Meta Payment Systems® bestows 2014 Spotlight Awards on outstanding clients

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Meta Payment Systems^® (Meta), a division of MetaBank^®, through its Agent Products group, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2014 Client Spotlight Awards, honoring high-performing prepaid clients for the 2014 calendar year.

"As with prior years, we've continued to see a general portfolio lift in year-over-year volume on all four of our prepaid product offerings," Meta's VP of Business Resources and Agent Products Nikkee Rhody said. "Hats off to our 1,100 financial institution partners. This is a great indication of effort given to serve your communities in 2014."

This year's recipients included:

• "Best Performance by a Client with 1-9 Locations" (Most Cards Issued) – Family Trust Federal Credit Union, Rock Hill, S.C. – Two-time winner!
• "Best Performance by a Client with 10-49 Locations" (Most Cards Issued) –TDECU, Lake Jackson, Texas – Six-time winner!
• "Best Performance by a Client with 50+ Locations" (Most Cards Issued) – Associated Bank, N.A., Stevens Point, Wis. – Six-time winner!
• "Best Picture" – Highest Percentage Growth Card Sales Year-Over-Year, '13-'14: B-M S Federal Credit Union, New Brunswick, N.J. – 514% growth!
• "Best Large Order Effects" – Highest Volume of Large Order Card Sales: Associated Bank, N.A.  – More than 13,900 Large Order cards sold!
• "Best Supporting Client" – Highest Level of Engagement: American Bank of the North, Hibbing, Minn.
• "Most Unique Picture" – Most Innovative Use of Product: Western Bank, St. Paul, Minn.

As part of a partnership with an area nonprofit, Western Bank offers gift cards for people in need of day-to-day necessities. The organization, which is dedicated to empowering low-income people to become self-reliant through integrated services, helped serve more than 13,000 people in 2013 alone through its partnership with Western Bank.

"We have enjoyed our relationship with Meta over the past few years," Western Bank Customer Service Supervisor Linda Reko said. "Gift cards are an additional product that we can offer our consumer and business customers that helps to strengthen their relationships with Western Bank."

Family Trust Federal Credit Union appreciates the ability to offer its members services on top of traditional credit union offerings. "It is a pleasure to be recognized with a Spotlight Award for our efforts," Family Trust AVP of Marketing Katie Stacks said. "Meta offers opportunities for boosting sales numbers, including sales promotions, throughout the year to assist with integrating these products into our community and growing our share of members' wallets."

According to Rhody, there's nothing more satisfying than hearing that Meta's prepaid offerings help bank and credit union clients increase wallet share. "We're always looking to empower more and more financial institutions to stay competitive and meet the needs of all of their customers by signing them up to sell Meta's prepaid products," she said. "It's a long-term investment in consumers who are increasingly in need of a variety of financial products for their day-to-day lives."

Each winner will receive an engraved award reading "2014 Meta Spotlight Awards," along with the category name, description and financial institution name.

About MetaBank^®

MetaBank, through its Meta Payment Systems^® (MPS) division, delivers innovative financial products that change the way people use, borrow and manage money. Based in Sioux Falls, S.D., MPS is a recognized leader in the prepaid-card industry and provides innovative payment solutions delivered nationally in collaboration with market-leading partners. MPS focuses on offering specific product solutions in the following areas: prepaid cards, credit products, ACH origination and ATM sponsorship. Meta Financial Group, Inc.^® (NASDAQ Global Market: CASH), is the holding company for federally chartered savings bank MetaBank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit metapay.com.

SOURCE Meta Payment Systems