With Four Generations Comes Solutions, Customer Trust From New Owners Of Vernon Hills Currency Exchange; Focus Is On Small Business Owners, Hispanic Market

VERNON HILLS - When you're the fourth generation, the depth and breadth of knowledge of your family's business is your strength. You know how to fulfill the needs of your customers,how to treat them well. You know what it takes to succeed in your market arena.

So when Abby and Sharyl Hans with their son, Michael, recently purchased the Vernon Hills

Currency Exchange - their ninth such entity under the Checkexpress banner - they went to work reaching out to small business owners with an under-promoted program often vital to the success of their day-to-day customers, and to the Hispanic market in need of a trusted source for the products and services they offer on a daily basis.

"Customer service, credibility are what we offer, what we do well," said Abby Hans. "Most people think the only time to visit a currency exchange is to cash a check, transfer an auto title, prepay their phone card, use our electronic bill pay service, or notarize a document, or if they don't have a bank account or checking account. We are so much more than that."

With its purchase January 2 of the Vernon Hills Currency Exchange, 701 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the Hans family, whose great grandfather, Irwin Marcus, founded the currency exchange concept in 1937 at the time of the Great Depression - immediately turned its attention to two previously under-served audiences - small business owners and Spanish speaking residents of Lake County.

"Our commercial check cashing service enables small business owners to better manage their cash flow by providing them cash immediately after they are paid; they are able to pay their employees and suppliers more quickly," said Abby Hans.

Said Jennie Rojas, manager: "The Hispanic population is looking for a friend it can trust. We are that friend. We are customer friendly, speak Spanish, and offer over 50 services from which to choose. It all adds up to a comfortable and easy experience for all our customers."

Checkexpress has a long standing tradition of giving back to the people, communities and neighborhoods it serves. Through donations and contributions, it offers support to a broad range of organizations and programs including the American Red Cross, Illinois Fire Safety Education, YMCA, and many other worthwhile causes. Its state association, The Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois, sponsors Back 2 School Illinois in which school supplies are given to families in need.

Additionally, Back 2 School Illinois, of which Abby Hans is president, gives college scholarships and hosts summer Power-Up Boot camps which focus on exercise and nutrition.

Checkexpress has locations in Vernon Hills, Deerfield, Wheeling, Elmhurst, Roselle, and

Chicago. All Checkexpress currency exchange locations are licensed, regulated and supervised

by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Currency Exchange

Division.

For more information contact Vernon Hills Currency Exchange, 701 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, (847) 459-9811 (corporate office), or visit

www.mycheckexpress.com/index.html.

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