💡 To open an account you need a passport or povolení k pobytu (residence permit) and often proof of address (potvrzení o adrese), for example a rental contract; everyone legally resident in the EU has the right to a základní platební účet (basic payment account).
💡 Vedení účtu is the account maintenance fee, poplatky are charges, zdarma is free; ask what you pay for: card, transfer or cash withdrawal.
💡 A card is usually activated with the first payment with the PIN or at an ATM; internetové bankovnictví (online banking) is set up in the bank's app.
💡 A Czech account number has the form číslo účtu / kód banky; for international transfers IBAN is needed; the employer asks for it to pay the mzda (salary).
💡 When a payment is declined, check the limit, the balance and whether the card was blocked after several wrong codes; most changes are made in the bank's app.
💡 For internetové bankovnictví (online banking) the bank gives you a přihlašovací jméno (login) and payments are confirmed with a mobilní klíč (mobile key) or a code from a message; never tell anybody a code, even a "bank employee".
💡 A transfer abroad requires the recipient's IBAN, the bank's SWIFT (or BIC) and the recipient's name; the fee depends on the bank and the amount.
💡 A trvalý příkaz is a regular payment on a set day; a jednorázová platba is a one-off; the příjemce is the recipient, the variabilní symbol is the payment reference.
💡 Report an unfamiliar payment to the bank at once: the card will be blocked and a reklamaci (complaint) taken in writing; do not wait.
💡 Czech invoices often carry a QR platba: you scan the code in the app and the číslo účtu, amount and variabilní symbol are filled in; an okamžitá platba arrives within seconds.
💡 A withdrawal from your own bank's bankomat is usually free, at another bank's they may charge a poplatek; when paying by card abroad the terminal sometimes offers crowns, so choose the local currency.
💡 A známka is a stamp, a dopis a letter, a pohlednice a postcard; tuzemsko means within the country, zahraničí abroad.
💡 A doporučený dopis is a registered letter; the item is recorded and you receive a podací lístek (receipt) with a number.
💡 A složenka is a payment slip; at the post office you can pay in cash or by card, you need the slip with the account number and variabilní symbol.
💡 Through SIPO (joint payment) rent and utilities are paid in one payment via the post office; you need the spojovací číslo (linking number) from the bill or a letter.