Looking for a decent bank in Bangkok

[Aricius Merlinus]

I work and live here in Bangkok full-time. I have a valid work visa and work permit. I don't make tons of money - slightly more than a TEFL hack, but a lot less than an oil rig guy. My office does direct deposit of my salary, but only has such an arrangement with TMB, so I opened an account there when I first started working, and honestly, I have been relatively satisfied. I can do internet banking, I have an ATM card. I have also had a fair amount of money (in the millions of baht) in this TMB account for over a year as a result of transferring some savings to it.

When I opened the TMB account, the clerk told me that, after having the account for a few months, I could apply for a credit card. I never bothered to do so, since I had a credit card from my bank abroad. However, I would now like to close my account abroad and get a credit card here in Thailand. Today, I went to the exact same branch where I opened my account, pulled out my passport, and asked to apply for a credit card. The clerk's response, without even glancing at my passport or account information, was, "Our bank doesn't issue credit cards to foreigners." I asked, "Even though I was told I could apply for a credit card when I opened my account here? Even though I have a few million baht in your bank? So I can have my money in your bank, but you can't provide me with a standard banking service?" "Yes, that's right", was the reply!

So I would like to open an account in another bank here in Bangkok:

- to which I can transfer everything that is currently in the TMB account;
- to which I can arrange for TMB to transfer my salary as soon as my company deposits it each month;
- that provides internet banking;
- that will give me a debit/ATM card (I assume all of the above will be no problem, but the one below might be); and
- that offers a real unsecured credit card with a modestly decent credit limit for booking flights and such - say USD 5,000 to USD 10,000.

Any suggestions?

[Humbert]

I have accounts with both Krungsri Bank and Bangkok Bank. I have my payroll automatically deposited in my Krungsri Account. I also have a Visa credit card with Krungsri. I think you may have to settle for a credit limit lower than your expectations. I like the internet banking at Krungsri better than Bangkok Bank - more user friendly.

[aging one]

to which I can arrange for TMB to transfer my salary as soon as my company deposits it each month;

That is going to be your problem. I would suggest you get the company to deposit the funds in the new bank you choose.

[Aricius Merlinus]

Thanks, Humbert. What makes you say I might have to lower my expectations in regard to the credit card limit? My current credit card from abroad has about a USD 5,000 limit and was issued when I had a slightly lower income than I have now and less savings in the account.

Aging One, my company refuses to deposit to any other banks. I already asked. I assume there's some tit-for-tat going on somewhere.

[Butterfly]

non-sense, if you have a work permit and regular income, they can't refuse to issue you a credit card based on nationality

like everything here, you have to deal with incompetent idiots

fill out the application yourself at another branch and it will be processed centrally at their HQ

[aging one]

Butters hit it this time. Ask to speak to her supervisor. I have had my name on a loan for our house issued by TMB. Paid off but it was there. Twice in fact. SCB and BKK bank both have been recommended as has their internet banking.

[DrAndy]

I have a credit card issued to me by Bkk bank

what a palaver

first I had to sign loads of forms so I could open two accounts

one was for the credit card (no, they wouldn't let me use the account I already had) to withdraw from (that was my choice, to avoid interest payments), the other was an account with the credit limit deposited, and which I could not touch

This was because foreigners often run away and leave with large debts.

weird, I could easily use my card many times in one day then run away, but computers are clever, they told me

[harrybarracuda]

non-sense, if you have a work permit and regular income, they can't refuse to issue you a credit card based on nationality

like everything here, you have to deal with incompetent idiots

fill out the application yourself at another branch and it will be processed centrally at their HQ

You stupid twat, they're a bank, they can refuse a credit card to whoever they fucking like, Thais included.

[FailSafe]

I have always done my personal banking with SCB and business banking with Krungsri- I have credit cards issued through both- my credit limit with Kungsri (which is in line with what you're looking for- ~8K USD) was much easier to get, where SCB didn't want to go that high until I said I would move my account if they didn't (I have no complaints with them otherwise, though not everyone on TD feel that way towards them).

