ii) not use, copy, divulge or otherwise disseminate or disclose any Confidential Information, or any portion thereof, to any unauthorized person; (iii) not make, or permit or cause to be made, copies of the Confidential Information, except as necessary to carry out Officer’s authorized duties as an officer of the Company; (iv) promptly and fully advise the Company of all facts known to Officer concerning any actual or threatened unauthorized use or disclosure of which Officer becomes aware; and (v) promptly provide written notice to the Board if Officer receives any subpoena or becomes subject to any legal obligation that might require Officer to disclose Confidential Information, enclosing a copy of the subpoena and any other documents describing the legal obligation. Officer’s obligations under this provision shall be subject to Section 8(j) below, and continue with respect to any Confidential Information unless and to the extent that such Confidential Information becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Officer’s acts or omissions.
(b)Ownership of Intellectual Property. Officer agrees to make prompt and full disclosure to the Bank of all ideas, discoveries, trade secrets, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods of doing business, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, data, software, firmware, logos and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice) that relate to the Company Group’s actual or anticipated business, research and development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, acquired, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by Officer (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Company or during the ninety (90) days thereafter (collectively, “Work Product”). Any copyrightable work falling within the definition of Work Product shall be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws of the United States, and ownership of all rights therein shall vest in the Company Group. To the extent that any Work Product is not deemed to be a “work made for hire”, Officer hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company Group all right, title and interest, including without limitation, the intellectual property rights that Officer may have in and to such Work Product. Officer shall promptly perform all actions reasonably requested by the Bank (whether during or after the Term) to establish and confirm the Company Group’s ownership (including, without limitation, providing testimony and executing assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments). Officer understands, however, that there is no obligation being imposed on Officer to assign to the Company Group any invention falling within the definition of Work Product for which no Company Group equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information was used and that was developed entirely on Officer’s own time, unless: (i) such Work Product relates to the Business or to their actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the Work Product results from any work performed by Officer for them under this Agreement. Officer represents to the Bank that Officer does not now nor has Officer ever owned, nor has Officer made, any such Work Product.
- 11 -



(c)Non-Interference with Employee Relationships. During the Term and for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the Termination Date (the “Restricted Period”), Officer shall not, directly or indirectly (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), on Officer’s own behalf or for any other person or entity: (i) solicit for employment, hire or engage, or attempt to solicit for employment, hire or engage, any person who is or was employed by the Company within the six (6) month period prior to the solicitation or hire, or (ii) otherwise interfere with the relationship between any such person and the Company.
(d)Non-Interference with Customers, Third Party Relationships. During the Restricted Period, Officer shall not, directly or indirectly (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), on Officer’s own behalf or for any other person or entity: (i) interfere with, impair, disrupt or damage the Company Group’s business relationships, including by soliciting, encouraging or recruiting any of the Company Group’s customers, program managers, service providers, or strategic partners, to discontinue or reduce their dealings with the Company Group; (ii) solicit, for a purpose related to the business of the Company, any customer, program manager, service provider, or strategic partner of the Company that was doing business with the Company during the six (6) month period prior to the solicitation; or (iii) usurp any business opportunity presented to the Company Group or Officer during the Term unless the Company Group formally determined not to pursue such business opportunity.
(e)Non-Competition. During the Restricted Period, or such lesser period as may be designated by the Bank in writing at any time, Officer will not engage in, or prepare to engage in, any “Competitive Activity,” defined as: (i) rendering services to a Competitive Enterprise (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise); holding the position of partner or principal (or similar role) in a Competitive Enterprise; (ii) founding or independently conducting a Competitive Enterprise; (iii) acquiring a greater than one percent (1%) equity, voting, revenue, income, profit, loss or other economic interest in a Competitive Enterprise the equity of which is publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange; or (iv) acquiring any equity, voting, revenue, income, profit, loss or other economic interest in a Competitive Enterprise the equity of which is not publicly traded on a recognized securities exchange.
Competitive Enterprise” means an enterprise in North America (or such other location where the Company Group does or has active plans to do business) materially engaged in issuing prepaid debit cards, insurance premium finance, asset-based lending and factoring, equipment leasing, SBA lending, tax lending, or payments processing, or any other business in which the Company Group materially engaged as of the Termination Date or was actively contemplating engagement at any time during the six (6) month period prior to the Termination Date.
(f)Third Party Confidential Information. Officer understands that the Company Group will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on the Company Group to maintain the confidentiality of
- 12 -



