Apple Federal Credit Union Partners with equipifi to Launch PayAdvantage, First in Virginia
Virginia credit union invests in greater financial flexibility and an effortless banking experience by offering Buy Now, Pay Later to members for their debit card purchases
FAIRFAX, Va., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple Federal Credit Union (Apple FCU), a financial institution with over $5.3 billion in assets and serving nearly 270,000 members in Northern Virginia, announced that it has added a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) type solution to its suite of online banking products. Branded PayAdvantage, the offering reflects the post-purchase finance nature of its installment options.
Apple FCU selected equipifi, a leading BNPL platform designed for financial institutions, to power its solution, and is the first credit union in Virginia to make this service available. Now, whenever Apple FCU members make eligible purchases on their existing credit union debit card, they will be able to split the payments for these transactions over time. Through equipifi, Apple FCU's PayAdvantage program generates personalized offers to each member's financial context and goals, meeting them where they are with timely access to extra funds. Members will be able to view and accept their PayAdvantage offers in their digital banking experience, and receive the funds in their checking account, typically in moments.
"Flexible financing should be intuitive and effortless, and it's our role as a trusted financial institution to provide a prompt and caring solution to our members," said John Ritchey, Senior Vice President of Lending at Apple FCU. "Partnering with equipifi, our in-house program generates pre-qualified loans tailored for individuals, taking the waiting and uncertainty out of the financing process."
"BNPL is a must-have tool for consumers to stretch their budget and to achieve their long-term financial goals. For years, they have been asking for it from their trusted financial institutions," said Bryce Deeney, CEO and co-founder of equipifi. "Credit unions have been quick to respond with the solution their members need. By launching flexible payment options, Apple Federal Credit Union is committing to a better banking experience for their membership."
Apple FCU joins many credit unions that are first to launch such a solution in their home state. Over sixty credit unions have launched their own BNPL product to their members. equipifi's data shows that over 81 percent of members continue to use BNPL in year two, with overall usage increasing by 38 percent. In the United States, BNPL is projected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 25.5 percent between 2022-2026.
About Apple Federal Credit Union Established in 1956, Apple FCU is ranked as a top 100 credit union nationwide, serving nearly 270,000 members with $5.3 billion in assets. As a not-for-profit, member-owned institution, Apple serves a diverse community of local education systems and anyone who lives/works in Fairfax, Frederick and Prince William counties in Virginia. Members receive fair and honest products and services at competitive rates in a trusted environment. Apple is committed to making a positive impact locally, not only in financial services, but also in community involvement, financial literacy and charitable giving. Learn more at AppleFCU.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.
About equipifi equipifi is the leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform for financial institutions in the United States. This is a white label solution designed to align with consumer purchase habits, payment preferences, and financial goals. The equipifi platform seamlessly integrates with leading banking cores and digital banking platforms to deepen customer engagement, grow market share, increase revenue, and provide a single place to view, accept, and manage BNPL plans on their existing banking app. For more information, please visit http://www.equipifi.com/.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apple-federal-credit-union-partners-with-equipifi-to-launch-payadvantage-first-in-virginia-302459586.html
SOURCE equipifi
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
6 Costco Spending Traps To Avoid If You Use Buy Now, Pay Later
Costco has teamed up with Affirm to offer Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) for online purchases. This new partnership with Affirm gives customers the option to split purchases of $500 or more into manageable payments over time. While this may sound like an ideal option for stocking up or snagging that big-ticket item, it can quickly turn into a budget nightmare if you're not careful. Be Aware: Read Next: BNPL might make your cart feel lighter at the moment, but the monthly payments (plus interest, depending on your terms) can pile up fast. And at a place like Costco where the portions are large and the temptation is even bigger, this can easily turn into a slippery slope. Here are seven common spending traps to avoid if you're using BNPL at Costco. Let's start with the big one: Groceries. Costco sells some of the best bulk deals around. But using BNPL for your large grocery and household items haul is a recipe for disaster. Interest rates with Affirm range from 10% to 36%. Payment plans also range from three to 36 months so you could be paying on your purchase for a while. Meanwhile, your family will need more food and when it's time to restock all your household items, you'll be faced with the choice of enrolling in another BNPL plan. It's best to avoid even starting this cycle especially if you're not looking to pay for items that your family has already eaten a long time ago. Discover More: Costco sells a variety of kitchen renovation items online, including flooring, light fixtures and windows. Using BNPL for these can make higher-end materials seem affordable due to manageable monthly payments. However, this can lead to overspending and exceeding your renovation budget. Instead, try this: Set a realistic budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on your kitchen remodel and stick to it. Prioritize needs over wants: Focus on essential upgrades first, and consider postponing non-essential enhancements. Save before you spend: Consider saving up for your renovation to avoid financing costs altogether. Costco has a way of surprising you with things you didn't even know you wanted. Case in point: that $1,200 cedar swing set with a built-in rock wall. It looks