Tampa, FL – (August 26, 2009) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, said today it will partner with the U.S. Census Bureau in an upcoming effort to educate consumers in Central Florida about the 2010 census.

As a 2010 Census Business Partner, Amscot Financial will communicate to customers and consumers that completing and returning the 2010 census form is a vital civic duty. The effort will be in support of the Census Bureau’s monumental task of achieving a complete and accurate census by the end of December 2010 when the agency is required to report its results. Amscot will offer census information in its branches. In select locations, the company will make census questionnaires available to consumers.

According to Martha Brown, senior partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, businesses large and small are being recruited to help spread the word that completing census is not only legally required, but safe and secure.

 “Our business partners can help educate their customers about the importance of completing and returning the census questionnaire,” Brown said. “We want to ensure that no one is left uncounted.”

            Brown said that census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to households in February and March of 2010. The official due date is April 1, 2010. From April to July 2010, Census Bureau workers will visit households that did not return a census questionnaire.

Headquartered in Tampa, Amscot Financial operates 174 retail locations in 15 counties that lie broadly across the Interstate 4 corridor. The company conducts financial transactions with more than 1 million customers per month. Amscot’s branches are in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Ian MacKechnie, president and CEO of Amscot Financial, said: “We are pleased at the opportunity to serve our country and the Census Bureau. We recognize the value of ensuring a complete and thorough account of the population and we believe we can help perform a vital service.”

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, 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.