Money & payments · 4-minute read

Paying with a giro form

Pay a bill without online banking? In the Netherlands, you took a pen, entered the details on a paper giro form and sent it to the bank. The postal giro system was a familiar part of household finances.

How it worked

On the form, you entered the amount, recipient’s account number and a short description. Then you signed it. The form went in an envelope to the Postbank, or into a special dispatch envelope with other payment instructions.

  1. 1
    Copy the details

    The amount and giro account number had to be exact. There was no quick copy and paste.

  2. 2
    Sign

    Without a signature, the bank could not carry out the instruction.

  3. 3
    Post it

    Then the wait began. Processing usually took several working days.

What replaced it?

Electronic payments first arrived through payment terminals and computer programs. Online banking then became commonplace. Paper transfer forms continued for years for people who preferred paying on paper.

“Your paperwork was literally on the table: bill, pen, giro form and stamp.”