- Revenue Rises 80% -

- Generates Net Income of $29.3 Million and Delivers Earnings Per Diluted Share of $0.75 -

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meta Financial Group, Inc.® (Nasdaq: CASH) (“Meta” or the “Company”) reported net income of $29.3 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared to net income of $6.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Total revenue for the fiscal 2019 third quarter was $110.8 million, compared to $61.6 million for the same quarter in fiscal 2018, representing an 80% increase.

“Our fiscal year 2019 third quarter results highlight our strong and consistent loan growth, as well as continued net interest income and margin expansion, primarily reflecting a more potent balance sheet,” said President and CEO Brad Hanson. “We continue to make progress on our key strategic initiatives, including a focus on leveraging our payments division to drive more favorable deposit growth, optimizing our interest-earning asset mix, and realizing operating efficiencies to generate sustained profit increases. Moreover, as we remain committed to maximizing shareholder value, we further enhanced our capital management activities by initiating share repurchases under our recent Board authorization.”

Highlights for the 2019 Fiscal Third Quarter Ended June 30, 2019

  • Total gross loans and leases at June 30, 2019 more than doubled to $3.63 billion, compared to June 30, 2018, and increased by $190.9 million, or 6%, when compared to March 31, 2019.
  • Average deposits from the payments division increased nearly 11% to $2.73 billion when compared to the same period in fiscal 2018.
  • Net interest income more than doubled to $67.0 million, compared to $28.4 million in the comparable quarter in fiscal 2018.
  • Net interest margin ("NIM") increased to 5.07% for the fiscal 2019 third quarter from 2.94% over the same period of the prior fiscal year, while the tax-equivalent net interest margin ("NIM, TE") increased to 5.15% from 3.23% over that same period in fiscal 2018.
  • Repurchased $43.0 million, or 1,574,734, shares at an average price of $27.31 during the fiscal 2019 third quarter.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income for the fiscal 2019 third quarter grew by $38.6 million, or 136%, to $67.0 million, compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2018.  This increase was primarily due to growth in loan and lease balances as well as an increase in loan and lease yields. The growth in loan and lease balances, along with the higher corresponding loan and lease yields, were largely attributable to the Company's acquisition of Crestmark in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (the "Crestmark acquisition").

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, loan and lease interest income grew by $50.7 million, when compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2018, offset in part by an increase in interest expense of $9.0 million. The quarterly average outstanding balance of loans and leases as a percentage of interest-earning assets for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 increased to 68%, from 40% for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, while the quarterly average balance of total investments as a percentage of interest-earning assets decreased to 31% from 58% over that same period.  The Company’s average interest-earning assets for the fiscal 2019 third quarter grew by $1.4 billion, or 37%, to $5.30 billion from the comparable quarter in fiscal 2018.  This was primarily due to growth in our average loan and lease portfolio of $2.04 billion, of which $1.88 billion was attributable to an increase in national lending loans and leases along with an increase of $159.9 million in community banking loans, partially offset by a reduction in total investment securities of $633.3 million.

NIM increased to 5.07% for the fiscal 2019 third quarter from 2.94% for the comparable quarter in fiscal 2018, while NIM, TE was 5.15% for the fiscal 2019 third quarter. The net effect of purchase accounting accretion contributed 25 basis points to NIM for the fiscal 2019 third quarter, which represented an increase of seven basis points from the fiscal 2019 second quarter.

The overall reported tax-equivalent yield (“TEY”) on average earning asset yields increased by 244 basis points to 6.26% for the fiscal 2019 third quarter compared to the 2018 third fiscal quarter.  The growth was driven primarily by the Company's improved earning asset mix, which reflects higher balances for the national lending portfolio. The fiscal 2019 third quarter TEY on the securities portfolio was 3.09% compared to 3.11% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

The Company's cost of funds for all deposits and borrowings averaged 1.14% during the fiscal 2019 third quarter, compared to 0.62% for the 2018 third fiscal quarter. This increase was primarily due to a rise in short-term interest rates affecting overnight borrowing rates, other wholesale funding, and the interest-bearing time deposits acquired by the Company in connection with the Crestmark acquisition. The Company's overall cost of deposits was 0.90% in the fiscal third quarter of 2019, compared to 0.29% in the same quarter of fiscal 2018. Excluding wholesale deposits, the Company's cost of deposits for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 would have been 0.11%.

