Buy now, pay later became modern version of layaway and credit cards
Jan. 17, 2026, 5:04 a.m. ET More than 20 years ago, Klarna was introduced in Sweden, starting with the name Kreditor. This was one of the first buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. Not too long after that, Affirm launched in the U.S. and then Afterpay …