A list of the top banks in Slovakia

Considering a move to Slovakia? It’s a fantastic place to live, work, study or set up a business. If you’re spending a decent amount of time there, it could be useful to open a Slovakian bank account.

In this handy guide, we’ll help you get started with a list of the top banks in Slovakia. This includes all of the biggest and most popular, from Slovenská sporiteľňa to mBank. We’ll also throw in some info on the current accounts each bank offers.

But first, a quick overview of what the banking sector is like in Slovakia.

Banking in Slovakia (an overview)

Slovakia has a highly concentrated banking sector, and many of its banks are owned by financial groups based elsewhere in Europe. There’s a large number of universal and retail banks, so there’s lots of choice if you’re looking for a current account.

To open a bank account in Slovakia, here’s what you’re likely to need:

• A passport or other valid form of photo ID

• Resident card

• Proof of address.

However, all banks have their own requirements, and some may ask for proof of income and/or employment too.

In terms of banking fees, you can expect most accounts to have a monthly maintenance charge of some sort. However, some banks waive these if you can maintain a minimum balance.

You should be able to use your own bank’s ATMs for free, but out-of-network ATMs are likely to have a charge.

If you need to manage your money internationally and want to save money, check out Wise instead.

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Top 10 banks in Slovakia

Now, here’s an at-a-glance look at the biggest and most popular banks in Slovakia, so that you can start to compare options.

Read on for more info on each below.

Bank name	Operational HQ
Slovenská sporiteľňa	Bratislava
VUB Banka	Bratislava
Tatra Banka	Bratislava
ČSOB Banka	Bratislava
Prima Banka	Žilina
365.bank	Bratislava
Privatbanka	Bratislava
Slovenská záručná a rozvojová banka	Bratislava
mBank	Bratislava
BKS Bank	Bratislava

Slovenská sporiteľňa

With roots dating back to 1825, Slovenská sporiteľňa is one of Slovakia’s oldest and biggest banks. Today, it’s a part of the Austria-based Erste Bank Group.

Slovenská sporiteľňa is a full service universal bank, serving personal and business customers as well as private banking clients.

Its everyday banking products include the popular SPACE account, which comes with multiple payment cards, mobile banking and lots of other perks.

For businesses, the bank has tailored solutions for self-employed people, entrepreneurs, SMEs and companies. Its products include accounts, loans, financing, leasing, car loans and investments.

VUB Banka

Všeobecná úverová banka, commonly known as VUB Banka, is another of the country’s biggest universal banks. It’s part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, headquartered in Turin, Italy.

VUB Banka offers retail, business and private banking. For everyday money management, an interesting option worth checking out is its Greener Planet Account. You can choose a project with a positive social impact and the bank will support it, while you get a plastic-free card, paperless account setup and other useful banking features.¹

The bank also has accounts, payment solutions, cards, financing and investment solutions available for business customers.

Tatra Banka

Established in 1990 as the country’s first private bank, Tatra Banka is a subsidiary of Austrian-owned Raiffeisen Bank International.

Tatra is a universal bank serving all customer types, including personal, business (SME and corporate) and private banking clients. It offers a range of current accounts, including its Blue Planet Account.

This is a digital account and card which offers some interesting features, designed to help customers make more sustainable spending choices. This includes rewards for shopping with sustainable merchants such as organic food stores, as well as tools to show you the carbon footprint of purchases.²

For businesses, the bank has accounts, cards, loans, financing and payments solutions.

ČSOB Banka

Československá obchodná banka or ČSOB Banka is another of the big players in the retail banking market of Slovakia. It has a full suite of banking products for personal customers, as well as SMEs, corporate clients, institutions and private banking customers.

For everyday banking, the ČSOB Smart Account is worth a look. It’s a fully digital account with minimal fees, which comes with a debit card and savings account.

Services for businesses at the bank include accounts, financing, savings, insurance and investments.

