Affirm Puts Credit Cards to the Test with 0% Days

Buy now, pay later outfit Affirm is rolling out a national promotion that offers users the ability to avoid interest on purchases they make with the company’s tools for a limited time.

The promotion will allow eligible consumers who use Affirm’s app or card from October 22 to 24 to access thousands of 0% APR offers from leading brands across the country, according to a press release from Affirm.

Credit card issuers that were already concerned about the impact that BNPL solutions may have on the volume of payments they typically see during the holiday season now have one more thing to keep them up at night.

Many consumers, particularly members of Generations Y and Z, already use buy now, pay later solutions, according to a recent study from J.D. Power.

Members of Generations Y and Z use BNPL products more than other age groups, according to a J.D. Power study.

“The BNPL segment has undoubtedly grown in popularity, with more customers using these services than ever before,” Sean Gelles, Senior Director of Banking and Payments at J.D. Power, said in a release covering the results of the study. “That’s been especially true around seasonal periods of higher spending, such as the holidays.”

The Affirm promotion only runs for three days. And the company has scheduled it to take place during consecutive weekdays during the week preceding Halloween, which may not be a time that’s convenient for many people to do the bulk of their holiday shopping.

With the offer, Affirm is likely hoping it can entice people who’ve been reluctant to use BNPL tools to give their solutions a shot. Shoppers who take advantage of the company’s promotion in October may feel more comfortable to continue using Affirm products over the year’s final two months.

Affirm isn’t the only payments company that’s turning to promotional offers to grab more market share as 2025 winds to a close. PayPal recently unveiled a campaign that allows people to earn 5% cash back on purchases they make with the company’s BNPL solutions through the remainder of the year.

The company said in its press release announcing the incentive that more than 80% of people who have either used or thought about using a BNPL tool in the past are open to using one during their holiday shopping in 2025. PayPal’s offer provides them with an extra nudge to do so.

Make no mistake, BNPL providers want to take transactions away from credit card companies. Vishal Kapoor, SVP of Product at Affirm, called out credit card issuers in comments the company included in its release detailing its upcoming 0% offer.

“Shoppers are tired of fine print and fake promos,” Kapoor said. “When credit cards say 0%, there can be hidden costs hiding in the shadows — deferred interest, compounding debt, late fees.”

Issuers can combat negative perceptions consumers may have about credit cards by being transparent in their communications with cardholders. Issuers can benefit from reminding their customers of how credit cards can improve their lives in ways that BNPL options can’t.

Card companies can use marketing messages to highlight the benefits of responsible credit card use, such as offering a cardholder the ability to establish and build a credit profile. 

Issuers that offer robust rewards programs with their cards can also alert customers that they can earn those perks at any time of the year, if applicable, not just during promotional periods.