[Butterfly]

You stupid twat, they're a bank, they can refuse a credit card to whoever they fucking like, Thais included.

not based on nationality when you have a work permit and income, retard

as usual, no fucking clue, stick to F1 and root kernels, silly XBOX boy

[lom]

the other was an account with the credit limit deposited, and which I could not touch

Not uncommon in Thailand that foreigners wanting a bit of a higher credit limit has to open a bank account for that amount and deposit the book in the bank.
What deal you can get differs from office to office and what risk they are willing to take, I had no problem getting SCB dual card (1 MC, 1 Visa) for 100K baht each without having a work permit but having a good bank record.
I do have to put up a guarantee as mentioned above if I want a higher credit.

[crocodilexp]

Why do you specifically want a credit card, especially if you need to deposit the amount of the credit limit and not touch it (as some posters suggested)?

Kasikorn Bank offers a web shopping virtual card (linked to your savings/checking account), with a high security bar (two-factor SMS authentication, per-transaction limit, time window for disputes). If all you need to do is buy airline tickets and other items online, this may cover you. Best thing, it's free, and has no requirements beyond having the funds available at the time of purchase.

Technically, it doesn't the have fraud protection that credit cards do, but given their security setup, you won't need it unless you hand over both your physical phone and your card details to someone at the same time and stop checking your e-mail as well.

[Butterfly]

What deal you can get differs from office to office and what risk they are willing to take, I had no problem getting SCB dual card (1 MC, 1 Visa) for 100K baht each without having a work permit but having a good bank record.

was it a debit card or a credit card ? I think the BoT have strong guidelines for credit cards and only working foreigners with proper paperwork can get one. Did you attach those credit cards on an investment savings account by any chance ?

technically a credit card expenses will not be debited immediately on your account, if that's what you have.

[FailSafe]

I think the BoT have strong guidelines for credit cards and only working foreigners with proper paperwork can get one.

That's true re: unsecured credit cards- if you're willing to secure it with funds from your savings account, you don't need a work permit- getting an unsecured credit card takes time as you need to show at least six months worth of bank records and prove your income level- it took me a while before I could get approved for an unsecured card.

[CNF55]

I have a credit card issued to me by Bkk bank

what a palaver

first I had to sign loads of forms so I could open two accounts

one was for the credit card (no, they wouldn't let me use the account I already had) to withdraw from (that was my choice, to avoid interest payments), the other was an account with the credit limit deposited, and which I could not touch

This was because foreigners often run away and leave with large debts.

weird, I could easily use my card many times in one day then run away, but computers are clever, they told me

I had exactly the same experience with Bangkok Bank when I tried to apply for a credit card 7 or 8 years ago - after having had my personal as well as the company account with them for 4 years already.

They declined my application and the branch manager explained that they had too many foreigners just disappearing and leaving them with the debt - LOL!

They also suggested to make a fixed deposit to the limit of the credit card which I respectfully declined.

Went straight to AMEX and applied for the Platinum Thai card - no problems, approved within 1 week and by now equipped with a limit which by far exceeds my needs. On top of it I collect points which I can convert to Thai miles which adds up to at least one free biz class ticket to Europe every year.

[harrybarracuda]

You stupid twat, they're a bank, they can refuse a credit card to whoever they fucking like, Thais included.

not based on nationality when you have a work permit and income, retard

as usual, no fucking clue, stick to F1 and root kernels, silly XBOX boy

If you'd like to post the law the states that, then do so, otherwise crawl back into your hole, this is retarded even by your usual standards.

[Bogon]

Different banks. Different rules...

The Bangkok Bank credit card is available to foreign applicants who are permanent residents or have had a work permit for at least one year, while other conditions are the same as for Thai applicants.


Kasikornbank requires foreign customers to have a minimum of one year’s work experience in Thailand to apply for a credit card, with a minimum monthly income of Bt50,000.
They must also provide a credit bureau’s authorization, and their work permit must be valid for at least six month after the application date. Customers will be informed of the approval result within 16 days for applications in Bangkok and 19 days upcountry.


Siam Commercial Bank requires a work permit and minimum monthly salary of Bt100,000, compared with Thai applicants’ minimum income of Bt15,000. The bank also needs foreign customers to show a bank statement covering the past six months.

