ColorTyme franchisee Mark Childers plans to open three new stores in the coming weeks: one each in Fairbanks and Anchorage, and one in Sunnyside, Wash.

The stores will offer check cashing, free money orders, Western Union services, prepaid Visa and MasterCard, bill pay services, cell phone services and pre-paid long distance phone cards at the stores.

The Sunnyside and Fairbanks stores are scheduled to open in December and Anchorage is scheduled to follow in the first quarter of 2006. All three ColorTyme stores allow customers to rent and own furniture, computers, digital electronics and home appliances without requiring a credit check, contract or incurring debt.

With 285 stores, ColorTyme Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, and now in its 25th year, the company has launched an aggressive franchise development plan and is on track to grow significantly in the next five years.