Pawn America Data Breach Settlement -- $3.185M
By Steve Levine
Published: April 13, 2026
Settlement Fund: $3,185,000
Documented Loss: Up to $5,000
Classwide Cash: $30
California Cash: +$50 for California Class Members
Claim ID and PIN: Required (from the Pawn America notice letter)
Claim Deadline: July 6, 2026
What Is the Pawn America Data Breach Class Action Settlement About?
Pawn America has agreed to a $3,185,000 data breach class action settlement to resolve claims stemming from a September 2021 data breach that exposed sensitive personal information of customers across the United States. The Pawn America data breach lawsuit is consolidated as In re Pawn America Consumer Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 21-cv-02554, pending before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.In September 2021, an unauthorized third party accessed Pawn America files containing customer private information including names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, government identification numbers, dates of birth, and financial account information. Pawn America mailed notification letters to affected customers in October 2021. The Pawn America class action lawsuit alleges that Pawn America failed to adequately protect this sensitive customer information, leading to the 2021 data breach.
Pawn America denies any wrongdoing and denies that it has any liability, but agreed to settle the Pawn America data breach lawsuit to avoid further cost and uncertainty. The $3.185 million Pawn America settlement fund is non-reversionary, meaning none of the money returns to Pawn America under any circumstances.
What Is Pawn America? Who Are They?
Pawn America is a Minnesota-based pawn shop and short-term lending company founded in 1991. The Pawn America brand is operated by three related entities that are all defendants in this data breach class action settlement: Pawn America Minnesota, LLC (the pawn shop business), Payday America, Inc. (short-term payday loans), and PAL Card Minnesota, LLC (prepaid debit cards). If you borrowed money, pawned an item, took out a payday loan, or used a PAL Card from any of these brands before September 2021, your information was likely in the Pawn America database that was breached.Pawn America operates across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of the surrounding upper Midwest. At its peak, Pawn America was one of the largest pawn shop chains in the region with more than 20 retail locations. Payday America provided short-term consumer loans at storefront and online locations, while PAL Card offered prepaid debit card services to customers who did not have traditional bank accounts. All three brands shared the same customer information systems, which is why the September 2021 Pawn America data breach affected customers of all three.
Because Pawn America served a heavily consumer-facing clientele across pawn, payday lending, and prepaid card services, hundreds of thousands of people nationwide may be eligible for the Pawn America data breach settlement even if they do not remember using Pawn America directly. If you or a family member ever did business with Payday America or used a PAL Card, you may be a Pawn America class action settlement class member.
Who Qualifies for the Pawn America Data Breach Settlement?
You qualify for the Pawn America data breach class action settlement if you meet both of the following:• You resided in the United States at the time of the September 2021 Pawn America data breach
• Your private information was potentially compromised as a result of the Pawn America data incident, including if you received a notification letter from Pawn America in October 2021
Excluded from the Pawn America settlement are the judge presiding over the case, Pawn America directors and officers, and anyone who validly opts out by the June 5, 2026 deadline. If you are unsure whether you were affected by the Pawn America data breach, the settlement administrator can verify your eligibility against Pawn America's records.
Do I Need a Claim ID and PIN to File the Pawn America Settlement Claim?
Yes. The Pawn America data breach settlement requires a Claim ID and PIN in order to submit a claim. Both the Claim ID and the PIN are printed on the notice letter that the settlement administrator mailed to affected class members.When you visit the Pawn America settlement website, you will be asked to select one of the following options:
• I have a Claim ID and PIN, and I would like to securely file a claim online.
• I have a Claim ID and PIN, and I would like to download a personalized claim form, print it out, and mail it in.
If you cannot locate your Pawn America notice letter or do not know your Claim ID or PIN, you should contact the settlement administrator through the official settlement website to request assistance before the claim deadline.
How Much Will I Get from the Pawn America Data Breach Settlement?
The Pawn America data breach settlement offers class members three separate payment options, and you can claim more than one if you qualify:1. Documented Loss Payment: Up to $5,000. The Pawn America settlement reimburses documented out-of-pocket expenses or losses reasonably traceable to the September 2021 Pawn America data breach. Proof is required for this payment type. Examples the settlement notice lists include unreimbursed fraudulent charges, identity theft losses, fraudulent tax filings, fraudulent bank or credit card activity, professional fees (attorneys, accountants, credit-repair services), credit freeze and unfreeze costs, credit monitoring costs incurred after the data breach, transportation expenses to financial institutions, and postage, copying, or mileage costs. Third-party documentation is required (receipts, account statements) -- self-prepared documents alone are not sufficient.
2. Classwide Cash Payment: $30 (initially). All Pawn America data breach settlement class members can claim a $30 classwide cash payment by submitting a valid claim form with their Claim ID and PIN. Beyond the Claim ID and PIN, no additional supporting documentation is required. The $30 amount may be adjusted up or down proportionally depending on how many valid claims are filed.
