- Statutes of Bank Card Association
- Czech Bank Card Association - status
- Czech Bank Card Association - Executive Director
- Czech Bank Card Association - Executive Commitee
- Czech Bank Card Association - statistics

1. Preamble

The Bank Card Association, established from the Interbank Payment Card Association, is an interest group of legal entities - banks, financial institutions and possibly other organisations whose interest it is to expand payment cards in the Czech Republic and coordinate the work relating to this expansion. The Bank Card Association was registered by the District Court in Praha 1 on 14th September 1992 according to § 20 i, paragraph 2, Act No. 47/92 Coll. under ref. no. 22/92.


2. The name of the association

Members of the Interbank Payment Card Association agreed that, from 9 April 1992, they will use the following name:  

-         Sdružení pro bankovní karty             - in Czech
-         SBK                                               - for short in Czech
-         Bank Card Association                     - in English
-         BCA                                               - for short in English


3. The seat of the Association

The Association’s seat is at Praha 1, Vodičkova 28.


4. The line of business

The purpose of the Bank Card Association is to coordinate and support the expansion of payment cards in the Czech Republic. For this purpose, the Association creates conditions for mutually advantageous cooperation of banks in the area of payment cards, it organises regular meetings of the Association to deal with technical, commercial, security, marketing and other issues. In the interest of its members, the Association conducts negotiations with local and international organisations doing business in the area of payment cards. In the area of payment cards, the Association organises training and workshops for its members. The Association provides for promotion of payment cards with the aim to boost their issue and acceptance in the Czech Republic, while independent business policy of individual members of the Association is preserved. The Association establishes ad hoc working groups as well as standing working groups, committees and commissions to deal with specialised areas of activities.    

To provide for the coordination, organisation and administration of activities, the Association establishes “BCA Office”, for which it hires an official for the position of the executive director of the BCA and other officers, if needs arise.


5. Establishment and termination of membership

5. 1. Establishment of membership

Membership of the Association is established on the basis of a written application and a decision of the Board on admission.

5.2. Types of membership

5.2.1 . A regular member

Only a bank or a financial institution with a banking licence valid for the territory of the Czech Republic and issuing or accepting payment cards in the CR or intending to issue or accept payment cards in the CR may become a regular member of the Association. 

5.2.2. An observer

A financial institution or other legal entity with registered office in the CR which is interested in the expansion of payment cards in the CR may become an observer.

5.3. Termination of membership

Membership may be terminated

-         by a member’s leaving the Association  
-         by excluding a member
-         by dissolution of a member without a legal successor
-         if a member looses its capacity to be a member according to these Statutes. 


5.3.1. Leaving the Association by a member

A member may also leave the Association without giving any reasons. The member shall announce its decision to terminate its membership by a registered letter addressed to the chairman of the Association. The notice period is at least 30 calendar days long and starts running on the day of delivery of the announcement of the notice. The chairman of the Association announces the member’s decision to leave to the members of the Association in a written statement where the chairman indicates the last day of membership.   

5.3.2. Leaving the Association by an observer

An observer may also leave the Association without giving any reasons. The observer shall announce its decision to terminate its membership by a registered letter addressed to the chairman of the Association. The notice period is at least 30 calendar days long and starts running on the day of delivery of the announcement of the notice. The chairman of the Association announces the observer’s decision to leave to the members of the Association in a written statement where the chairman indicates the last day of membership.

5.3.3. Exclusion of a member

The Board may exclude a member from the Association if:

-         the member has grossly violated the Statutes,
-         the member starts liquidation proceedings or its property is subject to bankruptcy proceedings or the proposal to file for bankruptcy is declined due to the lack of assets.    

-         if the time of non-payment of the entry fee or of the operation fee exceeds 90 days. Unless the Board determines otherwise, the exclusion becomes effective on the day when the decision on it is taken.

