8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 26, 2018

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

South Carolina	0-19599	57-0425114
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

108 Frederick Street, Greenville, South Carolina	29607
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (864) 298-9800

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company	⃞
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.	⃞

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition; and

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 26, 2018, World Acceptance Corporation ("WRLD") issued a press release announcing financial information for its third quarter ended December 31, 2017.  The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is furnished to, but not filed with, the Commission.

On January 26, 2018, World Acceptance Corporation senior management held a conference call to discuss the results of its third quarter ended December 31, 2017.  Prepared remarks for the conference call by the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of WRLD is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 8-K and is furnished to, but not filed with, the Commission.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits.
	Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
	99.1	Press release issued January 26, 2018
	99.2	Prepared remarks by Interim President and Chief Executive Officer for the January 26, 2018 conference call

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

			WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
			(Registrant)
Date:	January 26, 2018	By:	/s/ John Calmes
			John Calmes
			Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 26, 2018
99.2	Prepared remarks by Interim President and Chief Executive Officer for the January 26, 2018 conference call

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

World Acceptance Corporation Reports Fiscal 2018 Third Quarter Results

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 26, 2018--World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD) today reported financial results for its third fiscal quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2017.

Gross loans increased to $1.23 billion as of December 31, 2017, a 5.5% increase from the $1.17 billion of gross loans outstanding as of December 31, 2016. Gross loans in the US increased by 5.8%. Gross loans in Mexico increased 2.0% in US dollars. However, gross loans in Mexico decreased 3.1% in Mexican pesos. Our unique borrowers in the US increased by 49,480 or 6.3% during the third quarter of fiscal 2018. This is compared to an increase of 45,517 or 6.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and an increase of 27,545 or 3.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

Net income for the third quarter decreased 82.6% to $1.7 million compared to $9.6 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Net income per diluted share decreased 82.9% to $0.19 in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $1.10 in the prior year quarter. The decreases in net income and net income per diluted share were primarily due to the write-down of our deferred tax asset (“DTA Write-Down”) as described below. Excluding the impact of the DTA Write-Down, net income for the third quarter increased 26.8% to $12.2 million compared to $9.6 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Excluding the DTA Write-Down, net income per diluted share increased 24.6% to $1.37 in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $1.10 in the prior year quarter.

Total revenues increased to $136.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2018, a 4.7% increase from the $130.8 million reported for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Revenues from the 1,277 offices open throughout both quarterly periods increased by 3.9%. Interest and fee income increased 4.2%, from $118.3 million to $123.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 primarily due to an increase in average earning loans. Insurance and other income increased by 8.9% to $13.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared with $12.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase was related to a $250,000 increase in insurance revenue and a $900,000 increase in other income compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Other income increased $550,000 due to the receipt of interest in relation to the settlement of a state tax matter. Revenue from our motor club product also increased by $250,000 when comparing the third quarter of fiscal 2018 to the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Accounts in the US that were 61 days or more past due increased to 5.7% on a recency basis and to 7.3% on a contractual basis at December 31, 2017, compared to 5.4% and 7.0%, respectively, at December 31, 2016. On a consolidated basis, accounts that were 61 days or more past due increased to 6.6% on a recency basis and to 8.5% on a contractual basis at December 31, 2017, compared to 5.6% and 7.6%, respectively, at December 31, 2016. As a result of the higher delinquencies, our allowance for loan losses compared to net loans increased from 9.8% at December 31, 2016, to 10.9% at December 31, 2017.

