All Banks Now Charge 150 Baht Fee for Foreign ATM Cards

[Gaybutton]

The last bank that had not been charging the 150 baht fee for foreign ATM withdrawals was UOB. Unfortunately, they too have started charging the fee. As far as I know, now every bank in Thailand is charging the 150 baht fee.

 

It's really a shame they are doing this. I used to recommend forgetting about traveler's checks and just using your ATM card. But since all the banks are going to charge you a 150 baht fee, along with whatever your own bank charges when you do a foreign transaction, it looks like your best bet is going to be coming to Thailand with traveler's checks.

 

That's bad news because now, unless you opt for paying the fees, you're going to have to go to banks or exchange kiosks, during their operating hours, and exchange traveler's checks. That's a pain because you'll have to physically go to the bank and very likely have to wait your turn. Meanwhile there are ATMs virtually everywhere you look.

 

I don't understand why the banks have all done this, especially at a time when tourism is already way down. Don't the banks realize that while they'll take in more money when foreigners use ATMs, they'll also lose quite a bit because a great many travelers are going to take steps to avoid using ATMs at all?

 

So, there we are. It's traveler's checks or the ATM fees. The only other alternative that I can think of is to open a Thai bank account if you don't already have one, deposit traveler's checks into the account, and use their ATM card. The problem is, if you don't already hold a Thai bank account, it's getting more and more difficult to open one on anything other than a non-immigrant visa. Oh well, for years I have been trying to convince people to open a Thai bank account while you still can, but many never have bothered. So, once again, if you expect to make multiple trips to Thailand, I urge you to open a Thai bank account during your next trip . . . if you still can.

[Guest koeninthailand]

Same thing is used in Europe when you use your (Europen) ATM card in an other European country youre bank will charge you like 3 to 4 Euro cost

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I got money from Government Bank on Friday and there was no charge. Their ATM is on Second Road next to the kitchenware shop.

[2lz2p]

As I understand it, Government Savings Bank (GSB) and Aeon still do not charge the 150 Baht fee for using foreign ATM cards. Aeon ATM machines according to their web site are at: Lotus South Pattaya - 2nd floor, Home Work Pattaya - 1st Floor, and Carrefour Pattya - 2nd Floor. GSB I think has an ATM at Tukcom and one on 2nd Road in South Pattaya.

[Gaybutton]

I got money from Government Bank on Friday and there was no charge. Their ATM is on Second Road next to the kitchenware shop.

That's strange. A friend of mine used his ATM card at the very same place and he was charged the 150 baht fee. Maybe it depends on which bank is the issuing bank. Who knows? It beats me, that's for sure.

 

I guess all anyone can do is try. Maybe some will be lucky and some won't. I wish I had some idea of how to figure out which cards are going to be charged and which won't.

[Guest HeyGay]

As I understand it, Government Savings Bank (GSB) and Aeon still do not charge the 150 Baht fee for using foreign ATM cards. Aeon ATM machines according to their web site are at: Lotus South Pattaya - 2nd floor, Home Work Pattaya - 1st Floor, and Carrefour Pattya - 2nd Floor. GSB I think has an ATM at Tukcom and one on 2nd Road in South Pattaya.

 

Yes your right, as I have said many times on here and elsewhere, AEON Bank are going to continue to Not charge the 150 fee and happy to advertise the fact of there computers, when you collect your money.

 

The trouble with GSB the other bank not charging, they are not a member of Cirrus so you can not collect money from the UK England, as you can with AEON BANK in all Carrefour and some TESCO/LOTUS and most Shopping Malls.

 

I have just collected 20,000 from AEON BANK this Morning Bangkok branch. No Fee.

 

 

[Guest Astrrro]

Since there's a 33 baht charge for traveler's checks it's best to get them in $500 denominations though they're not always easy to get.

 

I belive Amex cardholders can get TC's without paying a commision (when you're buying this is different than the 33 baht fee). Some credit unions also offer no commision checks.

 

If bringing cash 100's get a better rate than 20's. Banks prefer brand new hundreds though.

