This is evidenced by the latest official data from the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), which illustrates key trends in the financial sector over the past two years.
Record figures: over 7 million payment cards in circulation
According to the regulator’s statistics, the number of payment cards issued in the country is growing every year. While Slovak banks issued approximately 6.32 million cards in August 2024, this figure increased by half a million just one year later.
As of August 2026, the number of active payment cards exceeded 7,140,000. In total, over the past two years, the financial sector has seen an increase of more than 828,000 new cards.
Debit cards make up the vast majority of these—their share reaches nearly 93%. Credit cards, on the other hand, account for just over 7% of the market, reflecting Slovaks’ cautious attitude toward credit debt.
Savings Trends: Cash Withdrawals Are Declining
As the number of cards grows, the frequency of cash withdrawals at ATMs is decreasing. The trend over the past three years shows a steady decline:
2023: over 38 million cash withdrawal transactions;
2024: approximately 36.5 million transactions;
2025: just over 34 million transactions.
Overall, over a two-year period, the number of cash withdrawal transactions has decreased by more than 4 million. Slovak residents are increasingly opting for contactless payments in stores, restaurants, and when paying for services.
The Disappearance of ATMs and a New Format for Financial Devices
The decline in demand for cash directly affects banking infrastructure. The number of traditional ATMs on the streets of Slovak cities and towns is steadily decreasing:
In August 2024, there were more than 3,300 such devices in operation across the country;
By August 2025, that number had dropped to 2,800;
As of August 2026, approximately 2,700 ATMs remained on record.
Thus, over the course of two years, more than 600 ATMs have disappeared from the streets of Slovakia.
However, financial institutions are not simply removing the equipment but are changing its format. An interesting trend has been the development of “vkladomats”—a new generation of devices that allow customers not only to withdraw cash but also to conveniently deposit cash into their bank accounts.
