Advance America, Cash Advance Centers (AEA) 8-K Advance America Announces Completion

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

of

ADVANCE AMERICA, CASH ADVANCE CENTERS, INC.

1.Name.  The name of the corporation is Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., (the “Corporation”).

2.Address; Registered Office and Agent.  The address of the Corporation’s registered office is 160 Greentree Drive Suite 101, City of Dover, County of Kent, 19904, State of Delaware; and the name of its registered agent at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

3.Purposes.  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

4.Number of Shares.  The total number of shares the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one thousand (1000) shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

5.Name and Mailing Address of Incorporator.  The name and mailing address of the incorporator is: John C. Stophel, 1000 Tallen Building, Two Union Square, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402.

6.Election of Directors.   Unless and except to the extent that the By-laws of the Corporation (the “By-laws”) shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

7.Limitation of Liability.  To the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, as amended from time to time, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Any amendment or repeal of the foregoing provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment or repeal.

8.Indemnification.

8.1Actions, Suits and Proceedings Other than by or in the Right of the Corporation.  The Corporation shall indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or

was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

8.2Actions or Suits by or in the Right of the Corporation.  The Corporation shall indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on such person’s behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.  Each person seeking indemnification pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 8.2 shall hereafter be referred to as an “Indemnitee.”

8.3Indemnification for Expenses of Successful Party.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article 8, to the extent that an Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter

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therein, or on appeal from any such action, suit or proceeding, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, if any action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to the Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that the Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, the Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.

8.4Notification and Defense of Claim.  As a condition precedent to an Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified, the Indemnitee must notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving the Indemnitee for which indemnity will or could be sought.  With respect to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation of which the Corporation is so notified, the Corporation will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and/or to assume the defense thereof at its own expense, with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee.  After notice from the Corporation to the Indemnitee of its election so to assume such defense, the Corporation shall not be liable to the Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, other than as provided below in this Section 8.4.  The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee’s own counsel in connection with such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Corporation, (ii) counsel to the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position on any significant issue between the Corporation and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, suit, proceeding or investigation or (iii) the Corporation shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Article 8.  The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of the Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above.  The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Article 8 for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation effected without its written consent.  The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit, proceeding or investigation in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent.  Neither the Corporation nor the Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement.

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8.5Advance of Expenses.  Subject to the provisions of Section 8.6 below, in the event that the Corporation does not assume the defense pursuant to Section 8.4 of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation of which the Corporation receives notice under this Article 8, any expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnitee in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, proceeding or investigation or any appeal therefrom shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such matter; provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of such matter shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay all amounts so advanced in the event that it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article 8; and further provided that no such advancement of expenses shall be made if it is determined that (i) the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation or (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.  Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the Indemnitee to make such repayment.

8.6Procedure for Indemnification.  In order to obtain indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including in such request such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses.  Any such indemnification or advancement of expenses, unless ordered by a court, shall be made, with respect to requests under Sections 8.1, 8.2 or 8.5, only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination by the Corporation that the indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2 or 8.5, as the case may be.  Such determination shall be made in each instance (i) by a majority vote of the directors of the Corporation consisting of persons who are not at that time parties to the action, suit or proceeding in question (“Disinterested Directors”), whether or not a quorum, (ii) by a majority vote of a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by majority vote of Disinterested Directors, whether or not a quorum, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if Disinterested Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel (who may, to the extent permitted by law, be regular legal counsel to the Corporation) in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

8.7Remedies.  The right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article 8 shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction.  Neither the failure of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Corporation pursuant to Section 8.6 above that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.  The

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Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding also shall be indemnified by the Corporation.

8.8Limitations.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 8, except as set forth in Section 8.7 above, the Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by the Indemnitee unless the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 8, the Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee is reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to an Indemnitee and the Indemnitee is subsequently reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, the Indemnitee shall promptly refund such indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance reimbursement.

8.9Subsequent Amendment.  No amendment, termination or repeal of this Article 8 or of the relevant provisions of the DGCL or any other applicable laws shall affect or diminish in any way the rights of any Indemnitee to indemnification under the provisions hereof with respect to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation arising out of or relating to any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such amendment, termination or repeal.

8.10Other Rights.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article 8 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw of the Corporation, law (common or statutory), agreement or vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in the Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in any other capacity while holding office for the Corporation, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee.  Nothing contained in this Article 8 shall be deemed to prohibit, and the Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into, agreements with officers and directors providing indemnification rights and procedures different from those set forth in this Article 8.  In addition, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, grant indemnification rights to other employees or agents of the Corporation or other persons serving the Corporation and such rights may be equivalent to, or greater or less than, those set forth in this Article 8.

8.11Partial Indemnification.  If an Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Article 8 to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses (including

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attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

8.12Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan) against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

8.13Savings Clause.  If this Article 8 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnitee as to any expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article 8 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

8.14Definitions.  Terms used in this Article 8 and defined in Section 145(h) and Section 145(i) of the DGCL shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in such Section 145(h) and Section 145(i).

8.15Survival of Certain Indemnification Rights.  Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2012, among Eagle U.S. Sub, Inc., Eagle U.S. Merger Sub, Inc. and the Corporation (the “Merger Agreement”). All rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation existing in favor of the then current (as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) or former (as of the Effective Time) directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries as provided in the certificates of incorporation, bylaws, or similar organizational and governing documents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as in effect on February 15, 2012, with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time, shall survive the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms for a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, in each case with respect to any claims against such person arising out of such acts or omissions, except as otherwise required by applicable law. Any repeal or modification of this Section 8.15 shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, or exculpation of a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries existing on February 15, 2012 with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time.

9.Adoption, Amendment or Repeal of By-Laws.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.

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10.Certificate Amendments. The Corporation reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and add other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by applicable law; and, except as contemplated by Article 8.15, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (as amended) are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article.

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