Asset Classes

BNPL

Also known as: buy now pay later, pay in 4, point-of-sale financing

status: draft

Buy now pay later. Short-term installment loans (typically 4-6 payments over 6-8 weeks) offered at point of sale. Originated by fintechs like Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay, often with no interest to the consumer.

What to watch

BNPL has short duration (6-10 weeks WAL) and high velocity. Losses emerge quickly. Underwriting often uses alternative data rather than traditional FICO. Check repayment rates, stacking risk (borrowers using multiple BNPL providers), and whether merchant discount revenue covers credit losses.

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