8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 29, 2022

META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-22140	42-1406262
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

5501 South Broadband Lane, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 497-7497

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d- 2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ☐

Item 8.01    Other Events.

As previously reported, Meta Financial Group, Inc. (“Meta Financial”), on behalf of itself and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including MetaBank, National Association (“MetaBank,” together with Meta Financial, the “Company”), executed a Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) on December 7, 2021 pursuant to which the Company sold the Meta names and trademarks, including MetaBank and Meta Financial Group, and related assets such as Meta and Meta-formative domain names and social media accounts and associated goodwill, subject to a one year transition period.

In connection with the Agreement, on March 29, 2022, MetaBank announced that it will be changing its name to “Pathward, National Association” and that Meta Financial will be changing its name to “Pathward Financial, Inc.” (the “Name Change”). The full transition to the new names is expected to be completed by the end of this calendar year.

Meta Financial’s common stock will remain traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “CASH.”

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the Name Change and certain matters related to the Name Change is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.    

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Registrant's Press Release dated March 29, 2022.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page iXBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Date: March 29, 2022	By:	/s/ Glen W. Herrick
		Glen W. Herrick
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

MetaBank Announces Name Change to Pathward

The Pathward name represents the company's commitment to helping individuals and small and medium sized businesses access financial services that promote economic mobility

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., March 29, 2022- MetaBank®, N.A., an industry leading financial empowerment company, today announced it is changing its name to Pathward, N.A. To unite the company under a single identity following a series of strategic acquisitions, MetaBank initiated a brand strategy review last year. The new name, Pathward, is born out of the company’s purpose to power financial inclusion for all and its commitment to providing a path forward to people and businesses so they can reach the next stage of their financial journey.

The company will make certain changes immediately and fully transition to Pathward by the end of this calendar year, including the launch of a new brand identity and website. The company will continue to serve its customers under existing brand names during the transition.

“Expanding financial access is too complex and important to be a part-time activity, which is why we’ve made financial inclusion for all the heart of everything we do,” said Brett Pharr, CEO of MetaBank. “Pathward signals our commitment to removing barriers that prevent millions of Americans from achieving access to the financial system. Our new name serves as a constant reminder of the importance of creating a path forward for the unbanked, underbanked, and underserved to help them achieve economic mobility.”

Meta Financial Group, Inc., MetaBank’s public holding company, will also be changing its name to Pathward Financial, Inc. by the end of this calendar year.

A leader in banking-as-a-service, the company works to advance financial inclusion by disrupting traditional banking norms. Through its national bank charter, coordination with regulators, and understanding of risk mitigation and compliance, the company guides its partners and delivers financial products, services and funding to the people and businesses who need them most.

For more information, please visit www.metabank.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events, including those relating to the timing of the name changes of Meta Financial and Meta Bank. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would,” “annualized” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various risks, uncertainties and other factors. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect our future results and financial condition, see our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. Meta Financial 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 Meta Financial or its subsidiaries, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events, or for any other reason.

About MetaBank®

MetaBank®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Meta Financial Group, Inc.® (Nasdaq: CASH). MetaBank is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion for all®. MetaBank strives to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across its strategic service lines including Payments, Commercial Finance, and Consumer Solutions, which is comprised of tax services and consumer lending. These solutions are seamlessly integrated to provide the end-to-end support to the individuals and businesses who are powering the everyone economy.

Media Relations Contact

Courtney Heidelberg

mediarelations@metabank.com

XML

Cover Page Cover Page	Mar. 29, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 29, 2022
Entity Registrant Name	META FINANCIAL GROUP, INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	0-22140
Entity Tax Identification Number	42-1406262
Entity Address, Address Line One	5501 South Broadband Lane
Entity Address, City or Town	Sioux Falls
Entity Address, State or Province	SD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	57108
City Area Code	877
Local Phone Number	497-7497
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.01 par value
Trading Symbol	CASH
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000907471
Amendment Flag	false