WATERLOO, IA — Check Into Cash this week gave its final pledge installment to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, completing a $30,000 commitment to the Iowa-based center.

Check Into Cash Founder Allan Jones is well known for being a supporter of wrestling and athletics. Jones, who was a high school wrestler, has made numerous contributions to athletics including the Allan Jones Aquatic Center at the University of Tennessee and state-of-the-art wrestling centers at Cleveland and Bradley Central high schools in his hometown of Cleveland, Tenn. Those two high school wrestling programs have placed first and second in the state of Tennessee for three consecutive years.

“Wrestling and athletics teach leadership and strong character and Check Into Cash is pleased to support these worthwhile projects,” Jones said. “Iowa is the national epicenter for wrestling and Check Into Cash is proud to support the hall of fame and museum that bears the name of a national icon such as Dan Gable.”

In 1972 Dan Gable became the first American to win a World and Olympic title in consecutive years. After winning the World Championships in 1971, Gable won the gold medal at the Munich Olympics without surrendering a single point in his six matches. He also amassed numerous titles and records as a collegiate and high school wrestler in Iowa. Gable later coached Olympic and international teams, and led the University of Iowa to unparalleled success including a stint of nine consecutive NCAA titles and numerous other accolades.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum provides free wrestling seminars with world class athletes throughout the year. The Gable Museum also recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Club and United Sport & Athlete for an ongoing wrestling club.

Kyle Klingman, director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, said the Check Into Cash gift will go far in preserving the history of the sport as well as developing the future of wrestling.

“This generous contribution to our organization allows us to continue important programming that involves youth,” Klingman said. “We are grateful to Allan Jones and Check Into Cash for believing in our efforts.”

For more information on the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum visit www.wrestlingmuseum.org. For more information on Check Into Cash visit www.checkintocash.com.

“I gave generously of my time to author Gary Rivlin to assist in his preparation for writing a book, purported to fairly represent the credit needs of the middle income working population and the markets that serve them. Unfortunately, Mr. Rivlin has chosen to rearrange some of my remarks to draw incorrect conclusions regarding my personal views and beliefs.

This in no way reflects the attitudes or the values of me or of our company. I take great pride in the service we provide, the contributions we make to local communities and the diversity of our workforce.

I deeply regret if any comments attributed to me have offended anyone.”

Check Into Cash, Inc., a national leader in specialty consumer financial services, has begun offering title secured loans in Arizona.

Loans of up to $2,500 secured by a car title will be offered throughout the state.

“Our goal is to be a leader in the consumer financial services market by providing a full range of products under one roof that gives our customers a true one-stop shop for all their financial needs,” said Check Into Cash President Steve Scoggins. “The addition of title secured loans furthers that goal. We are pleased to offer this service and to broaden the range of financial options for the consumers of Arizona.”

Check Into Cash offers a full suite of financial service products which include cash advance, Western Union, check cashing, bill payment, wire transfer, money orders, reloadable prepaid debit cards, gift cards and ATM access in select locations.

Founded in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1993, Check Into Cash operates more than 1,100 branch locations in 30 states. Check Into Cash is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) trade organization and is a leader in industry best practices. The company operates approximately 40 branch locations in Arizona.

CONTACT:

Ryan Harris
Communications Manager
Check Into Cash
rharris@checkintocash.com

The payday lending industry has released a new video featuring several of the tens of thousands of customer letters sent to Congress in recent weeks.

“While the letters speak for themselves, this new video gives viewers real appreciation for the customers who want continued access to payday advances,” said D. Lynn DeVault, Board Chair, Community Financial Services Association of America.

“Payday lending customers sometimes need a few hundred dollars to make ends meet between paychecks,” said DeVault. “These are real people, facing real life circumstances. Unfortunately, in media coverage and during policy debates, the quiet voices of customers are overshadowed by activists who would like to see payday lending eliminated.”

