secured credit cards?

[mohinga]

Is it possible for foreigners on retirement visa to get a secured credit card with Thai banks? i.e. having a fixed deposit to guarantee the card.

I ask because I see a lot of posts regarding daily limits for transfers being lowered for foreigners' accounts. If I were to move to Thailand I would have to be able to buy plane tickets, etc., that cost over 50,000 THB. 

 

[asiaexpat]

Depends on age, if under 65 it is possible.

[JimHuaHin]

In my experience with Kbank, in the past, no.

 

I want to my local Kbank branch about 14 years ago just after settling in Thailand.  I has given forms, but told I had to apply at Head Office in Bangkok.

 

Went to Head Office, with completed forms, and assorted documents, including my last pay slip from Australia (monthly salary was just over A$10,000 per month), copy Australian banks' statements (showing about A$600,000 in deposits), copy of pension letter saying current pension was about A$5,000 per month, and KBank passbook showing about Baht 1,500,000 in deposits.  Credit card application denied.

[jippytum]

Yes it is possible. I have a secured card with Bangkok bank and SCB. Lots of expats have them. 

[Bangkok Hound]

On 7/21/2025 at 8:45 AM, JimHuaHin said:

In my experience with Kbank, in the past, no.

 

I want to my local Kbank branch about 14 years ago just after settling in Thailand.  I has given forms, but told I had to apply at Head Office in Bangkok.

 

Went to Head Office, with completed forms, and assorted documents, including my last pay slip from Australia (monthly salary was just over A$10,000 per month), copy Australian banks' statements (showing about A$600,000 in deposits), copy of pension letter saying current pension was about A$5,000 per month, and KBank passbook showing about Baht 1,500,000 in deposits.  Credit card application denied.

So, you applied for an UNsecured card? OP is asking about secured cards.

[wwest5829]

For myself, the idea of a, “secured credit card” is ridiculous. No “credit” is being extended. I have kept my U.S. Credit Cards and have used them without issues over the 14 years residing here in Chiang Mai.

[Photoguy21]

Bangkok bank wont allow you to have two accounts.

[Jingthing]

Yes, last time I checked I think secured cards are offered at SCB and BB, and others I'm sure.

They are useful if you have no other credit card for booking travel or if for some reason you just want a Thailand based credit card.

Of course they aren't giving you credit, but you use them exactly the same as credit cards.

In many cases you can use debit cards instead, but again for things like travel bookings, credit cards are much more widely accepted.

Also there are benefits with easier and faster refunds with credit cards not available with debit card.

If you do have foreign cards, using them frequently in Thailand will red flag you as an expat, and some companies will drop you for that reason.

Another reason to have a Thai based card, even it has to be a secured one.

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

For myself, the idea of a, “secured credit card” is ridiculous. No “credit” is being extended. I have kept my U.S. Credit Cards and have used them without issues over the 14 years residing here in Chiang Mai.

They're not useful for you but they are useful to other people. I would agree they're not real credit cards, but they are treated by merchants as if they were. 

[Jingthing]

An issue with using a secured card with travel is that when booking hotels they freeze more than the purchase price.

So for example you've secured 50K baht, and you book a 40K baht hotel stay, depending on how much they freeze, your booking might be rejected for lack of enough credit.

 

If I recall correctly, BB offers an option to temporarily increase your credit by just adding money.

 

So in the example above, you might add 30K baht which gives you a temporary higher credit line. Your baseline credit would still be 50K baht. 

[StayinThailand2much]

39 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes, last time I checked I think secured cards are offered at SCB and BB, and others I'm sure.

 

If my bank (K-Bank) were to cancel my card (and maybe savings account), could that be an alternative? I mean, they would get a higher fixed deposit instead of a low savings account balance.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

If my bank (K-Bank) were to cancel my card (and maybe savings account), could that be an alternative? I mean, they would get a higher fixed deposit instead of a low savings account balance.

I'm not seeing any connection to secured credit cards in your question.

That said, the secured amount for example 50K baht is still the customer's money. You can withdraw it but then that would obviously cancel the card that it backs up. 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 7/20/2025 at 7:26 AM, mohinga said:

see a lot of posts regarding daily limits for transfers being lowered for foreigners' accounts.

