Private Credit Fuels ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Lending Boom in Asia

Maria Hazel Regalado, a 48-year-old mother of four in the Philippines, needed a computer last year so she could work from home. Regalado, who helps manage rental properties in Australia, didn’t have the cash or a credit card. A friend suggested she get a “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) loan from Billease, an online lender.

The computer cost 37,999 Philippine pesos ($664), almost as much as Regalado earns in a month. Still, Billease approved her application within minutes. She agreed to make 12 monthly payments of 4,493 pesos each, including principal and interest. The effective annual rate: 42%. “At ...