Tampa, FL – (October 9, 2009) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, will donate and distribute 4,160 free bike helmets on Oct. 22 in 12 Florida counties where the company operates branch locations.

The helmets are available in three sizes: small, medium and large and are being targeted towards children in pre-school and elementary school. 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 seventh year that Amscot Financial has donated and distributed free bike helmets in counties where 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.”

For more information on how to obtain helmets, please contact Montrae Waiters, governmental affairs specialist for Amscot at (813) 637-6277.

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,000 associates who work at the company’s 174 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, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and
Brevard counties.

Locations for the bike helmet giveaway include the following Amscot branches:

Hardee
1530 U.S. Highway 17 North, Wauchula

Hernando
11148 Springhill Drive, Spring Hill

Highlands
1203 U.S. Highway 27 North, Sebring

Hillsborough
105 West Alexander Street, Plant City
7731 Palm River Road, Tampa
8409 North Florida Avenue, Tampa

Manatee
3611 1st Street East, Bradenton
3400 W Manatee Avenue, Bradenton

Orange
939 North Semoran Blvd., Orlando

Osceola
1021 Buenaventura Blvd., Kissimmee

Pasco
3416 U.S. Highway 19 North, Holiday
7707 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills

Pinellas
6800 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
11156 Starkey Road, Largo
6585 102nd Ave N, Pinellas Park
1825 Gulf To Bay, Clearwater

Polk
4314 US Hwy 98 North, Lakeland.
614 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland

Sarasota
4206 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
560 N Washington Blvd., Sarasota

Volusia
2405 N. Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach
2177 Howland Blvd., Deltona

About Amscot Financial
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of income tax preparation and electronic filing services, refund anticipation loans, prepaid debit cards, check cashing services, cash advance services, bill payment services, money transfer services and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company.  Amscot also offers the Amscot Card, a pre-paid debit card that allows owners to make purchases from any location that accepts MasterCard™. Amscot Financial currently operates 174 tax preparation offices and 174 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 2,000 people. Amscot Financial has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years. For additional information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.amscotfinancial.com.