3. California Cash Payment: $50 (initially). Class members who lived in California in September or October 2021 can claim an ADDITIONAL $50 cash payment on top of the $30 classwide payment. Beyond the Claim ID and PIN, no additional supporting documentation is required. The $50 California Pawn America settlement amount may also be adjusted proportionally.
If you lived in California during September or October 2021 and submit a valid claim using your Claim ID and PIN, you could receive $80 total ($30 classwide + $50 California). If you also have documented losses, you can add up to $5,000 on top of that.
Do I Need Proof to File the Pawn America Settlement Claim?
You need your Pawn America Claim ID and PIN from the notice letter -- the Claim ID and PIN themselves serve as the settlement administrator's verification that you are a class member. Beyond the Claim ID and PIN, no additional supporting documentation is required for the $30 classwide cash payment or the $50 California cash payment.You only need to provide additional supporting documentation (receipts, account statements, etc.) if you are also claiming the Documented Loss Payment of up to $5,000. If you were affected by the Pawn America data breach and just want the flat cash payment, you can claim $30 (or $80 if you were in California) once you have entered your Claim ID and PIN.
How Do I File the Pawn America Data Breach Settlement Claim?
Submit your Pawn America settlement claim form online at PawnAmericaSettlement.com using the Claim ID and PIN printed on your notice letter. Your Pawn America data breach settlement claim must be submitted online or postmarked no later than July 6, 2026.To file a Pawn America settlement claim:
• Visit PawnAmericaSettlement.com
• Select either "I have a Claim ID and PIN, and I would like to securely file a claim online" or "I have a Claim ID and PIN, and I would like to download a personalized claim form, print it out, and mail it in"
• Enter your Claim ID and PIN from your Pawn America notice letter
• Complete the claim form with your name, address, and contact information
• Select which payment(s) you are claiming: documented loss, classwide cash, and/or California cash
• Upload any required documentation (only if claiming the $5,000 documented loss payment)
• Submit online or postmark by mail by July 6, 2026
Key Deadlines for the Pawn America Data Breach Settlement
• June 5, 2026: Deadline to exclude yourself (opt out) from the Pawn America class action settlement• June 5, 2026: Deadline to object to the Pawn America settlement
• July 6, 2026: Deadline to submit a Pawn America settlement claim form
• September 9, 2026: Final Approval Hearing at 8:30 AM CT (Minneapolis, MN)
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Settlement Website: PawnAmericaSettlement.com
Submit Claim
Official Settlement Notice (PDF)
Sources
• Official Settlement Website -- PawnAmericaSettlement.com• Court-authorized Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement, In re Pawn America Consumer Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 21-cv-02554 (D. Minn.)
Case Information
Case: In re Pawn America Consumer Data Breach Litigation, Case No. 21-cv-02554
Court: U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Judge: Hon. Patrick J. Schiltz
Defendants: Pawn America Minnesota, LLC; Payday America, Inc.; PAL Card Minnesota, LLC
Data Breach Date: September 2021
Notice Letter Mailed: October 2021
Compromised Data: Names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, government IDs, dates of birth, financial account information
Settlement Fund: $3,185,000 (non-reversionary)
Documented Loss Payment: Up to $5,000 (proof required)
Classwide Cash Payment: $30 (Claim ID and PIN required)
California Cash Payment: +$50 for CA class members Sept-Oct 2021 (Claim ID and PIN required)
Claim ID and PIN Required: Yes (printed on Pawn America notice letter)
Claim Deadline: July 6, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: June 5, 2026
Objection Deadline: June 5, 2026
Final Approval Hearing: September 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM CT
Attorneys' Fees: Up to $1,061,666.67 + up to $50,000 expenses
Service Awards: $4,000 each to 5 class representatives ($20,000 total)
Class Representatives: Melissa Thomas, Randell Huff, Megan Murillo, Monique Derr, Paola Manzo
Class Counsel: Bryan L. Bleichner (Chestnut Cambronne P.A.); Nathan D. Prosser (Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC)
Settlement Website: PawnAmericaSettlement.com
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please note that your claim form will be rejected if you submit a settlement claim with any fraudulent information. By providing this information and your sworn statement of its veracity, you agree to do so under the penalty of perjury. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.
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Pre-Qualify| Pawn America Settlement Summary | |
| Status | Open — File Claim Now |
|---|---|
| Settlement Fund | $3,185,000 |
| Documented Loss | Up to $5,000 |
| Classwide Cash | $30 |
| California Cash | +$50 for CA Class Members |
| Claim ID and PIN Required | Yes |
| Claim Deadline | July 6, 2026 |
| Final Hearing | September 9, 2026 |
| Official Website | PawnAmericaSettlement.com |