FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores with 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, the UK, and Latin America, offering pawn loans secured by personal property.
Editorially reviewed by Harvey Brooks
FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store chain with over 3,300 retail locations across 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., the United Kingdom, and Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador). The company employs approximately 22,000 people and is listed on both the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, indicating it is a publicly traded, established financial services operator.
FirstCash's primary business is providing non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property, along with retail sales of merchandise and ancillary services. Customers can pawn jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments, and other items for immediate cash. The company also buys and sells gold, silver, and platinum; operates a layaway service (10% down payment required); and through its AFF subsidiary, provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions via 15,000+ merchant partner locations nationwide.
What distinguishes FirstCash is its massive scale—over 3,300 pawn locations make it the leading operator internationally—combined with its structured retail model and diversified revenue streams beyond lending. The company explicitly targets cash and credit-constrained consumers and emphasizes the speed and simplicity of obtaining pawn loans without credit checks or recourse against the borrower beyond the pledged collateral.
A factual assessment: FirstCash is a legitimate, publicly traded pawn operator with extensive geographic reach and transparent operations. However, pawn loans typically carry higher effective interest rates than traditional personal loans, and borrowers risk losing their collateral if unable to repay. The company's scale and corporate structure suggest professional management, but consumers should understand that pawn lending is fundamentally a collateral-based, short-term lending model rather than a credit-building solution.
Yes. Cash America Pawn is a registered company headquartered in 6628 Watauga Rd, Watauga, TX 76148. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
FirstCash is best for cash-constrained individuals with valuable possessions who need immediate funds and cannot qualify for traditional credit. The primary caveat is that pawn loans are collateral-dependent, carry higher effective costs than alternatives, and provide no credit-building benefit—they are short-term liquidity solutions, not paths to improved creditworthiness.
LoanStar Title Loans provides auto title loans up to $10,000 in the Fort Worth, Texas area, allowing borrowers to leverage vehicle equity for fast cash.
Best for: Vehicle owners facing immediate cash emergencies with no other credit options, Borrowers with substantial vehicle equity who need funds within days
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.