Non-Interest Income
Fiscal 2019 third quarter non-interest income was $43.8 million, an increase of 32% over the same quarter of fiscal 2018, which was due in large part to increases in rental income, gain on sale of loans and leases, other income, and deposit fees. Partially offsetting the increase were decreases in card fee income and in total tax product fee income over that same period of the prior fiscal year.  The increases in rental income and gain on sale of loans and leases were primarily attributable to the Crestmark acquisition. The card fee income decrease was related to the previously disclosed wind-down of two non-strategic partners and the transition of certain fees to deposit fees.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense increased to $72.5 million for the 2019 fiscal third quarter, compared to $49.1 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2018, primarily due to the addition of the Crestmark division, which was not present in the comparable quarter in the prior fiscal year. During the fiscal 2019 third quarter, compensation and benefits expense rose by $10.7 million from the same period of the prior fiscal year, 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.

Income Tax Expense
The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.2 million, or an effective tax rate of (3.97%), for the fiscal 2019 third quarter, compared to an income tax expense of $0.5 million, or an effective tax rate of 6.55%, for the fiscal 2018 third quarter. The income tax benefit for the fiscal 2019 third quarter was primarily due to ratably recognized investment tax credits.

The Company originated $49.1 million in solar leases during the fiscal 2019 third quarter. Investment tax credits related to solar leases and future originations in fiscal 2019 will be recognized ratably based on income over the duration of the current 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.

Investments, Loans and Leases

 June 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
          
Total investments$1,502,640  $1,649,754  $1,855,792  $2,019,968  $2,149,709 
          
Loans held for sale         
Consumer credit products45,582  42,342  24,233     
SBA/USDA(1)17,257  17,403  9,327  15,606   
Total loans held for sale62,839  59,745  33,560  15,606   
          
National Lending loans and leases         
Asset based lending615,309  572,210  554,072  477,917   
Factoring320,344  287,955  284,912  284,221   
Lease financing341,957  321,414  290,889  265,315   
Insurance premium finance358,772  307,875  330,712  337,877  303,603 
SBA/USDA99,791  77,481  67,893  59,374   
Other commercial finance99,677  98,956  89,402  85,145  11,418 
Commercial finance(2)1,835,850  1,665,891  1,617,880  1,509,849  315,021 
Consumer credit products155,539  139,617  96,144  80,605  26,583 
Other consumer finance164,727  170,824  182,510  189,756  194,344 
Consumer finance320,266  310,441  278,654  270,361  220,927 
Tax services24,410  84,824  76,575  1,073  14,281 
Warehouse finance250,003  186,697  176,134  65,000   
Total National Lending loans and leases2,430,529  2,247,853  2,149,243  1,846,283  550,229 
Community Banking loans         
Commercial real estate and operating877,412  869,917  863,753  790,890  751,146 
Consumer one-to-four family real estate and other256,853  257,079  256,341  247,318  237,704 
Agricultural real estate and operating61,169  60,167  58,971  60,498  60,096 
Total Community Banking loans1,195,434  1,187,163  1,179,065  1,098,706  1,048,946 
Total gross loans and leases3,625,963  3,435,016  3,328,308  2,944,989  1,599,175 
Allowance for loan and lease losses(43,505) (48,672) (21,290) (13,040) (21,950)
Net deferred loan and lease origination fees (costs)5,068  2,964  1,190  (250) (1,881)
Total loans and leases, net of allowance$3,587,526  $3,389,308  $3,308,208  $2,931,699  $1,575,344 
 
(1) The June 30, 2019 balance included $0.7 million of an interest rate mark premium related to the acquired loans and leases from the Crestmark acquisition.
(2) The June 30, 2019 balance included $6.8 million and $3.2 million of credit and interest rate mark discounts, respectively, related to the acquired loans and leases from the Crestmark acquisition.
 

