Cash America Pawn

Cash America Pawn is now part of FirstCash Holdings, Inc., formed after FirstCash acquired Cash America International in 2016. Headquartered at 1600 West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas, FirstCash is publicly traded and included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index. With approximately 22,000 employees, it is the largest international operator of pawn stores in the world, with a presence in 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and across Latin America — including all Mexican states and the countries of Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador.

FirstCash offers two core services under the Cash America Pawn banner: pawn loans and retail sales. Pawn loans are small, non-recourse loans secured by pledged personal property — meaning the borrower owes nothing beyond the collateral if they choose not to repay. The company buys and accepts as collateral a wide range of merchandise including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments, and more. In addition to pawn lending, it operates as a retail resale marketplace where customers can purchase pre-owned goods at discounted prices. FirstCash also buys gold, silver, and platinum outright for immediate cash. A layaway program allows customers to hold items with a 10% down payment.

What distinguishes FirstCash from independent pawnbrokers is its scale and institutional backing. Operating over 3,300 locations, it offers standardized processes and a store locator for ease of access. Through its wholly owned subsidiary American First Finance (AFF), FirstCash also provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions through a network of more than 15,000 active merchant partner locations — extending its reach well beyond traditional pawn into broader consumer credit services for underbanked populations.

For consumers in genuine financial distress who own items of value, Cash America Pawn locations provide fast, no-credit-check access to cash. However, pawn loans typically carry high implicit interest rates and short repayment windows, and the website provides no APR disclosures or specific loan terms. Borrowers who cannot repay will permanently lose their pledged item. This is a last-resort liquidity tool, not a cost-effective credit product. Best used for small, short-term needs when faster or cheaper alternatives have been exhausted.