Adoption of buy now, pay later (BNPL) continues to grow rapidly; 37% of US consumers have made a purchase using this method in the last 90 days. This means a 5 percentage point increase in just one year.
according to JD Power 2026 USA Buy Now Pay Later Satisfaction SurveyAs BNPL usage matures and providers continue to launch new products, customers are increasingly using it to manage their daily expenses.
“The 2026 research shows continued and rapid growth for BNPL, driven largely by increased use of services offered by fintech providers. But when it comes to overall satisfaction, traditional financial institutions offer a much more positive user experience,” said Sean Gelles, Senior Director of Banking and Payments at J.D. Power. “This points to a tremendous opportunity for traditional financial institutions. Customers are looking for BNPL solutions from brands they already know and trust.”
Key BNPL study findings
Customer satisfaction for bank brands is rising sharply: Although bank-branded BNPL services still represent only a fraction of total BNPL spending, the average overall customer satisfaction score for bank-based BNPL services is 704 (on a 1,000-point scale), up 59 points from last year’s study. In comparison, customer satisfaction with fintech BNPL brands decreased by 17 points compared to last year, reaching 603.
Payment/point-of-sale opportunity for bank brands: 52% of customers using a BNPL service associated with their credit card decide to use a fixed payment plan after the purchase is completed, while 48% make this decision at the time of purchase; This points to an opportunity for bank brands that can create installment plans for the payment/point of sale experience.
Most customers pay BNPL in four installments using their debit card: The “pay in four installments” plan is by far the most common BNPL format used; 82% of fintech customers and 73% of bank customers pay for their purchases in four equal installments. Debit cards are the most commonly used form of payment; 64% of FinTech customers connect their BNPL payments to a debit card.
