Kasikorn Bank Closes all Currency Exchange .

[gerefan]

To me, the fact that now this story appears in a mainstream media newspaper, The Nation, confirms the story is indeed genuine, although I'm still trying to understand how it makes any sense. Does anyone know of any cases of someone contracting the virus because of handling foreign cash?

I make a comparison with the Immigration Officer who has just caught the virus. See the other thread.

Both handle foreign (contaminated?) documents. Money and Passports.

Maybe K-Bank is right?

However what on Earth will they do about Immigration Officers??

[Jun]

However what on Earth will they do about Immigration Officers??

Give them hand gel with instructions to use every 5 min
OR
Send everyone to the e gates ? No need for stamp monkeys in the 21st century.

[2lz2p]

Kasikorn Bank stops all foreign money exchanging nationwide in Thailand due to Covid19 fears

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/03/09/k ... d19-fears/

Add Krung Thai bank to the list - https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383861

[Gaybutton]

Kasikornbank to close branches, lounges at two airports amid Covid-19 scare

Mar 12. 2020

Kasikornbank will close five branches as well as its Wisdom Lounge in two airports following the Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on Wednesday (March 11) that two staff working at Suvarnabhumi Airport had contracted the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

“Although the two persons are not our employees, and so far no employee of Kasikornbank has tested positive for Covid-19, we would take precautionary measures by closing our airport branches to prevent the spread of the virus as a civic duty,” the bank's announcement said.

The following branches will be closed from March 12 until further notice: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Duty Free Building at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Wisdom Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport and Don Mueang Airport 2.

The bank has also ordered staff who work at those branches to self-quarantine at their residence for 14 days as suggested by the Department of Disease Control.

Kasikornbank also added that it had notified related agencies about the closure, including Ministry of Public Health, Bank of Thailand, Airports of Thailand Plc and King Power International Group, which is an operator of commercial spaces at both airports.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383900

[pong]

yes, 2-2p is just before me, just saw the KTB branch also closed, same type of officiai looking plak-an =public notice), as per 11/3. the private exchanges, of which there seem more every time, are all still working. Kasikorn used to be the Thai farmer bank, long ago. Their logo was a kind of stylized green rice-plant. Just wait&see if they will ever reopen after this mayhem.
All those exchanges around here, dozens, have all sealed off-glass fronts and just a small sleeve to put your money+passpt in and take the bahts out after.

[Gaybutton]

4 Thai banks have now suspended foreign currency exchange:

Kasikorn (K-Bank)
Krungthai
Siam Commercial
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya)

Obviously those of you who come to Thailand expecting to be able to exchange currency are doing so at risk of being unable to find, or easily find, a place to exchange your cash. Based on what is going on, despite the fact that it still makes zero sense to me, I'm expecting more banks and exchange houses to do this.

My advice, although much more expensive: either exchange money before traveling to Thailand or leave your cash at home and use debit cards or credit cards at ATMs in Thailand. You might as well figure in that additional expense as part of your travel cost. Some of that cost will be offset by virtue of better exchange rates now. Don't forget to inform your issuing bank and their fraud departments of your travel plans so that they won't lock your card when they see unusual transactions.

Again, I cannot find anything that informs us whether these banks will accept foreign checks or travelers checks. Under the circumstances it is probably safest to assume they won't.

[gera]

Thailand canceled visa on arrivals for 18 countries including China , India and Russian. Thus , foreign tourism to Thailand is over for now. exchange booths make no sense from purely economic viewpoint.

[Gaybutton]

exchange booths make no sense from purely economic viewpoint.

Yes, but even the bank branches won't exchange cash now.

[pong]

Was in DMK late fr afternoon and this morning in Swampy-places where one would expect such kiosks to be open. Swampy- all BANKs now closed, and some with notes that say as per 13/3 13.00 this applies to all banks. Note that all of Thai banks have at least 1 such office in Swampy.
However the private ones (in swampy at lowest level near railLink-these give far, far better rates too) all open-but quiet. In one of them 3 workers had really no customer at all for at least 30 mins.
Apparently there is some great fear that foreign notes may infect those handling them (of course this will never ever happen with Thai bills) and also saw some extreme desinfection measures with bags full of that (CNY and MYR) on the screens of a well-known such private chain.
@ gera: in fact those private exchanges seem to multiply by the day at least in BKk and now appear about anywhere tourists can be expected. partly for the Asians who often have really backward own banking systems and esp. for the Chinese. Plus that most of them offer better rates as those from banks.