XTB Czechia offers new investors a 5% welcome rate for 90 days

Czechs keep more than a trillion crowns in ordinary bank accounts and keep putting off investing. Vladimír Hlavka, head of XTB for Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary, wants to pull hesitant beginners out of their “comfort zone” with an unusual lure: Czechia is the first market where the broker is launching a 5% annual yield for novice investors.

The problem Hlavka points to is familiar to many. People want to put their savings into shares or funds, but they postpone the first step: first they need to understand the subject, then wait for the market to fall, and when it does, they hesitate again in case prices drop even lower. Meanwhile the money sits in a current account, where it feels safe. But that “safety” has a price too: the sum on the statement does not change, yet every year it buys less.

The numbers are striking. Czechs hold more than CZK 3.8 trillion in banks in total, and over CZK 1.17 trillion of it sits in ordinary accounts, where the money earns practically nothing. That does not mean nothing should be left in an account, but many people keep there money they will not need for years. At the same time, interest in investing is growing: according to surveys, 46% of Czechs have investment experience. The rest are most often held back by fear of losing money, worry about fraud, or a lack of funds or time to learn the topic.

“The hardest step in investing is the first one. Many people have the money ready, but they wait for a better entry price, until they understand the subject better, or simply for the right moment,” says Vladimír Hlavka.

How the welcome interest works

For those who have not yet made up their minds, XTB is launching a so-called welcome interest rate. New clients who open an account by 31 December 2026 receive 5% per year on their not-yet-invested crowns for the first 90 days. The rate applies to an amount of up to CZK 605,000 across all of the client’s crown accounts.

“We want this waiting not to be wasted. With the welcome interest, free funds can earn while the client learns and looks for a first investment. Czechia is also the first market where we are launching such an offer, which shows how important this region is to us,” Hlavka explains.

There is a condition: to receive the interest, the client must make at least one trade in shares or ETFs every calendar month. There is no minimum volume, so even a small purchase is enough. This way the client still has to enter the market, even if most of the money is not yet in motion. Welcome rates also apply to euros and dollars; the current rate for these currencies is listed on the XTB website. After 90 days the standard rate applies.

Ready-made investment plans for those short of time

Another common obstacle is a lack of understanding of investing and a lack of time. “Many investors may feel overwhelmed by financial instruments or simply do not have time to watch their portfolio every day. That is why we have improved Investment Plans, so that anyone can start investing with ready-made, predefined solutions,” says Hlavka.

Users can choose a ready-made plan with global diversification according to their risk tolerance, a sector plan targeting a specific industry, or build a portfolio themselves. Plans can now include not only ETFs but also individual shares. The app shows the composition of a plan and its results more clearly, while automatic investing and the option to rebalance the portfolio to its original proportions if market movements throw it off are retained.

“More than 80% of our new clients in Europe start investing by buying shares or ETFs or by creating their own investment plans. To make that first step even easier, we offer ready-made solutions that provide sector diversification and match their risk tolerance. Whether they are investing for a dream holiday or for a long-term life goal, it all starts with a plan,” Hlavka says. For those who want to understand investing in more depth, the app offers educational materials, videos, webinars and courses.