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Reader question: Does debit card at Bangkok airport give an unfavorable exchange rate?

By Submitted Message
Posted in Reader question
Tags: , , ,
December 13 2013

Hello everyone,

As a loyal Thailander, I know that exchanging money at Suvarnabhumi airport is very expensive, but what about ATMs?

Do you get the same exchange rate at the airport as you would debit elsewhere in the country?

Thank you very much for the answers.

Yours faithfully,

Glass

Number of times read: 229

28 responses to “Reader Question: Does debit card at Bangkok airport give an unfavorable exchange rate?”

  1. Martin B says up
    13 December 2013 at 11: 05

    "Very expensive"? Exchanging money at the airport at a Thai bank is no more expensive than elsewhere in Thailand at a Thai bank; each bank branch uses the daily price list of the 'head office', see e.g http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/WebServices/Rates/Pages/FX_Rates.aspx
    Some local Money Changers give a slightly cheaper rate.

    Please note that you change money after entering the departure hall, and do so at a well-known Thai bank (compare the exchange rates; the differences are minimal).

    Using an ATM always entails costs; there are several articles about this on this blog, but you do get the most favorable bank rate (the 'TT' rate, because the Thai ATM bank 'buys' euros from your Dutch bank).

    The cheapest method is to bring euros with you from the Netherlands, but there are of course risks involved. If you have a Thai bank account, you can also transfer money electronically.

    • BA says up
      13 December 2013 at 11: 57

      TT rate is what you get when you transfer Euros to a Thai bank account. If you pin at any bank, the transaction will be offered in Baht at Visa/MC or at your own bank. And that exchange rate is noticeably worse than the TT rate.

      That is why it is better to transfer in Euros to a Thai account if you are going to withdraw with a Dutch card.

      • Martin B says up
        13 December 2013 at 12: 18

        Oops, I stand corrected! That's why Visacard makes a billion dollar profit! I always transfer money to my Thai bank account, and then use the (free*) ATM card from the Thai bank. This ATM card is made for you on the spot = immediately available.

        *In other provinces you have to pay a small transaction fee when withdrawing from the same bank.

    • marcus says up
      13 December 2013 at 18: 58

      What nonsense, carrying paper money. The paper money exchange has a very large delta between buying and selling. No, the best thing is just transferring money from the Netherlands, via your own bank (RABO?) to your Thai bank and then later have to pay 10 euros in costs. So transfer quite a bit, a million baht or so, and then the costs per euro remain very low and you can go ahead for the time being.

      You can also arrange drawing right of enchament facilities so that you can cash a check on your own account for the interban exchange rates with little cost. I do that for example with the Hongkok and shanghai bank from the channel islands (safe haven for your money)

      And now go make some weird comments

      • great martin says up
        14 December 2013 at 01: 29

        Still clear. You keep smiling here. Everyone has a million baht lying around somewhere. Not to bad. The Dutch tax authorities also find it interesting, if you transfer approximately € 26.000 from your Ned account to Thailand to your own Thai account. Special if your tax return does not show that you are not that rich and there is no mention of your Thai account and credit in Thailand. How clever we are, let's say.

        The TL-Blog question is very simple and can be answered more easily. just read what was asked.

        The answer is NO. Money change is expensive at every airport.
        great martin

        • Marcus says up
          14 December 2013 at 06: 31

          Moderator: Please only respond to the reader's question.

      • rebell says up
        14 December 2013 at 01: 46

        Switching on Survarnabuhmi is extremely unfavorable !! Doesn't matter in what form!!

        You get the highest conversion rate for Euro banknotes of € 500 at Superrichbank and at Linda in Bangkok and have been doing so for years. You must have this cash (paper money) with you. Transfer from Ned. to these (money exchange) banks is not possible.

        No other (well-known) Thai banks give as much for your Euro cash as Linda and S-Rich. Apart from cash exchange at these two banks, everything else in Thailand is either more expensive or worse.

        The strange proposal, . ...just to change a million. . (must be a joke?) is tied to the Ned. regulations on the amount of money exported and the amount of cash imported into Thailand.
        So pay attention here what is and what is not allowed !!. rebel

        • Marcus says up
          14 December 2013 at 06: 35

          Moderator: please only respond to the reader's question and do not chat.

