The Thai Kasikorn Bank has set up ATM machines in the Burmese language to make it easy to use for Burmese migrants living in Thailand.

“It is now easy to transfer and withdraw money for people, who can’t read Thai and English,” a Burmese migrant in Mae Sot said.

This is the first time that Burmese language is being used in foreign ATM machines.

“When you insert the card in the ATM machine, it gives a language option. When you choose Burmese, a box appears to type the password; then comes the balance option, then you can press the withdraw button. When you finish, the card automatically comes out of the ATM machine,” he said.

In the past, use of the ATM was difficult for Burmese migrant workers who cannot read Thai, a migrant in Ranong said.

These ATM machines were setup in Samutsakorn province in February and Maesot, northern Thailand, on July 25.

Initially, there are 80 ATM machines in the Burmese language which have been setup in Samutsakorn province, where there are a large number of factories and a huge Burmese migrant population, the Bangkok Post newspaper said recently.

To open a new bank account in Kasikorn Bank, migrants must have identity papers (legal documents issued by Thai authorities) or temporary passports, a Kasikorn Bank officer in Samutsakorn province said.

“Legal labour document or temporary passport holders and student visa holders can open new bank accounts in the Kasikorn Bank. They can open more than one account like Thai citizens.  Almost all ATM machines in Samutsakorn province have the Burmese language option,” the officer said.

“Burmese migrants outnumber other foreign migrants in Thailand, that's why we setup ATM machines with the Burmese language option,” he added.

Among over two million Burmese migrant workers, one million Burmese have legal documents and can open bank accounts.

Thai, English, Japanese and Chinese language options were available in ATM machines of Kasikorn Bank. The Burmese language option was introduced in ATM machines of Kasikorn Bank six months ago.

It's learnt that Kasikorn Bank will have Burmese language option in all its ATM machines in Thailand.