The Company continued to utilize sales of securities and cash flow from its amortizing securities portfolio to fund loan and lease growth. Investment securities totaled $1.50 billion at June 30, 2019, as compared to $2.15 billion at June 30, 2018.

Total gross loans and leases increased $2.03 billion, or 127%, to $3.63 billion at June 30, 2019, from $1.60 billion at June 30, 2018. This was primarily driven by loans and leases attributable to the acquired Crestmark commercial finance division, along with increases in warehouse finance and consumer credit product loans and growth of 18% in insurance premium finance loans and 14% in community banking loans.

At June 30, 2019, commercial finance loans, which comprised 51% of the Company's gross loan and lease portfolio, totaled $1.84 billion, reflecting growth of $170.0 million, or 10%, from March 31, 2019. Consumer credit product loans grew by $15.9 million, or 11%, and warehouse finance loans increased by $63.3 million, or 34%, at June 30, 2019 as compared to March 31, 2019.  The warehouse finance loan increase was driven by the addition of a highly-secured, consumer receivable warehouse line of credit during the fiscal 2019 third quarter.

Asset Quality
The Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses was $43.5 million at June 30, 2019, compared to $22.0 million at June 30, 2018, driven primarily by increases in the allowance of $11.4 million in commercial finance, $5.2 million in tax services, $3.8 million in consumer lending, and $0.9 million in the community banking portfolio.

    
(Unaudited)Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
Allowance for loan and lease loss activityJune 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 June 30,
2018
 June 30,
2019
 June 30,
2018
(Dollars in thousands)         
Beginning balance$48,672  $21,290  $27,078  $13,040  $7,534 
Provision - tax services loans914  22,473  1,189  24,883  20,335 
Provision - all other loans and leases8,198  10,845  4,126  26,646  4,391 
Charge-offs - tax services loans(9,627) (1) (10,507) (9,670) (10,507)
Charge-offs - all other loans and leases(5,124) (6,522) (243) (14,407) (742)
Recoveries - tax services loans36  84  1  212  423 
Recoveries - all other loans and leases436  503  306  2,801  516 
Ending balance$43,505  $48,672  $21,950  $43,505  $21,950 
                    

Provision for loan and lease losses was $9.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared to $5.3 million for the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. The increase in provision was primarily driven by loan and lease growth in the commercial finance portfolio and provision expense to maintain allowance levels. Net charge-offs were $14.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 compared to $10.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The total net charge-offs for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 primarily consisted of seasonal net charge-offs of $9.6 million in the tax services loan portfolio, which represented a decrease of $0.9 million, or 9%, from the comparable quarter of the prior fiscal year.  The overall increase in total net charge-offs from the comparable quarter of the prior fiscal year was primarily driven by activity in the commercial finance and other portfolios.

The Company's non-performing assets at June 30, 2019, were $51.0 million, representing 0.84% of total assets, compared to $40.9 million, or 0.68% of total assets at March 31, 2019 and $35.7 million, or 0.86% of total assets at June 30, 2018. The Company's non-performing loans and leases at June 30, 2019 were $20.8 million, representing 0.57% of total loans and leases, compared to $9.6 million, or 0.28% of total loans and leases, at March 31, 2019 and $5.7 million, or 0.36% of total loans and leases, at June 30, 2018.

Deposits, Borrowings and Other Liabilities
Total average deposits for the fiscal 2019 third quarter increased by $1.43 billion, or 45%, compared to the same period in fiscal 2018. Average wholesale deposits increased $1.07 billion, or 235%, primarily related to the Crestmark acquisition, and noninterest-bearing deposits grew by $244.5 million, or 10%, in each case, for the 2019 fiscal third quarter when compared to the same period in fiscal 2018.

The average balance of total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities was $5.14 billion for the three-month period ended June 30, 2019, compared to $3.70 billion for the same period in the prior fiscal year, representing an increase of 39%.

Total end-of-period deposits increased 36%, to $4.78 billion at June 30, 2019, compared to $3.52 billion at June 30, 2018. The increase in end-of-period deposits was primarily a result of increases in wholesale deposits, noninterest- bearing deposits, certificates of deposits and interest-bearing checking deposits.

