Starting in Fall 2025, some of your Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) activity could start showing up on your credit report. That’s because FICO is rolling out its newest credit scoring models, FICO Score 10 BNPL and FICO Score 10T BNPL, which will factor in BNPL loans if lenders choose to report them.
If you’ve ever split a payment at checkout using Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, or another BNPL service, this shift matters. For the first time, how you use BNPL may affect your credit.
What is Buy Now Pay Later?
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm let you split purchases into smaller, interest-free payments. For many, it’s a flexible alternative to credit cards, especially when budgets are tight. In a Kikoff x Harris Poll, 53% of Americans said BNPL makes them feel more in control than credit cards. Among Kikoff users, 47% said they’ve used BNPL to cover unexpected expense, a sign that it’s become a common way to navigate financial stress.
What’s changing with the new FICO 10 BNPL?
FICO 10 BNPL is the newest version of FICO’s credit scoring model. While most lenders still rely on the previous FICO 8, this update introduces a key change: some Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) accounts can now appear in your credit history when providers choose to share that data.
FICO says this change was made to better reflect how people spend and borrow today. With the rise of BNPL as a popular alternative to credit cards, many younger or credit-invisible consumers were essentially operating outside of the traditional credit system. This change brings that borrowing into view, but the actual impact on your score will likely be small.
Can I use BNPL to build my credit?
Probably not in a meaningful way. As most BNPL providers aren’t reporting to the credit bureaus yet, many accounts won’t show up at all. Even when they do, FICO’s analysis shows the impact is minor. Incorporating BNPL loans typically results in score changes of less than ±10 points for over 85% of consumers, meaning most people will see only minor differences, if any. At best, on-time BNPL payments might give your score a small nudge.
Will missed BNPL payments affect my credit score now?
Under FICO 10, missed or late BNPL payments may now show up on your credit report. In the past, most BNPL activity wasn’t reported, but that’s starting to change. As more providers begin sharing data with credit bureaus, a missed BNPL payment could hurt your score, similar to missing a credit card or loan payment.
Will Lenders Even See My FICO 10 BNPL Score?
Not always. Even though BNPL can show up in FICO 10 BNPL, many lenders still use older scoring models, like FICO 8 or even older. Upgrading to a new model takes time and money, so a lot of lenders just stick with what they already use. So while your BNPL activity might be reported, it doesn’t mean every lender will see it.
The Bottom Line
With FICO 10 BNPL rolling out, some BNPL activity will soon become visible to credit bureaus, especially if payments are missed. That visibility means it’s worth being more mindful of how you use BNPL moving forward.
While paying on time might give your score a slight lift, BNPL isn’t a substitute for true credit-building. Long-term credit growth still comes from good habits, like making on-time payments, keeping credit utilization low, and using revolving accounts wisely.
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