Subprime Autos, Buy-Now-Pay-Later, and Bank Stress: Cracks at the Edge of the Consumer Balance Sheet

As of December 4, 2025, subprime auto borrowers and Buy-Now-Pay-Later users are showing rising strain. This Pattern Nexus deep dive maps where the real risk sits, how much of it flows back into banks, and whether these “buy more, pay more later” rails are the real source of bank stress.