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MetaBank
MetaBank is a digital technology service provider founded in 2022 in Singapore. It specializes in blockchain solutions for the financial services industry.
MetaBank
MetaBank is a digital technology service provider founded in 2022 in Singapore. It specializes in blockchain solutions for the financial services industry. MetaBank offers services such as digital identity verification and national blockchain infrastructure development, primarily serving developing countries.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1954
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Sioux Falls
Corporate office
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Additional offices
Alexandria, Virginia · Owings Mills, Maryland · Chapel Hill, North Carolina · Newport News, Virginia
Principals
Brett Pharr
Chief Executive Officer
Glen Herrick
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is MetaBank's core lending focus?
MetaBank operates three core origination programs: consumer tax-refund-advance lending through independent tax preparers, residential solar and PACE financing through contractor networks, and community-development placements under the New Markets Tax Credit program. It does not operate a general-purpose commercial bank.
Does MetaBank take deposits?
Yes, MetaBank holds an industrial bank charter and accepts deposits, though the deposit base primarily supports its specialty lending programs rather than competing as a full-service retail bank. Its deposit franchise is concentrated around the Sioux Falls headquarters and select partner channels.
How does MetaBank's industrial loan charter affect its structure?
MetaBank operates under an industrial bank charter, one of the few remaining in the United States. This allows the parent holding company to own a banking entity without registering as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, preserving flexibility in ownership and capital allocation.
Who runs investment and lending strategy at MetaBank?
CEO Brett Pharr leads strategy and has guided the bank's pivot into solar lending and the expansion of its tax-refund-advance program. He oversees a management team spread across South Dakota and the East Coast, with lending decisions centralized at the Sioux Falls headquarters.
Has MetaBank expanded through acquisitions?
Yes. In December 2024, MetaBank completed a merger of equals with a Virginia-based banking platform (per SNL Financial, 2024). The transaction widened its tax-preparer contractor relationships and added an East Coast operational hub without materially altering the lending strategy.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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