Just got my new debit card..Bangkok bank office on Naklua near noimchai. They opened at 8:30 I went at 10:00 ,she said I was first customer for the new card. There's were no fees what so ever. In and out 15 minutes...

Right , so Mastercard instead of Union Pay.  

Does anybody know why BKK bank ditched VISA.

I would also like to know what happened, maybe Visa ditched Bangkok Bank?

 

What happens if I do not visit my branch and change my debit card after December?

 

From what I was told there is no Mastercard option either...

I think the OP was stating he got the Mastercard from BKK Bank.

19 minutes ago, NE1 said:

Does anybody know why BKK bank ditched VISA.

The Chinese own Union Pay. Bangkok Bank went with that.

Yes , but know they have gone with Mastercard as well.

Do the Chinese own that ?

 

Good news, their website does state the mastercard is available from 5 Nov 18. 

Some say BKB and Visa fell out over fees so BKB changed to Union Pay.

There is a new man at the helm now in charge of BKB, maybe he can get this Union pay being more widely accepted now.

2 minutes ago, NE1 said:

Yes , but know they have gone with Mastercard as well.

Do the Chinese own that ?

 

they have both union pay and mastercard.

I know , that is what I said. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, phutoie2 said:

Some say BKB and Visa fell out over fees so BKB changed to Union Pay.

 

10 minutes ago, NE1 said:

Yes , but know they have gone with Mastercard as well.

 

 

Edited November 5, 20187 yr by NE1

Many banks are ditching visa for debit cards in favour of mastercard. 

Interesting , so it is not just BKK bank then.

 

31 minutes ago, NE1 said:

I think the OP was stating he got the Mastercard from BKK Bank.

I realised that.

 

25 minutes ago, phutoie2 said:

Good news, their website does state the mastercard is available from 5 Nov 18.

I missed that.

 

????

I went to BKK in Chiang Mai (Kad Suan Kaew) at 11am and they said the system isn't working yet....come back next week!

My friend, who is assistant manager at a Bangkok Branch told me that they changed to Union Pay because Visa increased their fees, and the Chinese shareholders wanted Union Pay, which were offering much lower fees.  Since they changed they have had a lot of confrontations with customers, both Thai and farangs, with the staff being harrassed and insulted.  His manager made an appeal to head office that they reconsider, as important clients were closing accounts.  He told me last month that the Mastercard info was already in the computer systems, but not available until the new year.  They must have  moved it forward.

Early October I inquired about the message shown on ATM screens stating debit cards need to be changed; my branch informed me there was only one option - Union Pay.

 

Funny thing, I got offered (and approved for) a Mastercard credit card as some sort of 'workaround'; I do not have a WP. I have been at this branch some 12 years though. I even got 2 cards (one AirAsia, one Platinum)!

Edited November 5, 20187 yr by ParadiseLost

38 minutes ago, NE1 said:

Yes , but know they have gone with Mastercard as well.

Do the Chinese own that ?

 

NOPE.... at least not yet

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Cards/Be1st-Smart-Card/Be1st-Smart-TPN-Mastercard

 

 

1 hour ago, NE1 said:

I think the OP was stating he got the Mastercard from BKK Bank.

Yes I did..

Edited November 5, 20187 yr by JRUSA

9 hours ago, delboy said:

My friend, who is assistant manager at a Bangkok Branch told me that they changed to Union Pay because Visa increased their fees, and the Chinese shareholders wanted Union Pay, which were offering much lower fees.  Since they changed they have had a lot of confrontations with customers, both Thai and farangs, with the staff being harrassed and insulted.  His manager made an appeal to head office that they reconsider, as important clients were closing accounts.  He told me last month that the Mastercard info was already in the computer systems, but not available until the new year.  They must have  moved it forward.

So is the BKK Bank Visa credit card going the same way then?

20 hours ago, NE1 said:

So is the BKK Bank Visa credit card going the same way then?

No. Was in the local branch this morning to ask that question and they advise Visa credit card remains as is and only debit cards disappearing.