Affirm will become the exclusive buy now, pay later provider for Sam’s Club under a multi-year agreement announced Oct. 22. The deal gives the installment lender a new connection to a major Walmart-owned retailer after Klarna displaced it as Walmart’s U.S. BNPL partner in 2025.
Affirm’s service is expected to launch on SamsClub.com within weeks, according to PYMNTS. Sam’s Club plans to add the payment option at physical club locations in 2027. The companies have not disclosed the financial terms or the value of the agreement.
A return to Walmart’s retail network
Under the arrangement, eligible Sam’s Club customers will be able to request financing during checkout. Affirm says shoppers will receive a decision in real time and can select a monthly payment schedule before completing the purchase. The company also says its plans do not include late fees or compound interest.
The partnership follows a significant change in Walmart’s payments strategy. In March 2025, Klarna announced that it would replace Affirm as Walmart’s exclusive U.S. BNPL provider. Klarna’s installment loans run through Walmart’s in-house fintech application, OnePay. Affirm had supplied Walmart’s BNPL service since 2019.
| Development | Timing |
|---|---|
| Affirm begins its Walmart relationship | 2019 |
| Klarna announces Walmart agreement | March 2025 |
| Affirm announces Sam’s Club deal | Oct. 22, 2026 |
| Sam’s Club in-club rollout | 2027 |
Why the deal matters to Affirm
Affirm’s own disclosures show how important the previous Walmart arrangement had become. The integrated Walmart program represented about 5% of Affirm’s gross merchandise volume and roughly 2% of adjusted operating income during the six months ending in December 2024. Gross merchandise volume is the total value of transactions processed through the platform, rather than Affirm’s revenue.
Affirm shares fell as much as 8% to 11% when Klarna’s Walmart win became public in 2025. On the day the Sam’s Club agreement was announced, the stock closed down 1.51% at $72.40, according to figures reported by TIKR. The movement contrasted with the importance of the retailer relationship but did not erase the significance of a large national checkout partnership.
For consumers, the agreement will add another way to spread out the cost of purchases at Sam’s Club. BNPL plans can divide a transaction into scheduled installments, but the specific financing terms available to a shopper can depend on the transaction and the lender’s approval decision. The deal’s terms do not disclose how many Sam’s Club customers will use Affirm or what types of purchases will qualify.
- Online availability: Affirm is expected to launch on SamsClub.com within weeks.
- Store availability: Physical Sam’s Club locations are expected to receive the service in 2027.
- Exclusivity: Affirm will be Sam’s Club’s exclusive pay-over-time provider under the multi-year agreement.
