In just about a hundred hours, over e83 million were dispensed from banks in Malta while 73 per cent of the Maltese are already paying only in euros, the National Euro Changeover Committee said yesterday.

This makes Malta the second best country that has experienced such a swift and efficient changeover to the euro currency.

European Commission statistics published yesterday also show that Malta’s changeover occurred at a faster rate than the majority of countries that have adopted the euro to date. Malta is second only to The Netherlands who in 2002 changed over to euro swifter than in Malta when in four days 80 per cent of citizens were paying in euro only.

From January 1 to date, over 135,000 ATM transactions were effected and e15.5 million were withdrawn. Commercial banks effected 108,000 transactions at their branches with a staggering e68.1 million cashed.

On Friday, 52 per cent of Maltese were reported to have only euro bank notes in their wallets and purses while 55% only have euro coins.

The most important element registered on Friday was that 73 per cent of payments in commercial establishment were effected only in euro. European Commission research also indicated that 97 per cent received change only in euro.