[Guest Astrrro]

Yes your right, as I have said many times on here and elsewhere, AEON Bank are going to continue to Not charge the 150 fee and happy to advertise the fact of there computers, when you collect your money.

 

 

What color are the AEON machine's?

[Gaybutton]

What color are the AEON machine's?

Blue. They're not quite as common as others. I've seen them only in shopping centers such as Carrefour and Central. I don't think I've ever seen them in other types of locales, such as connected to a 7-Eleven.

[Guest HeyGay]

What color are the AEON machine's?

 

 

Orange and Blue actually you cant miss them, they have one in every Shopping Mall in Bangkok any way.

[PattayaMale]

Last month I paid over $240 in fees to use my US account in Thailand. Not only do I get charged the 150 baht here but a fee from my bank and a % for the foreign currency exchange.

 

I was going to open a Bangkok Bank account and have my full pension deposited as a direct deposit, but with the regulation of showing up at the branch to get the funds I decided against it.

 

A friend told me that he uses Citibank for his direct deposit and then makes an online wire transfer to the New York Bangkok Bank payable to his Bangkok Bank Pattaya account. Total cost $18.50 he said. Total transfer time is 1 day.

 

Then using a Bangkok Bank ATM, withdrawals are without charge.

 

I have now set up an online account with Citibank and will see if this works for me. Since I control when and how much to wire transfer, when in the US I simply will not make a transfer.

[Guest thaiworthy]

Other than opening a Thai bank account as GB suggested, the next best thing for me is what I have been doing the past few months with my Thai bf. I sent him an ATM card from my Schwab bank account. (This is not a brokerage account, it is only a savings account). I put in about $151 and he gets 5,000 baht every month. This amount includes $4.42 in fees per transaction, but Schwab rebates that money back to me at the end of the month. To my surprise, it works out to a very competitive exchange rate, too. This has solved a lot of problems for me and is much easier to do than a wire transfer and cheaper. I can do it all online, too. I just transfer the money from my external account into the Schwab account and 4 days later, it's available.

 

PattayaMale, this might be a good option for you.

[Guest buckeroo2]

Blue. They're not quite as common as others. I've seen them only in shopping centers such as Carrefour and Central. I don't think I've ever seen them in other types of locales, such as connected to a 7-Eleven.

AEON ATM machines are located at Lotus on Sukhimvit/Pattaya Tai, outside the entrance to Homeworks at the Big C shopping complex on SukhimvitPattay Tai and upstairs near Carrefour at the front of the hallway leading to the restooms. The only 2 GSB I have seen/used in Pattaya are on Second Rd just past the Pattyaland Soi 1 on the opposite side of 2nd Rd and near the South Pattaya Rd entrance at Tukcom. GBS will not accept an ATM card issued by MasterCard - but Visa cards are OK. I have used both AEON and GBS in the last week and I have not been charged any fees.

[Gaybutton]

I was going to open a Bangkok Bank account and have my full pension deposited as a direct deposit, but with the regulation of showing up at the branch to get the funds I decided against it.

Out of sheer curiosity, why? That's what I'm doing and it has been no problem at all.

 

As a matter of fact, I realized there is actually an advantage to it. Every so often we hear stories about someone being ripped off at phony ATMs or by other methods. If you are keeping some of your money in that deposit-only account, the very fact that you have to put in a personal appearance to retrieve it prevents ATM rip-off possibilities.

[PattayaMale]

Actually, there are a couple reasons. When Allen was hospitalized he could not get to the bank to move money. This worried me. If I became hospitalized for a period of time, it would be a problem.

 

Also I just purchased rental property in the US and have a few credit cards to payoff. I can not split my pension in a direct deposit. But I can wire part of it.

[Gaybutton]

Actually, there are a couple reasons. When Allen was hospitalized he could not get to the bank to move money. This worried me. If I became hospitalized for a period of time, it would be a problem.

That aspect of it, at least, is not so much of a problem. Bangkok Bank permits you to designate someone else to handle the bank account if you become incapacitated. They require a letter from the doctor as evidence you are incapacitated.

