Ramsdens Financial Ltd is a privately owned business which was founded in Middlesbrough in the 1950's by Herbert Smith, father of the current Chairman, Stewart Smith.

The business (known then as H. Smith), began its journey as a small check trading business providing "Shopping Checks" to its customers enabling them to purchase goods and services from an agreed range of retailers. The customers paid for this credit token in weekly instalments to the company agent who called at their home each week. The charge for this was modest as the company agreed a discount and monthly settlement terms with the retailer for the "introduction" of the customer. This basic method of trading is still in similar use today, albeit it has evolved over time into multi retailer gift voucher trading. The major growth in company's Home Credit activities occurred however when short term cash loans were introduced.

In more recent times the business traded as Smith Cole Financial Ltd and in 2007 adopted Ramsdens Financial Limited (RFL) as its company name to reflect increased awareness of the brand.

Ramsdens operates a high profile E-Commerce division, principally through our two websites www.GotGoldGetCash.co.uk and www.LoansUntilPayDay.co.uk. Ramsdens is one of the UK's leading purchasers of scrap or unwanted gold which is promoted through our industry leading television advertising.

In 1997 the company expanded its activities by entering the pawnbroking sector of our market, initially as a franchisee of John Ramsden Pawnbrokers.

Pawnbroking was seen as a logical extension of our relationship lending, a strategic opportunity to maximise the synergies between Pawnbroking and Home Credit and contribute to the fixed costs of operating our Home Credit branches in Sunderland and Middlesbrough .

2002 saw the acquisition of the franchisor John Ramsden and the opportunity to undertake a major expansion of our activities in this division. Ramsdens now has a significant and expanding presence in the UK 's pawnbroking and cheque cashing sector. Ramsdens is the largest independant Pawnbroker in the UK . (ref Plimsoll)

We set the highest ethic and professional standards at all times. We want all our relationships to be based on honesty, respect and fairness and a commitment to dialogue and transparency.

We take responsibility for our actions as a relationship lender, both individually and as a group, within the communities we work in.

We value expertise and encourage individuality but work as a team. Our employees are our biggest asset and we are proud to be IIP accredited.

We are passionate about delivering the best possible service to our customers and take pride in achieving this.

We look to replicate success, share best practice, learn from our mistakes and develop ideas so that we continue to improve what we offer our customers and become market leaders in our industry.

Ramsdens Financial looks to a positive future.

The continued development of our staff through internal and external training programmes will ensure that we have the necessary skills to meet customers' needs and demands.

The continued investment in our bespoke computer systems, developed by our in house IT team, will enable Ramsdens to continue to be innovative and offer industry leading products and services.

We are committed to growing our business divisions through web based innovation, acquisition and the opening of new green field sites.

If you have a business for sale that offers any of the following services;

• home collected credit,
• pawnbroking,
• cheque cashing,
• jewellers,
• bureau de change,

We are interested in talking to you.

Stewart Smith

Executive Chairman

May 2008.

stewart.smith@ramsdensfinancial.co.uk