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    Are cheques still used in Finland?

    How people pay instead.

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    Short answer

    Finance Finland writes that cheques were adopted in Finland in the 1920s and stayed popular for more than 60 years. Bank cards arrived in the 1970s and were replaced by SEPA debit cards in the early 2000s. Today people pay mainly by card, mobile payment and bank transfer. A visitor should not expect a Finnish shop, hotel or restaurant to accept a cheque, and should bring a payment card instead.

    Practical: communication, money, services

    Why

    1. Finance Finland describes the history of cheques and cards in Finland.
    2. Card payments by Finnish cards totalled 20.6 billion euros in April to June 2026.
    3. Only 7% of Finns used cash as the main payment method in 2024, according to Finance Finland.

    Details

    EU rules on equal charges for euro payments do not apply to paper cheques.

    Tip

    Carry a card that works abroad and a little cash as a backup.

    What may differ

    A bank may still handle a foreign cheque as a special service. Ask your bank about fees.

    Common misconception

    Hotels in Finland accept travellers' cheques like anywhere else.

    What actually happens

    Cards and transfers are the normal way to pay in Finland.

    People also ask

    • Can you pay by card everywhere in Finland?
    • How common is contactless payment in Finland?
    • Can a shop refuse cash in Finland?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Payment rules and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

    Practical: communication, money, services
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