Cash America Pawn

FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn shop chain with over 3,300 retail locations. The company was founded to serve cash and credit-constrained consumers who need quick access to funds or affordable merchandise through collateral-based lending. FirstCash operates across 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Latin America (including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador), employing approximately 22,000 people globally. The company is publicly traded and included in both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index.

FirstCash's core business model centers on non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property—customers deposit items of value to receive immediate cash loans. The company also buys and sells a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Additional services include gold and precious metal buying, layaway plans with 10% down payments, and retail sales of inventory. Through its subsidiary AFF, FirstCash also operates lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions across 15,000+ merchant partner locations.

FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale and international presence, operating significantly more locations than most competitors. The company emphasizes the non-recourse nature of pawn loans, meaning customers' personal liability is limited to the pledged item itself. Their inventory model—buying and selling merchandise in-store—creates a unique retail component that extends beyond traditional lending. The company positions itself as serving underbanked consumers without requiring credit checks or employment verification.

However, customers should understand that pawn loans involve surrendering physical possessions as collateral, and failure to repay results in loss of the item. While non-recourse, the effective cost of pawn loans can be high when calculated as an annual percentage rate, particularly for short-term borrowing. The company's broad retail sales model means inventory quality and item availability varies significantly by location. Additionally, pawn loans do not build credit history, making them unsuitable for consumers seeking to improve their credit profile.