Beginner's Guide: How to use Thailand's Local Payment Services

I. Overview of Thailand's e-payment market

Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen rapid growth in electronic payments in recent years. According to the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the volume of digital transactions grew by 30% year-on-year in 2022, with more than 45 million mobile payment users. For expats or tourists new to Thailand, it is vital to understand the mainstream local payment methods.

Currently the mainstream localised payment solutions in Thailand include:

• PromptPay (Instant Payment): a real-time money transfer system launched by the Bank of Thailand
• TrueMoney Wallet: one of the largest e-wallets in terms of users
• Rabbit LINE Pay: A convenient payment tool based on the LINE social platform
• ShopeePay: a mobile wallet service derived from e-commerce platforms

These localised services are more popular than international credit cards (Visa/Mastercard), with lower fees and support for small, high-frequency transaction scenarios.

II. PromptPay Registration and Usage Guidelines

1. Conditions for opening an account

Any of the following accounts are required:

• Thai bank savings accounts (e.g. SCB, Kasikorn, etc.)
• Mobile phone number (must be tied to bank account)
• National Identity Card Number (Thai nationals only)

2. Registration Steps

Take Krungsri Bank as an example:
1. Login to Mobile Banking App and select "Register PromptPay".
2. Select the binding type (mobile phone number/ID number)
3. Set transfer limit (default 50,000 baht per transaction)
4. Receive the verification code to complete the authentication

3. Usage

To make a payment, simply provide your bonded mobile phone number or scan the merchant's QR code, enter the amount and confirm to complete the real-time-to-bill transaction. Special features include:

• Free interbank transfers: 0 commission for all participating banks
• Government subsidy recipients: For receipt of various types of social welfare payments

TrueMoney Wallet Detailed Tutorials

1. Download and registration

TrueMoney Wallet is one of the most popular e-wallets in Thailand, supporting features such as code scanning payment, money transfer and phone bill recharge.

Steps:

1. Download Apps(iOS/Android) - Search for "TrueMoney Wallet" in the App Store or Google Play.
2. Register for an account-Captcha can be received using a Thai mobile phone number (+66).
3. real-name authentication(Optional but recommended): Upload passport or Thai ID card to increase transaction limit.

2. Recharging modalities

• 7-11 Convenience Store Cash Recharge: Provide the clerk with your mobile phone number and pay cash to be credited.
• Bank Transfer/Debit Card Binding: Supports direct top-up from local banks such as Krungthai, Kasikorn, etc.

3. Main functions and scenario applications

✅ pay offline --Scan the QR code of the merchant to complete the payment (e.g. restaurant, night market).
✅ Online Shopping -Lazada, Shopee and other e-commerce platforms support TrueMoney checkout.
✅ Bill Payment --Utilities and telephone bills can be paid through the wallet without fees!

Rabbit LINE Pay: The Perfect Combination of Socialising + Payment

As a spin-off from LINE, which has over 40 million users, Rabbit LINE Pay is particularly suited to the younger demographic.

Open the process:

1️⃣Update to the latest version of LINE APP → Tap "Wallet" → Select "Rabbit LINE Pay".
2️⃣ Binding bank card / debit card (must be issued locally in Thailand)
3️⃣Set a 6-digit security password

💡 Tip : Get a free voucher for your first use , up to 10% cashback for some merchants!

# V. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
❓Q1: Can I use these payment tools without a Thai bank card?
A:Yes! For example, TrueMoney allows cash top-ups, while PromptPay needs to be linked to at least one local bank account.

❓Q2: Are the transactions secure? All services are PCI-DSS compliant and equipped with dual authentication mechanismIt is recommended to turn on fingerprint/facial recognition to enhance protection.

# VI. Summary and Recommendations
Mastering PromptPay + any e-wallet can cover 90%'s daily consumption scenarios. Priority is given to completing the basic registration and then selecting value-added features (e.g. cross-border remittance) according to your needs. Remember to take advantage of the new user benefits to reduce the initial cost of use!