Cash America Pawn

Cash America Pawn operated as one of the largest pawn shop chains in the United States before merging with First Cash Financial Services in 2016 to form FirstCash Holdings, Inc. The combined entity, headquartered at 1600 West 7th Street in Fort Worth, Texas, is now the leading international operator of pawn stores globally. FirstCash is publicly traded and is a component of both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, reflecting its scale and financial stability relative to independent pawn operators.

FirstCash operates more than 3,300 retail pawn locations across 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and throughout Latin America — including all states in Mexico and the countries of Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador. The company employs approximately 22,000 people. Core services center on small, non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property such as jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Customers may also sell items outright for immediate cash. Through its wholly owned subsidiary AFF, FirstCash also provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions through a network of over 15,000 active merchant partner locations nationwide.

What distinguishes FirstCash from independent pawn operators is its institutional scale, standardized processes, and geographic reach. The non-recourse nature of pawn loans means a borrower who cannot repay simply forfeits the collateral — there is no collections process, no credit bureau reporting, and no legal liability beyond the item itself. The company also offers a layaway program requiring only 10% down, targets gold and precious metal sellers with a dedicated buying program, and maintains a searchable inventory across locations. These features give it more consumer-facing infrastructure than most local pawn shops.

For consumers, FirstCash/Cash America is a legitimate, regulated option for quick collateral-based cash when traditional credit is unavailable or undesirable. However, pawn loan interest rates and fees are typically high by consumer finance standards — often equivalent to triple-digit APRs — and loan amounts are generally a fraction of an item's resale value. The model works best as a short-term bridge rather than a recurring borrowing strategy. Bargain hunters will find genuine value browsing resale inventory, particularly in electronics and jewelry. Sellers of gold and precious metals should compare offers from multiple buyers before committing.