I plan on using my ATM card to get local currency. I am wondering
1. which bank besides HBSC is a large Bank with many ATM's throughout Thailand
and
2. What the limit is that they will allow you to at one time

We normally try to take out the limit that are Bank will allow us when making a withdrawal as it works out more economically, however, I have had an experience where although my bank allowed $1000 daily limit US the foreign bank in which country I was traveling did not allow that much to be withdrawn at one time Not knowing this we kept putting into large a sum and kept getting denied until about after five times the card was blocked and we couldn't use it until I called home (ET) and asked my daughter to call the Bank and have them unblock our card

So if any of you have any knowledge as to what the limit or how large a sum you were able to get and what bank you used I would appreciate your comments

traveling with aloha
the coconut wireless

I think the limit is 20,000 Baht per day(about $500.00.)

20,000 Bt is the max I can get out of my savings account in a 24 hour period.

i use the bright yellow machines which are the bank of ahyutthia (sp)...no service fee and you see them all over

i usually w/d $300 so know you can do this amount

Dear Mr Coconut,

I have lived in Bkk for more than 5 years and use a US bank acct via ATM most of the time. FYI, I have never had any service charged applied by a Thai bank for my use of an ATM. The exhange rate is usually close to the official exchange rate as well.

Your home bank and YOU determine what your daily limit is for an ATM debit card. Some Thai banks have a baht limit for each transaction (usually B10K (about $250) or B20k (about $500). If you only get B10K because that is all the ATM allows, and need B20K and are authorized by your bank, just insert your ATM card again (same ATM and Bank Ok) and do the transaction one more time. It works fine and I can get up to $2,000 daily. I think the limit exist because the ATM limits the number of bills it can dispense at any one time (or so I am told).

If you need more than your daily limit or if you want to withdraw the limit all at one time, just go into the bank and someone can help you get authorization from your bank via telephone to withdraw the cash. Uusally takes no more than 20 minutes to get your cash. People in the bank will speak some English esp. the people at the foreign exchange desk.

I have a Thai baht account at Bangkok Bank which is the biggest retail bank in TL but there are many other fine banks (Kasikorn Bank, Bank of Ayyudyah, Thai Farmer Bank, etc). Never had a problem finding or using a "Bangkok Bank" ATM with either my US or Thai cards in any of my extensive travels around TL.

VERY IMPORTANT: Don't forget to tell your bank in the US that you are traveling in Thailand before you leave home so they don't put a hold on your card when Thailand transactions start appearing. TL is notorious for credit card scams. Protect your card and keep copies of all your transactions in case of later problems.