Affirm

Affirm Holdings, Inc. is an American technology company offering financial services to shoppers and merchants. Founded in 2012 by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, it is the largest U.S. based buy now, pay later lender. As of 2024, Affirm reports nearly 19.5 million users, processing $26.6 billion in payments annually.

Affirm offers unsecured installment loans at the point of sale through various methods. These include payment links at online checkout, payment options at self-checkout kiosks, integration into third-party digital wallets, and virtual or physical cards. The company generates revenue by applying a service fee to sellers, charging interest to borrowers, or both, and does not charge a late fee. Affirm also offers a savings account and a debit card. The company says its loan underwriting involves evaluating transactions by considering credit scores and other pertinent factors, while also incorporating machine learning.