käteisliikkeet

Käteisliikkeet refers to the use of physical cash in commercial, financial and everyday transactions. The term is often used in Finland to distinguish cash-based transactions from electronic or card‑based payment methods. Käteisliikkeet covers a range of activities such as accepting cash as payment, issuing cash to customers, cash deposits, withdrawals and cash reconciliation by businesses and banks.

In a typical cash transaction, a customer gives a payment in cash to a merchant, who records the exchange in the cash register. The merchant then must balance the cash drawer at the end of each shift, verifying that the amounts on hand match the recorded sales. This process is called cash reconciliation. Cash handling policies require proper segregation of duties, secure storage in safes or vaults, and limited physical transport of large sums. Banks usually employ dedicated cash-handling teams that deliver cash to branches, process deposits and manage cash recycling machines.

Regulatory frameworks for käteisliikkeet aim to reduce money‑laundering risk and enforce accounting transparency. In Finland the Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN) sets guidelines for cash handling, and the Tax Administration monitors cash receipts for tax compliance. The Swedish counterpart, Finansiella inspektionen och Skatteverket, uses similar rules. The European Union’s Anti‑Money Laundering Directives also influence national cash‑handling standards, requiring robust customer identification and transaction monitoring even for cash payments.

Despite the rise of digital payments, käteisliikkeet remain important for small businesses, informal trades and regions with limited banking infrastructure. Consequently, many countries continue to support cash infrastructure, including coin and banknote production, ATM networks, and dedicated cash logistics services. However, trends in cash usage are declining, with e‑payment technologies growing faster. This shift has implications for workforce skills, security investments, and regulatory oversight, prompting ongoing adjustments to the cash‑handling ecosystem.