Survey: As Many as Nine in Ten Slovaks Prefer Digital Payments

Bratislava, 12 April (TASR) - Almost nine in ten consumers in Slovakia prefer to pay by card, mobile phone or wearable electronic devices, according to the latest survey by Mastercard focusing on consumer payment behaviour in Slovakia. The survey showed that in brick-and-mortar stores, 78 percent of people favour digital payment methods, while the figure is as high as 91 percent for online shopping. "Consumers are increasingly favouring digital payment solutions that are fast, convenient and secure. Whether shopping online or in-store, customers expect their preferred method of payment to be widely available and to work seamlessly," said Mastercard general director for Slovakia and the Czech Republic Jana Lvova. In brick-and-mortar stores, debit and credit cards are the most common choice, with 41 percent of customers choosing them. These are followed by contactless mobile payments, with 25 percent of people choosing them. Finally, 7 percent of customers prefer wearable electronic devices. In the online environment, payment card-based methods are also clearly dominant - either directly or through various digital wallets, such as Click to Pay. Digital wallets are preferred by 29 percent of people, while 32 percent of consumers prefer a classic debit or credit card, and others prefer other digital forms of payment, such as bank transfer (8 percent), card payment on delivery (8 percent), PayPal (8 percent), and payment button (2 percent), etc. If the preferred digital payment method can't be used, consumers usually resort to cash, which may occur, for example, in the event of an unexpected payment terminal outage or when a retailer doesn't accept cards. "In an era in which customers expect effortless and secure payments, a wide range of payment options is becoming a must for merchants who want to remain competitive and build long-term customer loyalty," stressed Lvova. The data showed that merchants can increase their sales by an average of 18 percent after introducing cashless payments. The Mastercard survey was carried out in December 2025 in all regions of Slovakia among 1,000 respondents with bank accounts. ko/df