5.3.4. Exclusion of an observer

The Board may exclude an observer from the Association if:

-         the observer has grossly violated the Statutes
-         the observer starts liquidation proceedings or its property is subject to bankruptcy proceedings or the proposal to file for bankruptcy is declined due to the lack of assets,

5.4. When membership is terminated, the entry fee or the operation fee is not returned to the member or to the observer.


6. Rights and duties of members

Rights and duties of members are linked to the type of membership.

6. 1. A regular member

6.1.1. A regular member of the Association is entitled:

-         to be elected and to elect members of the Executive Committee and to approve the economist of the Association
-         to present proposals, recommendations and complaints to the Board, to the Executive Committee and to the chairman of the Association

-         to vote in the Board
-         to participate in discussions and activities of working groups, committees and commissions of the Association
-         to inspect documents of the Association and to check its activity and financial management.

6.1.2. A regular member of the Association is obliged:

-         to observe the Statutes of the Association, decisions of its bodies and other regulations of the Association  
-         to participate in dealings of the Board and of the Executive Committee (if it is its member)
-         to provide – at the request of the Board, of the Executive Committee or of the chairman of the Association – the organisation authorised to process statistical information with background materials and information in the required structure to find common solutions in the area of fraud prevention or possibly other information relating to common procedures advantageous for the members of Association, while the independence of their business policy shall be observed,

-         to deliver statistical data for a calendar quarter to the organisation authorised to process them not later than on the last day of the following calendar month. The authorised organisation shall publish summary statistics by the 15th day of the following calendar month, 

-         to pay fees set by the Board of the Association in time.

6.2. An observer

6.2.1. An observer of the Association is entitled:

-         to participate in the activity of the bodies of the Association and of working groups, committees and commissions to which the observer has been invited on the basis of a decision of the Executive Committee; to present proposals, recommendations and complaints to the Board, to the Executive Committee and to the chairman of the Association,

-         to inspect documents of the Association on the basis of approval of the Executive Committee,
-         to leave the Association.

6.2.1. An observer of the Association is obliged:

-         to observe the Statutes of the Association, decisions of its bodies and other regulations of the Association,
-         to pay fees set by the Board of the Association in time.


7. Bodies of the Association and specification of the scope of their operation  

Bodies of the Association are:

-         the Board
-         the Executive Committee
-         the chairman of the Association
-         the Office of the Association and the executive director of the Association.

Representatives of the members may work in the bodies of the Association, in working groups, in committees and in commissions on the basis of a power-of-attorney granted by the members of the Association. This power-of-attorney may contain the names of several authorised persons. A member may also appoint an ad-hoc representative (for example, to accomplish a specific task). The power-of-attorney is presented to the chairman of the Association or, possibly, to the head of a working group, committee or commission.

7.1. The Board of the Association

7.1.1. The highest body of the Association is its Board. The Board consists of all regular members. By decision of the Board and/or of the Executive Committee, observers may be invited to their discussions.

7.1.2. The Board is convened by the chairman of the Association at least twice a year. However, the Board may also be summoned on the initiative of a member of the Association if a third of all regular members of the Association agree to it.

7.1.3. Discussions of the Board are steered by the chairman of the Association.

7.1.4. The Board is authorised to deal with and decide on all issues relating to the activity of the  Association. This regards, in particular:

-         changes, supplementation or abolishment of the Statutes of the Association,
-         election and recall of the members of the Executive Committee,
-         approval of the draft annual budgets and of economic results of the Association, approval of the economist of the Association,

-         determination of the direction of further development of the Association,
-         admission of new members of the Association,
-         exclusion of members from the Association,
-         approval of the yearly membership operation fee, including settlement of cases of damage, creation and abolishment of the bodies of the Association etc.

7.2. The Executive Committee

7.2.1. The Executive Committee is authorised to manage activities in the time between sessions of the Board and to provide for the fulfilment of professional, operational and other tasks stipulated by the Board.  

7.2.2. The Executive Committee consists of seven regular members elected by the Board from among the regular members for a 2-year term of office.

7.2.3. The activity of the Executive Committee is managed by the chairman of the Association, who convenes its sessions at least four times a year. However, the Executive Committee may also be summoned on the initiative of a member of the Executive Committee if at least three other members of the Executive Committee agree to it.

