Sezzle and ICBA partner to bring flexible financing to college bookstores

By Edlyn Cardoza

Sezzle, one of the leaders in the flexible payment industry, announced a partnership with the Independent College Bookstore Association. ICBA provides Education, Networking, and Vendor Programs that empower college stores to remain independent and be financially and operationally successful.

“At Sezzle, we prioritize making purchases more convenient, accessible, and affordable across the communities we serve, and this includes education,” said Sezzle’s CEO, Charlie Youakim. “No student should ever lose out on educational opportunities because they’re worried about the ability to pay at the time of service. By partnering with ICBA and its Member Stores, we are making it possible to pay in a way that works for students without the worry of interest charges.”

Today’s generation of college students is drowning in debt more than ever before in an endless cycle of inflated student loans, textbooks, and cost of living. Textbook prices have skyrocketed for decades, and between 1977 and 2015, the cost of textbooks increased by 1,041% and outpaced currency inflation by 238%. In recent years, textbook affordability has been emphasized to improve student outcomes throughout higher education.

Expensive textbooks can dangerously impact a college student’s financial ability to receive an education, and many students are forced to increase their loans or go without an essential text. ICBA’s Member Stores are committed to helping students in an adapting environment, and the opportunity to provide Sezzle’s flexible financing solution was an evident next step in their journey to aid in access to affordable education.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Sezzle as a partner to enable our Member Stores to offer more flexible payment options to their campus customers,” said ICBA’s CEO, Jon Bibo. “Sezzle’s emphasis on financial empowerment and their focus on responsible spending made them stand alone as the best partner for our market.”

Through ICBA Member Stores, Sezzle can now offer students its payment solution at over 230 college stores across the United States and Canada the ability to pay overtime worry-free, with non-predatory flexible financing options. Students can purchase everything from textbooks to school supplies to college gear now and pay overtime in four interest-free installments using Sezzle’s safe and secure financing solution.

“Sezzle was communicative and easy to work with throughout the implementation process, and we were up and running online within 4 months. Sezzle users on average are spending $50 more per transaction,” said Kate Mounger, Director of Marketing for the University Co-op at The University of Texas at Austin.