The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Meta Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”), a registered bank holding company located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company's subsidiaries include MetaBank (the “Bank”), a national bank whose primary federal regulator is the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), and Meta Capital, LLC, a wholly-owned service corporation subsidiary of MetaBank which invests in companies in the financial services industry. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. 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, and Crestmark Capital Trust I, which was acquired from the Crestmark Acquisition in August 2018. The Trust and Crestmark Capital Trust I are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. In addition, the Company evaluates its relationships with other entities to identify whether they are variable interest entities ("VIEs") and to assess whether it is the primary beneficiary of such entities. If the determination is made that the Company is the primary beneficiary, then that entity is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

VIEs are defined by contractual ownership or other interests that change with fluctuations in the VIE's net asset value. The primary beneficiary is the entity which has both: (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. To determine whether or not a variable interest the Company holds could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of the Company's involvement with the VIE. Further, the Company assesses whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis.

As a result of the Crestmark Acquisition, the Company acquired existing membership interests of five joint venture limited liability companies (the "LLCs"). The Company holds 80% of the membership interests in each of the five LLC entities, which offer commercial lending and other financing arrangements. In connection with these LLCs, the Company exclusively provides funding for each entity's activities. The Company determined it is the primary beneficiary of all five LLCs as it has the managing power under the terms of each of the LLC operating agreements. Results of the five LLCs are reflected in the Company's September 30, 2020 Consolidated Financial Statements and are summarized below. The assets recognized as a result of consolidating the LLCs are the property of the LLCs and are not available for any other purpose.


(Dollars in Thousands)	September 30, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,480
Loans and leases	124,869
Allowance for loan and lease losses	(557)
Accrued interest receivable	724
Rental equipment, net	—
Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets	952
Other assets	4,006
Total assets	131,474
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	2,132
Noncontrolling interest	3,603
Net assets less noncontrolling interest	$	125,739

One of the Company's primary sources of revenue relates to payment processing services for prepaid debit cards, ATM sponsorship, tax refund transfer and other money transfer systems and services. Additionally, a significant source of revenue for the Company is interest from the purchase or origination of commercial finance loans, consumer finance loans, warehouse finance loans and community banking loans. The Company accepts deposits from customers in the normal course of business on a national basis through its MPS and tax services divisions, and through wholesale funding. 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 three reporting segments. See Note 22. Segment Reporting for additional information on the Company's segment reporting.

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with 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 valuation of residual values within lease receivables, allowance for loan and lease losses, the valuation of foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets 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.

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, federal funds purchased, deposit transactions, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and Federal Home Loan Bank ("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 zero at September 30, 2020, and $33.9 million at September 30, 2019. 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, 2020, the Company had $2.0 million interest-bearing deposits held at the FHLB and $362.0 million in interest-bearing deposits held at the FRB. At September 30, 2020, 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.

GAAP requires that, at acquisition, an enterprise classify debt securities into one of three categories: Available for Sale (“AFS”), Held to Maturity (“HTM”) or trading. AFS securities are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, and unrealized holding gains and losses are excluded from earnings and recognized as a separate component of equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). See Note 25. Fair Values of Financial Instruments for additional information on fair value of AFS securities. HTM debt securities are measured at amortized cost. The Company classifies the majority of its securities as AFS, which are those the Company may decide to sell if needed for liquidity, asset/liability management, or other reasons. Both AFS and HTM are subject to review for other-than-temporary impairment. Meta did not hold trading securities at September 30, 2020 or 2019.

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 using the level yield method, is included in income as earned. For callable debt securities, any purchase premium is amortized to the first call date while any discount is accreted over the contractual life of the security.

Management continually monitors the investment securities 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 consideration of 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, monitoring changes in value, 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 its 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 2020, 2019 and 2018, there was no other-than-temporary impairment recorded.

The Company holds marketable equity securities, which have readily determinable fair value, and include common equity and mutual funds. These securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, due to changes in fair value, reflected in earnings. Interest and dividend income from these securities is recognized in interest income. See Note 4. Securities for additional information on marketable equity securities.

The Company also holds non-marketable equity investments that are included in Other Assets in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company generally accounts for these investments under the equity method or the provisions of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"), beginning October 1, 2018. Investments where the Company has significant influence, but not control, over the investee are accounted for under the equity method. Investments where the Company cannot exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under ASU 2016-01, which requires such investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings, unless those investments have no readily determinable fair value. Investments without readily determinable fair value are measured under the measurement alternative, which reflects cost less impairment, with adjustments in value resulting from observable price changes arising from orderly transactions of the same or a similar security from the same issuer ("measurement alternative investments").

