# Czechia — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **QR Platba** is the Czech Banking Association standard for QR code payments
- **CERTIS** processed 983 million transactions in 2024 (1/3 instant payments)
- **Platba na kontakt** (November 2023) enables P2P transfers via phone number
- **Big Three** banks (Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka) dominate the market
- **Cardless ATM** withdrawals via QR pioneered by Česká spořitelna

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Czech National Bank (Česká národní banka, CNB)
- **Website:** https://www.cnb.cz/
- **Role:** Operates CERTIS, monetary policy, banking supervision

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Total Assets (CZK) | Market Share | Owner |
|------|-----------|-------------------|--------------|-------|
| 1 | Česká spořitelna | 2,030,080 M | 19.74% | Erste Group (Austria) |
| 2 | ČSOB | 1,920,460 M | 18.67% | KBC Group (Belgium) |
| 3 | Komerční banka | ~1,500,000 M | ~15% | Société Générale (France) |
| 4 | UniCredit Bank CZ | ~600,000 M | ~6% | UniCredit (Italy) |
| 5 | Raiffeisenbank | ~500,000 M | ~5% | RBI (Austria) |
| 6 | MONETA Money Bank | 494,980 M | 4.81% | Domestic |

### Market Structure
- **Big Three:** Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka
- **Foreign Ownership:** All Big Three owned by EU banking groups
- **Deposit Market Share:**
  - ČSOB: 21.3%
  - Česká spořitelna: 20.9%
  - Komerční banka: 16.0%

### 2024 Financial Performance
- **Česká spořitelna Net Income:** CZK 26.24 billion (+40.46% YoY)
- **ČSOB Net Income:** CZK 18.91 billion

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| CERTIS | CNB | RTGS + Instant | Active (1992) |
| ABO-K | CNB | Internet banking | Active |
| SKD | CNB | Short-term bonds | Active |

### CERTIS (Czech Express Real Time Interbank Gross Settlement)
- **Operator:** Czech National Bank
- **Launch:** March 8, 1992
- **Type:** Only interbank payment system in CZK
- **2024 Volume:** 983 million transactions
- **2024 Value:** CZK 386.5 trillion
- **Daily Average:** 3.9 million transactions (CZK 1.5 trillion)

### Instant Payments via CERTIS
- **Launch:** November 2018
- **Participating Banks:** 14 (as of 2024)
- **Share:** 1/3 of all CERTIS payments are instant
- **Coverage:** 50% of interbank retail payments processed instantly
- **Speed:** <0.5 seconds for 50% of payments, <1.5 seconds for 99%
- **Total Time:** ~3 seconds typical
- **Limits:** CZK 0.01 - CZK 2,500,000 per transaction

### April 2025 Expansion
- Non-bank institutions can now access CERTIS
- Payment institutions and e-money institutions eligible
- EU/EEA-based institutions can participate

### Future Developments
- **2026:** Bulk instant payments planned (e.g., salary payments)

---

## QR code standards

### QR Platba (Primary Standard)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Standard Name** | QR Platba |
| **Operator** | Czech Banking Association |
| **Type** | Payment QR code |
| **Currency** | CZK only |
| **Adoption** | Major banks |

#### Supported Banks
- Air Bank
- Česká spořitelna
- ČSOB
- Equa bank
- Era
- Fio banka
- Komerční banka
- mBank
- Raiffeisenbank
- ZUNO (former)

#### How QR Platba Works
1. Sign into mobile or internet banking
2. Select account and click QR payment button
3. Scan QR code (camera or file)
4. Pre-completed payment form opens automatically
5. Review and submit payment

#### Benefits
- Saves time vs. manual entry
- Reduces errors in payment forms
- Pre-fills all payment details
- Faster than classic bank transfers

### Cardless ATM via QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Type** | QR-based ATM withdrawal |
| **Pioneer** | Česká spořitelna (first in CZ) |
| **App** | George |
| **Time Limit** | 15 minutes after request |

#### How It Works
1. ATM displays unique QR code on home screen
2. Customer logs into George app
3. Submits withdrawal request
4. Approaches ATM within 15 minutes
5. Scans QR code with app
6. Receives cash (no card, no PIN entry)

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App Name | Bank | QR Platba | ATM QR | P2P Phone |
|----------|------|-----------|--------|-----------|
| George | Česká spořitelna | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ČSOB Smart | ČSOB | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mobilní banka | Komerční banka | Yes | No | Yes |
| My Air | Air Bank | Yes | No | Yes |
| Raiffeisen | Raiffeisenbank | Yes | No | Yes |

### George (Česká spořitelna)
- **Users:** 3 million
- **Features:**
  - QR code payments
  - Cardless ATM via QR
  - Instant payments
  - "Pay me the set amount" QR generation
  - Bill payments
  - Card management

### ČSOB Smart
- **Features:**
  - QR code invoice scanning
  - Biometric authentication
  - Card PIN display
  - Card limit management
  - Insurance integration

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [QR Platba](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ/qr-platba) | Payment QR | QR Code | Major banks | [`qr-platba`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/qr-platba) |
| [Platba na kontakt](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ/platba-na-kontakt) | Phone P2P | Phone # | 8 banks | [`platba-na-kontakt`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/platba-na-kontakt) |
| [ATM QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ/atm-qr) | Cardless withdrawal | QR Code | Česká spořitelna | — |

## Sources

- [CNB - CERTIS Description](https://www.cnb.cz/en/payments/certis/certis-the-interbank-payment-system-description/)
- [CNB - Instant Payments](https://www.cnb.cz/en/payments/certis/instant-payments-description/)
- [CNB - CERTIS Access Expansion](https://www.cnb.cz/en/cnb-news/press-releases/CERTIS-processes-almost-anbspbillion-interbank-payment-transactions-annually.-The-CNB-will-now-also-provide-non-bank-entities-with-access-to-the-system/)
- [TheBanks.eu - Czech Republic Major Banks](https://thebanks.eu/countries/Czech-Republic/major_banks)
- [Komerční banka - QR Payments FAQ](https://www.kb.cz/en/faq-and-support/accounts-and-payments/how-to-make-payments-using-qr-codes)
- [Česká spořitelna - George](https://www.csas.cz/en/mobile-apps/george-go)
- [Expats.cz - Contactless Payments Trends](https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/contactless-over-cash-here-are-the-new-techy-ways-to-pay-in-czechia)
- [Expats.cz - Transfer via Mobile Number](https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/explained-how-to-transfer-money-via-mobile-number-in-czechia)
- [KAL - Česká spořitelna Cardless ATM](https://www.kal.com/en/kal-atm-news/atm-industry-insights/ceska-sporitelna-becomes-the-first-czech-bank-to-support-cardless-cash-withdrawals-via-qr-code)
- [GitHub - QR Payment CZ Library](https://github.com/RikudouSage/QrPaymentCZ)

## Full country report

[CZ-czech-republic.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CZ)