Bangkok bank not issuing Visa Debit Cards anymore ONLY Union Pay

[SOM LUCK]

I got the Union Pay card.  I have used it at Big C, and Hot Pockets.  You must enter your pin when using.

[nanglong218]

Do they surcharge you for using a debit card?  For a credit card OK.  I bank with BBK, have a UnionPay card and consider it useless.  Cash is king here.  Further comment withheld.

[SOM LUCK]

There is no surcharge to the user.  I find debit cards very handy.

[BillH52]

Do they surcharge you for using a debit card?  For a credit card OK.  I bank with BBK, have a UnionPay card and consider it useless.  Cash is king here.  Further comment withheld.

Recently got a "Bunny card" from BBK [replacement for Visa debit card].  Works just fine.

[nanglong218]

Strange that BBK should bin VISA before establishing a large enough trader base to accept (the Chinese) UnionPay.  In the meantime other ways to pay will be needed  cash, visa, m/card,  but they won't give me a visa card.  So I'll take my custom to Kasikorn and shop with plastic like modern people do.

[BillH52]

Bunny Card is a Visa card [Debit]
It is a chip type card and offers more security.

[SOM LUCK]

Yesterday I tried Union Pay card at PT station,  doesn't work.

[Pichai]

Be aware of the "good through" date when obtaining a Visa debit card from ANY Thailand bank. When the attractive woman who speaks some English at the desk in Buriram mentions short time she might be making a bit of baht on a Visa debit card that will only function for a few months. 

[Pichai]

I believe they have run out of Visa debit cards at the Bangkok Bank branch inside Robinson Lifestyle Center.  It is a disturbing policy to only issue Union Pay cards to bank customers.

[Freddy]

 I rarely use Union Pay card for anything other than ATM however over the past few days I've needed to book hotels and a flight. Neither Agoda or NokAir would accept the UnionPay card.
Think I'll open another account elsewhere so I have Visa.

[nanglong218]

So how much did the Chinese pay for this mission to nowhere? 

[Freddy]

No idea but Bangkok Bank are surely going to loose a lot of business. Ridiculous for a major bank not to offer Visa or MasterCard. Cost me quite a lot extra having to use my UK visa.

[nanglong218]

My guess is someone has paid a mighty big bung to someone here in order to get their foot in the   door.  But traders do not trust being paid.  Like Chinese TVs and rice cookers, you buy them on hope.  I'm looking for a new bank.

[mudcat]

I find myself using my U.S. Visa and ATM from Chase as neither charges foreign transaction fees and the ATM refunds Bangkok Bank's 220 baht fee.  Whenever I have checked my statements against BBK's TT rate I find I get a better rate with Chase as well as having good fraud notification/protection.  Also don't find as many merchants imposing a credit card fee as before but need to make sure the transaction goes through in baht instead of being converted to dollars at typically terribleThai bank rates.

[DeputyDavid]

At main branch Buriram. Bangkokbank. They now refuse to accept pink identity card for transactions. You must bring your passport!