A stable, well-functioning financial market for allA stable, well-functioning financial market for allResult
2025
Stability in the Financial System (2025:1): Uncertainty could persist for a while
The uncertainty in geopolitical and economic developments is high, and the risk of negative shocks is higher now than it was last autumn. At the same time, Swedish banks have large capital buffers and good profitability, which builds resilience. Financial firms, households and firms all need to be prepared that the uncertainty could persist for a while. These are some of the conclusions from FI's first stability report of the year.
Consumer Protection Report 2025: Digitalisation and viral trends create risks for consumers on the financial market
Unreliable investment advice from AI or “finfluencers” and the promise of fast gains from crypto trading. These are examples of consumer protection risks that have recently emerged on the financial market. At the same time, risks linked to unsound lending and financial exclusion of consumers are still prevalent. These are some of Finansinspektionen’s (FI) observations in this year’s consumer protection report.
The Swedish Mortgage Market: Households need to have margins for an uncertain future
The conditions for household finances improved in 2024. As many as 8 out of 10 households chose a variable interest rate, which is a higher share than in previous years. But the economic development is uncertain. Households need to allow for continued high housing and living costs. These are some of the conclusions from this year’s report on the Swedish mortgage market.
Household savings in Sweden
Swedes hold a large amount of financial assets, but the distribution of these assets is very uneven. Most Swedes hold a small amount of financial assets, while 5 per cent of the population holds approximately half of all assets. Few have direct savings in shares or funds. Those with large loans can be vulnerable to weakened economic conditions and therefore in general have a greater need for a financial buffer. FI’s data indicates that many mortgagors hold a small amount of assets, at least with the same bank where they have their mortgage.
FI Analysis 48: Increasing number of Swedish loans become debt registered with the Swedish Enforcement Authority
Between the years 2020 and 2023, the number of borrowers with a new unpaid debt registered with the Swedish Enforcement Authority has increased by 23 per cent. Most of these borrowers have borrowed a large amount of consumer credit from so-called niche banks and then experienced serious payment problems. At the same time, one out of twenty that takes a loan from a so-called instant loan firm is registered with the Swedish Enforcement Authority. These are the conclusions of a new analysis conducted by Finansinspektionen (FI) and the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
2024
FI proposes enhanced preventive work in efforts to prevent investment fraud
An increasing number of consumers are falling victim to investment fraud. In a report to the Government, FI proposes, among other things, enhanced work to prevent investment fraud.
Financial education continues to be important for strengthening consumers
Many people find it difficult to make decisions about their finances. The majority of Swedes understand financial terms but are not knowledgeable about how these concepts impact their own finances. Finansinspektionen (FI) is releasing a report today that evaluates the authority’s work with financial education and identifies a number of areas where deficient financial literacy could impose significant risks on the consumer.
Two expert reports on macroprudential policy measures
Amortisation requirements, the LTI ratio, and the LTV cap are macroprudential policy tools that are used in Sweden and many other countries. But what are the potential effects of these borrower-based measures? To answer to this question, Finansinspektionen commissioned two expert reports on the topic.
Fraud prevention in payment services
Fraud is a major and expanding societal problem that fosters organised crime. FI supervises that payment service providers follow the provisions set out in the Payment Services Act that aim to prevent fraud. Payment service providers do a lot to prevent their payments services from being used for fraud, but this problem is still growing.
Interest rate puts pressure on indebted households
Households continue to be under pressure from both higher interest rates and other costs. This is evident in FI’s mortgage report. The report looks at new mortgagors during the autumn of 2023. We can see that there are fewer mortgagors than in previous years. Home buyers also bought slightly less expensive homes and borrowed slightly less. Total lending to households has stagnated, but despite this household indebtedness continues to be high.
