While ATMs in Thailand all charge fees, there are a few simple ways that you can avoid fees when withdrawing money in Thailand. After having moved to Thailand, living and travelling there for over a year, I am about to share with you all of those possible ways
Important Note: If you want to withdraw from an ATM, the fees are unavoidable unless you have a debit card that refund your fees, such as a Charles Schwab.
1. Go Directly To The Bank
Instead of going to the ATM in Thailand, go directly to a bank. Walk in, and ask if you can withdraw money over the counter using your card. Most banks will not allow this, but there are some that do. Krungsri is one of the more common banks that will allow this. Withdrawing money this way prevents the 220baht fee that comes with using an ATM. However, you will have to pay the 2.5% foreign exchange fee.
When using an ATM, you can decline this charge and pay a 220 baht fee.
Work out, which is cheaper. The 220 baht fee, or the foreign exchange rate that the bank offers. You’ll find the difference is pretty negligible, but it is a way to avoid the 220 baht fee.
If you want to work out the difference in price, you can check your bank’s conversion rates from THB to your home currency, and use this to work out the amount you will be charged by your bank. This is usually a lot less than what a foreign bank will charge you. Then work out how much the total is with the extra added, 220baht fee for using an ATM. If it is cheaper to withdraw over the counter from a bank at the 2.5% foreign exchange fee, then do it this way. If not, use the convenience of an ATM.
2. Do Not Accept Foreign Currency Exchange
When using an ATM to withdraw money, it will offer you a conversion rate. When it offers this, click cancel, or “continue without conversion”. Doing this will revert to your home bank’s foreign exchange rate from your home currency to Thai baht. This rate is often much better.
For instance, when I was using my British card in 2025, my bank’s conversion rate was 46-47 baht/gbp, the ATM’s rate was 44-45baht/gbp. The difference adds up a lot when withdrawing large amounts, which you should be doing to avoid extra fees.
3. Withdraw as Much as Possible
To avoid paying the 220 baht fee more frequently, you should withdraw as much baht as possible in one transaction.
The best ATMs in Thailand are Krungthai Bank or Bangkok Bank. These allow larger withdrawals of 25,000 – 30,000 baht per time, so if you’re going to be withdrawing, rather than converting money, it’s best to do it here to avoid the constant fees, as fees are up to 220 baht ($6-7, £5-6) per withdrawal.
4. Use A Charles Schwab Card (American Only)
If you are American, you can simply get or use your current Charles Schwab card. With this card, you will be refunded all fees on overseas withdrawal charges. This means that the 220 baht you pay every time at the ATM, will be refunded to you.
If you are not American, unfortunately, you cannot get this card.
5. Get A Thai Bank Account
Another fantastic way to avoid ATM fees is getting a Thai bank account. When you have a Thai bank account you do not have to pay fees on withdrawal at all. You can additionally use your banking app and QR system to withdraw from any ATM belonging to your bank’s brand. If, however, you use other brands, you will be charged a small fee to withdraw money.
In this instance, it is best to get a popular Thai bank such as Krungsri, SCB, or Bangkok Bank. These ATMs are everywhere. Unfortunately, unless you have a work permit, education visa or reason to stay in Thailand, this is pretty difficult to get.
I’m Harry – and I was tired of the same old “10 best places I’ve never been but I’m writing about for some reason” blog posts. So… I’m a young traveller on a mission to travel the world and share my true, unfiltered experience, including all the gristly details. From packing my life into one bag for a year, to traveling Vietnam by motorbike, to sorting out Visas for specific countries – I’ve done it all, am doing it all and only give my advice on things I have done – not regurgitated cr*p from another source *cough* most publications *cough*. So bear with us! This project will take some time to grow, and will take a fair bit of money. But I’m determined to make it the single best source of information about traveling on the internet.
