Sweden to make offline card payments available by mid-2026

By Anne Kauranen

HELSINKI, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Sweden's central bank said on Friday it had agreed with payment companies to establish a system by mid-2026 that allows Swedes to pay for essential goods with payment cards that work offline, in the event of a disruption to internet connections.

Swedes only rarely use cash, and authorities are concerned that people could have difficulty buying goods if online payment systems are affected by technical problems or sabotage.

The Riksbank said in a statement that payments would be allowed offline with physical payment cards and PIN codes.

"The general public being able to pay by card, for example for food and medicines, even in the event of a serious breakdown in data communication, that is offline, is a milestone in our intensified efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness," Riksbank Governor Erik Thedeen said.

Reuters

reported in May

that Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Estonia were rolling out offline card payment systems as a back-up in case internet connections are lost, including due to sabotage.

Visa said its experiences from other European countries showed that offline payment solutions worked, "even during temporary widespread disruption to connectivity".

"We look forward to working with the Riksbank and our partners to see this implemented in the coming months. People rightly expect payments to work every time, safely and securely," Philip Konopik, Group Country Manager for Visa in the Nordic and Baltics said in an emailed statement to Reuters. (Reporting by Anne Kauranen and Terje Solsvik Editing by Anna Ringstrom and Peter Graff)