Tampa, FL – (September 28, 2006) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, is pleased to announce a $10,000 contribution to the national scholarship program organized by the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA). The Washington-based trade association represents more than 5,000 individual financial service centers across the United States.

Amscot also congratulates Adrien D. Tapia of Miami. Tapia is the sole Florida recipient of a $2,500 FiSCA scholarship award. Tapia recently graduated from Coral Gables High School and is enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“FiSCA is the national voice of our industry and we want to do what we can to support their efforts toward investing in our country’s future,” said Ian MacKechnie, Amscot’s founder and CEO. “We know that Adrien and all the students receiving awards are deserving of our support.”

FiSCA launched the National Scholarship Program in 1999 to help outstanding students offset the expense of college study. In 2006, FiSCA will award recipients a total of $60,000. Since the program began, FISCA has awarded $340,000 in scholarship awards to 140 deserving students from across the country.

The FiSCA National Scholarship Program awards cash grants of at least $2,000 to students selected from each of five geographic regions across the nation. Selection is based on academic achievement, financial need, leadership skills in school and the community, and an essay written for the competition.

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 1,500 associates who work at the company’s 136 retail branches and at the company’s corporate headquarters in Tampa.

Amscot Financial’s service centers 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 company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

Amscot Financial 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, pre-paid debit cards and income tax preparation. Amscot Financial also offers consumers the ability to purchase money orders – with no service fees.

About Amscot Financial
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of 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 136 tax preparation offices and 136 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 1,500 people. In March 2006, Amscot Financial was recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay’s Best Places to Work. In June 2006, founder Ian MacKechnie was recognized by Gulf Coast Business Review as its 2006 Entrepreneur Winner. For additional information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.amscotfinancial.com.

About FiSCA
FiSCA, founded in 1987, is the national trade association and voice of the industry representing more than 6,000 individual financial service centers across the United States. FiSCA members provide a wide variety of financial services and products to their communities, including check cashing, money orders, money transfers, and electronic bill payment services, automatic teller machine access, government benefit and payroll payments, deferred deposit services, electronic tax preparation, prepaid debit cards, deposit acceptance services, public transportation fare and token sales, motor vehicle license plate and title distribution, postage stamp sales and numerous other services. For more information visit www.fisca.org.