Advance America Names Patrick O'Shaughnessy to Succeed Ken Compton as CEO

Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. AEA announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth E. Compton, retired on February 28 after leading the Company for more than five years. Mr. Compton will continue to serve as a member of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors has unanimously elected J. Patrick O'Shaughnessy, the Company's current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to succeed Mr. Compton as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. O'Shaughnessy will assume his new role today.