I use ATM for all my cash in Thailand (and won't use any other method on the grounds of convenience).

To minimise the effect of charges I always withdraw the maximum possible. This appears to be 20,000 Baht ... but I haven't used all the ATMS of all the different banks.

So my question ... does any particular bank allow more than 20,000 Baht in a single transaction?

Some bank's ATMs allow up to 40,000 baht in a single withdrawal, not to be confused with a daily limit associated with a particular card/account.

Most ATMs have a physical limitation, i.e. the height of the dispensing slot, which results in a 20,000 or 25,000 baht limit.

Some say you can make an ATM card-based withdrawal inside a bigger bank branch at a full-service desk, in larger amounts and perhaps even without the 150 baht fee, YMMV.

I found this, on a brief search at thaivisa dot com:

scb, k bank, etc 20,000
bangkok bank 25,000
UOB 30,000
aeon 40,000


https://www.google.com/search?q=maxi...hrome&ie=UTF-8

If here often it may be best to open a bank account in Thailand and either bring in or transfer money to it. I use my Thai ATM regularly without and fees.

At one point when I was needing money from home, I would do a cash advance from my Visa card over the counter (ant Thai bank). I could withdraw/access up to my card's limit (several hundred thousand Baht) instantly and without a fee. Then I would immediately pay off my Visa card via Internet banking.
No fees. No interest.

I understand convenience, but why pay so much in fees just to access your own money??????

1) I can't open a Thai account because I don't have an address in Thailand. If you know a bank that will open an account for a UK resident without a Thai address, then tell me the name of the bank?

2) I don't consider the fees to be high. The fact that the money belongs to me does not obligate the commercial organisations holding it to provide and maintain a global network of branches and ATMs to dispense my money without notice anywhere on the planet 24 hours a day. It's a service and it has to be paid for. 150 Baht to do this is a bargain in my opinion and I'm happy to pay it. Exchange rate fees have to be paid whatever method you use, and faffing around with Travellers Cheques only to be finally hijacked by some point of sale fee is a faff I can't be bothered with.

The purpose of my question is to get the best bang for my 150 Baht spend.

Thanks to the poster who highlighted the banks above 20K. I shall look out for these!

IMHO, the 150 baht fee is, indeed, a ripoff. Way out of line for charges made to Thais and aimed at foreigners. Of course, there is nothing original to these observations.

My solution is to us a Schwab Bank (USA) ATM card which repays me automatically for the 150 baht charge as well as any other charges and provides excellent exchange rates.

Sometimes I go to a Citibank branch in Bangkok where I have never been charged the 150 baht. By the way, don't use a Citi ATM card, even at a Citi branch in Bangkok as they add 3% onto foreign currency withdrawals.

Kasikorn is one.

As with many things Thai, if they don't do it on the first visit, go on another day or to another branch. I'm sure Thaivisa or similar will be able to tell you which branches have a good track record for this.

Just take an address of convenience with you as they're never going to send anything there anyway with a basic bank account.

FWIW, AEON ATMs continue to offer ATM withdrawals without the 150 baht fee.

AEON ATMs are not as widely available as other bank's ATMs but in Bangkok at least they are easily accessible.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...pril-17-a.html

A pretty abrasive response for what I was only offering as an option.

I have personally withdrawn over 400,000THB in one transaction, only paying the $5 cash advance fee that my bank charges me (and likely 1 day interest). This would cost you close to $100 in fees using an ATM for $5 per transaction.

There are TONS of banks here that will open a bank account for you with only a 30 day stamp or a tourist visa. You will need a Thai address. Many people live at hotels for extended periods (hint, hint). It's not rocket science. And it saves carrying any large amounts of cash around. Just take some time and ask around.

There are no monthly fees, or minimum deposit amounts. As long as you do your banking within the same province, you have free and unlimited cash withdrawls and deposits, at any branch or at your bank's ATMs.

Good luck ATMing.

As for your higher limit per transaction, Bangkok Bank is the easiest to find at 25,000 per transaction.

Most Thai banks do charge a 200 baht annual fee, at least BBL and SCB do on my accounts. I think this is an ATM card fee, or maybe some account maintenance fee. I think I get ~ 5 off-net ATM usages per month gratis.

Inter-bank transfers can incur fees on the order of 35 baht per.

Out of region, on-net ATM fees are ~ 15 baht per, not sure of the exact fees for out of region, off-net ATM fees but suspect those might be 35 baht per.

You do have to pay a % fee for in-bound wire transfers, up to a max. of 500 baht per.

Net net, local banking fess are a bit higher than most might imagine.

To cash a travelers check there is a total fee of 33 baht per check.

Some combination of cash, traveler's checks, AEON ATMs or even paying the ~1% (150 baht on say 15,000 baht) ATM fee might address most tourist's requirements?

Citibank has up to 40000 as standard as allowed me in the past even 80000 at once.

Recently I got a Mail, that they want to limit the ATM amount for foreign withdrawal in general to 500 Eur per day, which would be in the ballpark of 20000 or a little less right now. There was a lot of shady business going on, why this process is implemented. IMO a bad move.

In general even if a crap bank, Citi never charges for withdrawal in other countries (only very few exceptions like North Korea and such)... which is the pretty much the reason, why I still maintain that account.

Alternative:
For Germans (EU citizens) also another option exist. Some Banks (eg DKB) have co-operations with VISA that allow to withdrawal money all around the world for free with their credit card. The usual extra fee many local banks charge, 150 baht in Thailand, will be reimbursed by the bank later.