As previously disclosed, the Company ceased all in-person collection visits at the end of fiscal 2016. Following the change in practice, in fiscal 2017 we experienced an increase in delinquencies and charge-offs. We have seen an improvement in net charge-offs during the first, second, and third quarters of fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017. Consolidated net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans on an annualized basis decreased from 16.9% to 15.5% when comparing third quarter of fiscal 2018 to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. However, the consolidated provision for the quarter increased by $3.8 million when comparing the third quarter of fiscal 2018 to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. This is primarily due to a $3.0 million adjustment to the provision in the prior year quarter as a result of improving credit metrics in the US during FY2017 and increasing delinquencies in Mexico. Consolidated net charge-offs were down $1.1 million when comparing third quarter of fiscal 2018 to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The portion of the provision related to an increase in loans outstanding increased by $700,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017 due to gross loans outstanding increasing $81.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 versus $69.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The US provision increased $2.9 million when comparing the third quarter of fiscal 2018 to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The portion of the US provision related to an increase in loans outstanding increased $1.3 million current quarter over prior year quarter. There was also a $700,000 increase in the US provision due to a larger increase in accounts that became 90 days past due in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. This was off-set by a decrease in net charge-offs of $2.1 million.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses amounted to $72.9 million in the third fiscal 2018 quarter, compared to $71.2 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses decreased from 54.5% during the third quarter of fiscal 2017 to 53.2% during the third quarter of fiscal 2018. G&A expenses per average open office increased by 1.5% when comparing the two fiscal quarters.

Personnel expense decreased $800,000 during the third quarter of fiscal 2018, as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Personnel expense in the US decreased by $2.7 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2018, as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017 primarily due to a decrease in share based compensation expense and a decrease in our health insurance expense.

Advertising expense decreased 4.0% or $350,000 relative to the same quarter last year.

Legal and professional expense increased by $2.5 million primarily due to additional expense related to the previously disclosed investigation related to our operations in Mexico. We incurred $1.9 million in expense directly related to the investigation during the quarter. See “Other Matters” below for additional information regarding the investigation.

Interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, decreased by $270,000, or 5.2% from the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The decrease in interest expense is due to an 8.5% decrease in the average debt outstanding, from $368.7 million to $337.5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The Company’s debt to equity ratio decreased from 0.9:1 at December 31, 2016, to 0.8:1 at December 31, 2017.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. U.S. accounting standards require the remeasurement of all U.S. deferred income tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences from the current corporate tax rate of 35 percent to the new corporate tax rate of 21 percent. The cumulative adjustment of $10.5 million was recognized in income tax expense from continuing operations as a discrete item in the current period, which includes the enactment date. The TCJA requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings. As of January 26, 2018, we have not made sufficient progress on the earnings and profits analysis of our foreign subsidiaries to reasonably estimate the effects of the one-time transition tax and, therefore, have not recorded provisional amounts. We continued to apply ASC 740 based on the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to the TCJA being enacted. Because we had previously determined these amounts were indefinitely reinvested, no deferred taxes have been recorded.

Other key return ratios for the third quarter included a 6.5% return on average assets and a return on average equity of 12.1% (both on a trailing 12-month basis).

At December 31, 2017, we had approximately 157,000 accounts and approximately $101.9 million in gross loans outstanding in Mexico. There were $99.9 million in gross loans in Mexico as of December 31, 2016. Annualized net charge-offs for Mexico as a percentage of average net loans increased from 10.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 to 15.6% for the third quarter of fiscal 2018. Additionally, our Mexican 61+ day delinquencies were 16.3% and 21.7% on a recency and contractual basis, respectively, as of December 31, 2017, a change from 8.5% and 13.6%, respectively, as of December 31, 2016.

Nine-Month Results

For the first nine-months of fiscal 2018, net income decreased 41.2% to $24.5 million compared with $41.7 million for the nine-months ended December 31, 2016. Fully diluted net income per share decreased 41.9% to $2.76 in the first nine months of fiscal 2018 compared with $4.75 for the first nine-months of fiscal 2017.

Total revenues for the first nine-months of fiscal 2018 increased 2.5% to $396.8 million compared with $387.2 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. Annualized net charge-offs as a percent of average net loans decreased from 15.8% during the first nine-months of fiscal 2017 to 14.5% for the first nine-months of fiscal 2018.

