The news: Debit card-linked installment options are growing in number and are gaining ground among consumers, per PYMNTS research.

• Consumers are already familiar with buy now, pay later (BNPL) installments from fintechs and credit card-linked installments.
• But many still prefer debit cards to protect themselves from overspending. More than two-thirds of consumers under age 65 used a debit card at least once in a 30-day period, per the Federal Reserve’s Survey and Diary of Consumer Payments Choice.

Combining the payment flexibility of installments with the budget-friendliness of debit cards can bring the best of both worlds to consumers.