Poipet $ Atms

[wanderingstar]

Hi.

Can anyone please tell me if I can draw US$ or other international currency on ATMs in Poipet [Maybe in casinos?] or is there anywhere in BKK where I can do this?

I am a S African on a 1 yr B multiple entry visa and have been drawing money for the last year from my SA acc and getting the internet rate - which has ranged between 3.8 up to 4.5 and today it`s R1.00 = Bht 4.1

Plus having to pay the dam_n Bht 150 fee for any size transaction up to the max of Bht 20,000.

That Bht 150 fee was costing me R15.00 in SA.

The rate to exchange cash or via bank transfer has been around Bht 2.5 = R1.00 since I got here. Quite outrageous, so the ATM was a blessing.

But the *#@<!* Banking Mafia have struck again.

The end of last month I drew money at the Internet rate but today a new message comes on the ATM screen telling me the rate is now R1.00 = Bht 2,57 - the same as the thieving bank to bank rate.

That Bht 150 fee is now costing R56.60 in SA.! [More swearing]

So my other choices are:

1. Western Union. Expensive +- 8% commission
2. Use Paypal to send money to an American friend in Tlands bank in Hawaii and he draws on his ATM here and puts into my acc 5% fee.
3. Take a bus to Poipet Cambodia and draw US$ there - if I can.
4. Go on ito Siem Reap and put up with the BS mafia taxi / bus racket spend a night there and back again or try a lodge in Poipet.
5. Overnight train to Penang [fairly pleasant if the train has a decent crew - which it didnt last visa run] also spend a night there [spending a night in 4 & 5 will also enable me to draw cashon 2 days]

All ideas appreciated

I would also appreciate being Emailed at [email protected]

Regards

G

[samran]

I think there is a USD HSBC ATM at their HQ on Rama IV Rd.

Not sure if they take non-HSBC cards, but worth a try.

[aurelius]

The departure side of Immigration at BKK airport has USD dispensing ATMs.

[stickman]

Yes, the ATMs in Poi Pet dispense US dollars.