such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the Term and thereafter, Officer will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone or use (other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of Company), Third Party Information unless expressly authorized in writing by the Bank. Additionally, Officer will not improperly use or disclose on behalf of the Company Group any confidential information or trade secrets of any former employer or any other person to whom Officer has an obligation of confidentiality, and Officer will not bring onto the Company’s premises any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or of any other person to whom Officer has an obligation of confidentiality.
(g)Non-Disparagement. Other than in furtherance of Officer’s legitimate job duties on behalf of the Company Group or as provided in Section 8(j) below, Officer will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, or statements concerning the Company Group or its businesses, or any of its employees, customers, officers, program managers, or investors.
(h)Return of Company Property. Upon the Company’s request but in no event later than three (3) business days following the Termination Date, Officer shall return to the Company all company property that is then in Officer’s possession, custody or control, including, without limitation, all keys, access cards, credit cards, computer hardware and software, documents, records, policies, marketing information, data base information and lists, and any other property or information that Officer has or had relating to the Company (whether those materials are in paper or computer-stored form), and including but not limited to any documents containing, summarizing, or describing any Confidential Information.
(i)Officer Assistance. For a period of twelve (12) months after the Termination Date, Officer shall, upon reasonable notice, assist in the transition of his job duties by furnishing the Company with such information related to the Company Group as may be in Officer’s possession or control, and cooperate with the Company in any reasonable manner that the Company may request, including without limitation conferring with the Company with regard to any litigation, claim, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party. The Company shall schedule any such cooperation with due regard to Officer’s professional and personal obligations, and shall reimburse Officer for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Officer in fulfilling Officer’s obligations under this provision.
(j)Protected Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit Officer’s ability to: testify pursuant to a lawful subpoena, court order, or written request from a government authority; report allegations of unlawful conduct to government officials for investigation; cooperate in any government investigation or inquiry; or comply with any other legal obligation. Officer will not need the prior authorization of the Bank to make any such reports or disclosures and Officer will not be required to notify the Bank that Officer has made such reports or disclosures, provided, that nothing shall waive any attorney-client or similar privilege of the Company Group. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b), an Officer may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of an employer’s trade secrets (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1839), so long as such disclosure is made solely: (a) in
- 13 -



confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; and/or (b) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Additionally, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1831 et seq., an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
(k)Enforcement. Officer acknowledges that the provisions of this Section are essential to the Company Group; the Bank would not enter into this Agreement if it did not include this Section; and damages sustained by the Company Group as a result of a breach of this Section cannot be adequately remedied by monetary damages. Furthermore, Officer agrees that the Bank, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and in addition to any other remedy it may have under this Agreement, or at law, will be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent or curtail any breach of this Section without being required to post a bond. If any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator shall deem any provision in this Section too restrictive, the other provisions shall stand, and the tribunal shall modify the unduly restrictive provision to the point of greatest restriction permissible by law. Should Officer breach any covenants in this Section then among other remedies, the duration of the covenant shall be extended by the period of any such breach.
9.Retirement. If Officer has a termination of employment hereunder for any reason other than for Cause after satisfying the requirements for Retirement (as defined below), and Officer is not otherwise eligible for the Severance Package, if the Termination Date occurs on or after six (6) months following commencement of the Company’s fiscal year, the Officer shall, except as otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, receive the AIP and the LTIP, if any, that Officer would have earned for measurement/performance periods in which the Termination Date occurs based on achievement of the applicable performance goals for such measurement/performance periods as determined at the end of the respective measurement/performance period. Any payments to which Officer is entitled under this Section shall be paid in cash, stock or a combination (as specified in the original grant terms), notwithstanding any service requirement, following the last day of the applicable measurement/performance period, not later than the date such AIP and LTIP awards are paid to similarly situated executives. Officer shall also receive continued vesting of Officer’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award (as defined in the Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2016). For purposes of this Section 9, “Retirement” shall mean retirement from employment with the Company or an entity within the Company Group as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director thereof, where either (i) Officer has reached the age of 65 or (ii) the sum of Officer’s age and length of service (as an employee, director, director emeritus or advisory director) is greater than or equal to 70.
10.Arbitration. Any dispute or claim relating to or arising out of the employment relationship between Officer and the Company or the termination of that relationship shall be resolved by confidential, binding arbitration; provided, however, that this agreement to arbitrate
- 14 -



