käteisessä

Käteisessä is a Finnish term used to describe payments made with physical currency—coins and banknotes. It derives from käteinen, meaning cash, and appears in phrases that indicate the form of payment, such as "maksu käteisessä" or "käteisessä muodossa."

Cash payments involve immediate settlement between payer and payee without electronic processing. Banknotes and coins issued by the central bank are typically accepted as legal tender, and cash is commonly used for small purchases, tips, or in situations where electronic payment methods are unavailable or impractical.

In Finland and many other economies, the share of transactions conducted in cash has fallen as card payments, mobile wallets, and online transfers have become more common. Nevertheless, käteisessä payments remain important for privacy, budgeting, and for people without access to digital payment methods, and they can serve as a fallback during network outages or when payment systems fail.

The use of cash presents security and logistical considerations, including the risk of theft or loss, counterfeit risk, and handling costs for businesses. Some merchants impose limits or encourage cashless options for efficiency and traceability, while cash remains convenient when a receipt is not mandatory or for informal exchanges.

Regulatory frameworks address cash-related risks, notably anti-money laundering controls and counterfeit detection. Many jurisdictions require reporting or verification for large cash transactions or impose limits on certain cash payments. The general trend in many markets is a gradual shift away from cash toward digital payments, while cash remains legal tender and usable in most contexts.

See also: cash, cashless payment, banknote, coin, Finnish currency.