My next trip I plan on sending money to myself via western union. If you wait for the right time and amount is small enough you can do it for free. It also doesnt matter if you lose your bank card.

Yes, it's free in terms of no upfront fee...but the WU exchange rate is several percent lower (as is PayPal's) than the Thai bank TT Buying Rate and the Visa/Mastercard rate. That where WU and PayPal make their real money in international transfers, the lower exchange rate...basically an indirect fee.

Citibank charges no ATM cash withdrawal fee only for Citibank issued credit/debit cards from any country of issue.

Absolutely false. I used a "Citibank issued credit/debit card from" the US and got hit with a transaction fee and a foreign transaction fee taking cash at a Citibank ATM at the Citibank branch on Sukhumvit Rd. Total was about $15 USD. I immediately closed my account.

Citibank Thailand absolutely charges its 180 baht Thai ATM withdrawal fee against U.S. based VISA and MC logo debit cards, including most of their own regular Citibank debit cards from the U.S. (They don't charge against some of their higher end accounts like CitiGold.)

However, for reasons I've never seen explained anywhere, people with bank cards from some other foreign countries seem to be able to use Citibank ATMs in Thailand without getting hit by the 180 baht fee. There have been various posts here over the years attesting to that. But I don't think I've ever seen any kind of list of just what countries' cards are NOT getting charged.

John, I am fairly sure that all citibanks issue citi-atm fee free debitcards, it seems to me that branches that allow people to open a citi account with low/no minimum deposit only offer fee free cards for premium accounts (i.e citigold in the US), note that when I said branches I meant countries.

John, I am fairly sure that all citibanks issue citi-atm fee free debitcards, it seems to me that branches that allow people to open a citi account with low/no minimum deposit only offer fee free cards for premium accounts (i.e citigold in the US), note that when I said branches I meant countries.

I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say here above... And I don't myself have a Citibank U.S. account. But I can share, the various info I have showing the various fees Citibank U.S. does charge its cardholders when they're abroad (except for high-value accounts like CitiGold where the fees are waived).

This is from Flyer's Guide. The third column applies to using the Citi card at OTHER banks to make ATM cash withdrawals (though the $2 fee has since been raised to $2.50), while the fourth column applies to POS purchases.

And here's excerpts from Citi U.S.'s own website confirming the 3% FCF and non-Citi ATM use fee.

Now, as for using a Citi card at Citi ATMs outside the U.S., it seems pretty clear that their standard 3% FCF would still be charged, except for CitiGold type accounts.

It's less clear from what I can find, whether the Thai Citibank ATMs will charge the local 180 baht ATM withdrawal fee against non-Thai Citi cards.

But, there are at least some travelers to other countries who claim that's exactly what the foreign Citi ATMs elsewhere were doing:

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/02/the-top-11-checking-accounts-for-avoiding-foreign-atm-fees/

Any one from the UK who wants to save money should try to get a Halifax Clarity Card

With the 180b charge u only loose about 1.5% on atms withdrawals

But you have to transfer money straight over from your bank account as soon as you use it

All I do is go on xe.com put in 20180 baht add £2 and transfer it over right after I've just taken the money out of the ATM

This way I never get any credit card charges and they use the master card exchange rate which is superb

and just £2 seems to cover the difference from the official rate

If u can find a atm which u can take more then 20000b out u will save even more money

And I forgot very important make sure you take the option continue without conversion

this way Halifax does the exchange rate otherwise you'll get stung for about 49 baht to the pound

I'm saying that it is not false that some claim citibank ATM/Debit cards waive atm fees in foreign countries. Like I said, in the US you can open a citibank account with little or no minimum deposit, you get a regular ATM card that will cost you money to withdraw cash overseas, only CitiGold members get the fee free card. Whereas in Thailand, and a number of other asian countries, there is a relatively high minimum deposit requirement for any citibank account, and in those countries, all citibank ATM cards let you withdraw cash overseas for free (at citibank ATM's)

I have 3 different citibank accounts from different counties and just thought I'd clear things up.

John, I am fairly sure that all citibanks issue citi-atm fee free debitcards, it seems to me that branches that allow people to open a citi account with low/no minimum deposit only offer fee free cards for premium accounts (i.e citigold in the US), note that when I said branches I meant countries.

I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say here above... And I don't myself have a Citibank U.S. account. But I can share, the various info I have showing the various fees Citibank U.S. does charge its cardholders when they're abroad (except for high-value accounts like CitiGold where the fees are waived).

This is from Flyer's Guide. The third column applies to using the Citi card at OTHER banks to make ATM cash withdrawals (though the $2 fee has since been raised to $2.50), while the fourth column applies to POS purchases.

Citibank US-Flyer's Guide.jpg

And here's excerpts from Citi U.S.'s own website confirming the 3% FCF and non-Citi ATM use fee.

1. Citi Foreign Currency Fee.jpg 4. Citibank Non Citi ATM Fee rising to $2.50_cr.jpg

Now, as for using a Citi card at Citi ATMs outside the U.S., it seems pretty clear that their standard 3% FCF would still be charged, except for CitiGold type accounts.

It's less clear from what I can find, whether the Thai Citibank ATMs will charge the local 180 baht ATM withdrawal fee against non-Thai Citi cards.

But, there are at least some travelers to other countries who claim that's exactly what the foreign Citi ATMs elsewhere were doing:

PS0891.jpg

PS0892.jpg

PS0893.jpg

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/02/the-top-11-checking-accounts-for-avoiding-foreign-atm-fees/

Edited July 20, 201511 yr by RP26