shall not apply to or cover any claim for expedited injunctive or equitable relief, including without limitation claims involving intellectual property, unfair competition, or trade secrets. Any arbitration shall be conducted before a single neutral arbitrator in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pursuant to the rules for arbitration of employment disputes by the American Arbitration Association (available at www.adr.org). The arbitrator shall permit adequate discovery, and is empowered to award all remedies otherwise available in a court of competent jurisdiction. Any judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction. By executing this Agreement, Officer and the Bank are both waiving the right to a jury trial with respect to any such disputes. This Section does not include claims that, by law, may not be subject to mandatory arbitration. Each Party shall bear its own expenses in any arbitration convened pursuant to this Section and shall split evenly the costs of the arbitration; provided, however, that the Bank will pay the costs of such arbitration to the extent necessary as a condition precedent to enforce this arbitration obligation.
11.Notices. Any notice, consent, demand, request, or other communication pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given to such Party (x) on the date when delivered personally to such Party or by email (with delivery and read receipt turned on) or (y) two (2) days after being sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, to the address (if any) specified below for such Party (or to such other address as such Party shall have specified by ten days’ advance notice given in accordance with this Section) provided that a written acknowledgment of receipt is obtained.
If to the Company:    5501 S. Broadband Lane
    Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Attn: Chairman of the Board of Directors

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice hereunder):

Anthony Sharett
EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Meta Financial Group, Inc.
5501 S. Broadband Lane
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
asharett@metabank.com
If to Officer:         The address of Officer’s principal residence as it appears in the Company records, with a copy to Officer (during the Term) at Officer’s principal office at the Company.
12.Miscellaneous.
(a)Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties concerning the specific subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety, as of the Effective Date, any prior employment agreement between Officer and the Bank.
- 15 -



(b)Amendment or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, or waived except by a written instrument, signed by Officer and the Bank, expressly referring to the provision of this Agreement being amended, modified, supplemented, or waived. Any such written waiver shall be effective only with respect to the event or circumstance described therein and not with respect to any other event or circumstance, unless such waiver expressly provides to the contrary.
(c)Assignability; Binding Nature. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, heirs (in the case of Officer) and permitted assigns. No rights or obligations of Officer under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by Officer other than Officer’s rights to compensation and benefits, which may be transferred to Officer’s beneficiaries by will or trust. No rights or obligations of the Bank under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Bank, except that such rights and obligations may be assigned or transferred pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other combination in which the Company is not the continuing entity, or a sale or liquidation of all or substantially all of the business and assets of the Company; provided that the assignee or transferee is the successor to all or substantially all of the business and assets of the Company and such assignee or transferee expressly assumes the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement. In the event of any merger, consolidation, other combination, sale of business and assets, or liquidation as described in the immediately preceding sentence, the Bank shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause such assignee or transferee to promptly and expressly assume the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company hereunder.
(d)Interpretation. The headings of the sections and sub-sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation.” In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of this Agreement and any provision of any other Company Arrangement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control, to the extent it would not violate Section 409A.
(e)Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation, paid to Officer pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with Company Group that is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required pursuant to such law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).
(f)Severability; Survivability. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. The terms of Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 shall survive and continue in full force notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or Officer’s employment for any reason.
- 16 -



This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original instrument, but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.
(g)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, performed and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the state of South Dakota, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. For the purposes of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or with respect to Officer’s employment hereunder that is not otherwise subject to arbitration under Section 10, the Parties: (i) agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal or state courts located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, (ii) waive any objection to personal jurisdiction or venue in such jurisdiction, and agree not to plead or claim forum non conveniens; and (iii) waive their respective rights to a jury trial of any claims and causes of action, and agree to have any matter heard and decided solely by the court.
(h)D&O Insurance. During the Term and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the Company shall maintain at its own expense directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing reasonable coverage to Officer no less favorable than the coverage provided to other directors and similarly-situated executives of the Company.
(The balance of this page is intentionally blank)
- 17 -



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Officer has executed this Agreement, and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized board member, all as of the Effective Date.
META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

By:    / s / Becky S. Shulman    
    Name: Becky S. Shulman
    Title: Chair of the Compensation
Committee of Meta Financial Group, Inc.’s Board of
Directors