Regulatory Capital
The Company and MetaBank remained above the federal regulatory minimum capital requirements at June 30, 2019 and continued to be classified as well-capitalized institutions. Regulatory capital ratios of the Company and the Bank are stated in the table below.

The tables below include 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 analysis.

As of the dates indicatedJune 30,
 2019
 March 31,
 2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
Company         
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio8.05% 7.45% 7.90% 8.50% 8.29%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio10.19% 10.94% 10.10% 10.56% 13.92%
Tier 1 capital ratio10.55% 11.31% 10.47% 10.97% 14.35%
Total capital ratio13.22% 14.20% 12.69% 13.18% 18.37%
MetaBank         
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio9.37% 8.42% 9.01% 9.75% 10.16%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio12.22% 12.72% 11.87% 12.50% 17.57%
Tier 1 capital ratio12.27% 12.76% 11.91% 12.56% 17.57%
Total capital ratio13.26% 13.92% 12.41% 12.89% 18.50%

The following table provides certain non-GAAP financial measures used to compute certain of the ratios included in the table above for the periods presented, as well as a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP:

Standardized Approach(1)June 30,
 2019
 March 31,
 2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
 (Dollars in Thousands)
Total stockholders' equity$822,901  $823,709  $770,728  $747,726  $443,913 
Adjustments:         
LESS: Goodwill, net of associated deferred tax liabilities302,850  302,768  299,037  299,456  94,781 
LESS: Certain other intangible assets53,249  56,456  61,317  64,716  46,098 
LESS: Net deferred tax assets from operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards13,858  7,381  4,720     
LESS: Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities2,329  (10,022) (28,829) (33,114) (28,601)
LESS: Noncontrolling interest3,508  3,528  3,267  3,574   
LESS: Unrealized currency gains (losses)  (242) (357) 3   
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (1)447,107  463,840  431,573  413,091  331,635 
Long-term borrowings and other instruments qualifying as Tier 113,661  13,661  13,661  13,661  10,310 
Tier 1 minority interest not included in common equity tier 1 capital2,119  2,064  1,796  2,118   
Total Tier 1 Capital462,887  479,565  447,030  428,870  341,945 
Allowance for loan and lease losses43,641  48,812  21,422  13,185  22,151 
Subordinated debentures (net of issuance costs)73,605  73,566  73,528  73,491  73,442 
Total Capital$580,133  $601,963  $541,980  $515,546  $437,538 
 
(1) Capital ratios were determined using the Basel III capital rules that became effective on January 1, 2015. Basel III revised the definition of capital, increased minimum capital ratios, and introduced a minimum CET1 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.

 June 30,
 2019
 March 31,
 2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
 (Dollars in Thousands)
Total Stockholders' Equity$822,901  $823,709  $770,728  $747,726  $443,913 
Less: Goodwill307,941  307,464  303,270  303,270  98,723 
Less: Intangible assets56,153  60,506  66,366  70,719  46,098 
Tangible common equity458,807  455,739  401,092  373,737  299,092 
Less: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCI")2,308  (10,264) (29,186) (33,111) (28,601)
Tangible common equity excluding AOCI$456,499  $466,003  $430,278  $406,848  $327,693 

Future Outlook
The Company expects fiscal 2019 earnings per common share ("EPS") on an adjusted basis to range between $2.66 to $2.81. The Company's estimates on an adjusted basis exclude the non-recurring $0.12 EPS effect, or $6.1 million, of pre-tax executive transition agreement costs incurred in the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The adjusted EPS guidance also excludes the $0.17 EPS effect, or $6.6 million, after-tax net charge to earnings related to the previously disclosed DC Solar matters in the quarter ended March 31, 2019. As a result, GAAP earnings per share for fiscal 2019 is expected to be in the range of $2.37 to $2.52 per share. The Company reaffirms the earnings outlook for fiscal year 2020 GAAP EPS to be in the range of $3.10 to $3.80.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and earnings webcast at 4:00 p.m. CDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. The live webcast of the call can be accessed from Meta’s Investor Relations website at www.metafinancialgroup.com.  Telephone participants may access the live conference call by dialing (844) 461-9934 beginning approximately 10 minutes prior to start time. Please ask to join the Meta Financial conference call, and provide conference ID 3047728 upon request. International callers should dial (636) 812-6634. A webcast replay will also be archived at www.metafinancialgroup.com for one year.

