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 merchandise sales.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store operator with over 3,300 retail locations across 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador). The company also operates AFF, a subsidiary providing lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions through 15,000+ merchant partner locations. With approximately 22,000 employees globally, FirstCash is included in both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index, indicating its scale and public market presence.
FirstCash's core business focuses on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers through pawn loans and retail merchandise operations. They make small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property and buy/sell a wide variety of items including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. The company also offers layaway services (with 10% down payments), gold/precious metal buying services, and retail merchandise inventory that rotates based on customer pawns and sales.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale and international footprint, making it significantly larger than independent pawn shops. The company's inclusion in major stock indices and corporate infrastructure suggests more standardized lending practices and technology systems compared to single-location operators. Their subsidiary AFF extends their reach into lease-to-own and retail finance markets, diversifying beyond traditional pawn lending and allowing them to serve consumers through multiple financial pathways.
As a major pawn operator, FirstCash provides accessible credit to consumers without traditional bank credit scores, but pawn loans inherently carry the risk of losing pledged property if loans aren't repaid. Interest rates and loan terms are not disclosed on the website, making it difficult to compare actual costs upfront. While they serve a genuine need for quick cash access, borrowers should understand that pawn loans are fundamentally different from traditional loans—they are collateral-based and non-recourse, meaning the lender keeps the item if repayment cannot occur.
Yes. Cash America Pawn is a registered company headquartered in 702 Kirk Pl, San Antonio, TX 78226. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
FirstCash is best for consumers in urgent need of cash who have valuable personal property to pledge and cannot access traditional bank credit. The main caveat is that pawn loans carry the risk of permanent loss of collateral, and the website does not disclose actual interest rates or loan terms, making it impossible to evaluate the true cost before visiting a location.
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