EXHIBIT 99.1

First Cash Reports Record First Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.58; Completes Share Repurchase Plan and Raises Fiscal 2012 EPS Guidance

ARLINGTON, Texas, April 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCFS) today announced record-setting revenue, net income and earnings per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.58, an increase of 16% over the prior year. The Company also announced the completion of the 1.5 million share buyback plan authorized in December 2011. In addition, the Company raised fiscal 2012 guidance for earnings per share to a range of $2.70 to $2.75, compared to the prior guidance range of $2.65 to $2.70. The increased guidance represents earnings growth of 20% to 22% over the prior year.

Earnings Highlights

• Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2012 were $0.58, an increase of 16% compared to $0.50 in the first quarter of 2011.
• Net income from continuing operations increased to $17.5 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $15.9 million in the prior year.

Revenue Highlights

• Consolidated first quarter revenue totaled $135 million and grew by 16% on a constant currency basis. Revenue growth rates presented on a constant currency basis are calculated by applying the currency exchange rate from the prior-year period to the current year's Mexican peso-denominated revenue.
• Revenue growth was greatest in Mexico, driven in part by a 33% constant currency increase in pawn fees. This represents a significant sequential improvement versus the 9% constant currency increase achieved in the fourth quarter of 2011, the result of strong first quarter growth in pawn receivables.
• On a consolidated product-line basis, first quarter pawn fees increased 26% in constant currency over the prior year. The consolidated storefront retail component of merchandise sales increased by 21% in constant currency terms.
• Consolidated wholesale scrap jewelry revenues during the first quarter of 2012 were up slightly compared to the prior-year quarter. The average selling price for gold increased 21%, but was largely offset by the 19% decrease in volume when compared to the prior year. Scrap jewelry revenues now comprise only 18% of total revenue versus 20% in the prior year.
• Consolidated same-store revenue increased by 5% on a constant currency basis for the first quarter of 2012.  Based on strong pawn receivable loan growth during the quarter, the Company saw significant improvement in same-store sales as the quarter progressed. March 2012 same-store sales results were up over 7% on a consolidated basis and up over 10% in Mexico.

Key Profitability Metrics

• The Company's return on equity for the trailing twelve months was 23%, compared to 20% in the respective prior-year period. In addition, the return on assets over the trailing twelve months was 20%, compared to 17% in the respective prior-year period.     
• Store-level operating profit margins were 30% for the trailing twelve month period. Consolidated net operating margin (pre-tax income) was 21% for the same period.  These were at or above the prior year margins.   
• Pawn receivables in Mexico increased 23% (on a constant currency basis), while pawn receivables in the U.S. increased by 12% compared to the prior year. The significant growth in Mexico reflected a strong sequential increase in same-store receivables and the 29-store acquisition completed in January 2012.
• The gross margin on retail merchandise sales was 41% for the first quarter, compared to 39% in the fourth quarter, and was in-line with the prior-year quarter. The sequential improvement in gross margin reflected steps taken in 2011 to optimize loan to value ratios on certain electronic items.  Scrap jewelry gross margin was 28% for the quarter, as compared to 33% during the same period last year.
• Annualized inventory turns improved in the first quarter of 2012 to 4.4 turns, compared to 3.9 turns during the comparable prior-year quarter. 

Acquisitions and New Store Openings

• In January 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of a 29-store chain of pawn locations in Mexico. The 29 acquired stores are all large format, full service stores located in two states in western Mexico. 
• In February and March 2012, the Company completed the acquisitions of three large format pawn stores located in Dallas, Texas.
• New store openings in the first quarter included 20 de novo pawn stores in Mexico and two de novo stores in the U.S. 
• In total, 54 pawn stores were added during the first quarter of 2012, of which 49 were in Mexico and five were in the U.S. 
• Over the past twelve months, 92 large format pawn stores were added in Mexico and 18 were added in the U.S., with the resulting net year-over-year increase in large format pawn stores of 26% in Mexico and 16% in the U.S.

Financial Position & Liquidity

• EBITDA from continuing operations for the trailing twelve months increased 23% over the comparable prior twelve-month period, totaling $122 million. EBITDA margins were 23% for the trailing twelve months, compared to 22% for the prior-year period. Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months was $49 million, compared to $33 million in the comparable prior-year period. EBITDA and free cash flow are defined in the detailed reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures provided elsewhere in this release.
• During the quarter, the Company utilized cash on-hand, operating cash flows and its credit facility to invest $4 million in capital expenditures, repurchase $39 million of common stock and fund $44 million for pawn store acquisitions. 
• The Company completed its 1,500,000 share buyback authorization that was announced in December 2011, with a total of 963,000 shares of its common stock repurchased during the first quarter and additional repurchases of 537,000 shares subsequent to March 31, 2012. The shares repurchased this year were at an average price of $40.85 per share. Since April 2011, the Company has repurchased over 2,800,000 shares under all authorizations, representing approximately 9% of the outstanding shares as of April 2011.
• In February 2012, the Company extended the term of its revolving unsecured credit facility though February 2015. The size of the facility was expanded from $25 million to $50 million, and can be further increased to a $100 million facility with lender approval. The facility bears interest at the prevailing LIBOR rate plus a margin which varies from 1.5% to 2.0%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio. The total interest rate on the facility is currently 1.75% annually. At March 31, 2012, the Company had $18 million outstanding on the facility.

