Understanding letters from your bank
Who sends these letters
Swedish banks write about accounts, cards, loans and payments, and increasingly about kundkännedom: the questions banks must ask you under the anti-money-laundering law about who you are, where your money comes from and how you will use your account. Banks are supervised by Finansinspektionen (FI), and free, independent advice on banking is available from Konsumenternas Bank- och finansbyrå. Unpaid bills from banks and companies go through reminders, then debt collection (inkasso), and finally Kronofogden.
Deadlines and your right to challenge a decision
If you don't answer your bank's customer-knowledge questions, it may limit your services (such as Swish or card payments) and, in the end, has to close your account. A reminder fee on a late bill can be at most 60 kronor, and only if it was agreed in advance; a debt-collection fee at most 180 kronor. Statutory late-payment interest is the reference rate plus 8 percentage points, 10 per cent from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
Checked on 2026-10-07 against: Konsumenternas: kundkännedom, Konsumenternas: kostnader vid betalningskrav, Riksbanken: referensräntan 2,00 %, FI: lag tar över bolåneregler. Rules change: the official website and your letter always win.
These pages explain the Swedish words in official letters. They don't replace the letter itself or advice about your case. Always check the deadline printed on your letter, and contact the agency (their phone number and your case officer are usually at the bottom of the letter) if anything is unclear. Lingolib is not connected to any of the agencies named here. Facts were last checked on 2026-10-07.
Example letters, word by word
These letters were written by us to show the style and the typical phrases. The names, amounts and dates are made up; real letters look different from agency to agency and year to year. Tap a word to see what it means.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
Heading: they need to update what they know about you as a customer.
.
Under the anti-money-laundering act, banks must know their customers and how accounts are used.
, .
Please answer questions about your work, income and usual transactions.
15 2026.
Answer in the app or online bank by 15 November 2026.
, .
If you don't answer in time, they may restrict card payments and Swish.
.
The bank will never ask you by phone to log in or sign with BankID.
Tap any word for its meaning. Underlined words are key terms with an explanation.
–
Heading: reminder about an unpaid bill.
30 2026.
Your card bill due on 30 September 2026 hasn't been paid.
: 1 845 , 60 .
Amount to pay: 1,845 kronor, including a 60-kronor reminder fee.
20 123-4567 4400 1234 5678 9.
Pay by 20 October to the bank giro and OCR number given (made-up numbers).
.
Late-payment interest runs from the due date until you pay.
.
If you don't pay, the debt can go to debt collection.
.
If you've already paid, ignore this reminder.
30 key words in letters from your bank
The words specific to these letters first, then the general ones every agency uses.
- kundkännedomknow your customer (KYC)
- Questions the bank must ask by law about you and your money. Answer them, usually in the app or online bank, by the date given, or your account may be limited.
- penningtvättslagenthe anti-money-laundering act
- The law that requires banks to know their customers and report suspicious transactions.
- begränsarestrict, limit
- The bank may restrict what you can do with the account, for example block card payments or Swish.
- avslutaclose (an account)
- To end the account or the customer relationship.
- autogirodirect debit
- An agreement that lets a company take payment from your account automatically on the due date. Keep enough money in the account.
- OCR-nummerpayment reference number
- The reference number you must enter when paying a bill so the payment is matched to you. Copy it exactly.
- bankgirobank giro (payment account number)
- The number you pay a company's bills to, for example 123-4567. Plusgiro is a similar system.
- fakturainvoice, bill
- A bill with the amount, due date, bankgiro and OCR number.
- påminnelseavgiftreminder fee
- A fee for a late payment reminder: at most 60 kronor, and only if agreed in advance.
- inkassodebt collection
- A collection company demands the money. The fee is at most 180 kronor. Pay, or dispute the claim in writing if it is wrong.
- dröjsmålsräntalate-payment interest
- Interest charged when you pay late. By law it is the reference rate plus 8 percentage points unless agreed otherwise.
- räntainterest
- The cost of a loan or what you earn on savings, as a percentage per year.
- räntebindningstidfixed-rate period
- How long your mortgage rate is fixed. When it ends, the bank offers a new rate.
- amorteringloan repayment (instalment)
- Paying off the loan itself, not just interest. Mortgages over 70 % of the home's value must be paid down by at least 2 % a year, and by 1 % between 50 and 70 %.
- bolånmortgage
- A loan with your home as security.
- låneaviloan statement
- A notice of interest and repayment due on a loan.
- kontoutdragaccount statement
- A list of transactions on your account.
- saldobalance
- How much money is in the account.
- clearingnummersort code
- The four or five digits identifying your bank branch, before your account number.
- BankIDBankID (e-identification)
- The e-ID most Swedes use to log in and sign. Never log in or sign with BankID because someone phoned or messaged you asking you to.
- spärrablock (a card)
- To stop a card or account from being used, for example after loss or fraud. Call your bank at once.
- bedrägerifraud
- Scams often copy bank letters and texts. Your bank will not phone and ask you to identify yourself with BankID.
- kreditupplysningcredit check
- A check of your credit record, for example before a loan. You are told when one is taken.
- referensräntareference rate
- A rate set by the Riksbank twice a year, used to calculate late-payment interest.
Words every agency uses
- förfallodagdue date
- The last day to pay. Pay a day or two early if your bank needs time.
- senastat the latest, no later than
- Marks a deadline: senast 15 november means 15 November is the last day. It must usually have arrived by then, not just been posted.
- personnummerpersonal identity number
- Your Swedish ID number, ÅÅÅÅMMDD-XXXX. Agencies use it to find you. Don't send it by ordinary email if a secure channel exists.
- vänligenplease (formal)
- Formal please, used mainly in instructions: Vänligen kontakta oss. It is polite, not a sign of a problem.
- uppgifterinformation, details
- Facts about you: income, address, family. Lämna uppgifter means to provide information. Felaktiga uppgifter are incorrect details.
- fullmaktpower of attorney
- Written permission for someone else to act for you, for example a relative calling the agency on your behalf.
What to do next
- Find the date and the deadline. Look for senast, inom and förfallodag. Write the deadline in your calendar.
- Find who to contact. The handläggare and a phone number are usually at the end. You can ask them to explain the letter in simpler Swedish or English, and to book an interpreter.
- Answer in writing when it matters. Our email templates include a polite Swedish message asking an agency to explain a letter.
- Look up other words in the all-agency glossary or the Swedish dictionary.
Letters from other agencies
Reading letters like these gets easier fast once the everyday words are automatic. Season 1 of our course is free in full, and the guide to the language you need when moving to Sweden covers the basics.