The Company reviews for impairment for equity method, fair value and measurement alternative investments and includes an analysis of the facts and circumstances for each investment, expectations of cash flows, capital needs, and viability of its business model. For equity method and fair value investments, the asset carrying value is reduced when the decline in fair value is considered to be other than temporary. For measurement alternative investments, the asset carrying value is reduced when the fair value is less than the carrying value, without the consideration of recovery. There was a $1.3 million impairment recognized on equity method, fair value or measurement alternative investments during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.

•Equity Method - The Company held equity method investments of $11.0 million within other assets as of September 30, 2020. The Company’s ownership of such investments typically ranges from 5% - 25% of the investee. The Company recognized net earnings from these investments in the amount of $2.6 million within noninterest income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The Company elected to classify distributions received from equity method investments using the cumulative earnings approach on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

•Fair Value Method - The Company held equity investments measured at net asset value (NAV) per share (or its equivalent) of $2.8 million as of September 30, 2020 where NAV is considered the fair value practical expedient. These investments are recorded within other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Fluctuations in fair value are recognized in earnings within noninterest Income.

LHFS include loans retained in the community bank portfolio and commercial loans originated under the guidelines of the SBA or USDA. LHFS are held at the lower of cost or fair value. Generally, LHFS are valued on an aggregate portfolio basis. Any amount by which the cost exceeds fair value is initially recorded as a valuation allowance and subsequently reflected in the gain or loss on sale when sold. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, there was no valuation allowance recorded for LHFS. Gains and losses on LHFS are recorded in noninterest income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Loan costs and fees are deferred at origination and are recognized in income at the time of sale. Interest income is calculated based on the note rate of the loan and is recorded as interest income. For loans transferred to LHFS due to change in intent of holding the loans to maturity or for the foreseeable future, such loans are transferred at lower of cost or fair value.

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 collectability of a loan, in which case the accrual of interest is discontinued. Unearned income, deferred loan fees and costs, and discounts and premiums are amortized to interest income over the contractual life of the loan using the interest method. The Company generally places Community Banking loans on nonaccrual status when: the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain; they are 90 days past due for interest or principal, unless they are both well-secured and in the process of collection; or part of the principal balance has been charged off. The majority of the Company's National Lending loans follow the same nonaccrual policy as Community Banking loans with certain commercial finance, consumer finance and tax service loans not generally being placed on non-accrual status, but instead are charged off when the collection of principal and interest become doubtful. When placed on nonaccrual status, the accrued unpaid interest receivable is reversed against interest income and any remaining amortizing of net deferred fees is suspended. Cash collected on these loans is applied to first reduce the carrying value of the loan with any remainder being recognized as interest income. Generally, a loan can return to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal become current under the terms of the loan agreement and collectability of the remaining principal and interest is no longer doubtful. Loans are considered past due when contractually required principal or interest payments have not been made on the due dates.

For commercial loans, the Company generally fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value (fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell) for loans secured by collateral when: management judges the loans to be uncollectible; repayment is deemed to be protracted beyond reasonable time frames; the loan has been classified as a loss by either the Company's internal loan review process or its banking regulatory agencies; the customer has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to lack of assets; or the loan meets a defined number of days past due unless the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection. For consumer loans, the Company fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value when deemed uncollectible due to bankruptcy or other factors, or meets a defined number of days past due.

The Company generally considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it determines that it will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the loan contract, including scheduled interest payments. This evaluation is generally based on delinquency information, an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any. The Company's impaired loans predominantly include loans on nonaccrual status in the Commercial segment and loans modified in a troubled-debt-restructuring, whether on accrual or nonaccrual status. The Company measures the amount of impairment, if any, based on the difference between the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount) and the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loans effective interest rate. When collateral is the sole source of repayment for the impaired loan, the Company charges down to net realizable value.

As part of the Company’s ongoing risk management practices, management generally 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. Modified loan terms may include interest rate reductions, principal forgiveness, term extensions, payment forbearance or other actions intended to minimize the Company’s economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. 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. Loans that are reported as TDRs apply the identical criteria in the determination of whether the loan should be accruing or not accruing. The event of classifying the loan as a TDR due to a modification of terms may be independent from the determination of accruing interest on a loan.

