Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., Complaints and Lawsuits

CFPB Debt Collection Complaint Ranking*:

#110 of 2,458 Companies

Lawsuits, Penalties, or Sanctions:

HOOPER v. ADVANCE AMERICA (September 22, 2008.) United States District Court, W.D. Missouri, Central Division. Case No. 2:08-cv-04045-NKL.

JENKINS v. FIRST AMERICAN CASH ADVANCE OF GEORGIA, LLC (November 25, 2003.) United States District Court, S.D. Georgia, Augusta Division. No. CIV.A.103-094.

Advance America settles class action lawsuit for $18 million for charging illegal fees and interest rates.

Location and Contact Details:

135 N Church St
Spartanburg, SC 29306-5138
Phone: (864) 342-5600
Fax: (864) 515-5603 / (302) 636-5454
J. Patrick O'Shaughnessy, CEO

Business Model:

Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc. is the largest payday lender in the United States. It provides check cashing and small denomination, short term payday loans, installment loans, title loans, tax services, pre-paid credit cards. It is privately held and was founded in 1997. Co-founder William Webster IV was Director of Scheduling for the White House during the Clinton Administration.

Advance America operates over 2,500 locations under several brand names including: National Cash Advance; Check Advance; First American Cash Advance; First American Cash Loans; First American Loans; Purpose Financial; and Purpose Money.

The business is rated “C minus” by the Better Business Bureau.

In 2015 Advance America reached an $8 million settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General for illegal payday loans with interest rates of 368%.

 In 2012 a Mexican billionaire purchased Advance America for $780 million.