Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (AEA) SEC Filing 10-K Annual report for the fiscal year ending Saturday, December 31, 2011

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jamie Fulmer (864) 342-5633

jfulmer@advanceamerica.net

Advance America Reports 2011 Earnings per Share of $1.09

SPARTANBURG, S.C., February 22, 2012 —

Highlights:

·                  Diluted earnings per share for the year and quarter of $1.09 and $0.43, respectively, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.58 and $0.26 for the same periods in 2010.

·                  Net income for the year and quarter of $67.6 million and $26.5 million, respectively.

·                  Center gross profit for the year and quarter of $181.2 million and $57.8 million, respectively, an increase of 16.8% and 28.4% over the same periods in 2010.

·                  Cash flow from operations for the year ended December 31, 2011, increased 35.1% over the same period in 2010 to $181.7 million.

·                  EBITDA for the year of $123.4 million, an increase of 44.6% over the comparable prior-year period.

·                  The Company decided to exit both the United Kingdom and Canada by the end of 2012. This decision is the result of continued negative performance in both markets. As of December 31, 2011 the Company had 33 centers and 13 limited licensees in the United Kingdom and 10 Centers in Canada.