Dated: November 30, 2020    

METABANK

By:    / s / Kathi Winter    
    Name: Kathi Winter
    Title: EVP, Chief People Officer

Dated: November 30, 2020    
 
OFFICER

/ s / Glen Herrick        
Glen W. Herrick
November 30, 2020

Dated: November 30, 2020    




[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

- 18 -

- 1 - Exhibit 10.11 META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated As Of November 24, 2014) PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT Pursuant to this Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (this “Award Agreement”), and subject to the terms and conditions herein and in the Meta Financial Group, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated as of November 24, 2014) (the “Plan”), Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company,” as defined in the Plan) grants an Award of performance share units (“PSUs”) under Section 5(d) of the Plan to the following identified Grantee with the following specified terms: Summary of Award Terms: Name of Grantee: __________ (the “Grantee”) Date of Grant: ______, __, 2020 (the “Grant Date”) Target Number of Performance Share Units: ____(the “Target PSUs”) Performance Period: October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2023 (“Performance Period”) Vesting: The PSUs shall vest only upon the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals for the October 1, 2020-September 30, 2023 Performance Period. Depending on the Grantee’s actual achievements, the Grantee may earn between 0% and 200% of the Target PSUs. Performance Goals: The number of PSUs earned by the Grantee at the end of the Performance Period, if any, will be determined by the Committee, in its sole but reasonable discretion, based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals identified in Exhibit A to this Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in this Award Agreement, Grantee must have Continuous Service throughout the Performance Period to remain eligible for any rights or interests with respect to this Award. Settlement Date: As soon as practicable following the end of the Performance Period, but no later than March 15th following the last day of the Performance Period (the “Settlement Date”). Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement, unless otherwise defined, shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.


 
- 2 - 1. Grant of Performance Share Units. The Company hereby grants this Award of PSUs, pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan, the Company will pay to the Grantee on the Settlement Date one (1) Share as of the Settlement Date multiplied by the number of vested PSUs earned hereby, subject to applicable withholding for taxes. 2. Vesting. The Award is subject to the vesting terms set forth in the Summary of Award Terms above, except as may otherwise be provided in this Award Agreement or in the Plan. Any portion of the Award that does not vest for any reason shall automatically be cancelled and terminated and be of no further force and effect. 3. Forfeiture. (a) If the Grantee has a Termination of Service prior to the end of the Performance Period for any reason, then except as provided in an employment agreement between the Company and the Grantee then in effect, the Grantee shall forfeit, and shall have no further rights or interest with respect to, any of the PSUs granted hereby that remain unvested, with automatic and immediate effect (after giving effect to any applicable vesting acceleration provision) as of the Termination Date. (b) The Award, and the Committee’s determination of the satisfaction of Performances Goals, shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee (i) as provided in the Plan, and (ii) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, if the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Award or necessary to comply with applicable laws, rules or regulations. 4. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Award shall be subject to the provisions of Section 9 of the Plan. 5. Settlement of Award. On or as soon as practicable after the Settlement Date, the Company will, in full satisfaction of the PSUs granted hereby, pay to the Grantee the amount owed, as determined by the Committee, in whole Shares, rounded down to the nearest whole Share. (a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer of Shares shall become effective until the Company determines that such transfer, issuance, and delivery is in compliance with all applicable, laws, regulations of governmental authority, and the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares may be traded. (b) The Committee may, as a condition to the issuance of Shares, require the Grantee to make covenants and representations and/or enter into agreements with the Company to reflect the Grantee’s rights and obligations as a stockholder of the Company and any limitations and restrictions on such Shares. (c) The transfer of Shares pursuant to this Award Agreement shall be effectuated by an appropriate entry on the books of the Company, the issuance of certificates representing such shares (bearing such legends as the Committee deems necessary or desirable),


