The Ultimate Guide to Buy Now Pay Later
A curated American edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL).
What to know about Buy Now Pay Later
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) is a payment method that allows consumers to purchase goods and services immediately while spreading the cost over time through instalments. This option is increasingly popular worldwide, driven by its convenience and flexibility, particularly among younger shoppers like Gen Z who are turning away from traditional credit cards.
The BNPL landscape is rapidly evolving with new partnerships, market expansions, and regulatory changes shaping its use. Readers can explore stories on how companies like Afterpay, Klarna, and Zip are growing BNPL services across different regions, how merchants are integrating these options to boost sales, and the impact of new rules starting in 2025 that aim to offer consumer protections while also creating questions about credit reporting and borrowing effects.
BNPL also intersects with wider trends in digital payments and fintech, including the rise of embedded finance, digital wallets, and new B2B payment platforms. However, readers should also be aware of potential risks highlighted in recent reports, such as the financial strain on vulnerable consumers and challenges with fraud and policy abuse. By following this tag, readers gain insights into the opportunities and challenges of BNPL and how it is reshaping modern retail and consumer finance.
American Buy Now Pay Later News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
US shoppers plan earlier holiday spending, PayPal says
More than half of US consumers plan to shop before Thanksgiving as they hunt for deals, rewards and ways to stretch holiday budgets.
US consumers demand flexible bill payments as strain grows
More than three in five bill payers want control over payment timing, as 59% lack enough savings to cover a USD $1,000 emergency.
Walmart adds tap-to-pay at select US stores & clubs
Shoppers will soon be able to tap phones and cards at Walmart tills, as the retailer rolls out contactless checkout across US stores by 2026.
Synchrony & OpenAI launch discoverability & innovation tie-up
The tie-up could push financing offers and rewards directly into AI shopping, testing whether shoppers will use credit inside ChatGPT.
Klarna to power Apple Upgrade leasing in US stores
Apple customers in the US can now lease iPhones, Macs, iPads and Watches through Klarna, replacing the company's old upgrade plan.
Samsung launches first US credit card with rewards
Customers can earn higher cashback on Samsung purchases as the Galaxy Card ties spending more closely to the company's wallet and retail apps.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Buy Now Pay Later
Expert Columns
Recent Buy Now Pay Later News
TNS expands payment platform for unattended commerce
Unattended merchants risk losing sales when customers cannot pay with their preferred method, prompting TNS to add over 100 alternatives.
Ecommpay adds Klarna to platform in single integration
Merchants can now offer Klarna's instalment and deferred-payment options through Ecommpay without extra technical work or separate systems.
Affirm launches instalment payments at Crate & Barrel
Canadian shoppers can now spread furniture and homeware costs over instalments as Crate & Barrel expands buy-now-pay-later checkout options.
Appcharge study finds local acquiring lifts gaming payments
Local banks approved in-country gaming payments 8.4 percentage points more often than cross-border routes, Appcharge said.
Credolab joins FICO Marketplace for behavioural credit
Borrowers with thin credit files could be easier to score as FICO clients gain access to Credolab's behavioural risk and fraud tools.
Klarna expands in-store payments at Garage & Dynamite
Shoppers at more than 300 GARAGE and DYNAMITE stores in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom can now split payments in the Klarna app.
Yuno raises USD $45 million to expand global payments
The fresh capital will help Yuno widen its payments network, add products and edge closer to profitability as it scales worldwide.
Flix expands Klarna payments across 21 US & Europe markets
Travellers on Flix services in 21 markets can now spread ticket costs over time as Klarna rolls out across Europe and the US.
Klarna seeks U.S. banking licence for Utah industrial bank
Approval would let the fintech bring U.S. payments, savings and credit operations in-house, reducing reliance on partner banks.
Friendly fraud drives up merchant costs, report finds
Merchant prices are being pushed higher as friendly fraud and chargeback costs intensify, with more than 83% reporting rises over three years.
Zip US teams with InComm on gift cards in instalments
Shoppers can now spread the cost of gift cards in Zip's app, as buy now, pay later usage keeps widening across the US.
Equipifi raises USD $34 million in Series B funding
The funding will help equipifi expand bank-embedded buy now, pay later services as lenders race to keep instalment spending inside their apps.
PayPal reshuffles into three divisions as executives shift
The payments group has streamlined reporting lines and named new leaders after combining checkout, Venmo, services and crypto into three units.
Payment firms expand into broader merchant services
Merchants could soon get payments, loyalty, lending and checkout tools from one supplier as firms chase fuller control of commerce.
PayPal brings payment links to Canva's 265 million
Creators and small businesses can now take payments inside Canva, reaching its 265 million users through PayPal-hosted checkout links and QR codes.
Klarna tops 1 million merchants as leisure spend surges
Klarna has topped 1 million merchants worldwide as it accelerates into everyday and leisure spending, led by sport, hobby and wellness.
G2A adds Klarna to offer flexible payments for gamers
G2A adds Klarna at checkout, letting European gamers split or delay payments on over 90,000 digital titles and in-game purchases.
LemFi gains Bank of Canada oversight under new RPAA
LemFi gains Bank of Canada oversight under the new Retail Payment Activities Act, bolstering trust in its cross-border remittance services.
Rainforest adds PayPal to unify vertical software checkout
Rainforest adds PayPal, Venmo and PayPal Pay Later to its unified checkout for vertical software, aiming to shift users from cash and cheques.
Xero adds AI invoicing tools to help payments land
Xero unveils AI-powered invoicing and payment tools, promising to cut late payments and ease cash-flow strain for small businesses.