More and fewer people use cash in their everyday lives and last spring the Riksbank warned of the development.
– If you do not make active decisions now, we could have a situation if not too long where cash is almost useless in Sweden. And since we think cash should be able to act as alternative means of payment, for example in a crisis situation, we think the government needs to make active decisions now to slow such a development, said Elin RitolaHead of Unit for Payment Analysis and Innovation at the Riksbank, to SVT when.
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Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT
Towards the end of 2024, the Riksbank stated that they wanted to see that those who sell vital goods – including food and medicine – receive cash as a means of payment.
– Payments generally work very well in Sweden. The majority of Sweden’s population can make their purchases with cards or other digital means. However, there is still a crowd of people who are outside the payment system. It is important that all people have the opportunity to implement payments, said the Riksbank’s press spokesman Susanne Meyer to News24 when.
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Cash withdrawals have decreased
And recently, new statistics from Bankomat AB showed that cash withdrawals have decreased by seven percent in the company’s cash machines.
– Although people use cash to a lesser extent, there is a large social need for a functioning cash handling. Cash is above all necessary for people in digital exclusion and for society not to become too vulnerable in a crisis situation, said Johan NilssonMarketing Manager at Bankomat AB, I a press release when.
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Photo: Tomas Oneborg/SvD/tts so many ATMs have been added and disappeared
But how many ATMs provide Bankomat AB around Sweden? Significantly fewer than before, it turns out.
“In 2024 we removed 96 vending machines and newly established 25 vending machines around the country,” says Jenny DanielssonCommunications Manager at Bankomat AB, in an email to News24.
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