 
- 3 - the transfer of shares to a brokerage account in the name of the Grantee, and/or other appropriate means as determined by the Committee. (d) Unless and until any Shares are issued in settlement of the Award on the Settlement Date, the Award shall not confer to the Grantee any rights or status as a stockholder of the Company. 6. Withholding. The Grantee shall surrender to the Company, for no consideration, the portion of any Shares that become vested under this Award whose aggregate Market Value is sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements. 7. No Assignment or Transfer. The Award granted hereunder may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. No transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee shall have been furnished with (i) written notice thereof along with such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and (ii) an agreement by the transferee to comply with all the terms and conditions of the Award that are or would have been applicable to the Grantee and to be bound by the acknowledgements made by the Grantee in connection with the grant. 8. Grantee Representations. By accepting the Award, the Grantee represents and acknowledges the following: (a) The Grantee has received a copy of the Plan, has reviewed the Plan and this Award Agreement in their entirety, and has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of independent legal counsel prior to accepting the Award. (b) The Grantee has had the opportunity to consult with a tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of accepting the Award, and understands that the Company makes no representation regarding the tax treatment as to any aspect of the Award, including the grant, vesting, settlement, or conversion of the Award. (c) The Grantee understands that neither the grant of this Award nor the Grantee’s participation in the Plan confers any right to continue in the service of the Company or to receive any other award or amount of compensation, whether under the Plan or otherwise, and no payment of any award under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan. (d) The Grantee consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Grantee’s personal data by the Company, any Affiliate, the Committee, and any third party retained to administer the Plan for the exclusive purpose of administering the Award and Grantee’s participation in the Plan. The Grantee agrees to promptly notify the Committee of any changes in the Grantee’s name, address, or contact information during the entire period of Plan participation. 9. Adjustments. If there is a change in the outstanding Shares due to a stock dividend, split, or consolidation, or a recapitalization, corporate change, corporate transaction, or other


 
- 4 - similar event relating to the Company, the Committee may adjust the number of Target PSUs subject to the Award in accordance with Section 7 of the Plan. 10. Administration; Interpretation. In accordance with the Plan and this Award Agreement, the Committee shall have full discretionary authority to administer the Award, including discretionary authority to interpret and construe any and all provisions relating to the Award. Decisions of the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. 11. Section 409A. It is intended that this Award Agreement is exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the interpretive guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”), and this Award Agreement shall be administered accordingly, and interpreted and construed on a basis consistent with such intent. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement would fail to comply with applicable requirements of Section 409A, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without requiring the Grantee’s consent, make such modifications to this Award Agreement and/or payments to be made thereunder to the extent it determines necessary or advisable to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a guarantee of any particular tax effect for the Award, and the Company does not guarantee that any compensation or benefits provided under this Award Agreement will satisfy the provisions of Section 409A. If (i) the Grantee’s right to payment is subject to Section 409A, and (ii) the Grantee is a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A) as of the Termination Date, then, to the extent necessary to comply with Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(2), settlement of the Award shall be delayed until the earlier of (A) the date which is six months after the Grantee’s separation from service, or (B) the date of the Grantee’s death. 12. Successors. The terms of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs of the Grantee or distributees of the Grantee’s estate and any successor to the Company. 13. Governing Law; Severability. (a) Governing Law. This Award Agreement shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of South Dakota without regard to its conflict of law principles. (b) Severability. Any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or relevant governmental authority that any provision or part of a provision in this Award Agreement is unlawful or invalid shall not serve to invalidate any portion of this Award Agreement not found to be unlawful or invalid, and any provision or part of a provision found to be unlawful or invalid shall be construed in a manner that will give effect to the terms of such provision or part of a provision to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid. 14. Acknowledgment of Receipt and Acceptance. By signing below (or execution by other means approved by the Committee, including by electronic signature), the undersigned acknowledges receipt and acceptance of the Award, agrees to the representations made in the Award, and indicates his intention to be bound by this Award Agreement and the terms of the Plan.


 
- 5 - META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. By: Name: Title: Date: GRANTEE By:_______________________________ Grantee’s Name:_____________________ Date:


