The Riksbank is responsible for providing Sweden with banknotes and coins. The work includes supplying banknotes and coins, destroying banknotes and coins that can no longer be used and accepting banknotes that are no longer valid.
The Riksbank has two offices and via these supplies the banks with cash. The banks, or their agents, then distribute the cash to the retail trade and the general public.
The Riksbank does not determine how much cash is in circulation; instead this is determined by demand from the general public.
Swedish cash handling has undergone major change in recent years. The new structure for cash handling entered into full force in 2007. The banks and the bank depot companies are thus able to trade cash without the involvement of the Riksbank. Should a depot have a deficit of banknotes it is able to purchase notes from another depot that has a surplus. In this way there is now a market for trading in cash. The Riksbank’s role in this chain is solely to supply cash and to destroy banknotes and coins that can no longer be used. Three times a year the Riksbank will also accept any cash surplus. At present (January 2011) there are 12 bank-owned cash depots in operation.
In 2010 the Riksbank followed up on how the new depot structure is working and in 2011 a survey was made of the participants and flows in cash management. Both of the reports can be accessed via the links.
Information about the regulations concerning the cash handling structure can be found by the link under Documentation.
A cash handling advisory board was formed in March 2006. The purpose of the council is to function as a forum for discussing issues concerning cash handling in society. Further information about the cash handling advisory board can be found in the menu.