The Company provides various types of commercial lease financing that are classified for accounting purposes as direct financing, sales-type or operating leases. Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the lessee are classified as direct financing or sales-type leases and are included in loans and leases receivable on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Direct financing and sales-type leases are carried at the combined present value of future minimum lease payments and lease residual values. The determination of lease classification requires various judgments and estimates by management, including the fair value of equipment at lease inception, useful life of the equipment under lease, lease residual value, and collectability of minimum lease payments.

Sales-type leases generate dealer profit, which is recognized at lease inception by recording lease revenue net of lease cost. Lease revenue consists of the present value of the future minimum lease payments. Lease cost consists of the lease equipment’s book value, less the present value of its residual. Interest income on direct financing and sales-type leases is recognized using methods that approximate a level yield over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the lease. Recognition of interest income is generally discontinued at the time the lease becomes 90 days delinquent, unless the lease is well-secured and in process of collection. Delinquency and past due status is based on the contractual terms of the lease. The Company receives pro rata rent payments for the interim period until the lease contract commences and the fixed, non-cancelable lease term begins. Interim payments are recognized in the month they are earned and are recorded in interest income. Management has policies and procedures in place for the determination of lease classification and review of the related judgments and estimates for all lease financings.

The Company generally fully charges off or charges down to net realizable value (fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell) for leases when management judges the lease to be uncollectible; repayment is deemed to be protracted beyond reasonable time frames; the lease has been classified as a loss by either the Company's internal review process or its banking regulatory agencies; the customer has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to lack of assets; or the lease meets a defined number of days past due unless the lease is both well-secured and in the process of collection.

Some lease financings include a residual value component, which represents the estimated fair value of the leased equipment at the expiration of the initial term of the transaction. The estimation of the residual value involves judgments regarding product and technology changes, customer behavior, shifts in supply and demand, and other economic assumptions. The Company reviews residual assumptions at least annually and records impairment, if necessary, which is charged to non-interest expense in the period it becomes known. The Company may purchase and sell minimum lease payments, primarily as a credit risk reduction tool, to third-party financial institutions at fixed rates on a non-recourse basis with its underlying equipment as collateral. For those transactions that achieve sale treatment, the related lease cash flow stream and the non-recourse financing are derecognized. For those transactions that do not achieve sale treatment, the underlying lease remains on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and non-recourse debt is recorded in the amount of the proceeds received. The Company retains servicing of these leases and bills, collects, and remits funds to the third-party financial institution. Upon default by the lessee, the third-party financial institutions may take control of the underlying collateral which the Company would otherwise retain as residual value.

Leases that do not transfer substantially all benefits and risks of ownership to the lessee are classified as operating leases. Such leased equipment are included in rental equipment on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease to its estimated residual value. Depreciation expense is recorded as operating lease equipment depreciation expense within noninterest expense. Operating lease rental income is recognized when it becomes due and is reflected as a component of noninterest income. An allowance for lease losses is not provided on operating leases.

The Company, from time to time, sells loan participations, generally without recourse. The Company also sells commercial SBA and USDA loans to third parties, generally without recourse. Sold loans are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Bank generally retains the right to service the sold loans for a fee and records a servicing asset, which is included within other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Bank was servicing loans for others with aggregate unpaid principal balances of $232.3 million and $175.5 million, respectively. The service fees and ancillary income related to these loans were immaterial.

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.

The allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") represents management’s estimate of probable loan and lease losses that have been incurred as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The ALLL is increased by a provision for loan and lease 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 or lease is necessarily subjective. Management’s periodic evaluation of the appropriateness of the ALLL is based on the Company’s and peer group’s past loan and lease 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 ALLL for specific problem loan or lease situations, the entire ALLL is available for any loan or lease charge-offs that occur. The ALLL consists of specific and general components.

The specific component of the ALLL relates to impaired loans and leases. Loans are generally considered impaired if full principal or interest payments are not probable in accordance with the contractual loan terms. Leases are generally considered impaired if collectability of the remaining minimum lease payments becomes uncertain. Often this is associated with a delay or shortfall in payments of 90 days or more for community banking loans and leases. Non-accrual loans and leases and all TDRs are considered impaired. Impaired loans and leases, or portions thereof, are charged off when deemed uncollectible. 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. 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 reserve covers certain Community Bank and Commercial Finance loans and leases not considered impaired and is determined based upon both quantitative and qualitative analysis. A separate general reserve analysis is performed for individual classified non-impaired loans and leases and for non-classified smaller-balance homogeneous loans. The three main assumptions for the quantitative components for 2020 and 2019 are historical loss rates, the look back period (“LBP”) and the loss emergence period (“LEP”).

