The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company"), a unitary savings and loan holding company located in Storm Lake, Iowa, and its wholly owned subsidiaries which include MetaBank (the "Bank"), a federally chartered savings bank whose primary federal regulator is the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, First Services Financial Limited and Brookings Service Corporation, which offer noninsured investment products. 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. The Trust is not included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

NATURE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION

The primary source of income for the Company is interest from the purchase or origination of consumer, commercial, agricultural, commercial real estate, and residential real estate loans. Additionally, a significant source of income for the Company relates to payment processing services for prepaid debit cards, ATM sponsorship, and other money transfer systems and services. The Company accepts deposits from customers in the normal course of business primarily in northwest and central Iowa and eastern South Dakota and on a national basis for the MPS division. 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 two reporting segments.

USE OF ESTIMATES IN PREPARING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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 allowance for loan losses, the valuation of goodwill 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, deposit transactions, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and 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 $6.7 million and $1.4 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. 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, 2012 the Company had no interest bearing deposits held at the FHLB and $128.1 million in interest bearing deposits held at the FRB. At September 30, 2012 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.

SECURITIES

The Company classifies all securities as available for sale. Available for sale securities are those the Company may decide to sell if needed for liquidity, asset-liability management or other reasons. Available for sale securities are reported at fair value, with net unrealized gains and losses reported as other comprehensive income or loss as a separate component of stockholders' equity, net of tax.

 

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 over the estimated life of the security using the level yield method, is included in income as earned.

 

Securities Impairment

 

Management continually monitors the investment security 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 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, 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 it 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 2012 and 2011, there was no other-than-temporary impairment recorded. In fiscal 2010, the other-than-temporary impairment recorded against the trust preferred securities was $350,000, which was recorded in the other expenses line on the statement of operations.

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 reduced by the allowance for loan losses and any deferred fees or costs on originated 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 collectibility of a loan, in which case the accrual of interest is discontinued. Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent that cash payments are received until, in management's judgment, the borrower has the ability to make contractual interest and principal payments, in which case the loan is returned to accrual status.

 

Loan fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred, and the net fee or cost is recognized as an adjustment to interest income using the interest method.

 

As part of the Company's ongoing risk management practices, management 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. 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.

 

The Company considers whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, as well as whether a concession has been granted to a borrower determined to be troubled, when determining whether a modification meets the criteria of being a TDR. For such purposes, evidence which may indicate that a borrower is troubled includes, among other factors, the borrower's default on debt, the borrower's declaration of bankruptcy or preparation for the declaration of bankruptcy, the borrower's forecast that entity-specific cash flows will be insufficient to service the related debt, or the borrower's inability to obtain funds from sources other than existing creditors at an effective interest rate equal to the current market interest rate for similar debt for a non-troubled debtor. If a borrower is determined to be troubled based on such factors or similar evidence, a concession will be deemed to have been granted if a modification of the terms of the debt occurred that management would not otherwise consider. Such concessions may include, among other modifications, a reduction of the stated interest for the remaining original life of the debt, an extension of the maturity date at a stated interest rate lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk, a reduction of accrued interest, or a reduction of the face amount or maturity amount of the debt.

 

Loans that are reported as TDRs apply the identical criteria in the determination of whether the loan should be accruing or nonaccruing. Typically, the event of classifying the loan as a TDR due to a modification of terms is independent from the determination of accruing interest on a loan.

 

Generally, when a loan becomes delinquent 90 days or more or when the collection of principal or interest becomes doubtful, the Company will place the loan on a non-accrual status and, as a result, previously accrued interest income on the loan will be charged to current income. The loan will remain on a non-accrual status until the loan becomes current.

MORTGAGE SERVICING AND TRANSFERS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS

The Bank sells residential mortgage loans to others on a non-recourse basis. Sold loans are not included in the consolidated financial statements. The Bank generally retains the right to service the sold loans for a fee. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Bank was servicing loans for others with aggregate unpaid principal balances of $14.5 million and $24.8 million, respectively.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The allowance for loan losses represents management's estimate of probable loan losses which have been incurred as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. The allowance for loan losses is increased by a provision for loan 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 is necessarily subjective. Management's periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Company's past loan 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 allowance for specific problem loan situations, the entire allowance is available for any loan charge-offs that occur.

 

Loans are considered impaired if full principal or interest payments are not probable in accordance with the contractual loan terms. 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. A portion of the allowance for loan losses is allocated to impaired loans if the value of such loans is deemed to be less than the unpaid balance.

