When W. Allan Jones sets out to do something, he does it in a very big way. So when Check Into Cash, the company he founded in 1993, celebrated its 20th anniversary, Mr. Jones marked the milestone occasion with a celebration recognizing the company and it’s employees.
The event today was the centerpiece of a company-wide celebration of 20 years of "providing the everyday financial solutions that more and more consumers need."
“Every one of our more than 1,000 retail locations delivers the financial products and services our customers demand,” said Mr.
Jones. “On behalf of our more than 3,000 employees, I want to say we’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished over these 20 years.”
At age 20, Mr. Jones left college, where he had been pursuing a business degree, to help stabilize the family’s business, the Credit Bureau of Cleveland (Tn.). He purchased the reporting and debt collection business in 1977 and built it into one of the largest credit bureau databases in Tennessee.
Mr. Jones sold the credit reporting side of the business to Equifax in 1988, retaining the name and collection agency division. He then built the company to be the largest in the state, and sold it in 1998.
Mr. Jones founded Check Into Cash in 1993, foreseeing the tremendous potential of short-term, fee-based loans collateralized by the customer’s signature on a check to be held by the lender until the following payday. Check Into Cash grew rapidly, expanding to more than 1,000 retail locations in more than 30 states.
“We’re committed to helping people with the short-term financial solutions they need,” said Check Into Cash President Steve Scoggins. “Today, those solutions include a variety of affordable payday lending options, as well as check cashing, Western Union money transfers, prepaid U.S. Money cards and other convenient services. Helping you is all we do.”
In 2012, Mr. Jones purchased a team of Clydesdales to represent the company. The black-and-white "Cashdales" stand an impressive 18.2 hands tall, and each weighs more than 2,000 pounds. The Cashdales—are a huge attraction at festivals, fairs and parades, where they help introduce customers to Check Into Cash.
The Cashdales were on hand in Cleveland as part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebration, after which they will continue their tour of the Check Into Cash locations.