Pankkikielto

Pankkikielto is a Finnish term describing an order or restriction that limits a person’s access to banking services. In practice, it means that a creditor, guardian, or a court may prohibit an individual from using bank accounts, making withdrawals, or conducting other financial transactions. The measure is typically used to prevent dissipation of funds during debt enforcement, to protect vulnerable persons, or as part of certain protective legal proceedings. The precise mechanisms and terminology are defined by Finnish law and may also be described as account freezes, payment restrictions, or other asset-control orders.

In Finland, such measures are implemented by banks under the supervision of the Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanssivalvonta). A pankkikielto is normally ordered by a court or another competent authority, and it becomes enforceable through the banking system. The person affected is usually notified and may have the right to appeal or request revocation when the grounds for the restriction no longer apply. The scope can cover individual accounts or multiple accounts at one or more banks, and the ban may prohibit withdrawals, transfers, or the opening of new accounts. The duration varies, from temporary to longer-term, and depends on the purpose of the order.

A pankkikielto is not a debt discharge; it does not erase obligations but restricts how funds can be accessed while the case is resolved. Violations of the ban can lead to penalties or further enforcement actions.