CM4Me

For my FCA with Bangkok Bank I have a 'saving account', which in my case has a min amount of 360.00AUD for which there is NO maintenance fee. For this account the bank issues a burnt orange coloured book, but the balances are also available online if one has their internet banking.

I transfer my $ into this account from overseas (at the TT Rate - their highest) for which I'm charged 0.25% with the minimum being 200Bht and the maximum being 500Bht per tranaction.

I watch the daily fluctuations in the exchange rate and when I think that's it to my advantage I go online and transfer my requirements to a Bht account, which is done immediately, at NO charge.

I think there is a charge if one withdrawals in a foreign currency.

The 800K Bht equivalent held in a 'fixed deposit account' is NOT charged any fees and I receive 2.5% interest (less tax). NO bankbook is issued for this account but am in possession of a bank certificate to this effect. At visa time I present a letter from the bank and a copy of the certificate, but they always need to sight the original.

For both the 'savings account' and the 'fixed deposit account' I receive a snail mail statement monthly. 

Here in CNX I've been using a BKK Bank FCA FIXED DEPOSIT for my last 3 annual visas - need letter from the bank & no problems with Imm.

By the way I get 2.5 % interest PA

I have a Foreign Currency Fixed Term Deposit Account with BKK Bank.

Had it for 3 years and have used it 3 times for my retirement extension, the latest 2 weeks ago.

With such account BKK Bank only issue a certificate, no book, no card or the like. But they do issue a monthly statement via snail mail.

This year Imm wanted to see the original certificate, a photo copy of the certificate, a photo copy of the last 3 monthly statements, and a conformation letter from the bank.

As I understand Imm will only accept Fixed Term Deposits provided they are redeemable at any time, ie before the term of the deposit expires (to which one most likely would loose any interest).

BKK Bank has different interest rates depending on the currency - I currently get 2.5% for 1 year term ???? 

On 2/19/2019 at 1:04 AM, sfokevin said:

How does one get a 2.5% return on such accounts?

What currency?

Fixed deposits - What terms (in months/years)?

Does BK Bank post these rates somewhere?

As I said in my post the 'Fixed Deposit is a Foreign Currency Account'

As I understand each of the main international foreign currencies can be on different rates. In my case I have AUD.

see https://www.bangkokbank.com/-/media/Files/Personal/Other-Services/View-Rates/Foreign-Currency-Deposit-Interest-Rates/2016/02FCD_1604081.ashx?la=en&hash=B3B60AE40EE292502C8678E0F493A32C0142AE09

unfortunately its only in Thai

Here in CNX I've been using the B800,000 fixed deposit at Bangkok Bank for some 10 years or so.

However for the last 2 years I been using a Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit, still with Bangkok Bank, earning 2.5% interest.

Never been a problem either way ???? 

Hi Indepth, I'm in the same boat as you, ie I'm receiving DVA pension.

For the last 7 odd years I've been doing 'on-line' transfers from Westpac to BKK Bank, no problems till now. Suddenly, un-announced, Westpac has stopped sending 'SMS one-time pin numbers' to Thailand. After numerous tries, phone calls and an email I'm still hitting a blank wall.

So, having previously heard about direct deposits by DVA to a Thai Bank, today I started searching the DVA website, in particular the 'fact sheets' section and found the following

https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/dvaforms/D9196.pdf

This site is what you are looking for, and whom to send it to (fax would be the quickest) - easy peasy

 good luck

Australian Football League 2018: How To Watch Live, Online

Some good news for AFL diehards, Expats can now watch every game live online via the AFL Official Website https://www.watchafl.com.au/

There is a cost of $33.00pm or $189.00 for the season

Up there Cazaly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g68asPZ4RKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3TBPgXrPLc

Today the Australian Government issued a compulsory recall of vehicles fitted with defective airbags.

There are some 90 makes/models affected, is yours???

See    http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/takata-airbag-recall-is-your-car-on-the-list/ar-BBJG3WQ?li=AAavLaF&ocid=ientp

The curtain shop in Hang Dong Road, basically on the corner with Mahadol Road (opposite Airport Plaza) can organize both double glazed and or laminated black aluminium framed windows and doors. They are not cheap, but the ones I bought are of good quality and work well.

I previously posted the following

"Posted 2014-07-30 23:26:15

Hope this production has more variety than the previous Simon Cabaret did.

