GreenSnapper

And, that ICICI has a daughter in Singapore doesn't mean anything; too many examples of banks falling over with branches all over the world; Icesave is a nice example.

If ICICI falls over, which door do you knock to get your money back ?; I'm most interested....Singapore, Mumbai, ? you tell me.

LaoPo

Based on which facts do you assume ICICI falls over or is in danger to do so?

Still waiting for your answer which bigger bank in Singapore gives comparable rates in AUD?

If he has his money in EUR or USD instead of AUD, you certainly know the fall of exchange rates to THB during the last 12 months or so? Every currency bears some risks, but also chances.

It is easy to nag about everything, but that doesn't help the OP.

And don't take a klong boat with all that dosh in your pocket. You may afford a taxi occasionally.

1. Leave your $ on your local bank account for a short while.

2. Fly to Singapore. Bring documentation about your present address.

3. Open an AUD-account at this bank: http://www.icicibank.com.sg/pb_fd.htm

4. SWIFT Transfer your $ from your old bank to your new bank

5. Issue solved.

I don't consider that as a good advise.

Although ICICI is a large India bank it's a dwarff in comparison with the world's 10 or 50 largest banks; next to that, the OP probably hasn't any "feeling" with a bank from India since he's a European.

Flying up and down to Asia is also not necessary anymore nowadays.

And, your nr. 1 is a dangerous advise for reasons I explained before about Irish banks and why he has to exchange $'s for AUD is also beyond me.

Issue NOT solved.

LaoPo

The OP seemed to be interested in high yield AUD accounts. That's what my advice is based on.

ICICI is an Indian bank, but I'm talking Singapore and they must follow Singaporean banking standards. Which are sufficient for most people.

But if you know another bank with a comparable high yield AUD account, I'd be interested to hear. My own bank is Standard Chartered and their interest rates and exchange spreads s+ck.

And due to money laundering/terrorist fears, you normally have to open an account in person. That's why I suggested to fly there. Not a big deal for someone who wants to retire in Thailand.

Greensnapper

Ok so you disagree with me. Is that why you have to moan about my crappy spelling? But thanks for your remark. My T9 spelling check sucks.:-)

I guess you and I are in different phases in life. I still love farang women to bits.

I don't moan - I just have a bit of fun

Farang women - been there, done that. Some are charming. But most have also received farang education, believe in role models of the 70ies and that is tiring in the long run. I don't need a semi-man in bed.

If you want more intellect than what you generally find in Thailand, go to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore or Malaysia. Even Vietnam has some better educated women compared to Thailand. Here I found the major difference between a farm girl and a Chula graduate is the latter owns a Blackberry....

You cannot get everything in a single woman. Must make compromises. And for intellectual discussions, male friends are a much better solution than 99% of women. Just don't sleep with them (some may disagree on that)

I would say if one have the standard as back home it can be hard to find a decent companion.

To find a educated girl without previous kids, who can support herself by a decent work, and can hold a interllectual dialog are in my opinion quite hard to find in thailand.

For what do you need interllectual dialogues?

Women have different qualities and for interllectual dialogues you have your mates.

The interllectual dialogues you commonly have with a Western woman are some of the most tiring aspects of a relationship there.

I like to be able to understand any of this, but i really don't.

yes i see a graph rising on a chart

Tomorrow when i take my bank draft cheque from the bank should i change into OZ dollars then get on a plane for Australia ?

forgive me if i seem flippent but i really dont know what to do

1. Leave your $$ on your local bank account for a short while.

2. Fly to Singapore. Bring documentation about your present address.

3. Open an AUD-account at this bank: http://www.icicibank.com.sg/pb_fd.htm

4. SWIFT Transfer your $$ from your old bank to your new bank

5. Issue solved.

500,000 Euro is about 20,000,000 THB. Lets say you live for 20 years. That's 1,000,000 a year or 83,000 a month.

And if he is still fit and healthy after 20 years, what is he supposed to do?

Jump from a balcony?

Skype works very well, good quality. but you need 3G or wifi, no crappy Edge.

I don't get it:

How can anybody seriously consider buying a fund whose 'management' lives in Soi 33?

DBS Singapore refused opening an account for me last time I asked. Only for residents / PR.

Easier with Standard Chartered, but their fees are high and exchange rates from/to SG$ have a spread of approx. 2%.

I believe this account is "visa-safe" for the 400K/800K extensions?

The only way is to check with your local immigration office. I was caught out last year. The previous year my 800k was sitting in a Money Market fund and was no problem for immigration, last year there was a new official in the office and I was told that this was not acceptable, even though the money could be accessed inside of three days. He suggested I went to Penang, got a tourist visa and then converted it to a non-imm 'o' retirement visa.

Faced with that I asked if I could buy him a cup of tea and "hey presto" all smiles and my retirement visa was secure for another year. I have now opened a "fixed deposit" at 2.25% and had it confirmed that this is OK for this year's renewal.

