Czech banks for newcomers: how to choose

Pick a Czech bank by someone else's ranking and you may end up with the wrong one. The right bank depends on whether you are paid in crowns or euros, whether you can stand a branch queue, and how much of your life already lives in an app. Fees and features change too often to print here, so this piece gives you the questions that sort the banks, not a league table.

We do not rank banks, and we have not tested any bank's English service for this article. Use the names below as a starting set.

Names to start from

Established banks that newcomers commonly look at: ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank, Air Bank, Fio banka, mBank and moneta Money Bank. The list is alphabetical in spirit, not in merit, and it is not complete.

Ownership is one of the few things that is easy to verify. Komerční banka is part of Société Générale. Raiffeisenbank belongs to the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International group. mBank is a Polish bank operating in Czechia. Ownership tells you nothing about service, so do not let it decide for you.

Check each bank's English pages, onboarding rules and current fees on its own website. Our piece on digital banking and neobanks compares the two broad families, and opening a Czech bank account as a foreigner covers the paperwork.

The seven questions that sort them

What to know before you apply

You are entitled to a basic account. Every bank in Czechia must offer a basic payment account, and must decide within 10 working days (as of 2026; check the Czech National Bank). It may be simpler than the bank's flagship product, but it lets you receive a salary and pay bills.

ID and address. Banks check identity by passport or residence document, and often ask where you live. A hotel or serviced apartment address may not satisfy everyone, so ask in advance. Our first 30 days plan puts the account in week two for a reason.

US citizens. Banks may ask whether you are a US person for tax reporting, which is routine. The tax side is covered in US expats and Czech tax filing.

Deposit protection. Deposits in banks are protected up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank, paid out within seven working days (as of 2026; check the Financial Market Guarantee System).

Disputes. If you have a disagreement with a bank that you cannot settle, the financial arbitrator (finanční arbitr) handles eligible cases.

Matching a bank to your life

If you want to see a branch and talk to a human about a mortgage in future, a bank with a branch network may suit you. If you live in your phone, an app-led bank may be enough. Many people keep one Czech account for rent and bills and a second provider for travel. If you plan to buy one day, a Czech account history helps document a later application, and Hypoteky.com has a guide to mortgages for foreigners in Czechia.

For credit cards, see getting a Czech credit card as a newcomer. For moving money out, see sending money abroad from Prague.

How banks differ in practice

Three differences matter more than any fee table. The first is the channel: some banks expect a branch visit at least once, while others let you open the account online with a video identity check. The second is language, and you should test three places, not one: the app, the website and the phone line. A bank can have an English app and a Czech-only support desk. The third is how the bank treats a customer with no Czech history, which shows in what it offers after a few months.

Fees come in layers: the account, the card, domestic and foreign transfers, withdrawals at the bank's own and other banks' ATMs, paper statements. Some are waived if a salary arrives or the card is used monthly, so ask what the conditions are and what happens if you stop meeting them.

Changing your mind later is allowed. Under the EU Payment Accounts Directive, as implemented in Czech law, banks must offer a switching service that moves standing orders and direct debits to a new account in the same country. Ask the new bank to explain how it works before you commit (as of 2026; check the Czech National Bank).

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a Czech bank account without a residence permit?

Policies vary. Some banks accept passports and short-term documents, and others want a permit or a local address. Check each bank's conditions.

Do I have to go to a branch?

Some banks allow remote onboarding, others need a visit. It depends on the bank and on your ID.

Are Czech banks safe?

Deposits are protected up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank (as of 2026; check the Financial Market Guarantee System). The Czech National Bank supervises the sector.

Is a neobank enough?

For travel and currency, often yes. For salary, rent and some bills, a Czech account is simpler.

Today: pick three banks whose English sites look clearest and compare their price lists on your five monthly actions.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.