Qualitative adjustment considerations for the general reserve include considerations of changes in lending and leasing policies and procedures, changes in national and local economic and business conditions and developments, changes in the nature and volume of the loan and lease portfolio, changes in lending and leasing management and staff, trending in past due, classified, nonaccrual, and other loan and lease categories, changes in the Company’s loan and lease review system and oversight, changes in collateral and residual values, credit concentration risk, and the regulatory and legal requirements and environment. Beginning in the fiscal 2020 second quarter, additional reserve levels were estimated by increasing qualitative factors due to the unprecedented uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional reserves were primarily estimated for loans and leases that were granted short-term payment deferrals related to financial stress stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic along with other loans and leases within certain industries that were considered higher risk for credit loss.

National Lending portfolios, outside of certain loans and leases in the Commercial Finance portfolio, primarily utilize a general reserve process that mostly uses historical factors related to the specific loan and lease portfolio, although other qualitative factors may be considered in the final loss rate used to calculate the reserve on these portfolios. Loans in these portfolios are generally not placed on non-accrual status or impaired. The balances are generally written off after a loan becomes past due greater than 210 days for insurance premium finance loans, 180 days for tax and other specialty lending loans, 120 days for consumer credit products and 90 days for other loans. See Note 5. Loans and Leases, Net for further information on the ALLL.

The Company's commercial finance product lines include term lending, asset based lending, factoring, leasing, insurance premium finance, government guaranteed lending and other commercial finance products offered on a nationwide basis that are subject to adverse market conditions which may impact the borrower’s ability to make repayment on the loan or lease or could cause a decline in the value of the collateral that secures the loan or lease. The loans or leases are primarily made based on the operating cash flows of the borrower and on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. The cash flows of borrowers may be volatile and the value of the collateral securing these loans and leases may be difficult to measure. Most commercial finance loans and leases are secured by the assets being financed or other business assets such as accounts receivable or inventory. Although the loans and leases are often collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, insurance premiums or other business assets, the liquidation of collateral in the event of a borrower default may be an insufficient source of repayment, because accounts receivable may be uncollectible and inventories and equipment may be obsolete or of limited use. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by adhering to its underwriting policies in evaluating the management of the business and the credit-worthiness of borrowers and guarantors.

The Bank designs its credit program relationships with certain desired outcomes. Three high priority outcomes are liquidity, credit protection, and risk retention. The Bank believes the benefits of these outcomes not only support its goals but the goals of the credit program partner as well. The Bank designs its program credit protections in a manner so that the Bank earns a reasonable risk adjusted return, but is protected by certain layers of credit support, similar to what you would find in structured finance. The Bank will hold a sizable portion of the originated asset on its own balance sheet, but retains the flexibility to sell a portion of the originated asset to other interested parties, thereby supporting program liquidity.

The Bank's tax services division provides short-term taxpayer advance loans. Taxpayers are underwritten to determine eligibility for these unsecured loans. Due to the nature of taxpayer advance loans, it typically takes no more than three e-file cycles (the period of time between scheduled IRS payments) from when the return is accepted by the IRS to collect from the borrower. In the event of default, the Bank has no recourse against the tax consumer. The Bank will charge off the balance of a taxpayer advance loan if there is a balance at the end of the calendar year, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

Through its tax services division, the Bank provides short-term electronic return originator ("ERO") advance loans on a nationwide basis. These loans are typically utilized by tax preparers to purchase tax preparation software and to prepare tax office operations for the upcoming tax season. EROs go through an underwriting process to determine eligibility for the unsecured advances. ERO loans are not collateralized. Collection on ERO advances begins once the ERO begins to process refund transfers. Generally, the Bank will charge off the balance of an ERO advance loan if there is a balance at the end of June, or when collection of principal becomes doubtful.

Effective on February 29, 2020 (the "Closing Date") of the Community Bank division sale to Central Bank, the Company substantially ceased originating loans within its Community Banking loan portfolio. The Company entered a servicing agreement with Central Bank for the retained Community Bank loan portfolio that became effective on the Closing Date. See Note 3. Divestitures for further information related to the Community Banking lending portfolio.

