The 67% signal: Why card issuers should act on flexible credentials

Recent data shows a massive shift in how your customers want to pay. Two-thirds of consumers are now looking for 'flexible credentials.' This is a single card or digital wallet interface that lets them choose between debit, credit, or Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) at the point of sale. For retailers, this means the line between traditional credit cards and installment loans is disappearing. Your customers no longer want to manage multiple accounts or apps to access different financing terms. This trend is a signal that payment friction is the new enemy. If a customer has to stop and think about which card to use for a large purchase versus a small one, you risk a higher bounce rate at checkout. The push for flexible credentials means that financing is becoming a built-in feature of the payment method itself, rather than a separate application process. As card issuers move toward this model, merchants should expect to see BNPL options integrated directly into standard card swipes. This could simplify your operations by reducing the need to pitch multiple different third-party financing programs. However, it also means you need to ensure your point-of-sale systems are updated to handle these multi-use credentials correctly. The goal is a seamless experience where the customer chooses their terms without leaving the transaction flow.

Source: Payments Dive

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