The Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL) feature, which allows users to send money home right away and pay for it later, was introduced by LemFi, an AI-powered international payments platform designed for immigrant communities. With its launch in the UK, where immigrants send almost £10 billion a year, the product addresses a common problem: urgent family needs rarely wait for paychecks.
At launch, LemFi’s two million+ customers can access SNPL. LemFi incorporates a revolving credit line into the transfer flow rather than demanding upfront payment like traditional remittance services do.
Credit limits ranging from £300 to £1,000
After selecting SNPL at checkout, approved users are given limits ranging from £300 to £1,000; LemFi funds the transfer immediately and sets up a deferred repayment plan for the sender.
LemFi’s AI decision-making model Ensemble is in charge of the system. Ensemble combines information from open banking feeds, national credit bureaus, LemFi’s own remittance history, and—most importantly for newcomers—signals from global credit footprints.
The system adjusts to each user’s data availability by adjusting requirements and allocating risk-adjusted limits according to affordability. The strategy seeks to lessen “credit invisibility” for foreign nationals with sparse or nonexistent UK files without compromising caution.
“Buy Now, Pay Later transformed how people purchase goods around their cash flow,” said Ridwan Olalere, LemFi’s co-founder and CEO. “But remittances—one of the most important financial lifelines for immigrants—have never had that flexibility. SNPL integrates credit directly into the remittance experience, so support isn’t delayed by timing.”
First step towards access
LemFi Credit onboarding, which uses open banking to determine eligibility and adjust limits, is the first step towards access. After that, customers can send to any of the more than 30 LemFi-supported destination nations in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
According to LemFi, its same-day and real-time rails speed up transfers when compared to conventional bank routes, enabling families to get money when it counts.
The business presents SNPL as a tool for financial inclusion as well as a convenience feature. A disproportionate number of immigrants from emerging markets are impacted, with an estimated five million people in the UK being deemed credit invisible.
According to surveys, 13 per cent of migrants report being excluded from banking services, compared to 3 per cent of the general population, and 90 per cent of immigrants believe that getting credit has gotten harder recently.
LemFi contends that SNPL can offer a bridge product by acknowledging alternative data and cross-border credit histories: modest limits initially, a route to a more robust UK credit profile later on.
Planned expansion to US, Canada and Europe
LemFi intends to extend SNPL beyond the UK to the US, Canada, and Europe, enhancing its current footprint in those areas.
With over two million users and the ability to send money to dozens of countries, the company has expanded quickly since its founding.
With backers including Highland Europe, LeftLane Capital, Endeavour Capital, and Y Combinator, LemFi raised $53 million in Series B funding in January 2025, increasing its total capital to over $86 million.
Responsible use will be crucial, just like with any credit product. According to LemFi, emergency support can be made quicker, more equitable, and easier with smarter data and underwriting that is sensitive to the realities of migration.
A portion of remittances that has long forced senders to decide between postponing assistance or taking on expensive, informal debt could be reshaped if SNPL works as intended. For millions of people travelling through new nations, that represents a significant change in timing and dignity.