Affirm, Inc., the technology company offering a more transparent and responsible way for users to split payments at top retailers, today announced plans to open a Chicago office in the city’s River North district.
Affirm was founded in 2012 by serial entrepreneur Max Levchin, founding CTO of PayPal, with the goal of creating honest financial products that improve consumers’ lives. Today, Affirm serves more than 4.5 million consumers, enabling them to buy now and pay later through simple monthly payments. Affirm is different from traditional credit cards. The product has no compounding interest or late fees and instead shows consumers exactly what they’ll owe, over what period of time — with no hidden fees.
“Chicago was my first home after immigrating to the United States when I was a teenager and, in many ways, it still feels like home,“ said Max Levchin, founder and CEO of Affirm. “I’m excited for Affirm to join this great community, and look forward to welcoming new, exceptional talent that will help us grow Affirm’s network of merchants and consumers.”
Affirm has already gained traction with local talent, securing 20 hires so far. fintech news
“Growing companies like Affirm know that Illinois’ top talent, world-class universities and expansive transit systems make our state a highly competitive place to do business,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois is home to a thriving – and expanding – tech industry, with major companies like Uber and Facebook doubling down on their commitment to the state, and we are excited to welcome Affirm into the community.”
Affirm’s expansion to Chicago comes at a time of great growth for the company. Affirm chose Chicago for its next location for variety of reasons:
- Access to diverse talent: To achieve the company’s mission of improving lives through honest financial products, Affirm is building a team as diverse as the consumers it serves. Chicago’s workforce allows Affirm to maintain its commitment to diversity.
- Longevity: With nearly 140 quality higher-ed institutions in the area, Chicago has the potential for the long-term talent growth that companies like Affirm can benefit from.
- Central U.S. outpost: Chicago’s location and position as the foremost business hub in the midwest offers Affirm the opportunity to bridge the gap between existing offices on the coasts in San Francisco, New York and Pittsburgh.
“Illinois is a great place to do business, with over 36 Fortune 500 companies calling the state home. Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, innovative companies like Affirm will continue to come to Illinois,” said Erin Guthrie, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Affirm plans to expand its workforce by hiring for sales, customer success, engineering and product roles in Chicago. To learn more about working at Affirm and open roles in Chicago, head to https://www.affirm.com/careers.
About Affirm
Affirm was founded with the goal of creating honest financial products and services that empower consumers and improve lives. Our goal is to revolutionize the banking industry to be more accountable and accessible to consumers. Today, Affirm provides millions of shoppers an alternative to traditional credit cards at the point of sale, giving them the flexibility to buy now and make simple monthly payments for their purchases. Unlike payment options that have compounding interest and unexpected costs, Affirm shows customers up front exactly what they’ll pay each month — with no hidden fees and no surprises. Affirm gives shoppers the ability to pay over time at any store and also partners with over 4,000 merchants including well-known brands across retail like home furnishings, travel, personal fitness, electronics, apparel and beauty, and more. Loans are made in partnership with Affirm’s originating bank partner Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
