Kasikornbank boosts cross-border payments, launches food ordering in China via K PLUS

Kasikornbank announced on 21 October 2026 that it has upgraded its payment services for international travellers to cover every stage of their journey under the role of a Travel Companion to support the year-end travel season, covering both currency exchange booths nationwide and scan-to-pay services via the K PLUS app, while launching a new service that allows customers to order food and drinks in China through the same app. Dr Ketchayong Skowratananont, Executive Vice President of Kasikornbank, stated that different groups of tourists have different spending behaviours depending on the context of the destination country, and what everyone wants in common is ease, speed and security throughout their trip.

Special exchange rates and privileges for Thais travelling abroad

Thais planning to travel abroad can exchange currency at special rates at Kasikornbank currency exchange booths nationwide via K PLUS from 15 September to 31 December 2026. Customers paying with a Kasikornbank credit card at currency exchange booths at Suvarnabhumi Airport (excluding Floor B1), Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai will receive both special rates and a 0% instalment plan for 3 months from 1 October to 31 December 2026, along with discount coupons of up to 40% at King Power and special privileges from shops inside those airports.

Upon arrival at their destination, customers can use K PLUS to scan and pay in more than 70 countries worldwide with no fees, and in China they can also scan to pay across both major and secondary cities via the Alipay, UnionPay QR, UnionPay App and Weixin Pay symbols, with no 3% fee charged even when spending over 200 yuan. The bank stated that K PLUS is a Thai payment platform capable of scan-to-pay transactions covering all types of merchants supporting those symbols in China.

Order food and drinks in China via K PLUS without queuing

The newest service allows customers to order food and drinks in China via K PLUS in 2 ways: scanning a QR Code at the storefront to view the menu and pay immediately, or selecting, ordering and paying in advance in the app before picking up the order at the shop without queuing. Menus include illustrations and can be switched into English. In the initial phase, the service is available at partner shops in the Alipay and Alipay+ networks covering 14 brands across mainland China, such as CHAGEE, Starbucks, Auntea Jenny and NO YEYE NO TEA.

For foreign tourists visiting Thailand, the bank offers the TAGTHAi Easy Pay Wallet powered by KBank to scan and pay via Thai QR nationwide by downloading the TAGTHAi app, registering in advance, and then verifying their identity and opening the e-wallet at a Kasikornbank currency exchange booth. Customers who make a first top-up of 10,000 baht or more in a single transaction will receive a Special FX Rate under the conditions specified by the bank, and can also make cardless cash withdrawals via K-ATM machines nationwide without a fee within specified limits, as well as exchanging back any remaining balance at a currency exchange booth before departing.

This news is useful for hotel staff and tourism operators dealing with foreign tourists, as it helps them recommend payment channels to guests more conveniently, while also serving as directly useful information for Thais planning to travel abroad at the end of this year.