Forward-Looking Statements
The Company and MetaBank may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements,” including statements contained in this press release, the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company’s reports to stockholders, and in 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; customer retention; loan and other product demand; important components of the Company's statements of financial condition and operations; growth and expansion; new products and services, such as those offered by MetaBank or the Company's Payments divisions (which include Meta Payment Systems, Refund Advantage, EPS Financial and Specialty Consumer Services); credit quality and adequacy of reserves; 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; the expected growth opportunities, beneficial synergies and/or operating efficiencies from the Crestmark acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; customer losses and business disruption related to the Crestmark acquisition; unanticipated or unknown losses and liabilities may be incurred by the Company following the Crestmark acquisition; the costs, risks and effects on the Company of the ongoing federal investigation and bankruptcy proceedings involving DC Solar Solutions, Inc., DC Solar Distribution, Inc., and their affiliates, including the potential financial impact of those matters on the net book value of Company assets leased to DC Solar Distribution and the Company’s ability to recognize certain investment tax credits associated with such assets, and the results of the Company’s review of its due diligence processes with respect to the Company’s alternative energy assets; factors relating to the Company’s share repurchase program; 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 conducts operations; risks relating to the recent U.S. government shutdown, including any adverse impact on our ability to originate or sell SBA/USDA loans and any delay by the Internal Revenue Service in processing taxpayer refunds, thereby increasing the cost to us of our refund advance loans; the effects of, and 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”), as well as efforts of the United States Congress and the United States Treasury in conjunction with bank regulatory agencies to stimulate the economy and protect the financial system; 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 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 acceptance of usage of Meta’s strategic partners’ refund advance products; any actions which may be initiated by our regulators in the future; 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; our relationship with our primary regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve, as well as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures MetaBank’s deposit accounts up to applicable limits; technological changes, including, but not limited to, the protection of electronic files or databases; acquisitions; litigation risk, in general, including, but not limited to, those risks involving MetaBank's divisions; 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; 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 press release speak only as of the date hereof. Additional discussions of factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects are reflected under the caption “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, and in other filings made 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.

 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data(1))
 
ASSETSJune 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
Cash and cash equivalents$100,732  $156,461  $164,169  99,977  $71,276 
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value961,897  1,081,663  1,340,870  1,484,160  1,349,642 
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale, at fair value395,201  413,493  354,186  364,065  575,999 
Investment securities held to maturity, at cost138,128  146,992  153,075  163,893  215,850 
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity, at cost7,414  7,606  7,661  7,850  8,218 
Loans held for sale62,839  59,745  33,560  15,606   
Loans and leases3,631,031  3,437,980  3,329,498  2,944,739  1,597,294 
Allowance for loan and lease losses(43,505) (48,672) (21,290) (13,040) (21,950)
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at cost17,236  7,436  15,600  23,400  7,446 
Accrued interest receivable19,722  20,281  22,076  22,016  17,825 
Premises, furniture, and equipment, net46,360  45,457  44,299  40,458  20,374 
Rental equipment, net184,732  140,087  146,815  107,290   
Bank-owned life insurance89,193  88,565  87,934  87,293  86,655 
Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets29,514  29,548  31,548  31,638  29,922 
Goodwill307,941  307,464  303,270  303,270  98,723 
Intangible assets56,153  60,506  66,366  70,719  46,098 
Prepaid assets22,023  26,597  31,483  27,906  23,211 
Deferred taxes21,630  19,079  23,607  18,737  23,025 
Other assets52,831  49,754  48,038  35,090  19,551 
          