“The video gives a voice to a handful of customers, representing the 19 million households who used payday advances last year,” DeVault concluded.

More than 10,000 customers of Check Into Cash joined the letter writing campaign.

Watch the video here:

ABOUT CHECK INTO CASH:

Founded in Cleveland, Tenn., in 1993, Check Into Cash operates more than 1,100 branch locations in 30 states. Check Into Cash is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) trade organization and is a leader in industry best practices. Check Into Cash offers a full suite of financial service products which include cash advance, check cashing services, bill payment services, wire transfer services, money orders, reloadable prepaid debit cards and ATM access in select locations.

ABOUT CFSA:

The Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) is the only national organization dedicated solely to promoting responsible regulation of the payday advance industry and consumer protections through CFSA’s Best Practices. As such, we are committed to working with policymakers, consumer advocates and CFSA member companies to ensure that the payday advance is a safe and viable credit option for consumers.

For up-to-date news and information on the payday lending industry, visit www.paydaypundit.org.

CONTACT:

Ryan Harris
Communications Manager
Check Into Cash
rharris@checkintocash.com

Julie A. Urban, Ph.D. and Marzeih Bolhassani, Ph.D., both of the University of Wisconsin System, released the findings of their recent payday lending survey today at the 2009 Understanding and Overcoming Poverty in Wisconsin Conference.

Urban and Bolhassani conducted an independent survey of payday advance customers in Wisconsin, and found, among other conclusions, that 60 percent of those surveyed view payday advances as less expensive than bank overdraft fees, and 40 percent believe credit card late payments are more costly than payday advances.

The study also finds that the majority of payday advance customers choose the product due to an unexpected expense, and they consider other options, such as bank overdraft fees, auto title loans, credit card late payments, pawn shops and borrowing from friends and relatives before taking out a payday advance.

Of those surveyed, 83 percent have overdrawn a checking account, 59 percent have exceeded their limit on a credit card and 68 percent have been denied a loan, all in an effort to obtain short-term credit. An overwhelming 98 percent of respondents think money management courses are critical to making sound financial decisions, and 45 percent of those people believe that such courses should be taught as early as middle school.

“The need for short-term credit is indisputable,” said D. Lynn DeVault, Board Chair of the Community Financial Services Association of America. “This study proves what short-term lenders have been saying for quite some time: when faced with the exorbitant costs of bounced check and credit card late fees, thousands of Wisconsinites choose payday advances to help them overcome short-term financial emergencies.”

Payday advances remain a unique short-term credit option not readily offered by other financial institutions, and a smart choice in comparison to unregulated products such as off-shore Internet lending or the costs associated with revolving credit card balances and fees for bank overdraft protection. Consumers should be smart about their money and savings, and any form of credit can be mishandled. But it is important to understand that payday advances can be an effective short-term financial solution for Wisconsinites whose options may be limited.

Check Into Cash operates 33 centers in Wisconsin. Nationwide, there are more than 1,100 Check Into Cash Centers in 30 states.

About the CFSA:

The Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) is the only national organization dedicated solely to promoting responsible regulation of the payday advance industry and consumer protections through CFSA’s Best Practices. As such, we are committed to working with policymakers, consumer advocates and CFSA member companies to ensure that the payday advance is a safe and viable credit option for consumers.

For up-to-date information on the industry, visit www.paydaypundit.org

About Check Into Cash:

Founded in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1993, Check Into Cash is a specialty consumer financial services company whose primary product is payday advances. Check Into Cash operates more than 1,100 branch locations in 30 states and is the founding member of Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA). Check Into Cash offers a full suite of financial service products which include check cashing services, bill payment services, wire transfer services, money orders, reloadable prepaid debit cards, gift cards, tax preparation services and ATM access in select locations.

CONTACT:

Steven Schlein
Community Financial Services Association of America
202-296-0263

Ryan Harris
Communications Manager
Check Into Cash
rharris@checkintocash.com