FirstCash is the leading international operator of pawn stores with 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, Latin America, and the UK, 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 largest international pawn store chain. Founded on the pawn lending model, the company has grown to serve cash and credit-constrained consumers across North America, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. The company also owns 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 a component of both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.
FirstCash's primary service is non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property—meaning borrowers pledge items of value to receive immediate cash without credit checks. Beyond lending, the company operates a retail merchandise business, buying and selling jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. The company also offers layaway services (10% down payment required) and specialized services including gold and precious metal buying, allowing customers to convert items to cash on the spot.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale and international reach—over 3,300 locations provide accessibility across geographies. The company maintains diverse inventory across categories, giving customers choice in both borrowing and purchasing. Their gold-buying service addresses a specific consumer need for converting jewelry and precious metals to immediate cash. The layaway option provides an alternative to credit-based purchases for budget-conscious consumers.
The honest assessment: Pawn loans carry implicit costs through the spread between loan-to-value ratios and redemption requirements—customers must pay interest and fees to reclaim items, and failure to do so results in loss of collateral. While non-recourse loans protect borrowers from deficiency judgment, they still represent a high-cost borrowing option compared to traditional lending. The company targets financially vulnerable populations, which raises ethical questions about exploitation, though pawn lending remains legal and regulated. Best suited for customers who need immediate cash and have valuable items to pledge, or who cannot access traditional credit.
Yes. Cash America Pawn is a registered company headquartered in 6400 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76001. They hold a NR rating with the Better Business Bureau.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
FirstCash is best for consumers facing immediate cash needs who own valuable items and cannot qualify for traditional credit. The primary caveat is that pawn loans are high-cost borrowing with implicit fees through collateral spreads, and failure to repay results in loss of the pledged item with no opportunity for recovery—this is not a credit-building solution and should be considered only when other alternatives are unavailable.
World Finance offers fixed-rate personal installment loans from $450–$10,000 to borrowers with imperfect credit, plus income tax preparation services at 1,200+ branch locations.
Best for: Borrowers with subprime or near-prime credit who don't qualify at traditional banks or credit unions, Consumers in one of 16 served states needing $450–$10,000 quickly with in-person service
Atlas Credit offers installment personal loans from $100–$1,400 with 5–12 month terms for borrowers with bad credit across TX, OK, and MO.
Best for: Borrowers with bad credit or limited credit history rejected by banks and credit card companies, Unbanked or underbanked individuals unable to open or maintain checking accounts
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 and retail merchandise sales.
Best for: Consumers with immediate cash needs who own valuable items (jewelry, electronics, tools) they can pledge short-term, Budget-conscious shoppers seeking discounted merchandise or layaway plans with minimal upfront payment
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.