Tampa, FL – (October 25, 2006) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, is pleased to announce that founder and CEO Ian MacKechnie recently was honored by the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) as the association’s “Person of the Year.”

Mr. MacKechnie was recognized for many years of service to the industry and his commitment to FiSCA as a board member and committee leader, and for his outstanding contributions to association and industry projects. Mr. MacKechnie also was recognized for Amscot’s many innovations in the delivery of convenient financial services to consumers.

“Ian MacKechnie has been a stalwart supporter of FiSCA – and a leader within our industry – for many years,” said Gary A. Dachis, chairman of FiSCA. “Just look at Amscot’s phenomenal growth and the new services that they keep rolling out to customers in Central Florida. Clearly, our entire industry is benefiting from the standards that Amscot sets.”

Mr. MacKechnie founded Amscot in 1989 after successful ventures in the baking industry, both here in the United States and in his native Scotland. The company has grown from a single location in Tampa to 140 locations in 14 Florida counties stretching from the state’s Atlantic coast to the Gulf coast.

In 2005, the company announced a major expansion in the metro Orlando market. Amscot currently opens a new location every 12 days.

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 operates 140 retail service centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Volusia 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.

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 140 tax preparation offices and 140 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 1986, is the national trade association for 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.