 
EX-A EXHIBIT A TO PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT Company’s Earnings Per Share For October 1, 2020-September 30, 2023 Fiscal Years (“Cumulative 2021-23 EPS”) (50% Weighting)1 Level 10/1/20- 9/30/21 Goal 10/1/21-9/30-22 Goal 10/1/22-9/30/23 Goal Cumulative Goals Threshold $2.41 $______ $______ $______ Target $3.01 $______ $______ $______ Maximum $3.46 $______ $______ $______ Company’s Return on Equity For October 1, 2020-September 30, 2023 Fiscal Years (“Average 2021-23 ROE”) (25% Weighting)2 Level 10/1/20- 9/30/21 Goal 10/1/21-9/30-22 Goal 10/1/22-9/30/23 Goal Average Goals Threshold 10.0% _____% ____% _____% Target 11.5% _____% ____% _____% Maximum 13.5% _____% ____% _____% 1 Cumulative 2021 to 2023 EPS Performance Goal: The 10/1/21-9/30/22 Goal column and the 10/1/22-9/30/23 Goal column will be determined by the Committee during the 90 day period beginning 10/1/21 and 10/1/22 respectively. The Company’s actual cumulative 2021 to 2023 EPS must be at least equal to the sum of the three Threshold Level Goals as determined by the Committee at the end of the Performance Period. If the Company’s actual cumulative 2021 to 2023 EPS is less than the sum of the three Threshold Level Goals, then there shall be no payout with respect to the EPS metric. Straight line interpolation will be used to calculate Shares earned for percentages between Threshold and Target and Target and Maximum. 2 Average 2021 to 2023 ROE Performance Goal: The 10/1/21-9/30/22 Goal column and the 10/1/22-9/30/23 Goal column will be determined by the Committee during the 90 day period beginning 10/1/21 and 10/1/22 respectively. The Company’s actual average 2021 to 2023 ROE must be at least equal to the average of the three Threshold Level Goals as determined by the Committee at the end of the Performance Period. If the average 2021 to 2023 ROE is less than the average of the three Threshold Level Goals, then there shall be no payout with respect to the ROE metric. Straight line interpolation will be used to calculate Shares earned for percentages between Threshold and Target and Target and Maximum.


 
EX-A Company’s Relative TSR Goals For October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2023 Fiscal Years (“2021 to 2023 TSR”) (25% Weighting)3 Level Payout as % of Target Percentile Rank Threshold 50% 30 Target 100% 50 Maximum 200% 80 or higher 3 2021 to 2023 Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) Goal: The Relative TSR Comparator Group consists of companies in the S&P 600 index within the GICS Financials Sector (excluding the Company), effective October 1, 2020, as selected by the Committee. The twenty (20) day average closing price immediately preceding October 1, 2020 and immediately prior to September 30, 2023, with dividends reinvested as of the applicable ex-date will be used by the Committee to determine the Company’s percentile rank as of the end of the Performance Period. If the Company’s percentile rank at the end of the Performance Period is less than 30 out of the S&P 600 financial service companies that comprise the Relative TSR Comparative Group, then there shall be no payment with respect to the TSR metric. Straight line interpolation will be used to calculate Shares earned for percentile rank between Threshold and Target and Target and Maximum. TSR Comparator Group companies will be adjusted by the Committee as follows for activity during the Performance Period: (i) if the Company or a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group splits its stock or issues a stock dividend, such company’s TSR will be adjusted for the stock split or stock dividend; (ii) if a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group is acquired by another company, the acquired Relative TSR Comparator Group company will be removed from the Relative TSR Comparator Group for the entire Performance Period; (iii) if during the Performance Period a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group sells, spins-off, or disposes of a portion of its business representing more than 50% of such company’s total assets, such company will be removed from the Relative TSR Comparator Group; (iv) if during the Performance Period a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group acquires another company, the acquiring Relative TSR Comparator Group member will remain in the Relative TSR Comparator Group for the Performance Period; (v) if during the Performance Period a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group is delisted on all major stock exchanges, such delisted company will be removed from the Relative TSR Comparator Group for the entire Performance Period; and (vi) if during the Performance Period a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group files for bankruptcy, liquidation or similar reorganization, such company will remain in the Relative TSR Comparator Group in a position below the lowest performing non-bankrupt member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group. The Committee shall have the authority to make adjustments in response to a change in circumstances that results in a member of the Relative TSR Comparator Group no longer satisfying the criteria for which such member was originally selected by the Committee.


