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BNPL
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a type of short-term financing that allows consumers to make purchases while only initially paying for a portion of their value, postponing payment of the remainder of the debt until a future date, or dividing it into a series of installment payments. BNPL is generally structured like a hire purchase or installment plan money lending process that involves consumers, financiers, and merchants. Financiers pay merchants on behalf of the consumers when goods or services are purchased by the latter. These payments are later repaid by the consumers over time in equal installments. The number of installments and the repayment period vary, depending on the BNPL financier. History The earliest form of BNPL traces back to the 19th century, when installment plans emerged as a way for consumers to purchase expensive goods (e.g. furniture, pianos and farm equipment) they did not have the funds to buy outright. Earlier examples and similar concepts Sources discu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afterpay
Afterpay Limited (abbreviated as Afterpay) is an Australian technology company and a buy now, pay later (BNPL) lender. Founded in 2014 by Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen, it is now owned by Block, Inc. As of 2023, Afterpay serves 24 million users, processes US$27.3 billion in annual payments, and ranks among the three most-used BNPL services globally. Afterpay offers unsecured installment loans allowing shoppers to make in-store or online purchases, and then repay with a fortnightly frequency. It does not charge fees or interest to the consumers, unless they miss scheduled repayments, and does not check or affect the credit scores. The company charges merchants for offering its service, requiring that the charge is not passed on to shoppers. As of 2024, Afterpay operates as a subsidiary of Block, Inc., following an acquisition in 2021, and maintains presence in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the U.K. History 2014–2017: Founding; ini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fintech
Financial technology (abbreviated as fintech) refers to the application of innovative technologies to products and services in the financial industry. This broad term encompasses a wide array of technological advancements in financial services, including mobile banking, online lending platforms, digital payment systems, robo-advisors, and blockchain-based applications such as cryptocurrencies. Financial technology companies include both startups and established technology and financial firms that aim to improve, complement, or replace traditional financial services. Evolution The evolution of financial technology spans over a century, marked by significant technological innovations that have revolutionized the financial industry. While the application of technology to finance has deep historical roots, the term "financial technology" emerged in the late 20th century and gained prominence in the 1990s. The earliest documented use of the term dates back to 1967, appearing in a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zip Co
Zip Co Limited (abbreviated as Zip Co) is a digital financial services company with operations in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. According to theiFY24 Annual Results across the group they had 6.0 million active customers, total transaction volume of A$10.1 billion, revenue of A$868.0m, and cash gross profit of A$372.9m. History The company was founded by Larry Diamond and Peter Gray in 2013 as Zip Money, and offered a digital credit option to customers. The organisation soon launched a second product, Zip Pay, to cater for everyday purchases, including retail and health. In 2015, Zip was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange as zipMoney Limited (ASX: ZML). In 2016, Zip acquired Pocketbook, one of the most popular finance apps in Australia. In 2017, Zip secured a $260 million debt facility with $200 million in funding from National Australia Bank, and a $40 million equity investment from Westpac Bank. Zip was also ranked #7 on Deloitte Deloitte is a multinati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Klarna
Klarna Group plc, commonly referred to as Klarna, is a Swedish fintech company that provides online financial services. The company provides payment processing services for the e-commerce industry, managing store claims and customer payments. The company is a "buy now, pay later" service provider. The company has more than 5,000 employees, most of them working at the headquarters in Stockholm and offices in Berlin. In 2021, the company handled about US$80 billion in online sales. Klarna initially planned to file as an American IPO in April 2025 and was projected to be valued at $15 billion. This valuation was about one-third of its peak of $45.6 billion in 2021. Klarna delayed their IPO filing as a result of the 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico. History The three founders Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson founded Klarna in 2005 after participating in the Stockholm School of Economics annual entrepreneurship competition. Ange ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hire Purchase
A hire purchase (HP), also known as an installment plan, is an arrangement whereby a customer agrees to a contract to acquire an asset by paying an initial installment (e.g., 40% of the total) and repaying the balance of the price of the asset plus interest over a period of time. Other analogous practices are described as closed-end leasing or rent-to-own. The hire purchase agreement was developed in the United Kingdom in the 19th century to allow customers with a cash shortage to make an expensive purchase they otherwise would have to delay or forgo. For example, in cases where a buyer cannot afford to pay the asked price for an item of property as a lump sum but can afford to pay a percentage as a deposit, a hire-purchase contract allows the buyer to hire the goods for a monthly rent. When a sum equal to the original full price plus interest has been paid in equal installments, the buyer may then exercise an option to buy the goods at a predetermined price (usually a nominal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kirana Store
A convenience store, convenience shop, bakkal, bodega, corner store, corner shop, superette or mini-mart is a small retail store that stocks a range of everyday items such as convenience food, groceries, beverages, tobacco products, lottery tickets, over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, newspapers and magazines. In some jurisdictions, convenience stores (such as off-licences in the UK) are licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, although many other jurisdictions limit such beverages to those with relatively low alcohol content, like beer and wine. The stores may also offer money order and wire transfer services, along with the use of a fax, fax machine or photocopier for a small per-copy cost. Some also sell tickets or recharge smart cards, e.g. Opus cards in Montreal, Canada, or include a small Delicatessen, deli. They differ from general stores and village shops in that they are not in a rural area, rural location and are used as a convenient (hence their common name) supplement to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
