Klarna, the global digital bank and payments provider, has expanded its U.
S. membership program by introducing Premium and Max plans, building on its existing Core and Plus offerings and following successful launches in the UK and EU.
The U.
S. expansion aims to provide an alternative to the traditional credit card model. While credit cards have historically offered rewards and benefits, they have also contributed to significant consumer costs, with U.
S. households incurring approximately $1,000 in fees in 2024 and total U.
S. credit card debt reaching $1.2 trillion.
Klarna’s membership program delivers premium perks, including airport lounge access, travel insurance, and lifestyle subscriptions, without requiring users to take on debt or meet specific spending requirements. This launch aligns with a trend where higher-income earners are reportedly shifting away from credit cards in favor of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options. A survey conducted by Morning Consult from October 9-12, 2025, among 2,001 US adults, indicated that 11.2% of adults canceled a credit card in the past 12 months, a figure that increased to 15.1% among individuals earning $100,000 or more annually. The same demographic also reported the highest BNPL adoption, with almost one in three (30%) using it as a preferred payment method.
David Sandström, Chief Marketing Officer at Klarna, stated, “For too long, Americans have been told they need expensive credit cards to access premium rewards. Klarna is challenging that idea. With our new membership program, U.
S. consumers can unlock exclusive cashback offers, travel advantages, and lifestyle rewards without using a credit card or needing to hit a spending threshold.”
The membership program is offered in partnership with WebBank, which also issues the recently announced Klarna Card. The Klarna Card is a debit product that includes access to flexible payment options. U.
S. consumers signing up for the Klarna Card can opt into one of Klarna’s four membership plans—Core ($4.99/month), Plus ($9.99/month), Premium ($19.99/month), or Max ($44.99/month)—during the sign-up process. With over four million sign-ups for the Klarna Card in the U.
S., these expanded membership offerings coincide with significant growth for Klarna’s banking products, including more than one million signups for Core and Plus memberships in the U.
S. within the last two months.
U.
S. membership customers can convert earned cashback directly to leading travel and hospitality partners. These partners include global airlines such as Air France–KLM, British Airways, and SAS, as well as hotel groups like Accor, Radisson, Global Hotel Alliance, and Wyndham.
Premium and Max members in the U.
S. are eligible for benefits such as airport lounge access, travel protection, and memberships to services like Care.com and ClassPass. They also gain access to subscriptions from various publications and platforms, including Vogue, GQ, Headspace, and Clue.
The Premium tier costs $19.99 per month, offering over $3,000 in annual perks and benefits. This includes subscriptions to services such as AudioBooks.com, Blinkist, Care.com, ClassPass, Clue, Condé Nast (Vogue & GQ), Headspace, Laundryheap, The New York Times, and Picsart. Premium members also receive 1.5% cashback when using their Klarna balance, global travel protection, and a 16g metal card in silver or black.
The Max tier is priced at $44.99 per month, providing over $5,000 in annual perks and benefits. It includes subscriptions to ASMALLWORLD, Audiobooks.com, Blinkist, Care.com, ClassPass, Clue, Condé Nast Digital Access, Headspace, Laundryheap, and The New York Times. Max members benefit from 2% always-on cashback when using their Klarna balance, comprehensive travel, rental-car, and cancel-for-any-reason protection. This tier also offers unlimited airport lounge access worldwide via LoungeKey Pass, covering over 1,800 lounges and travel experiences, along with an exclusive 16g rose gold metal card.
