3 hours ago, rickudon said:

I use Krungsri bank to do a counter withdrawal at least once a month using my credit card. No fees (it is a Mastercard). Other banks have declined to do so or want to charge a fee. I usually take 50,000 baht a time. Never tried for more.

Just curious, what is the card-issuing bank for your Mastercard?

I have Citibank, BOA, Chase, Capital One & Barclays credit cards, and they charge foreign transaction fees for ATM withdrawals. Capital One & Barclays do not charge fees on foreign purchases. I've never tried a cash advance counter withdrawal with any of my cards, so I don't know what the fee would be. I use my Chase & Fidelity debit cards for ATM withdrawals. They have no fees, and they both refund the 250 baht ATM fee.

5 hours ago, david_je said:

Those of you who have done counter withdrawal at Krungsri with Mastercard, may I ask what branch in Bangkok you did it in, and what exactly do you say to the teller? There are no foreign currency conversion, Mastercard, home bank or local bank fees?

Anyone ever used a Krungthai bank to withdraw money using a UK bank account and debit card over the counter? Can it be done?

9 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

Back when I got the card it was perfect - not only did they refund the full amount of foreign transaction fees, they gave you the spot USD exchange rate. This is not the case anymore. Today Schwab uses the rate set by Visa (or Mastercard, depending on card network) on the date the transaction is processed, which is close to the market rate but includes a markup compared to the real-time interbank spot rate.

So this is why it is sustainable and how Schwab is at least breaking even, if not making money. Still a great service, but it is not "100% free".

I can't speak for back when you got the card as I don't know when that was or what procedures were in play, but nowadays exchange rates are always set by the transaction processor (Visa or Mastercard) so that's why you see one of their rates applied to your transactions. However, that is the processors fee and they pocket it, leaving Schwab with nothing from these transactions.

They must be making enough elsewhere to allow them to treat this as a loss leader, although the poster above who appears to be making ~20 ATM withdrawals per month (4 - 5,000 THB in refunds per month) might accelerate a rethink.

11 hours ago, MadAtMatrix said:

30 bank notes maximum. That’s its, that’s all. That’s what the machines dispense.

Many machines are physically restricted to a limit of 20 notes maximum. There's only a couple of banks I think that have machines designed for 30 notes.

13 hours ago, treetops said:

Many machines are physically restricted to a limit of 20 notes maximum. There's only a couple of banks I think that have machines designed for 30 notes.

So if some are restricted to 20 and some dispense 30, would the MAXIMUM, as I stated be 30?

19 hours ago, treetops said:

but nowadays exchange rates are always set by the transaction processor (Visa or Mastercard) so that's why you see one of their rates applied to your transactions. However, that is the processors fee and they pocket it, leaving Schwab with nothing from these transactions.

I'm not so sure about this.

I walk up to a Thai ATM, they want a fee (B220 - B250). This fee includes network charges across the Visa/Mastercard network. The ATM bank pockets the difference.

The Thai bank gets paid, Visa/Mastercard gets paid.

Schwab refunds the fee to me.

Schwab debits my account using the Visa/Mastercard rate (slightly marked up from spot) - they should keep the difference from spot. Schwab can use any rate they want (some shady credit cards use rates wildly marked up from spot), they just choose to use the Visa/Mastercard published rate. Visa/Mastercard have no interaction with how Schwab converts money between THB and USD.

This Schwab account (Schwab High Yield Investor Checking) has been around since at least 2014, and other banks are starting to follow suit - so I doubt it's a loss leader. I have a similar account from Fidelity (Fidelity Cash Management Account). I know E-Trade and Discover bank offer similar accounts, but I don't have these so I can't comment on them.

So basically Schwab is making money on these transactions the same was Wise does, albeit at a much reduced margin.

On 3/3/2026 at 4:09 AM, Everyman said:

Reading things like that, scares me. The secret is out regarding the Schwab accounts and there must be millions of people with checking accounts with or without sizable investments with Schwab. They must be paying out millions of dollars every month in ATM fee refunds. I don’t see how it’s sustainable.

Therefore, I endeavor to limit my use of this “feature” as much as I can. I don’t want them to change it or take it away. I rely on it extensively when traveling outside Thailand. Within the kingdom, I use my Thai bank account.

