Cash Store Financial Provides Ontario Update - Cash Store Financial Engages Chief Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Officer

EDMONTON, Feb. 27, 2014

Cash Store Financial is pleased to announce that it has engaged Michele McCarthy to act as CCRO and to fulfill the mandate described below. Ms. McCarthy is an experienced senior executive with experience in numerous roles with global financial services companies.  She has previously had mandates which included Chief Legal Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and Chair of the Board of Directors at significant public and private corporations.

The mandate of the CCRO will include the following responsibilities:

• Ensure that the Company and its affiliates (collectively, the "Cash Store Group") are in compliance with all federal and provincial legislation, regulations and regulatory directives (the "Governing Legislation");
• Ensure that all documents used in the business of the Cash Store Group are compliant with Governing Legislation;
• Develop procedures to identify, assess and communicate internally any changes or proposed changes to Governing Legislation;
• Foster a constructive relationship between the Cash Store Group and its regulators; and
• Oversee and assist business units within the Cash Store Group in the resolution of compliance issues.

Cash Store Financial further announces that it is engaging in ongoing discussions with its Ontario regulator in an effort to address the regulator's concerns regarding the issuance of a lender loan license to the Company and its subsidiaries under the Payday Loans Act, 2008.  Ms. McCarthy will lead these discussions in her role as CCRO while the Special Committee continues its review of strategic alternatives.

About Cash Store Financial

Cash Store Financial is the only lender and broker of short-term advances and provider of other financial services in Canada that is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CSF). Cash Store Financial also trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CSFS). Cash Store Financial operates 510 branches across Canada under the banners "Cash Store Financial" and "Instaloans". Cash Store Financial also operates 27 branches in the United Kingdom.

Cash Store Financial and Instaloans primarily act as lenders and brokers to facilitate short-term advances and provide other financial services to income-earning consumers who may not be able to obtain them from traditional banks. Cash Store Financial also provides a private-label debit card (the "Freedom" card) and a prepaid credit card (the "Freedom MasterCard") as well as other financial services, including bank accounts.