Meta Financial Group, Inc. reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2017. For the quarter, interest and dividend income was $30,857,000 against $22,575,000 a year ago. Net interest income was $26,196,000 against $19,833,000 a year ago. Income before income tax expense was $10,354,000 against $1,586,000 a year ago. Net income was $4,670,000 against $1,244,000 a year ago. Earnings per basic and diluted common share were $0.48 against $0.14 a year ago. Return on average assets was 0.45% against 0.14% a year ago. Return on average equity was 4.30% against 1.41% a year ago. Book value per common share as at December 31, 2017 was $45.29 against $39.96 at December 31, 2016. Tangible book value per common share as at December 31, 2017 was $29.25 against $21.97 at December 31, 2016. The 2018 fiscal first quarter pre-tax results included a $1.0 million loss on sale of investments and $1.3 million of acquisition expenses. The 2018 fiscal first quarter pre-tax results also included $1.7 million in amortization of intangible assets and $1.3 million in non-cash stock-related compensation associated with executive officer employment agreements. Total revenue for the fiscal 2018 first quarter was $55.5 million, compared to $39.2 million for the same quarter in 2017, an increase of $16.3 million, or 42%. This increase was primarily due to growth in card fee income, interest income from commercial insurance premium finance and community banking loans, as well as the student loan purchases and income from tax-exempt securities (included in other investment securities), and growth in tax product fee income. The increase in net income was due to increases of $10.0 million in non-interest income and $6.4 million in net interest income, partially offset by an increase of $7.3 million in non-interest expense and an increase in income tax expense of $5.3 million. Increase in net interest income was primarily due to significant increases in the community banking loan portfolio, commercial insurance premium finance loans, and the purchased student loan portfolios. Growth in investment security balances also contributed to the increase in net interest income. Additionally, the overall increase was driven by a better mix and higher percentage of loans as a percentage of interest-earning assets, with loan yields driving a sizable increase due in part to the recently acquired student loan portfolios and their floating rate yields.