<PAGE>
Exhibit 24.1
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Lorraine E. Waller and David Wesselink,
and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-3
in connection with the issuance of up to $750,000,000 aggregate offering price
of debt securities, warrants to purchase debt securities, shares of common
stock, warrants to purchase common stock, shares of preferred stock, depositary
shares and currency warrants of Metris Companies Inc., and any and all
amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration
Statement on Form S-3 and any subsequent registration statement filed by Metris
Companies Inc. pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any necessary state securities
commissions or other agencies, each of said attorneys and agents to have the
power to act with or without the other, and granting unto said attorney-in-fact
and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or the
substitutes for such attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Ronald N. Zebeck Chairman of the Board of Directors September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
Ronald N. Zebeck
/s/ Lee R. Anderson, Sr. Director September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Lee R. Anderson, Sr.
/s/ C. Hunter Boll Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
C. Hunter Boll
Director September , 2000
-----------------------------
John A. Cleary
/s/ Thomas M. Hagerty Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
Thomas M. Hagerty
/s/ David V. Harkins Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
David V. Harkins
Director September , 2000
-----------------------------
Walter M. Hoff
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ T. H. Lee Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
Thomas H. Lee
/s/ Derek V. Smith Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
Derek V. Smith
/s/ Edward B. Speno Director September 23, 2000
-----------------------------
Edward B. Speno
/s/ Frank D. Trestman Director September 25, 2000
-----------------------------
Frank D. Trestman
</TABLE>
2
