Financial education:
What do I need to know about payment cards?
A payment card is a non-cash payment instrument that allows you to pay for goods and services, as well as withdraw cash.
Why…
a faster way to access money than going to the bank, availability of funds in the account 24 hours a day, greater security in case of possible loss than in the case of carrying cash, payment abroad, payment even when you do not have enough money in the account…
Which cards are offered by banks…
Debit cards – allow you to pay for goods and services or to withdraw cash up to the amount of available funds recorded in the account (including overdraft in some banks).
Credit cards – allow you deferred payments for goods and services, as well as to withdraw cash up to a certain limit defined by a contract previously concluded with a bank. During the use of those funds, customers are charged with an interest in accordance with the contract.
Most popular ones are so called revolving credit cards. Under these cards, you pay the agreed percentage of the withdrawn amount once a month. Part of debt not being repaid is transferred to the following month and interest, as defined in a contract, is to be paid on that debt.
Prepaid cards – cards with certain pre-paid amount which can be later used for payments, cash withdrawals and online payments.
Card issuance
You can apply for card issuance in a bank or on the website of a bank. General terms of the issuance and use of payment cards can be found on the website of a bank or in the chosen bank, directly.
Upon the receipt of a card you are required to sign it. Unsigned card is invalid.
Card is valid until the last day of the month indicated on the card. If you do not cancel your card, your bank will automatically renew the card with a new validity period.
Bank delivers a PIN (personal identification number). Your obligation is to keep it confidential.
It is not recommended to keep the PIN with the card.
Card use
Card can be used at all points of sale, ATMs and banks which have the logo of your card.
Card payments at a point of sale
- You give your card to a merchant who inserts/swipes it through the POS terminal and enters the transaction amount, after which you will be asked to enter your PIN number. Before you enter the PIN, check the receipt amount on the display and cover the PIN entry with your hand. Upon the approval of the transaction, the receipt is printed in 2 copies (called slip). One copy is for the merchant, while you take the other copy for any possible complaints in the future (in case of a mismatch between the transaction statements and the purchase performed). In case you did not confirm the transaction by entering the PIN, you will be asked to sign a slip like you signed on your card.
- merchant may ask for your identity document with a photo
- when paying, do not allow your card be taken out of your sight
Cash withdrawal
Cash withdrawal at the counter is the same as purchase; only, a client is obliged to give a personal identification document with a photo to a bank officer.
Cash withdrawal at ATMs
- insert your card in ATM (as displayed on the ATM screen)
- follow the instructions on screen
- select a withdrawal option
- enter PIN code (while entering, cover the keyboard with a hand)
- select a button next to the desired amount or type it under the option “other amount”
- In case you have sufficient funds in your account, ATM pays out the cash and prints out the slip on the completed transaction. Keep the slip safe for the purpose of comparing it to your bank statement.
ATM will keep a card if:
- you entered incorrect PIN three consecutive times
- the card is blocked
- you failed to withdraw your card after the ATM ejected it
- the card has expired
Cash withdrawals at the ATMs and counters of other banks in the country and abroad are charged additionally, and the fee is added to the amount of transaction. Be sure to check bank information on fees, exchange rate for transactions abroad, debt currency and possible commission charged when converting.
Security
- A card should be kept separately from other means of payment and regularly checked for its presence.
- Make sure your card is not taken out of your sight when making payments at a point of sale.
- A client assumes the risk for unauthorized card use, hence adhere to safety measures when using a card (ex. card must be signed, disclosing of PIN, giving a card to be used by another person).
- If a card is lost or stolen, immediately inform the bank that issued the card. The bank is obliged to block the card immediately. if you subsequently find the card which you reported as stolen/lost, you must not use it. Return it to the bank that issued the card.
Name of the bank | Block a card – telephone number |
| Addiko a.d. Banja Luka | 24hrs/day: +387 (51) 951 000 |
| NLB banka a.d. Banja Luka | 24hrs/day: +387 (51) 242 171 or 0800 505 10 |
| Atos Bank a.d. Banja Luka | from 08-16h: +387 (51) 241 124 or +387 (51) 241 156, from 16hа: 0800 59 999 or +381 (11) 308 2300 |
| BPŠ Banka a.d. Banja Luka | 24hrs/day: +387 (51) 244 797 |
| Nova banka a.d. Banja Luka | 24/7: +387 (51) 333 350 or 0800 500 11 |
| UniCredit Bank a.d. Banja Luka | 080 051 051 for calls from abroad: +387 (51) 246 604 |
| Naša banka a.d. Banja Luka | 24hrs/day: +387 (55) 232 300, +387 (51) 492 791 or 0800 50 213 |
| MF banka a.d. Banja Luka | from 08-16h: +387 (51) 240 309 or 080 051 055 |
Banks from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that have organizational units in the Republic of Srpska
Name of the Bank | Block a card – telephone number |
| Raiffeisen Bank dd BH Sarajevo | 24hrs/day: +387 (33) 755 030 or 081 92 92 92 |
| ProCredit Bank Sarajevo | 24hrs/day: +387 (33) 250 976 |
| Intesa Sanpaolo Banka dd BiH Sarajevo | 24hrs/day:+387 (33) 497 657 |
| Ziraat Bank BH d.d. Sarajevo | 24hrs/day: +387 (33) 252 243 or +387 (33) 252 244 |
| Sparkasse Bank dd BH Sarajevo | 24/7: +387 (33) 280 300 or +387 33 958 500 |
| UniCredit Bank dd Mostar | 24/7: +387 (36) 312 695 or 080 081 051 |
| Bosna Bank International d.d. Sarajevo | 24/7: 080 020 020 |
Useful advices
Before applying for a card, ask about the commissions and fees that banks charge for the issuance and use of payment cards.
To purchase online, use a prepaid card.
Regularly check your account balance.
Memorize your PIN and never carry it with you.
Write the number of customer service (on the card back-side) to report a theft, if it occurs.