The allowance consists of specific, general, and unallocated components. The specific component relates to impaired loans. 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. The general component covers loans not considered impaired and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors. An unallocated component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management's estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.

 

Smaller-balance homogenous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Such loans include residential first mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family residences, residential construction loans, and automobile, manufactured homes, home equity and second mortgage loans. Commercial and agricultural loans and mortgage loans secured by other properties are evaluated individually for impairment. 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 payments of 90 days or more. Non-accrual loans are considered impaired. Impaired loans, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible.

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. 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 losses. Valuations are periodically performed by management and valuation allowances are increased through a charge to income for reductions in fair value or increases in estimated selling costs.

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, Accounting for Uncertainty in 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 income tax expense.

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 computed principally by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 10 to 40 years for buildings, and 3 to 10 years for leasehold improvements, and for furniture, fixtures and equipment. These assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

TRANSFERS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS

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.

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.

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, 2012 and 2011, all shares in the ESOP were allocated.

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.

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill and certain intangible assets are not amortized but are subject to an impairment test at least annually or more often if conditions indicate a possible impairment.

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.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Interest revenue from loans and investments is recognized on the accrual basis of accounting as the interest is earned according to the terms of the particular loan or investment. Income from service and other customer charges is recognized as earned. Card fee revenue within the MPS division is recognized as services are performed and service charges are earned in accordance with the terms of the various programs.

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (EPS)

Basic EPS is based on the net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Allocated ESOP shares are considered outstanding for earnings per common share calculations, as they are committed to be released; unallocated ESOP shares are not considered outstanding. Diluted EPS shows the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock option plans.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes the change in net unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, net of reclassification adjustments and tax effects, and is recognized as a separate component of stockholders' equity.

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 nonvested 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 assumes no projected forfeitures on its stock based compensation, since actual historical forfeiture rates on its stock based incentive awards has been negligible.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-20, "Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses" (ASC Topic 310).

Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-01, "Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20" (ASC Topic 310).

 

This ASU modified the effective date of compliance with disclosure requirements related to troubled debt restructure reporting previously indicated in ASU 2010-20. The new effective date for disclosing the required troubled debt restructuring information is for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011. The Company adopted this update effective in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

 

Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02, Receivables (Topic 310): A Creditor's Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring.

 

This ASU amends guidance for evaluating whether the restructuring of a receivable by a creditor is a troubled debt restructuring (TDR). The ASU responds to concerns that creditors are inconsistently applying existing guidance for identifying TDRs. ASU 2011-02 was effective for a public entity for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011. Retrospective application is required for restructurings occurring on or after the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption for purposes of identifying and disclosing TDRs. However, an entity should apply prospectively changes in the method used to calculate impairment on receivables. At the same time it adopts ASU 2011-02, a public entity will be required to disclose the activity-based information about TDRs that was previously deferred by ASU No. 2011-01, Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20. The Company adopted ASU 2011-02 for the interim and annual period ending September 30, 2011. The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.

 

Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-03, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements.

 

This ASU applies to all entities that enter into agreements to transfer financial assets that both entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem the financial assets before their maturity (repo arrangements). It focuses the transferor's assessment of effective control on its contractual rights and obligations by removing the requirement to assess its ability to exercise those rights or honor those obligations. The ASU is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. It is effective prospectively for transactions or modifications of existing transactions that occur on or after the effective date. The Company adopted ASU 2011-03 for the interim period ending December 31, 2011 and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

 

Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.

 

This ASU was issued concurrently with IFRS 13, Fair Value Measurements, to provide largely identical guidance about fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The new standards do not extend the use of fair value but, rather, provide guidance about how fair value should be applied where it already is required or permitted under IFRS or U.S. GAAP. For U.S. GAAP, most of the changes are clarifications of existing guidance or wording changes to align with IFRS 13.

 

A public entity is required to apply the ASU prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is not permitted. In the period of adoption, a reporting entity is required to disclose a change, if any, in valuation technique and related inputs that result from applying the ASU and to quantify the total effect, if practicable. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 for the interim period ending March 31, 2012 and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow.

 

 

This ASU increases the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements. Under this ASU, an entity has the option to present the components of net income and comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements. The ASU eliminates the option in U.S. GAAP to present other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity.

 

For a public entity, the ASU was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company will adopt ASU 2011-05 for the interim period ending December 31, 2012.

 

Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08 "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other" (ASC Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment.

 

The objective of this ASU is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. This ASU adds a qualitative analysis to step one of the two-step process, which enables the Company to qualitatively determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, and if not, forego the two-step goodwill impairment test. The guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, but early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates adopting this ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and does not expect the adoption to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.