William Webster, Co-founder and Chairman of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, the nation’s largest payday lender, appeared on WTVI’s Carolina Business Journal on Friday.  If you have a few minutes, it’s well worth watching.  Mr. Webster does an excellent job defining payday lending, the reasons customers use the service and addressing the allegations of industry critics.

Watch the full televised interview at http://wtvi.org/cbr.cfm. Mr. Webster appears  about halfway into the program, so you may want to jump ahead to that portion of the program.

CFSA member company, Advance America, has launched a new new advertising effort and online contest encouraging people to illustrate how people have helped them in times of need. Marketing Daily reports on the new contest in which consumers are encouraged to nominate, via an Advance America-sponsored microsite www.whoisthereforyou.com, people who have helped them during tough times. The grand prize for the contest, which ends on Oct. 21, is $25,000 each for the nominee and nominator.

Trudy Boyles of Advance America says, “We’re looking for everyday heroes who have helped others through life,” she says.