  2. great martin says up
    13 December 2013 at 11: 20

    All money transactions at (almost every) airport are unfavorable. Pinning too. Don't assume that you give the Thai gwk 43 Bht and the ATM 2 meters away 44 for your Eurie. That would be laughable for the gwk counter by customers who feel cheated.
    Have you ever heard that crows don't peck each other's eyes? great martin

    • BA says up
      13 December 2013 at 11: 30

      If you pay at the airport, VISA / Mastercard will convert the exchange rate or your own bank in the Netherlands will do that. The Thai bank simply takes 180 baht and offers the transaction amount in baht + 180 baht at your own bank. So in theory it could very well be that it is cheaper.

      But in practice, the exchange rates that both Visa/Mastercard and your own bank in the Netherlands give are much worse than just about any exchange office or any Thai bank.

      Using a debit card in Thailand is always disadvantageous at the airport or elsewhere.

  3. Chris Hammer says up
    13 December 2013 at 12: 33

    After more than 20 years of experience with exchanging money in Thailand, I can say with certainty that exchanging money at the airport is uneconomical. If you have an account with a Thai bank, exchange it there. That saves a lot for large amounts.

    By the way, they can also get some at the border exchange offices (GWK) in the Netherlands. During my last visit to the Netherlands, I studied the rates used by the GWK and the rates at other banks. There was a significant difference, especially with Eastern currencies such as the Thai Bath and the Yen. You earn twice the costs charged and the enormous exchange rate difference.

  4. David hemmings says up
    13 December 2013 at 12: 47

    Here
    http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

    you can see the different Thai banks, their exchange rates are regularly updated, amounts and notes or TT rates via the drop-down menu, TT rate also stands for ATM rate, so it differs which ATM of which bank you use.
    And as an oddity, this link shows you that there is also an ATM in the transit area that will give you only $ or €
    's, normally no exchange if you withdraw your own currency

    http://jewie.blogspot.com/2011/02/atms-at-suvarnabhumi-airport.html

  5. sandra kunderink says up
    13 December 2013 at 13: 51

    I have a question about this topic of whether or not to use a debit card….at the airport.

    Is there no Aeon branch on Suvarnabhumi??? This is because of the costs of 180 Baht that you have to pay at any bank and not at Aeon…

    Thanks in advance for the answer.

    Sandra

  6. henk j says up
    13 December 2013 at 15: 47

    Exchanging money at an exchange office is always more favorable.
    However, recording at the various banks also makes a difference.
    The Kasikorn has a better rate than, for example, the bangkok bank.

    However, you lose the 180 bath in all cases except at the Aeon bank. If you're around here it might pay off. However, the exchange rate is slightly less favorable here.
    By definition, it doesn't really matter that much.
    ING uses a commission when withdrawing. If you use the ING and you have a more extensive card, it saves the withdrawal costs at ING.
    You pay about 9 euros for this per 3 months.
    In that case you only pay the 180 thb.

    For the comparison:
    At Frankfurt Airport at an exchange office they charge an amount depending on the amount you want to exchange (2.50 to 4.80) and 2% commission. So this doesn't make you happy. (It was about $ I needed)
    The exchange rate was also unfavourable.

  7. great martin says up
    14 December 2013 at 01: 20

    Exchange at an airport, no matter where (in the world) is always more expensive than at a bank.

    Who is going to change in Frankfurt when you fly from Amsterdam to Bangkok?.

    Exchange at an airport is ALWAYS expensive and the Kasikorn Bank is a bank for farmers and NOT an international bank like the SCB or the Bangkok bank. Money exchange is for the Kasikorn. a difficult business that does not generate any major profit for them.

    I do NOT pay 180 (?) Baht but 150 (SCB) and will also receive this 150 Bht back from my DKB, on request where a simple E-Mail is sufficient.

