FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store chain with more than 3,300 retail locations across 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador). The company employs approximately 22,000 people and is listed in both the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, indicating its scale as a significant financial services operator.
FirstCash's primary business model focuses on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers through non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. The company buys and sells a diverse range of merchandise including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Beyond pawn loans, FirstCash offers layaway services (10% down payment plans), gold and precious metal buying, and retail sales of inventory items. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary AFF, the company also provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions across a network of over 15,000 merchant partner locations.
What distinguishes FirstCash from smaller pawn operators is its scale, geographic reach across international markets, and technology infrastructure. The company operates a centralized store locator system, maintains consistent merchandise categories across locations, and has integrated point-of-sale payment solutions. The inclusion in major stock indices reflects institutional investor confidence in the business model and operational execution.
For consumers considering pawn loans, FirstCash represents an accessible alternative to traditional credit for those with limited credit history or immediate cash needs. However, pawn loans require valuable collateral and involve the risk of losing pledged items if loans aren't repaid. The layaway service carries a 10% upfront cost. Consumers should understand that pawn lending is asset-based and carries different terms than personal loans or credit products.