The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has outlined how Sweden’s new consumer credit regime will bring ancillary credit intermediaries and creditors, including retailers that offer or arrange credit as a secondary activity, under supervision from 20 November 2026. Oversight will sit with either the Swedish Consumer Agency or the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, and firms allocated to FI will need authorisation under the new LVBK framework that is intended to implement the EU Consumer Credit Directive. For ancillary credit intermediaries, FI supervision applies when the firm has more than 250 employees and either annual turnover above EUR 50 million or a balance sheet total above EUR 43 million. Smaller ancillary intermediaries will be supervised by the Swedish Consumer Agency. Intermediation is only caught where the lender pays the firm for arranging the credit. For ancillary creditors, whether FI supervises and therefore requires authorisation depends on several factors, including whether the credit carries interest or certain fees, the size of the firm, the invoice period, and whether sales are online or in person. Regardless of supervisor, largely the same rules will apply, with limited exceptions, and staff offering or arranging credit will face stronger knowledge and competence requirements. Existing ancillary credit intermediaries and creditors that need FI authorisation must apply by 20 November 2027 and may continue operating until their application is finally decided. Firms that start after 20 November 2026 must obtain authorisation before beginning business. FI has also issued for consultation proposed regulations and general guidelines for firms under its supervision, to be published before LVBK is expected to take effect on 20 November 2026, while the Swedish Consumer Agency is expected to consult on its own rules in June.
Finansinspektionen2026-05-20
Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority sets out licensing and supervision regime for ancillary credit firms from 20 November 2026
The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has outlined how Sweden’s new consumer credit regime will bring ancillary credit intermediaries and creditors, including retailers offering credit as a secondary activity, under supervision from 20 November 2026, with oversight split between the Authority and the Swedish Consumer Agency. Allocation depends on firm size and product features, with larger ancillary intermediaries and certain ancillary creditors requiring authorisation under the new LVBK framework. The Authority has also consulted on proposed regulations and general guidelines for firms under its supervision ahead of LVBK’s expected entry into force.