Other Matters

As previously disclosed, we are conducting an investigation of our operations in Mexico, focusing on the legality under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and certain local laws of certain payments related to loans, the maintenance of the Company’s books and records associated with such payments, and the treatment of compensation matters for certain employees. We promptly retained outside legal counsel and forensic accountants to lead the investigation upon receipt of an anonymous letter regarding compliance matters, and we have voluntarily contacted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to advise both agencies that an investigation is underway. We are committed to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, intend to cooperate fully with both the SEC and the DOJ, and are developing and executing a remediation plan to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.

As previously disclosed, on March 12, 2014, the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”). The stated purpose of the CID is to determine whether the Company has been or is “engaging in unlawful acts or practices in connection with the marketing, offering, or extension of credit in violation of Sections 1031 and 1036 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536, the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601, et seq., Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. pt. 1026, or any other Federal consumer financial law” and “also to determine whether Bureau action to obtain legal or equitable relief would be in the public interest.” The Company responded, within the deadlines specified in the CID, to broad requests for production of documents, answers to interrogatories and written reports related to loans made by the Company and numerous other aspects of the Company’s business. By letter dated January 18, 2018, the CFPB informed the Company that it had concluded its investigation and would not be proceeding with an enforcement action against the Company.

Non-GAAP financial measures

On December 22, 2017, the TCJA was signed into law. The results of the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and first nine months of fiscal 2018 reflect the estimated impact of the enactment of the TCJA, which resulted in a $10.5 million decrease in net income. Net income and earnings per share excluding the impact of these significant items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes these measures help investors understand the effect of these items on reported results.

About World Acceptance Corporation

World Acceptance Corporation is one of the largest small-loan consumer finance companies, operating 1,334 offices in 15 states and Mexico.

Third Quarter Conference Call

The senior management of World Acceptance Corporation will be discussing these results in its quarterly conference call to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time today. A simulcast of the conference call will be available on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1118/24150. The call will be available for replay on the Internet for approximately 30 days.

This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Statements other than those of historical fact, as well as those identified by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” intend,” “plan,” “expect,” ”project,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and any variation of the foregoing and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are about matters that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include the following: recently enacted, proposed or future legislation and the manner in which it is implemented, including the effects of the TCJA on the earnings of our foreign subsidiaries; the nature and scope of regulatory authority, particularly discretionary authority, that may be exercised by regulators, including, but not limited to, the SEC, DOJ, or the CFPB, having jurisdiction over the Company; the unpredictable nature of regulatory proceedings and litigation; any determinations, findings, claims or actions made or taken by the SEC, DOJ, or other regulators or third parties in connection with or resulting from the previously disclosed investigation of our operations in Mexico; uncertainties associated with management turnover and the effective succession of senior management; the impact of changes in accounting rules and regulations, or their interpretation or application, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s reported financial statements or necessitate material delays or changes in the issuance of the Company’s audited financial statements; the Company's assessment of its internal control over financial reporting, and the timing and effectiveness of the Company's efforts to remediate any reported material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting; changes in interest rates; risks related to expansion and foreign operations; risks inherent in making loans, including repayment risks and value of collateral; the timing and amount of revenues that may be recognized by the Company; changes in current revenue and expense trends (including trends affecting delinquencies and charge-offs); the potential impact of limitations in the Company’s amended revolving credit facility; and changes in the Company’s markets and general changes in the economy (particularly in the markets served by the Company). These and other factors are discussed in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 filed with the SEC and the Company’s other reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC from time to time. World Acceptance Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements it makes. The Company is also not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the publication date, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet services.