7.2.4. The Executive Committee is authorised to deal with the following matters, in particular:

-         draft annual budget and processing of annual economic results of the Association,
-         proposal to appoint an economist of the Association,
-         proposal to hire an officer/officers of the Association Office,
-         proposal of technical and operational conditions for international use of payment cards, ATMs and cash desk terminals,

-         proposal of inter-bank fees,  
-         solution of security issues and fraud prevention,
-         proposal to accept or deny an application for admission as a member or as an observer of the Association,
-         proposal to exclude a member or an observer from the Association,·         proposal of the amount of the membership entry fee of the Association,

-         proposal of the amount and frequency of the operation fee of the Association,
-         proposal of the direction of further development of the Association,
-         proposal of the manner of handling cases of damage by the Association,
-         fulfilment of the tasks set by the Board to the Executive Committee.

7.3. The chairman of the Association

7.3.1. The chairman is elected by the Executive Committee from among its members at its first session. The term of office of the chairman is two years long.

7.3.2. The chairman represents the Association in public. The chairman manages and controls the activity of all bodies of the Association and checks the fulfilment of tasks set by the Board and by the Executive Committee.

7.3.3. If the chairman is absent, the chairman’s tasks are fulfilled in full by the vice-chairman, who is elected in the same manner from among the elected members of the  Executive Committee for a 2-year term of office.

7.4. BCA Office and the executive director of the BCA

7.4.1. To ensure coordination, organisation and administration activities, the  Association creates the "BCA Office". On the basis of a lease agreement, the Office is placed at the address: Vodičkova 28, 110 00 Praha 1, where the Association has also its seat.

7.4.2. To manage operations of the BCA Office, the Executive Committee hires and appoints an executive director of the BCA on the basis of a contract. The contract stipulates the scope of the job, its conditions and other requisites in compliance with applicable legislation.

7.4.3.    To carry out administrative activities, the Executive Committee may hire an administrative officer whose work and salary conditions are set by agreement with the executive director of the  BCA in compliance with applicable legislation.

7.4. 4.   The Executive Committee specifies both long-term and short-term objectives of activities of the BCA Office in the Plan of Activities and makes regular checks on its fulfilment. On the basis of a proposal of the executive director of the BCA, it approves the budget of the BCA Office and at least twice a year it checks its drawing.


8. Voting and elections

8.1.1. All decisions mentioned in paragraph 7.1.4. herein must be confirmed by the Board’s vote.

8.1.2. All decisions and proposals mentioned in paragraph 7.2.4. herein must be confirmed by the Executive Committee’s vote.

8.1.3. In all bodies of the Association, the voting may be proposed by any regular member. The voting must then be carried out.  

8.1.4. Every regular member has one vote.

In addition to this vote, each member acquires another vote 

-         for each 5%, even begun, of its share in the total number of “active” payment cards of the association of international card companies in the last period monitored for which relevant statistical background materials are available. Active cards are cards maintained by the issuer as apt to carry out transactions at the ultimo of the period monitored.   

-         for each 5%, even begun, of its share in the total number of ATMs of members of the Association connected with a system/systems of international card companies in the last period monitored for which relevant statistical background materials are available, 

-         for each 5%, even begun, of its share in the total volume of transactions of merchants accepting payment cards of international companies in the last monitored period for which relevant statistical background materials are available.

The maximal number of votes available to a member is 11. Observers do not vote.

8.2.1. The Board has a quorum if an absolute majority of the members are present, representing more than a half of the number of possible votes.

8.2.2. A decision of the Board is valid if at least an absolute majority of all possible votes voted for it. Exceptions are:

-         voting on the exclusion of a member from the Association
-         change, supplementation or abolishment of the Statutes of the Association and regulations of the Association
-         determination of the direction of further development of the Association
-         voting on the termination of activity of the Association
-         voting on the amount of the entry fee and operation fee of the Association

Decisions of the Board on the above-mentioned points are valid if at least a two-third majority of the votes voted for them.

