For Immediate Release:

                  RENT-A-CENTER, INC. TO OFFER $100 MILLION IN
                          11% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

                                  ------------

PLANO, TEXAS, DECEMBER 4, 2001 - Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCII) today
announced that it proposes to make a private offering to qualified institutional
buyers of $100 million in principal amount of 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008.

         The securities proposed to be offered will not be and have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered
or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from
registration requirements. Rent-A-Center intends to use the proceeds of the
offering to repay approximately $30 million in term loans, repurchase
approximately $34.7 million of its common stock from its former Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer and for general corporate purposes.