Equifax and Qlarifi Partner to Study Impact of Buy Now, Pay Later on Credit Risk and Fraud

Rhea-AI Summary

Equifax (NYSE: EFX) and Qlarifi have announced a partnership to conduct the industry's first comprehensive study on Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) data's impact on credit risk and fraud prevention. The study comes as over 50% of U.S. consumers currently use BNPL services, with 35% planning to increase usage in 2025.

The collaboration will leverage Qlarifi's real-time BNPL consumer credit database to analyze data from multiple providers, focusing on loan stacking risks, predictive power of BNPL data, and consumer protection. The partnership aims to enhance credit decisioning processes and provide greater visibility into consumer financial behavior across BNPL platforms.

Positive

• Partnership addresses growing BNPL market with over 50% consumer adoption rate
• First industry study using real-time multi-provider BNPL data
• Potential to improve credit access for consumers with limited credit history
• Enhanced ability to identify loan stacking risks in real-time

Negative

• Current lack of comprehensive BNPL data integration in credit assessments
• Increasing risk of consumer overextension in BNPL market

ATLANTA and LONDON, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) a global data, analytics and technology company, and Qlarifi, the first real-time consumer credit database purpose built for Buy Now, Pay Later lending, are partnering to conduct a joint study on the impact of BNPL reporting on credit risk assessments and fraud prevention.

According to a recent survey, more than 50% of U.S. consumers currently use BNPL for payment and 35% are planning on increasing their use in 2025. As BNPL use grows, Equifax and Qlarifi recognize the need for in-depth analysis on the predictive power of real-time BNPL data. The joint Equifax and Qlarifi study will be the industry's first U.S. group study utilizing real-time BNPL data from multiple providers to measure the impact on credit risk assessments and the ability to prevent fraud.

Qlarifi provides a platform designed specifically for short-term credit. The platform gives lenders a secure and simple path to furnishing data for to-the-second tracking of BNPL usage by consumers across providers. This real-time infrastructure provides secure, dynamic insights into consumer borrowing across BNPL providers allowing for the identification of loan stacking in real-time and surfacing insights specific to the BNPL industry.

"Conducting a group study with an innovative partner like Qlarifi and multiple BNPL providers will ultimately allow the industry to identify the potential to minimize loan stacking risks and trends, quantify the predictive power of BNPL data, and maximize the benefits to consumers," said Jake Osborne, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fintech and Payments at Equifax.

As more consumers adopt BNPL, understanding the predictive impact of this data has become increasingly important to lenders and service providers. While traditional credit reports remain a strong indicator of credit history and past financial reliability, lenders are seeking the most comprehensive consumer view possible to optimize offers and inform their decisioning. This study will also explore how BNPL data can strengthen consumer protection by providing early visibility into financial stress, identifying loan stacking in real-time, and helping prevent overextension. At the same time, responsible BNPL usage can help create greater access to credit for consumers with limited credit history.

"BNPL providers and traditional lenders have been flying blind for too long," said Alex Naughton, CEO of Qlarifi. "This joint study, providing real-time data across multiple providers, will be a crucial first step in understanding how organizations can better serve the evolving needs of both the lending community and consumers by offering a more complete and transparent view of how BNPL behavior can inform credit decisioning."

For more information about how Equifax helps FinTech companies innovate and support positive outcomes, click here. For more information about how Qlarifi enhances risk and fraud lending decisions with accurate, detailed and real-time data, click here.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. 
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com.

About Qlarifi
Qlarifi is the first real-time BNPL consumer credit database. It provides insightful underwriting data for BNPL lenders via consumers' transaction history. With richer data, lenders can make more informed underwriting decisions - helping both BNPL providers and consumers. For more information, visit www.qlarifi.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 
Tiffany Smith for Equifax
mediainquiries@equifax.com

Emma Dunn for Qlarifi
emma@fridayinitiatives.com 

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SOURCE Equifax Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Equifax's partnership with Qlarifi for BNPL analysis?

The partnership aims to conduct the industry's first comprehensive study using real-time BNPL data from multiple providers to assess credit risk and prevent fraud.

How many U.S. consumers currently use Buy Now, Pay Later services in 2025?

According to the press release, more than 50% of U.S. consumers currently use BNPL services, with 35% planning to increase their usage in 2025.

What specific benefits will the Equifax-Qlarifi BNPL study provide?

The study will help minimize loan stacking risks, quantify BNPL data's predictive power, provide early visibility into financial stress, and help prevent consumer overextension.

How will the Equifax (NYSE: EFX) BNPL study impact consumers?

The study aims to strengthen consumer protection, provide better visibility into financial stress, prevent overextension, and potentially increase credit access for consumers with limited credit history.

What unique capability does Qlarifi bring to the Equifax partnership?

Qlarifi provides a platform specifically designed for short-term credit with real-time tracking of BNPL usage across providers, enabling immediate identification of loan stacking and industry-specific insights.