 
Exhibit 10.12 Meta Financial Group, Inc. Participant: Global ID: Award Type: Award of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Plan Name: Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended) Award Date: Restricted Period: Performance Goal: For the four quarters ending June 30 immediately preceding each September 30, 2021, September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2023 Vesting Date (the “Measurement Period”), the Committee shall determine whether MetaBank (together with its Affiliates, as applicable) has satisfied capital requirements under the Basel III Capital Rules or such other capital requirements as may be promulgated by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (or their successors having jurisdiction over such matters) (the “Capital Requirements”). If the Committee determines that MetaBank (and applicable Affiliates) has not satisfied the Capital Requirements for the Measurement Period preceding the applicable Vesting Date, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock that would otherwise vest on the applicable Vesting Date following the Measurement Period shall be forfeited without consideration therefor. The Committee shall look at the Capital Requirements for each Measurement Period immediately preceding each Vesting Date. and make a good faith determination as to whether the Capital Requirements have been satisfied with respect to the Measurement Period preceding the applicable Vesting Date and such decision shall not affect any portion of the Restricted Shares that are scheduled to vest in subsequent years. Shares of Restricted Stock Granted: Award Date Price: USD $ Vesting Schedule: Number of Shares of Restricted Stock Vesting Date If Performance Goal Met September 30, 2021 September 30, 2022 September 30, 2023


 
1 META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 2002 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT You have been granted an Award of Restricted Stock by Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Corporation”) subject to your acceptance of the terms herein. This Award of Restricted Stock is granted by the Corporation in accordance with the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), and the following terms and conditions. Any capitalized term used but not defined in this Award Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan. By your electronic signature consenting to the Award of Restricted Stock, you also agree that you have read and agree to be bound by the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. 1. Restricted Stock. The Award of Restricted Stock is for ____ Shares of the common stock of the Corporation, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”), pursuant to the Plan and subject to the restrictions and other terms and conditions set forth in this Award Agreement and in other communications and documents approved by the Corporation. A copy of the Plan, as currently in effect, is incorporated by reference and is available as a separate document in the participant portal. The number of Shares of Restricted Stock is as set forth on the Computershare (or successor) system in respect of your Award. 2. Transfer Restrictions. Any unvested Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by you, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution in the event of the your death, pursuant to a “qualified domestic relations order” as defined in the Code or the rules thereunder, or as provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee in its discretion in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Plan, and provided that you maintain Continuous Service and the Performance Goal is achieved during the Restricted Period, the Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest and become transferable in accordance with the vesting schedule as provided for in this Award Agreement as set forth on the Computershare (or successor) system. 3. Documentation of Shares of Restricted Stock. As of the Grant Date, the Corporation shall issue Common Stock either in certificate form or book-entry form in your name with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock and such Shares shall be held on your behalf until such Shares of Restricted Stock become vested. Such certificates shall bear the following (or a similar) legend or, if issued in book-entry, include a similar notation: “The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) contained in the Corporation’s 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, and an agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Corporation. Copies of such Plan and the agreement are on file in the offices of the Secretary of the Corporation, 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108.”


 
2 The Corporation may require you to execute and deliver stock powers in favor of the Corporation with respect to the certificates representing the Shares of Restricted Stock. 4. Delivery of Shares of Common Stock. Upon the vesting of the Shares of Restricted Stock, the Corporation shall, as applicable, either remove the restrictive notations on any such Shares of Restricted Stock issued in book-entry form or deliver to you (or, if you have died, your legal representative) a certificate representing such Common Stock. Such Common Stock shall be free of the restrictions described in Section 2 and shall exclude the restrictive legend described in Section 3. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to your Award, if the Committee so requires, is conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to your investment intention or any other person to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other federal, state or local securities law or regulation. In requesting any such representation, the Committee may provide that such representation requirement shall become inoperative upon a registration of such Shares or other action eliminating the necessity of such representation under the Securities Act of 1933 or other securities law or regulation. The Corporation shall not be required to deliver any Common Stock upon the vesting of the Shares of Restricted Stock prior to (i) the admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange or system on which the shares of Common Stock may then be listed, and (ii) the completion of such registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law, rule or regulation as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable. 5. Termination of Continuous Service or Death. If you cease Continuous Service for any reason (other than death, total or partial disability, Retirement, or an involuntary termination without Cause), all Shares of Restricted Stock that are unvested at the time of such termination of Continuous Service automatically shall be forfeited to the Corporation. If you cease to maintain Continuous Service due to death, total or partial disability, Retirement or involuntary termination without Cause, all Shares of Restricted Stock that are unvested at the time of such termination of Continuous Service shall fully vest upon the achievement of the Performance Goal applicable to such unvested Shares. If your Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, all rights under this Award Agreement shall expire immediately upon the Corporation’s notification to you of such termination. 6. Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization of the Corporation. In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, or any change in the corporate structure of the Corporation or in the shares of Common Stock, the number and class of shares covered by your Award of Restricted Stock shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. 7. Effect of Change of Control. The treatment of unvested Shares of Restricted Stock in connection with a change of control (as defined in the Plan) shall be determined under the Plan. 8. Stockholder Rights with respect to Restricted Stock. Subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Plan and this Award Agreement, you shall have all of the rights of a