I think funds, even money market funds, are not good to get an extension of stay based on 400/800K. Fixed deposits should be ok from what I hear, but nothing is 100% sure.

On all fixed deposits your interest will be taxed 15%. It may be possible to get the taxes back, has anybody tried that?

Last time on domestic flight from BKK they checked the weight at the gate.

7 kg - no more or you pay extra.

I don't know what expectations are - we invested @ 4.50% yesterday with Kasikorn for a 14mth term.

I hope you are aware (assuming that you are talking about the "Step-up" promotion) that you do not actually get 4.5% in interest for the whole 14 months. The 4.5% are only given for the last two months:

Month 1-3 = 1.25%

Month 4-6 = 1.75%

Month 7-9 = 2.50%

Month 10-12 = 3.50%

Month 13-14 = 4.50%

So the average interest rate if you keep the funds in the account the whole time comes out at 2.57% (actualy a bit more as you get compound interest since the interest is added every three months). Not a bad rate, especially since you can take the money out at any time without penalties, but not exactly 4.5%.

Sophon

Yes, that makes almost 2.6% per year, not bad for Thai interest rates.

I believe this account is "visa-safe" for the 400K/800K extensions?

? http://store.ovi.com/content/7907

If not why not upload to your pc and then to facebook from there?

I suppose his PC isn't as mobile as his mobile....

Has anybody opened a fixed account with KBank recently?

Any nonsense demanded, like workpermit or other hassles?

I already have a savings account with KBANK, but also consider the fixed account for the same reasons as the OP.

It's easier to be a millionaire in Laos!

In the next days I will apply for a new 1 year extension of stay based on retirement.

As form TM7 asks for my address in Thailand, does this automatically reset the 90-day reporting counter, or do I have to make the reporting separately? I still have about 2 weeks left on my 90-days counter and I'd prefer to do everything (extension and 90-day-reporting) on the same day.

My immigration office is in Chaeng Wattana, BKK.

Thanks for your answer!

Kasikorn has their time deposit rates on their website:

http://www.kasikornbank.com/EN/RatesAndFees/Deposit/Pages/Deposit.aspx

Not very much, and farangs get the same as Thais (as it should be).

Sorry I don't believe in reverse discrimination, which is exactly what happened in the U.S.

Yep, that is exactly the point. The groups who bully change. The bullying does not.

Pol Pot killed the former elite. The most severe form of 'affirmative action'.

Modern feminists openly demand "positive discrimination" against men.

These ideologies easily become totalitarian, that's why they are dangerous and not just idiotic.

There are far more efficient ways to create an egalitarian society than creating clear fault lines which are so easily exploited by those who would manufacture hatred and fear for personal ambition / profit.

AA is always stupid. Always.

Societies are not egalitarian. The idea of egalitarian societies is plain communism. Pol Pot was the last one who tried radical "social engineering" and affirmative action is just a more modest form of the same idea.

Not everybody can have a super model as girlfriend. Many will end up with a fattie. Now, with affirmative action, a certain percentage of losers will get a super model, even if they don't deserve it. That's the stupid idea behind it.

People do discriminate. Everybody does. If you don't like to have a fattie, do something to be more attractive. But don't ask for government help.

Communism has failed big in the world. And "affirmative action", "political correctness", "feminism" and similar highly ideological doctrines derived from it are going to fail as well.

People are not equal. There should be equal rights, but that's it. There is no serious reason to have some amount of "Isaan" or "women" in government or business, unless they qualify for it.

It is one of the great advantages here in Asia, that ideology is ceasing here, while in the West it is increasing. China is no longer communist and Thailand has never been. The West will finally learn it too, or will fail miserably.

Have to get my retirement extension in Bangkok next week. Any problems to be expected due to Chinese New Year?

Also, if you live in Bangkok it might be worth mentioning that you can get the Laos visa done there before you go and it used to be cheaper than at the border . 600 baht I seem to remember. Not sure if it still is. It also saves a lot of time because I've been before where it can take two hours for the Laos immigration to process your visa on arrival.

Normally it does not take much time on the friendship bridge.

Unless .... and this is the caveat .... a bus of kids from Khao San road just arrived. Of course these kids don't know how to fill out the forms and then it can take forever to just process this bus.

Happened to me last time and no fun at all. Not talking about the dense smells.

I can't really understand why they can't seem to make consistantly drinkable wine here.

Actually they rarely can make anything which is not original Thai.

Terrible sausages, crap bread even at Villa market..... and you mention wine?

Thai hiso drink really expensive import wines with ice cubes. Quality does not matter here.

Dont get a gf right away

sound advice. leave it at least a year i reckon and just observe.

Sound advice only if you are gay or impotent.

Otherwise get some basic knowledge on women and enjoy your time here.