Atm Charges

[pallypete]

im forever reading about that certain thai banks have scrapped this 150baht charge.

is this true? and which banks?

[metisdead]

What have you been reading that states this info?

[nevermore93]

I'd love to know if this is true. I haven't heard or read anything, but it would be welcome news. Getting hit with the 150 THB charge for even the smallest withdrawal is really annoying especially when my bank charges a fee as well on their end. It really can put a dent in the exchange rate when all you need is a few hundred baht from the ATM.

[Rinrada]

AEON now appear to be the only outfit who dont charge the roi ha sip bt to withdraw.

Unfortunately they dont have many ATMs arouind and noticed last week that the one on the ASOK bridge seems to have done a runner.

Had a chat to one of their managers in their S.Sq branch who confirms that they are a Japanese Bank (special deal)but they only allowed to issue C.Cards and not normal bank accounts....happy to be contradicted

Asked for a location map of their machines but he said..No Have and suggested on my next visit....so suggest time to get out the old walking shoes..

[smokie36]

Open a Thai bank account.

[schmutzie]

I have had good luck with Bank of Autthya (sp?).

They bring up the usual screen, saying this transaction will have a fee, but in their case the fee is stated as "0 THB"

See for yourself. This was not the case however with one of their ATMs on Koh Chang and I'm not sure if they roll in a surcharge in some other way.

[Cheops]

Open a Thai bank account.

I think you don't get the point here. Opening a Thai bank account will not help you if you need to get money from overseas (that is if you need this regularly and in small amounts).

But there are more Aeon ATM's than you think. For example even in the Paragon (though it's tucked away in the lowest floor). And many Central malls have them as well. And these AEON ATM's work with my normal bank card (as well with a cc, but I always use my normal bank card).

Edited March 28, 2010 by Cheops

[smokie36]

Open a Thai bank account.

I think you don't get the point here. Opening a Thai bank account will not help you if you need to get money from overseas (that is if you need this regularly and in small amounts).

But there are more Aeon ATM's than you think. For example even in the Paragon (though it's tucked away in the lowest floor). And many Central malls have them as well. And these AEON ATM's work with my normal bank card (as well with a cc, but I always use my normal bank card).

Open an account and do internet banking. Transfer your money into your thai account free of charges and withdraw it free.

Simple no?

[spacemand]

I use AEON when having to use a ATM card they are free there is a link on their website to their ATM locations. AEON for example have ATMs at Big C and Tesco in Sisaket where I stay so its pretty simple there.

Autthya also have ATMs at both Tesco and Big C in Sisaket at Tesco they charge the 150 fee at Big C they do not.

I usually transfer to my Thai bank account via a wire I only pay $5 for a wire and a couple of hundred Baht to receive it to my Thai account and it give a lot better exchange rate just remember to send the money in your local currency.

Edited March 28, 2010 by spacemand

[willyumcr]

For USA people, open a charles Schwab checking account (free, mo minimums) and they remburse you all Thai fees (worldwide). Also they don't charge any fees (Forign transaction fees) They also pay you interest on your checking, no minimums. You must be an USA resident. Even though I live here in LOS, I still maintain a residence in USA. You can open an account on line and send them a check to open or have them transfer from your account (no fee).

[jfchandler]

OK...here we go again.... This ground has been trod before here on TV...

1. There has been no move by the major Thai banks, or any of them that I'm aware of, to cease charging the 150 baht fee on foreign card ATM withdrawals.

2. AEON are the only ATMs in Thailand that consistently do not charge that fee to anyone....because the company is not a Thai bank, but rather, a Japanese-based credit card company.

3. There hasn't been any AEON ATM machine at least during the past two years that I've been living in BKK that is located on the Asoke bridge, if you mean at the Asoke BTS station there.

4. AEON does have a English language web site for Thailand that shows the locations of their offices and ATMs.... Supposedly, it's a bit out of date, so there, by report, are ATMs in some locations not reported on their web site.

Around BKK, they are commonly located in Big C stores, in CarreFour stores and in many

Tesco locations, along with a lot of others. And yes, there is one quite well hidden away in the basement of Siam Paragon...meaning one level below the food court level.

5. By many reports here on TV, the Bank of Ayudhya ATMs (yellow color) for some unknown reason do not charge the fee to SOME card holders, mainly those with Nationwide cards from the UK and some banks from some other European countries. I've yet to see any similar report for Ayudhya involving an American cardholder.

However, for MasterCards (but not VISAs) denominated in U.S. dollars and Euros, BofA does do another bad thing called dynamic currency conversion, which means they process those ATM transactions using their own LOWER exchange rate than you'd normally get....meaning...those are transactions you would want to avoid.

6. The post above about Charles Schwab Bank and their checking account is correct and a good suggestion, if one needs to use ATMs that charge the fee and then want to be reimbursed after their fact by their home bank. E*Trade Bank in the U.S. is another bank that does the same thing. And I think Fidelity as well... And there are some other banks that do ATM fee reimbursements worldwide, depending on the kind of account you have with them.

7. The comment about opening a Thai bank account and transferring money in for "free" makes not much sense. Thai banks always charge a small fee for incoming international wires. And most, but not all, Western banks charge some fee, sometimes quite large, for sending international wires.... For most people, sending an international wire or funds transfer costs money and is not typically free.

[bendejo]

Around BKK, they are commonly located in Big C stores, in CarreFour stores and in many

Tesco locations, along with a lot of others. And yes, there is one quite well hidden away in the basement of Siam Paragon...meaning one level below the food court level.

Indeed, they do a good job of hiding their machines (the one at Central Pinklao requires a treasure map), but usually if the mall is of any consequential size there will be one. You'll have to ask at the info desk. If there is none, try the merchants that displays an Aeon sign.

But they do have name recognition: I was in a not-very-big city that had an Aeon ATM (according to their website) and when I asked people how to find it they knew where it was, even though the branch was just a small storefront.