Who wants to come to Thailand to see an All American Songbook show (that's what Simon was) - no wonder it closed"

Tonight I was invited to see the new show at what is now called 'Chiang Mai Cabaret Theatre'. In my opinion this now is a truly professional show with songs from many

many countries, a truly international performance. A very large crowd in attendance.

Well worth a visit

Government

I know of a situation here in Chiang Mai where a Westerner was admitted to hospital, and into an ICU. After close on a week, his partner knowing almost nothing about his financial position, was unable to satisfy the hospital authorities as to how the costs incurred so far would be paid.

As a result the hospital sent him home.

A day or two later he was visited by friends, found him in a dreadful state, they sorted out his finances, contacted his embassy and had him re-admitted (back to ICU).

This was only a couple of years ago, the patient is still alive, well and living in a respite centre.

The real message here is that someone very trustworthy (and not necessary your Thai partner) needs to know, and in an emergency maybe have access, to your finances, that is if you don't have hospital insurance.

The only Lab I know of is on the Chiang Mai / Mae Rim Road, on the left heading north, about 100 to 150 m before the Superhighway

Why not have the water tested. There are many test labs around town.

In Chiang Mai, to my knowledge, there are at least 3 commercial type establishments that are constructed using Shipping Containers. A Guesthouse of sorts just before the northern entrance to Wing 41, the same sort of thing near Chiang Mai Football Club, and more recently a 2 level coffee shop in Huay Kaew Road in the big tree on the western boundary of Maya. For me these 3 establishments look really great

Tywais & Sheryl (once again)

Tks for the info, will pass it on to our friend. Will advise the outcome

Sheryl,

Tks for your reply.

I'm not sure what scheme (SS or Universal)he is under, but he has worked full time

for a rather large organization for quite some time now, but I'll find out the next

time we see him.

Do you know of any HIV patient advocacy organizations specifically in Chiang Mai that he can speak to, and or go and see?

I'm not sure of his current CD4 count, but again I'll ask him the next time we see

him, & will advise.

Again, tks for your advice

A year or so ago a Thai friend came to us in a rather depressed state. He had been

diagnosed with having HIV.

Since then we have continually provided moral support and advice, though our advice

is rather limited on this matter.

In early October he was all excited as he had heard, via Thai media, about the

government policy in relation to HIV. The following I selectively quote from

The Nation:

The Sunday Nation on October 5, 2014 reported that . the Deputy Public Health

Minister Somsak Chunharas said that one of the government's policies was to

prescribe.. free prescriptions for anti-retroviral drugs ..regardless of the CD4

level, through both the universal healthcare scheme and the social security

scheme. See

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Free-anti-retrovirals-for-all-with-HIV-30244777.html

The Nation on October 27, 2014 also reported that the Prime Minister Gen Prayut

Chan-o-cha . expressed his intention for Aids patients at all levels to have access to appropriate drugs. See

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/PM-wants-all-Aids-patients-to-have-access-to-drugs-30246328.html

Last week our friend went for his periodic blood test, and asked the hospital doctor could he receive the medication, as announced by the government.

To his horror he was told that Anti-retroviral medication is only available once the CD 4 level falls below 300, and not for those above this level.

Unfortunately the poor guy is now rather depressed, again. In a typical Thai way he

doesnt know who to believe and/or who to turn to (for advice).

So, is the government policy on Anti-retroviral medication, as announced in October, fact or fiction? Would appreciate some clarification, if possible. Tks

AustPlus is back on cable WeTV

I understand the Thai Government and some commercial organizations regularly run short (like 8 hrs, 24 hrs or weekend) courses for Thais. Usually coordinated through (rural) village chiefs, talk to yours

dru2. We are in the very early stages of planning to build down your way.

Could you possibly PM me the name, etc, of your architect.

many tks

For years now we have regularly enjoyed pizza from a certain restaurant in the old city. For us it was the best pizza place in CNX. On a recent visit we discovered that they too have changed their recipes and are now "Thai for Thai'.

Like Mekong Bob said "ugggghhh - forget it"

Some of the quoted returns for this year are rather hard to believe. For example around San Pa Tong (CNX)the average price received by farmers was

2013 2014

Grade AA 20.2B/kg 16.2B/kg

Grade A 13.9B/kg 6.0B/kg

Grade B 6.4B/kg 2.4B/kg

Grade C 1.0B/kg 0.5B/kg

This years harvest only produced a very small profit, after allowing for production costs.

Yields are down, prices are down. Why?