Buy Now Pay Later

Such services let shoppers expand their purchasing power by paying for merchandise in monthly installments.

Apple is discontinuing its buy now, pay later service known as Apple Pay Later barely a year after its initial launch in the U.S., and will rely on companies who already dominate the industry like Affirm and Klarna.

We don't know for sure how much buy now, pay later borrowing people are doing.

Consumers are expected to use “buy now, pay later” payment plans heavily this holiday season, a forecast that bodes well for retailers but that has credit experts again sounding alarm bells.

“Buy now, pay later” (BNPL) has become an increasingly popular form of payment among Americans in recent years. While BNPL provides shoppers with the flexibility to pay for goods and services over time, usually with zero interest, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has identified several areas of potential consumer harm associated with its growing use, including inconsistent consumer protections, and the risk of excessive debt accumulation and over-extension. BNPL proponents have argued that the service enables improved credit access and greater financial inclusion, with approval being quick and relatively easy. More research is needed to assess the overall risks and benefits of BNPL for consumers. As a first step, we draw on new survey data to examine the background and circumstances of consumers who receive and take up BNPL offers. We find both the availability and use of BNPL to be fairly widespread but see disproportionate take-up among consumers with unmet credit needs, limited credit access, and greater financial fragility. While BNPL expands financial inclusion, especially to those with low credit scores, there is a risk that these payment plans contribute to excessive debt accumulation and over-extension.

Take On Payments gives its take on some of the pluses and minuses of the buy now, pay later payment option.

With credit card debt reaching an all-time high, some may be in search of alternative payment methods such as buy now, pay later options. Here's what to know.

Apple is entering the buy now, pay later industry with its Apple Pay Later installment payment option. Here's how it compares with four popular BNPL services.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services let you pay off purchases over time, but they can cost shoppers.

It’s kind of a weird time to get into buy now, pay later.

These services essentially provide customers an alternative way to pay for purchases over time without going into credit card debt or taking out a traditional personal loan.

Buy Now, Pay Later (or BNPL) loans have seen an astronomical growth in popularity - you’ve probably seen them while shopping online. While they may seem like...

BNPL loans are consumer installment loans that allow you to purchase items right away with little or no initial payment and pay off the balance in installments over time.

The popular payment plans from companies including Afterpay are largely going unreported out of concern that they could ding credit scores.

“Buy now” is the easy part… It’s the “pay later” that gets tricky. Buy now, pay later companies help you sport that $400 Aritzia coat now and...

"Buy now, pay later" lenders will be subject to more regulatory oversight going forward, which is '"good news," Harvard researcher says.

Americans are increasingly turning to pay-later services for groceries and other everyday essentials. And there are signs that the practice is putting some in deep debt.

As buy now, pay later options have increased over the last few years, more people are using these to finance purchases.

Consumers’ Buy-Now-Pay-Later repayment data is starting to be furnished to the nationwide credit reporting companies. A standardized approach would promote consistency and accuracy.

After a period of explosive growth, BNPL companies are facing challenges.

Klarna said it raised $800 million in fresh funding at a $6.7 billion valuation — down sharply from $45.6 billion a year ago.

During online shopping, have you noticed special payment offers that promise to let you “buy now and pay later” popping up in recent years?

Buy now, pay later could pose a challenge to credit cards’ leading position in US payments. To sustain profitable growth, issuers may need to rethink their products, economics, and value propositions.

Using "buy now, pay later" and splitting your payments into smaller amounts across a few months must make it easier to pay, right?  Answer: 42% Questions: Have you seen the "buy now, pay later" options when you buy items online? If yes, have you ever used it? Why or why not?  What are the pros/cons of using this payment option?  Why do you think so many consumers have struggled to make on-time payments with "buy now, pay later?" Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom. Behind the numbers (Acorns):  The share of American adults who’ve used buy-now, pay-later services in 2022 has increased to 43% — a 12 point jump from 2021, according to LendingTree.

“Buy now, pay later” may be jeopardizing Gen Z's financial future in just four easy...

Use of buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment products has been growing in the United States. We explore the benefits and risks of BNPL products for consumers and merchants.

Volumes on PayPal Inc's 'buy now, pay later' platform were five times higher this Black Friday compared with a year earlier as the payments giant starts to gain traction in the fast-growing credit method, the company's chief executive told the Reuters Next conference.