World Acceptance Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
		December 31,		December 31,
		2017	2016	2017	2016
Interest & fees	$	123,259	118,257	357,292	349,282
Insurance & other		13,675	12,558	39,557	37,882
Total revenues		136,934	130,815	396,849	387,164
Expenses:
Provision for loan losses		43,755	39,985	113,572	107,870
General and administrative expenses
Personnel		41,623	42,395	130,804	124,792
Occupancy & equipment		10,998	10,517	32,586	31,650
Advertising		8,150	8,491	18,409	14,934
Intangible amortization		271	108	732	383
Other		11,844	9,725	34,181	25,882
		72,886	71,236	216,712	197,641
Interest expense		5,001	5,274	14,038	16,380
Total expenses		121,642	116,495	344,322	321,891
Income before taxes		15,292	14,320	52,527	65,273
Income taxes		13,612	4,679	27,980	23,524
Net income	$	1,680	9,641	24,547	41,749
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.19	1.10	2.76	4.75
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		8,938	8,783	8,887	8,786

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited and in thousands)
		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
		2017		2017		2016
ASSETS
Cash	$	24,971		15,200		15,986
Gross loans receivable		1,229,304		1,059,804		1,165,009
Less: Unearned interest & fees		(341,926	)	(291,908	)	(327,308	)
Allowance for loan losses		(96,474	)	(72,195	)	(81,803	)
Loans receivable, net		790,904		695,701		755,898
Property and equipment, net		24,973		24,184		23,762
Deferred income taxes, net		36,326		39,025		43,612
Goodwill		7,035		6,067		6,067
Intangibles, net		6,792		6,614		2,588
Other assets, net		15,090		13,797		13,024
	$	906,091		800,588		860,937
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities:
Notes payable		376,850		295,136		397,936
Income tax payable		5,403		12,519		10,984
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		34,897		31,869		30,027
Total liabilities		417,150		339,524		438,947
Shareholders' equity		488,941		461,064		421,990
	$	906,091		800,588		860,937

Selected Consolidated Statistics
(dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
		2017			2016			2017			2016
Expenses as a percent of total revenues:
Provision for loan losses		32.0	%		30.6	%		28.6	%		27.9	%
General and administrative expenses		53.2	%		54.5	%		54.6	%		51.0	%
Interest expense		3.7	%		4.0	%		3.5	%		4.2	%
Average gross loans receivable	$	1,180,035		$	1,119,658		$	1,131,578		$	1,098,837
Average net loans receivable	$	850,634		$	807,310		$	815,761		$	793,807
Loan volume	$	757,849		$	724,320		$	2,058,709		$	1,990,196
Net charge-offs as percent of average loans		15.5	%		16.9	%		14.5	%		15.8	%
Return on average assets (trailing 12 months)		6.5	%		8.4	%		6.5	%		8.4	%
Return on average equity (trailing 12 months)		12.1	%		17.6	%		12.1	%		17.6	%
Offices opened (closed) during the period, net		3			1			7			(16	)
Offices open at end of period		1,334			1,323			1,334			1,323

CONTACT:
World Acceptance Corporation
John L. Calmes Jr., 864-298-9800
Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

EARNINGS CALL SCRIPT - Q3 FY2018

Please find following a summary of our operational results for the third quarter of fiscal 2018. The purpose of these notes is to add more detail to the standard press release we issue each quarter. We intend to dedicate the Earnings Call time to answering any specific questions on our results or performance year-to-date.

INTRODUCTORY UPDATE

As we announced in June, and have repeated in both earnings call scripts since then, we have an ongoing investigation relating to our Mexico operations. As previously stated, we voluntarily disclosed the matters under investigation to the Department of Justice and the Securities & Exchange Commission in June 2017. We remain committed to full cooperation with both agencies.

We would like to reaffirm our strong commitment to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Based on the progress of the investigation to date, we continue to strive to enhance internal controls and compliance programs. In addition, we continue to review and update operational procedures relating to our business activities in Mexico, all of which may negatively affect future growth trends. Since this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to provide additional information or answer any additional questions about the investigation at this time.

OVERALL

The third quarter of fiscal year 2018 extends the positive results on growth in accounts and outstanding loans that we disclosed for the first and second quarters. We not only sustained solid growth for the third consecutive quarter, but, in fact, grew as much in gross loans in our US business during this last quarter as our highest third quarter gross loan growth of the last seven years, which occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

Consolidated revenues during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 increased 4.7% over the same quarter last year. Our US revenue increased due to higher interest and fee income as a result of higher average earning loans outstanding; higher insurance revenue; the settlement of a specific tax matter; and an expansion in revenue from our motor club product. Likewise, the consolidated same-store revenue (from the 1,277 branches open in both quarters) increased 3.9%.

