More Swedish regions want to make public transport easier to use. With contactless payments via bank cards or mobile devices, Swedbank Pay and Ridango make it possible to travel without apps, travel cards or ticket machines.
Taking public transport should be easy, spontaneous, and accessible to everyone. But in many regions – especially outside of the big cities – ticket systems still rely on physical cards, apps or pre-purchased tickets. That creates barriers, especially for older people, tourists, and those who don’t travel often.
By letting passengers tap their regular bank card or digital wallet to board, we remove much of what used to be complicated. That’s exactly what the partnership between Ridango and Swedbank Pay is all about.
“We see that simplicity in payment directly affects how many people choose public transport. When all it takes is a tap, spontaneous travel increases – along with both revenue and environmental benefits,” says Carl Järsberg, Country Manager of Sweden at Ridango
The technology behind the tap – one card, one ticket
Travelers today expect simplicity: they want to tap in with their bank cards, mobile phones, or smartwatches—leaving behind paper tickets and traditional transit cards.
Public transport systems typically use three models of contactless payments.
- Model 1 – Tap-in, Single Pay-As-You-Go is the most straightforward, with each tap triggering a direct transaction. It’s easy to implement and works well for flat-fare networks or occasional riders.
- Model 2 – Aggregate Pay-As-You-Go takes it further by grouping multiple journeys into a single charge, automatically applying the lowest fare and reducing the number of transactions.
- Model 3 – Bank Card as a Credential is the next step. Instead of processing payments at each tap, the system simply checks if the card is linked to an active fare product—like a season pass. This means passengers can travel seamlessly with the same bank card they already use daily, whether it’s in their pocket, on their phone, or on their smartwatch.
“Using bank cards as travel cards makes ticketing more efficient and travel more convenient—encouraging more people to choose public transport,” says Carl Järsberg, Country Manager of Sweden at Ridango
A solution for the whole country
To adopt it in public transport, a city needs a modern fare collection system that can handle contactless bank card payments. Ridango provides both, backed by proven experience and technology that scales with demand.
The system uses validators with Android support, mobile network connection (4G/5G), and a backend that easily integrates with the operator’s or region’s existing systems. It also supports multiple payment methods, including Swish and other local APMs, making it even more flexible.
“Our solution is future-proof, but built for today’s needs. We know many regions operate with a mix of old and new systems – so it’s important to implement at your own pace,” says Carl Järsberg
Secure, reliable – and easy to procure
Behind the scenes, the solution offers high security and transparency. All data traffic is encrypted according to PCI DSS standards and the system meets European security requirements like NIS2 and ISO27001. With Swedbank Pay as the PSP, you get reliable payment services with proven capacity and high availability.
The partnership also provides a clear structure for implementation, operation and support – making it easier for public entities to procure and roll out the project without unnecessary complexity.
“We know that public-sector Sweden needs solutions that are long-term and reliable. It’s not just about tech – it’s about having a stable partner all the way from feasibility study to live operations,” says Johanna Djäken, Key Account Manager at Swedbank Pay
A solution for the future of travel
The growing interest in tap-to-pay solutions is visible across the country. Regions like Skåne, Stockholm and Västra Götaland have already come far – and now more medium-sized and smaller regions are seeing the value of offering a simpler travel experience.
When the ticket lives in your pocket – or rather, in your card – public transport becomes a more attractive and accessible choice. That helps reduce emissions and creates a more inclusive way to travel.
“We’re building this together. We know every region has its own challenges – but also that the need for a smooth, future-proof payment solution is shared. That’s where we come in,” says Johanna Djäken
This article was created in collaboration with Swedbank Pay and was first published in Swedish here.
