Saving money is a very important necessity for students. Unlike other bureaucratic processes in the Republic, the bank account opening is a fairly simple process with no special limitations. It can be opened, get a debit card, and register for online banking all in a week. Contrary to other banks in Europe, in the republic, a flat monthly rate and banking fees for every type of transaction are charged. Thus, ensure you open one as a student to avoid unnecessary charges. Since the country became a member of the European Union, a lot of its cities have experienced a vast influx of expats. Prague, the capital city, is one of the friendliest European cities to live in.
If you are a student studying in any institution in the nation or you are interested in knowing how to open a student account, this article provides information on opening a student bank account in the Czech Republic and other information.
Requirements
When opening an account, all that is required is a passport, another kind of identity, an ISIC, which is an International Student Card issued by a Czech University, and other forms of official documentation. To create a bank account, an international student is required to bring two valid forms of identification to the bank. Acceptable forms of identification include a birth certificate, health insurance card, passport, proof of address, and an identification card. The bank will also demand documentation that you have been accepted into a local university in the territory or that you have a study visa. When opening a new account, the person must first make an initial deposit into the account before the account may be used. The amount of this deposit varies from bank to bank, with 7.2 Euros being the most typical amount.
Types of accounts to open
The two most popular student accounts open to international students studying here include:
Package G2.2 + MojeBanka (internet banking)
Some benefits of this account type include account management and internet banking for free, outgoing payments for 19 CZK, listings at 4 CZK, a bonus of CZK 200 for submitting a valid ISIC card to the bank advisor, etc.
Student account plus + internet banking 24
Some benefits are free account management and internet banking, free incoming and outgoing payment, free cards for students, etc.
The most recommended banks are Komercni Banka (KB) and ČSOB. The Republic has lots of banks with English-speaking staff, which makes it easy to open a bank account within the territory. Some of the most common local retail banks are Česká spořitelna, Citibank, ČSOB (Československá Obchodní Banka), Equa Bank and Expobank. There are also tons of international partners like HSBC, Unicredit Bank, Sberbank, Raiffeisenbank, et cetera.
Online banking
Banks like EquaBank lets people open accounts online without any hassle. one can start the process by filling out a form on their website. The bank will prepare the account and inform the owner the next day to fix an appointment. As it is a relatively simple and fast process, it takes a day to get an appointment. The last step of signing the contract and officially opening the account has to be done physically at a local branch.
Banking fees
At most banks, one has to pay a flat monthly rate and fee for transactions. Some banks choose the monthly fee option. The usual monthly fee for an account is about 30 to 50 CZK. There are special offers which change every month. The use of an ATM is usually charged around 6 CZK for withdrawals from any home bank machine. Using an out-of-network ATM cost higher. The annual fee for using a debit card is between 150 and 200 CZK.