Net income for the third quarter decreased 82.6% to $1.7 million compared to $9.6 million for the same quarter of the prior year. The decrease in net income was primarily due to the write-down of our deferred tax asset (“DTA Write-Down”) as described in the earnings release. Excluding the impact of the DTA Write-Down, net income for the third quarter increased 26.8% to $12.2 million compared to the previously noted $9.6 million for the same quarter of the prior year.

Our consolidated provision for loan loss was up $3.8 million for the quarter, even though consolidated net charge-offs decreased versus the third quarter of fiscal 2017. This is primarily due to a $3.0 million adjustment to the provision in the prior year quarter as a result of improving credit metrics in the US during fiscal 2017 and increasing delinquencies in Mexico. Higher growth in outstanding loans represent $0.7 million of the provision increase.

Our personnel expenses during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 decreased for the quarter versus the prior year quarter. In the US, this is primarily due to a decrease share-based compensation expense. Our health insurance costs also decreased as a result of changing our provider on January 1, 2017. Although our US personnel salaries expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was higher by 3.6% than the third quarter of fiscal 2017, this expense has decreased since the second quarter of fiscal 2018. We are continuing to focus on further optimizing our management of field personnel.

Advertising expense decreased 4.0% compared to Q3 fiscal 2017. Even though advertising expense this quarter was lower year-on-year, we still brought in more customers due to improved marketing strategies, which, reduced our customer acquisition costs.

Finally, our legal and professional expenses increased by $2.5 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 versus the third quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily due to $1.9 million of costs incurred relating to the investigation of our Mexico operations. In total, year-to-date costs paid to third parties attributed to the investigation have totaled approximately $5.5 million.

Our consolidated gross loans increased to $1.23 billion at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018, up 5.5% from the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017. We have continued to improve our performance in US gross loan growth versus the same quarter of a year earlier for each of the three quarters of fiscal 2018. US gross loans increased 5.8% during Q3 fiscal 2018 versus Q3 fiscal 2017. Mexico gross loans increased 2.0% in USD, primarily due to a favorable change in exchange rates (in pesos, our gross loans decreased 3.1%).

1

In our US business, we added more unique customers this quarter than we have during any third fiscal quarter in at least five years. This continues our trend of adding more unique customers during the third quarter year-over-year.

During Q3 of fiscal 2018, we continued our trend in the US of same store growth, improving this quarter in ledger, customers and accounts. This is now the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in same stores for each of these categories.

Our net charge-off levels have also improved year-on-year for the third consecutive quarter and are $1.1 million lower than the third quarter fiscal 2017. These are now comparable to historic levels prior to our decision to eliminate field calls in December 2015.

LOAN PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

US Customer Performance:

We continued to close the gap during Q3 of fiscal 2018 in unique customers versus our highest historical value and are now just 20,000 customers below that mark.

Our growth in unique customers during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was the highest in at least five years. Year-to-date, we have grown our unique customers by 13.8%. This represents a 45% improvement on fiscal 2017 year-to-date growth. After years of shrinkage, this is now the fourth consecutive quarter where we have seen results in our unique customer growth that are not just better than a year earlier, but better than any of the last four years.

We added more former borrowers back into our customer base through new loans than we have in any third quarter in company history and numbers are up 6% from the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Increasing numbers of former borrowers are coming back to us after more than a year of separation. We believe this is a reflection of the strength of our customer relationships and the high satisfaction with our products and services as reflected in our Net Promoter Score of 68.

We had our best result in third quarter new borrower account growth since fiscal 2014, 5% above Q3 fiscal 2017 results.

Our data on payment performance of our loan portfolio is in line with our expectations. We believe this shows that our underwriting has been prudent and we have not sacrificed customer quality for growth.

