Affirm’s Agentic Credit Push Brings Lending Decisions to Checkout

U.S. fintech company Affirm describes “Agentic credit” as the next stage of consumer lending. Unlike revolving credit lines, which have been used for about 60 years and can be drawn on repeatedly after a one-time approval, the model evaluates each transaction in real time based on its value, the borrower’s monthly cash flow and existing debt. It shifts risk assessment from the account level to the transaction level, aiming to expand access to credit while preventing excessive borrowing.

On April 27, 2026, Affirm President Libor Michalek told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster that the system can approve, reject or reprice financing as a consumer checks out while disclosing the total cost of installments in advance. The report did not disclose the value of individual loans or the overall investment, but said millions of users each year abandon purchases after seeing the full cost.