New credit models focus on merchant profitability: How are the rules changing?

Portafolio Journalist 04.29.2026 08:39 Updated: 04.29.2026 08:45

New credit models focus on merchant profitability: How are the rules changing?

TL;DR

  • Point-of-sale financing is essential for retailers facing increased costs and cautious consumers.
  • Traditional models incur high commissions for merchants on financed transactions.
  • Sumas, a Colombian fintech, offers a commission-free model for merchants on credit sales.
  • This model aims to incentivize consumption without reducing merchant profitability.
  • Credit at the point of sale can increase the average ticket size by up to 50% and customer lifetime value by up to 40%.
  • Sumas's differentiator is the absence of commissions, shifting the competitive advantage to the brand.
  • Challenges for these models include financial sustainability and credit risk management.
  • The use of credit is evolving from a purchase incentive to a tool for productivity and profitability.