Klarna has filed an application for a bank license in the United States, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the world's largest consumer market.
The Stockholm-listed fintech aims to establish a subsidiary named Klarna Bank USA, which would allow the company to offer deposit-taking services alongside its existing payment and lending products.
Svenska Dagbladet first reported the application, noting that the license would enable Klarna to operate as a full-service bank in the US.
The move signals a strategic pivot toward a more traditional banking model in the US, where regulatory frameworks differ substantially from those in Europe.
By obtaining a bank charter, Klarna would gain access to low-cost funding through customer deposits, potentially reducing its reliance on wholesale funding and equity markets.
This structural change could improve margins and provide greater stability in a rising interest rate environment.
Svenska Dagbladet first reported the application, noting that the license would enable Klarna to operate as a full-service bank in the US.