Payment card is a non-cash payment instrument which allows you to pay for goods and services, as well as to withdraw cash.
Why …
Cards 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 Under these cards, you pay the agreed percentage of the withdrawn amount once a month.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.
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
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:
In such case, inform your bank immediately.
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.
Safety
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.
Bank Block a card - telephone number
Banka Srpske a.d. Banja Luka 24hrs/day: 051 245 045
Hypo Alpe-Adria Banka a.d. Banja Luka 24hrs/day: 070 340 440
NLB Razvojna banka a.d. Banja Luka 24hrs/day: 051 242 171
Sberbank a.d. Banja Luka 08h-16h: 051 241 124 or 051 241 156 after16h: 051 241 100 or +381 (0)11 308 2300
Komercijalna banka a.d. Banja Luka
Nova banka a.d. Banja Luka 24hrs/day: 051 333 350 or 0800 500 11
UniCredit Bank a.d. Banja Luka 08h-16h: 051 243 200 after 16h: 051 246 604
Pavlović International Bank a.d. Bijeljina 24hrs/day: 055 208 132
MF banka a.d. Banja Luka 08h-16h: 051 240 309 after 16h: +381 11 207 11 25
Banks from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which have the organizational units in Republika Srpska
Bank Block a card - telephone number
Raiffeisen Bank dd BH 24hrs/day: +387 (0)33 755 030
ProCredit Bank Sarajevo 24hrs/day: +387 (0)33 250 976
Intesa Sanpaolo Banka dd BiH Sarajevo
ZiraatBank BH d.d. Sarajevo 08h-16h: +387 (0)33 252 243 or +387 (0)33 252 244 after 16h: +387 (0)61 181 832
Sparkasse Bank dd BH Sarajevo 24hrs/day: +387 (0)33 280 300 or +387 (0)33 958 500
UniCredit Bank dd Mostar 24hrs/day: +387 (0)36 312 695
Bosna Bank International d.d. Sarajevo 24hrs/day: +387 (0)33 275 131
Useful
Using a credit card is always more expensive than using a debit one.
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.