 
3 stockholder of the Corporation with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock, including, but not limited to, the right to receive all dividends paid on the Restricted Stock and the right to vote the Restricted Stock. 9. Binding Effect of Award Agreement. The provisions of this Award Agreement and your Award of Restricted Stock shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of the Corporation and any person to whom the Shares of Restricted Stock are transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. 10. Withholding Tax. Upon the vesting of the Shares of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier time, if any, that you elect under Code Section 83(b) to include the value of the Restricted Stock in taxable income), the Corporation shall have the right to: (i) require you or such other person to pay to the Corporation the amount of any taxes which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates is required to withhold with respect to such Shares of Restricted Stock; (ii) to retain, or sell without notice, a sufficient number of such Shares to cover the amount required to be withheld or in lieu of any of the foregoing; or (iii) to withhold a sufficient sum from your compensation payable by the Corporation to satisfy the Corporation’s tax withholding requirements. The Corporation shall have the right to deduct from any dividends paid with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock the amount of any taxes the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such dividend payments. The Corporation’s method of satisfying its withholding obligations shall be solely in the discretion of the Corporation, subject to applicable federal, state and local law. 11. Notices. All notices hereunder to the Corporation shall be delivered or mailed to it addressed to the Secretary of Meta Financial Group, Inc., 5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108. Any notices hereunder to you shall be delivered personally or mailed to your address in the Corporation’s records. Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided written notice of the change is furnished in advance to the Corporation or to you, as the case may be. 12. Plan and Plan Interpretations as Controlling. This Award Agreement, the Award of Restricted Stock information available on Computershare (or its successor), and the terms and conditions set forth herein are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are controlling. All determinations and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon you or your legal representatives with regard to any question arising under this Award Agreement or under the Plan. 13. Grantee Service. Nothing in this Award Agreement shall limit the right of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates to terminate your service as a director, officer or employee, or otherwise impose upon the Corporation or any of its Affiliates any obligation to employ or accept your services. 14. Electronic Signature. By selecting “I Accept” button, you are signing this Award Agreement electronically. You agree that your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this Award Agreement.


 

Exhibit 21
 
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
 
Parent   Subsidiary   Percentage
of
Ownership
  State of
Incorporation or
Organization
              
Meta Financial Group, Inc.   MetaBank   100% Federal

The financial statements of Meta Financial Group, Inc. are consolidated with those of MetaBank.
 
 




Exhibit 23.1
 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements on Forms S-8 (Nos. 333-22523, 333-110200, 333-141407, 333-151604, and 333-222674) of Meta Financial Group, Inc. of our report dated November 30, 2020 relating to the financial statements of Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries, and our report dated the same date relative to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

  /s/ Crowe LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan  
November 30, 2020  



Exhibit 23.2


Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors
Meta Financial Group, Inc.
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements pertaining to the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (No. 333-22523) and the Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2002 Omnibus Incentive Plan (No. 333-110200, No. 333-141407, No. 333-151604, and No. 333-222674) on Form S-8 of Meta Financial Group, Inc. of our report dated November 29, 2018, with respect to the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended September 30, 2018, and the related notes, which report appears in the September 30, 2020 annual report on Form 10-K of Meta Financial Group, Inc

  /s/ KPMG LLP
Des Moines, Iowa  
November 30, 2020  



Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Bradley C. Hanson, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Meta Financial Group, Inc.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report), that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 30, 2020
/s/ Bradley C. Hanson
President and Chief Executive Officer



Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Glen W. Herrick, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Meta Financial Group, Inc.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)    Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report), that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 30, 2020
/s/ Glen W. Herrick
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended September 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Bradley C. Hanson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)    the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

By: /s/ Bradley C. Hanson
Name: Bradley C. Hanson
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 30, 2020


Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended September 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Glen W. Herrick, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)    the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

By: /s/ Glen W. Herrick
Name: Glen W. Herrick
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 30, 2020