    You get the best rate in Bangkok at the Linda and Superrich bank.
    Tested yesterday; S-Rich and Linda 44.00 and SCB and Bangkok 43,85 and 43,90.

    great martin

  8. RonnyLadPhrao says up
    14 December 2013 at 03: 58

    I don't think it matters where you go, airport or anywhere else.
    I believe these ATMs are directly connected to the head office, and give the same rate on every machine, within the same bank of course. There are of course differences between the banks.
    I don't think they set up the ATMs separately but…could.
    Maybe try it out. Simply request money, read the rate and confirm, then cancel.
    Then do the same in another place and you will know for the future.

    Cash exchange is disadvantageous in the airport.
    Out of curiosity I always read the exchange rates at the exchange offices at the airport and see differences that amount to 1 Baht per Euro between the airport and somewhere in the city.
    This was not always the case. There was a time when exchanging money at the airport (then Don Muang) gave a better rate than in the city. That was a few years ago and now they do the same as in the other airports and exchanging money at the airport is not recommended or may be limited to an amount that you need immediately.

    Now yes and then transfer 1 million Baht?
    Klaas, the questioner, writes that he is a loyal Thailand visitor, so I don't think he will do that for a while.
    I assume that he regularly comes to Thailand on leave and just uses his Dutch card.
    Besides the fact that the tax authorities will otherwise be very happy to read this, as previously written, transferring such large amounts also has its advantages and disadvantages.
    Suppose you transferred 25000 euros a few months ago, you would be crying now.
    A few months ago something like 38 Baht, now 44 Bath. Do the math.
    It also works vice versa of course

    As for Kasicorn
    I think that Kasikorn Bank is no longer a Bank for farmers like the Thai Farmer Bank was in the past. I think that was one of the reasons why they made the name change.
    http://www.kasikornbank.com/EN/Corporate/InternationalTrade/Pages/InternationalTrade.aspx

    • Marcus says up
      14 December 2013 at 06: 47

      Then don't assume that. Met der live left in 1990 and live in Thailand when not for work elsewhere in the world, now Houston. Indeed exchange rates can change both upwards and downwards. Pinning with a Dutch card no, costs too much. Just transfer from Dutch (external) account at interbank exchange rates with something like 10 euro bank costs on the Dutch side. And the larger the amount, the smaller the costs in percentage terms.

      • RonnyLadPhrao says up
        14 December 2013 at 07: 36

        I think this is about the questioner Klaas and about pinning at the airport in Thailand and not about you or where you live or work
        It does not say anywhere in his question that he has a bank account here in Thailand, so where should he transfer money to?
        In that case, he is still dependent on debit cards with a Dutch card or cash money.

        • Marcus says up
          14 December 2013 at 15: 23

          Living work was in response from you “I assume it”, nothing is as dangerous in this life as assuming it, hence. But opening a bank account in Thailand if you are there often is just a very good solution. I have a few and it was no problem opening them. Keep in mind that they punish an inactive account with a monthly fine, 200 b I believe and with a minimal credit that can cause problems over time. Yes, it will be crazy if you let your Dutch bills be internal and live in Thailand. And then ATMs where the Thais grab you with an extra charge, 180 b and you also lose on the exchange rate and sometimes currency exchange charges (VISA bvb).

  9. Gerard says up
    17 December 2013 at 21: 55

    Lots of comments already. so will keep it short . .
    Avies only for the tourists . .
    With "pins" you pay costs both in Thailand and in NL. .
    Only at the TMB you can only withdraw a maximum of € 500 /. .with current exchange rate approx. TB 21.000
    Other banks usually max. Tb 10.000
    Costs are TMB 150,- other banks TB 180,-
    The advantage of TMB is therefore more debit cards and lower costs . For example, with 2 x Tb 10.000 pins it costs 2 x Tb 180 extra at other banks
    TMB does ask: exchange here or in NL. .do it in NL .also saves about 2 to 3%

    Best stays, exchange cash here. .NOT 2 x bank charges in Thailand and NL. .but NEVER change at the airport (or max for the taxi ad TB 300 max at a taxi meter) that saves at least 5%

    • great martin says up
      18 December 2013 at 02: 31

      So don't pin or exchange at an airport. So I do NOT pay (150) 180 Bht - get it back on request from my DKB. Question to Gerard: which double costs in TH and NL?. Something new again?

