Denmark Strengthens Payments Resilience With New Guidance for Citizens and Retailers
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Denmark’s central bank, Danmarks Nationalbank, has issued an expanded set of recommendations aimed at strengthening payments resilience across the country. For the first time, the guidance goes beyond citizens and directly addresses retailers highlighting the increasing global concern around the fragility of digital payment systems.
The updated recommendations cover a wide range of potential disruptions, from internet outages to technical failures and broader crises. This shift reflects growing international anxiety over the rising frequency of cyber threats, system downtime, and digital vulnerabilities that could halt financial transactions.
Just months ago, Sweden’s central bank governor urged all stakeholders across the Nordic region to “urgently step up their efforts” to fortify the payments landscape. Denmark’s move aligns with this wider European push to ensure citizens and businesses can still conduct essential transactions during disruptions.
Stronger Guidance for Citizens
Danmarks Nationalbank’s updated recommendations for citizens focus on diversification, preparedness, and practical steps for maintaining access to money during outages.
The central bank recommends that every household maintain multiple payment options specifically physical payment cards, cash, and at least one mobile app that supports instant payments, such as MobilePay. Citizens are also advised to ensure each household has a minimum of two payment cards from different issuers, with memorised PINs.
A key emphasis in the new guidance is cash preparedness. Danmarks Nationalbank now recommends keeping at least kr. 250 per adult as reserve cash, ideally in smaller denominations to simplify change during widespread system disruptions. This follows observations from recent widespread power failures in Spain and Portugal, where citizens struggled to access ATMs and digital payment services.
The central bank underscores the critical role of offline card payments, calling them “paramount” for maintaining payment continuity during outages. With offline card functionality, citizens can still transact even when systems go down as long as they possess their physical cards and remember their PINs.
New Expectations for Businesses
For the first time, Denmark’s central bank has issued direct guidance to businesses, acknowledging that retailers play a pivotal role in maintaining national payments resilience.
The guidance includes three core actions:
- Prepare for disruptions: Shops, restaurants, and service providers should plan for scenarios where digital payments fail and ensure they can accept card payments, bank transfers, and cash as alternatives.
- Enable offline card payments: Retailers already accepting card payments are urged to adopt solutions that allow seamless offline card transactions. This includes adopting systems that support offline wallet payments for platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Train staff in payment continuity procedures: Employees should understand how to process payments manually and manage alternative payment flows during outages.
The central bank notes that over 80% of Danes already carry cards capable of offline payments, but the capability is only useful if merchants prepare on their end.
Denmark’s Push Toward a More Resilient Future
To reinforce these recommendations, Danmarks Nationalbank released a detailed 23-page analysis titled “Resilient payments in Denmark.” The report highlights the risk of both small-scale outages and nationwide disruptions affecting supermarkets, public transport, pharmacies, and other essential services.
The central bank also announced ongoing collaboration with the Danish Payments Council, retailers, and payment providers. The initiative aims to make offline payments possible using all major payment cards—including Dankort, Mastercard, and Visa—and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay across all major retail chains and pharmacies by the end of the year.
This expansion reflects Denmark’s highly digital population, where dependence on online payments is among the highest in the world. Despite secure infrastructure, the central bank acknowledges that no system is immune to failures.
Sweden and the Nordic Region Follow Similar Path
Denmark is not alone. Sweden’s Riksbank has also raised concerns over limited offline payment capabilities, particularly as contactless payments rise and fewer citizens remember their PINs. The Riksbank is pushing for nationwide offline payment readiness by July 2026 and has urged residents to maintain both cash and physical cards for emergencies.
This coordinated Nordic response highlights a shared recognition: digital payments, while efficient, must be backed by resilient offline alternatives to ensure financial stability during crises.
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