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         FIRST AMENDMENT, dated as of February 25, 2000 (this "First
Amendment"), to the CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 5, 1998 (the "Credit
Agreement"), among RENT-A-CENTER, INC. (formerly known as Renters Choice, Inc.)
(the "Borrower"), the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement, the Documentation
Agent and Syndication Agent named therein and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"). Terms
defined in the Credit Agreement shall be used in this First Amendment with their
defined meanings unless otherwise defined herein.

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to amend the Credit Agreement in the
manner set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto is willing to enter into this First
Amendment on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     SECTION I. AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT.

         1. Section 2.17(b). Section 2.17(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by adding the following sentences to the end thereof:

     "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may designate a $14,000,000
     prepayment of the Term Loans to be applied to prepay in their entirety the
     Term Loan installments due on September 30, 2000. Any such prepayment shall
     not be subject to the procedures described in Section 2.17(c) and,
     accordingly, the full amount of the installments of the Tranche B Term
     Loans and the Tranche C Term Loans due on September 30, 2000 shall be
     prepaid in connection therewith."

         2. Section 7.6. Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by adding the following new paragraph (c) to the end thereof:

         "(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
     be continuing, the Borrower may expend up to $25,000,000 to repurchase its
     common stock."

     SECTION II. MISCELLANEOUS.

         1. No Change. Except as expressly provided herein, no term or provision
of the Credit Agreement shall be amended, modified or supplemented, and each
term and provision of the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

         2. Effectiveness. This First Amendment shall become effective as of the
date hereof upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of (a) counterparts hereof
duly executed by the Borrower and (b) consent letters authorizing the
Administrative Agent to enter into this First Amendment from the Required
Lenders.
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                  3. Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed by the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

                  4. Governing Law. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS FIRST AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above
written.

                                             RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

                                             By:
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:


                                             THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                              as Administrative Agent

                                             By:
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title: