Getting a bank account in Thailand

scbrock wrote:

Hello
I was told that since I am retired and on a non-immigrant 1 year visa I am not allowed to have a Thai bank account. I went to 3 banks and tried and was turned down by Bank of Bangkok, Kasikorn Bank. and Siam Commercial Bank.

It seems Thai commerce is going away from using credit cards and more online transactions and that is making is more difficult to pay bills, utilities etc.

If I sell my condo where do I put the money? Suppose I have to get it transferred to my US credit union.

Any ideas? I was told I cannot get a work permit since my type of visa. But, having a work permit would allow me to have a Thai bank account. Sort of a Catch 22.

Thank you

Somebody will give you better information than me but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense..

I know at least one person has advised a newcomer to open a bank account while they are still in Thailand on tourist status so that they then have the money deposited that they will need to get a retirement Visa or whatever kind of easy you call it when you are already in the country.

I mean where else are you supposed to deposit those funds?

Not asking you so much just throwing that out there

You have to keep finding bank branch and keep asking.

You can all ways go to the Bank web page and see what the requirements are for a foreigner to open a account.

If the Branch dont want you or are not sure how to for a foreigner.
They dont say that, That make some other requirements up , say no foreigner can open, you need to be married, need to have a work permit and so on.

If you in Bangkok go to main Bank office.

You are not going to get a credit card when not working in Thailand.
But get a debit card that work fine for everything, IF you tell them what you need.

I have Siam Commercial Bank from 2011- 2015 but when i move from Nonthabuti to Bang Saen and want to open a Siam Commercial Bank here, It was NO NO
I dint want to pay the fee every time i use my card in a ATM for using it outside Nonthaburi & Bangkok area.

Walk to KrungThai bank and the only thing they ask was, If i was from the Usa.
As that Branch didnt want to deal with the paper work to Usa every year.

So back out there mate, keep looking.

Some tips:

If you have a Thai girlfriend / wife, Get her to take you to her Bank.
Same with any Thai friends.
If you know any other foreigner in you area, Get them to take you to the Bank they use.

Kindly.

scbrock wrote:

Hello
I was told that since I am retired and on a non-immigrant 1 year visa I am not allowed to have a Thai bank account. I went to 3 banks and tried and was turned down by Bank of Bangkok, Kasikorn Bank. and Siam Commercial Bank.

It seems Thai commerce is going away from using credit cards and more online transactions and that is making is more difficult to pay bills, utilities etc.

If I sell my condo where do I put the money? Suppose I have to get it transferred to my US credit union.

Any ideas? I was told I cannot get a work permit since my type of visa. But, having a work permit would allow me to have a Thai bank account. Sort of a Catch 22.

Thank you

One of Bangkok Banks official requirements to open a bank account is a Resident Certificate. You can get it at your local immigration office. Another one is a reference from your embassy/consulate showing your official address. Check their website. Just go to another branch if they for some stupid reason turn you down.
At several Kasikorn Bank branches they are ok if you are retired and have a retirement stamp in your passport. Again, try another branch if you are turned down.

Thanks for the ideas I have a residence cert so that is in my favor.
I'll keep trying I have a lawyer friend that may help

scbrock wrote:

Thanks for the ideas I have a residence cert so that is in my favor.
I'll keep trying I have a lawyer friend that may help

I have never heard of Bangkok Bank turning down a Resident Certificate when opening a bank account. The only downside with Bangkok Bank is their debit card, the Be1st Smart MasterCard. They went from Visa to MasterCard in November 2018,but its connected to TPN, Thai Payment Network. When using it online, the store,company or an airline must have their servers physically located in Thailand. That is of course not possible if buying or paying something overseas. Kasikorn Bank has proper Visa debit cards, but opening an account is maybe a bit harder. But trying several branches might work.