@Alistair *********

et al! You most obviously DON'T understand the DKB bank card system.

I got a VISA-CARD - a real friggin' credit card

For this VISACARD there EXISTS an account. In this credit card account I park money (as of today there are 25.000.- Euros) So my credit card account balance never falls below zero

So if I purchase anything using my VISACARD, or withdraw money at an ATM with my credit card, I pay ZERO INTEREST and ZERO PROVISIONS, because the money already is in my credit card account.

If I purchase something for 3870.- Thai Baht, it would set my credit card balance back 100.- Euros. From 25,000 to 24,900.- Euros. And that’s it.

No interest, no 1,75% provisions

My credit card account is always in the plus!

I would only have to pay interest, if a run the account balance into minus! However this does not happen. I can always shift money from my giro account onto my credit card account to keep it in the plus.

I could run my VISA-CARD into minus 4000.- Euros, and then, only then, would I need to pay interest.

And at the same time I got a giro account with the DKB bank. If I wanted to use this giro account for purchases and withdrawals, I would need to use the “DKB Visa Debit Card” that I got issued by the DKB bank, NEXT to my DKB VISACARD

Then, and only then, I would have to pay a provisional percentage on purchases and withdrawals.

Why I don’t use this “DKB Visa Debit Card”?

Because my REAL credit card, the DKB VISACARD, offers provisions-FREE foreign purchases and charge-FREE foreign withdrawals

The ONLY charge I pay to keep the VISACARD, are 2,49.- Euros monthly fee

The “DKB Visa Debit Card” is issued for free

Is this UNDERSTOOD now?

If your bank doesn’t offer THESE wonderful conditions, I am sorry for you

@Todd ********

we are not talking on the same level. My DKB Visacard is based on my "credit card account" which I got next to my "giro account", and this credit card account is always in the plus, because I pay money into it. At the moment there is 25.000.- Euro in this account, earning interest, and when I withdraw 3800.- THB, my balance will end up at .- Euro in the plus and I still don't pay any interest! YOUR credit cards draw up a debt, which gets reimbursed only once a month from your giro account, that's why you are paying interest, because you have built up a debt for a short period. You owe that to your turbo capitalist U.S. banking system 😃 As I said: "U.S. Americans are SERVANTS (should I say slaves?) of their system, whilst Europeans are SERVED by their systems. . . best example the health system: In Germany, it serves everyone equally. In the U.S.A., it serves only the riches, and the poor are receiving only the lowest care. I know many of you call it wrongly "communism" but that's not what it is

@Todd ********

maybe in the USA with the credit cards issued there. Some European credit cards don't work like that. Myself I never have any negative balance on my DKB Visacard, as I am always in the plus. I do not pay any interest on any withdrawn Thai Baht amount as long as my credit card balance remains in the plus. . . I surely hope you understand this logic 😎

@Alistair *********

the exchange rate with a credit card (at least with THOSE European cards that do NOT charge a foreign remittance or purchase fee, like the one I use!) at an ATM actually is VERY good! It's better than an exchange with cash on a bank counter. However you need to spread the 220.- Baht ATM fee over a large amount, so you should withdraw a minimum of 20,000.- THB, or preferably the 30,000.- THB an ATM of the Krungsri bank allows

@Alistair *********

at an ATM, you actually receive the same exchange rate with either a Visa-Debit card or with a Visa-Credit Card. Both are based on the daily spot rate (i am not fluent with the correct term) You however always pay the Thai bank's ATM fee of 220.- THB. And you should be careful not to fall for the DCC scam

@Alistair *********

well, it may work differently in the EU than in the U.S.A. . . . a "Visa-Debit Card" does NOT have the same advantages than a real "Visa Credit Card". Banks in Europe actually draw differences. This is what

@Todd ********

is ignoring, or maybe just isn't aware of. Some cards issued in Europe actually have conditions U.S. citizens can only dream about 😁and the same can be said about health insurances . . . . .don't forget in the U.S. you are the servants of the system, instead of the system serving you

@Todd ********

" It’s the exchange rate. And DKB advertises 1.75% cost on exchange rate. But most customers simply don’t understand." . . . .you are wrong. I don't pay any interest on foreign ATM withdrawal, and I don't pay any 1.75% provision on my DKB VISACARD. I am the so called "active customer". I only pay 2.49.- Euro per month for the card and there are ZERO extra costs for spending abroad. How would I have to pay interest on money already in the Credit Card account? It's vice versa - THEY pay interest to me!

@Todd ********

they earn a share when you use the card for purchases or paying the hotel. Keep in mind, if you buy anything in the CENTRAL, not only Schwab will add a percentage provision, but also the shop in Central will add their own provision. And some hotels also go by this method . . that's why, as a tourist, I withdraw at am ATM and pay EVERYTHING with cash Thai Baht

@Todd ********

check out SCHWAB Easy Visa card for U.S. citizens. Schwab reimburses the Thai ATM fee. However Schwab takes provisions when you BUY something with the card