Cash Converters

Cash Converters: second-hand goods, pawnbroking and loans in Australia

Cash Converters is an Australian company dedicated to buying and selling second-hand goods, pawnbroking and granting personal loans. Founded in 1984 by Brian Cumins, it opened its first store in Victoria Park, Western Australia, and has since expanded to operate more than 150 locations in Australia and a total of 659 stores across 15 countries, according to company data as at 30 June 2025. Its head office is in Perth, Western Australia.

Buying and selling second-hand goods

Cash Converters' original activity is buying and selling used goods. The company buys items of value from individuals, paying cash on the spot, and offers them for sale both in its physical stores and on its e-commerce platform. Products it trades include jewellery and fashion, mobile phones, cameras, computers, tablets, consoles and video games, musical instruments, audio and video equipment, camping and sports gear, collectables, toys, tools, household items and small appliances. The company states that most items sold come with a 90-day warranty.

Personal loans: Cashies Loan

Cash Converters offers a line of credit product called Cashies Loan, which allows customers to apply for up to AUD 10,000 and redraw up to their approved credit limit without needing to reapply. According to information published by the company, this loan has no establishment fee or monthly fees, and the applicable fixed annual interest rate may be 48%, 35% or 19.95%, depending on the applicant's credit rating. Interest is calculated on the total outstanding balance. The maximum repayment term for each drawdown is 36 months, with weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments, and early repayment carries no penalty. The company indicates that approval is subject to lending criteria and suitability assessment.

Pawnbroking

The pawnbroking service allows customers to leave an item of value as collateral to obtain a short-term loan. Cash Converters offers this option in its stores, where items are held until the loan amount is repaid.

Types of loans by need

The company organises its loan offering according to different personal situations. Among the categories it lists are emergency loans, weekend loans, rental bond loans, car repair loans, medical and dental loans, vet bill loans, loans to move out, travel loans, small loans, bad credit loans, loans for people on Centrelink, and Christmas loans.

Presence and evolution

Since its founding, Cash Converters has grown from a family pawnbroking business in Western Australia into an international network. The first franchise opened in 1988 in Western Australia; in 1991 it opened its first international store in Essex (United Kingdom); in 1994 it reached France, its first non-English-speaking market; in 1995 it listed on the London Stock Exchange and in 1997 on the Australian Stock Exchange. In 1999 it launched its cash advance product and in 2003 its first personal loan. In 2007 it launched its online platform for selling second-hand goods. The company reports that in 2025 it sold more than 1.8 million second-hand items, bought 1.3 million items, granted pawn loans on 960,000 objects and approved more than 130,000 cash loans to Australian customers. It has a workforce of more than 900 employees in the country.

Regulatory and financial framework

Cash Converters operates in Australia under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and presents itself as a responsible lender. The Australian parent company, Cash Converters Pty Ltd, has Australian Business Number (ABN) 75 009 288 804 and Australian credit licences 391436 and 391415.