Setting Up Wise
Get your account ready before you land
Sign upwise.com or the Wise app (iOS / Android)
VerificationPassport + selfie — takes 1–2 business days
Multi-currency accountHold THB, USD, EUR, GBP, and 40+ currencies
Wise debit cardOrder before you travel — delivery takes 1–2 weeks
Linked toYour Wise multi-currency balance (not your bank)
Wise Tip: Complete verification and order your card at least two weeks before your flight. You’ll want it working on arrival.
Funding Your Account
How to add money to Wise
Bank transferCheapest option — usually free from your home bank
Debit card top-upInstant, small fee (~0.2–1.5% depending on currency)
Credit cardHigher fees (~1.5–3%) — avoid unless urgent
Apple Pay / Google PaySupported in some regions, treated as card top-up
Auto-convertSet up automatic conversion when rates hit your target
Wise Tip: Fund via bank transfer in your home currency, then convert to THB inside Wise. This gets you the mid-market rate with the lowest fee.
Sending Money to Thai Banks
Transfer to any Thai bank account
SpeedUsually arrives within minutes (via PromptPay)
Typical fee~฿50–150 per transfer (varies by source currency)
Exchange rateMid-market rate — no bank markup
Recipient needsThai bank account number + bank name
Daily limitUp to ฿2,000,000 per transfer (may require extra verification)
Wise Tip: If you open a Bangkok Bank account, you can transfer from Wise to it instantly and use QR payments everywhere in Thailand via the Bangkok Bank app.
Card Payments in Thailand
Using your Wise card for purchases
Accepted atMalls, restaurants, hotels, 7-Eleven, major chains
ConversionSpends from your THB balance first (no conversion fee)
If no THB balanceAuto-converts from another currency at mid-market rate + small fee
ContactlessYes — tap-to-pay works at most terminals
Online paymentsWorks like any Visa/Mastercard for Thai websites
Wise Tip: Always choose to pay in Thai Baht when the terminal asks. If you pick your home currency, the merchant’s bank does the conversion at a worse rate (this is called Dynamic Currency Conversion).
ATM Withdrawals
Getting cash from Thai ATMs
Wise ATM feeFree up to £200/month, then 1.75% after
Thai ATM fee฿220 per withdrawal (charged by the Thai bank, unavoidable)
Max per withdrawal฿20,000–฿30,000 depending on ATM network
Best ATMsBangkok Bank, Kasikorn — reliable, English menus
DCC trapAlways decline the ATM’s conversion offer — choose THB
Wise Tip: Withdraw the maximum (฿20,000–฿30,000) each time to minimize how often you pay the ฿220 ATM fee. Two withdrawals of ฿10,000 costs you ฿440 in fees vs. one withdrawal of ฿20,000 at ฿220.
Conversion Settings
How to get the best exchange rate
Rate typeMid-market rate (the real rate, no markup)
Wise fee0.33–0.60% depending on currency pair
Rate alertsSet a target rate and get notified when it hits
Auto-conversionConvert automatically when the rate reaches your target
Hold THBConvert and hold Thai Baht in your account for future use
Wise Tip: Convert a larger amount to THB when the rate is good, then spend from your THB balance. This avoids paying the conversion fee on every small purchase.
Common Mistakes
What catches foreigners off guard
DCC at ATMsAccepting the ATM’s conversion rate instead of declining — costs 3–5% extra
DCC at terminalsChoosing your home currency at checkout — same trap, same markup
No THB balanceSpending without converting first means auto-conversion fees on every transaction
Small ATM withdrawalsWithdrawing ฿5,000 four times costs ฿880 in fees vs. ฿220 for one ฿20,000 pull
Credit card fundingTopping up via credit card charges 1.5–3% — use bank transfer instead
Expired card abroadYour Wise card expires and you didn’t order a replacement — check before you fly
No backupRelying only on Wise with no Thai bank account or backup card for emergencies
Wise Tip: Wise is excellent as your primary money tool in Bangkok, but open a Thai bank account too. Bangkok Bank is the easiest for foreigners — you’ll need it for QR payments, rent, and as a backup if your Wise card has issues.