Total assets$6,101,072  $6,050,042  $6,182,765  5,835,067  $4,169,159 
          
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY         
          
LIABILITIES         
Noninterest-bearing checking$2,751,931  $3,034,428  $2,739,757  2,405,274  $2,637,987 
Interest-bearing checking157,802  183,492  128,662  111,587  103,065 
Savings deposits52,179  59,978  52,229  54,765  57,356 
Money market deposits68,604  56,563  54,559  51,995  45,115 
Time certificates of deposit116,698  154,401  170,629  276,180  57,151 
Wholesale deposits1,628,000  1,481,445  1,790,611  1,531,186  620,959 
Total deposits4,775,214  4,970,307  4,936,447  4,430,987  3,521,633 
Short-term borrowings146,613  11,583  231,293  425,759  27,290 
Long-term borrowings209,765  99,800  88,983  88,963  85,580 
Accrued interest payable12,350  9,239  11,280  7,794  3,705 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities134,229  135,404  144,034  133,838  87,038 
Total liabilities5,278,171  5,226,333  5,412,037  5,087,341  3,725,246 
          
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY         
Preferred stock, 3,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and June 30, 2018         
Common stock, $.01 par value; 90,000,000 shares authorized, 37,878,694, 39,565,496, 39,494,919, 39,192,063, and 29,122,596 shares issued and 37,878,205, 39,450,938, 39,405,508, 39,167,280, and 29,101,605 shares outstanding at June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and June 30, 2018379  395  394  393  291 
Common stock, Nonvoting, $.01 par value; 3,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding at June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and June 30, 2018         
Additional paid-in capital578,715  576,406  572,156  565,811  267,610 
Retained earnings238,004  258,600  228,453  213,048  206,284 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income2,308  (10,264) (29,186) (33,111) (28,601)
Treasury stock, at cost, 489, 114,558, 89,411, 24,783, and 20,991 common shares at June 30, 2019, March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and June 30, 2018(13) (4,956) (4,356) (1,989) (1,671)
Total equity attributable to parent819,393  820,181  767,461  744,152  443,913 
Non-controlling interest3,508  3,528  3,267  3,574   
Total stockholders’ equity822,901  823,709  770,728  747,726  443,913 
          
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$6,101,072  $6,050,042  $6,182,765  5,835,067  $4,169,159 
 
(1) All share and per share data reported in this release for all periods presented has been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-1 forward stock split effected by the Company on October 4, 2018.
 


    
 Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data(1))
    
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 June 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 June 30,
2018
 June 30,
2019
 June 30,
2018
Interest and dividend income:         
Loans and leases, including fees$69,732  $73,670  $19,056  $203,900  $53,344 
Mortgage-backed securities3,063  2,861  3,950  8,622  11,755 
Other investments8,837  11,763  11,098  32,380  33,234 
 81,632  88,294  34,104  244,902  98,333 
Interest expense:         
Deposits10,395  14,740  2,264  35,731  7,106 
FHLB advances and other borrowings4,269  2,204  3,429  10,581  9,215 
 14,664  16,944  5,693  46,312  16,321 
          
Net interest income66,968  71,350  28,411  198,590  82,012 
          
Provision for loan for lease losses9,112  33,318  5,315  51,529  24,726 
          
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses57,856  38,032  23,096  147,061  57,286 
          
Noninterest income:         
Refund transfer product fees6,697  31,601  7,358  38,559  41,353 
Tax advance product fees34  33,038  (46) 34,757  35,739 
Card fees19,537  23,052  22,807  61,939  74,910 
Rental income9,386  9,890    30,167   
Loan and lease fees1,012  925  1,111  3,185  3,445 
Bank-owned life insurance628  631  633  1,901  1,952 
Deposit fees2,335  2,093  1,134  6,365  2,964 
Gain (loss) on sale of securities available-for-sale, net440  231  (22) 649  (1,198)
Gain on sale of loans and leases1,913  1,085    3,865   
Gain (loss) on foreclosed real estate  (200)   (185) (19)
Other income1,808  2,679  250  5,363  766 
Total noninterest income43,790  105,025  33,225  186,565  159,912 
          
