Advance America

Advance America is a consumer finance company that offers small-dollar credit to customers who have limited access to traditional bank loans. The company provides short-term cash flow products such as payday loans, installment loans, and, in select states, title-secured loans, along with related services like money transfers. Customers can borrow in person at local branches or apply online, with a focus on fast access to funds and simple transaction processes.

Founded in 1997, Advance America grew alongside the national rollout of payday lending, concentrating on states that allowed small-dollar credit under defined regulatory frameworks. By the mid-2000s it had become one of the largest payday loan operators in the country. The company entered online lending as state rules and customer expectations evolved, using digital channels to support and extend its storefront network rather than replace it.

A notable milestone came in 2012, when Advance America was acquired by Elektra Holding Company, LLC, an affiliate of Grupo Elektra and Banco Azteca. The acquisition took the company private and linked it to a larger international consumer finance platform. As of November 2018, Advance America reported operating approximately 1,900 locations across 28 U.S. states, putting it among the more widely distributed tenants in the alternative financial services category.

Over the past five or so years, the brand has focused less on entering brand-new states and more on adapting its product mix to changing regulations while maintaining coverage in long-standing markets. It has a long operating history in states such as Mississippi and Michigan, where it has been present for decades, and it continues to refine offerings by state to stay compliant and competitive. At the same time, its online lending platform has become an important complement to the physical stores, helping the company keep existing customers and reach borrowers who prefer to start transactions digitally.

For property owners and leasing teams, Advance America typically occupies small, neighborhood-scale storefronts in community and convenience-oriented retail corridors. Locations are often in strip centers, small-bay spaces in suburban and urban trade areas, and freestanding pads where visibility and easy access are more important than large parking fields or big-box footprints. As of November 2018, the roughly 1,900-store footprint, combined with an ongoing need for accessible, small-format sites, supports a steady appetite for space in a range of secondary, tertiary, and infill locations. The company’s long tenure in many markets and backing from a larger financial group contribute to its credibility as a repeat, small-bay tenant in older centers and everyday-needs retail environments.