PATHWARD FINANCIAL, INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrantx

Filed by a Party other than the Registranto

Check the appropriate box:

Pathward Financial, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

PATHWARD FINANCIAL, INC.5501 SOUTH BROADBAND LANESIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57108(877) 497-7497WWW.PATHWARD.COM

MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Dear Fellow Stockholders,On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Pathward Financial, Inc., I am pleased to inform you that our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held at 9:00 a.m., Central Standard Time, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The Annual Meeting will again be held virtually via the Internet.Details regarding the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are described in this proxy statement and in the “Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials” (the “Notice”) that you received in the mail. We also have made available a copy of our Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K. At the Annual Meeting, we will report on Pathward Financial’s operations and outlook for the year ahead.You are invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please read the accompanying proxy statement and then vote as promptly as possible. This will save us the additional expense of soliciting proxies and will ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. You may vote over the Internet, as well as by telephone, or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy card. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in this proxy statement, as well as in the Notice you received in the mail. Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very important. Please act today. The Board and management are committed to our purpose of powering financial inclusion, while generating solid returns on your investment. As Chief Executive Officer of Pathward Financial, I want to express my appreciation for your continued confidence and support. Very truly yours, January 15, 2025

Brett L. PharrChief Executive Officer, Pathward®, N.A. andPathward Financial, Inc.

“2024 was a great year for Pathward. We announced new partnerships and extended others, recertified as a Great Place to Work, remained committed to our talent anywhere approach, rebranded our Partner Solutions team, and celebrated awards won by the business and employees. This led to solid financial results delivering stockholder value to each of you.”

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders of Pathward Financial will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals:

We may also transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. As of the date of this proxy statement, we are not aware of any business to be presented for consideration other than the matters described in this proxy statement.

Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read this proxy statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. Your proxy will not be used if you attend and vote at the Annual Meeting, and you may change or revoke your proxy selection at any time before the Annual Meeting.

We have determined that the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, via the Internet, with no physical in-person meeting. If you plan to attend the virtual meeting, please see “Information about the Annual Meeting” on page 69. Stockholders will be able to attend, vote and submit questions (both before, and for a portion of, the meeting) from any location via the Internet.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.

By Order of the Board of Directors,Brett L. PharrChief Executive OfficerSioux Falls, South DakotaJanuary 15, 2025

We first mailed the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, in lieu of a paper copy of this proxy statement, to our stockholders on or about January 15, 2025.

REVIEW YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND VOTE IN ANY OF THESE WAYS:

Shareholders of Record

Beneficial Owners (Shares Held in Street Name)

Please refer to the enclosed proxy materials or the information forwarded by your bank,

broker or other holder of record to see which voting methods are available to you.

Stockholders who attend the Annual Meeting by following the instructions to join the virtual meeting described on page 69 will be considered to be attending the Annual Meeting “in person.” Please see page 69 for more information about how to vote and how to attend the Annual Meeting.