SunPass® Customers Can Re-Load Their Accounts at Amscot Financial

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, said today it will begin collecting payments on behalf of SunPass® for customers who prefer to re-load their prepaid toll accounts with cash.  

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SunPass is Florida's prepaid electronic toll collection system. The system utilizes small, credit-card size electronic devices, called SunPass transponders, which attach to the inside of car windshields. When a SunPass-equipped vehicle goes through a tolling location, the transponder sends a signal and the toll is deducted from the customer's account.

SunPass unveiled its cash-replenishment option statewide for customers in June 2010. Amscot's 174 branches throughout the Tampa Bay and metropolitan Orlando areas join a roster of more than 1,000 retail locations across where customers can opt to re-load their SunPass accounts with cash.

Amscot will charge a convenience fee of $1.50 for each re-loading transaction. The company will not sell SunPass transponders. Cash payments are posted immediately to the transponder holder's account.

The service allows individuals who prefer to make payments in person to take advantage of Amscot's convenient hours and locations. All Amscot branches are open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Roughly one-third of Amscot's branches are open 24 hours a day; the balance open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 or 10 p.m.

Amscot has been collecting bill payments, traffic fines and other types of payments on behalf of third parties since 2005. For example, Amscot acts as a bill payment agent for utilities and local governments such as the city of Bartow, Lakeland Electric, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Orlando Utilities Commission, TECO, Progress Energy and Bright House.

"We are very proud to be working with SunPass," said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. "We offer this service because consumers want to be able to make their payments on their own time and at a location convenient to them."

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,500 associates who work at the company's 174 retail branches and at the company's corporate headquarters in Tampa. The company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Amscot Financial is The Money Superstore™, offering 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, free money orders income tax preparation. Amscot Financial also allows customers to make bill payments to more than 200 different utilities, municipal governments, cable and telephone companies.

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.amscot.com.

SOURCE Amscot Financial