Tampa, FL – (October 26, 2006) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, is pleased to announce that the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) has recognized the company with a 2006 Activa Award for contributions to the communities it serves.

FiSCA is a national trade association representing more than 6,000 individual financial service centers across the United States. FiSCA also recently recognized Ian MacKechnie, Amscot’s founder and CEO as the association’s 2006 “Person of the Year.”

This year’s Activa Award recognized Amscot for three separate community initiatives:

• A donation of surplus computer equipment, including 75 personal computers, 75 monitors, 15 printers and 25 hubs to Cops and Computers for the Community, a group of law enforcement officers affiliated with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. This nonprofit, charitable organization gives computers to children and adults with special needs. To date, Amscot’s contribution is the largest donation ever received by the program.
  
  
• A contribution to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Community Policing Unit for the purchase of a new bicycle and bicycle equipment needed for community policing deputies to patrol in at-risk communities.
  
  
• A donation of 200 bike helmets to the annual Community Bike Festival in Orange County.
  

“FiSCA not only recognizes the quality service our members provide to customers everyday, but through the Activa Awards we celebrate exceptional efforts,” said Gary Dachis, chairman of FiSCA. “Activa Award winners have gone beyond what is required and have done something extraordinary.”

Amscot’s MacKechnie said: “It’s always been our philosophy that if we take care of our customers, our associates and the communities we serve, then as a company we will do very well. We thank FiSCA for recognizing our efforts.

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 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.