Fiserv and Affirm Join Forces to Bring Flexible Payments to Debit
Rhea-AI Summary
Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) announced an exclusive collaboration with Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) to add pay-over-time (Debit BNPL) capabilities to debit card programs for thousands of Fiserv U.S. bank and credit union clients, effective Jan. 26, 2026.
Key elements include turnkey integration with Affirm’s platform for real-time underwriting, loan origination, and funding; native embedding in Fiserv digital solutions so issuers need no operational lift; cardholder ability to split eligible purchases into fixed payments with clear schedules and no hidden fees; and access to Affirm’s merchant network of nearly 420,000 merchants, including offers such as 0% APR.
Positive
- Access to nearly 420,000 Affirm merchants expands cardholder purchasing options
- Turnkey integration with Affirm provides real-time underwriting, origination, and funding without issuer operational lift
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, FISV declined 0.61%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | Clover Japan partnership | Positive | +1.9% | Clover suite expansion with Sumitomo Mitsui into Japan’s SMB market. |
| Jan 20 | Earnings timing update | Neutral | -2.7% | Announcement of Q4 2025 earnings release date and webcast details. |
| Jan 12 | CareCredit Clover expansion | Positive | -2.4% | Synchrony CareCredit financing expanded to 40,000+ providers via Clover. |
| Jan 09 | Analytics product launch | Positive | +0.5% | Launch of Unknown Shopper analytics using card-present transaction data. |
| Jan 08 | AI collaboration | Positive | +1.1% | Strategic AI collaboration with Microsoft using Copilot and Foundry on Azure. |
Recent strategic and technology partnerships have generally seen positive price reactions, with one notable negative move following a partner-related Clover headline.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expands Fiserv’s debit capabilities by integrating Affirm’s pay-over-time options into existing bank and credit union programs, leveraging a network of nearly 420,000 merchants and potential 0% APR offers. It continues a series of partnership and technology initiatives aimed at deepening engagement across payments ecosystems. Investors may watch how quickly institutions adopt the turnkey BNPL solution and how this complements prior platform expansions and analytics launches.
Key Terms
bnpl financial
apr financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Strategic collaboration empowers financial institutions with turnkey Debit BNPL integration and access to the Affirm merchant network
MILWAUKEE and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology, today announced an exclusive collaboration with Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) to bring pay-over-time capabilities to debit card programs for financial institutions. This collaboration empowers thousands of Fiserv U.S. bank and credit union clients to meet growing consumer demand for flexible payment options without needing to build new lending products.
Fiserv and Affirm first partnered in 2022 to integrate Affirm into Commerce Hub, enabling merchants to offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) at checkout. This latest expansion underscores Fiserv’s commitment to delivering innovative debit solutions that help financial institutions compete and meet rising consumer expectations.
Key benefits for Fiserv clients include:
- Turnkey integration: Fiserv and Affirm will manage all technical aspects, leveraging Affirm’s platform to support real-time underwriting, loan origination, and funding. Fiserv will integrate the technology into its digital solutions so that banks and credit unions can seamlessly and natively offer the products without any operational lift required.
- Enhanced debit engagement: By embedding BNPL into existing debit programs, issuers can keep customer spend within their ecosystem, driving engagement and transaction growth.
- Access to Affirm’s network: Consumers can use Affirm anywhere their debit cards are accepted and apply for flexible payment options to expand their purchasing power with no hidden fees. Affirm partners with nearly 420,000 merchants, giving cardholders access to custom financing offers—including
0% APR—at leading brands and retailers. - Offers payment choice and flexibility: Debit cardholders will have the option to split eligible purchases into fixed payments—with a clear repayment schedule, a defined end date, and no late or hidden fees—directly from their bank’s mobile app.
“Community and regional banks and credit unions want to meet evolving consumer expectations around greater flexibility in how they pay for purchases all the while building a strong relationship with their primary financial institution,” said Erik Wichita, Head of Card Services, Fiserv. “This partnership gives our clients a practical, scalable way to offer such payment flexibility through their existing debit products—helping them compete effectively, deepen customer and member relationships, and drive top-of-wallet engagement with their products.”
“Millions of consumers depend on their local financial institutions, including for their top-of-wallet debit cards,” said Wayne Pommen, Chief Revenue Officer at Affirm. “By partnering with Fiserv, we’re helping these institutions offer transparent pay-over-time options—so customers can get the flexibility they need from the banks and credit unions they already depend on, rather than having to look elsewhere. We’re excited to enable this co-branded offering for Fiserv’s partners, allowing them to natively offer Affirm’s flexible payments through their existing debit cards.”
About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a Fortune 500 company, moves more than money. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and Clover®, the world’s smartest point-of-sale system and business management platform. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential Companies™. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.
About Affirm
Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network—one based on trust, transparency, and putting people first—we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X.
For more information contact:
| Fiserv Media Relations: Mark Jelfs Senior Manager, Communications 262-737-8244 mark.jelfs@fiserv.com | Affirm Media Relations: Andrea Hackett Communications Manager 609-439-9719 andrea.hackett@affirm.com |
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FAQ
What did Fiserv and Affirm announce on January 26, 2026 regarding debit cards (FISV)?
How will the Fiserv–Affirm integration work for banks and credit unions (FISV)?
What merchant access do Fiserv cardholders gain through the Affirm partnership (FISV)?
What payment options will debit cardholders have after the Fiserv and Affirm collaboration (FISV)?
Will banks need to build new lending products to offer Affirm pay-over-time via debit (FISV)?
