What do I do?

Preparing for incidents and crises

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Disruptions in payment systems

How do I prepare for disruptions in payment services?

To prepare for disruptions in payment and banking services:

Make sure you have enough cash to purchase essential everyday supplies for a few days without a debit or credit card.
Open an account in two different banks and keep debit cards ready for use.
Enable some instant payment mobile app.
In addition to online identification, activate a mobile certificate or a citizen certificate for strong identification.
Keep your contact information up to date in the bank and the Population Information System and check that any ID documents you have been issued are up to date.

Strong electronic identification services include

online banking IDs
mobile certificates for telecommunications companies
the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s citizen certificate with an identity card issued by the police and some other identification certificates
identification brokering services registered with various organisation cards.

Mobile payment applications are an alternative to paying with a plastic card in everyday life.

There are several mobile payment applications available. These include the Finnish Siirto service, MobilePay and applications provided on mobile phones by default. Enable a service that is compatible with your bank and phone.

Payment and banking services may be interrupted, for example, if

there are disruptions in the systems needed for payment in Finland or abroad
there are problems with the bank’s systems
there is a disruption in the data connections between the bank’s systems
the telecommunications or electricity connections necessary for payments are subject to serious disruptions, such as cable damage or a cyberattack.

Updated: 2/9/2025

What should I do during a disruption in payment or banking services?

If payment or other banking services do not work

find out if any of the payment instruments at your disposal are working
check if you have cash
check your home for food and essentials to help you get through the disruption
follow the information provided by your bank about the situation.

If the disruption is long and extensive, the Financial Supervisory Authority, the Bank of Finland and the Financial Stability Authority may also issue more detailed instructions.

The Finnish financial market authorities are prepared for disruptions in payment and banking services.

If payment transactions are subject to longer-term and serious disruptions, the authorities may initiate a backup arrangement. This is used to safeguard the daily payment needs of banks’ customers in the most serious disruption situations and in emergency conditions.

The backup arrangements enable

withdrawing cash
paying with debit cards
making wire transfers
receiving payments to your account.

Updated: 2/9/2025

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Checklist for preparing for incidents and crises

Disruptions in payment systems

How do I prepare for disruptions in payment services?

How are disruptions in payment services and banks visible to service users?

What are strong identification methods and mobile payment applications?

What could cause a disruption in payment and banking services?

What should I do during a disruption in payment or banking services?

A backup system is introduced if the disruption is prolonged

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