Sec Form 4 Filing - ARENDT STEVEN M @ RENT A CENTER INC DE - 2004-02-25

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ARENDT STEVEN M 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol RENT A CENTER INC DE [ RCII] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO of ColorTyme, Inc. (Last) (First) (Middle) 5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY, FIRST FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/25/2004 (Street) PLANO, TX75024 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common stock, par value $.01 per share 02/25/2004 M 3,000 A $ 12.2 3,000 D Common stock, par value $.01 per share 02/25/2004 S 1,000 D $ 32.19 2,000 D Common stock, par value $.01 per share 02/25/2004 S 2,000 D $ 32.18 0 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Employee Stock Option (Right to Purchase) $ 12.2 02/25/2004 M 3,000 ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Common Stock 3,000 ( 1 ) 8,000 ( 2 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other ARENDT STEVEN M 5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY FIRST FLOOR PLANO, TX75024 CEO of ColorTyme, Inc. Signatures Steven M. Arendt 02/27/2004 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )On January 4, 1999, the reporting person was granted 18,750 options to purchase Rent-A-Center, Inc.'s (the "Company") common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), on a one-for-one basis, pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan provides for a vesting period of four years, vesting in the amounts of 4,687 on January 4, 2000; 4,688 on January 4, 2001; 4,687 on January 4, 2002; and 4,688 on January 4, 2003. The options expire 10 years from the date of the grant. As of the date of this report, the reporting person has exercised 17,000 options to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant to this grant. ( 2 )Includes (a) 1,750 options to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the reporting person's January 4, 1999 grant, all of which are currently exercisable, and (b) 6,250 options to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the reporting person's July 1, 2002 grant, 1,562 of which are currently exercisable.

Remarks: All information contained herein reflects a 5-for-2 split of the Company's Common Stock effected in August 2003.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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