Klarna CEO backs Trump's 10% credit card cap, criticizing rewards as built on poorer borrowers' debt

Core Viewpoint - Klarna's CEO supports President Trump's proposal to cap US credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, arguing it is a sensible measure to protect consumers [1]. Group 1: Klarna's Position on Credit Cards - Traditional credit cards encourage consumers to accumulate high balances at high interest rates, which disproportionately affects lower-income borrowers [2]. - Klarna's model focuses on smaller purchases with fixed, interest-free payments, aiming to reduce the risk of overspending [3]. - Klarna assesses purchases in real time based on current spending behavior, which helps customers borrow less and miss payments less frequently [4]. Group 2: Critique of Credit Card Systems - Credit card rewards programs primarily benefit wealthier consumers, while lower-income borrowers bear the costs, leading to an unfair economic dynamic [4]. - Merchants increase prices to cover credit card fees, impacting even those who do not use credit cards, effectively redistributing income from lower to higher-income consumers [5]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Analyst Opinions - Trump's proposal to cap interest rates led to a sell-off in major financial stocks, including Capital One, Synchrony Financial, JPMorgan, and Citigroup [5]. - Analysts from UBS and Goldman Sachs caution that a 10% cap could reduce credit availability, making borrowing more difficult for some consumers [6]. - SoFi's CEO suggests that the proposal might shift consumer preference from credit cards to personal loans [6].