Prima Banka

Prima banka Slovensko began life in 1993 when nearly 200 municipalities in Slovakia teamed up to establish the First Municipal Bank. It was renamed in 2011 when European group Penta Investments became a majority owner.

Today, Prima Banka specialises in retail banking, although it also serves business customers.

Its range of current accounts includes a Personal Account, which comes with an international payment card and online banking.

Prima Banka also has accounts, loans, financing, deposits, investment and payments services available for businesses.

365.bank

Founded in 1992 as a replacement for parent bank Poštová banka, 365.bank was one of the country’s first digital banks. It has also become one of Slovakia’s biggest and most popular banks.

365.bank has accounts and services for both personal and business customers. It has a couple of key current accounts, including a Free account. This is an online account with a digital card, mobile banking and in-app banking tools - all for no monthly fee.³

Business customers can choose from accounts, financing, payment solutions and investment services.

Privatbanka

Privatbanka was one of the first private banks to be established in Slovakia, but this doesn’t all it has to offer. The bank also has a selection of products for retail customers, including current accounts, savings accounts and fixed term deposits.

This includes the Privatbanka Account, which comes with a card, online banking and SEPA payments for a small monthly fee.

The bank also offers corporate banking services, including accounts, guarantees and corporate funding.

Slovenská záručná a rozvojová banka

Slovenská záručná a rozvojová banka (Slovak Guarantee and Development Bank) was set up to boost entrepreneurship in the country. It’s owned by the Ministry of Finance in Slovakia.

The bank primarily focuses on SME and corporate financing, but it does have a current account. It’s mainly for entrepreneurs, and has features such as deposits, transfers and online banking services.

mBank

A popular choice in Slovakia is mBank, the Polish-owned company previously known as BRE Bank and tomBank. It has operated since 2000, and today offers personal, business, corporate and private banking.

If you need a low-cost account for daily banking, the mKonto account is worth checking out. It’s a free account with mobile banking, a debit card, savings interest and more.⁴

For business customers, mBank has accounts, savings, loans cards and other useful financial services.

BKS Bank

Established in 1922 and originally known as Kärntner Kredit- und Wechselbank Ehrfeld & Co, BKS Bank is part of the Austrian 3-Banken Gruppe.

The bank primarily serves personal customers and small businesses, but it also offers private banking and wealth management services.

Its range of current accounts includes the Premium Konto, which comes with a payment card, online banking and a linked savings account.

BKS Bank’s services for businesses include company accounts, overdraft loans and leasing.

Best online bank accounts and money management alternatives in Slovakia

A bank isn’t the only way to manage your money overseas. There’s also the option of using a money app or digital account.

Here are some of the most popular choices available in Slovakia:

• Revolut - an all-in-one financial app with a debit card and banking services.

• N26 - a fully digital bank offering an app-managed bank account and debit card.

• Vivid Money - a German mobile banking platform available across the EEA. It offers accounts and cards for personal and business customers.

• Bunq - a mobile-first bank licensed in the Netherlands offering personal and business accounts.

Wise – Money for here, there and everywhere

If you want to send money internationally, or use your debit card when you travel, you’re probably looking for the most cost-effective way.

The good news is that there’s a money-saving alternative available from the money services provider Wise. Open a Wise account online, and you can send money worldwide in 40+ currencies for low fees and great exchange rates. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can even get an international debit card for spending in over 150+ countries, including Slovakia. It automatically converts your money to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate, adding only a low, transparent conversion fee*, whenever you spend.

This makes it ideal for travellers, expats, overseas students and anyone else living an international life.

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And there you have it - a list of the top banks in Slovakia, including the biggest and most popular banks and their top current accounts.

You should now have all the info you need to start comparing options and choose the right bank for you. Good luck with your move!

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Sources used for this article:

1. VUB Banka - Greener Planet Account

2. Tatra Banka - Current account

3. 365.bank - Free account

4. mBank - mKonto

Sources last checked on 07-May-2024.