Cash America International, Inc., the world’s largest pawnshop operator, announced on September 29, 2008 that it would spend US$90 million to purchase an 80% stake in the Mexican company that owns and operates the Prenda Facil (Easy Pawn) pawnshop chain in Mexico, according to a Bloomberg report.  The report said that Prenda Facil operates pawnshops in 16 Mexican states. 

The pawnshop business, which is probably older than prostitution, has been growing at a steady clip in Mexico over the last several years.  The growth is attributable to many factors, including the preference of many Mexicans not to use, or lack of access of many Mexicans to, traditional banks. 

In August 2007, EZCORP, Inc. announced its acquisition of the assets of 20 Mister Money Mexico pawnshops in Mexico from MMFS Intl., S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Mister Money Holdings, Inc., for approximately US$14 million.