I know this thread is a little old, but either here or a new thread.
Because of this board I have been doing some research and here is what I will be coming to Thailand with for paying bills and getting money.
CREDIT CARD
I just got from "CAPTIAL ONE". Get this: NO Foreign Exchange fee and the bank absorbs the standard 1% fee charged by Visa. This is the latest information from a web site called "Bankrate" posted on May 2006:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/pf/...1.asp?caret=15
DEBIT CARD:
I am in the process of switching to "Bank of the Internet" which can be done on-line and through the mail. As you can tell by the name their overhead is kept low because they mostly are not a physical bank except in the city where they are based, San Diego. I will now do all my banking here. With a senior checking account I will not only NOT be charged a fee on my debit card transaction they will refund to me any fees charged by an ATM machine up to 8$ per month.
Of course these institutions are based in the USA so I don't know if this will help anyone outside the US. Hope it helps someone.