first cash pawn

FirstCash Holdings, Inc. is a leading international operator of pawn stores, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The company operates over 2,800 retail pawn and consumer lending locations across 25 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and several countries in Latin America including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia. FirstCash offers pawn loans secured by personal property and sells a wide variety of merchandise such as jewelry, electronics, tools, and musical instruments. It is publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The company was founded in 1988 by John R. Payne, Sr., who expanded it through acquisitions and innovative retail approaches, including being one of the first pawnbrokers to sell merchandise online in 1998. In 2016, FirstCash merged with Cash America International, Inc., further expanding its footprint. FirstCash also provides lease-to-own and retail finance services through its subsidiary American First Finance. It has faced some controversies and legal challenges, including allegations of violating the Military Lending Act, resulting in settlements and penalties. Despite these issues, it remains the largest pawn lending company in the U.S. with a broad retail presence and diverse financial services offerings.