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Experience;

when you work, work permit and vise, and have a salary that matches requirement you can get a cc.

2nd hand;

With no job you can, at certain banks, deposit an amount at the bank and get a creditcard based on a fraction of the deposit.

Foreign banks like City, UOB or Standard Chartered are sometimes willing to give a Thai CC based on deposit in farang land like Singapore, Hong Kong or home country

Money talks in Thailand. The more money the sweeter the conversation will go in your favor.

    Hi there, can foreigners on Retirement Visa get a Thai Bank CC.  I gues it would be very difficult considering you are not Thai...  Thoughts, Experience..
   

    -@brucejomms

In some thai banks,money in a Fixed Deposit Account will work as collateral when applying for a credit card.

All  banks are different.  But  Bangkok bank wants 2 million baht for a credit card that will give you  50,000 baht credit. what would anyone need this card so bad for. We use our American credit card without any problems.

    All  banks are different.  But  Bangkok bank wants 2 million baht for a credit card that will give you  50,000 baht credit. what would anyone need this card so bad for. We use our American credit card without any problems.        -@thailand4me

2 million baht to get a credit card as a foreigner at Bangkok Bank is not an official requirement.

Your probably right.  am sure everyone in the bank will give you different infomation.

@brucejomms

I utilize my American credit card for most of my purchases. No foreign transaction fees and 1.5% cashback so it's far better than losing some value to commission when exchanging money. I use my Thai ATM card anytime there is an issue making payment with the credit card, which is usually because of the vendor not wanting to take the risk in fraud (like a purchase from [link under review]). Are there larger rewards for using a Thai credit card? If not, I'd advise against bothering to get one.

    Your probably right.  am sure everyone in the bank will give you different infomation.
   

    -@thailand4me

Bank branches don't always follow official requirements.

    @brucejomms
I utilize my American credit card for most of my purchases. No foreign transaction fees and 1.5% cashback so it's far better than losing some value to commission when exchanging money. I use my Thai ATM card anytime there is an issue making payment with the credit card, which is usually because of the vendor not wanting to take the risk in fraud (like a purchase from [link under review]). Are there larger rewards for using a Thai credit card? If not, I'd advise against bothering to get one.
   

    -@BrianDNation

There are loads of benefits using a Thai credit card compared to a foreign card. Banks like for example Bangkok Bank have deals with stores, restaurants and even airlines. You can pay in installments with zero interest at selected stores. If people aren't interested in those discounts don't bother to get a Thai credit card. Use a local banks debit card instead.

@thailand4me I second that.  What would be the point?

If I may offer a point to think about...

Credit cards, if you don't pay the full balance every month are an expensive way to get into debt.

If you pay the lot, why not a debit card that's far easier to get?

Credit cards are a massive confidence trick banks use to screw you. They make you think they're a good thing, but in fact they are pointless with the odd exceptions.

Yes, you get payment insurance, but the banks can afford that because of the massive profits they make on cards.

Consider the reasons you actually need a credit carf for that a free/cheap/easy to get debit card won't do.

I scrapped mine 20 years ago, and I haven't missed it a single time.

    If I may offer a point to think about...
Credit cards, if you don't pay the full balance every month are an expensive way to get into debt.

If you pay the lot, why not a debit card that's far easier to get?

Credit cards are a massive confidence trick banks use to screw you. They make you think they're a good thing, but in fact they are pointless with the odd exceptions.
Yes, you get payment insurance, but the banks can afford that because of the massive profits they make on cards.

Consider the reasons you actually need a credit carf for that a free/cheap/easy to get debit card won't do.
I scrapped mine 20 years ago, and I haven't missed it a single time.
   

    -@Fred

You're correct, a credit card is designed for banks to make money. If you pay the smallest amount allowed every month, the total cost because of added interest will skyrocket. Why do you think household debts in Thailand are so incredibly high? Some stores online do offer zero interest when paying in installments and when paying with a Thai credit card,but that's mostly when buying a fridge or other larger appliances. I cancelled my credit on my debit card at my bank back home when I moved here permanently,because the bank suddenly came up with an annual fee for the credit. A total waste of money especially when I didn't need the credit.

I scrapped ALL credit years ago.

It was a bit of a job to cope with at first, but I found I cut back to things I wanted or needed, and only left out the rubbish we only buy because we're 'supposed to' have them.

Peer pressure and advertising makes us poorer, more stressed, and less likely to enjoy life.

Breaking free of the social norms of believing banks and advertising is liberating ... and now I have a fat priority bank accounts.

I'm no genius businessman, nor am I exceptionally lucky - I just stopped using credit and buying crap.

My version of a queue at the bank is an armchair in a private room and a coffee delivered to me while I wait for the staff to come to me.

If I'd followed the norm, my life would be a lot more stressful.

Stuff credit to Hades - It's a con game for fools.

Yes.  credit card is a bummer

@Fred

It's an addiction to just swipe a card and get what you want, when you want it. Some people really need to see the money in their hand to not spend it on unnecessary stuff. I can understand all of this.

For me, credit cards are a gateway to bonuses; I pay balances every month and calculate whether the annual fees are paid for with the bonuses, which on all of my business cards, sure do. The truth though is these card companies are just banking from the merchants paying outrageous fees to pay us these bonuses to use their cards. I'm one of those vendors with an e-commerce store. It can be as high as 4.5% sometimes!