8.3.1. The Executive Committee has a quorum if at least four of its members are present, of whom one member is the chairman or the vice-chairman.

8.3.2. A decision of the Executive Committee is valid if at least an absolute majority of all the members present voted for it. 


9. Membership fee

Regular members and observers of the Association participate in the running of the Association financially by way of entry fees and operation fees.

9.1. Membership entry fee

Each organisation admitted as a regular member or observer is obliged to pay a membership entry fee to the credit of the current account of the Association within 30 calendar days after it receives an announcement of its admission. The announcement in writing is made by the chairman of the Association. The amount of the membership entry fee is proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board. The membership entry fee is non-refundable.

9.2. Membership operation fee

9.2.1. Each organisation which is a regular member or observer of the Association participates in material provisions for the Association by way of the operation fee. Its amount and the frequency of payments are proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board. 

Members are obliged to pay the membership operation fee within 30 calendar days after they receive an announcement of the claim to the fee and its amount. The announcement in writing is made by the chairman of the Association on the basis of approval of the operation fee by the Board. The membership operation fee is non-refundable.


10. Economic management of the Association

10.1. Revenues and expenses of the Association

10.1.1. The Association is a non-profit organisation. The Association obtains all financial funds through:

-         membership entry fees
-         membership operation fees
-         contributions obtained within the framework of cooperation with international card associations MasterCard, VISA, and possibly with other associations.  

10.1.2. All expenses of the Association are used for activities of the Association, primarily for

-         organising and arranging workshops and training of members of the Association to provide them with new knowledge regarding the area of payment cards,

-         arranging common promotion of the members of the Association to support the expansion of payment cards,

-         arranging sessions of the Board and other common events of the members of the Association arranged for the purpose of exchanging experience and improving cooperation,

-         arranging common events (training, workshops, marketing actions and promotion) of the Association jointly with international card associations Europay, MasterCard, VISA and the like,

-         running the Office of the Association.

10.2. Economist of the Association

The Executive Committee proposes and the Board approves the economist of the Association for a 2-year term of office. The economist of the Association is responsible for the maintenance of the current account and other accounts. The economist issues invoices and presents them to the members of the Executive Committee for approval, supervises payments of receivables of the Association, provides for book-keeping of the Association, provides the Executive Committee and the Board with economic reports and with a draft budget of the Association for the period in question.  

10.3. Disposing of the Association’s funds

10.3.1. All members of the Executive Committee and the executive director of the BCA are authorised to dispose of the funds deposited in the current account of the Association. However, instructions must always be signed by two officers at the same time. The chairman, the economist and the executive director have the right to use the funds by way of direct banking (Internet banking) on the basis of a prior approval of the payment by another authorised officer.

10.3.2. All expenses of the Association exceeding CZK 50,000 must be approved by the Executive Committee. 

10.3.3. The economist of the Association prepares a report on economic results and a draft budget for the relevant period in cooperation with the executive director of the BCA. The materials are presented by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board.


11. Handling cases of damage and losses

11.1. If the Association as a whole causes damage to any of its members or to some other physical person or legal entity or if it suffers a loss, the members of the Association participate in its settlement according to the shares of their votes (point 8.1.4.). Observers do not participate in payments for damage. Financial settlement is made by the economist without delay after it is approved by the Board of the Association.

11.2. If needs arise, the Board may constitute a Damage Committee as its advisory body to settle cases of possible damage and losses.

11.3. Final settlement of the Association in case of dissolution

All regular members participate in the liquidation balance or loss according to the shares of their votes (point 8.1.4.) in the period before dissolution of the Association.


12. Final provisions

12.1. These Statutes form an integral part of the Agreement on the Association and are binding on all members of the Association.

12.2. The Statutes of the BCA are in effect from 5th March 1998 and may be amended by a decision of the Board of the Association based on a proposal of the Executive Committee. From 1st December 2009, this wording approved by the Board of the Association shall replace the previous valid wording of 10th May 2009.   

Czech Bank Card Association - status