BNPL IS EXPANDING FAST, AND THAT SHOULD WORRY EVERYONE

Summary from the TLDR Marketing newsletter

Buy now pay later (BNPL) usage has increased past 91M users in the US. 25% use it for groceries rather than discretionary purchases. Late payments rose to 42% in 2025, up from 34% in 2023, and most BNPL loans remain invisible to credit bureaus. This creates a gap between perceived and actual financial health, especially among subprime users. Teams focused on growth or product optimization should reexamine how BNPL affects user lifetime value and channel ROI.