asiakasviitettä

Asiakasviite is a Finnish term that literally translates to “customer reference” and is used primarily in invoicing and banking contexts. The asiakasviite is a numerical identifier that a seller attaches to an invoice so that the buyer can refer to the exact transaction when making a payment. The reference is usually a 10‑digit number, though shorter formats are also accepted. It is commonly appended to an invoice number or a payment reference on the customer’s account statement, thereby allowing the bank to automatically match a payment with its accompanying invoice.

In Finland the use of asiakasviite dates back to the early 2000s when the electronic banking infrastructure was being modernised. The reference is embedded in a special field of the SEPA credit transfer form (known as the “pain.001”) and is read by banks when the transaction is processed. One of the advantages of the asiakasviite is that it eliminates the need for a human to verify the purpose of each transfer; the reference gives the complete information required to post the entry to the customer’s books automatically. This reduces processing time and the possibility of misallocation of funds.

The creation of a valid asiakasviite follows a specific logic. The reference is traditionally generated by a cross‑validating checksum using the modulus 97 algorithm. The first eight digits represent a unique identifier for the customer or the invoice, while the last two digits are the checksum. Although the Finnish banking system recommends a 10‑digit format, payments with about 6‑ or 8‑digit references are also accepted in many circumstances. The reference must not contain any letters or special characters; it is purely numeric.

Because of its widespread adoption, the asiakasviite can be found on most Finnish invoices, receipts, and bank transfer instructions. It is a key element of Finland’s modern payments system, ensuring that the back‑office processes in both businesses and public authorities are streamlined and error‑free.