Tampa, FL – (September 21, 2005) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, said today it will donate and distribute more than 6,700 free children’s bike helmets on September 22. The company is partnering with 30 law enforcement agencies from throughout the greater Tampa Bay area and the greater Orlando area to make sure that children get this vital protection.

	Law enforcement helps fit bike helmets for kids.

The helmets are available in three sizes: small, medium and large. They will be distributed from 6 to 10 a.m. by Amscot Financial managers and law enforcement personnel in the parking lots of the locations listed below.

According to law enforcement statistics, more than 100 bicycle-related deaths occur every year in the state of Florida. National records indicate that more than 94 percent of all bicyclists killed are not wearing helmets. This marks the third year that Amscot Financial has donated and distributed free bike helmets in the counties in which it does business.

“We feel strongly that every child who rides a bike ought to have a helmet,” said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. “Wearing a properly fitted bike helmet is a very simple, common sense thing to do. We hope that kids take their helmets home and wear them every single time they get on their bike.”

Maria Pierce and Jesse Toloff

Amscot Financial is Florida’s leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services. The company offers an array of convenience-oriented financial services, including the cashing of personal checks, out-of-state checks and government checks; cash advances; Western Union wire transfers, notary services and pre-paid debit cards. Amscot Financial also offers consumers the ability to purchase money orders – with no service fees.

Amscot Financial currently operates 99 retail service centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Amscot Financial’s locations are open seven days a week and are typically open Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday hours are typically from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Select Amscot locations are open 24 hours a day.

The Amscot Financial locations where free bike helmets will be distributed are:

Hillsborough County
	105 W. Alexander Street in Plant City
	8409 N. Florida Avenue in Tampa
	2922 N. Himes Avenue in Tampa
	901 W. Brandon Boulevard in Brandon
Pinellas County
	1156 Starkey Road in Largo
	6800 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg
Pasco County
	3416 U.S. Highway 19 North in Holliday
	7707 Gall Boulevard in Zephyrhills
Hernando County
	11148 Springhill Drive in Spring Hill
Manatee County
	3611 First Street East in Bradenton
	6148 14th Street West in Bradenton
Sarasota County
	560 N Washington Boulevard in Sarasota
	4206 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota
Hardee County
	1530 U.S. Highway 17 North in Wauchula
Highlands County
	1203 U.S. Highway 27 North in Sebring
Sarasota County
	560 N Washington Boulevard in Sarasota
	4206 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota
Polk County
	614 E Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland
	111 Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven
Orange County
	939 North Semoran Boulevard in Orlando
Osceola County
	1120 W Vine Street in Kissimmee.
The law enforcement agencies joining forces with Amscot to distribute the free bike helmets include the:
	Avon Park Police Department
	Bradenton Police Department
	Clearwater Police Department
	Davenport Police Department
	Fort Meade Police Department
	Haines City Police Department
	Hardee County Sheriff’s Office
	Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
	Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
	Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
	Holmes Beach Police Department
	Kenneth City Police Department
	Lake Alfred Police Department
	Lakeland Police Department
	Lake Wales Police Department
	Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
	Manatee County Police Department
	Orange County Sheriff’s Department
	Osceola County Sheriff’s Department
	Palmetto Police Department
	Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
	Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
	Pinellas County Police Department
	Plant City Police Department
	Polk County Sheriff’s Office
	Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
	Sarasota Police Department
	St. Pete Beach Police Department
	Tampa Police Department
	Zephyrhills Police Department

Headquartered in Tampa, FL, Amscot Financial is a leading provider of convenient financial services, including income tax preparation and electronic filing services, refund anticipation loans, check cashing services, cash advance services, money transfer services and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company. Amscot Financial currently operates 99 tax preparation offices and 99 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 1,500 people. For additional information, please visit the company's Web site at www.amscotfinancial.com.