It's not only Schwab, my Chase Sapphire Reserve does the same thing……….as well as my Amex Platinum. I have these for the Insurance they offer. My Thai Debit card is for everyday living as well. Peace

bangkok bank used to have 40k limit, i also took out 200k over the counter in some yellow bank i cant remember name of, almost next to friendship supermarket on same side of the road in pattaya

12 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

i also took out 200k over the counter in some yellow bank i cant remember name of

Bank Of Ayudhya (aka Krungsri), maybe?

14 hours ago, MadAtMatrix said:

So if some are restricted to 20 and some dispense 30, would the MAXIMUM, as I stated be 30?

I'm sure you understand why I clarified your post for other readers?

8 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

I'm not so sure about this.

I am.

8 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

I walk up to a Thai ATM, they want a fee (B220 - B250). This fee includes network charges across the Visa/Mastercard network. The ATM bank pockets the difference.

The fee goes solely to the ATM provider.

8 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

Schwab can use any rate they want (some shady credit cards use rates wildly marked up from spot) . . .

8 hours ago, Thomas72 said:

Visa/Mastercard have no interaction with how Schwab converts money between THB and USD.

Schwab don't convert the money and neither do the shady card providers. The payment processor does, as long as you don't let the ATM provider do it (DCC trap). The shady providers (most of them) add foreign currency transactions fees on top.

I don't know all the reasons behind why Schwab (and others) do what they do but interesting that most of them are branchless, so maybe to attract those who might be put off at no opportunity to withdraw easily with no charges.

Nevertheless the charges and rates at ATMs are how I have described them and as such I don't see any mechanism for Schwab to profit from ATM withdrawal transactions.

On 3/3/2026 at 8:46 AM, marcho said:

Yes, there is. Well, BBK has anyway.

Yes. After years I used my ViSA cc at a Bangkok Bank ATM today (15 March 2026).

Requested 25000 Baht.

Selected "without conversion" (hidden in lower right).

Got 25000 in hand.

25250 charged.

Home country bank deducted 690 EUR with a rate of 1 EUR = 36.5576 THB.

Overall 36.23

Not great with today's currency market rate of 37.0x.

Normally I don't use the cc for such purpose. But the latest announcement of changes at WISE makes me nervous.

BTW: the SCB ATM would neither give me 30k nor 25k although the machine is technically capable.

Today 30k at a Krungsri ATM.

As usual 250 Baht fee.

"Without conversion" option in the lower left.

Same VISA exchange rate like yesterday. When will it change?

As there is no additional fee from my credit card the damage in comparison to transfer is bearable.

For my VISA the precise result of the transaction can be checked ahead:

https://www.visa.co.th/en_TH/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html

Edit 0 for no cc transaction fee.

On 2/28/2026 at 9:29 PM, Explorator en Action said:

Open a Charles Schwab account, you can open on-line, fund it and they will issue a debit Visa card, and refund all the bank charges directly to your account. I usually get 4-5,000 baht back every month. Wished I had know about them years ago.

I've had one with Schwab for 15 years now. Wonderful.

To date, I have had no problems withdrawing funds up to the limit that I set with Schwab. The Thai bank limits don't seem to affect my withdrawals.

On 3/15/2026 at 11:50 AM, KhunBENQ said:

But the latest announcement of changes at WISE makes me nervous.

BTW: the SCB ATM would neither give me 30k nor 25k although the machine is technically capable.

Never used WISE. It never seemed private. My gut feeling was correct.

Closed my account at SCB 2 years ago after banking with them over a decade.

On 3/3/2026 at 10:57 AM, rickudon said:

I use Krungsri bank to do a counter withdrawal at least once a month using my credit card. No fees (it is a Mastercard). Other banks have declined to do so or want to charge a fee. I usually take 50,000 baht a time. Never tried for more.

All credit cards have a cash advance fee which the transaction you describe is. Usually 3%. How did you avoid that?

Most bank-issued credit cards have cash advance fees. Some credit union-issued credit cards offer no cash advance fees, but they usually start charging interest when the cash advance is made.

I just use my Chase Bank debit card to get cash. It has no transaction fees, and Chase reimburses the 250 baht ATM fee.

12 hours ago, gargamon said:

All credit cards have a cash advance fee . . . .

No they don't.

If you combine this with a no foreign currency transaction fee a counter withdrawal is one of the best ways for visitors to get Thai money.

1 hour ago, treetops said:

No they don't.

If you combine this with a no foreign currency transaction fee a counter withdrawal is one of the best ways for visitors to get Thai money.

