Czechia/Banking

Foreign bank account? Where to withdraw cash

If you are still only having a foreign bank account, you probably need to withdraw cash with your foreign Visa or Mastercard.

Some bank machine are more suitable than others – find here a List of Czech ATMs not charging extra fees.

What Czech bank account do I need? Or: The smartest setup

Before looking for offers and opening an account, think about what exactly you want to do with it. If you keep your current bank account from your home country, you might need only a Czech account in CZK – and use e.g. Revolut or Transferwise for exchanging money from your old account to your new Czech one.

Revolut & Transferwise

Revolut & Transferwise are free multi-currency accounts: You have one account but balances in EUR, USD, CZK etc. And you can exchange money between these balances without any (big) spread. On Revolut for instance, you can exchange 100 EUR into CZK and back – and still have not (much) less than 100 EUR.

Currency exchange at Czech banks

This is much different with Czech banks: They have a different rate for buying EUR and selling EUR – and in between a spread. For instance, you would change 1 EUR into 25 CZK – and for changing these 25 CZK bank into EUR, a rate of 1 to 26 CZK is applied, giving you back only 0.96 EUR.

On average, you loose around 3% when exchanging EUR to CZK via a Czech bank. With Revolut, it is rarely over 1%.

Combine Revolut with a Czech bank account

This is why the smartest setup could be the following:

• Get a Revolut or Transferwise Borderless Account
• Get a simple, free Czech Bank Account with CZK only
• If you need to receive money in another currency than CZK:
  • receive it on your Revolut or Transferwise account
  • exchange it there to CZK
  • send the CZK to your simple Czech bank account

Vice versa for sending EUR from your Czech account:

• Send CZK to Revolut
• Exchange it there to EUR
• Send it from Revolut to where you want

Read more:

• Transferwise Guide to CZK transfers

Isn't Revolut / Transferwise enough? Why a Czech account at all?

Since Revolut allows you sending and receiving CZK, you may think now: Why would I need a Czech account at all?

In Czechia, bank transfers follow a special system using "Variable, Constant & Specific symbol". To perfectly comply with these transfers, a Czech bank account is suitable.

What do I need to open a Czech bank account?

Most banks will require from you:

• an ID / passport
• a proof of residence, can be
  • a rental contract
  • temporary/permanent residence permit

With these documents, go to a branch of the following banks.

Free bank accounts with English support

Fio banka

Fio banka is a branch bank that also offers online banking. Their website has an English interface, and also in their branches you can find English speaking customer service.

They offer a free current account that can hold Czech currency (CZK), but also in many others (at the moment: AUD, CAD, DKK, EUR, GBP, HRK, HUF, CHF, JPY, NOK, PLN, RUB, SEK, USD).

Besides, you get

• a free Mastercard for contactless payments
  • another payment card for a second person
• up to 10 cash withdrawals / month at Fio ATMs
  • 5 at other ATMs
  • 1 withdrawal in foreign country per month

See also: More features

Raiffeisenbank

German-based Raiffeisenbank offers two current accounts:

• Chytrý účet: simple but free
• Aktivný účet: 49 CZK / month but including many features

Chytrý účet

The Smart account (Chytrý účet) has no running fees but also not many features included. What you get included:

• a CZK account (for any further currency, you pay 29 CZK / month)
• a debit card
• a credit card
• free cash withdrawal at ATMs in Czechia

Read more about Chytrý účet

Aktivný účet

With the Active account (Aktivný účet) you pay 49 CZK / month and get additionally

• not only an account in CZK but also optionally in EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, JPY, CAD, PLN, HUF ...
• free cash withdrawal at ATMs not only in Czechia but worldwide

Read more about Aktivný účet

Equabank

Equabank is a Czech bank and offering a free current account in CZK, including:

• free cash withdrawal at ATMs worldwide
• free Mastercard debit card
• optional: an account in EUR
• free incoming and outgoing transactions in EUR and CZK

Account opening is possible in branches or online.

Read more about Equabank's current account