EXHIBIT 99.1


                             For Immediate Release:

                RENT-A-CENTER, INC. ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO OFFER
                    $250 MILLION IN SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

                                   ----------

PLANO, TEXAS, APRIL 23, 2003 - Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq/NNM:
RCII) today announced that it intends to offer, pursuant to Rule 144A and
Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, $250 million in principal amount
of senior subordinated notes due 2010. The Company intends to use the proceeds
from the offering, together with cash on hand, to repurchase and redeem its
outstanding 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008.

         The offer of the proposed senior subordinated notes will be made only
by means of an offering memorandum to qualified investors and has not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and may not be offered or sold in
the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of
1933.


CONTACTS FOR RENT-A-CENTER, INC.:


David E. Carpenter                      Robert D. Davis
Director of Investor Relations          Chief Financial Officer
(972) 801-1214                          (972) 801-1204
dcarpenter@racenter.com                 rdavis@racenter.com