Overview
Klarna is a Swedish bnpl and digital banking company (NYSE: KLAR) serving consumers and merchants globally. It has operated as a licensed bank in Europe since 2017 and is pursuing a U.S. industrial bank charter to internalize payments, savings, credit, and merchant services.
Recent Developments
- 2026-07-06: Filed applications with Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the FDIC to establish Klarna Bank USA, a Utah-chartered industrial bank (2026-07-07-klarna-banking-license-american-banker)
- 2026-07-06: Proposed CEO Gary Harding — former chairman/CEO of Milestone Bank and president/CEO of Prime Alliance Bank
- U.S. scale: ~30 million Americans use Klarna annually; $91.3B+ credit extended since 2019 via partner banks (including WebBank)
- Europe: Banking license since 2017 covers 24 European markets
Klarna Bank USA is a pending application, not an approved charter. Industrial bank applications face regulatory scrutiny and uncertain timelines.