[Guest Astrrro]

 

 

A friend told me that he uses Citibank for his direct deposit and then makes an online wire transfer to the New York Bangkok Bank payable to his Bangkok Bank Pattaya account. Total cost $18.50 he said. Total transfer time is 1 day.

 

Then using a Bangkok Bank ATM, withdrawals are without charge.

 

 

I transfered money from my Fidelity account to Bangkok Bank New York and onto Bangkok.

 

There is no fee from Fidelity since the transfer to Bangkok Bank New York is an ACH (automated clearing house) transfer.

 

There was a $10 fee from Bangkok Bank New York and a 500 baht fee from the Pattaya Branch of Bangkok Bank.

 

The exchange rate was the Bangkok Bank TT Rate.

[Gaybutton]

What color are the AEON machine's?

Here are the ATM locations in Pattaya:

 

Lotus North Pattaya (Pattaya Nua - North Road) - ground floor

 

Lotus South Pattaya (Sukhumvit) 2nd Floor

 

Home Works Pattaya - just outside the store (next to Big-C, Pattaya Tai)

 

Carrefour - 1 ATM on each floor

 

For other locations in Thailand, click the following link:

 

http://www.aeon.co.th/lang/en/menu/Service_Location/region/off/option/atm#branchATMForm

[fedssocr]

The banks will find a way to separate you from your money as much as they possibly can.

 

I think my plan this year is to just buy a stack of baht here before I leave for Asia. American Express travel offices seem to have a good rate and just a 1% fee.

 

I used to just always use my ATM card, but Bank of America is charging a US$5 fee plus 1% of the amount withdrawn which is a huge ripoff and their exchange rate isn't that great either...and now add on this Bt150 fee. So I always would get a pretty big amount of cash to avoid having to pay the fees too many times. I really ought to get a new bank.

[Gaybutton]

This morning a friend and I tried an Aeon ATM. HeyGay is right. There was no fee. Actually we were charged a 25 baht fee, but I think that came from the issuing bank end, not from the ATM because there was nothing on the screen or receipt about a fee. Normally, when the local ATM charges any kind of fee, something does appear on the screen and receipt to tell you that.

 

The Aeon machine we used (the one at Home Works) issued only 1000 baht notes. I don't know whether that is standard or whether the machine we used had simply run out of 100 and 500 baht notes. We were there early in the morning, so perhaps 100's and 500's were already gone before the machine had been refilled for the day.

[Guest buckeroo2]

This morning a friend and I tried an Aeon ATM. HeyGay is right. There was no fee.

Twice last month I went to Aeon machines - the one at Homeworks and the one upstairs at Carrefour. Both were out of service. I did not know there was one located on the ground floor at Carrefour. Thanks for that info for future use.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

25 baht fee is not unreasonable, but 150 certainly is.

[Gaybutton]

I did not know there was one located on the ground floor at Carrefour. Thanks for that info for future use.

There is a row of ATMs on the second floor at Carrefour too. I think there might be an Aeon machine on that level as well, but at the moment I can't remember whether one is there or not. The row of ATMs on the ground floor is just outside the entrance corridor to the restrooms. There is definitely an Aeon machine there.

 

25 baht fee is not unreasonable, but 150 certainly is.

Agreed, of course. I can't be sure whether that fee originates from Aeon or the bank that issued the ATM card. If it originates from the issuing bank, the fee may be different from what we were charged.

[Guest Astrrro]

 

 

I think my plan this year is to just buy a stack of baht here before I leave for Asia. American Express travel offices seem to have a good rate and just a 1% fee.

 

 

 

What is today's rate at the Amex office in your home country?

 

I've always found the exchange rate for baht in New York to be not just bad, but an obscene ripoff. But I've never bothered to check at Amex offices.

[Gaybutton]

I think my plan this year is to just buy a stack of baht here before I leave for Asia. American Express travel offices seem to have a good rate and just a 1% fee.

That is an option, but I think it's about the worst one you can pick. I urge you to check the exchange rates available in Thailand before buying baht outside of Thailand.