Kuwait, 11 October 2026: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced the launch of the BuyNow app, offering the first Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service provided by a bank in Kuwait. The app delivers a seamless digital experience that brings shopping, flexible payment options, and financing solutions together in one place. The launch forms part of KIB’s new KIB Now strategy, which aims to enhance the customer experience and expand its ecosystem of digital solutions.
The announcement was made during a press conference held by KIB on Wednesday, 07 October at KIB Business Center, where the Bank showcased the app, highlighted its key features, and explained how it works. BuyNow marks the second digital platform launched by KIB within just one month, following the recent introduction of DriveNow, underscoring the Bank’s accelerated rollout of digital experiences designed to address a broad range of customer needs.
BuyNow features two core services: Split and Finance. Through Split, eligible customers can purchase products and services worth up to KD 500 and repay the amount in four equal monthly installments at 0% profit, with no fees. The service also offers instant eligibility checks and immediate approval. Customers can link either a Kuwaiti debit card or a credit card to the app.
As for the Finance service, it allows customers to finance purchases above KD 500 and up to KD 25,000, with 0% profit and no salary transfer requirement. Repayment periods start from three months, subject to customer eligibility, with a minimum monthly installment of KD 20. The service is available to both Kuwaiti citizens and residents, whether they are KIB customers or bank elsewhere, through Sharia-compliant consumer financing based on the Musawama structure.
Commenting on the Bank’s newest product, Othman Tawfeqe, General Manager of Retail Banking at KIB, said: “The launch of BuyNow marks another step forward in enhancing what we offer our customers. The app brings shopping, payment options, and financing together in one experience, giving customers greater flexibility in managing their purchases in the way that suits them best. We were also keen to ensure that the experience is clear and simple, while delivering practical value across a range of everyday uses.”
Tawfeqe added: “BuyNow comes shortly after the launch of DriveNow, as part of the continued rollout of our KIB Now strategy, through which we aim to bring our services closer to customers and align them more closely with their interests and lifestyles. We aspire for these experiences to accompany our customers across different stages of their lives, strengthening our relationship with them and reflecting our main slogan, ‘Bank for Life’.”
BuyNow also allows customers to browse products and services from a range of participating brands and partners, compare available options, and benefit from offers featured on the app. Categories include automotive, healthcare, education, furniture, electronics, and gaming. Customers can also track their financing applications and payments through the app, all in one place.
From his side, Mohammed El-Shareef, General Manager of Digital Innovation and Data Intelligence at KIB, said: “When developing BuyNow, we set out with a clear objective: to simplify the steps customers go through, from searching for a product or service to selecting the payment or financing option that best suits their needs. We therefore designed an integrated digital experience that brings these stages together within one connected environment, using technology and data to make the customer journey faster, simpler, and more seamless.”
El-Shareef added: “KIB Now provides the framework for building a new generation of digital experiences. The launch of BuyNow shortly after DriveNow reflects the progress we are making in advancing this strategy and our ability to turn ideas into practical services that fit seamlessly into customers’ everyday lives. Building on this momentum, we will continue to develop new solutions that respond to evolving customer behavior and expectations.”
The BuyNow user journey was designed to be straightforward. Customers can download the app, browse participating partners and the available products and services, and then choose between the Split and Finance services based on the value of their purchase and their eligibility. The Split service can be used through the app, at checkout on selected websites, and in stores via a QR code or payment link.
In this context, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Assistant General Manager of Retail Banking at KIB, said: “BuyNow represents more than simply introducing a new payment and financing option. It forms part of a broader approach aimed at connecting customers’ needs with solutions that also support our corporate and merchant partners. Through this model, we are transforming payment and financing solutions into tools that help drive our partners’ business growth, enable them to reach broader customer segments, and enhance sales opportunities, while delivering a more integrated experience across the Bank, our partners, and our customers.”
Al-Shammari added: “This approach reflects greater integration across KIB’s sales channels, Retail Banking, and Business Banking, as we work to build a connected ecosystem that brings together banking, payment, and financing solutions around the needs of both customers and business partners. BuyNow represents a practical step in this direction, providing a platform to expand our partner network, deepen our relationships with them, and deliver value that goes beyond banking services to support their business growth and enhance their customers’ experience.”
The launch of BuyNow forms part of KIB’s continued efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and invest in innovation and technology to support business growth and explore new opportunities, in line with the rapid evolution of financial services and changing customer expectations.