Digital payment solutions continue to evolve as major tech companies explore new ways for consumers to manage their finances. Samsung is now entering the increasingly popular Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) market with a new feature for its digital wallet service, allowing users to split purchases into installments directly from their smartphones.
Samsung Launches Early Access Program for Installment Payments
Samsung has begun inviting select users to participate in an early access program for a new installment payment feature in Samsung Wallet. Previously referred to as Instant Installment, the feature has been rebranded as Installment Payments and will allow eligible users to split their in-store purchases into multiple payments over time. The trial program is scheduled to run from April 28 to June 6, 2025, giving Samsung approximately six weeks to gather user feedback and refine the service before a potential wider rollout.
Early Access Program Details
- Program duration: April 28 to June 6, 2025
- Eligible states: Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming
- Compatible cards: Select Visa and Mastercard credit cards from participating banks
- Implementation partner: Splitit
Limited Availability During Testing Phase
The early access program comes with significant geographical restrictions. Currently, only residents of fourteen states will be eligible to participate: Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming. Users in these states who are interested in the feature can join a waitlist through the Samsung Wallet app, where they may also see a promotional banner for the service.
How Samsung's Installment Payments Will Work
The new feature integrates directly with Samsung Wallet's existing payment infrastructure, leveraging the NFC capabilities of Galaxy devices to facilitate in-store transactions. Unlike some competing BNPL services, Samsung's implementation reportedly requires no credit check, potentially making it more accessible to users with limited or imperfect credit histories. The company has partnered with Splitit to power the installment payment system.
Card Restrictions Apply
Not all payment cards will be compatible with the new feature. Samsung has specified that only select Visa and Mastercard credit cards from participating banks will be eligible for use with Installment Payments. This limitation could impact the feature's adoption rate, as users will need to ensure they have compatible cards linked to their Samsung Wallet before they can take advantage of the installment option.
Competing in the Growing BNPL Market
Samsung's entry into the BNPL space follows Google Pay, which already offers similar functionality through partnerships with providers like Affirm and Zip. However, Google's implementation comes with explicit warnings about the potential negative impact on users' credit scores if payments are missed. Samsung appears to be positioning its service as a more accessible alternative by emphasizing the absence of credit checks, though the full terms and conditions of the service have not yet been detailed.
Samsung Wallet's Ongoing Evolution
This BNPL feature represents just one aspect of Samsung's continued development of its digital wallet platform. Recently, Samsung expanded the wallet's digital key functionality to include support for Polestar and Volvo vehicles, initially focusing on the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 models. These additions join existing compatibility with vehicles from manufacturers like Kia, BMW, Genesis, and Audi, highlighting Samsung's commitment to expanding the utility of its digital wallet beyond just payments.
What Comes Next
Following the conclusion of the early access program in June 2025, Samsung is expected to evaluate the performance and user feedback of the Installment Payments feature. If successful, the service will likely see a broader rollout to more states and potentially international markets. The company has not yet announced specific plans for expansion, but the limited trial suggests Samsung is taking a measured approach to introducing this new financial service.