FirstCash is the leading international pawn shop operator with 3,300+ locations across the U.S., Latin America, and the UK, offering pawn loans secured by personal property and retail merchandise sales.
Data compiled from public sources · Rating from CreditDoc methodology
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 through traditional pawn lending and retail merchandise operations. FirstCash maintains a significant presence across 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as well as international operations in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador, employing approximately 22,000 people worldwide.
The company's primary service is offering non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property, meaning borrowers are not personally liable if they cannot repay the loan—the pawn shop simply retains the collateral. Beyond lending, FirstCash operates retail locations that buy and sell jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments, and general merchandise. The company also offers layaway services with 10% down payment options, gold and precious metal buying services, and operates a subsidiary (AFF) providing lease-to-own and retail finance solutions through over 15,000 merchant partners nationwide.
FirstCash's scale and established brand differentiate it as a market leader in the pawn industry. The company is listed on both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and Russell 2000 Index, indicating institutional credibility. With over 2,500 stores and a sophisticated inventory system accessible online, FirstCash offers convenience and product variety that independent pawn shops cannot match. Their technology-driven approach to point-of-sale payments and retail finance positions them as a modernized alternative to traditional pawn operations.
However, pawn loans are fundamentally high-cost borrowing products. While advertised as non-recourse (reducing borrower default risk), they require giving up personal property and involve implicit interest rates that, while typically lower than payday loans, are substantially higher than traditional bank lending. Borrowers must carefully assess whether the convenience of immediate cash justifies losing valuable items. The focus on serving credit-constrained consumers means this product fills a genuine gap for those without access to traditional credit, but it should be viewed as a last-resort option.
Yes. Fast Cash is a registered company, headquartered in Englewood, CO.
Results vary by individual situation. Contact the provider to discuss expected timelines for your specific needs.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
FirstCash is best for cash-constrained consumers with valuable personal items who need immediate funds without credit checks or traditional loan approval. The main caveat is that pawn loans require surrendering collateral and carry higher-than-bank interest rates, making this a high-cost borrowing option suitable only as a last resort when traditional lending is unavailable.
Hunting Park Check Cashing & Auto Tags offers check cashing and money transfer services with convenient hours in Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood.
Best for: Unbanked and underbanked Philadelphia residents needing immediate check conversion, Consumers without traditional bank accounts seeking money order and wire transfer services
Luxury pawn shop in Miami Beach specializing in authenticated pre-owned designer goods including handbags, watches, jewelry, and shoes from brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès.
Best for: Affluent consumers seeking to buy authenticated pre-owned designer goods at below-retail prices, Luxury item owners needing fast cash against designer handbags, watches, or jewelry as collateral
Monte de Piedad is a pawn shop offering collateral-based loans against jewelry, gold, electronics, and other valuables with immediate cash access.
Best for: Consumers with valuable items who need emergency cash within hours, Individuals with poor or no credit history unable to qualify for traditional loans
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 →Learn what makes up your credit score, how it's calculated, what the ranges mean, and how to check yours for free.
Read guide →Affiliate Disclosure: CreditDoc may earn a commission when you click links to Fast Cash 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.