Credit card from a Thai bank
I was talking to a British couple yesterday who are buying a house over here. They assured me that they could get (apply for?) a credit card at BKK Bank. Obviously, Buksida, your experience is current and hands on.
Maybe this is a salutory lesson for others who think they can apply for credit, but find it's impossible thereafter.
Maybe this is a salutory lesson for others who think they can apply for credit, but find it's impossible thereafter.
I realize it’s not possible for everybody but I’ve found it much easier to maintain UK credit cards on a mailing address, I have’nt lived there since 1991 but I still keep a bank account and several credit cards through my parents address.With internet and telephone banking you can transfer money around with few problems.
Anyone can apply, its a complete waste of time though. If the couple have business visas, work permits, a long banking history in Thailand and they own the house and land (or the company they own does) they may have a better chance of getting one.
My experience was also only with one bank (not BKK) although I have been with them for seven years, not that it made a difference.
Good advice Steve, don't cut your ties with the UK as your entitlements in this country are very small. They like to continually remind us of the fact that we are temporary guests in their fine land.
My experience was also only with one bank (not BKK) although I have been with them for seven years, not that it made a difference.
Good advice Steve, don't cut your ties with the UK as your entitlements in this country are very small. They like to continually remind us of the fact that we are temporary guests in their fine land.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
The stamp in my passport still says "Tourist".
After being here for many years. Depite being married to a Thai and having always contributed to the local economy by bringing my money over here.
There's just no way out of the status, unless you apply for PR.
You better have a lot of money and speak Thai if you want latter.
Steve G, we're talking about applying for a cc in Thailand, through a Thai bank. Not the UK.
After being here for many years. Depite being married to a Thai and having always contributed to the local economy by bringing my money over here.
There's just no way out of the status, unless you apply for PR.
You better have a lot of money and speak Thai if you want latter.
Steve G, we're talking about applying for a cc in Thailand, through a Thai bank. Not the UK.
Lomuamart said,
Steve G, we're talking about applying for a cc in Thailand, through a Thai bank. Not the UK.
I was fully aware that the thread was about Thai bank credit cards, but as everybody is pointing out they are seemingly impossible to obtain, you can apply for a european credit card over the internet and get somebody to send it over by DHL or whatever, most airline loyalty cards even offer credit options now, I have a visa card from Swiss and I’ve never been outside of Zurich airport. I tried for several years to get credit cards from asian banks and gave up.
Steve G, we're talking about applying for a cc in Thailand, through a Thai bank. Not the UK.
I was fully aware that the thread was about Thai bank credit cards, but as everybody is pointing out they are seemingly impossible to obtain, you can apply for a european credit card over the internet and get somebody to send it over by DHL or whatever, most airline loyalty cards even offer credit options now, I have a visa card from Swiss and I’ve never been outside of Zurich airport. I tried for several years to get credit cards from asian banks and gave up.
Has anyone tried Citibank Bangkok, they say a credit card requires;
For non-Thai nationals, Monthly incomes equals or exceeds 80,000 Baht
Document for consideration*
Photocopy of I.D. or state enterprise I.D. for Thai nationality; passport and work permit for foreigner nationality.
Photocopy of household registration
Payroll slip/Salary certification letter from your employer
Bank statements for at least the previous 3 months (Bank statement that shows salary payment)
For business owners and self-employed persons, at least one year of business operation is required for consideration.
Please attach photocopies of certified documents of company registration and bank statement, for at least the previous 6 months.
Photocopy of shareholders’ list for at least the previous 6 months (Business owners and self-employed applications who are authorized to sign saving/checking accounts of a company are not required to submit a shareholders’ list).
For non-Thai nationals, Monthly incomes equals or exceeds 80,000 Baht
Document for consideration*
Photocopy of I.D. or state enterprise I.D. for Thai nationality; passport and work permit for foreigner nationality.
Photocopy of household registration
Payroll slip/Salary certification letter from your employer
Bank statements for at least the previous 3 months (Bank statement that shows salary payment)
For business owners and self-employed persons, at least one year of business operation is required for consideration.
Please attach photocopies of certified documents of company registration and bank statement, for at least the previous 6 months.
Photocopy of shareholders’ list for at least the previous 6 months (Business owners and self-employed applications who are authorized to sign saving/checking accounts of a company are not required to submit a shareholders’ list).
You CAN get a credit card!
Perhaps something has changed, so I thought I should tell you about it:
Bank of Ayudhya, where I have had an account for some time, gave me a VISA credit card "Platinum" in a couple of weeks.
I didn't produce any document at all except for the application which was filled out in 30 seconds.
I don't have a work permit and therefore no income in Thailand, I don't even have an income from abroad. All I have is some money in my account that I need to have anyway to get my O-A visa (which, when I wanted to renew it was converted to a "retirement visa"). I let the bank lock 250 000 Baht in my account so that the balance can't be any lower than that.
Those 250 000 Baht equals my credit limit, so in effect my spending ability has neither been limited nor expanded.
