Sunward Launches Buy Now, Pay Later Feature to Members, First in New Mexico

Members now get more funds to pay for eligible purchases over time

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As more people look to credit unions they know and trust to help navigate their financial needs, Sunward Federal Credit Union (Sunward) announced today that it has added Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to its suite of online banking products in an effort to meet members' shifting payment preferences.

Serving over 165,000 members across 16 locations across the Southwest and in California, Sunward is the first New Mexico-based credit union to launch BNPL for its members.

This new solution is designed to help Sunward members better manage their budget and access funds to make the purchases they need. Launched in partnership with equipifi, a leading BNPL platform designed for financial institutions, this BNPL program is available to Sunward members through their existing credit union debit cards and checking accounts, embedded within online banking. All offers are pre-qualified and personalized to the member's financial context, ensuring the process is easy and intuitive. 

"We build our offerings to meet our members where they are and to provide them with an excellent banking experience," said Alex de la Cruz, Executive Vice President at Sunward. "With the launch of BNPL, we are elevating our service offerings with financing options personalized to fit how our members actually live and bank."

"BNPL is a must-have tool for consumers to stretch their budget and to achieve their long-term financial goals. For years, they have been asking for it from their trusted financial institutions," said Bryce Deeney, CEO and co-founder of equipifi. "Credit unions have been quick to respond with the solution their members need. By launching flexible payment options, Sunward is committing to a better banking experience for their membership."

About Sunward Federal Credit Union
Sunward Federal Credit Union is one of New Mexico's largest credit unions, serving over 165,000 members and managing more than $4.2 billion in assets. Formed in 1948 by employees of Sandia National Laboratories, Sunward's footprint spans 16 branches across the Southwest including New Mexico, Colorado and California. Sunward has been named Albuquerque's Best Bank in 2024 by the Albuquerque Journal's Readers' Choice Awards. Anyone can apply to open an account, and members can enjoy access to checking, savings, mortgage, auto, credit card and investment services.

Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit gosunward.org.

About equipifi
equipifi is the leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform for financial institutions in the United States. This is a white label solution designed to align with consumer purchase habits, payment preferences, and financial goals. The equipifi platform seamlessly integrates with leading banking cores and digital banking platforms to deepen customer engagement, grow market share, increase revenue, and provide a single place to view, accept, and manage BNPL plans on their existing banking app. For more information, please visit http://www.equipifi.com/. 

SOURCE equipifi