SHIFT · GLOBAL
Klarna pivots from growth to profitability as BNPL matures; applies for US bank charter
Swedish buy-now-pay-later leader Klarna is shifting from customer acquisition to retention and monetization, and filed for a US national bank charter to diversify revenue beyond transaction fees.
WHY IT MATTERS
Maturation of BNPL segment forces fintechs toward banking licenses for deposit-taking and lending; banks now face entrenched competitors moving upmarket into core retail banking products.
Source: Tearsheet · 2026-07-16