STOCK COMPENSATION

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

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.

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


	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