ACE Cash Express Opens 1500th Store; Consumer Demand for Traditional Banking Alternatives Drives Growth

DALLAS, Dec. 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACE Cash Express, Inc. (NASDAQ:AACE), a leading retailer of financial services, including check cashing, short-term consumer loans and bill payment services, has opened its 1500th retail location. This significant achievement reflects the Company's network growth strategy of new store openings as well as acquisitions, such as ACE's recent acquisition of 107 Popular Cash Express stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2006. During the last eighteen months ACE has increased its store base over 22% from the 1,230 stores open at the end of fiscal 2004.

Jay B. Shipowitz, ACE's President and CEO, said, "Increasing consumer demand for the products and services we offer drove our growth, and our team's successful focus on de novo store openings, sizable acquisitions and franchise sales made it a reality. We have built a financial services network dedicated to consumers seeking alternatives to traditional banking relationships. Today's announcement is a milestone in ACE's company history and I thank all of the team members for their commitment and dedication to our growth plan."

About ACE Cash Express

ACE Cash Express, Inc. is a leading retailer of financial services, including check cashing, short-term consumer loans and bill payment services, and the largest owner, operator and franchisor of check cashing stores in the United States.  As of December 15, 2005, ACE had a network of 1,505 stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia, consisting of 1,287 company-owned stores and 218 franchised stores.  ACE focuses on serving consumers, many of whom seek alternatives to traditional banking relationships in order to gain convenient and immediate access to check cashing services and short-term consumer loans.  ACE's website is found at http://www.acecashexpress.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: ACE Cash Express, Inc.



CONTACT:  Jay B. Shipowitz, President & CEO, [phone], or

 , or Eric C. Norrington, Vice President of

Communication, [phone], or  , both of

ACE Cash Express, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.acecashexpress.com/ 

Copyright