Běžný účet Start

Komerční banka's Běžný účet Start: what a fee-free tariff actually gives you

Běžný účet Start is the entry-level tariff of Komerční banka's personal current account, offered by one of the largest banks on the Czech market. It's built for clients who want a current account with no monthly fee and no unnecessary extras — domestic and SEPA payments are free across all of KB's tariffs, and the Start tariff itself is maintained completely free of charge. It's a good fit for people who don't need the extended ATM perks of the higher tariffs and are happy with basic account handling.

Fees and account maintenance

The key feature of the Start tariff is that it is maintained free of charge — regardless of monthly turnover or account balance. Komerční banka offers three higher tariffs on top of this account: Standard at CZK 39 a month, Komfort at CZK 89 a month, and Exclusive at CZK 169 a month. Clients under 26 get these higher tariffs at a discount, or in some cases completely free.

Domestic payments and SEPA payments (the eurozone and other European countries participating in the SEPA system) are free across all four tariffs, including the cheapest Start tariff. That matters for an everyday user — there's no need to switch to a pricier variant just for standard transfers, and the same applies to clients who regularly send payments abroad within the eurozone, for example for purchases from French or German online shops.

The materials available for the Start tariff don't mention any condition tied to monthly turnover, a minimum incoming payment, or a number of card transactions that would be required to keep the account fee-free. If that stays the case, this is a genuinely unconditional free account — unlike competing offers with a conditional zero fee (for example, tied to a minimum monthly income), which is a simpler model: the client doesn't have to track or prove anything. The Start, Standard, Komfort and Exclusive tariffs are run by Komerční banka as tiers of a single product, so a client can start with the free Start tariff and later consider moving to a pricier variant if it turns out they need discounted withdrawals from other banks' ATMs or other add-on services — the exact process for switching between tariffs, however, isn't described in the materials available for this product.

What isn't clear from the available materials is the exact fee for issuing a debit card and for ATM withdrawals specifically on the Start tariff. Komerční banka's website describes ATM perks mainly for the higher tariffs — Standard gives a limited number of free withdrawals from other banks' ATMs within the Czech Republic, Komfort extends that scope to selected European countries as well, and Exclusive offers free ATM withdrawals worldwide. The Start tariff isn't mentioned among these perks, which suggests that withdrawals from other banks' ATMs are probably not free here — before opening the account, we recommend checking the current fee schedule for ATM withdrawals and card issuance directly with the bank, since exact figures aren't available in the materials for this product.

Komerční banka also offers an overdraft facility for this account, but the specific terms — the interest rate, the maximum limit, or the requirements for arranging it — aren't stated in the publicly available materials for this particular account. Anyone interested in an overdraft should have the terms quoted individually at a branch or through internet banking.

Sign-up bonus

Komerční banka currently offers new clients a bonus of up to CZK 4,000, made up of two parts:

• CZK 3,000 for actively using the newly opened account
• CZK 1,000 for switching from another bank

According to the available information, the offer runs until November 30, 2026. It's important to understand that this isn't a one-off reward paid out right after opening the account — the CZK 3,000 portion is tied to an "active use" condition, and the exact definition of what counts as active use (for example, a specific number of card payments, a minimum monthly incoming amount, or the length of the qualifying period) isn't spelled out in detail in the materials available for this product. The second part of the bonus, CZK 1,000, is additionally conditional on genuinely switching from another bank, which in practice usually means transferring standing orders and direct debits or actively closing the previous account. Before deciding on this bonus, we recommend checking the exact, current terms on the bank's website or directly at a branch — this isn't an "easy CZK 4,000" for no effort, but a reward split into two achievable, but not entirely trivial, steps.

Who is this account suitable for

The Start tariff is best suited to clients who want a current account with a zero monthly fee and are fine with basic account handling — free domestic and SEPA payments, without needing the discounted ATM withdrawals or other add-ons of the higher tariffs. This typically means clients who pay by card and through internet banking, withdraw cash only occasionally, and don't need to worry about fees on withdrawals abroad.

It's also a sensible choice for clients under 26 who might, in the future, consider moving to one of the higher tariffs at the age-based discount — they can already hold an account with the bank where a higher tariff will later work out cheaper than the standard price. The account is also worth a look for clients who currently bank elsewhere and are considering a switch — thanks to the CZK 1,000 switching bonus, it can be worth moving standing orders and their main income here.

On the other hand, people who frequently withdraw cash abroad or travel a lot and want ATM withdrawals covered by the bank should consider the higher Komfort or Exclusive tariffs, where these perks are included in the price according to the bank's offer. Likewise, clients who want a clearly defined overdraft attached to the account should have the terms calculated individually, since the Start tariff itself doesn't publish detailed overdraft terms.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Account maintained completely free, with no turnover or balance conditions
• Domestic and SEPA payments free even on the cheapest tariff
• Bonus of up to CZK 4,000 for new clients
• Higher Standard, Komfort and Exclusive tariffs available later if Start stops being enough
• Discounted higher tariffs for clients under 26

Cons:

• Lacks the discounted other-bank ATM withdrawals that the higher tariffs offer
• Terms for the CZK 3,000 portion of the bonus aren't publicly detailed
• Card fee and domestic ATM withdrawal fees aren't stated for the Start tariff
• Overdraft terms aren't published and must be arranged individually

Verdict

Komerční banka's Běžný účet Start is a solid choice for clients looking for a fee-free account with free domestic and SEPA payments who don't need the ATM perks of the higher tariffs. The bonus of up to CZK 4,000 for new clients is attractive, but it's really a reward conditional on actively using the account and switching from another bank — not an automatic payout just for opening the account. Anyone expecting to travel frequently or withdraw cash abroad should consider the pricier Komfort or Exclusive tariffs, where those withdrawals are handled on better terms.