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FirstCash is the leading international operator of 3,300+ pawn stores across the U.S., Latin America, and the UK, offering pawn loans, retail sales, and gold buying services.
Data compiled from public sources
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store chain with over 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 indexed in both the S&P MidCap 400 and Russell 2000 indices, reflecting its substantial scale in the consumer finance sector.
FirstCash focuses on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers primarily through pawn transactions. Their core services include making small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property, buying and selling a wide variety of merchandise (jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments), gold and precious metal purchases, and layaway plans with 10% down payments. Through their subsidiary AFF, they also provide lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions across 15,000+ merchant partner locations nationwide.
FirstCash's competitive advantages include their extensive geographic footprint with over 3,300 locations providing convenient access, short-term cash access-on-the-spot transactions for merchandise and gold, a layaway service for customers preferring installment access, and diverse inventory of merchandise beyond typical pawn items. Their scale as an international operator with established infrastructure differentiates them from smaller regional pawn shops.
However, potential customers should understand that pawn loans are secured loans requiring collateral, making them fundamentally different from unsecured personal loans. While listed cash-access timing is appealing for emergency situations, customers must be prepared to forfeit pledged items if loans aren't repaid. Interest rates and loan terms are not disclosed on their public website, requiring in-store inquiry. The layaway service, while convenient, still requires upfront 10% payment and ongoing installment commitment.
This is state-level context for Pawn Shops consumers in Mt Holly, NC. It does not confirm that Smart Pawn & Jewelry or this specific location is licensed.
State regulator
North Carolina Commissioner of Banks
Consumer protection
North Carolina Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
Short-term lending status: Banned
General rate context: 8% general; 30% for consumer finance loans under $10,000; payday lending banned since 2001
North Carolina banned payday lending in 2001, becoming one of the first states to do so. Consumer finance companies are regulated with rate caps. Consumers can file complaints with the Commissioner of Banks or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.
Smart Pawn & Jewelry offers 12 services including Non-recourse pawn loans secured by personal property, Gold and precious metal purchasing (gold, silver, platinum), Retail sales of merchandise (jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments), Layaway service with 10% down payment option, General merchandise buying ('we buy almost anything of value'), and 7 more.
Smart Pawn & Jewelry has profile signals associated with Consumers in emergency cash situations who need same-day funds and have valuable personal property to pledge, Individuals with poor or no credit history who may not meet traditional bank-loan criteria, People looking to sell jewelry, gold, electronics, or other merchandise for short-term cash access without online listings, Customers seeking layaway plans as an alternative to credit cards for purchasing merchandise.
Key strengths: 3,300+ locations across 29 U.S. states, DC, UK, and Latin America provide extensive accessibility and convenience; short-term cash access-on-the-spot payments for merchandise, gold, and pawn loans with eligibility claim to verify; Wide variety of accepted collateral items (jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments) increases loan accessibility. Areas to consider: Interest rates, loan terms, and fees are not disclosed on website—requires in-store inquiry with potential for unfavorable terms; Pawn loans require surrendering valuable personal property as collateral, creating risk of permanent loss if unable to repay.
In the Pawn Shops category, comparable providers include All Seasons Outdoor & Pawn, American Gold Exchange & Pawn, Beltway Gun & Pawn. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.
CreditDoc Profile Note
FirstCash is profile signals for individuals in urgent expense situations who have valuable collateral and lack access to traditional credit, as they offer same-day cash with eligibility claims to verify. The critical caveat is that pawn loans are fundamentally collateral-based with undisclosed terms, making them expensive short-term solutions—customers should exhaust credit unions, employer advances, and other lower-cost options first, and only use pawn loans when truly necessary.
All Seasons Outdoor & Pawn is a pawn shop located in Locust, NC that provides collateral-based loans and buys/sells outdoor equipment and merchandise.
Profile signals: Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts researching short-term cash access against firearms or outdoor gear, Individuals with poor credit who need immediate liquidity with eligibility claims to verify
Family-owned pawn shop in Raleigh, NC since 1994 offering short-term cash access loans, precious metal buying, and retail sales with no middlemen and A+ BBB rating.
Profile signals: Customers researching short-term cash access who own valuable items and prefer to avoid credit checks, Local Raleigh residents seeking to buy used merchandise at discounted prices with warranty protection
Beltway Gun & Pawn specializes in used and new firearms, tactical weapons, and ammunition sales with both in-store and online inventory. Located in Matthews, NC, they operate as a pawn shop with a primary focus on firearms and related accessories.
Profile signals: Firearms enthusiasts and collectors seeking used or new weapons from major manufacturers, Tactical weapon buyers looking for AR rifles, tactical handguns, and modern platforms
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