Fiscal 2012 Outlook

• The Company is increasing its fiscal 2012 guidance for earnings per share to a range of $2.70 to $2.75 per diluted share, which represents a 20% to 22% projected earnings increase over fiscal 2011. 
• For fiscal 2012, the Company anticipates opening or acquiring approximately 110 to 120 new stores, with approximately 100 of the expected additions in Mexico, and the remainder in the U.S. (primarily Texas). All of the 2012 store additions are expected to be large format pawn stores.    
• Approximately 91% to 92% of 2012 revenues will be derived from pawn operations, with the remainder expected to come from consumer loan and credit services operations. 

Commentary & Analysis  

Mr. Rick Wessel, chief executive officer, commented on the first quarter results, "We are off to a solid start in 2012. We achieved record sales and earnings and successfully integrated the 29-store acquisition in Mexico – the largest store acquisition in Company history. The acquired operation was one of the few large format competitors in Mexico and instantly provides First Cash a significant presence in two additional states in western Mexico. In addition to the acquisition, we opened 20 new stores in Mexico and added five in the U.S."

"Our competitive positioning remains strong as consumer demand for our lending and retail products continues to grow in both the U.S. and Mexico. First Cash has significant market share in Mexico, where competition from other full-format operators is extremely limited. We believe that Mexico is a large market with tremendous opportunities for continued growth. We are encouraged by the continued growth in revenues, pawn receivables and margins in Mexico and believe that it provides further confirmation of the validity of the large format store business in this market. We continue to believe that our model can support 800 or more stores in this large Latin American market."

While the competitive landscape in the U.S. is more mature, overall demand continues to increase as pawn stores continue to attract new customers. During the quarter, the Company acquired three stores in Dallas and opened two additional new stores in Texas.   Since the beginning of 2010, First Cash has added a total of 38 U.S. locations through a combination of acquisitions and new store openings, bringing its total U.S. store count to 236 locations.

Mr. Wessel also commented on the strength of the Company's balance sheet and cash flows, "We are well capitalized to support the continued growth in pawn receivables, inventories and future store locations. We have also been active with significant repurchases of Company stock as evidenced by the $115 million of buybacks executed since April 2011. Additionally, we recently renewed and expanded our unsecured bank credit facility on very favorable terms to provide additional resources for growth."

"In summary, given our competitive strengths and expanding customer base, we remain optimistic about our ability to further grow revenues, margins and earnings. Coupled with our strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned to drive sustainable long-term growth in shareholder value."

Forward-Looking Information    

This release may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition and prospects of the Company. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "projects," "expects," "may," "estimates," "should," "plans," "targets," "intends," "could," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy or objectives. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company's expectations of earnings per share, earnings growth, expansion strategies, regulatory exposures, store openings, liquidity, cash flow, consumer demand for the Company's products and services, currency exchange rates, future share repurchases and the impact thereof, completion of disposition transactions and expected gains from the sale of such operations, earnings from acquisitions, the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and other performance results. These statements are made to provide the public with management's current assessment of the Company's business. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances that such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this statement, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to report any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made in this release. Such factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond the control of the Company and may include changes in regional, national or international economic conditions, changes in the inflation rate, changes in the unemployment rate, changes in consumer purchasing, borrowing and repayment behaviors, changes in credit markets, the ability to renew and/or extend the Company's existing bank line of credit, credit losses, changes or increases in competition, the ability to locate, open and staff new stores, the availability or access to sources of inventory, inclement weather, the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions, the ability to hire and retain key management personnel, the ability to operate with limited regulation as a credit services organization, new federal, state or local legislative initiatives or governmental regulations (or changes to existing laws and regulations) affecting consumer loan businesses, credit services organizations and pawn businesses (in both the United States and Mexico), changes in import/export regulations and tariffs or duties, changes in anti-money laundering regulations, unforeseen litigation, changes in interest rates, monetary inflation, changes in tax rates or policies, changes in gold prices, changes in energy prices, cost of funds, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, future business decisions, public health issues and other uncertainties. These and other risks, uncertainties and regulatory developments are further and more completely described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and updated in subsequent releases on Form 10-Q.

About First Cash

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer and provider of consumer financial services. Its 626 retail pawn locations buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools and other merchandise, and make small customer loans secured by pledged personal property. The Company's 106 consumer loan locations provide various combinations of financial services products, including consumer loans, check cashing and credit services. In total, the Company owns and operates 732 stores in eight U.S. states and 23 states in Mexico. 

First Cash was named by Fortune Magazine as one of America's 100 fastest growing companies for 2011. First Cash is also a component company in both the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index^® and the Russell 2000 Index^®. First Cash's common stock (ticker symbol "FCFS") is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which has the highest initial listing standards of any stock exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements.  

The First Cash Financial Services, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3365

STORE COUNT ACTIVITY

The following table details store openings for the three months ended March 31, 2012: 

CONTACT: Gar Jackson
         Phone: (949) 873-2789
         Email: gar@irsense.com

         Rick Wessel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
         Doug Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
         Phone: (817) 505-3199
         Email: investorrelations@firstcash.com
         Website: www.firstcash.com