Klarna has launched instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European countries, thus positioning its app even more clearly as a hub for grocery banking, consumption and money management. Klarna is thus challenging Swish and Vipps Mobilepay in the Nordic countries.
Klarna, the global digital bank and provider of flexible payments, is now introducing instant peer-to-peer payments that allow customers to send money to friends and family directly from the Klarna app, whether it's for splitting bills or giving money as a gift, thus combining the convenience of cash with the protection of a regulated bank.
Among the 13 launch markets, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland stand out as key markets in the Nordic region, where app-based peer-to-peer payments are already widely distributed through established services such as Swish, Vipps and Mobilepay. Klarna's new feature puts the company in more direct competition with these players as it seeks to become a primary interface for everyday payments in the region.
This launch marks the next step in Klarna's evolution as a digital bank and follows strong growth in its banking services, including Klarna Balance accounts and the Klarna card, which have received over 4 million enrolments in four months and now account for 15 per cent of total volume. Since Klarna Balance was introduced in August 2024, global deposits have nearly doubled from $9.5 billion to $14 billion in September 2025, underscoring growing customer use of Klarna's daily banking services.
The new peer-to-peer feature allows users to send money as easily as handing someone cash, while getting bank-level protection and supervision. To carry out a transfer, the user selects the recipient by phone number, email address, QR code or a saved contact, confirms the amount, and then Klarna conducts fraud and suitability checks before completing the payment.
At launch, transfers are available between Klarna users, with plans to extend the service to recipients outside Klarna and to cross-border payments in the near future. Klarna believes this will make it possible to meet even more grocery needs and money management in one and the same app experience.
Klarna describes the launch as a step deeper into everyday banking, with the goal of making the app the primary platform for daily consumption, small transfers and money management. The company is highlighting the success of the Klarna card, with millions of sign-ups in just a few months, as a sign that consumers are turning away from traditional banks because of friction and fees.
Co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski says the peer-to-peer payments are designed to make it even easier to handle all payments through Klarna, including small transfers,