Krung Thai Bank requires foreign applicants to have had a work permit for at least two years, but their requirement for minimum monthly income is Bt15,000, the same as for Thai applicants. They must also show a bank statement covering the past three months and their passport.


TMB Bank offers two choices of credit-card applications for foreigners. The first requires lending deals with corporations of at least three years and a minimum credit line of Bt30 million. Expats employed by these companies are eligible to apply for a TMB Bank credit card. A work permits must also be shown.
The second choice is offered to individual foreigners who open a fixed-deposit account with the bank. They must use the account as collateral for their credit-card application and will receive a credit line of not more than 80 per cent of the deposit amount.


Bank of Ayudhya requires three years’ local work experience and a minimum monthly income of Bt50,000 for a classic card and one year’s local work experience and a monthly salary of Bt100,000 for gold and platinum cards.


This info is from 2008 (sure there is more up to date stuff if you dig deeper) and sourced from here...Thai credit cards for foreigners - The rules | Thailand Travel Online

[DrAndy]

You stupid twat, they're a bank, they can refuse a credit card to whoever they fucking like, Thais included

not based on nationality when you have a work permit and income, retard as usual, no fucking clue, stick to F1 and root kernels, silly XBOX boy

If you'd like to post the law the states that, then do so, otherwise crawl back into your hole, this is retarded even by your usual standards.

why are you getting so rude, harry?

this is not MKP or the lounge so just post like a civilised person...just pretend

[harrybarracuda]

That's not me being rude, you're mistaken.

[harrybarracuda]

Different banks. Different rules...

Thank you for the research, Bogon.

It is entirely up to each bank whether or not they wish to extend retail credit to ANY customer (or type of customer); despite what Buttplug says, there is no legal obligation to do so (excluding government-ordered vote-buying schemes, of course).

And see Failsafe's post re "negotiation". The bank's credit control/risk management departments are the ones that ultimately make the call.

Personally I don't see the point in having a credit card if you have to deposit more than the entire credit limit in the bank to cover it. Essentially, that's just a glorified debit card.

Having said that, it's easy to get a Savings account and a Debit card at SCB, that's what I've got and it works just fine, and I have neither a resident nor work permit.

[Butterfly]

despite what Buttplug says, there is no legal obligation to do so

as usual, harryb, putting half the story

yes, each bank can adjust selection criteria from the main BoT guidelines, but to refuse based on nationality is not at the discretion of the bank as long as you have a work permit and have the income. They have no excuse to do so, and you can perfectly apply to another bank or to another branch because you are dealing with a dickhead at one branch. It's not bank policy, it's dickhead policy, something you should know since you are one yourself.

[harrybarracuda]

despite what Buttplug says, there is no legal obligation to do so

as usual, harryb, putting half the story

yes, each bank can adjust selection criteria from the main BoT guidelines, but to refuse based on nationality is not at the discretion of the bank as long as you have a work permit and have the income. They have no excuse to do so, and you can perfectly apply to another bank or to another branch because you are dealing with a dickhead at one branch. It's not bank policy, it's dickhead policy, something you should know since you are one yourself.

Read Failsafe's post again, they can pretty well do what they like to safeguard the money they are lending you, and they can refuse to lend it to you if you don't meet their conditions. Again, because you are so fucking thick:

BANKS CAN REFUSE TO EXTEND RETAIL CREDIT TO ANY CUSTOMER.

Buttplug I can't take you seriously when you post shit in threads like this. Go and post some more shit in the computer thread, and I'll come along and take the piss later, there's a good lad.

[Brown Sugar]

I work and live here in Bangkok full-time. I have a valid work visa and work permit. I don't make tons of money - slightly more than a TEFL hack, but a lot less than an oil rig guy. My office does direct deposit of my salary, but only has such an arrangement with TMB, so I opened an account there when I first started working, and honestly, I have been relatively satisfied. I can do internet banking, I have an ATM card. I have also had a fair amount of money (in the millions of baht) in this TMB account for over a year as a result of transferring some savings to it.

