Klarna adds free financial health checks for UK app users

Klarna is introducing free financial wellbeing checks for its UK customers through a partnership with Money Wellness, a financial wellbeing platform. The service, called Money MOT, will be available to all UK Klarna users and is designed to give guidance on budgeting, savings, debts and broader personal finances.

The arrangement brings Money Wellness support into Klarna’s customer experience, allowing users to choose how they complete the check. Klarna said customers can speak to an adviser by chat, book a call, or complete the process online.

The service adds a financial guidance feature to Klarna’s UK app at a time when consumer finance providers are placing more emphasis on affordability, budgeting tools and support channels. The companies did not provide usage targets or disclose financial terms for the partnership.

How the Money MOT works

The Money MOT functions as a financial health check. Rather than focusing on a single product, it is intended to help users assess their overall money position and receive practical guidance based on their circumstances, according to Klarna and Money Wellness.

Users can access the check in one of three ways:

• through an online process;
• by chatting with an adviser;
• by booking a call for support.

Klarna said the service is free and can be used by customers when they choose. A Klarna spokesperson said the aim is to provide access to expert help at a time that suits users, including those who feel financially secure as well as those who want more control over their money.

Abby Vickers, Klarna’s head of financial services in the UK, said the Money MOT is intended to give customers a quick way to assess their position and receive personalised, practical tips. She said Klarna was bringing Money Wellness expertise into the app so support would be available within the customer journey.

Focus on savings, debt and budgeting

The companies said the guidance available through Money MOT will cover overall finances, including savings management, debt management and budgeting advice. The service is framed as a wellbeing tool rather than a crisis-only intervention.

Sebrina McCullough, director of external relations at Money Wellness, said financial wellbeing includes helping people feel confident and in control of day-to-day money decisions, as well as addressing problems when they emerge. She said the partnership with Klarna would make free financial support easier for customers to access and help more people take steps toward longer-term financial wellbeing.

Money Wellness is described by the companies as a financial wellbeing platform. Klarna is making the service available to its UK users through the Money MOT feature, with the adviser, phone and online routes offering different levels of interaction depending on customer preference.

The partnership sits at the intersection of payments, personal finance and digital support services. For Klarna, the feature expands the customer tools available inside its UK app. For Money Wellness, the tie-up gives its financial wellbeing checks access to Klarna’s UK customer base.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.