FirstCash is the leading international pawn shop operator with 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, the UK, and Latin America, offering pawn loans secured by personal property and retail merchandise sales.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn shop network. Founded and scaled into a major financial services operator, the company has grown to serve cash and credit-constrained consumers through a massive retail footprint spanning North America, the United Kingdom, and Latin America including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador. The company is publicly traded and included in both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index, employing approximately 22,000 people across all operating regions.
FirstCash's core business model centers on non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property, complemented by retail buying and selling of collateral items. The company purchases and sells jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments, and general merchandise. Beyond pawn lending, FirstCash offers layaway services (with 10% down payment options), gold and precious metals buying, and retail inventory sales. Through its subsidiary AFF, the company also provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions through over 15,000 merchant partner locations nationwide.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale—over 3,300 pawn locations making it the dominant player in the industry—and geographic diversification across international markets. The company's dual focus on lending and retail merchandise creates inventory flexibility and consumer choice. Their integration of point-of-sale payment solutions technology and retail finance partnerships through AFF expands their reach beyond traditional pawn shop customers. The layaway service provides an alternative to loans for budget-conscious consumers.
The pawn loan model inherently serves customers with limited credit access or immediate cash needs, though pawn loans typically carry high effective interest rates despite being secured. The company's international expansion and public market presence suggest financial stability, but individual store experiences may vary. Customers should understand that pawn loans require surrendering physical collateral and that failure to repay results in forfeiture rather than credit damage.
Yes. Cash America Pawn is a registered company headquartered in 1318 W Centerville Rd, Garland, TX 75041. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
FirstCash is best for consumers with immediate cash needs who own valuable collateral items and lack access to traditional credit—particularly those who want to avoid credit damage. The main caveat is that pawn loans carry high effective interest rates despite being secured, and inability to repay results in permanent loss of the pledged item rather than ongoing debt obligation.
FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores with 3,300+ locations across the U.S., UK, and Latin America, offering pawn loans secured by personal property and retail sales.
Best for: Consumers with poor or no credit history who need quick cash without credit evaluation, Individuals with valuable personal property (electronics, jewelry, instruments) they can temporarily pledge
FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores with 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, D.C., UK, and Latin America. They provide pawn loans secured by personal property and retail sales of merchandise.
Best for: Consumers with immediate short-term cash needs and items of value to pledge, Individuals without access to traditional bank loans or credit
Pawn Superstore offers collateral-based lending and merchandise sales through pawn shop services. Website currently under construction with limited public information available.
Best for: Consumers seeking immediate cash against personal valuables with no credit check, Individuals needing short-term loans with flexible repayment tied to item redemption
Learn what makes up your credit score, how it's calculated, what the ranges mean, and how to check yours for free.
Read guide →Your credit report contains the raw data behind your score. Learn what's in it, how to read it, and how to dispute errors that could be dragging your score down.
Read guide →Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm — they make spending easy. But what happens to your credit score when you use them? Here's what the fine print doesn't tell you.
Read guide →Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Cash America Pawn and other services. These commissions help us maintain our free research. Our editorial team independently evaluates all services. Compensation does not influence our ratings or rankings. Learn more.