Absa Bank Introduces ‘Buy Now and Pay Later’ Feature For Card Customers

Absa Bank Kenya has introduced another innovation in the market, the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) card feature that will help customers manage their expenses better.

Dubbed, Buy Now Lipa Pole Pole, this is a self-service payment option on the Absa mobile and internet banking platform, which provides a convenient way to manage customers’ expenses by spreading the cost of their purchases over time. The Absa Buy Now Lipa Pole Pole solution is the first of its kind to be offered exclusively by a bank in the Kenyan market for card customers.

The user-friendly card innovation offers Absa’s credit card customers the option to either pay for their purchases in full, immediately or in a structured repayment plan over a   defined period between three to 12 months, thereby stretching their spending power.

Speaking during the launch of the new solution, Head of Card Payments at Absa Bank Kenya, Linda Kimani has said the introduction of the BNPL feature is a helpful tool for managing expenses, adding that it would go a long way in supporting customers to meet their needs in a flexible manner while supporting their cashflow positions.

“Given the prevailing economic environment in which many consumers are having to make tough spending decisions, we understand the growing need to manage one’s expenses and make purchases without straining one’s wallet. That’s why we’re excited to launch our BNPL card feature, which gives our customers the power and ease they need to pay for their purchases flexibly over time,” says Linda.

“By incorporating BNPL payments into their budgeting strategy, customers have more room to manage expenses such as payment of school fees or booking for holiday travel while maintaining a healthy financial outlook. We expect that the feature will give our customers more cash on hand and therefore more control over their finances, helping them to get things done,” added Linda.

The setup and confirmation process for Absa’s, Buy Now Lipa Pole Pole card feature is instant and hassle-free, ensuring a seamless experience for customers without any unnecessary delays or complications.

“We are confident that this solution not only benefits our customers greatly but also positions us as market leaders and innovators in the payments business” added Linda.

According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya, the number of card-based transactions recorded as of March 2023 topped 5,669,185, denoting a 5.3 percent increase compared to the number of transactions recorded in February 2023. This is an indicator of the growing attractiveness of the convenience of the card payment option.