You can set/amend your own daily limit for transactions, the B50,000 limit is for those without facial identity and is per transaction, not per day.

[MadAtMatrix]

Yes, you can get secured cards with KBank.

You can also get an unsecured AMEX if you hold an AMEX in good standing in your home country. The credit limit will be based on your income and what visa you are on. 

[StayinThailand2much]

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm not seeing any connection to secured credit cards in your question.

That said, the secured amount for example 50K baht is still the customer's money. You can withdraw it but then that would obviously cancel the card that it backs up. 

 

I think my savings account and debit card were recently frozen. I don't live in Thailand anymore, so I worry that K-Bank may close my account for good. My point was that an account with a secured amount may be something that K-Bank might open for me, even if I don't live in Thailand. (Obviously, I would also like the secured credit card issued in this scenario.)

 

I would open such an account with, say, 100,000 baht, which would give me a 'usable' balance of 50,000 baht. My main question is, of course, what visa, or residence status they require to open such an account.

[PBob]

I have had mine with Krungsri for a number of years and cannot touch the account that backs it. It is linked to Homepro so was good when setting up the house, select offers (fee fwn with washing machine) and a discount at the tills.

[Jingthing]

17 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I think my savings account and debit card were recently frozen. I don't live in Thailand anymore, so I worry that K-Bank may close my account for good. My point was that an account with a secured amount may be something that K-Bank might open for me, even if I don't live in Thailand. (Obviously, I would also like the secured credit card issued in this scenario.)

 

I would open such an account with, say, 100,000 baht, which would give me a 'usable' balance of 50,000 baht. My main question is, of course, what visa, or residence status they require to open such an account.

They likely will close your account as you are not here to fix it in person. When they close accounts obviously you can get out your money at that time. But in your case where you're not here not sure how you can get back your money.

At this time in Thailand it is historically difficult to open any new accounts. 

Tourist visas forget it.

 

[Luuk Chaai]

On 7/20/2025 at 7:26 AM, mohinga said:

Is it possible for foreigners on retirement visa to get a secured credit card with Thai banks? i.e. having a fixed deposit to guarantee the card.

I ask because I see a lot of posts regarding daily limits for transfers being lowered for foreigners' accounts. If I were to move to Thailand I would have to be able to buy plane tickets, etc., that cost over 50,000 THB. 

 

why not a Wise card ?       it's listed as a "Debit" card  but,,  same same   you put "X" amt of $$$ in .. and that's your limit ...

 and you can get a digital and or a physical card.

 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

why not a Wise card ?       it's listed as a "Debit" card  but,,  same same   you put "X" amt of $$$ in .. and that's your limit ...

 and you can get a digital and or a physical card.

 

Yeah as far as limits you've got a point, but as mentioned before for travel type things (buying air tickets, hotels, etc.) credit cards are superior. Much more widely accepted for bookings and much better for quick refunds. 

[asiaexpat]

18 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Bangkok bank wont allow you to have two accounts.

If true why do I have 2 accounts at BBL? More false info.

 

[Photoguy21]

1 hour ago, asiaexpat said:

If true why do I have 2 accounts at BBL? More false info.

 

It is what I was told by BBL Could have changed as it was a few years back when I asked. Or it could be that you just feel like disagreeing. Either way it really doesnt matter

[folkstone]

On 7/22/2025 at 2:32 PM, wwest5829 said:

For myself, the idea of a, “secured credit card” is ridiculous. No “credit” is being extended. I have kept my U.S. Credit Cards and have used them without issues over the 14 years residing here in Chiang Mai.

I whole heartly agree, I keep three cards in good standing from Canada only problem i have had, is over zealous security and have had two instances when i first came citing suspicious activity, and they cancelled card sending new one to my mailing address in Canada. But now no problem. 

[acepredator]

On 7/22/2025 at 2:35 PM, Photoguy21 said:

Bangkok bank wont allow you to have two accounts.

Sorry, but wrong. I currently have four bank accounts with Bangkok Bank. Two are fixed accounts (the orange-colored books), and two are regular passbook accounts (the blue-colored books). I've had multiple accounts for the eighteen years I've lived in Thailand.

[FriscoKid]

KTC offers secured credit cards to foreigners:

 

https://www.ktc.co.th/en/credit-card