However, the total number of new customers we added is still below the number we added at our peak in fiscal 2012. We will continue to focus on casting a sufficiently wide net in our marketing activities to increase these additions.

US Gross Loan performance:

We again maintained our trend of improved quarterly performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. This represents the fifth consecutive quarter where our gross loan performance has shown improvement. We ended the quarter with $103.5 million growth in our US gross loans. This is the highest third quarter growth in company history, similar to that attained in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Year-to-date, our ledger has grown 19.5% compared to last year’s growth of 10.4% and significantly better than prior years since fiscal 2013. Furthermore, for the second consecutive quarter, our US gross loans ended the quarter at a higher level than the same quarter of a year earlier. This is the first time we have achieved this result in the third quarter since fiscal 2014.

Looking at same-store gross loan growth in the US, for the 1,130 stores open in both fiscal years, our ledger was up 3.7%. This is an improvement on the same quarter of last year where we shrunk 4.9%. This is also better than fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016 where we also shrank in the third quarter. We increased the number of unique customers in these stores year-over-year by 4.8%; the first time since at least fiscal 2014 that we have grown our unique customer base in the third quarter. Sixty-five percent of these branches have grown their ledger year-on-year compared to about one-third in each of the prior two fiscal years. More than 60% also grew their number of accounts in comparison to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017. These are the highest percentages in at least four years. Same stores customer base increased by 38,000 in total year-over-year, compared to an average customer base reduction of 20,000 per year for each of the three preceding years.

2

Credit Quality of Customer Base:

Once again, continuing a trend of several quarters, our credit quality (as indicated by credit score) of loans originated improved this quarter for all categories of borrowers (new, former and current) versus the same quarter a year earlier. In fact, the credit quality of these categories is better than any Q3 since at least 2014.

Delinquencies and Charge-offs:

Accounts in the US that were over 60 days delinquent increased to 5.7% on a recency basis. This is primarily due to our decision to hold more 90 days delinquent accounts in order to focus on extending our collections period. In our US business, accounts that are 30 and 60 recency days late as a percentage of gross loans are all lower or flat compared to Q3 fiscal 2017.

Our consolidated net charge-offs as a percentage of annualized loans were down from 16.9% in Q3 fiscal 2017 to 15.5% at the end of Q3 fiscal 2018, representing a decrease of $1.1 million. We believe this improvement is largely due to the higher average credit score of new customers, and previous customers, from whom we relied on field calls to collect, having now cycled out of our portfolio.

We remain firm in our belief that eliminating field calls has had multiple positive benefits. Although charge-offs spiked at the time we stopped these visits in the third quarter fiscal 2016, they are now comparable to historic levels and we have the added benefit of very significant savings in workers’ compensation insurance, gas reimbursements for mileage traveled, and improved in-office efficiency and training due to the branch's entire team spending more time together.

GROWTH STRATEGIES

The results of the last three quarters show significant improvement in growth in accounts. The very solid increase in new unique customers was achieved through our targeted mail campaigns and digital marketing programs, as well as local community presence, improved visibility of branches, and referrals via word of mouth. We continuously optimized our programs for better performance and communication with potential customers, as their lending needs changed throughout the holiday season. We persevere in testing new channels and contact methods for customer acquisition, and continue to expand in those areas that gave us strong conversion rates. We also enhanced customer offerings by centralizing some functions to improve branch efficiency and allowing data analytics to make certain selections where it boosted the volume and effectiveness of our choices.

Digital Presence:

The digital channel continues to grow in importance for us as we test and improve a variety of digital marketing strategies and partner choices. We had a 50% rise in unique visitors to our website in Q3 fiscal 2018 versus the same quarter a year ago.

Our conversion rate (meaning the percent of web applications that convert into new approved loan originations) is higher than the third quarter fiscal 2017, while the quality of the applicants has not deteriorated. This has led to a higher number of booked applications. Web-originated loans are up 46% versus the third quarter of fiscal 2017. In December, we booked the most loans based on web-originated applications in our company’s history.