      Correct: it is always best to exchange cash, preferably at the LINDA or Supperrich exchange bank in Bangkok. Remember to bring € 500 bills with you. That brings a much higher exchange rate than € 50 notes. great Martin.

    • Pim says up
      18 December 2013 at 06: 56

      Gerard ever heard of the AEON .
      There you get 20.000.- Thb total free of charge from the slot machine.
      You have to look on Google for where these are located.
      There aren't that many of them, but certainly in every major city.

  10. henk j says up
    18 December 2013 at 06: 18

    Money exchange continues to keep people busy.
    Exchanged a small amount yesterday at Don Muang airport, Exchange rate 1 euro 42.28 thb.
    Am quite satisfied with this.
    Debit cards at the airport are just as favorable or unfavorable as in other places.
    The difference is also in which bank you pint and this really makes a difference on the same day with, for example, 10 minutes in between.
    I still have the best exchange rate with the kasikorn bank.

    Advice is given to bring notes of 500 euros and exchange them.
    Many people then walk with cash in their pocket that does not make you happy. Are we really that tight-fisted that we don't want to pay the 180 thb? After all, it is better to withdraw money a few times and not run the risk of being robbed. Over the past period, I have experienced several times that myself or others have been robbed.

    The average holidaymaker goes to Thailand for 4 weeks. Does not have a Thai account where you can deposit the money.
    In that case, how much will you save on a holiday?
    How much risk do you run with a lot of cash.
    Do you get 1 or 2 bath more at one office or bank ..
    At ING you can only pay the withdrawal costs at the bank with slightly higher card costs (3 euros per month).
    Are we concerned with the exchange rate all the time? We may save 25 euros on a holiday this way but spend the money double and straight by getting into a taxi that won't turn on the meter or using a Tuk Tuk that charges far too high a price.
    We already eat and drink at low Thai prices, buy souvenirs that we buy too expensive because we can't control the haggling or because the Thai lady is so attractive that we let ourselves be distracted.

    Enjoy the period you spend in Thailand, the Long-term resident has an account where he deposits the money and yes we depend on the world market.
    The Thai bath is not wrong, unlike at the beginning of this year.
    Although I am convinced that part of this letter has nothing to do with whether or not to use a debit card at the airport, I think that the sober Dutch or Belgian is wise and does not want to run the risk of walking around with a lot of money.

    My advice: enjoy the country.

  11. great martin says up
    19 December 2013 at 01: 53

    What a pity. Hopefully you really changed a small amount, because Linda pays 44.20, even for small amounts. Quite a difference, say top martin

  12. Henk says up
    20 December 2013 at 06: 45

    Martin, you didn't read the text. I am happy with the exchange rate and am not going to spend a lot of travel time to save a few baths. I prefer to enjoy myself and drink one less coffee.

    • great martin says up
      21 December 2013 at 02: 30

      The TL-Blog question was, — is it unfavorable to exchange cq. to pin—. The answer is : YES. It was NOT the question of whether you can be satisfied with an unfavorable exchange rate and therefore drink less coffee. It is indeed pointless to go to a favorable exchange rate bank in the middle of Bangkok and only exchange € 100. This does not make much sense for exchange amounts up to € 500/1000.

      But there are plenty of expats who exchange larger amounts more often. With an amount of € 10.000 and a exchange rate difference of 2 Bht, it saves no less than 20.000 Bht less?. And you easily have that exchange rate difference between the airport and the exchange bank in Bangkok center, which is also easy to reach in a very short time with the Airport link. great martin

      • Kito says up
        21 December 2013 at 07: 41

        Enough expats who often exchange amounts higher than 1000 EUR???
        Which banks in the Eurozone are those customers, and which ATMs in Thailand allow such high cash withdrawals????
        Kito

        • great martin says up
          21 December 2013 at 13: 34

          Just read what it says. Talking about: exchange. It doesn't say pick up, pin, pull out of the wall etc. etc. So we talk about CASH Money exchange. That also goes with € 10.000 or even higher amounts, as far as you have the courage to flout EU and Thai rules that determine how much you can export and import. great Martin.


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