Nine foreign banks have representative offices in Finland. The commercial banks are limited companies. All Finnish foreign exchange controls have been abolished. The Finnish financial market is a typically European environment where banks and financing institutions have the dominant role, although insurance institutions play a major role in credit supply. Insurance companies, through their management of compulsory insurance schemes of the public social security system, lend a substantial part of the money back to the companies that pay the compulsory premiums.
Financing is also available through the stock exchange and the government's financing systems.
There are only a few risk venture agencies in Finland. Depending on the nature of the goods exported and on the risks connected to trading partners, a portion of the export costs must be provided by the company in question. In addition to government activities, commercial banks provide financing, with guarantees when possible, for exports. The banks advise their customers on bank loans as well as on loans granted by other credit institutions. Types of Available Export Financing and Insurance Financing and guarantees for exports are provided for by the government-owned Finnish Export Credit Agency and the Finnish Guarantee Board.