DATE: November 1, 2001

Check Cashers Association of New York Receives Honor from National Association and Cheklist Magazine

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Check Cashers Association of New York (CCANY) received special recognition for its efforts surrounding the Sept. 11 disaster by the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA), a professional association serving more than 5,000 individual financial service centers across the United States, and Cheklist magazine. The Check Casher of the Year Award was presented to CCANY at FiSCA’s national conference last month in San Diego, Calif.

“Usually, the Check Casher of the Year Award is given to a single individual who demonstrates a dedication to the growth and evolution of our industry,” said William Siegel, chairman of FiSCA. “While the members of CCANY have always been strong, active business leaders, FiSCA felt their extraordinary efforts following Sept. 11 deserved special attention. This award seemed to be the prefect tribute.”

Even though many were struggling with personal and business tragedies as a result of the disaster, the members of CCANY worked together to establish a fundraising effort for the families of police, fire and other rescue workers that were injured or killed in the World Trade Center disaster.

With the help of Traveler’s Express MoneyGram, check cashers all over the country were able to process customer donations at no cost and have the money wired directly to the American Red Cross as a result of CCANY’s work. And as a small gesture of respect, association members waived all fees on paychecks cashed by emergency personnel. Finally, CCANY reached out to the New York State Banking Department and offered communications support to the agency that had lost its equipment, records and means to operate when the Twin Towers collapsed.

CCANY is a not-for-profit association that serves more than 600 check cashers in New York state. In addition to the association’s special efforts in the aftermath of Sept. 11, the group was also recognized for its scholarship program, held in conjunction with Traveler’s Express MoneyGram, that has provided $150,000 in funding to college bound high school seniors. In addition, with the help of Western Union, the association has raised over $250,000 to subsidize the purchase of school uniforms for needy public school children. For more information on CCANY, please visit www.ccanyinc.org.

FiSCA is a national association whose members provide local communities with check cashing; access to money orders; money wire transfers; automatic teller machine access; the ability to make bank withdrawals and balance inquiries; cash advances; Social Security benefit payments; public assistance benefits; electronic bill payment services; deferred deposit services and more. FiSCA, founded in 1986, is the leading voice on legislative, regulatory and business issues that effect its members and the rights of consumers to access basic financial services. More information about the organization is available at www.fisca.org.

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