meta_id 3288394

On July 1, 2026, Sweden's central bank, Riksbanken, expanded offline card payment capabilities for purchases of essential goods. The measure strengthens the resilience of Sweden's payment system and follows an agreement reached in October 2025 between Riksbanken and market participants including card issuers, card networks, acquirers, retailers, and fuel companies. The expanded offline functionality applies to most Visa and Mastercard cards issued to individuals over 18 years old by participating card issuers. Cardholders can now use physical cards with personal identification numbers to purchase essential items—including groceries, medicines, and fuel at staffed stations—when data communication is unavailable due to severe disruptions, cyberattacks, peacetime crises, or heightened alert status. Riksbanken chief executive Erik Thedéen said the measure significantly increases preparedness by ensuring card payments function during communication outages. The participating card issuers are Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, Ica Banken, Länsförsäkringar Bank, Nordea, SEB, and Swedbank. Card networks Visa and Mastercard support the functionality, alongside acquirers Adyen, Nets, Swedbank Pay, and Worldline. Retailers and fuel companies participating include Apoteket, Axfood, Coop, Apoteket Hjärtat, Ica, Svensk Handel, and Drivkraft Sverige. Riksbanken encourages additional banks and card issuers to join the agreement to further strengthen Sweden's payment preparedness. As a next step, Riksbanken has initiated work with Getswish and relevant companies to explore offline functionality for the Swish payment service during 2026. REFERENCES: Sveriges Riksbank. "Offlinebetalningar med kort - nu utökas möjligheterna." Press release, July 1, 2026. https://www.riksbank.se/sv/pressmeddelanden/2026/offlinebetalningar-med-kort---nu-utokad-mojligheter/