💳 Card not working or ATMs not working: how to pay in Finland in emergencies
If you are used to living "the Finnish way" — with a phone and a single card — any payment failures seem like a disaster. This is especially noticeable in Finland, where card and phone payments are the norm, and cash is often only used as a backup.
This text is not a horror story, but a working plan: what to do if your card doesn't work, the ATM is "chewing" your requests, the network is down, or you are left without a phone. At the same time, will carefully incorporate topics such as cash in Finland, ATMs, and emergency payment methods to make it easier for you to build a financial plan for your trip and an overall budget for Finland.
🇫🇮 How people will pay in Finland in 2025: a brief overview
Finland in 2025 will be almost a cashless country:
- bank cards and contactless payments will dominate in shops, transport, cafés and even at Christmas markets;
- cash is used less and less in Finland, although the euro remains legal tender;
- in many places, terminals readily accept Apple Pay, Google Pay and other wallets;
- there are fewer ATMs than in "cash" countries: they are owned by large banks and individual chains, and some of the machines are located in supermarkets and shopping centres.
What this means for tourists or newcomers:
- card payments are the norm in Finland, with cash being a backup option;
- it is possible to live completely without cash, but in an emergency, it is difficult without cash, especially in the event of network failures or problems with a foreign bank.
🚫 Your card is declined at the checkout: step-by-step algorithm
A classic scenario: you're at the supermarket, everything is calculated, and the terminal says "Transaction declined". In 90% of cases, the problem is not in Finland, but with the bank that issued the card.
Let's take it step by step.
Repeat the payment using a different method
- First, try the chip + PIN, not just "tap and go". In Finland, there are still terminals that are "fussy" with contactless payments.
- If it worked with the chip, it's a local glitch, so let's move on.
Check your notifications and limits
- Open your banking app: often there will already be a push notification saying "suspicious payment attempt in Finland".
- Confirm that it was you and try to pay again.
- Check your daily purchase limit and contactless limit: many banks cut them by default.
Try another card/payment system
It is advisable to have:
- one Visa card,
- one Mastercard,
- at least one debit card and one credit card.
There are situations when a particular foreign bank or payment system temporarily conflicts with a Finnish acquirer; stories about "my card from X bank does not work at all in Finnish shops" regularly pop up on Reddit.
Change terminals
If you are in a large supermarket or at a petrol station, ask to make the payment on another terminal or at a neighbouring checkout. Sometimes it is the device that is malfunctioning, not the network or the bank.
Contact your bank — through any available channel
- If you have Wi-Fi (in a café or shopping centre), try chatting or calling via the app.
- Ask them to unblock the country/region if the bank has decided that Finland is a "non-standard" location.
- Check if there is a global failure of the payment system or a specific bank.
- Repeat payment: tap → chip+PIN → another card.
- Check push notifications and limits in the bank app.
- Try another terminal or cashier.
- Contact the bank via Wi-Fi and ask them to unblock the country.
- If that doesn't work, switch to your cash/reserves plan (below).
If the amount is small and you are sure that the problem is with the bank, you can leave your purchases and come back later — most Finnish shops will be understanding.
🏧 ATMs and cash: what to do if you can't get cash
There are fewer ATMs in Finland than many visitors are used to. They can be found in city centres and large supermarkets, but individual machines may be temporarily unavailable or simply empty during peak times.
If the ATM does not dispense cash
- Try a different amount
Lower your request, for example from €400 to €100–150. Banks have limits on single withdrawals and daily withdrawals. - Change the ATM and bank
Look for a large bank (OP, Nordea, Danske) machine in a supermarket or shopping centre. Independent ATMs may charge higher fees. - Check your bank's limits
In the app:- daily cash withdrawal limit;
- total card limit;
- country restrictions.
4. Under no circumstances should you try to "force" the card out
If the ATM physically "chews" the card, immediately note the location, time and bank, and call your bank. As a rule, the card is blocked and reissued; you should not count on getting this particular card back.
Alternatives to ATMs
When ATMs in Finland are unavailable or you do not want to withdraw cash at high fees, there are alternatives:
- Cashback in supermarkets — in some K- and S-chain stores, you can get a small amount of cash when paying by card (this option depends on the specific store and bank).
- Get cash back through friends — transfer money via SEPA to the Finnish account of a friend or relative, and they will give you the cash in person.
- Withdraw money at a bank branch — this option is slow and not always available to tourists, but it works for long stays.
📶 Network failure or widespread payment problems: when no one can use their cards
Sometimes the problem is not with your card, but with the Finnish acquirer or telecom operator: the internet goes down, there is a major failure at the payment provider, and terminals across the country or in a particular region are silent. Such stories periodically appear in the news and are discussed by locals.
