Public awareness in Latvia regarding the availability of financial services in times of crisis is gradually improving. This is evidenced by a public opinion poll conducted by SIA Latvijas Fakti in February 2026.
Nearly one third (29%) of the population is already aware of a solution developed on the initiative of Latvijas Banka and enabling card payments at selected retail outlets, fuel stations, and pharmacies even when communication services are unavailable. In August 2025, 23% of the population had heard about such a possibility.
Public awareness of this solution is expected to increase, as merchants that have already implemented it plan to inform their customers about the progress made. At the same time, Latvijas Banka plans to update the information brochure on critical financial services in the second half of the year, supplementing it with the compiled information on these merchants.
The aforementioned solution ensures non-cash payments in situations where internet and telecommunications services are disrupted. At the same time, the ATM network, including critical ATMs whose availability, power supply, and connectivity to communication centres have been specifically secured, plays a crucial role in ensuring the availability of cash. It is encouraging that 96% of Latvia's population is aware of ATMs in their immediate vicinity (compared with 93% in August 2025). However, awareness of the critical ATM network is currently low, with only 9% of the population being aware of it.
Another question in the sociological survey focused on whether residents follow the recommendation to keep cash readily available in an easily accessible place, sufficient to cover their basic needs for one week in the event of an emergency. This recommendation was followed by two thirds, or 66%, of the population.
We live in uncertain times, and while hoping for the best, it is essential to be prepared for the worst. This also applies to various crisis situations – not only military conflicts, but also natural and man‑made disasters, among others. The task of the responsible institutions, including Latvijas Banka, is to carry out preparatory work by developing infrastructure and plans for different scenarios. In the area of finance, we have made significant progress, and our experience has also proven useful for other European countries. At the same time, residents should remember that crisis situations are characterised by stress, uncertainty, and urgency; therefore, it is important to prepare for them to the extent possible. To this end, we recommend reviewing the informational material "Learn about cash and other financial services in a situation of crisis".