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders after the allocation of dividends and undistributed earnings to the participating securities by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, and is computed after giving consideration to the weighted average dilutive effect of the Company’s stock options and after the allocation of earnings to the participating securities. See Note 6. Earnings per Common Share for further information.

Land is carried at cost. Buildings, furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Capital leases, where the Company is the lessee, are included in premises and equipment at the capitalized amount less accumulated amortization. The Company primarily uses the straight-line method of depreciation over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is 39 years for buildings, and range from two years to 15 years for leasehold improvements, and for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. See Note 7. Premises, Furniture and Equipment, Net for further information.

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. The fair value of the real estate owned is based on independent appraisals, real estate brokers’ price opinions, or automated valuation methods, less costs to sell. The fair value of repossessed assets is based on available pricing guides, auction results or price opinions, less costs to sell. 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 and lease losses. Subsequent valuations are periodically performed by management. If the subsequent fair value, less costs to sell, declines to less than the carrying amount of the asset, the shortfall is recognized in the period it becomes known as an impairment in noninterest expense and a valuation allowance is recorded for the asset. Operating expenses of properties are also recorded in noninterest expense. Rental income of properties is recorded in noninterest income.

Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business acquisitions. Goodwill is evaluated annually for impairment at a reporting unit level. The Company has determined that its reporting units are one level below the operating segments and distinguish these reporting units based on how the segments and reporting units are managed, taking into consideration the economic characteristics, nature of the products, and customers of the segments and reporting units. The Company performs its impairment evaluation as of September 30 of each fiscal year unless a triggering event occurs that would require an interim impairment evaluation. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit with goodwill exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and is written down by the excess carrying value of the reporting unit. Subsequent increases in goodwill are not recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements. No goodwill impairment was recognized during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 or 2018. See Note 10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information.

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. See Note 13. Short-Term and Long-Term Borrowings for further information.

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, 2020 and 2019, all shares in the ESOP were allocated. See Note 15. Employee Stock Ownership and Profit Sharing Plans for further information.

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 non-vested (restricted) 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 has elected, with the adoption of ASU 2016-09, to record forfeitures as they occur. See Note 16. Stock Compensation for further information.

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, 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 noninterest income or noninterest expense. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recorded in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period in which the enactment date occurs. If current period income tax rates change, the impact on the annual effective income tax rate is applied year to date in the period of enactment. See Note 17. Income Taxes for further information.

Interest revenue from loans, leases, and investments is recognized on the accrual basis of accounting as the interest is earned according to the terms of the particular loan, lease, or investment. Income from service and other customer charges is recognized as earned. Revenue within the Consumer segment is recognized as services are performed and service charges are earned in accordance with the terms of the various programs. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and related amendments on October 1, 2018 under the cumulative-effect method. ASU 2014-09 modifies the guidance used to recognize revenue from contracts with customers for transfers of goods or services and transfers of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other guidance. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $1.5 million to retained earnings, net of tax, due to changes in timing of revenue recognition from breakage of unregistered, unused prepaid cards in the Company’s MPS division. Results for prior periods have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policies. Refer to Note 21. Revenue from Contracts with Customers for additional information.

ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequent related updates (collectively ASU 2016-02) on October 1, 2019, which requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The ASU requires both quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding key information about lease arrangements from both lessees and lessors. The Company elected the effective date transition method utilizing the adoption date as the first date of application of the revised guidance. As a result, prior period amounts have not been restated. Upon adoption, the Company elected certain transitional practical expedients offered through the guidance, including the 'package of practical expedients' whereby it did not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, (ii) the lease classification of any expired or existing leases, and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases, which resulted in the Company not recognizing a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. Management evaluated Meta’s leasing contracts and activities and developed methodologies and processes to estimate and account for the right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities for building leases based on the present value of future lease payments. On October 1, 2019, the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities totaling $27.4 million and $28.6 million, respectively. The impact to capital ratios as a result of increased risk-weighted assets was immaterial. The adoption of this guidance did not result in a material change to lessee expense recognition. The changes to lessor accounting, as well as change in customer behavior driven by the adoption of these ASUs, impact the results of Meta’s lease financing businesses, including earlier recognition of expense due to a narrower definition of initial direct costs.

