Does any venue in Vietnam or Thailand cash travelers checks anymore? 

 

I realize they largely belong to a bygone era. I've never even had one in my life. But an elderly family member in the U.S. wants to give me some so they don't go to waste. 

 

Is there anything anyone can do with these things at this point?

Not heard of anyone using them for years, more common is a loaded card instead

I expect main branches of the major banks will know what they are, but there may be a fee involved (and a possible delay whilst they verify they're genuine).

 

EDIT looks promising but do check the fees.

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Currency-Exchange/Notes-Drafts-TravelersCheques

https://www.scb.co.th/en/personal-banking/other-services/clean-bill-purchase.html

 

Can't your family member simply cash them in the US and send you the wonga??

 

The issuing authority should exchange them.

1 hour ago, BananaBandit said:

Does any venue in Vietnam or Thailand cash travelers checks anymore? 

 

I realize they largely belong to a bygone era. I've never even had one in my life. But an elderly family member in the U.S. wants to give me some so they don't go to waste. 

 

Is there anything anyone can do with these things at this point?

It has been decades since i used them, but I think the buyer needs to sign the cheques when bought and sign again when cashing. In your case this would be 2 different signatures and probably will fail when cashing: Traveller's cheque - Wikipedia

I used my last traveller's cheques to buy a cassette player! 

I don't see how your relation can give them to you. Travellers Checks are signed by the purchaser when issued by the issuing bank, and then must be countersigned in front of the paying bank, with at least one form of identification.

 

No bank would accept a check from a 3rd party rocking up with a check already signed twice.

Have the relative simply cash them where he bought them.  
 

24 years ago, on my first trip to Thailand, I brought some travelers checks.  I haven’t seen anyone use one in quite a while.  I once knew a girl from Japan who came to visit me in the USA.  She had some American Express travelers checks.  That was also years ago.  

I'm old enough to remember when there was only one place I could go to in Stockholm to cash traveller cheques. Come to that, I'm old enough to remember when there was only one place in NYC where you could exchange foreign currency. Hard to believe now, isn't it. I remember the 'miracle' when I first used a UK credit card to draw money at a Bangkok ATM. Times change.

14 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I'm old enough to remember when there was only one place I could go to in Stockholm to cash traveller cheques. Come to that, I'm old enough to remember when there was only one place in NYC where you could exchange foreign currency. Hard to believe now, isn't it. I remember the 'miracle' when I first used a UK credit card to draw money at a Bangkok ATM. Times change.

 

Then you remember there was no fee to do. That was great. 

 

Back in the day I used TC's as an emergency option if wallet were to be stolen or lost with credit, ATM cards, etc, and cash on hand was low. 

 

Most higher end hotels had no problem cashing them, as well as banks,

They were convenient getting larger amounts of cash as ATM's usually have a daily limit on cash withdrawals.

My local bank still sells them so they're probably still a viable option, but in this day and age more convenient options are available.

Edited June 30, 20242 yr by cobra

I used to use the ¥50,000 ones as they gave the best exchange rate and cost nothing to redeem in Japan if I didn’t use them all, though this was 20 to 30 years ago.

On 6/30/2024 at 4:40 AM, BananaBandit said:

Does any venue in Vietnam or Thailand cash travelers checks anymore? 

 

I realize they largely belong to a bygone era. I've never even had one in my life. But an elderly family member in the U.S. wants to give me some so they don't go to waste. 

 

Is there anything anyone can do with these things at this point?

I believe AMEX Thailand Office can cash them.

 

Located in: S.P. Building,  388 Phahonyothin Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400

On 6/30/2024 at 4:40 AM, BananaBandit said:

Is there anything anyone can do with these things at this point?

If they're American Express TC then you can go to their website and redeem them online.

 

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/travel/travelers-cheques/

 

Last year whist clearing stuff I came across a $200 in old travellers cheques from the the 1990s. I was able to redeem them online, there was no charge and the exchange rate given was good, money was paid to my bank account within 7 days.