Plusgiro

PlusGiro was a Swedish payment system and giro network used to handle payments between individuals, businesses, and the postal and banking systems. It originated with Postgirot AB, the payments arm of the Swedish postal service, as an alternative to cash, checks, and direct bank transfers.

The system employed PlusGiro accounts and PlusGiro numbers assigned to recipients. Invoices could be issued with a PlusGiro payment option, and a payer would instruct their bank to transfer the specified amount to the recipient’s PlusGiro account. The central clearing facility then settled the funds to the recipient’s ordinary bank account, making the service convenient for paying bills and receiving payments without using a traditional bank account number in each transaction.

PlusGiro operated alongside Bankgirot, Sweden’s other major giro clearing service, and the two networks were used by a range of merchants, utilities, and institutions. Over time, Sweden’s payment landscape shifted toward consolidated electronic clearing and standard bank transfers, IBAN-based payments, and card payments.

In the 2000s and 2010s, the giro market underwent significant consolidation, and PlusGirot was gradually integrated into or superseded by Bankgirot and newer payment methods. The PlusGiro brand declined and is now largely regarded as historical. Contemporary Swedish payments are overwhelmingly conducted via Bankgirot, traditional bank transfers, or card-based methods.

See also Bankgirot, Postgirot.