As a lessee, the Company enters into contracts to lease real estate, information technology equipment and other various types of equipment. Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the Company are classified as finance leases, while all others are classified as operating leases. At lease commencement for buildings, a lease liability and ROU asset are calculated and recognized on both types of leases. The lease liability is equal to the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The ROU asset is equal to the lease liability, plus any initial direct costs and prepaid lease payments, less any lessor incentives received. Operating lease ROU assets are included in other assets and finance lease ROU assets are included in premises and equipment, net. The Company uses the appropriate term Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") rate to determine the discount rate for the present value calculation of future minimum lease payments when an implicit rate is not known for a given lease. The lease term used in the calculation includes any options to extend that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has elected to not recognize assets or liabilities on its balance sheet related to short-term leases.

Subsequent to lease commencement, lease liabilities recorded for finance leases are measured using the effective interest rate method and the related ROU assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Interest expense and amortization expense are recorded separately on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in interest expense on borrowings and occupancy and equipment noninterest expense, respectively. At September 30, 2020, the Company had no finance lease ROU assets or lease liabilities. For operating leases, total lease cost is comprised of lease expense, short-term lease cost, variable lease cost and sublease income. Lease expense includes future minimum lease payments, which are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, as well as common area maintenance charges, real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses, where applicable, which are expensed as incurred. Total lease cost for operating leases is recorded in occupancy and equipment noninterest expense. See Note 11. Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets and Liabilities for further information.

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU, along with subsequent ASUs published as clarifications to Topic 326, requires entities to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology with a current expected loss (CECL) methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses for loans, net investments in leases, debt securities held at amortized cost, and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. CECL requires loss estimates for the remaining estimated life of the asset to be measuring using historical loss data as well as adjustments for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions. The adoption of CECL will be reflected using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment to Retained Earnings recorded as of October 1, 2020 in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter-ending December 31, 2020.

The Company has established a governance structure to implement CECL and has developed methodologies to be used upon adoption. At September 30, 2020, loan and lease portfolios totaled $3.32 billion with a corresponding allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) of $56.2 million under current GAAP. Based on parallel runs of the CECL process that were performed in conjunction with the current ALLL process, the Company estimates that the adoption of CECL will result in an allowance for credit losses (ACL) that is larger than the current ALLL amount by $12.0 million to $13.0 million in total for all portfolios. A portion of this increase is a result of new requirements to record ACL related to acquired loans and leases, regardless of any credit mark recorded. Under current GAAP, credit marks are included in the determination of the fair value adjustments reflected as a discount to the carrying value of the loans, and an ALLL is not recorded on acquired loans and leases until there is evidence of credit deterioration post acquisition. However, upon adoption of CECL, an ACL is recorded for all acquired loans and leases based on the lifetime loss concept. The remaining credit and interest mark from acquisition accounting as of September 30, 2020 will continue to accrete over the life of the loan or lease but will no longer be considered when estimating the ACL for remaining acquired loans and leases upon CECL adoption.

The Company estimates a cumulative tax effected adjustment to record ACL and to increase the off-balance sheet credit exposure liability results in a reduction to retained earnings of $10.0 million to $11.0 million. Management is finalizing its review of certain asset-specific risk characteristics. Management is also evaluating financial statement and disclosure impacts as well as determining whether to elect to utilize the three-year phase-in period for regulatory impact of CECL. As the Corporation finalizes the implementation of the standard in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, final decisions by management will result in the specific October 1, 2020 ACL impact being established.

The initial increase to the Company’s ALLL and liability for off-balance sheet credit exposures will be recorded as an adjustment to beginning of the year retained earnings. Post adoption, as loans and leases are added to the portfolio, the Company expects higher levels of ACL determined by CECL assumptions, resulting in accelerated recognition of provision for credit losses, as compared to historical results.

ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, including the removal, modification to, and addition of certain disclosure requirements. This ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The majority of the disclosure changes are to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company will adopt this ASU effective October 1, 2020. Although this ASU impacts the Company’s fair value disclosures, no additional impact to the Consolidated Financial Statements is expected.

ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities. The relevant amendments in this ASU provide updated guidance when determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and requires reporting entities to consider indirect interest held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest in its entirety. The result of these amendments is likely more decision makers not having a variable interest through their decision-making arrangements. These amendments will also create alignment between determining whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and determining whether a reporting entity within a related party group is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company does not expect a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this ASU are intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general rules found in Topic 740-Income Taxes. The majority of the amendments are to be applied on a prospective basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in this ASU provide optional expedients and exceptions to applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions impacted by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments include a one-time sale or transfer election of held-to-maturity debt securities impacted by reference rate reform. The amendments in this ASU are effective upon issuance through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the consolidated financial statements.