When traveling to a foreign country, it’s always a good idea to open a local bank account. This can help you save money on foreign transaction fees and take advantage of local discounts and perks. In the Czech Republic, there are several banks that offer accounts specifically designed for travelers. In this post, we’ll compare all the bank accounts suited for traveling in the Czech Republic, including their costs, perks, and whether they offer a credit card or access to airport lounges.
Bank Account Comparison:
| Bank Name & Account Name | Monthly Fee & Card Fee | Perks | Credit Card | Airport Lounge Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Česká Spořitelna Travel Free | CZK 0 & CZK 300 | Free withdrawals from partner ATMs, free insurance | No | No |
| Komerční Banka MultiKonto | CZK 0 & CZK 290 | Discounts on travel and leisure activities | No | No |
| Raiffeisenbank eKonto | CZK 79 & CZK 0 | Free withdrawals from partner ATMs, free travel insurance | No | No |
| Fio banka eKonto Standard | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Free withdrawals from partner ATMs, cashback on purchases | No | No |
| Equa bank Smart | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Cashback on purchases, free withdrawals from partner ATMs | No | No |
| Moneta Money Bank Everyday Account | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Discounts on travel and leisure activities | No | No |
| Air Bank Free Account | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Cashback on purchases, free withdrawals from partner ATMs | Yes | Yes |
| Revolut Standard | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Free withdrawals up to CZK 5,000 per month, virtual card for online purchases | Yes | Yes |
| TransferWise Borderless | CZK 0 & CZK 0 | Low exchange rates, multi-currency support, virtual cards | No | No |
| ČSOB Konto Mobil | CZK 0 & CZK 99 | Free withdrawals from partner ATMs, discounts on travel and leisure activities | No | No |
Česká Spořitelna’s Travel Free account offers a credit card and free insurance for a one-time card fee of CZK 300. Komerční Banka’s MultiKonto account also offers a credit card, as well as discounts on travel and leisure activities. Raiffeisenbank’s eKonto account provides a credit card and free travel insurance for a monthly fee of CZK 79.
Fio banka’s eKonto Standard account offers a credit card and cashback on purchases, but no access to airport lounges. Equa bank’s Smart account also provides a credit card and cashback on purchases, but no access to airport lounges or discounts on travel and leisure activities.
Moneta Money Bank’s Everyday Account does not offer a credit card or access to airport lounges, but provides discounts on travel and leisure activities.
List of banks that offer also access to the airport lounges:
Note that some of these accounts may have additional requirements or conditions for airport lounge access. It’s always a good idea to check with the bank directly for the most up-to-date information.
| Bank | Type of Card | Type of Lounge Access | Conditions | Card Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiffeisenbank | Mastercard World Elite | LoungeKey | Minimum spend of 2500 CZK/month | 1,800 CZK/year |
| UniCredit Bank | Mastercard Platinum | LoungeKey | Minimum spend of 1000 EUR/quarter | Free |
| Česká spořitelna | Visa Gold | Visa Airport Lounges | None | 800 CZK/year |
| Komerční banka | Visa Platinum | Priority Pass | Minimum spend of 150,000 CZK/year | 1,800 CZK/year |
| Air Bank | Mastercard World Elite | LoungeKey | None | Free with Premium account or 4,000 CZK/year |
| CSOB | Visa Infinite | Priority Pass | Minimum spend of 250,000 CZK/year | 7,500 CZK/year |