South African buy now pay later firm Float goes global with UK serving as its first market launch
Float, a card linked instalment platform, has launched in the UK. Compatible with 55+ million UK credit cards, it lets merchants offer their shoppers up to 12 interest and fee free monthly instalments using the credit card they already have, with no new credit issued and no additional sign-up process.
Operating in South Africa since 2021 with over 2,000 stores, featuring brands such as Samsung, Trek, Reebok, The North Face, and Diesel, Float is now enabling UK merchants to serve what, the company claims, is a shopper base that existing PoS financing ignores - those who already have enough credit, but just need more time to manage their payments.
Alex Forsyth-Thompson, Float’s Founder and CEO, says: "Nearly every merchant we speak to in the UK is keen to solve the same equations - getting bigger baskets without discounting or offering shoppers new loans and getting more conversions without more friction. Not only does Float answer these challenges but merchants can also be confident they are offering a benefit to their shoppers - better payment terms without the need to take on new credit. We have witnessed first-hand how merchants offering credit card linked instalments using Float’s technology are winning shoppers’ spend.”
Forsyth-Thompson adds: “Instead of a trade-off between paying down their credit card balance, taking out new credit or Point of Sale finance, or abandoning the purchase entirely, with Float, merchants can now offer their shoppers an alternative. Our tech allows merchants to give shoppers more time with the credit they already have on their existing bank-issued credit cards. That drives more value for merchants and supports responsible credit usage for banks. That’s the first step in our mission to redefine the way the world pays with credit.”
Float works with any Visa or Mastercard credit card. At the merchant’s checkout, the shopper selects to pay in instalments using their existing credit card (powered by Float), chooses their instalment plan, and pays with the card they already have - no additional sign-up process or app download required. Float’s technology operates within the shopper’s existing credit limit which also means it works within the existing credit card protections and cardholders retain their other benefits like rewards and miles.
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Payments will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
