FirstCash, Inc. was founded and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas at 1600 West 7th Street. The company operates as the leading international pawn shop operator, serving cash and credit-constrained consumers across multiple continents. It is a publicly traded company listed in both the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, employing approximately 22,000 people globally. The company also operates AFF, a subsidiary providing lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions through over 15,000 merchant partner locations nationwide.
FirstCash's core business centers on retail pawn operations where customers can obtain non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. The company buys and sells a wide variety of merchandise including jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Beyond pawn loans, FirstCash offers layaway services with 10% down payment options, gold and precious metal buying services, and retail sales of merchandise. Their pawn loan model allows customers to quickly access cash without credit checks while retaining ownership recovery options.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale—operating over 3,300 pawn locations internationally—and its diversified service offerings beyond traditional pawn loans. The company's inclusion in major stock indices reflects its financial stability and institutional credibility. Their layaway service provides an alternative credit product for consumers unable to pay in full upfront, and their gold-buying service targets customers with precious metals needing immediate cash. The breadth of merchandise categories they accept positions them as a flexible lending option for various consumer goods.
FirstCash serves consumers with limited credit access who need fast cash against collateral they own outright. However, as with all pawn shops, borrowers lose merchandise if loans aren't repaid, and the loans themselves don't help build credit history. The company's massive scale is both a strength (convenient locations) and reflects the significant market for high-cost credit alternatives. For credit-constrained consumers, pawn loans avoid predatory payday lending but come with the inherent risk of losing valued possessions.