In this case:
- cash registers can only accept cash or issue an invoice (lasku) for locals;
- taxi drivers and small services often simply cancel trips without the option of payment.
Therefore, a minimum emergency cash reserve is highly desirable in Finland, even if you are a digital minimalist.
In everyday life, you may hardly ever use cash. But when it comes to financial security while travelling, a small supply of cash plus a second card is almost mandatory "insurance against surprises".
📱 Your phone is dead, broken or lost: what about Apple Pay and Google Pay?
Finns actively pay with their phones and watches, and many tourists copy this model. The problem is that your phone and wallet are often in the same pocket — and if you lose it, you lose all your payment methods at once.
What helps:
- always have at least one physical card that is kept separately from your phone (in another pocket/backpack);
- don't link all your cards to just one device — at least one should work 'like plastic';
- write down your card number and bank phone number in a secure note or on paper (but do not store your CVV and full set of data openly).
If your phone is stolen:
- Block your devices and wallets via Find My / Google / Samsung account.
- Block any cards linked to your phone.
- Use a physical backup card + cash.
- If you don't have any backup options, move on to "plan B" with transfers and help from loved ones.
🧳 Your wallet has been stolen or the bank has blocked everything: plan B for the worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario: you've been robbed, your other cards are blocked by anti-fraud measures, and ATMs are not an option because you have no money at all.
What really works:
- Emergency transfers from friends and family
SEPA transfers to an acquaintance's account in the EU, international transfer services, virtual banks — anything that allows you to quickly access money, bypassing blocked cards. - Hotels and reputable tour companies
At a large hotel or official tour operator, you can explain the situation and ask them to:- send an invoice to your email address;
- accept payment later, when the bank unblocks the funds.
- The combination of a trusted person + local account
If you already have a Finnish bank account, you can make an arrangement with your employer or acquaintances: they pay for you locally (shop, pharmacy), and you transfer money to them from another country or from a second account.
"In Rovaniemi, my main card was blocked due to 'suspicious activity'. I was saved by my second debit card and €100 in cash, which I had taken with me 'just in case'. Now I never fly to Finland without two cards."
✅ Mini checklist: how to prepare so you don't panic
To ensure that emergency scenarios remain theoretical rather than practical, it is worth putting together your own small financial emergency kit for Finland. This is part of a larger section on financial planning for your trip and the cost of living in Finland, but in summary it looks like this:
If you have already read our material on finances for starting out and Finnish banking, this checklist will easily fit into your overall "safety net" system for moving or a long winter holiday.
✨ Conclusion: Finland is almost cashless, but not "hopeless"
Finland is convenient because you don't have to think about banknotes every day. But that's exactly why card refusal or network failure is so scary for visitors: everything is tied to a single plastic strip and a phone.
If you plan ahead:
- take two cards,
- keep a small supply of cash,
- think about how to get money from your loved ones in an emergency,
then even a terminal failure or temporary ATM outage becomes a nuisance rather than a disaster.
Think of it as another part of your preparation: just as you consider insurance, a first aid kit or clothing for winter in Finland, consider emergency payment methods. Then your trip, studies or life here will resemble a peaceful northern scenario rather than a financial quest, where even setbacks are resolved according to the rules.
❓ FAQ
Technically, yes: most shops, cafés, transport and services accept cards and mobile wallets. But for safety's sake, it's better to have at least €100 in cash in case of network failures or problems with a foreign bank.
First, try a second card. If that doesn't work either, use Wi-Fi to contact friends or family and get a transfer through a service you have access to. At the same time, check with your hotel or tour company to see if they can issue an invoice and wait for payment.
Immediately record the location, time, bank and amount. Take a photo of the ATM and receipt (if available) and write to your bank via the app or hotline. As a rule, transactions are adjusted in your favour after verification, but this takes time.
It's very risky. If you lose your phone, run out of battery or the app crashes, you will be left without access to your money. You should have at least one physical card with you, and it's best to keep it separate from your phone.
Sometimes yes, but they are less reliable than Visa/Mastercard. If you have a rare payment system, be sure to take an international card from a more common brand with you.
On public transport, you will not usually be forced to pay retroactively if there is an obvious technical failure. On intercity trains and ferries, staff will often offer to resolve the issue through an invoice or repeat payment later. The main thing is to calmly explain the situation and show that you have a working bank/card, but that the system is currently down.
In small places where you are known personally, this can happen. In a tourist situation, you will most often be offered to leave your purchases and return later with a working card or cash. Do not count on credit as your main plan — it is better to have your own financial backup.
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