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 immediate liquidity or access to affordable merchandise. FirstCash operates across 29 U.S. states plus Washington D.C., and internationally in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador, employing approximately 22,000 people globally.
The company's primary service is non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property—meaning borrowers are not personally liable if they default. Beyond lending, FirstCash operates retail pawn stores that buy and sell used jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. They also offer gold and precious metal buying, layaway services with 10% down payments, and lease-to-own payment solutions through their AFF subsidiary, which partners with over 15,000 retail merchants.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its scale as the largest pawn operator internationally, stock market inclusion in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index, and its diversified revenue model combining pawn lending, retail sales, and fintech payment solutions. The company's size provides broad geographic accessibility and consistent store inventory, differentiating it from independent pawn shops.
The key caveat is that pawn loans require surrendering personal property and offer limited loan amounts relative to item value. While pawn loans avoid credit checks and have fast approval, borrowers face losing collateral if they cannot repay. The interest rates and terms are regulated by state law but vary significantly by location. This model works best for short-term cash needs rather than long-term borrowing.