Noninterest expense:         
Compensation and benefits35,176  49,164  24,439  117,350  78,951 
Refund transfer product expense287  7,181  1,694  7,478  11,665 
Tax advance product expense425  2,225  (19) 3,101  1,736 
Card processing4,613  6,971  7,068  18,670  20,798 
Occupancy and equipment7,136  7,212  4,720  20,806  14,087 
Operating lease equipment depreciation6,029  4,485    18,280   
Legal and consulting4,065  4,308  2,781  12,341  8,436 
Marketing368  585  416  1,493  1,637 
Data processing260  321  301  1,018  958 
Intangible amortization4,374  5,596  1,664  14,352  6,077 
Impairment expense  9,660    9,660   
Other expense9,735  12,546  5,988  32,467  17,247 
Total noninterest expense72,468  110,254  49,053  257,016  161,592 
          
Income before income tax expense29,178  32,803  7,268  76,610  55,606 
          
Income tax (benefit) expense(1,158) (395) 476  (3,244) 12,708 
          
Net income before noncontrolling interest30,336  33,198  6,792  79,854  42,898 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest1,045  1,078    3,045   
Net income attributable to parent$29,291  $32,120  $6,792  $76,809  $42,898 
          
Earnings per common share         
Basic$0.75  $0.81  $0.23  $1.96  $1.48 
Diluted$0.75  $0.81  $0.23  $1.95  $1.47 
Shares used in computing earnings per share         
Basic38,903,266  39,429,595  29,099,472  39,220,793  29,043,309 
Diluted38,977,690  39,496,832  29,218,980  39,289,011  29,159,985 
               
(1) All share and per share data reported in this release for all periods presented has been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-1 forward stock split effected by the Company on October 4, 2018.
               

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. Only the yield/rate reflects tax-equivalent adjustments. Non-accruing loans and leases have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.

Three Months Ended June 30,2019 2018
(Dollars in Thousands)Average
Outstanding
Balance
 Interest
Earned /
Paid
 Yield /
Rate(1)
 Average
Outstanding
Balance
 Interest
Earned /
Paid
 Yield /
Rate(2)
Interest-earning assets:           
Cash & fed funds sold$80,100  $521  2.61% $57,164  $388  2.72%
Mortgage-backed securities421,725  3,063  2.91% 617,815  3,950  2.56%
Tax exempt investment securities690,732  4,058  2.98% 1,373,444  8,635  3.34%
Asset-backed securities307,581  2,701  3.52% 189,389  1,537  3.25%
Other investment securities199,681  1,557  3.13% 72,381  538  2.98%
Total investments1,619,719  11,379  3.09% 2,253,029  14,660  3.11%
Commercial finance loans and leases1,775,905  44,332  10.01% 299,676  3,813  5.10%
Consumer finance loans364,633  8,178  9.00% 208,937  3,717  7.13%
Tax services loans45,142    % 22,268    %
Warehouse finance loans223,546  3,491  6.26%     %
National lending loans and leases2,409,226  56,001  9.32% 530,881  7,530  5.69%
Community banking loans1,189,912  13,731  4.63% 1,030,016  11,526  4.49%
Total loans and leases3,599,138  69,732  7.77% 1,560,897  19,056  4.90%
Total interest-earning assets$5,298,957  $81,632  6.26% $3,871,090  $34,104  3.82%
Non-interest-earning assets820,474      369,200     
Total assets$6,119,431      $4,240,290     
            
Interest-bearing liabilities:           
Interest-bearing checking$137,950  $85  0.25% $98,235  $54  0.22%
Savings54,247  9  0.07% 59,546  10  0.07%
Money markets58,782  107  0.73% 46,742  28  0.24%
Time deposits128,165  633  1.98% 60,373  167  1.11%
Wholesale deposits1,521,594  9,561  2.52% 453,885  2,005  1.77%
Total interest-bearing deposits1,900,738  10,395  2.19% 718,781  2,264  1.26%
Overnight fed funds purchased363,857  2,368  2.61% 402,088  2,041  2.04%
FHLB advances54,341  324  2.39%     %
Subordinated debentures73,583  1,163  6.34% 73,430  1,102  6.02%
Other borrowings40,653  414  4.08% 36,408  286  3.15%
Total borrowings532,434  4,269  3.22% 511,926  3,429  2.69%
Total interest-bearing liabilities2,433,172  14,664  2.42% 1,230,707  5,693  1.86%
Non-interest bearing deposits2,710,288    % 2,465,750    %
Total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities$5,143,460  $14,664  1.14% $3,696,457  $5,693  0.62%
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities149,207      98,973     
Total liabilities5,292,667      3,795,430     
Shareholders' equity826,764      444,860     
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$6,119,431      $4,240,290     
Net interest income and net interest rate spread including non-interest-bearing deposits  $66,968  5.12%   $28,411  3.21%
            