amazing, and with BNPL, the payments might feel painless. But if it wasn't in the budget before you walked in (or logged on), it's probably not something you should finance. Impulse purchases lose their appeal fast when you're still paying them off a year later. High-end OLED smart TVs at Costco can cost several thousand dollars. BNPL can make these seem affordable with low monthly payments, but the total cost, including interest, can be significant. Assess whether such a purchase is necessary and fits within your budget before proceeding. Costco's furniture section can make you want to redecorate your whole home in one go. With BNPL, that $799 sectional or $1,100 bedroom set might seem totally doable. But unless you've planned for it, and have the space in your budget to pay it off quickly, this can derail your financial goals. Instead, consider waiting for major sales or saving up first. It'll feel a lot better knowing it's fully paid for. Costco offers competitive prices on appliances, making it tempting to upgrade multiple items simultaneously. However, financing several appliances at once can lead to high monthly payments and increased interest costs. It's wiser to replace appliances as needed and budget for each purchase individually. Costco's BNPL option with Affirm offers flexibility for managing large purchases. However, it's important to use this feature cautiously. Reserve BNPL for planned, essential purchases, and avoid using it for routine expenses or impulse buys. Also, make sure you understand the terms and ensure that the monthly payments fit within your budget. More From GOBankingRates These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle This article originally appeared on 6 Costco Spending Traps To Avoid If You Use Buy Now, Pay Later


CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Buy now, pay later: Interest-free payment plans gain popularity but carry risks
Buy now, pay later: What to know about latest shopping trend Buy now, pay later: What to know about latest shopping trend Buy now, pay later: What to know about latest shopping trend More shoppers are turning to "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) services that promise interest-free installment payments at checkout, both online and in stores. BNPL services offer an alternative to high-interest credit cards but are raising concerns about overspending and hidden financial pitfalls. How it works Instead of paying the full price upfront, consumers using BNPL services like Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay can split their purchases into multiple payments, often four, without interest. Sydney Klein, who used Klarna to buy a pizza oven, said, "I was ok I'm gonna get this, but I can't pay five to six hundred dollars right now, so at the bottom was 4 interest-free payments to be made every two weeks." She added, "I hooked it up to my debit card; it was super easy and every two weeks they took out the payment." The pros and cons April Lewis-Parks, director of education at Consolidated Credit, says BNPL is about managing cash flow. "It really is cash flow," she said, noting the plans can help consumers afford everyday items. But she also cautions that some users end up in debt, and her organization is working on a pamphlet to educate the public on BNPL best practices. While BNPL usually doesn't impact credit scores, late payments can trigger penalties and overdraft fees, prompting critics to warn about the risks of impulsive spending.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Affirm's Active Merchants Rise: A Strategic Advantage in BNPL Space?
Affirm Holdings, Inc. AFRM is primarily focusing on growth and merchant expansion. It is strengthening its position in the competitive market of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) through merchant adoptions on its platform. The company has extended its footprint into the U.K. market, indicating its major expansion outside North America. AFRM has reported more than 254,000 active merchants in fiscal 2023, which increased about 19.3% year over year in fiscal 2024, followed by 23% year-over-year growth in third-quarter fiscal 2025. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2025, it reached around 358,000 active merchants. With the increasing participation of merchants, customers are provided with more checkout opportunities, which significantly boosts the gross merchandise volume (GMV). In the fiscal third quarter of 2025, Affirm's GMV jumped 36% year over year, reaching $8.6 billion. The company projects GMV to be in the range of $35.7-$36 billion in fiscal 2025. Affirm is focusing on providing transparent and reliable checkouts without any hidden charges. In the fiscal third quarter of 2025, its merchant network revenues rose 34.3% year over year. The company's strategic partnerships with major players are helping in driving growth. Affirm aims to boost its product lineup by introducing more flexible payment options, enhancing point-of-sale integrations and expanding its offline retail capabilities. It also focuses on innovative credit modeling that supports sustainable and long-term growth. Some of AFRM's competitors in the payment solutions space are PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL and Sezzle Inc. SEZL. PayPal reported 436 million active accounts in the first quarter of 2025, which rose 2% year over year. Its net revenues increased 1% year over year to $7.8 billion in first-quarter 2025. PayPal's total payment volume increased 3% year over year in the first quarter of 2025. Sezzle reported 2.7 million active consumers in the first quarter of 2025, which grew 5.4% year over year. Sezzle's total revenues grew 123.3% year over year to $104.9 million in the same quarter. Its gross merchandise volume increased 64.1% year over year. Over the past year, AFRM's shares have surged 90% compared with the industry's growth of 37.4%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, AFRM trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.25, below the industry average of 5.68. The company carries a Value Score of F. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Affirm's 2025 earnings implies 100.6% growth from the year-ago period. It witnessed five upward estimate revisions in the past 30 days against one movement in the opposite direction. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Affirm currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sezzle Inc. (SEZL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data