Meta Financial Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

Meta Financial Group in Sioux Falls, S.D., has promoted Cynthia Smith to chief operating officer. The $3 billion-asset company said Smith, its head of technology and operations, will succeed Ira Frericks, who is resigning on Sept. 9 to "to pursue other opportunities."

Smith will be responsible for operations, product development, and technology and information management at the company and at its Metabank unit.

Smith, who joined Meta in June 2015 as head of strategic initiatives, was promoted in November to oversee technology and operations. She was previously with Zions Bancorp. in Salt Lake City, where she was director of client contact services, customer channel management and bank card product and services.

Smith "has been instrumental in Meta's recent growth and we are fortunate to have her on our leadership team," Tyler Haahr, Meta Financial's chairman and chief executive, said in a press release Tuesday. In August the company issued $75 million in debt as part of its growth-related plans that include potential acquisitions, investments in its bank and general corporate purposes.

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