Page 86 - Pay Magazine s2014

finance & strategy
Brad Hanson:
Vision with a Mission
By Marilyn Bochicchio, CEO
Brad Hanson, president of MetaBank and its payments division Meta Payment Systems, has a vision. It’s bringing financial inclu- sion and dignity to those who don’t have access to traditional banking systems.
And, he doesn’t care if you’re skeptical about a $1.9 billion asset bank from Storm Lake, Iowa, driving this initiative or if you think his motives are pure. He knows what he wants and says he’ll work toward that goal until it’s time to hand the baton off to someone else.
Well-known for the professional passion he brings to the payments industry, Hanson is equally well known for his theory-fueled analogies and a no-nonsense approach to getting things done. A 2009 Paybefore Industry Achievement Award winner and an original and current member of the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association board of directors, Hanson shared with Paybefore his vision for Meta and the industry.
Paybefore: What can you tell us about Meta’s commitment to prepaid these days?
Brad Hanson: We were one of the early prepaid pioneers, and our work has enabled a lot of business partners to execute their visions and bring solutions to the marketplace. And, we’re continuing to support the industry and grow with our partners.
We’ve been through a consent order that’s helped us understand what regulators are looking for in terms of bank participation in pre- paid: that’s an effective BSA and compliance program, along with significant oversight and control of any third parties involved.
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