Apple has expanded its payments innovation, now partnering with Affirm to offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment options directly at the point of sale for in-store iPhone transactions, just as US-based BNPL spending crossed $111 billion in 2024, up 18% year over year. This powerful retail partnership signals the next wave of consumer finance, where flexibility, choice, and digital convenience are rapidly redefining shopping on America’s Main Street.
A New Era of Shop-and-Split Instore
Previously, Apple Pay users could access Affirm’s BNPL options online or in-app. With this integration, shoppers at physical stores can now split purchases into biweekly or monthly payments through Apple Pay, all while enjoying secure, contactless checkout on their iPhones.
Affirm’s senior vice president of product, Vishal Kapoor, said, “This gives Apple Pay users in the U.S. added flexibility and transparency at even more checkouts.”
Users can make everyday or big-ticket purchases in person, breaking…
the total into interest-free or low-interest installments—spanning 0% to 36% APR based on eligibility and Affirm’s terms. Approval is instant, with the BNPL option now as seamless as any Apple Pay tap.
Apple’s June press release previewed these enhancements, stating that offering loan offers from eligible cards (including Affirm) “would give users even more flexibility and choice” with every Apple Pay purchase. Mobile Wallets, BNPL, and the Changing U.S.
Consumer The integration is another marker of how mobile wallets and pay-over-time tools have become daily habits. PYMNTS research finds that BNPL is now used by more than 27% of Gen Z and 21% of Millennials for monthly purchases, and over 60% of all U.S. shoppers want installment options at checkout for purchases over $200.
Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, explained, “We are excited to provide users with even more flexibility and choice when making a purchase using Apple Pay with the introduction of Affirm loans at checkout with Apple Pay…
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