Thorson named community banking president

May 31, 2018

Kathy Thorson, the longtime MetaBank Sioux Falls market president, is taking on a larger role.

Starting next week, Thorson will become community banking president, overseeing all of Meta’s banking markets. Those include Brookings, Des Moines and Storm Lake, Iowa.

“Sioux Falls is bigger than the other three markets combined and growing faster, so she’s done a fantastic job,” said Meta Financial Group chairman and CEO Tyler Haahr, who credits Thorson with helping Meta become what he calls one of the state’s most profitable banks, with consistent annual growth in excess of 20 percent.

“She’s ready to do it, and it’s better for the organization with her having more direct involvement and focus with the community banks.”

Thorson joined Meta in 2001.

Her promotion also will allow Haahr to focus more on the company’s ongoing growth, which has included multiple acquisitions in recent years.

“Tyler has done a phenomenal job and has so much going on. We’re not the same bank we were even five years ago,” Thorson said. “I’m excited because I see the market presidents working closer together as a team to brainstorm, to collaborate and to draw on each other’s strengths.”

As a fellow market president, Thorson said she can relate to what her counterparts experience.

“We’re in a very growth-oriented community in Sioux Falls and have wonderful customer relationships. Meta has lots of additional opportunities to grow and continue our community focus, not just in Sioux Falls but in all our markets.”

Thorson is a graduate of Augustana University and received her MBA from USD. Her community service includes serving as the immediate past board president of the Sioux Council Boy Scouts, board vice chair for the Volunteers of America Foundation and on the boards of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and the community appeals committee for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

MetaBank bucks industry trend with majority female leadership

Want to stay in the know?

Get our free business news delivered to your inbox.



Thorson named community banking president

Longtime MetaBank Sioux Falls market president Kathy Thorson is taking on a larger role.

News Tip

Have a business news item to share with us?

Scroll to top