Splitit Brings Card-Linked Installments to AI Agents at Checkout

Splitit Brings Installment Payments to AI Agents at Checkout

Splitit launched its Agentic Commerce Partner Program, a way for AI agents to offer card-linked installment options directly inside merchant checkout flows. It uses existing card rails and a customer's existing card, so there's no new line of credit involved. A pilot is set for Q4.

What's new

• Card-linked installments: AI agents registered with Splitit can request real-time installment plans at checkout, using the shopper's existing card.
• No new credit line: Payments are authorized and settled on current networks, reducing friction for customers and merchants.
• Built for interoperability: The program is created to work with emerging frameworks such as Google's AP2 and OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol.
• Pilot timeline: Initial rollout begins in Q4.

Why it matters

AI-driven shopping is moving from demos to daily use. Adobe reports that 53% of consumers plan to use AI for product research and 40% for purchasing recommendations this holiday season. Installments inside agent flows meet shoppers where decisions happen-at checkout.

• For merchants: Potential uplift in conversion and average order value with minimal change to the payment stack.
• For platforms and marketplaces: A standardized path to support agent-initiated purchases without reinventing payments.
• For issuers and networks: More installment volume stays on existing card rails.

How it works (high level)

• The shopper grants an AI agent permission to use a saved card.
• At checkout, the agent requests installment options from Splitit in real time.
• Available plans are presented within the merchant flow; the agent confirms per the shopper's preferences.
• Splitit schedules installments against the existing card; settlement to the merchant follows standard rails.

Who should pay attention

• Retailers and DTC brands: Electronics, home, travel, and higher-ticket categories where installments can reduce cart abandonment.
• Commerce and AI platforms: Building agent interfaces that need consistent, compliant payment options.
• Developers and product teams: Implementing agent-aware checkout logic and tokenized card flows.
• Banks and networks: Exploring card-based installment models in agent contexts.

Practical considerations

• Consent and control: Clear user permissioning for agent-initiated payments and installment selection.
• Risk and authorization: Since the card is on-file, think through step-up authentication and session integrity.
• Returns and disputes: Map how partial refunds and chargebacks affect remaining installments.
• Cross-border: Factor in currency, tax, and plan availability across regions.
• Data handling: Ensure PCI scope and data minimization for agent-card interactions.

Action steps for teams

• Audit your checkout to support agent-triggered payment requests and display of installment plans.
• Adopt tokenized card storage and strong customer authentication where applicable.
• Instrument analytics around agent-initiated sessions: conversion, AOV, approval rates, and refund handling.
• Engage with Splitit's partner program ahead of the Q4 pilot to scope integration and test flows.

If you're building agentic shopping experiences and want to level up your team's skills, explore role-based learning paths at Complete AI Training.

What to watch next

• Merchant case studies from the Q4 pilot: approval rates, conversion lift, and operational overhead.
• Standardization progress around Google's AP2 and OpenAI's Agentic Commerce Protocol.
• Issuer and network participation in card-based installments for AI agent purchases.

Bottom line: installments are moving inside AI agent workflows. Splitit's approach keeps payments on familiar rails while giving shoppers flexible ways to pay at the exact moment choices are made.