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 buy/sell merchandise.
Data compiled from public sources · Google rating shown when a stored review count is available
FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store operator with a network exceeding 3,300 retail locations. The company serves cash and credit-constrained consumers across 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador). FirstCash is publicly traded and included in both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index, employing approximately 22,000 people globally.
FirstCash's core business centers on small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property, alongside retail sales of merchandise including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. The company buys items for short-term cash access payment and sells merchandise through its retail locations. Beyond pawn lending, FirstCash offers layaway services (with 10% down payment), gold/precious metals buying services, and operates a wholly owned subsidiary (AFF) providing lease-to-own and retail finance solutions through over 15,000 merchant partner locations nationally.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale and international footprint—operating over 3,300 pawn stores makes it significantly larger than typical regional pawn operators. The company's inclusion in major stock indices indicates institutional investor confidence. Their diversified service offerings (pawn loans, retail sales, gold buying, layaway, and through AFF, lease-to-own financing) position them as a comprehensive financial services provider for credit-constrained consumers rather than a single-service lender.
For consumers, FirstCash offers accessibility and speed—pawn loans require eligibility claim to verify and provide short-term cash access. However, pawn loans are collateral-based and non-recourse, meaning borrowed amounts are typically conservative relative to item value. The retail merchandise selection varies by location. As a large corporation, FirstCash operates within regulated markets but loan terms, interest rates, and fees are not detailed on their website, requiring in-store inquiry. This remains an appropriate fit for emergency liquidity needs but should not be a primary credit strategy.
This is state-level context for Pawn Shops consumers in San Antonio, TX. It does not confirm that Action Pawn or this specific location is licensed.
State regulator
Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner
Consumer protection
Short-term lending status: Legal
General rate context: 10% for written contracts (18% default); payday/auto title loans regulated as credit access businesses
Texas allows payday and auto title lending through the Credit Access Business model, which lacks state-level fee caps. Several cities have enacted local ordinances to limit loan amounts and rollovers. Consumers can file complaints with the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner or the Attorney General.
Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.
Action Pawn offers 10 services including Pawn loans secured by personal property with immediate cash payment, Retail sales of jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments, Gold, silver, and platinum buying for immediate cash, Layaway service with 10% down payment option, Item appraisal and valuation for pawn purposes, and 5 more.
Action Pawn has profile signals associated with Consumers needing immediate emergency cash with eligibility claims to verify or lengthy approval processes, Individuals with valuable items (jewelry, electronics, instruments) willing to pledge collateral short-term, People in areas with multiple FirstCash locations seeking convenient pawn loan access, Consumers interested in buying second-hand merchandise at discounted retail prices.
Key strengths: Massive network of 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, D.C., UK, and Latin America for convenient access; short-term cash access payment with eligibility claim to verify for pawn loans; Diverse merchandise inventory including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and instruments. Areas to consider: Website does not disclose pawn loan interest rates, fees, or loan term specifics, requiring in-store inquiry; Pawn loans are collateral-based with conservative loan-to-value ratios, limiting borrowed amounts.
In the Pawn Shops category, comparable providers include E Z Collateral & Loan, Mo Money Pawn Shop, VICTOR PAWN BROKER Inc.. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.
CreditDoc Profile Note
FirstCash is best suited for cash-constrained consumers with valuable personal property who need emergency liquidity without credit approval, particularly those with access to one of their 3,300+ locations. The primary caveat is that pawn loans require collateral pledge, offer conservative loan amounts relative to item value, and result in permanent loss of the pledged item if the loan cannot be repaid—making this appropriate only for genuine emergency short-term needs, not ongoing credit strategy.
E Z Collateral & Loan is a pawn shop located in North Hills, CA offering collateral-based loans and cash advances against personal items.
Google rating from 48 reviews
Profile signals: Individuals researching short-term cash access with no credit history or poor credit scores, People with valuable items they're willing to temporarily pledge for short-term funding
Family-owned Phoenix pawn shop with 35 years in business offering firearms, jewelry, precious metals, and electronics. Licensed firearms dealer with online shopping and interest-free layaway.
Google rating from 1,725 reviews
Profile signals: Phoenix-area residents seeking to pawn or sell firearms, jewelry, gold, or electronics with fair pricing, Customers needing interest-free layaway for purchases without breaking the bank
Review this provider profile and compare source-linked details before choosing what to do next.
Answer 3 quick questions to review category, service, and profile context.
1. What's your primary financial goal?
A plain-English breakdown of every credit score range — what each number actually means for your loans, cards, and daily life, plus exactly what to do about yours.
Read guide →A plain-English breakdown of what credit products, loans, and cards you can realistically get at every credit score level — from deep subprime to excellent.
Read guide →Learn exactly how to check your credit score for free using legitimate sources, understand the difference between soft and hard inquiries, and know your rights under federal law.
Read guide →Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Action Pawn and other services. These commissions help us maintain our free research. Compensation does not determine whether a provider can be covered; visible star ratings use stored Google review ratings when available. Learn more.