You can use a variety of cards at ATMs in Thailand, just make sure the ATM has the logo of your card somewhere on the machine.
Having said that, the following cards are accepted at most ATMs in Thailand.
- American Express
- Visa and Visa Electron
- Cirrus
- Union Pay
- MasterCard
- Visa Electron
- JCB
- Maestro
- ATM Pool
- Plus
- AEON
- MEPS
- UMAY+
If you have a Global Alliance card, you’re out of luck. They’re not accepted at Thailand ATMs.
You may run into trouble even if you try to use one the cards above. Sometimes, foreign ATM cards are rejected by the machine because of a temporary glitch.
However, there are a wide variety of ATMS available in the country so this shouldn’t be a major concern. Just make a mental note not to use that particular ATM, and move along to another one.
How to Withdraw Money Using an ATM in Thailand
Using an ATM in Thailand is just like using one in your home country, with a few minor differences.
The biggest difference may be the order in which your card is released back to you. In Thailand, your ATM card is given back to after the transaction. This differs from ATMs in places like America, where your card is given back before the transaction, but right after you enter your PIN.
So, when using an ATM in Thailand, be sure to wait for your card at the end. Don’t walk away thinking you pocketed your card after you entered your PIN, because if you don’t grab your card when done, the machine will eat it.
With that said, here are the steps to using an ATM in Thailand.
- Slide the card into the machine and enter your PIN.
- Hit the Language button and select your language.
- Decide whether you want to use the local or your home currency rate*.
- Pick between withdrawing from your savings account or current account.
- Enter the amount, take your cash, and remove the balance slip (if you opted for one).
*You’re better off avoiding selecting home currency rate. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This is when a third party converts the currency rate of your location in Thailand to the country where your card was issued in, and they charge you for the service.
ATM Fees
When you withdraw money using an ATM, you might be subject to withdrawal fees and currency exchange rate fees.
Withdrawal Fees
If you have a foreign bank account, you MAY have to pay a fixed fee of 220 baht per withdrawal regardless of the amount you take out. Ensure you know what the fee is before using the ATM!
The withdrawal fee can be different based on your bank’s policy. However, TD Bank and Charles Schwab do reimburse all international ATM fees.
AEON has a withdrawal fee of 150 baht for foreign ATM cards, and they can be found in Makro, Big C, Lotus’s, and MaxValu. Outside of these locations they may be hard to find.
Avoid using credit cards at an ATM if possible. You’ll be hit with a 2 percent to 5 percent withdrawal fee.
Exchange Rate Conversion Fees
It’s important to remember to select the local currency rate when withdrawing money from an ATM in Thailand.
The rate that the banks charge is called the mid-market rate, and this is halfway between what the buyers and sellers of your particular currency are demanding on a particular day.
The exchange rate is also published just before you decide to withdraw your money (or not). Thai banks usually charge 1 percent of the exchange rate.
So, before you withdraw, you must calculate the exchange rate and the surcharge to estimate the correct amount in your own currency.
Withdrawal Limits
Most banks in your home country have a standard withdrawal limit of 20,000 baht per every 24 hours. This can be changed if you contact your bank and ask them to increase your daily limits.
Also, the time limit starts at midnight in your home country, so you must be mindful of the time difference from Thailand.
Where to Find ATMs in Thailand
Finding an ATM in Thailand is fairly easy as long as you’re not in the countryside somewhere.
Here is a list of places that you can find ATMs in the country.
- Shopping malls: mostly every shopping mall in Thailand not only has ATMs, but an area of one floor of the mall is usually dedicated to banking
- Mini malls: outdoors malls like The Paseo and Little Walk have plenty of ATMs
- outdoor markets: fresh markets sometimes have ATMs located nearby
- Gas stations: all major gas stations — and especially those at rest areas on highways — have ATMs
- 7-Elevens, FamilyMarts, and other convenience stores: most of the time they will have ATMs either inside or outside of the store
- Airports: most airports in Thailand have ATMS, and the international hubs also have money exchange kiosks