The group's principal activities are to provide retail financial services in the united states. the group is also the largest owner, operator, and franchiser of check-cashing stores in the united states. the group's services include cashing payroll checks, government checks, and insurance drafts, selling money orders, providing money transfer services using the moneygram network and offering small, short-term consumer loans. many company-owned stores also offer bill-payment services, lottery and lotto tickets, and other retail financial and transaction processing services. the group's services are offered through a network of 1,166 stores in 35 states, consisting of 1002 company-owned stores and 187 franchised stores. they are located in 35 states and the district of columbia. company-owned stores accounted for 99% of fiscal 2002 revenues and franchise stores, 1%.