UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report:

(Date of earliest event reported)

May 10, 2013 (May 9, 2013)

RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

5501 Headquarters Drive

Plano, Texas  75024

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(972) 801-1100

(Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Item 5.02                                           Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

On May 9, 2013, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Steven L. Pepper to fill a vacancy on the Board.  Mr. Pepper will serve as a Class I director until the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders.  Mr. Pepper has also been appointed to serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.  Mr. Pepper will be entitled to receive compensation for his service as a director consistent with the compensation paid to non-employee directors of the Company, as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Board has determined that Mr. Pepper is “independent” (as defined by the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.) and satisfies the audit committee member independence requirements under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

Item 8.01                                           Other Events.

On May 9, 2013, Rent-A-Center, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its board of directors declared a cash dividend in the amount of $0.21 per share payable on July 25, 2013, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 2, 2013.

The press release containing these announcements is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01                                           Financial Statements and Exhibits

99.1                                                                        Press Release issued on May 9, 2013 by Rent-A-Center, Inc.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release:

RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

DECLARES CASH DIVIDEND

FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2013

13th Consecutive Cash Dividend

Plano, Texas, May 9, 2013 — Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII), the nation’s largest rent-to-own operator, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a $0.21 per share cash dividend for the third quarter of 2013 to be paid to the Company’s common stockholders.  The dividend will be paid on July 25, 2013, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 2, 2013.

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Rent-A-Center, Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, is the largest rent-to-own operator in North America, focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable goods such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation. The Company owns and operates approximately 3,111 stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and approximately 1,053 RAC Acceptance kiosk locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. ColorTyme, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 224 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade name of “ColorTyme.” For additional information about the Company, please visit www.rentacenter.com.

Contact for Rent-A-Center, Inc.:

David E. Carpenter

Vice President of Investor Relations

(972) 801-1214

david.carpenter@rentacenter.com