When I opened the TMB account, the clerk told me that, after having the account for a few months, I could apply for a credit card. I never bothered to do so, since I had a credit card from my bank abroad. However, I would now like to close my account abroad and get a credit card here in Thailand. Today, I went to the exact same branch where I opened my account, pulled out my passport, and asked to apply for a credit card. The clerk's response, without even glancing at my passport or account information, was, "Our bank doesn't issue credit cards to foreigners." I asked, "Even though I was told I could apply for a credit card when I opened my account here? Even though I have a few million baht in your bank? So I can have my money in your bank, but you can't provide me with a standard banking service?" "Yes, that's right", was the reply!

So I would like to open an account in another bank here in Bangkok:

- to which I can transfer everything that is currently in the TMB account;
- to which I can arrange for TMB to transfer my salary as soon as my company deposits it each month;
- that provides internet banking;
- that will give me a debit/ATM card (I assume all of the above will be no problem, but the one below might be); and
- that offers a real unsecured credit card with a modestly decent credit limit for booking flights and such - say USD 5,000 to USD 10,000.

Any suggestions?

Why bother with a credit card? My debit card with the SCM (Siam Commercial Bank) works just as well as a credit card as long as I have the funds in my bank to cover that purchase. I have been with the SCM for six years now no problems what so ever and they cannot under stand why I do not have one of their CREDIT cards. With the present foreign exchange rates I think it is a little premature to move all ones monies to Thailand at present I feel things will change quite drastically over the next two years. Brian Stocks

[Brown Sugar]

I work and live here in Bangkok full-time. I have a valid work visa and work permit. I don't make tons of money - slightly more than a TEFL hack, but a lot less than an oil rig guy. My office does direct deposit of my salary, but only has such an arrangement with TMB, so I opened an account there when I first started working, and honestly, I have been relatively satisfied. I can do internet banking, I have an ATM card. I have also had a fair amount of money (in the millions of baht) in this TMB account for over a year as a result of transferring some savings to it.

When I opened the TMB account, the clerk told me that, after having the account for a few months, I could apply for a credit card. I never bothered to do so, since I had a credit card from my bank abroad. However, I would now like to close my account abroad and get a credit card here in Thailand. Today, I went to the exact same branch where I opened my account, pulled out my passport, and asked to apply for a credit card. The clerk's response, without even glancing at my passport or account information, was, "Our bank doesn't issue credit cards to foreigners." I asked, "Even though I was told I could apply for a credit card when I opened my account here? Even though I have a few million baht in your bank? So I can have my money in your bank, but you can't provide me with a standard banking service?" "Yes, that's right", was the reply!

So I would like to open an account in another bank here in Bangkok:

- to which I can transfer everything that is currently in the TMB account;
- to which I can arrange for TMB to transfer my salary as soon as my company deposits it each month;
- that provides internet banking;
- that will give me a debit/ATM card (I assume all of the above will be no problem, but the one below might be); and
- that offers a real unsecured credit card with a modestly decent credit limit for booking flights and such - say USD 5,000 to USD 10,000.

Any suggestions?

Why bother with a credit card? My debit card with the SCM (Siam Commercial Bank ,plenty of ATM's and branches throughout Thailand) works just as well as a credit card as long as I have the funds in my bank to cover that purchase. I have been with the SCM for six years now no problems what so ever and they cannot under stand why I do not have one of their CREDIT cards. With the present foreign exchange rates I think it is a little premature to move all ones monies to Thailand at present I feel things will change quite drastically over the next two years. Brian Stocks

[Boon Mee]

That's not me being rude, you're mistaken.

He often is.

"Kasikornbank requires foreign customers to have a minimum of one year’s work experience in Thailand to apply for a credit card, with a minimum monthly income of Bt50,000."

"They must also provide a credit bureau’s authorization, and their work permit must be valid for at least six month after the application date. Customers will be informed of the approval result within 16 days for applications in Bangkok and 19 days upcountry."

Here we go with the same situation that abounds in Thailand where there is no fast and firm rule for anything. I hold no work permit but was granted a credit card (useful for booking stuff online only) with a 100K THB limit. Have a BKK Bank account too and they have been OK as well - no complaints.