Affirm

Affirm’s Founder and CEO, Max Levchin, knows firsthand how the traditional credit system can fail people. A few missteps with credit cards as a young adult left their mark on his credit score, and the consequences followed him years down the road. Max shares how that experience helped spark the idea for Affirm—and why our mission to build honest financial products that improve lives is personal.

"You use Affirm when it matters to you. And of course, money matters all the time." – Max Levchin Our Founder and CEO recently sat down with Austin Hankwitz and Robert Croak to discuss the role of credit in consumers’ everyday lives, why he set out to build a more honest system, and what’s ahead for the future of the industry. Max also touched on the culture of Affirm, saying “Affirm is just a bunch of math nerds who are obsessed with credit and have this extremely clear point of view on what is and isn't moral.” Listen to the full conversation below: YouTube: https://bit.ly/4qP7HcN Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4qwsXUn Spotify: https://bit.ly/4sPYh1L

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. showed us that meaningful change starts with showing up for others. On MLK Day, we honor his legacy by recognizing the everyday acts of service that move us forward. “Being in service to people is a privilege and a responsibility. Dr. King reminded us that everyone can be great because everyone can serve, and I carry that truth with me in how I show up for others. It is through serving with love and purpose that progress is made.” – April Chism, Quality Assurance Associate and BLACK@ Affirm Co-lead

What’s better: credit that’s based on your finances today — or a snapshot from the past? 🤔 A lot can change in a person’s financial life. New jobs, new expenses, changes in income. But most credit systems rely on one-time approvals that rarely get revisited. Affirm approaches credit differently. Since our founding, we’ve underwritten every transaction individually, in real-time. And now, we’re adding even more context and nuance to that process by incorporating up-to-the-minute signals like account balances and cash flow trends. The goal? Credit decisions that reflect where our consumers truly are with their finances, at the exact moment they want to buy. Because people’s financial lives aren’t static. And credit shouldn’t be either. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ekE6AhUF 

Millions of merchants are already benefiting from having Affirm’s installment plans embedded in the Apple Pay flow — but here’s the unlock: merchants who actively message it have seen significantly stronger results. Two proven ways to maximize impact: ✔️ Surface Affirm on Apple Pay early in the shopping journey ✔️ Promote it through your top-performing channels What this looks like in the wild: 👟 A leading U.S. footwear and apparel retailer added clear messages on product pages and at checkout showing shoppers they could use Affirm with Apple Pay, paired with a limited-time 0% APR offer → nearly 4x sales lift 🏬 A national luxury department store promoted the option through targeted emails → 40%+ sales increase The takeaway: When shoppers clearly know they can use Affirm inside Apple Pay — early and often — performance goes up. Read the full case study: https://lnkd.in/gtXsHbt7

Affirm's Founder and CEO, Max Levchin, recently joined host Tim Higgins on The Wall Street Journal's Bold Names podcast. In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, they dive into: 🛍️ Affirm’s origins and our mission to deliver honest financial products that improve lives 🤖 The potential impact of AI on the way we shop and pay 📈 The evolution of the BNPL category, and yes, the burrito question Listen here 👇 YouTube: https://bit.ly/3L7VHU9 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/49fx8he  Spotify: http://bit.ly/49MEtF2

“We don’t have to overcharge our consumers. We’re not asking them to cover for the sins of other consumers that were underwritten poorly. We underwrite every transaction in addition to every single person, every single time,” – Max Levchin on Affirm’s differentiated model Affirm’s Founder and CEO recently joined Bloomberg Intelligence’s Diksha Gera on the Tech Disruptors podcast to bust some common myths, dive deep into the strategy behind Affirm’s business, and discuss why the future favors transparency. 👀 More highlights from Max: 💪 On why we don’t charge late fees: ”When we decided not to charge late fees, it wasn't just to be pro-consumer. It was also to force ourselves to be as good as possible at underwriting. Late fees are there to make a lot of money for the lenders that charge them, but more importantly they're there to pave over mistakes.” 💻 On innovation at Affirm: “We are still very much a research-driven organization. We have people who literally publish internal papers proposing new model architectures. That is not something you would expect from a lender.” Tune in below ⬇️ Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4aPRf6J  Spotify: https://bit.ly/4qOgETg

Retail has an invisible headwind: interest that steals the sales. Hundreds of billions of dollars go each year to servicing past credit-card purchases—money that doesn’t flow back into today’s retail economy. The result is less available spending power and more pressure on discretionary categories. Our CRO Wayne Pommen explores how revolving credit quietly reshapes consumer budgets, and why transparent, non-compounding payment options like Affirm help protect future demand and build consumer trust. 📖Check out the full post here: https://lnkd.in/g883xU2J

The ultimate hot take that should not be a hot take. 🗞️🇨🇦 Affirm’s CRO Wayne Pommen shares why Canadians deserve credit that actually treats them fairly, via Fintech.ca. Wayne said: “As policymakers craft the next steps in financial regulation, ending deferred interest and late fees should be high on the list. Without these excess revenue streams, lenders will need to raise their game in how they underwrite risk and deliver their products. The end result will be happier Canadian consumers who are under less financial strain — and have higher trust in the financial system.” Read the full piece below 👇

Thrilled to be teaming up with Gr4vy to bring flexible, transparent payment options to more merchants and their customers — driving growth for businesses and better experiences at checkout 🚀