Can an expat get a credit card in thailand?

[London Boy]

200,000?? Surely you mean 200

[Big Boy]

No, I mean 200,000 Baht annually, which is used as security against you defaulting on your payments. When I enquired a couple of years ago it was 250,000 for a 5 year period, so yes, this is definitely a genuine promotion.

[Vital Spark]

In Nakhon Pathom we found that the Bangkok Bank branch in Makro by far the most friendly and accommodating of all the other banks that we tried (and failed) to get a credit card from. We both have work permits and they were happy to give us a credit limit depending on how much we deposited - so it's not really a credit card, but it says it is. We needed one to hire a car in the UK - and it does the job. They just seem more switched on and less 'Thai' than the other banks when it comes to non-Thai customers.

In my opinion the TMB is by far the worst bank. Sadly my salary is paid directly there (no option) so I have to use them.

VS

[Wazza]

I have 2 Platinum CREDIT cards

1 Bangkok Bank and it has an offset account, which is there to support the debt if there is a default etc

2 - Krugsri - Same,

Having bought a Merc 2 years ago I was entitled to the special Kasikorn Benz Platinum card, but as most posters have found here, there are wanting a term deposit account that accures over 5 years, with an average of 200,000 per year added, with no refund available ill the 5 years is up. Interest accruing at 1% roughly. I was told the first year deposit is defaulted if the first renewal isn't updated and the card cancelled.

The reason why I wanted the Platinum Card , I was building a large house in Udon and stuck all the fittings , kitchen, air cons , bathroom fittings and spa etc on the Cards and accrued significant cash refunds on the cards, and approx. 200,000 points for Thai Airways.

The Krungrsi card also allowed me to put many items on layby / 0 % interest and over 10 months etc, set up an auto payment for the monthly bill and never defaulted once, meaning my money was still able to be used for other isues with the house.

[Bristolian]

As has already been pointed out, there is some luck in choice of banks that will enable you to get a credit card more easily.

I have been working in Thailand for 16 years and applied the first week to Bangkok Bank and the, then Bank of Ayudhia.

Both provided me with credit cards with no requirement to tie the credit limit to any cash deposit

Today I still have both cards and my Bangkok Bank card is now platenum with VIP status for parking, private serivce banking, free debit and credit cards, free cheque books - and they visit me if they want me to invest in annual long term savings or pension funds.

Times have changed and I'm pleased that I arrived when I did and sorted my finances here when the banks were really interested in the business of foreigners resident in the LOS

I know from many of my European colleagues, who arrived more recently, that the deposit terms for a credit card are simply stupid and when you consider the number of foreigners working, long term, here in Thaikand it is a huge potential that they are missing through archaic banking systems and racial prejudice

[Pleng]

I don't think it's anything to do with racial prejudice. If you were in charge of lending in a country which changes it's immigration rules at a whim, would you want to take on the risk of giving credit to a foreign resident.

Plus, even people who've been working here long term can easily get bored, or even worse 'sick of it', here and want to go home. If you're p*ssed off with a country on your departure, and you have no intention of coming back, I can imagine it's awfully tempting to want to 'stick it to em' by maxing out your credit cards.

[JamesWest]

super easy to get a credit card at Bangkok Bank.
just need a fixed account with cash. that is the collateral and sets your credit limit.
and a savings account that they automatically make full payments from each month.
That way you can't "walk away" or close your FIXED account until your balance is paid off.
I got a Platinum Visa and a Master Card within six months of being here.
It is more like my Platinum American Express card where you always make a full payments every month with zero interest.
The Visa card is great for Agoda, airlines and hotels and gets my US cards and banks out of the loop.

[pitsch]

Bangkok Bank gave me no credit card. They want to see a work permit. Do you have one?

[JamesWest]

Bangkok Bank gave me no credit card. They want to see a work permit. Do you have one?

i am retired and don't have a work permit.

there may be some minimum amount of cash you need to have in the bank.
i am not sure.
the are NOT extending you "credit". they are giving you a Visa card and if you don't make the payment every month they take the money out of your account automatically.

[StevePIraq]

I asked at Bangkok Bank yesterday, the answer "No you cannot have credit card"

[europtimiste]

I have a Bangkok Bank credit card (VISA) since 2001 and never had a work permit. BAY offered same 3 yrs. ago, but I did not appreciate their conditions and rejected.

[StevePIraq]

Then it would seem the bank staff make up their own rules and have no consistency, as everyone has a different experience.

Even my Thai wife has to have money in a fixed account equal to her credit limit.

[europtimiste]

StevePIraq, Yes, you open a fix deposit account equal to your monthly limit and you can get a credit card even if you don't have a work permit. Only retirement year visa. But some banks request a fix deposit higher than the credit limit. It's up to you to accept or reject the conditions.

[JamesWest]

*this is not directed at any one person on this thread*

just wondering how many Expats applying for a credit card dressed nicely when you went to the bank?

the last time I was at BB all the other farangs were dressed like slobs in shorts and flip flops and horrible wife beater shirts.

And every Thai man was wearing long pants and a nice shirt.

and of course that is how you are judged in Thailand.

and I am not talking about some small office in a mall somewhere.

I am talking about the main business branch of BB.

Thais don't understand that very wealthy people wear shorts and beach clothes, like in California or Hawaii.
They see that as low class and you have no money.

flame on.

[Felipesed1]

Totally agree James.
Many walk around town dirty and unshaven, and look like a sack of sh*t!