Net interest margin    5.07%     2.94%
Tax-equivalent effect    0.08%     0.29%
Net interest margin, tax-equivalent(3)    5.15%     3.23%
 
(1) Tax rate used to arrive at the TEY for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was 21%.
(2) Tax rate used to arrive at the TEY for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was 24.53%.
(3) 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. 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, believes the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure may be useful for peer comparison purposes.


Selected Financial Information
As of and for the three months ended:June 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
          
Equity to total assets13.49% 13.61% 12.47% 12.81% 10.65%
Book value per common share outstanding$21.72  $20.88  $19.56  $19.09  $15.25 
Tangible book value per common share outstanding$12.11  $11.55  $10.18  $9.54  $10.28 
Tangible book value per common share outstanding excluding AOCI$12.05  $11.81  $10.92  $10.39  $11.26 
Common shares outstanding37,878,205  39,450,938  39,405,508  39,167,280  29,101,605 
Non-performing assets to total assets0.84% 0.68% 0.73% 0.72% 0.86%
Non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases0.57% 0.28% 0.42% 0.35% 0.36%
Net interest margin5.07% 5.06% 4.60% 4.05% 2.94%
Net interest margin, tax-equivalent5.15% 5.18% 4.76% 4.27% 3.23%
Return on average assets1.91% 1.89% 1.03% 0.65% 0.64%
Return on average equity14.17% 16.18% 8.19% 5.34% 6.11%
Full-time equivalent employees1,218  1,231  1,229  1,219  932 


Select Quarterly Expenses
(Dollars in Thousands)ActualAnticipated
For the Three Months EndedJun 30,
 2019
Sep 30,
 2019
Dec 31,
 2019
Mar 31,
 2020
Jun 30,
 2020
Sep 30,
 2020
Dec 31,
 2020
Mar 31,
 2021
Jun 30,
 2021
          
Amortization of Intangibles (1)$4,374 $3,358 $2,675 $3,400 $2,632 $2,277 $2,008 $2,752 $2,008 
Executive Officer Stock Compensation (2)$927 $937 $679 $669 $669 $676 $485 $473 $478 
 
(1) These amounts are based upon the current reporting period’s intangible assets only.  This table makes no assumption for expenses related to future acquired intangible assets.
 
(2) These amounts are based upon the long-term employment agreements signed in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2017 by the Company’s three highest paid executives at that time. This table makes no assumption for expenses related to any additional future agreements entered into, or to be entered into, after such quarters. The amounts in this table were not impacted by the Executive Separation Agreement entered into by the Company as of January 16, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2019.
 

About Meta Financial Group®
Meta Financial Group, Inc. ® (Nasdaq: CASH) is the holding company for the financial services company MetaBank® (“Meta”). Founded in 1954, Meta has grown to operate in several different financial sectors: payments, commercial finance, tax services, community banking and consumer lending. Meta works with high-value niche industries, strategic-growth companies and technology adopters to grow their businesses and build more profitable customer relationships. Meta tailors solutions for bank and non-bank businesses, and provides a focused collaborative approach. The organization is helping to shape the evolving financial services landscape by directly investing in innovation and complementary businesses that strategically expand its suite of services. Meta has a national presence and over 1,200 employees, with corporate headquarters in Sioux Falls, S.D. For more information, visit the Meta Financial Group website or LinkedIn.

Investor Relations and Media Contact:
Brittany Kelley Elsasser
Director of Investor Relations
605-362-2423
bkelley@metabank.com

 

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