I think what Thailand does with the free banking app transfers is great. I use that instead of cash. And hope that one day the credit card companies will get a run for their money when merchants in the west find ways to start ditching them or punish customers by passing down the fees for using credit. But for now, you're missing out if you don't utilize those bonuses while living in the west. But in Thailand, card use is certainly limited and I can understand ditching them especially if maintaining one in your home country is too expensive. Good job on getting free of it!

    @FredIt's an addiction to just swipe a card and get what you want, when you want it. Some people really need to see the money in their hand to not spend it on unnecessary stuff. I can understand all of this. For me, credit cards are a gateway to bonuses; I pay balances every month and calculate whether the annual fees are paid for with the bonuses, which on all of my business cards, sure do. The truth though is these card companies are just banking from the merchants paying outrageous fees to pay us these bonuses to use their cards. I'm one of those vendors with an e-commerce store. It can be as high as 4.5% sometimes! I think what Thailand does with the free banking app transfers is great. I use that instead of cash. And hope that one day the credit card companies will get a run for their money when merchants in the west find ways to start ditching them or punish customers by passing down the fees for using credit. But for now, you're missing out if you don't utilize those bonuses while living in the west. But in Thailand, card use is certainly limited and I can understand ditching them especially if maintaining one in your home country is too expensive. Good job on getting free of it!        -@BrianDNation

"I think what Thailand does with the free banking app transfers is great."

May I ask where in the west transfers when using a banking app isn't free. Thailand is like 20 years behind most countries in the west when it comes to internet banking and maybe 10 years when it comes to mobile banking compared to countries in for example the EU. I've been around before there were ATM's. Back home there were ATM's in the 70's.

You can make credit cards work for you or against,

The average interest rate for cc in US is 29% so you

can get yourself in trouble in a hurry. I have mine

thru my credit union so it is auto payed off each

month. It also gives cash back 2 or 3% depending

on the purchase. It also offers travel insurance.

Just shop around I'm sure there are better ones

than this but definitely pay it off each month

    You can make credit cards work for you or against,
The average interest rate for cc in US is 29% so you
can get yourself in trouble in a hurry. I have mine
thru my credit union so it is auto payed off each
month. It also gives cash back 2 or 3% depending
on the purchase. It also offers travel insurance.
Just shop around I'm sure there are better ones
than this but definitely pay it off each month
   

    -@scbrock

You do understand this is about Thai credit cards?

Yeah, I got that and the take away is to

shop around and pay it off each month.

Some of the posters commented about

personal experience with cc in their own

country. I probably gave more info than

needed

I have a credit card from Krungsri and it was easy (but more than 10 years ago).

It is important to know that banks block the limit plus reserve on the account. My limit is 30,000 and the bank is blocking 40,000. That's why I chose the smallest limit and then transferred money to the credit card via the app before making a purchase.

Collecting points with the CC is quite good in Thailand. You can use these points for many occasions.

    I have a credit card from Krungsri and it was easy (but more than 10 years ago).
It is important to know that banks block the limit plus reserve on the account. My limit is 30,000 and the bank is blocking 40,000. That's why I chose the smallest limit and then transferred money to the credit card via the app before making a purchase.

Collecting points with the CC is quite good in Thailand. You can use these points for many occasions.
   

    -@juehoe

"Transferred money to the credit card....before making a purchase."??

That's not how a credit card works,hence the name "credit" card.

@Leeds forever! It works as a CC within the limit. But i keep my limit low, because I don’t want that the bank blocks a lot of money. My limit is 30,000. If I want to buy something for 50,000, I transfer the remaining amount to the CC.

    @Leeds forever! It works as a CC within the limit. But i keep my limit low, because I don’t want that the bank blocks a lot of money. My limit is 30,000. If I want to buy something for 50,000, I transfer the remaining amount to the CC.
   

    -@juehoe

Then your cc is more of a debit card with credit on top, which is very common in for example Europe.

I have 3 credit cards, AEON, First Choice and SCB (plus for the wife) never ever have been asked for a security

All three stem from early 2000's..

Used to have Amex and Diner but they are not too well known here. It is mostly MC or VISA

     I have 3 credit cards, AEON, First Choice and SCB (plus for the wife) never ever have been asked for a security
All three stem from early 2000's..
Used to have Amex and Diner but they are not too well known here. It is mostly MC or VISA
   

    -@martinoo2002

Don't compare requirements for Thai credit cards for foreigners today with requirements from early 2000's. They are not even close.

Leeds, a new colleague of mine, Brit, just applied for and received a SCB platinum CC. Without security other than his income coming in through SCB. But in respect of what you are saying I know it can be tougher than 10-20 years ago.... not in the least due to fraud..

@thailand4me . . . ditto.  My US credit cards work flawlessly here.

@scbrock . . . or you can do like I do and just pay off the US credit card balance every month. I use them out of convenience, not because I don't have the funds.

@Karambit

Yes, you definitely want to avoid the high

interest rates by paying it off each month

@scbrock

Correct as do I and I have the loyalty plans working for me here in Thailand, both from CC as well as participants