Exhibit 10.22

RETIREMENT AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This Retirement Agreement and General Release (the "Agreement") is entered into by and between Advance America, Cash Advance
Centers, Inc. (the "Company") and Kenneth E. Compton ("Executive"), as of February 28, 2011.

Statement of Purpose

Executive
has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August 26, 2005. Executive has determined to retire from his employment with the Company
effective as of February 28, 2011, with the consent of the Board of Directors of the Company. The purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the mutual understanding of the parties regarding
Executive's retirement from the Company, including (i) his ongoing role on the Board of Directors, (ii) certain retirement pay and benefits as provided herein, (iii) in
consideration for such retirement benefits, Executive's general release of claims and certain post-employment covenants and (iv) other matters set forth herein.

Accordingly,
in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

1.Retirement; Board Service.Executive's employment with the Company will terminate
effective February 28, 2011 (the "Retirement Date"). Effective on the Retirement Date, Executive resigns as to his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and every
other position as an employee, officer, agent or trustee of each and every affiliated entity or benefit plan;provided, however, that Executive shall
continue in his current term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company following the Retirement Date. Executive
agrees to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors at the next annual meeting of the Company's shareholders at which directors are elected. As part of Executive's role on the Board
of Directors, Executive will provide guidance and advice to the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer to assist in the transition of Executive's duties. Executive shall be eligible to
receive compensation following the Retirement Date for his role as a non-employee director in accordance with the Company's generally applicable compensation arrangements for
non-employee directors.

2.Retirement Pay and Benefits.In consideration for Executive's release of claims,
covenants and other agreements provided herein, the Company shall provide Executive the following retirement pay and benefits:



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3.Forfeiture of Unvested Equity Awards.Except as otherwise expressly provided in
Section 2 above, all awards of stock options and restricted stock under the Company's 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan and the 2005 Stock Option Agreement that are not vested as of the Retirement Date
shall be canceled and forfeited as of such date.

4.Termination of Change of Control Agreement.Effective as of the Retirement Date, the
Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Executive dated February 16, 2011 shall be canceled and terminated in its entirety.

5.All Other Benefits.All other benefits that Executive was provided during the course
of his employment under the Company's employee benefit plans shall terminate as of the Retirement Date, except as otherwise expressly provided in such plans. Executive hereby agrees to comply with the
terms of the Company's 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan and applicable award agreements under that Plan, the 2005 Restricted Stock Agreement, and the 2005 Stock Option Agreement with respect to vested awards
of restricted stock and stock options, and any sales, gifts, or other transfers of such stock.

6.Release.In return for the additional consideration provided by the Agreement,
Executive does hereby for Executive and Executive's heirs, executors, assigns, and any others who may seek to act on Executive's behalf or through Executive, release and forever discharge the Company,
affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, predecessors and related entities, if any, and their current and former officers, directors, agents, representatives, employees, insurers and assigns
(collectively the "Releasees") from all claims Executive has or may have against the Releasees by reason of anything done or omitted to be done in relation to Executive's employment with the Company,
up to the date of this Agreement. This release and discharge includes any and all causes of action, back or front pay, benefits, damages of any sort, debts, liabilities, contract rights, and any
costs, fees, or other expenses or attorneys' fees incurred in law or in equity, whether known or unknown. This release and discharge also includes, without
limitation, any liability or cause of action which arises out of or relates to Executive's employment or separation from employment by Releasees including, without limitation, any cause of action or
liability for discrimination based on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, race, color, sex, disability, religion, national origin or other status
protected by applicable law. The Agreement shall not be construed to waive any right that is not subject to waiver under applicable law, including the right to file an administrative agency action, or
any right to vested benefits under the terms of any pension, retirement savings benefit plan, or company-provided equity awards made under the 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan, the 2005 Restricted Stock
Agreement, and the 2005 Stock Option Agreement. Nor shall this agreement be construed to waive any right Executive has pursuant to the Executive's Indemnification Agreement with the Company.

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7.Cooperation; Non-Disparagement.



8.Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation; Confidential Information.



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9.Indemnification.Executive understands that in the event legal action is taken
against the Company and/or him in which he is a named defendant after the Retirement Date, that any indemnification obligations from the Company which applied to him as an officer of the Company,
including, but not limited to any and all applicable insurance coverage such as directors and officers liability insurance coverage, will continue and the same protections will be afforded to him in
the future that existed as of the date of this Agreement. In that regard, Executive's Indemnification Agreement with the Company, dated July 26, 2006, shall remain in effect following the
Retirement Date in accordance with its terms.

10.Return of Property.Executive shall return to the Company all credit cards,
identification cards, access cards, keys and all other Company property which may be in the Executive's possession or control.

11.No Confidentiality.The parties acknowledge and agree that the Company may be
required to disclose and publish this Agreement in a Report on Form 8-K or otherwise pursuant to federal securities laws.

12.Modification of Agreement.This Agreement may not be changed, amended or waived
except by another written agreement signed by both parties.

13.Non-Admission.Executive and the Company mutually agree that this
Agreement is not to be construed as an admission, by either party, that either party has violated any law or breached any of the Company's policies or procedures with respect to Executive's employment
or retirement therefrom, and both parties deny any wrongdoing or liability with respect thereto.

14.Choice of Law/Severability.This Agreement will be construed under the laws of the
State of South Carolina. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court to be invalid or unenforceable, the provision shall be reformed by the court to the extent necessary to render it valid
or enforceable. Failing reformation, this Agreement shall be construed as if the invalid and/or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

15.Entire Agreement.This Agreement, together with the Company's 2004 Omnibus Stock
Plan, applicable award agreements under that plan with respect to vested awards, the 2005 Restricted Stock Agreement, the 2005 Stock Option Agreement with respect to vested stock options, and
Executive's Indemnification Agreement with the Company, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and cancels all prior or
contemporaneous oral or written
agreements and understandings between them with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent there are any inconsistencies between the terms of this Agreement and the other agreements referred
to above, the provisions of this Agreement shall control. The parties agree that if any clause, paragraph, or sub-paragraph in this Agreement is found to be invalid, such invalidity will
not affect the validity of the other clauses herein.

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16.Acknowledgement.By signing below, Executive acknowledges that Executive has read,
understands and voluntarily enters into the Agreement and acknowledges that this Agreement is written in such a manner that he understands the terms and conditions of the Agreement and he, pursuant to
the terms of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act:



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized officer, and Executive has hereunto set his
hand and seal, all as of the day and year first above written.

KENNETH E. COMPTON

ADVANCE AMERICA, CASH ADVANCE CENTERS, INC./s/ Kenneth E. Compton

/s/ J. Patrick O'ShaughnessyBy:    J. Patrick O'ShaughnessyMarch 8, 2011
Date

March 8, 2011
Date/s/ Kathryn R. Compton Witness


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