Advance America names Gardner Courson, Anthony Grant to board

Advance America names 2 new board members

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Payday lender Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc. said Tuesday it named Gardner G. Courson and Anthony T. Grant to its board.

Their addition brings the board to 10 members. The board previously had nine members, but Stephen K. Benjamin resigned from the board for personal reasons on Monday, the company said.

Courson is a business litigation lawyer and Grant is the co-founder of Grant Business Strategies Inc., a financial and advisory firm.

Shares of Advance America rose 3 cents to $6.32 in afternoon trading.