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Why can't foreigners link their Kasikornbank accounts with Grab in Thailand?

KasikornbankGrabForeigners in ThailandVisa and Banking PoliciesDigital WalletsThai Banking RegulationsGrabPay Wallet
January 10, 2020
5 years ago
Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I opened a bank account at Kasikornbank mainly for the purpose of link that account with Grab. I am using Grab a lot and paying by Kasikornbank is 20-100 thb cheaper per ride then when you pay cash.

Opening an account went very smoothly no issues at all. Linking grab with Kasikorn bank seemed not possible so I returned to the bank and asked for help. The lovely lady called the callcenter in Bangkok and she told me that it’s not possible to link any Kasikorn account to Grab if the holder is a foreigner. If it’s a Thai nationality no problem!!

Anyone else has the same issue?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their experience opening a Kasikornbank account for better rates on Grab rides, but discovers that foreigners cannot link their accounts to Grab. Comments reveal that this policy is due to government regulations aimed at reducing fraud, restricting foreigners from using digital wallets like GrabPay. Other users suggest alternatives, like using different bank accounts or paying directly with debit cards.
Blake *********
Anti-money laundering regulation. Foreigners can't own digital wallets. I don't know and wonder if it also applies to crypto.
5 years ago
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Siddhartha *********
@Blake ********
 bitkub.com , i am foreigner and yes can use trading exchange all features!!
5 years ago
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Siddhartha *********
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Adrian ******
Just me maybe but if need a taxi I have a hand I can raise at road side if I need food I can walk or ride to find at no extra cost & when a friend has looked to use grab it can cost more so why bother
5 years ago
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Adrian ******
Been there many times I visit often & still have no problem putting hand out to find taxi but yes find it takes a few times to weed greed from genuine drivers same in most city’s
5 years ago
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Adrian ******
Grab only main city area I am also Bangkok & when out of city in many places no such thing as grab available
5 years ago
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Ivan ************
It depends where you are in Thailand. In Bangkok public taxis are numerous and easy to use. In most of the rest of the country public taxis vary between non-existent and a rip-off for foreigners. Grab is a clear fixed price with no negotiation necessary. That you don't have to explain where you are going or even have change is just a nice bonus.
5 years ago
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Ivan ************
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Ivan ************
Nick if it makes you feel any better a lot of these Grab offers are one use only, they can look like you'll get X baht off every ride but then it turns out you only get it once, after you first do the thing they want you to do. Certainly the 20B discount for linking a card is like that, you only get it once despite it continually popping up and offering itself again. Same with the food offers, the big one keeps offering itself but it's once per user only, it's annoying. No idea with GrabPay Wallet but I doubt any 100B discount is more than once.
5 years ago
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Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 Yeah maybe your right about that the special price to be only once. Still it’s unfair that foreigners can’t have any digital wallet under their name in Thailand
5 years ago
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Nick *******
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Todd *******
Ahhh, hmmm news to me. I use the Kplus app for about everything. Grab included. Rabbit Card too.
5 years ago
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Ivan ************
Possibly he got it before the policy change.
5 years ago
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Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ******
 is the account on your name?
5 years ago
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Nick *******
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Chris ******
Link your debit card dude - not your kbank account directly
5 years ago
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Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *****
 then I will not get the discount. It’s only with Kbank
5 years ago
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Chris ******
And don’t forget to go to the atm to activate your internet Bangkok or online transaction as well
5 years ago
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Chris ******
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Vlurx *******
Foreigners are not allowed to use GrabPay Wallet. Just like Lazada Wallet or any other Wallet service. It's not to do with company policy but it's a govt policy to reduce fraud. If you succeed in opening an account with no foreigner tag attached to it then it might work.

You can still pay online by adding your card and they have promotions sometimes when you pay with card and not cash.
5 years ago
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Federico **********
Not sure what u mean by "link my account"

Are u talking about using K-Plus as direct debit?

Why not use the debit card u were given with the account?

Do u already have the K-Plus App all logged in and working?
5 years ago
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Andy **********
Same old thai bullshit run around. Find another person to help you link it. Policies here differ from person to person.
5 years ago
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Darren *******
Open an account with another bank - I've linked my SCB account no issues.
5 years ago
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Darren *******
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