Once again this quarter, we grew the number of customers who signed up for text messaging and thus set a new record. More than 70% of our customers have now enrolled in our texting option, which we use to send appropriate messaging related to optimizing their product and servicing options.

We attribute all of these improvements in metrics to better quality marketing for qualified leads and stronger focus from our branches in responding rapidly to web applications.

New Branches:

In the US, we opened eleven branches this quarter and closed six; a net increase of five. We currently have six more locations where the leases have been signed and opening is imminent.

Year-to-date in the US, we have closed fifteen branches and we believe the number of closures will continue to decrease as we have now closed or merged the least successful locations.

We now have 1,174 branches in the US, of which 1,109 are operating under the World Finance name. We continue to re-brand current and acquired branches to strengthen our brand name and reputation and intend to have all of our operations under the World Finance umbrella.

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We purchased one loan portfolio during Q3 fiscal 2018 and continue to see a steady number of acquisition opportunities.

In the US and Mexico combined, we had 1,334 open branches at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to 1,331 at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase in net branches is principally due to a rise in the number of our US branches. We continue to identify many opportunities to open branches in the states where we currently have a presence.

OTHER PERFORMANCE DETAILS

IT improvements:

We completed the roll-out of our new Loan Origination System ("LOS"), begun in Q2, and it is now used in all states in which we operate. The new LOS facilitates the collection of critical electronic data to drive better business decisions. We are working on the next release of the LOS, which will streamline the credit data process and introduce automated decision analysis to assist in faster, more accurate loan decisions. We anticipate testing the next version of the LOS in Q4 with full rollout in early fiscal 2019. We will consistently look for ways to develop the solution to further integrate with our other systems, provide a great customer experience and improve our collections efforts.

Debt to Equity:

As of December 31, 2017, our debt to equity ratio was down to 0.8:1 from 0.9:1 at the end of September 30, 2017. We consider 2:1 to be a conservative level, and we are significantly below that level.

Share Repurchases:

Due in part to the ongoing investigation in Mexico, we have chosen not to repurchase our common stock since Q1 fiscal 2018, even though our debt to equity ratio is much lower than we believe necessary in a conservative environment and continues to decrease. We cannot, at this time, comment on any plans to recommence share repurchasing.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

State-level Regulations:

We are not aware of any significant changes in state regulations that have been adopted (or appear likely to be adopted in the near term) that are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business.

CFPB:

Regarding the final regulations from the CFPB on small dollar lending, we believe that the effect on our business practices will be very limited. Regarding the CID issued to World in March of 2014, by letter dated January 18, 2018, the CFPB informed the Company that it had completed its investigation and would not be proceeding with an enforcement action. Regarding any other proposed regulation, such as CFPB supervisory oversight, we are not in a position to be able to comment about the potential impact. We will discuss any effect on our operations or policies if and when any legislation or regulation is fully enacted that impacts our business.

IN SUMMARY

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we have continued to close the gap in unique customer accounts and gross loans, which had been shrinking for years from our all-time high in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013. As with the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we have again achieved the “best in multi-years” growth in many accounts, loans and unique customer metrics (both as a percentage of our base and in absolute terms). We have focused on improving our IT products and quality to better service our customer in the branch and online. We believe our strategy of extremely close collaboration between our corporate and field personnel improves every day and is one of our critical competitive advantages. Our focus on continuing enhancements in the use of data and technology, along with strong customer service through our branches will lead to long-term relationships and high satisfaction. We believe there is still significant opportunity for our business to expand our geographic reach as we broaden the scope of our data analytics and marketing activities. We look forward to sustained improvement in our operating metrics as we move into Q4 fiscal 2018.

Non-GAAP financial measures

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The results of the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and first nine months of fiscal 2018 reflect the estimated impact of the enactment of the TCJA, which resulted in a $10.5 million decrease in net income. Net income and earnings per share excluding the impact of these significant items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes these measures help investors understand the effect of these items on reported results.

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