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Klarna Seeks U.S. Bank Charter in Push Beyond Buy Now, Pay Later

7/7/2026

bank charter, the Swedish payments company's most direct move yet to shed its identity as a buy now, pay later specialist.

The application places Klarna inside a broader wave of fintech and crypto firms pressing for entry into the traditional banking system.

A charter, if granted, would give Klarna the regulatory standing of an established lender rather than a payments intermediary.

The Calculation Behind the Charter Buy now, pay later built Klarna into one of Europe's best-known consumer finance brands, but the product category carries structural limits.

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