Affirm has partnered with fintech platform Esusu to pilot a rent payment program that allows eligible renters to split their monthly housing cost into two biweekly installments at 0% APR. The program carries no hidden or late fees and uses simple underwriting processes to approve only those applicants who can responsibly repay. By reporting on-time rent payments to major credit bureaus, Esusu helps participants build credit history, while Affirm aims to align rent schedules with biweekly paychecks. The companies have not announced a full rollout date, noting the pilot remains in its early stages.

Over the past year, Affirm’s gross merchandise volume rose 38%, climbing from $20.2 billion to $36.7 billion as consumers increasingly opt for buy-now-pay-later over traditional credit cards. More than half of Gen Z and millennial shoppers now prefer BNPL, using it for online purchases across major platforms. Partnerships with Amazon, Shopify and digital wallet providers have boosted total partner volume by 70%, helping merchants convert sales and lift average order values. Interest-free short-term installment loans (‘Pay in 4’) and longer-term financing options continue to attract a broad customer base.

Affirm has aggressively reduced its operating loss from $1.2 billion in 2023 to $87 million last year, and delivered its first GAAP-profitable quarter in Q1 with $63.7 million in operating income. Management now forecasts gross merchandise volume reaching $47.5 billion in fiscal 2026, accompanied by 7.5% operating margins. As credit card rate caps remain a topic of policy debate, Affirm stands to benefit if traditional lenders scale back riskier credit, positioning BNPL as an attractive alternative for near-prime and subprime consumers.