CheckSmart

CheckSmart is a consumer financial services brand operated by Community Choice Financial Inc., a company that provides short-term credit and related services to customers who rely on non-traditional banking options. The business offers small-dollar installment loans, lines of credit, check cashing, money orders, and other payment services, typically through neighborhood storefronts where customers can walk in to handle everyday financial needs. These locations are usually found in urban and first-ring suburban areas, often in community or convenience-oriented retail centers with steady foot or drive-by traffic.

The brand began as a standalone check-cashing and lending chain before becoming part of what is now Community Choice Financial Inc., a multi-banner platform that consolidated several regional lenders and check-cashing operators under one corporate structure. The parent company was formally established in 2011 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Over time, CheckSmart evolved into one of several trade names used by the platform, with operations continuing under that name in select markets while other locations operate under different local banners.

As of December 2025, Community Choice Financial remains active with corporate-owned locations across multiple U.S. states, and CheckSmart continues as a member brand within its portfolio. The company has long focused on small-format, service-driven units in neighborhood retail settings, often near grocery stores, discount retailers, and transit-accessible corridors. These locations typically serve a customer base that values convenience, speed, and in-person service for everyday financial transactions.

In recent years, the company’s real estate strategy has been more about managing and optimizing its existing footprint than pursuing aggressive new store growth. There is no public expansion program or national rollout currently underway, and openings or closures tend to reflect broader portfolio decisions tied to state regulations and capital allocation rather than a uniform expansion plan. The CheckSmart brand today functions as part of a larger, centralized lending platform rather than as an independent franchise or rapidly growing chain.

For landlords and developers, the relevance lies in the historical use pattern of these spaces: small, in-line or end-cap units in community centers that supported a steady stream of local, cash-based transactions. Properties that previously housed CheckSmart or similar non-bank financial services may be well suited for other service-oriented, convenience-focused, or financial services tenants that serve similar trade areas.