Author: Iris Sklavounou
Topic: Klarna Walmart Partnership
Klarna, a Swedish fintech company, will replace Affirm and become the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services for Walmart’s fintech startup, OnePay. This partnership follows closely after Klarna’s announcement of its preparations for a U.S. Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Under this agreement, Klarna will offer loans to Walmart customers both in-store and online, with terms ranging from 3 to 36 months and interest rates between 10% and 36%. OnePay will manage the customer experience through its app, while Klarna will handle the loan underwriting. They anticipate that this new service will be implemented in the coming weeks, and there are plans to expand it across all Walmart platforms by summer.
Klarna hopes that this strategic move will enhance its market position and potentially increase its valuation, which has experienced fluctuations in recent years. Moreover, as part of the agreement, OnePay has the opportunity to invest in Klarna by acquiring over 15 million shares at an average price of $34 each through warrants.
The partnership between Klarna and Walmart, paired with Klarna’s upcoming IPO, highlights the dynamic nature of the e-commerce and fintech sectors. Looking forward, we might see increased competition in the BNPL space, either through more partnerships between retailers and fintech companies or through greater innovation in consumer lending products.
References
Son, Hugh. “Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm.” CNBC, 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/17/walmart-klarna-nearing-ipo-wins-fintech-partnership-from-affirm.html. Accessed 17 March 2025.