Limited Foreign Exchange Service

[samtam]

Why is it so difficult to buy foreign exchange cash? Yesterday I spent about 1 hour visiting a hole in the wall forex shop on Silom, which only had USD100 in a 100 note, visiting my branch of UOB in Silom Complex, which doesn't stock forex, visiting the incongruously named "Exchange" booth of Bangkok Bank on Silom, which doesn't sell any foreign cash, only buys it, and visiting Krungsri on Silom which was shambolic, (very few staff, no manager, telephones ringing off their hooks), which initially claimed no USD cash, but then discovered it had USD3000, (but again in 100 notes only), I was looking for something a bit more user friendly for my taxi driver in Saigon. OK, the banks I understand, but so-called "Exchange" booths/outlets. And US Dollars, not Papua New Guinea Kina.

The Bangkok Bank lady said it was their head office policy not to sell foreign exchange cash. Is there some BOT regulation?

[colinthailand20005]

Yes there is restrictions on buying foreign cash and only certain branches sell it. All of the yellow bank branches sell it if they have stock must show passport or id card for thai to buy it! Dont know why but BOT rules.

[samtam]

Thanks. I suppose it's too complicated.