Maksukortteja

Maksukortti, or maksukortteja in plural, is the Finnish term for a payment card used to make electronic payments. In everyday language it refers to a broad category that includes debit cards linked to a bank account, prepaid cards loaded with funds, and sometimes credit cards with a line of credit. These cards are issued by banks and other payment providers and are accepted at a wide range of retailers, online shops, and service points both in Finland and abroad.

Most modern maksukortteja are equipped with an EMV chip and support contactless payments via near-field communication (NFC). At point of sale, users may pay by inserting or tapping the card and entering a PIN or providing a signature for certain transactions. Online payments use card numbers and security features such as 3D Secure for authentication. In addition to consumer purchases, prepaid and stored-value variants are used in specific ecosystems, such as transit systems or municipal services, where the card holds a preloaded balance.

Security and consumer protection are central to maksukortti use. If a card is lost or stolen, liability for unauthorized transactions is governed by EU and national rules; banks typically provide fraud protection and monitoring. Online payments often rely on additional verification steps to reduce risk.

Regulation and market context: the Finnish payment card market operates under EU payment services rules (PSD2) and national laws, with oversight from authorities such as the Financial Supervisory Authority. The card networks most commonly used in Finland include Visa and Mastercard, among others, enabling widespread acceptance across the country and in many other European countries.