Cash withdrawals in Finland took a noticeable dip in the second half of 2024. Right at the start of that period, the change was already being felt — and by the end, the numbers told a very clear story.
People across Finland withdrew around four billion euros in banknotes from various channels, including ATMs, bank counters, and store checkouts. That figure reflects a drop of roughly six percent compared to the previous year.
What’s more, the number of total withdrawals reached just 28 million during that half-year window. That’s eight percent lower than the same period in 2023, according to data from the Bank of Finland.
The downward trend wasn’t only visible within Finland’s borders. Finns travelling abroad also took out less cash. In total, nearly 136 million euros were withdrawn by Finnish bank account holders outside the country during the latter part of 2024.
That’s an 18 percent decrease — or about 30 million euros less than they withdrew during the last six months of 2023.
Popular destinations where Finnish travellers withdrew the most cash include Estonia, Spain and Thailand. The figures from these countries still top the list, even with the overall downward shift.
This shift signals a growing reliance on digital payments, as more people in Finland — both residents and travellers — choose card or mobile transactions over cash.