Just curious. Do you make cash counter withdrawals with a foreign bank credit card or foreign bank debit card? Does your foreign bank charge a transaction fee when you get cash on your credit card in Thailand? If not, which foreign bank do you use?

The reason I ask, all my foreign bank credit cards from Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Bank of America & Barclays all charge transaction fees for cash advances. I never tried getting cash from a Thai bank counter, so I don't if my banks would charge any fees or not. I just thought cash counter withdrawals and cash advances were the same thing.

2 hours ago, treetops said:

No they don't.

If you combine this with a no foreign currency transaction fee a counter withdrawal is one of the best ways for visitors to get Thai money.

You're clearly confusing credit cards with ATM cards. Show proof.

3 hours ago, treetops said:

No they don't.

If you combine this with a no foreign currency transaction fee a counter withdrawal is one of the best ways for visitors to get Thai money.

Not with BKK as they have stopped all counter card withdrawals!

Big notice inside their branches for quite a few months!

44 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Just curious. Do you make cash counter withdrawals with a foreign bank credit card or foreign bank debit card? Does your foreign bank charge a transaction fee when you get cash on your credit card in Thailand? If not, which foreign bank do you use?

The reason I ask, all my foreign bank credit cards from Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Bank of America & Barclays all charge transaction fees for cash advances. I never tried getting cash from a Thai bank counter, so I don't if my banks would charge any fees or not. I just thought cash counter withdrawals and cash advances were the same thing.

I haven't recently as I have a Thai bank account and BBL have become awkward regarding over the counter cash advances, but it's a valid method to get cash if you have the right account and find a co-operative branch. I used a credit card, not a debit card. I have a couple of credit card accounts with no transaction fees for this . Here's a screenshot of the T & Cs from one, the Halifax Clarity card which is well known to many UK users.

My other is an MBNA account which I tend to use more as it also gives cashback on any spend.

48 minutes ago, gargamon said:

You're clearly confusing credit cards with ATM cards. Show proof.

I'm not confusing anything - see the reply to JohnnyBD above. rickudon has posted similarly earlier in the thread and I see from previous threads he uses the same card as me from Halifax.

4 hours ago, treetops said:

I haven't recently as I have a Thai bank account and BBL have become awkward regarding over the counter cash advances, but it's a valid method to get cash if you have the right account and find a co-operative branch. I used a credit card, not a debit card. I have a couple of credit card accounts with no transaction fees for this . Here's a screenshot of the T & Cs from one, the Halifax Clarity card which is well known to many UK users.

My other is an MBNA account which I tend to use more as it also gives cashback on any spend.

I'm not confusing anything - see the reply to JohnnyBD above. rickudon has posted similarly earlier in the thread and I see from previous threads he uses the same card as me from Halifax.

Never seen a credit card like that. Good. Is there a yearly fee or minimum portfolio value to get it? Its would obviously have to pay interest from moment of the transaction with no 30 day grace period.

38 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Never seen a credit card like that. Good. Is there a yearly fee or minimum portfolio value to get it? Its would obviously have to pay interest from moment of the transaction with no 30 day grace period.

No minimum requirements of any kind on either of my cards like this, but yes, interest is accrued as you say. That can be minimised by paying it off immediately it lands on your balance.

There is another one available now which does not even have any interest charge on cash withdrawals if the statement is paid in full by the due date.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards

56 minutes ago, treetops said:

No minimum requirements of any kind on either of my cards like this, but yes, interest is accrued as you say. That can be minimised by paying it off immediately it lands on your balance.

There is another one available now which does not even have any interest charge on cash withdrawals if the statement is paid in full by the due date.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards

I don't think there's a US (or Canada) card offering similar. Capital One charges 5% cash advance fee and 28.5% interest starting immediately. It's difficult, but not impossible, to even find an ATM card in Canada without foreign transaction fees.

The US card does pay 1.5% cash back on all purchases so the real rate would be 3.5% on a cash advance.

Best practice for me is to use the credit card for purchases and counter withdrawals with the Cap 1 ATM if needed.

On 3/17/2026 at 7:14 AM, gargamon said:

All credit cards have a cash advance fee which the transaction you describe is. Usually 3%. How did you avoid that?

Not all, there are fee free cards, like Halifax Clarity. The only 'fee' is the Mastercard currency exchange rate. Typically, this gives me about 0.7 baht less per GBP than the midmarket rate; usually slightly better than Wise. Obviously, you still have to pay interest on the debt, so payoff as soon as the transaction is posted on your card account.