Apple scraps its Pay Later loan scheme

Apple has decided to end its in-house buy now, pay later scheme in the US. This marks a change in direction for the tech giant, as it had only launched the scheme last year. Instead of continuing with its own scheme, Apple will now provide payment plans through third-party credit and debit card lenders. Customers who have already taken out loans through Apple's Pay Later scheme will still be able to manage their payments using Apple's Wallet app. This move by Apple signals a shift away from its previous plans to offer traditional financial services. With the Pay Later scheme, users in the US could divide the cost of purchases worth up to $1,000 into four instalments over six weeks, without incurring any interest or fees. This was a way for Apple to enter the financial services sector, effectively offering loans to its customers without involving banks or other traditional lenders. Apple established a new subsidiary, Apple Financing, to issue these loans. At the time of the scheme's launch, US interest rates were close to zero, making borrowing more appealing. However, as central banks raise interest rates to combat inflation, such schemes become less attractive. During its recent developer event, Apple revealed that it will collaborate with banks such as Citi in the US, HSBC in the UK, and ANZ in Australia to provide instalment payment options. These new payment choices will be integrated into the upcoming iOS 18 operating system, set to be released later this year.