This card didn't cost me one single Baht to get, and the yearly fee is 0 Baht for the rest of my life (!). Very easy and very convenient. No need to withdraw x times 20.000 B from the ATM and pay cash when I buy something a little more expensive for the house, for example.
As a bonus I can use the Thai Airways Executive Lounge for free when I fly Thai on the cheapest economy class ticket. There were more bonuses that I didn't care to remember (you know the "Get a 20 % discount when you rent a ridiculously expensive luxury limousine" type).
Try it if you are a Bank of Ayudhya customer. If you have another bank - tell them about this and ask if they can give you something similar. I think being a known customer of the bank is the no. 1 criteria.
Good luck!
Gutte
Bank of Ayudhya, where I have had an account for some time, gave me a VISA credit card "Platinum" in a couple of weeks.
I didn't produce any document at all except for the application which was filled out in 30 seconds.
I don't have a work permit and therefore no income in Thailand, I don't even have an income from abroad. All I have is some money in my account that I need to have anyway to get my O-A visa (which, when I wanted to renew it was converted to a "retirement visa"). I let the bank lock 250 000 Baht in my account so that the balance can't be any lower than that.
Those 250 000 Baht equals my credit limit, so in effect my spending ability has neither been limited nor expanded.
This card didn't cost me one single Baht to get, and the yearly fee is 0 Baht for the rest of my life (!). Very easy and very convenient. No need to withdraw x times 20.000 B from the ATM and pay cash when I buy something a little more expensive for the house, for example.
As a bonus I can use the Thai Airways Executive Lounge for free when I fly Thai on the cheapest economy class ticket. There were more bonuses that I didn't care to remember (you know the "Get a 20 % discount when you rent a ridiculously expensive luxury limousine" type).
Try it if you are a Bank of Ayudhya customer. If you have another bank - tell them about this and ask if they can give you something similar. I think being a known customer of the bank is the no. 1 criteria.
Good luck!
Gutte
I think the actual bank is a big factor.
It seems the Ayuttaya bank is a lot more friendly to foreigners than the Thai Farmers Bank (which should be renamed the Thais only bank).
No credit card from them despite being a customer for seven years and having a regular income and work permit.
Time to find another bank I think, thanks for the info
It seems the Ayuttaya bank is a lot more friendly to foreigners than the Thai Farmers Bank (which should be renamed the Thais only bank).
No credit card from them despite being a customer for seven years and having a regular income and work permit.
Time to find another bank I think, thanks for the info
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Very useful information, thanks Gutte. Like Steve G, I kept up my UK credit cards but the downside to this is that most charge about a 2% - 3% fee for the currency conversion. Just bought an Eva Air ticket on the internet this way and cost me alot more in GBP than I thought it would. A Thai credit card would be much better and since I already bank with Ayuttaya, I will be round there first thing tomorrow morning. Well maybe not first thing!!
I would also add that I have always found the staff very helpful.
I would also add that I have always found the staff very helpful.
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NicFrenchy
- Specialist
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:03 pm
Tried to apply for a Credit card at Bangkok Bank... I make 5 times more income than required but they still refuse. I have Work Permit, Visa and all the necessary paperwork, they have my Savings and Current account where Salary is transfered monthly (so they know how much I make and that the Company I work for is Legit).
They did not refuse me a Credit card... they just said I can have one under 1 condition :
- I need to Block 300,000 THB to a special account that I cannot touch until I close my Credit card.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but what's the point of needing a credit card if I have 300k laying around ?
They did not refuse me a Credit card... they just said I can have one under 1 condition :
- I need to Block 300,000 THB to a special account that I cannot touch until I close my Credit card.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but what's the point of needing a credit card if I have 300k laying around ?
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Limey711
- Specialist
- Posts: 199
- Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:05 pm
- Location: Hua Hin loving it.
- Contact:
We have just closed all our accounts with our bank, in preparation to move to Hua Hin in 9 weeks time, cant wait by the way.
We opened new accounts with the HSBC bank, who have a branch in Bangkok, we have full internet access to our accounts and we can transfer monies, between the banks.
My only concern, is that when our cards expire in three yrs time and they issue new ones, is the postal service within Thailand reliable. I have been informed there is a lot of credit card fraud within Thailand and you can spot the envelope with a new credit card in from a hundred paces.
Perhaps the HSBC bank in Bangkok can issue new cards, that is one avenue we are looking in to.
We opened new accounts with the HSBC bank, who have a branch in Bangkok, we have full internet access to our accounts and we can transfer monies, between the banks.
My only concern, is that when our cards expire in three yrs time and they issue new ones, is the postal service within Thailand reliable. I have been informed there is a lot of credit card fraud within Thailand and you can spot the envelope with a new credit card in from a hundred paces.
Perhaps the HSBC bank in Bangkok can issue new cards, that is one avenue we are looking in to.
The sweetest girl that I ever kissed was another man's wife.....My Mother