ACE Cash Express Partners With H&R Block

ACE Cash Express, Inc., the nation's largest check-cashing chain and a significant provider of related retail financial services, today announced ACE and H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) have completed the installation of 100 automated self-service machines in select H&R Block offices in 21 states across the country for the 2002 tax season.

The machines will allow H&R Block clients to conveniently cash their tax refund checks in most instances in less than one minute in H&R Block offices. Last year, ACE installed H&R Block with 50 self-service machines during the 2001 tax season.

As part of the agreement, ACE also will refer clients to H&R Block by offering a $10 discount on tax preparation, and H&R Block will make its clients aware in certain offices of a discount on check cashing fees available through ACE.