Affirm has upgraded its underwriting process to include real-time financial signals, such as account balances and cash flow trends. This change allows Affirm to gain a more accurate and immediate view of a consumer's financial status at the point of sale, leading to better credit decisions. Currently, users who have linked a third-party bank account or an Affirm Money Account can benefit from these enhanced signals. In the near future, this feature will be available to a broader audience. The new approach contrasts with traditional credit card practices, where approval occurs only once during application. Vishal Kapoor, Affirm's SVP of Product, highlights that people's financial situations fluctuate due to various life events. By incorporating up-to-the-minute data, Affirm can adapt its credit decisions to match the current realities of consumers. This flexibility not only helps those with limited credit histories but also boosts their purchasing power; preliminary data shows an average increase of about 12% in spending capacity when using this updated system.