TAMPA, Fla., March 15, 2004/PRNewswire/ - Amscot Financial, a Florida-based tax and retail financial services company, recently announced it has become a corporate sponsor of the Financial Service Centers of Florida's disAdvantaged Scholarship Grant, according to President and CEO Ian MacKechnie.

The scholarship, which has been established to support disadvantaged academically talented freshmen entering college as full-time, degree-seeking students, has awarded more than $40,000 in scholarship money since its inception.

"We are proud to work with the Financial Service Centers of Florida to support the academic efforts of the disadvantaged youth," MacKechnie explains.

"Regardless of the field of study these scholarship recipients choose to follow, research shows that academic achievement leads to greater economic security and a better quality of life - two results that we are more than happy to help pursue," he adds.

Students interested in applying for the scholarship must be Florida residents who will graduate from a Florida high school with a minimum 2.5 grade point average and are - or will be - admitted to the Florida college or university of their choice.

Applications for the scholarship can be found at any Amscot Financial location or online at www.amscotfinancial.com.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial, along with its subsidiary, Amscot Tax Service, is a leading provider of convenient retail financial services for the mainstream consumer. Founded in 1989, the company provides payday advance, check cashing and income tax preparation services through its more than 1,500 Associates working in over 50 locations throughout Central Florida. For additional information, please visit the company's web site at www.amscotfinancial.com.