Pawn 1, Inc., a pawnbroker chain headquartered in Spokane, Washington, has registered as a foreign profit corporation with the Montana Secretary of State's office, according to state business records. The company's registered address is 204 N. Division St. in Spokane, and it offers services including gun sales, gunsmithing, jewelry buying, and general pawn transactions.

State records indicate the company already has a location in Billings at 1313 Broadwater Ave., suggesting the new registration may formalize an existing Montana presence or support a planned expansion. Pawn 1 also operates locations in Idaho and elsewhere in the Northwest and Mountain West region.

The Better Business Bureau has assigned Pawn 1 an "F" rating — the lowest grade on the BBB's scale — reflecting concerns about the organization's interactions with consumers, according to BBB records. The company could not be reached for comment on its Montana plans.

It is not clear from state filings whether Pawn 1 intends to open a new storefront in Helena or whether the registration is for broader administrative purposes. A phone number listed for a Helena-area contact is (406) 422-0530. Residents with questions about the business can also search the Montana Secretary of State's business database at biz.sosmt.gov.