Visa Europe has praised the country for its quick adoption of the technology, urging others throughout the continent to follow in its footsteps. According to the company, Slovakia makes one million contactless transactions per month on its 1.43 million Visa cards in circulation.

Contactless payments in Slovakia were introduced back in 2010, with its local bank Tatra Banka being the first to offer the service to customers. Over the past year, the bank has recorded a rapid growth in those using the technology, and has now gained almost a 50 per cent share of the bank's card transactions.

Sandra Alzetta, Visa Europe SVP, says: "This is a market where contactless has really taken off. The lead in innovation which Tatra Banka has taken is a key factor here."